Andrew Miller is the International Director for DMI. When he’s not eating corn chips 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…

#7 Bing

Lorenda E. Medes – better known as Bing – is the much-loved Director of Bicol Deaf Action which houses our Ligao school, farm and church facilities in the Philippines. Many students have been nurtured under her leadership over the years and have been given sure and blessed direction for their lives.

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Andrew: I’ve seen your profile pic on WhatsApp. You look like a little angel! How old were you then and what was the story behind the photo?

Bing: That picture was taken when I was in 2nd grade! We had a special program for Nutrition Month and I was voted to represent the environment. I was ‘Miss Environmental Champion’.

Did you go on to Miss Philippines or anything like that?

Haha no, it was just for that program at that time.

Tell me about growing up in Sorsogon.

Sorsogon is another province in the Bicol region near the school here. Gubat was my home town in Sorsogon. Gubat is a coastal town. Lots of fishing and swimming. We even have a surfing beach!

Was it a happy upbringing for you?

It was a simple life. We didn’t know anything else. We were certainly content. I went to elementary and high school there. Sorsogon was my whole life. I didn’t even go outside the province until I went to college in Albay but that was still in Bicol! My family was pretty poor. My father was a fisherman and a farmer. My mum was just a humble housewife. She took good care of us.

You’re hearing. How did you come to be involved with the Deaf?

When I graduated, one of my friends told me that Fisherman of Christ Learning Center [the former name of Bicol Deaf Action] was hiring so I looked into it. While waiting for my exams results, I came here to apply and was hired! Then we underwent training for sign language. I started as a teacher for the hearing students. Back then there were many hearing students – maybe half the school. That made it hard for the Deaf students so Neville decided the school should be exclusively for the Deaf.

How did you meet Neville?

Neville was always visiting here in those days. So I met him on my first day when I was hired in 1993.

What does your position involve as Director of Bicol Deaf Action? 

I create projects and oversee the farm with its poultry and piggery works. I provide help for the teachers and employees through the loan program and retirement fund. It’s all thanks to DMI, of course, that these things were approved and supported. DMI really enabled us to do all these things. The employees have security now. Previously, we were running on fumes but we have come to feel much more stable now and we are working to continue making our operations more self-sustainable.

That’s good to hear. You recently held an entrepreneur program making and selling liquid soap. How did that go?

I actually started that program in 2012. It’s not new! This program has been ongoing to help students have an interest in business and to support their families. I originally ran it for our graduates but it has been going so well we have recently included the year 11 and 12 students. They are so excited about this. We’ve never lost money on these products.

So the training is successful!

Oh yes! I buy the raw materials and then I let the members do the work themselves once they have been trained. We then promote the products in social media and start to sell them. We always sell out!

That’s fantastic!

Oh! We also have a new product! It’s car shampoo.

A car shampoo?

Yes, because we started a self-serve car wash, we decided to make and sell our own brand of car shampoo. 

What’s the name?

BDA Car Shampoo, of course! 

You have overseen many students and projects over the years. Which stick out as particularly wonderful and why?

The loan program for the teachers stands out. It’s not for business, it’s just to help them out if they get sick or have special needs. This has been a real godsend for the school. Oh, and the store! The store helps to supplement our salaries and motivates the farm workers and product makers. It also means we can employ the Deaf. It’s so good to have Deaf people working here. Many of them – all of them! – are graduates of the school.

How has your faith impacted and guided the work you do?

It’s all God. I hold onto Him always. Ever since I started working here, I depend on God for everything. I can do nothing without Him. I am always asking for knowledge and wisdom to run things.

I know the feeling. I pray the same thing for myself every day.

Haha yes, there are so many challenges – economic challenges and more recently legal problems regarding the registration of the school. It’s complicated but we’re working through it. I have a strong faith that God will bring me and us through. He’s my Guide, my Helper, my Counsellor, my everything. 

You often have visiting mission teams come to Ligao. Tell me honestly the good and bad of mission teams visiting.

The teams are always a blessing. They do so much work and are so generous and kind. We love it when the mission teams come! I honestly can’t think of any negatives. From my heart we really love the teams coming. Just sometimes I feel a bit shy or embarrassed because I can’t give them good service here. We don’t have air conditioning or hot water so I wish we could make the teams more comfortable. But no-one has ever complained.

You’ve been going through some serious health issues lately. Can you tell me about that?

In 2022 I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. I didn’t question God about it. I know He has a plan for me. A purpose. That’s what I have learned about His promises. I never blamed Him. When I first heard this, people said ‘Oh cancer! There is no treatment!’. So when I went to the oncologist and she explained the treatment to me – the chemo and its benefits – I decided to go ahead with the chemo. I was scared at first because I didn’t think I would be able to endure the treatment but later on with the help of my oncologist, I had the courage to undergo the treatment. God was always there to give me strength for it. God is good. Really good. So I could accept my lot. I have cancer. But I have also learned that through treatment some people can go into remission – like you! You shared your recovery with me and that encouraged me so much.

Neville, me, you. We have our own little club. But I’m glad to know that my struggle could be an encouragement to you. As a devout Christian, how do you understand your suffering in the light of God’s goodness?

I think God works through any experience. I know He has a purpose for me. He is preparing me for that. I don’t know what it is but I know He is preparing me. He is the Lord. I will follow no matter what.

You said to me earlier that people have been generous in supporting you through this time, too. 

Yes, I’m so grateful for those who are helping me. Without their help, I wouldn’t be able to pay for my chemo. So they are really giving me life. They are God’s hands and feet. The government can only help so much but these supporters have gone above and beyond to help me get the treatment – it’s expensive stuff – so I’m just so grateful for their support.

You always look so active, I worry that you’re pushing yourself too much.

God gives me the strength!

I really appreciate all you are doing for DMI.

My pleasure.

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If you would like to support Bing or any of the staff or students at Bicol Deaf Action, please click on the button below to donate, and note your designation in the reference.