Members of the Filipino Deaf Community participated in a review of the Filipino Sign Language (FSL) New Testament translation on April 28–29 at the Philippine Bible Society (PBS) Ministry Center in Manila.
Eight deaf participants examined selected passages from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, providing feedback to improve clarity, accuracy, and natural expression in Filipino Sign Language. The review sessions were conducted by the FSL Bible Translation Team in coordination with PBS Translation Officer Ptr. Alvin Bailon and FSL Ministry Coordinator Ptr. Jojo Mahinan.
Participants assessed how biblical concepts were rendered in sign language and suggested revisions where meaning, flow, or cultural expression needed improvement. Their input forms part of the formal “community check” stage of the translation process, which allows native FSL users to evaluate whether the text communicates Scripture accurately and naturally.
The Filipino Sign Language New Testament translation is part of an ongoing initiative led by the Philippine Bible Society to make Scripture accessible to deaf Filipinos in their primary language. The project involves linguists, deaf consultants, and translation specialists working together to ensure accuracy in both meaning and expression.
PBS said community review sessions are a critical step in the translation workflow, helping confirm that the text reflects both biblical meaning and FSL usage among deaf communities in the Philippines.
Filipino Sign Language was declared the national sign language under Republic Act 11106, which mandates its use in education, government transactions, and official communication access for deaf Filipinos. The law also supports the development of FSL-based educational and communication resources, including Bible translation efforts, to strengthen accessibility for deaf individuals nationwide.
The PBS FSL Bible project continues alongside other deaf ministry initiatives, with additional review sessions planned as translation work progresses toward completion of the New Testament.
