As Filipinos tune in to political leaders and public health officials delivering daily updates on the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, Filipino sign language interpreters are highly essential to help relay the news even to the deaf community.
With the recent addition of FSL interpreters in news programs like 24 Oras, Kapuso star Janine Gutierrez couldn’t help but praise the news program.
On Twitter, the 30-year-old actress wrote: “So good that there’s Filipino Sign Language on the news now. Sana tuloy-tuloy na, even when the crisis is over.”
https://twitter.com/janinegutierrez/status/1252215100951293957
Aside from the GMA Network, ABS-CBN also included FSL interpreters in delivering news in their news programs.
Netizens couldn’t agree more with Janine and aired their reactions.
A fan who noticed the addition of the FSL interpreters in 24 Oras commented, “I grew up watching GMA news with that. Ewan ko lang kung bakit nila tinaggal and yes, nakaka-happy na mayroon na uli.”
I grew up watching GMA news with that, ewan ko lang bakit nila tinanggal, and yes, nakaka-happy na mayroon na uli. ☺️
— itel here ᴬᴰᴺ (@guaniocrystelle) April 20, 2020
Furthermore, Janine received praise from the netizens especially the Filipino deaf community for showing her support of FSL in news programs.
One netizen commented, “Much appreciated your thoughtfulness and supporting our #Deafcommunity. I hope one day you may learn the #FilipinoSignLanguage to communicate with deaf people.”
To which Janine replied with, “I’m trying to learn!!”
https://twitter.com/justmemilife/status/1252469817690386432
In reply to a Twitter user, Janine revealed that she’s familiar with the sign language alphabet since her school days but she aims to learn some more.
https://twitter.com/janinegutierrez/status/1252543634525708288
One netizen also replied, “Very appreciated of your word to support our FSL access to give an opportunity our Filipino Deaf community po.”
https://twitter.com/IamgodOfsilent/status/1252466489803694085
“Thank you so much!!! I appreciated it!! You can learn it the sign language! Love ya! I always support you! Stay home and be safely God bless! I am proud to be Deaf anyway notice me I am deaf.”
https://twitter.com/KimmyaNicole21/status/1252634278577373184
In 2018, The Republic Act 11106 or The Filipino Sign Language Act was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte declaring FSL as the “national sign language of the Filipino Deaf and the official sign language of government in all transactions involving the deaf, and mandating its use in schools, broadcast media, and workplaces.”
Section 10 states, “Filipino Sign Language shall be the language of broadcast media interpreting and that the interpreter insets are required in news and public affairs programs.”
