NCDA lauds GMA7 for its a history making a streaming news 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  first ever SONA, heard live  by thousands of deaf citizens through a sign language interpreter, thanks to GMA7’s  kapuso  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 “Jojo” Esposa Jr. tipped off the Council day before the President’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’s humble but noble pronouncements. Loud and clear through the interpreter, they too applauded his marching orders to ban undue use of “wang wangs” (sirens) and his call to fight corruption in his inaugural speech. Most of all, his “Kayo ang Boss ko” (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 NCDA SubCommittee on ICT and President of the Philippine Web Accessibility Group (PWAG), an online advocacy group created by NCDA 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’s Secretary Leila de Lima’s most applauded line at the Opening of the “32nd National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week last July 17, 2010 in Sky Dome SM City. And we quote “ Justice for All would not be possible, without Justice for Persons with Disabilities!”. 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.

NCDA salutes GMA7 and those who pitched in, to make our new President’s SONA a “world hour” for every Filipino, here and in many parts of the world.