‘Put English subtitles in Phl films, TV shows’

MANILA, Philippines - An administration lawmaker called on Filipino film and television producers to add English subtitles into their shows to help improve the average Filipino’s proficiency in what is considered to be the world’s recognized international language.

House Assistant Majority Leader and Cebu Rep. Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr. suggested the subtitling of English translation and transcript of the audio portion of a Filipino movie or show that is visible to all viewers.

As the program plays, Gullas proposed subtitles in English should be also shown describing what could have been said or heard.

“If we can re-record or dub foreign-language telenovelas in Filipino, then surely we can also put English subtitles in locally produced shows,” Gullas said.

“Subtitling will contribute to our learning and use of English, considering the mass appeal of Filipino movies and TV programs,” he said.

Gullas said Filipinos with skills to sell may now aspire to seek gainful employment in any corner of the world because of globalization.

This has underlined the need for Filipinos to master English, which is not only the world’s working language, but also the language of technology, he said.

“There’s no question that young Filipinos with superior English skills are bound to enjoy greater employment opportunities in the technology-driven global labor markets of the future,” Gullas said.

Gullas is author of a bill seeking to reinforce the use of English in all school levels, in a bid to make the nation’s future labor force participants highly competitive.