FILIPINO SIGN LANGUAGE

Filipino Sign Language or FSL is the primary form of

communication between members in the local deaf
community. FSL is believed to be part of the French Sign
Language family. It has been strongly influenced by American
Sign Language (ASL) since the establishment in 1907 of the
School for the Deaf and Blind (SDB) (now the Philippine School
for the Deaf) by Delia Delight Rice (18833 1964), an American
Thomasite teacher born to deaf parents.

In terms of grammar, there are differences and similarities

between FSL and ASL. There are similarities in terms of hand
shapes, positioning, hand location, movement, facial
expression, and palm orientation. But the conversation and
discourse are different depending on the culture.

FSL AS A LAW
Last October 30, 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte signed RA
11106 3 An Act Declaring The Filipino Sign Language 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 wherein this act shall be
known as “The Filipino Sign Language Act”.

With this, the State also furthers the vision taken with the Early
Years Act (Republic Act No. 10410) and the Enhanced Basic
Education Act (Republic Act No. 10533), which have
already recognized Filipino Sign Language in the education of
the deaf learners from early childhood up to the secondary
level.