Programs and scholarships

• Speech and hearing services are part of the support plans available to all school students. Hearing tests and hearing aid fittings are provided on a case-by-case basis, and at no cost to the beneficiary.

• Dental Check-up through the City Health Dental Program

• Eye Check-up through private and government doctors

• Ear Check-up through government doctors

• Scholarships: Eligible families can receive scholarship grants to cover tuition, board, clothing, and other essential expenses. Please note that scholarships are capped at 2 students per family. To inquire about scholarships please contact the Welcome Home office.

EVENTS

In addition to the progressive curriculum (ranging from the sciences to the arts), school students are exposed to the greater world through a series of field trips and speaking engagements.

A living rosary is held each year to instill the Catholic values that guide WHFI and introduce the youth to a prayerful way of life. Moreover, this is a gathering where families and staff together can celebrate the successes and count the blessings of the previous year.

Nutrition month – teaching students and families about the importance of healthy eating and buying fresh fruit and vegetables.

Buwan ng Wika – embracing the national language and Filipino cultures

Advocacy

• Working with Philippine Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (PRID)- Bacolod Chapter subprograms.

• Networking with Visayas Ear Care Center.

• Partnering with secondary and tertiary educational institutions in the training of special educators for the Deaf.

• Child safety: We thank Barangay Taculing for building speed bumps on the street of the school. It is important that traffic is slowed down in school areas, especially when our students face greater risks. We thank Barangay Taculing for their cooperation and support.

• Healthy living: We thank the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Negros Occidental Chapter for renovating our school kitchen as part of their community outreach program! We thank them for sharing their blessings!

Staff Development

The curriculum for the Deaf is continuously developed through ongoing evaluations of instructional strengths and weaknesses. Administrators, teachers, and community workers collaborate during formal summer meetings to revise and improve the program.

Staff development also emphasizes both formal and informal sign language training, aligning with the national transition to Filipino Sign Language and recognizing the evolving nature of sign languages.

Course content

English: vocabulary, comprehension, and usage

Mathematics: fundamental arithmetic, logical reasoning, and basic bookkeeping

Agriculture: organic farming, vermiculture, aquaponics, outdoor carpentry, and agri-business

Hospitality: barista skills, serving customers and preparing food

Technical: computer literacy, typing efficiency, information gathering, and design

Income Generating Projects: students learn a range of skills including but not limited to Saori weaving, jewellery creation, and soap making.

Values Formation: catechism and ethics

Life Skills: healthy relationships, problem solving, work ethics, financial literacy, and psychosocial skills

Wellness: physical education, nutrition, and healthy living

Sign Language: Filipino Sign Language vocabulary and grammar

COLLEGE PREPARATION

At Welcome Home, college is not just for the hearing population. Many students express an interest in higher education, to study a variety of subjects ranging from special education to office administration, culinary arts to religious studies.

Preparation for national entrance exams includes structured learning of Tagalog, English and arithmetic. Analytical reasoning and spatial thinking are developed through timed practice exams and close monitoring of individual results.

We are proud to announce that several students have passed their college exams and are studying in Manilla at De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde.

In 2026 two of our LD graduates Nel Marie and Angelyn received full scholarships to study at the College of Saint Benilde. Jericho was accepted into La Consolacion College with the support of a scholarship from the US Peace Corps.

Employment and future pathways

Employability is the main goal for LD students, therefore vocational training is continuously developed.  Customized on-the-job training (internships) are provided for our students, to be completed in no less than 320 hours.

Furthermore, students are partnered with various organizations to gain further professional experience. This includes restaurants, hotels, schools, factories and farms in the Bacolod metropolitan area. In the past LD students have completed training offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Training has included Cookery, Massage therapy and Electrical work. 

Employment Partnerships

We are proud to say that several of our LD graduates have been employed by the following companies:

• Saravia Blue Crab, Inc. (whose workforce is now ~ 90% deaf)

• Natural Garden Cafe

• TESDA

• Nature’s Village

• McDonalds

• V&W Bakery

• L Fisher Hotel

• Halong Restaurant, Makati City

• Philippines Sports Commission

• Mothers Touch Massage Centre

• Landbank Cooperative

• Local, individual partners

Wellness Program

Physical examinations and regular health monitoring are provided to determine any problems for further referral, and provide an opportunity to teach families basic preventative medicine.  Healthy, complete meals (including milk and multivitamins) are served everyday to help maintain physical health and body weight.  In addition to nutrition, the staff teaches the children how to properly clean and care for themselves.

Parent Engagement

Parent workshops are provided free-of-charge. Monthly meetings update parents on the physical, educational, and moral progress made by their children. Staff and parents work together to prepare personalized learning plans, and community-based educational activities.  To supplement the children's learning, parents are taught the basics of proper hygiene, good nutrition, clean food processing techniques and bountiful vegetable gardening techniques. Moreover, catechesis and values education are offered to provide moral guidance and uplift the collective spirit.

Events

Nutrition Day - Families spend the day learning about healthy living through proper dietary nutrition.  Parents are assigned to research and report on nutritious food, while children engage in costumed parades of their favorite nutritious foods.

Araw ng Wika - This special day celebrates the unique culture and diversity of the Philippines, through song, dance and presentations.  Families wear costumes representing varied ethnic backgrounds, and many parents participate in our Bahay Kubo contest.

Field Trips - WHFI encourages parents and children to spend quality time together. In various educational field trips, staff and families explore new places, made new friends, tried new activities, and learn new concepts.

Community Christmas Party - Welcome Home celebrates Christmas early by inviting stakeholders in various partner communities to participate in an annual Christmas fiesta.  After Mass, the little angels of ADCC, Welcome Home School and other local programs provide entertainment in the form of song, dance, mime, and theater; furthermore, a Christmas meal is shared by everyone.