Filipino food in Filipino Sign Language
I posted a few months ago about my Filipino Sign Language & Baybayin coloring sheets. Now I’d like to post all of the color artwork I made here, and share a bit more about the project.
After my cousin got me into taking Filipino Sign Language (FSL) classes, I decided to incorporate some of the signs featured in an FSL app for my Filipino Food Art project. The app, made by students and faculty at DLSU St. Benilde, is called FSL Buddy. It can be downloaded free for Android and iOS.
I wanted to highlight a Filipino language that wasn’t actually heard, but seen. Despite being an official language of the Philippines, FSL remains invisible to the Philippine public. Much like the Deaf community is to everyone else unfortunately.
That’s another thing I learned while taking Filipino Sign Language classes at De La Salle University (DLSU), St. Benilde. Misconceptions about deaf people are rampant in the Philippines, and across the world for that matter. Even the ways we refer to our deaf community is hurtful to the community. All this on top of constant discrimination in work, school, and life in general from “hearing society” plagues Deaf communities in the Philippines and beyond.
As a “hearing person” myself, I try my best to learn more signs even after taking basic classes in FSL. So I’m thankful the Deaf community at DLSU even took the time to create an app on learning the language. Yup, that’s another fact. Sign language is indeed a language.
The sign for “mangga” or mango in Filipino Sign Language is possibly inspired by the method in which mango is typically eaten in the Philippines.
The sign for bread or pan de sal is similar to the gestures a baker makes when packing pan de sal for a morning customer.
The sign for itlog maalat includes a gesture of cracking open an egg.
The sign for sibuyas or onion hints to its tear-inducing properties.
And finally the sign for ampalaya or bittermelon, one of my favorites. It portrays the bumpy surface and length of ampalaya.
Learn more Filipino Sign Language for free by downloading the app: Android and iOS.
Like or follow DLS-CSB School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies on Facebook here for more updates and opportunities to learn another Filipino language.