11/03/2026
In observance of World Hearing Day with the theme for 2026, βFrom communities to classrooms: hearing care for all children,β Hard of Hearing Group Philippines led by President Vins Balingan through the coordination of Accessibility Officer Gara Bosque collaborated with Ear and Hearing Wellness Institute at The Specialists Surgery & Cancer Center through ENT specialist Dr. Joyce Sagun; the school authorities of Bagong Silang High School headed by Principal Dr. Alvin Angus with SNED Coordinator Ernesto Cruz; concerned parents; and officials of Barangay 176-B Bagong Silang, Caloocan City led by Barangay Chairman Sammy De Guzman Reyes, to bring hearing care directly to learners with confirmed and suspected hearing loss at Bagong Silang High School, Caloocan City on March 10, 2026.
The collaboration delivered specialist ear and hearing screening services by Dr. Sagun together with Dr. Nikki Fortuno, Mr. Kenzo Navarro, a volunteer from the ADMU Health Sciences Program, and nursing and marketing staff of TSSCC, not only to students but also to a few teachers who availed themselves of the free ENT checkup. Learners found with significant hearing disability were referred for further medical evaluation, while those who could still benefit from amplification were provided free hearing aids courtesy of Australian Rotarians PDG Danny Low and Dr. Angeline Low.
By fusing the advocacy and coordination of HOHGP, the clinical expertise of The Specialists Surgery and Cancer Center, the support of school authorities, barangay officials, parents, and civil society organizations, this intersectoral collaboration demonstrated a practical model of communityβschool partnership for early detection and intervention in hearing loss among school-age children, helping ensure that students can hear, learn, and participate more fully not only in the classroom but in society.
Photos courtesy of Ms. Gara Bosque, Barangay 176-B, and the Bagong Silang High School SNED faculty.