Deaf advocate says Mocha and blogger’s vid brought to mind disrespect, hurt

An advocate for the Deaf community on Monday decried how Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson and a blogger supposedly mocked sign language.

In a Facebook post, one Ma. Anaditha Maico Angcay said that sign language should not be treated as a joke as it served as the "bridge between hearing advocates and deaf people."

"I have seen your video, how you made fun of deaf people's sign language. I cannot describe how offensive your actions were in your video," Angcay said, addressing Uson and blogger Drew Olivar.

"Do you know the struggles of deaf people around the world? We are born to all sorts of communication barriers and discrimination all of our lives," she added.

Angcay said Uson and Olivar's video brought to mind how people disrespected her with similar gestures.

"It has hurt me a lot because I cannot fight back," Angcay said. "How would you feel if others say bad words to you? Angry? Hurt? Disrespected? That is how we feel with your video... we felt disrespected."

In a September 14 video posted on Uson's Facebook account, Olivar was seen flailing his arms around in pretend sign language.

Netizens, as well as non-governmental organization PWD Philippines, found Olivar's miming of an impaired person insulting and offensive.

Angcay called on Uson and Olivar to think and understand how their actions had shown disrespect to deaf people, adding that Filipino sign language would soon be passed into law as it was only waiting for the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte.

"For all the Filipino deaf, it’s our hope for equality and equal access when FSL passes into law," Angcay said.

"From all people, we should feel respected and protected by people from our government. We deserve deaf-equality and freedom from many years of experiencing oppression with our natural sign language," she added.

The Senate has passed on third and final reading Senate Bill No. 1455, which seeks to recognize Filipino Sign Language (FSL) as the national sign language, and which endeavors to bring FSL to the mainstream to give the deaf community better access to government services, information, education, and justice.

Once enacted into law, the FSL will become the official mode of communication for the deaf seeking government services, with trained interpreters placed in various government offices to assist deaf citizens.

The measure also aims to make FSL as means of interpretation in broadcast media, delivering news and information consistently to the deaf community. — NB, GMA News