Meet Bayani Generoso, the sign language interpreter who went viral for 'Gento,' 'Butata' entries

The interpreter is Bayani Generoso Jr., who has previously gone viral for his interpretations of SB19's "Gento" and Pablo's "Butata."

A passionate advocate for the Deaf community, he makes sure that they are represented properly and receive the same treatment as those who are hearing.

Learning sign language

Bayani was born in the Philippines but moved to Canada when he was three years old. He is fully hearing with only one Deaf relative–whom he met when he was already working as an interpreter–but learned sign language when he worked at a bank in Canada.

He heard that a Deaf customer service representative would be coming in to work with them and felt that it was the most opportune time to start learning sign language.

"I went to the library. I borrowed some videos and some books so that when this Deaf person came to work for us, I was able to communicate, and he really appreciated it," he told GMA News Online.

During their business meetings, interpreters would come in for his co-employee. Bayani told his Deaf friend that he wanted to sign as fluently as the interpreters.

Bayani first learned American Sign Language (ASL) while in Canada, but he later learned Filipino Sign Language (FSL) when he moved back to the Philippines in 2012.

"It was so fun, like I was with the Deaf community, and we went to waterfalls, we went to caves, and like all these different places together," he said. "So I got a chance to see the Philippines on a deeper level, and at the same time learn FSL."

After that year, Bayani went to Manila to look for work, and started as a sign language teacher at a Deaf school.

Interpreting on TV

It was during the pandemic when Bayani started to work as an FSL interpreter for television. He and a group of interpreters volunteered to interpret the news on various networks for the Deaf.

"S'yempre, can you imagine na oh, ang daming lockdowns. Things are happening, and Deaf do not have access to that. They don't know what's going on," he said. "There was a clamor from the Deaf community, 'We want access. We want to know what's going on.'"

Now, he works as one of the rotating FSL interpreters on GMA Network news programs like "Unang Hirit," "Dapat, Alam Mo!" "Balitanghali," "State of the Nation," "Saksi" and "24 Oras," making sure that everybody in the Deaf community receives the news.

For news items, he would take on the character of interviewees and try to get into their headspace. But for songs and performances, Bayani takes it up a notch higher.

Not only would Bayani smoothly interpret the lyrics of the songs, he would also groove to its instrumentals and let viewers see and feel the emotions of the songs.

"There's nothing more boring to see if an interpreter has no expression and it's just words, words, words. It's basically like you're reading something off a piece of paper," he said.

His efforts have not gone unnoticed. A'TIN, the fans of SB19, took video clips of his interpretations and shared them on social media for more people to appreciate.

"I really want to give justice to that performer, to that song," he said. "I put everything into it. Like, every single time that my hands are in the air, I feel like it's a gift."

Before a show, Bayani receives the lineup and script for the day. Then he would rehearse his signs and even the choreography should he interpret a song that day.

He said that his expressiveness comes from his love for dance and theater, having worked on a stage play in Canada. In turn, he gives the songs and news items more dynamics.

"One of the things that an interpreter has to have access to is their emotions," Bayani said. "We're like a vessel for communication, so a lot of the time we have to be clear of mind and clear of visual noises, but at the same time, be able to access that emotion if we need to kasi, it gives that extra affect for the Deaf."

"Once you're an interpreter, you start to develop a hyper sense of empathy. And when you see people suffering and crying and struggling, you can't help but feel it, right?" he said.

All for the Deaf community

As an interpreter, Bayani hopes to shine a spotlight on Deafness. He wants to see Deaf people treated fairly and make sure they have access to information and entertainment, among others.

"As somebody who cares and loves them, [I can't help] wanting to lift them up and, you know, allow them to recognize and achieve their full potential," he said. "Maybe I was a Deaf person in another life, and that's why, you know, I was sent here."

Bayani also hopes to see a Filipino Deaf doctor and other Deaf people in various professions someday.

"Once that happens, it means I know that maayos na 'yung system, maayos na 'yung education. People are aware, and there's more [openness to] hiring deaf people and that kind of stuff, the stigma is gone."

"We only see interpreters really, in the news, sa media. And one of the things that I hope is that mapalawak, din 'to not just for news, but also entertainment, for music, for all settings," he said. "I wish there was no need for interpreters and everybody can sign to each other. That's one of the dreams I had." —MGP, GMA Integrated News