Dinner and Auction to Build a Learning Center for Deaf Children

There are over 1.7 million Filipinos who are hearing impaired, according to 2020 data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). This substantial segment of the population experiences a wide range of challenges, including communication barriers, limited access to information, educational hurdles, social stigma, and a lack of quality employment opportunities.

For Gen Diokno—who was born deaf but successfully completed her grade school and high school education at the Southeast Asian Institute for the Deaf, and also earned a Diploma in Computer Operations from Miriam College—one of her primary struggles was finding a job that catered to her skill sets.

"I've had 30-plus years of work experience. I've tried different kinds of jobs. I was working really hard. But I felt that people were blocking my promotion because of my being deaf. I was given very limited work, but I know in myself, in my heart, that I can do more," she shares.

Gen Diokno, founder of Hand and Heart, a social enterprise aimed at empowering the deaf community by facilitating access to gainful employment.

Empowering the Deaf

So in 2018, after considerable reflection, she, together with fellow volunteer advocates Dave Mariano and Elyse Go—who serve as sign language interpreters, teachers, and deaf awareness lecturers—founded Hand and Heart, a social enterprise aimed at empowering the deaf community by facilitating access to gainful employment.

"From my experience with the deaf community, I've observed that they have many dreams and aspirations but often fear lacking the support or opportunities to realize them," Diokno observes. "So my goal is to empower them, that even as deaf individuals, we are just the same as everyone else."

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When Diokno's 45-year-old alma mater, considered one of the best schools for the deaf, closed down six years ago, it inspired her to establish a learning center specifically designed to cater to the educational needs of deaf children. Today, a common challenge for the deaf community is that most children are placed in mainstream schools, often grouped with other organizations or classes facing different learning challenges, which often stunts their educational development.

One of the items to be auctioned: The Naked Watchmaker X Frederique Constant Slimline Perpetual Calendar Manufacture (Ref. FC-775TVW4S6)  

Artful Hands, Open Hearts

“The learning center aims to bridge the gap that exists so that good employment opportunities are more accessible for the deaf and hard of hearing in the future. It is a way to break the glass ceiling that exists due to the limited opportunities for growth and development for deaf children,” says Diokno.

Helping to make this dream come true for Hand and Heart are Discovery Primea, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, and Canada Hardware, which brought together an exclusive four-hands dinner with celebrity chef Sharwin Tee and Discovery Primea’s Luis Chikiamco called "Artful Hands, Open Hearts." The event will be on April 7, 2025, at Discovery Primea’s Cervantes and Shakespeare Ballrooms.

An Arturo Luz painting is one of the artworks to be auctioned.

The dinner will also feature a silent auction with works from art masters, contemporary artists, PWD artists, and private items donated by celebrities. Net proceeds from the dinner and auction will go towards building and operating the envisioned Hand and Heart Learning Center for Deaf Children.

The auction selection comes from donations of celebrity and philanthropist Heart Evangelista’s personal collection, art pieces by masters Arturo Luz, Ramon Orlina, and BenCab from Unique Bisyo’s catalog, art pieces by celebrated Father of Philippine Art Workshops Fernando “Nanding” Sena, and paintings by contemporary artists Jesse Esplana and Michael Sagaran, and PWD artists from different parts of the Philippines.

From left: Chef Sharwin Tee; Elyse Go and Gen Diokno of Hand & Heart; Discovery Primea's general manager David Pardo de Ayala; Chef Luis Chikiamco; and Rossana Unson of Discovery Primea at the intimate press dinner to launch "Artful Hands, Open Hearts." 

Hand and Heart has also received contributions from entrepreneurs and private donors like Nattural Quality Corporation, FishnChix, Multilingual, Expedise PH, CAMP, sculptor Ramon Orlina, DSWD Undersecretary Emeline Aglipay Villar, CVM Pawnshop, Jollibee, The Watch Store, Unique Bisyo, Dentiste, and Nobu.

Seats are limited and available through Hand and Heart for a PHP 18,000 donation per seat, excluding taxes. Corporate table sponsorships are also offered. Contact Aimee Buzeta, Business Development Executive, at 0962-5042737 or [email protected].