Newly graduated PWD-hearing impaired students from the City College of Angeles (CCA) extended heartfelt thanks to officials who supported their academic journey—most notably First District Congressman Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr., Department of Transportation – Philippines Asec. and Chief Adviser IC Calaguas, Chief Political Affairs Officer Reina Manuel, and Rommel Capili.
Rommel Capili, who initially helped facilitate a dialogue between the students’ parents and the local officials, shared in a Facebook post that he had personally coordinated with Cong. Lazatin, Asec. Calaguas, and Manuel to ensure the students received appropriate support, including access to an interpreter.
According to Capili, it was Cong. Lazatin, Asec. Calaguas, and Manuel who provided the salaries of the sign language interpreters, making it possible for the PWD students to keep pace with their classes and complete their degree.
In a publicly shared message of gratitude, the graduates from the Bachelor of Technology Vocational Teachers Education (BTVTED), major in Food Management and Services, thanked the mentioned leaders for their “unwavering support, love, and dedication.”
“Your kindness has empowered us to achieve our goals and reminded us that inclusion and compassion truly make a difference,” the students wrote in a joint message.
The message was shared by graduates Kimberly Joy Paguyo, Michael Gabriel B. Antonio, Amiel Abuan, Grann M. Alafriz, and Matthew Christopher Cruz.
📸 Rommel Capili/Facebook
