Learn Filipino sign language while helping save dogs rescued from death row

To be held at the Third Space, South Avenue corner 4th Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City.

A Filipino Sign Language workshop in Quezon City this Sunday will bring together two causes in one afternoon: promoting inclusion for the Deaf community and raising funds for dogs rescued from the Mandaluyong City Pound.

Help MAS Dogs Citizen Initiative, together with Pathfinders Coffee.Travel.Nature, the Federation of the Deaf Cavite Province Inc. and The Third Space, is holding a Deaf Awareness and Basic Filipino Sign Language Workshop for a Cause on October 11, from 1 PM to 4 PM.

The event coincides with the celebration of Filipino Sign Language Day and aims to introduce participants to basic FSL while teaching the dos and don’ts of communicating with members of the Filipino Deaf community.

Deaf coaches Mark Kevin Marcial and Erika Allosa will lead the workshop, with Ember Parpa serving as sign language interpreter.

But learning to sign is only half of the advocacy.

Proceeds from the workshop will help dogs pulled out of “death row” at the Mandaluyong City Pound that require medical care. Help MAS Dogs describes itself as a small, informal citizen initiative that assists dogs impounded at the city pound rather than a shelter or rescue facility itself.

Participants will also have a chance to meet some of the rescued dogs currently looking for permanent homes.

The workshop will be held at The Third Space, South Avenue corner 4th Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City.

Registration costs ₱750 for early birds and ₱850 at the regular rate, inclusive of snacks. Coffee and additional snacks from Deaf partners will also be available for purchase at the venue.

The event combines two seemingly unrelated advocacies through a simple idea: learning how to communicate with a community that deserves greater inclusion can also become a way to give vulnerable animals another chance at life.

Those interested may register through the event page indicated by the organizers.

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