Andrew Miller is the International Director for DMI. When he’s not munching on Top Deck chocolate in Sydney, he’s travelling around the world raising funds and DMI’s profile in developed countries or visiting the fields we support to see what’s needed and how our funds are being managed. Either way, he works tirelessly to avoid unidentifiable food and meets lots of weird and wonderful people who he just can’t resist interviewing…

#11 Anabelle

Anabelle Cuachin is the Principal of Bicol Deaf Action (formally the Fisherman of Christ Learning Center) in Ligao. Working closely with Bing (the Director of the facility), Anabelle is a much loved figure, leading all the educational operations and initiatives of the school. A hearing woman, she is looked up to by all the staff and students who benefit from her experience, skill, friendliness and devotion. I speak with her in her office at the school.

Andrew: We’ve just held the school’s 41st graduation. How do you think it went?

Anabelle: I think it was very successful.

Me, too. What do you think made it such a successful event?

The program was well prepared and the participants all did very well. We have good staff here. I’m so proud of them all and so thankful. We always talk and work together, so the final result is success through unity. And the Lord is good! He gave us beautiful weather, and we can see that everybody is happy.

I was very impressed with the teamwork here and I could certainly see that everybody was happy. But I thought the weather was a bit hot!

Yes, when I say the weather is beautiful, I mean for us Filipinos – we are used to this kind of weather.

How did it all begin for you here? How did you first get involved with the Deaf and with DMI?

After I graduated from college in 1993, I was praying about where God could use me. Shortly after, I heard on the radio an announcement that this school was looking for an English teacher. I was hesitant to apply because I was not a major in English. However, I prayed to God and said, “Lord, if that teaching position is really for me, let the position be vacant until I apply for the job.” I submitted my resume on a Friday. It was the last day of May, 1993. I still remember it very well because the Principal told me that the position was still vacant – and that there had been no applicants! – and that made me realize that this really could be the Lord’s doing. 

You got the job just like that?!

Not quite, but almost. Later, the Director came in, gave me a blank piece of paper and told me to write down why I wanted the job.  I just wrote what was on my heart. After reading it, he started smiling and then laughing. He said, “Oh Miss Opia (I was Miss Opia back then) you are very good at joking!” I said, “I am not joking. What I expressed there in my essay is really from my heart.” He invited me to join him for a snack and then told me, “Okay, on Monday, you start”!

I’d really like to know what you wrote! But clearly that was the Lord’s hand and an answered prayer. It’s easy to see these things in hindsight, but I guess even at the time you must have realised that God had opened a door for you. Had you had any experience with the Deaf before then?

None at all. I did not even know how to sign and that was another thing for me to consider when I applied here.

I’ve been watching you at work while I’ve been here and you’re a beautiful signer. How long did it take you to become proficient in sign and how did you learn?

It took me years, but I was blessed with good help. On the very first day I started teaching, one of the Deaf students came into my classroom at the end of the day and began to teach me sign language! From that day, she came to my room every afternoon! We became very close and as she taught, and as we communicated, my sign language improved.

What was her name?

Ria Atanante.

I was going to ask you, have there been any really memorable students either because of their brilliance or their kindness or their colorful character? You’ve mentioned Ria but have there been other students who have stood out?

Yes, there have been many! Another one who was also very close to me – and now she is a teacher of the Deaf in a government school – is Shirlyne Longasa. Shirlyne was transferred here in her third year of high school (grade 9) and graduated the following year. She also spent a lot of time teaching me sign language.

I think it’s wonderful that the staff have a devotion time every morning. I was really touched by the devotion you led last week. You spoke about some of the hardships you’ve had to endure. Would you mind sharing a little bit about those here?

I think one of the biggest hardships we faced during my first few years was not receiving a salary! We just received a very small transport allowance. That was really hard and I remember praying about that and seeking God about it. I knew God had given me this job, but not receiving a salary was really testing my faith! It was especially hard for me because I had younger brothers and sisters who were depending on me (I am the oldest) and the only one who had finished college and was working for my family.

I had no idea! How did you come through?

We just had to learn to wait on the Lord and trust him. And this wasn’t just for months, it was over a period of years. But I was holding onto the belief that God put me here in this place. So it was just a matter of trusting God all the time.

I’m so glad that you we’re so patient in trusting God because when I look at the fruit at the school here it’s absolutely wonderful and that wouldn’t have happened if people like you had given up.

There was something else at that time. I had a dream.

What was it?

I dreamt that I was sitting at this very table. This was back in 1993! I was shocked and  asked the Lord, what could this dream mean because I am just a new employee so what am I doing sitting at the Principal’s desk?

It’s clear now what it meant. Because here you are as Principal!

I know!

When did you become Principal?

I started as Principal in 2015 but in reality I had already been doing the principal’s work for a number of years before that so it was really just a name change.

I hope you got an increase in salary.

No, of course not! But I was still thrilled to be Principal. No one knew about the dream I had had. I didn’t tell anyone. But for me, it was another sign that God’s hand was upon my life here.

What are some of the highlights of working here at Bicol Deaf Action?

I have really fond memories of working with Douglas Clutton. He was working at the school as an audiologist and he trained me to be a speech therapist. I went to Manila and trained in speech rehabilitation for the Deaf as well as studying under Doug here at the school. Learning about audiology and speech therapy was a real highlight for me. It meant that I was not just attending this school with the students, I was really making a practical difference in the their lives. That was really fulfilling.

What future do you see for BDA?

There is a real need to educate the adult Deaf in this area. Not just the little ones but adults as well. There are many Deaf adults who never got the chance to receive an education and now they are married and have their own children, but they are coming to us because they really need an education to excel in life.

So what would you say is the greatest need you have at the school right now?

Probably employment for our adult graduates. Once they finish high school it can be hard for them to find stable work. Many of them can’t afford a college education so they often end up just staying at home doing menial work. They’re not fulfilling their potential.

I thought you were going to say a swimming pool.

Haha, you’re just thinking of the next time you come here, aren’t you?

Maybe.

But who knows? If we turned it into a business and the employees were some of our graduates, maybe it’s something we can look into. We have the space…

Maybe for now we should just focus on the adult education.

I think so.

Do you have any questions for me?

Yes. What future do you see for Deaf Ministries International?

Touché. I think the mission goals that Neville originally established are really solid. That is, to take the gospel, education and employment to the Deaf all around the world. And as much as we’ve been able to do that – which is wonderful – we’re really only scratching the surface. So I would like to see us continue to do more of what we’re doing but do it better and with increase, and that includes right here in Ligao.

Wonderful. By the way, that’s a lovely traditional Filipino shirt that Bing gave you to wear at the graduation. You look very handsome.

I’m trying to match the beauty of the Filipino women around me.

You’re almost there.

Haha. I’ll take that!

~

Bicol Deaf Action is one of our most successful and promising schools. Yet it needs more student and school sponsorships. To support Bicol Deaf Action, or any of the students there, contact Kay for details at kay.vannamen@deafmin.org and please give generously at https://deafmin.org/donate/ or click on the ‘Donate’ button below and mark Bicol Deaf Action (or other name) in the reference.