Harvest of hope
enough and look for a better job. He landed work with the classic LVN Pictures, which he described was a good job but his time with MAE made him aspire for more.
Discovering isaw or chicken innards during one of his trips around the city, Larry got the idea of ‘elevating’ the street food to make it clean and delicious. His isaw eventually became a campus favorite, and he was able to open more ‘Mang Larry’s Isawan’ in other universities. To date, he now has seven branches all over the metro.
“I’m very thankful that I was able to finish my secondary education with MAE. This program, along with the grace of God, became my foundations for what I have become today,” Covencido said.
Diversity of learners In line with the celebration of the group’s 50th anniversary, and with the belief that education should be inclusive, relevant, and accessible to all, MAE recently expanded to accommodate learners with disabilities, specifically deaf persons.
“We want to help them finish secondary education and even continue to post secondary education, so that they can be productive and sustainable to have an even chance to succeed in life,” Villanueva expressed.
In 2011, the unit opened its doors to students with hearing impairment. “Deaf learners have consistently shown potentials for future career tracks that require technical vocational skills,” the principal shared.
Positive collaboration For their sub-program for hearing impaired individuals, MAE coordinates closely with Miriam College Program for Learners with Special Needs. The latter provides support services via interpreters and note-takers so that transition to MAE will be orderly.
The deaf students are also “mainstreamed” since they are placed in the same class as other MAE students. “By doing so, deaf students adjust positively through the support and encouragement they receive from the hearing students,” Villanueva said.
Diverse pool of learners Accomodating a diverse pool of students has admittedly not been very easy. “We had to adjust teaching-learning strategies so that the deaf learners will be able to adapt into the learning process - but without compromising the needs of the regular hearing students,” Villanueva pointed out.
There is also the challenge on interpretation of language considering that the primary language of deaf students varies. “Some are in English, while others are in Filipino,” the principal said. Having deaf students coming from different educational preparations and orientations has also posed challenges with regards to varying development of their basic learning competencies.
Non-discriminatory learning system
In spite of several hurdles, MAE is determined to accommodate more learners with hearing impairment. In senior high school alone, the number of deaf students for Grades 11 and 12 has increased by 1,000 percent from the last school year.
“We believe that the support we have been getting is due to how the program has established an inclusive learning environment,” Villanueva shared. According to her, the setup reflects the kind of commitment, attitudes, and values that understands the diversity of learners. “This is in terms of age, social status, economic status, and abilities towards a just and nondiscriminatory learning system.”
A chance at a better life
As part of MAE’s 50th anniversary, the success stories of several program participants were compiled in the book titled Kinang. Those behind MAE hope that the testimonials in the memoir will serve as an inspiration for schools to reach out to povertystricken youth and adults. “We believe that the Maryknoll Sisters did not just establish a school, but passed on a legacy of service and mission to the Filipinos,” Villanueva expressed.
Moreover, the team hopes to motivate more underprivileged and disabled people to make education a commitment and priority. “Programs such as MAE will allow them to become productive and sustainable so that they can have new chances to live a better life — not only for themselves, but for their families and for the entire society,” the educator said.
“The power to make your life better is dependent on your own will to reach your dreams, so take courage to finish education and seek better opportunities to prosper in life.”