MikeLigalig.com

Written By Gregorio A. Tavera
Bohol Sunday Post

An adopted daughter, Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) Regina Russo of New York, USA visited Jagna after 20 years of hiatus.

Having spent fruitful moments with the folks here in the past, a warm welcome met her on her return after 20 years as she joined the local officials, government employees and old acquaintances when she visited the municipal hall.

Russo was here way back in 1983 during the administration of Mayor Alexander Villacastin.
          
In fact, Mayor Villacastin offered a piece of his land nearby his residence for Russo who opted to stay alone in a dwelling house.

It can be recalled that this hearing-impaired New Yorker started the sign language class here in 1983.

This could have been her significant contribution on the development of the hearing impaired education in this part of the province.

The sign language then was under the deaf education program financed by the Bohol Foundation for the Deaf and Disabled (BFDD) before it was absorbed by the Department of Education (DepEd).

Russo facilitated then the employment of Visitacion Soquillo and Anita Gumapac, both from Sagbayan town to be the pioneer teachers.

The mayor had then affirmed the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) resolution, adopting Russo as a daughter of Jagna.

She had, from time to time, gone home to New York for a few months.

While in New York, she had maintained contact with the deaf-mute class teachers here on the development of their work.

Even as Russo was already in the US, her generosity and keen interest on civic and religious projects for the folks here continued.

She even continued to respond to some solicitations from civic and religious projects here.

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