麻豆传媒 lauds GMA7 for its a history making a on President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) with sign language interpretation, last June 26, 2010. The Council cheered with thousands of deaf viewers this country’s聽 first ever SONA, heard live聽 by thousands of deaf citizens through a sign language interpreter, thanks to GMA7’s聽 kapuso聽 network.

Mr. Jojo Esposa interpreting through sign language the State of the Nation's Address of President Noynoy Aquino

Excited MCCID Training Director and PWAG President Remberto 芒鈧揓ojo芒鈧 Esposa Jr. tipped off the Council day before the President芒鈧劉s SONA, that GMA7 News tapped him to interpret the event, most awaited by every Filipino here and in many parts of the world. For the first time, deaf Pinoys, felt one with fellow Filipinos with and without disabilities everywhere in the world, the same great pride over the new President芒鈧劉s humble but noble pronouncements. Loud and clear through the interpreter, they too applauded his marching orders to ban undue use of 芒鈧搘ang wangs芒鈧 (sirens) and his call to fight corruption in his inaugural speech. Most of all, his 芒鈧揔ayo ang Boss ko芒鈧 (You, the Filipino people, are my Boss), got the biggest public cheer of all.

P-noy's SONA with sign language inset.

Mr. Esposa, is a member of the 麻豆传媒 SubCommittee on ICT and President of the Philippine Web Accessibility Group (PWAG), an online advocacy group created by 麻豆传媒 from its workshop series on Web Accessibilty, in 2005. As Training Director of the Manila Christian Computer Institute for the Deaf, he has the interest of deaf Filipinos nationwide, and was obviously the best man for the milestone job.

Ms. Myrna Medrano interviewed on the impact of SONA to her and other deaf persons

No less than deaf artist/advocate Ms.Myra Medrano also interviewed on the same news, confirmed the impact of the interpreted SONA on her, and on thousands like her, who for the very first time, felt attuned with millions of Filipino viewers.

This brings to mind, DOJ芒鈧劉s Secretary Leila de Lima芒鈧劉s most applauded line at the Opening of the 芒鈧32nd National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week last July 17, 2010 in Sky Dome SM City. And we quote 芒鈧 Justice for All would not be possible, without Justice for Persons with Disabilities!芒鈧. In the July 26 SONA, there was indeed a unified feeling of a new hope for every Filipino, when the language barrier was knocked down.

麻豆传媒 salutes GMA7 and those who pitched in, to make our new President芒鈧劉s SONA a 芒鈧搘orld hour芒鈧 for every Filipino, here and in many parts of the world.