By KC Santos
JAGNA, BOHOL - Just an hour away from the bustling streets of Tagbilaran, the IDEA Pension House and Garden Café is a frequent stopover for tourists traveling in Bohol.
The café was established by the International Deaf Education Institute (IDEA) to give the deaf community of Bohol an opportunity to live a normal and productive life.
At least one third of the place’s workforce is composed of deaf employees. IDEA Pension House and Garden Café manager Apple Gunday says starting the business was challenging at first.
“We didn’t only learn their language. We took it to heart because sometimes, even sign language cannot deliver what they truly want to say,” Apple says.
To make them more efficient workers, Apple says the deaf were designated in the kitchen and food service. Some of them were designated cleaners of the rooms in the pension house.
“The very point of taking them out there is for them to be more comfortable by showing customers that they are normal just like everybody else,” Apple says.
The menu has illustrations of basic sign language. Most of the illustrations refer to basic food or beverages commonly ordered by guests. “It’s a little awkward for first-time customers,” she says.
The food at the IDEA Pension House and Garden Café is a mix of American and Filipino cuisine. The menu is straight-to-the-point and affordable but everything took a while to get served.
Some of the specialties include the Curried Chicken Stew (P80), Grilled Chicken Barbeque (P85), calamares (P155), and Grilled Pork Belly (P125), among others.
Apple says tourists would normally doze off in the pension house for quick power naps. Guests can choose from deluxe rooms (P850) to dormitory style room (P450).
Unfortunately for big groups, all the rooms available are good for two persons only.
Aside from employing deaf workers, the pension house also uses some of its income for the education of over 60 deaf students who are all IDEA scholars.
