The Ecclesiastical District of Bay Area California on September 14, 2025 organized a Career Fair and a Sign Language (SL) Seminar-Workshop.

Both were held at the Burlingame Function Hall under the supervision of the district Christian Family Organizations (CFO) overseer Brother Alfred Alexis Lorido.

Career Fair

The attendees of the Career Fair, mostly officers and members of Binhi  organization and Christian Brotherhood International (CBI) gained basic insights on pursuing careers in biotechnology, education, healthcare, law and justice. These were shared to them by brethren recognized as experts or professionals in the said fields who volunteered as resource speakers.

“This career fair is more than just an event—it’s a powerful way to foster bonds between generations, thereby guiding students toward a brighter future,” remarked Brother Lorido. “By connecting with their brothers and sisters in the Church who are in their chosen fields, the young members gained confidence and inspiration, having been given the chance to explore real-world paths, ask questions, and see how their interests can grow into purpose-driven careers.”

“We conducted surveys on what professions the brethren might be interested in,” shared CBI district president Rushlenne Pascual. “We even researched about these careers, its required courses, to keep enthusiasts informed as well as prepared when they’d be entering those fields.”

SL seminar, workshop

District Christian Society for the Deaf (CSD) officers organized an activity entitled “American Sign Language Seminar and Workshop: Supporting Individuals with Special Needs.”

Aside from “helping the brethren learn about Sign Language,” the activity was aimed at “enabling them to communicate with the Deaf brethren, being their concern and love for them,” said district CSD adviser Brother Darrell Gallardo.

District CSD officer Paola Gutierrez explained the importance of learning SL and how one can do so by enrolling at the New Era University for its Certificate Program for Sign Language Interpreters (CPSLI) and through the Iglesia Ni Cristo Sign Language App. She then taught the attendees the basic signs, such as the alphabet.

District CSD president Aim Carolino, a special education teacher in Bay Area, California, discussed a presentation on how to better support individuals with special needs and promote inclusivity. — With reports from Sophia Trigonis