A Deaf graduate’s journey to servant leadership

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

As a Deaf child, Cebuano-born Romulo Porral III was no stranger to silence and solitude.

”When I was about six months old, my family discovered that I was Deaf,” Romulo recounted. “It was their first time to encounter someone in the family who could not hear.”

Tended by his parents who ran a small sari-sari store in the province, he grew up watching his siblings go to school and secretly wanted to study too in spite of his physical condition.

“I knew that only hearing children were enrolled, and I felt left out. I struggled because I saw people around me who could talk to each other, but I had no one to talk to,” Romulo admitted. “I couldn’t hear, but I was very observant. I learned through visual cues and spent time playing alone.”

Over two decades later, a teary-eyed Romulo weaved his hands in the air with facial expressions and body gestures to convey his story in front of a graduating batch. His commencement speech, delivered in Filipino Sign Language (FSL), tugged at the heartstrings of the audience.

That fateful day, Romulo found his voice — loud enough to make a big crowd listen in awe.

“As a Deaf person, I once struggled to see how my dreams could become a reality," he imparted. "I knew education was key, so I held on to hope that one day, my dreams would come true."

Romulo earned a degree of Bachelor in Applied Deaf Studies (BAPDST) with a specialization in Visual Media and Arts from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS).

The Deaf leader advocate, an Honorable Mention, likewise received the Saint Benilde Romançon Award, the highest accolade conferred by the college on a student who embodies its patron saint’s virtue of “doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”

“It was a humbling and deeply meaningful honor for me,” he looked back. “What may have set me apart from the other nominees is not just academic effort but my wholehearted commitment to serving others and living out the Benildean-Lasallian values in everything I do.”

Not even his limited access to education or financial difficulties could hinder Romulo from pursuing his studies during his early years. Unlike most kids, he only started to attend school at the age of 10.

“When I was seven years old, my parents decided to move back to Cotabato. However, we faced a big challenge — there was no school nearby that could accommodate a Deaf child like me,” he opened up. “Because of this, my father made the difficult decision to return to Cebu after three years, just so I could have the chance to study.”

Despite Romulo’s grit, some children teased him as they saw that he was different from them. It was his sister who stood up for the then-defenseless boy.

“I followed my Inday (sister) to school because I wanted to learn alongside her and her classmates. Unfortunately, some of them bullied me and called me Amang (an offensive Visayan nickname for someone who is unable to speak.) I didn’t understand what that word meant at the time, but Inday hugged me and told them to stop bullying me,” Romulo sadly recalled.

All he ever wanted was to connect with others and feel a sense of belongingness. Upon the idea of his mother, Romulo communicated with the hearing people in their neighborhood through simple gestures, while his friends and neighbors taught him lip reading so that he could comprehend the spoken language.

His father stopped at nothing to find a school that accommodates Deaf individuals. Romulo began his formal education in a Deaf institution and graduated in 2006 with several recognitions such as the Most Outstanding Student in Sports.

“I saw many Deaf students using sign language, and I wanted to learn it. At school, I eagerly practiced signing the alphabet, colors, and other basic words,” he gleamed.

“My parents were proud of me. I was surrounded by Deaf classmates. I was excited to learn new things. I am especially thankful to my father for finding a school where I could truly belong and grow,” he added.

In 2011, he completed his secondary education at the First High School for the Hearing Impaired, where he was named as the salutatorian and copped awards for leadership, community service, vocational excellence, and culture and the arts.

The young achiever took a certificate course in Computer Technology at Cebu Technological University and graduated in 2013. Afterward, he finished a three-month housekeeping training program at the School of Knowledge for Industrial Labor, Leadership, and Service.

He also acquired a Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) certification under the Philippine Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Competency Assessment.

Romulo landed a housekeeping job in Cebu but eventually left it to work at an orphanage in Manila, where he cared for Deaf children. There he shared his knowledge of FSL and values formation to help support their communication skills and growth.

His immediate superior in the non-government organization encouraged him to pursue a college degree. Determined to obtain a diploma, his heart was set on studying at Benilde, which offered accessible education and an inclusive environment for the Deaf community.

“I had Deaf friends who were already studying at Benilde, so I asked them about the application process and visited the school’s website,” he noted. “After learning more, I decided to apply for the BAPDST Program and a scholarship. I was so grateful when I received an email confirming that I had passed.”

Throughout his college years, Romulo had balanced academics with extra-curricular activities. Volunteerism was where he found meaning and purpose, while his church ministry involvement provided him with spiritual fulfillment.

He assumed various roles such as the chairperson of the 29th Deaf Festival, a core volunteer in the SDEAS Social Responsibility and Outreach Program, as well as a lector and altar server in the Lasallian Ministry Program for the Deaf. Added to his list of laurels is the Most Outstanding Student Leader and Volunteer at the 32nd Gawad Benildyano.

When school life was too overwhelming, the multi-talented Benildean turned to arts and other creative pursuits to relax and take care of his well-being.

“I have a passion for painting, which allows me to express my thoughts and emotions freely,” he shared. “I enjoy photography and video editing, where I can capture moments and tell stories visually.”

Dance and sports were also his playground and avenue to serve others.

“I performed with Silent Steps (the official Deaf Dance Group of SDEAS) and helped train fellow Deaf students in volleyball and basketball under the Deaf Benildean Sports Team,” he reminisced. “I never saw these responsibilities as obligations, but rather as opportunities to give back, to empower others, and to do ordinary things with extraordinary heart.”

Heart for service

After graduating from college, Romulo hopes to show his gratitude and appreciation to his family, who paved the way for him to achieve his goals.

“I am focusing on finding a job here in Manila, so I can support my aging parents who are currently living in Cebu. They both have maintenance medicines and daily needs, and I want to help them as much as I can. My siblings now have their own families, and I also hope to support them whenever possible,” Romulo noted.

His desire to pursue higher education never waned. Securing a scholarship at Gallaudet University, a Washington-based institution for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students, has always been his dream.

“If I am given a chance to study again, I would use that opportunity not only to grow personally but also to become a stronger advocate for the Deaf community,” he expressed. “I believe education is a powerful tool to bring change, and I am committed to using it with humility and purpose.”

Aside from taking up a master’s degree, Romulo also wishes to continue his advocacy and volunteer work to pass on his knowledge and help uplift the lives of the Filipino Deaf community.

“One of my most meaningful experiences was in Dipolog and Dapitan in Zamboanga Del Norte, where we taught FSL to public school teachers and facilitated values formation for the Deaf community,” he remembered. “I will never forget my volunteer work in Stairway Foundation Inc. in Mindoro and also the Deaf children of Bagong Ilog Elementary School in Pasig City.”

Romulo encourages others to be familiar with sign language, so they can easily connect with Deaf individuals. However, if one doesn’t know how to sign, he believes that the best way to communicate with the Deaf is to approach them with patience and respect.

“If they are interested to learn sign language, they can attend the FSL Learning Program in Benilde,” he suggested. “Most importantly, show humility and openness, understanding that communication is a shared effort and that your respect and sincerity mean to us Deaf.”

“Use clear facial expressions, gestures, and body language to help convey your message. Writing on paper, using a phone or text, or pointing to objects or images can also be helpful tools,” he advised.

The recent graduate likewise advocates having more Deaf-friendly facilities in the country to create an inclusive setting where everyone can feel welcome and valued. According to him, it would be ideal to acquaint Deaf employees with basic FSL and Deaf awareness so that they can better assist Deaf individuals with respect and understanding.

For announcements, he recommended the installation of clear, well-placed signs, digital displays, and visual information in public places such as government offices, public transportation, and schools.

“I want to include the Deaf community in consulting with regards to planning and decision-making so that our real needs are heard and addressed,” he proposed. “To the Deaf community, we also need to understand the culture of hearing people. We have to be humble, as we are also expecting them to be treated equally.”

Power of collective support

The famed African proverb “it takes a village to raise a child” rings true for the story of Romulo, who made sure to pay tribute to everyone who brought out the best in him during his entire journey as a Deaf student.

“My family, relatives, and the SDEAS team supported me every step of the way — academically, with transportation, and even with food (especially during term breaks when we’d bring enough to feed a small army, including a sack of bananas!). Their belief in me gave me hope,” Romulo conveyed in his graduation message.

In a flashback of sorts, his experience of serving 30 Deaf students in an elementary school made him nostalgic about his childhood days when access to inclusive education was sparse.

“Seeing those children’s dreams reflected my own, and I realized that our hands are not just for signing — they are for serving, inspiring, and creating,” he imparted.

Through his hard work and the collective effort of his loved ones, mentors, and supporters, Romulo has carved a bright future and plans to use his gifts to give back to the community that nurtured him.

“Graduation is more than a diploma; it's about growth, learning, and the responsibilities we now hold as Benildean alumni. We've embraced the values of service, perseverance, and community, which will guide us forward,” he relayed in his speech.

Romulo wrapped up his commencement address with a challenge for his fellow youth — Deaf and hearing alike — to spark a valuable impact to the nation with competence and empathy.

“As we step into the future, may we draw strength from our faith to inspire positive change. This is a new beginning, a chance to renew hope and lead with purpose. Let's serve the vulnerable, inspire change, and use our skills to build a compassionate, inclusive world, never forgetting those society overlooks,” he expressed.