Research

in
philosophy
Emmanuel B. Atienza
HUMSS-B
MRS.ignacio

Ana Kristina Arce

Without a sound, she is able to communicate passion and hope in her speeches.
Deaf since she was born, Anas hearing disability didnt stop her from unstoppable
yearning to learn. She was awarded class valedictorian at the Philippine School for the
Deaf and her success in the academe went on from there.In 2009, she graduated
magna cum laude from the De La Salle College of Saint Benilde (CSB) with a degree
in Applied Deaf studies. Her focus was on the multimedia arts and she went on to
become a graphic artist at her alma mater, CSB.Blazing the trail, she continued on to
study abroad to pursue a Masters Degree. She earned her MA in Deaf Studies from the
Gallaudet University, Washington D.C., one of the worlds most prominent universities in
the field of deaf studies. She is the first Filipino to be sent to Gallaudet University with a
World Deaf Leadership Scholarship.
Why all the studying? Ana says she wants to give back. On the New Internationalist
Blog she said:I hope to not only help them (the deaf) go through college, but also make
them good researchers, and active advocates in their respective communities. In my
advocacy, Im looking at opportunities to bring the needs of the Deaf into the
consciousness of society, especially the hearing people. I aim to help integrate the Deaf
and the hearing together in unity, bridge the communication gap, increase awareness of

the Deaf culture, and raise the respect for the natural sign language of the Filipino Deaf
the Filipino Sign Language.

My reflection about Kristina

Disabilities is not an excuse to pursue what you want to be or to say into your
life and to the life of others. why do I say so? It is because of Kristinas journey. She was
so passionate in what she wants to express in her life. Even she is deaf, it is not an
excuse nor a problem to speak and to pursue her dreams to become what she was now
as a person.
As PWD or person with disabilities, I know that there are so many limitations
that you will encounter to your life as you grow up. We are lucky because we are not
PWD, but there are people that even they are not PWD, they limit thereselves in the
things that they can do or they must do. But in Kristinas case even she has many
limitations in physical aspect, she treat it not as a limitations but motivation in order to
express herself to others even she is deaf. She has many achievements not knowing
that she is a PWD. She was very passionate to her work , like she is a normal person
that has a dream and goal in life.
As a student I set this wonderful story as my inspiration. Inspiration that we
can make our dreams come true and pursue our dreams even we have many
limitations. Set this limitation to motivation to move forward in what you want in our life.
study hard and be productive, because I believe in this quote ,if you want ,theres a
way, if you not, theres a reason for that.