Deaf School in Panama City
Posted on: May 14, 20093 comments so far (is that a lot?)
When it was time for us to leave El Porvenir by boat to Carti airport, it was pitch black outside, barely being guided by the moonlight of a three quarter moon.
Our boat had no light at all, my little pocket flashlight gave me some consolation as we left in a crowded boat filled with 15 people after picking up additional passengers from Wichub-Wala, all Kunas.
I was puzzled while watching the boat driver navigate without any GPS, compass, or anything, because it was totally dark. Not even my pocket flashlight was enough, it shined on the boat itself only, maybe good for reading lips. Amazed, I could only simply put my faith in the boat driver as he probably made the same journey countless times.
The boat only used a 15 horsepower motor and as the driver used hands to control the speed and directions, it was a one hour trip. Nearing Carti, sunrise came, a welcome sight after cruising the waters in blackness.
We waited for the plane when people suddenly turned their heads towards the direction of the ocean find a plane swooshing above by only 50 feet high!
Seth and I felt a rush seeing planes fly over us at such a low altitude, because we love the aviation lifestyle. At the airports, I would watch the planes land and take-off.
After the 50-foot near encounter with airplane landing, we saw four 4×4 jeeps darting to the plane and stopping by the tail. Those people had driven 3 hours from Panama City, to stop by the plane to switch boxes quickly and they took off before the plane could even move.
I asked the other Kuna people if they were coming on the plane with us, and they said no, they will ride by vehicle from Carti to Panama which is a 3 hour drive, while my plane trip is only 20 minutes long.
Climbing into the plane, I stepped into the cockpit at invitation by the pilot for a photo op. We then took off from the Albrook airport to Panama City.
Arriving in Panama City, we stopped by the IPHE, the Instituto Panameno de Habilitacion Especial, a Deaf school. I had a little off-guard moment by seeing both Deaf adults and children making the official Panama flag together in the same building.
The flag that the Deaf Panamanians make is the only government-approved flag that is allowed to be sold wholesale to private businesses. If we see a Panama flag, we know it was made by Deaf workers from IPHE. The profits made from making the Panama national flags goes to the Deaf adult workers.
I met a Deaf Panamanian worker named Adis, who worked making the flags for 31 years. “I must meet the daily quota,” said Adis, “to keep up with our daily performance in this kind of work.” As Adis cried, being so happy, Iris told me that she was so inspired over the fact I had a chance to interview her. She was finally becoming recognized for her hard work performed consistently for the last 31 years. Iris said she remembered Adis from when she was a little child! Panama is small world just like America, too.
“I must purchase a flag,” I promised myself, “so I can hang it in my office and whenever I look at it, I will always remember that it was made by Panamanian Deaf workers.”
I strolled over to the next room which was full of piñatas, a beautiful and colorful array of piñatas. One Deaf worker worked there for 28 years along with other low-functioning hearing workers, and they were really skilled at crafting the piñatas. They are sold at low prices in town. The Deaf worker was shy, but showed us how to make them to my awe.
Iris guided me to the mural she made at front of the school, that she made in 1994 after being asked by the school to make one to show that Deaf people can make any thing the hearing artists can.
By chance, I met a just-elected political figure who is profoundly Deaf, who won the election just last week on May 3rd, a man named Diego Lombana as a Diputado Suplente.
He is the assistant to the El Diputado, which is equivalent of a US Senator, to a partner named Valderrama. In the US Senate, each senator is allowed to have a higher number of assistants, but in Panama, only
one assistant per Diputado is allocated.
“There are as many as 10 different political parties here in Panama while the United States have only about two major ones, the Democrat and Republican parties,” said Lombana.
“Your country of Panama has too many political parties in a small country,” I told Lombana. He laughed, nodding in agreement
I came away very impressed by Lombana because he is only 23 years old and speaks Spanish, French, English, and Sign Language. He became profoundly Deaf in both ears when he was only 7 months old.
He is a very assertive man meeting politicians always forming strong political family ties. He met with Ricardo Martinelli, a conservative millionaire businessman just elected as the new Panama President and
pulled him favorably towards Valderrama as the best candidate to become El Diputado. Lombana wanted to show us his new office but he is not able to take office until July 1st, 2009, his first day of office.
Lombana has his own interpreter working in his home, and had just finished his thesis at the university. He informed the government about his interpreting needs. He hopes the government will grant a full time position to his interpreter, to ease his transition as Diputado Suplente.
It is a big step in the latin culture in this country as he is the first political figure in Panama to be Deaf. I expect him to do a great job for Panama and to spread the word that in other countries “Deaf people can do anything except hear,” our very own Dr. I. King Jordan’s legendary quote.
I am looking forward to the day Lombana takes office on July 1st!
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May 14th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Joel: you sure have touched each (individual) Deaf person anywhere in the world, wherever you went to. I think it’s wonderful for what you are attempting to do; reaching to those people and inspire them with the possibilities and opportunities in their life. It touched me how they reacted with joyful and cried because you came to them and presented us with knowledge about them. Thank you.
May 14th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
I have been enjoying read your blogs while you travel all over the world on research for Deaf cultures. It really impresses me how much you deserve your opportunity to share with us about their Deaf cultures. I wonder how you can understand or read their foreign sign language even if they do not speak in English?
Wanted to share with you, Joel, I have always love to fly and watch planes taking off and landing all in my life. I have always wanted to be a flight attendant but they do not hire any Deaf Flight Attendants out there but I wonder if you know any Deaf that work as a flight attendant?
Again, thanks for sharing Deaf cultures from Panama and other countries. Keep it up with your blogs.
May 15th, 2009 at 7:24 am
Very professional documentary! Great interesting adventurous experiences in Panama that you all had. Hats off to all hard-working deaf Panamaians. Yes, I’d love to purchase the Panamain flag made by a deaf person.