Special Training Employment Advocacy and Management Deaf Persons Foundation Inc and 1st Case Conference on Mainstreaming Deaf Youths, held recently at

Special Training Employment Advocacy and Management Deaf Persons Foundation Inc
Chairperson Aga Muhlach is joined by Her Excellency Austrilan ambassador to the Philippines Ruth Pearce in the 1st Case Conference on Mainstreaming Deaf Youths, held recently at the Development Academy of the Philippines.

We know Aga Muhlach handsome and kind-hearted sitcom guy on ABS-CBN.He’s even more popular with the romantic and heart-warming roles he essays in his movies. He is all these and much more.

Up close, Aga is warm, funny and a dignified man. It was a real privilege to see him again (our very first meeting was in the launch of his “MaAga Ang Pasko” in September 2000) in person. In this second encounter with Aga, gone were the fans who regularly trail him wherever he goes, or the boyish and bedimpled smile he never forgets to flash when stepping into a room of showbiz people.

Aga- undeniably one of the biggest male stars of his generation and one of the highest paid in his class-was different when we got the chance to rub elbows with him in the recent “1st Case Conference on Mainstreaming Deaf Youths, “ held at the Development Academy of the Philippines in Pasig City.


Dressed in black pants, off white barong-tagalog and a pair of black leather shoes, Aga’s easy and warm smile had relaxed us for this interview.

Many things are happening in Aga’s life and sure many of us want to hear more of his life, love story and his passion for the Deaf People…

Aga on his life and Love
Aga’s life has always been an open book. Being in the biz world since his teen years (remember he stared in “Bagets”), he has had almost everything’s. And like an order. “Bagets 1 & 2 “Miguelito,” “Sinungaling Mong Puso,” “May Minamahal”, “Nagiisang Bituin”, ” Sana Maulit Muli”, Forever”, “Oki Doki Dok The Movie”, “Dahil May Isang Ikaw” and “ Alam Mo Na Ba Ang L8est?” among many others.

Before he tied the knot last year with former beauty titlist Charlene Gonzalez, his lovelife was as colorful as his roles as an actor. How many women did he get involved with before he found his pretty wife.

As known to many, there was Janice de Belen (with whom he has a lovechild by the name of Igi Boy) Mikee Conjuangco, Aiko Melendez and Dayanara Torres. And as far as we can recall, there were talks of marriage when he be-productive inspite of their particular disability? What can Deaf Persons do which will have value to someone else?

These individuals many not be capable of hearing but seeing them strive to live a normal life really touched our hearts.

Aga’s commitment to his project for Deaf People is of public knowledge. This all began in 1997 when he was joined by three Deaf-and-Normal kids in a Jollibee TV Commercial to raise toys for “MaAga Ang Pasko” According to Rose Vergara of the Special Training Employment Advocacy and Management Deaf Persons Foundation Inc.

(STEAMDPFI), of which Aga is the chairperson, she got Jollibee and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to create a training and employment program for the Deaf People as Members of the Community.

Whoever said that hearing disability is a barrier for excellence? Members of the press (us included) were moved after hearing their testimonies and life stories. Now we clearly understand them.

These concerns, Aga attends to in the midst of a hectic work schedule. Right now, he is filming a Star Cinema movie production which he will co-star with Claudine Barretto.

When asked what could be his greated influence in this project, the 32 years old Aga answered: “Bilang tagapangsalita nila ako sa lahat ng mga projects na gagawin. In my own little way, maiparamdam ko sana sa kanila na mayroon silang buhay. At iyon ang gusto kong ibigay sa kanila.”

(For more of our Deaf Brothers and Sisters, you can visit them in Rose H. Vergara Women in Fashion Boutique along Roces Avenue Cor. Quezon Avenue, and at The Aga Muhlach Centre for the Deaf in Sct. Tobias Quezon City.