Use of Filipino sign language pushed

MANILA, Philippines —  Despite the presence of a law, advocates in the deaf community believe more needs to be done to promote Filipino Sign Language.

The FSL Act or Republic Act 11106, signed into law in October 2018, mandates it to become the national sign language as well as the official language in all government transactions involving the deaf.

Shaquille de Guzman, champion of the 2024 Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF)’s Gabi ng Parangal for his FSL poetry piece “A Heart of Motivation,” said he believed the FSL Act established the identity of the Filipino deaf community.

“I want to take a stand and show our culture. This is a dream I want to fulfill. The FSL is the language that gives us our identity and culture,” he told The STAR using sign language with the help of an interpreter.

In his acceptance speech, de Guzman said the Filipino deaf community should be seen as models for the preservation of FSL.

Asked where the effort to promote FSL should come from, de Guzman said the deaf community should lead.

“The deaf community should teach sign language. They should lead our efforts towards accessibility. It will also allow them to grow as a community.”