Meet Bayani Generoso Jr., the sign language interpreter who went viral after dancing to 'Oohh Lala Baby' on national TV

When you're watching a news program, you might remember the headlines, the reporters, or the people being interviewed—but you don’t always notice the interpreter in the corner of your TV screen.

That changed when sign language interpreter Bayani Generoso Jr. made the rounds online for his animated performance during the July 2 broadcast of Unang Hirit.

During the episode, Filipino girl group Baby Dolls made a special guest appearance and performed their hit song Oohh Lala Baby.

Generoso could have just interpreted the lyrics, but he went above and beyond to match the song’s playful energy with expressive signing and a few dance steps of his own, turning a small box on the screen into the center of attention.

@krbby_ptty17 Ohhh Lala ang galing ng interpreter 🎤 @showtimebabydolls new member? 😅 #ohhlalababydancechallenge #babydolls #unanghirit ♬ original sound - pattytotie

After the clip gained traction online, Generoso received praise from viewers who were impressed by his energy and dedication. Some even joked that he deserves a pay raise or that he had become an “unofficial member” of Baby Dolls.

In an interview with PhilSTAR L!fe, he shared that he used Filipino Sign Language to interpret the song. The process, however, involves more than translating words.

"In addition to interpreting the content and lyrics, interpreters should also include emotions, affect, cultural mediation, and context to get message equivalency," he said.

For Generoso, the goal was not only to make the song accessible but also to capture the experience of watching a performance.

“FSL is a visual language, which has similar attributes to dance like movement and style,” he explained. “I included a little bit of the choreography knowing that Deaf audiences would not just be looking at my interpretation but would be watching the performance of the Baby Dolls as well.”

Because of this, his way of interpreting the song became a viral hit among viewers.

“I’m just glad the general audience is also appreciating my work. It tells me that accessibility is truly happening when Deaf and hearing people are both enjoying the song,” he said.

This wasn’t his first time going viral for interpreting Filipino music through sign language. Generoso previously landed on social media feeds with his interpretation of SB19’s DAM last year.

@lenycabangbang #teamcabangbang #foryou #foryoupage #unanghirit #sb19 ♬ original sound - Leny Cabangbang

Finding his calling

Generoso’s journey as an interpreter began in Canada, where he first became involved with the Deaf community.

His early exposure to it came through a Deaf co-worker at a bank. During their weekly business meetings, he would see interpreters provide access and communication for his Deaf colleague.

“My Deaf friend encouraged me to quit my comfortable job at the bank and go back to school full time to pursue interpreting, which is where I truly found my calling,” he recalled.

In 2012, Generoso moved to the Philippines, where he eventually settled in San Pablo City, Laguna.

“As a reverse-balikbayan, I’ve found my home, family, and purpose in the Philippines and will continue to serve the Deaf community the best way I can,” he said.

However, the road wasn't always easy.

“Interpreting the news is a challenge because you really need to know what’s going on in order to interpret effectively,” he said.

Without proper understanding of the context, interpreters risk producing what Generoso described as “Sign Salad”—a collection of signs that may look correct individually but fail to communicate the intended meaning.

“There is a general misconception that interpreting is just signing words when they come out,” he said. “But remember that FSL is a visual language with its own set of grammatical rules and linguistic features. Interpreters have to interpret meaning, and not just signed glossed-words.”

Interpreting music is even more challenging, as it requires an understanding of rhythm, style, and movement.

“You need a hyper awareness of physicality and spatial awareness, which are skills I’m continually learning up until now, and I’ve been in the profession for over two decades,” he said. 

Beyond the viral moment

According to Generoso, the confidence he displayed while interpreting Oohh Lala Baby came from his background in theater, improv, and acting, having served as president of his high school drama club and auditioned for television, movies, commercials, and community theater.

He has likewise interpreted several theater productions in both the Philippines and Canada. “Having a performance background definitely helps me turn the butterflies in my stomach into adrenaline when I’m about to perform,” he said. “It also enables me to detach from my shyness and be willing to humiliate myself in front of an audience if needed.” 

Behind the fun reactions, however, he hopes that people will see his viral moment as an opportunity to learn more about FSL and Deaf inclusion.

“I really do enjoy my work; this is why I do my best to put it all out there. I'm known to prepare myself to the max when it comes to interpreting, in any setting but especially for music," he said. “I hope this attention to Filipino Sign Language will lead to a deeper conversation about Deaf access to where it really matters, such as hospitals, courts, schools, and social services.”

For those interested in learning FSL, he encouraged them to learn from Deaf teachers, emphasizing that language and culture are deeply connected.

“Language and culture are intertwined, and the best teachers to help you understand Deaf culture are Deaf people. Understanding culture will enable you to learn the language more effectively, especially with your receptive skills,” he told L!fe.

Generoso called on Filipinos to help push for greater accessibility in important spaces, including healthcare, education, the justice system, and government services.

“I see positive changes, but we are still falling behind in terms of equity,” he said. “And kung napa ‘Oh La La’ ka sa giling ko, I hope it doesn’t end with admiration. Let’s take action to lift up our Deaf brothers and sisters. Let’s invite them to the table for true representation and not tokenism.”

Want to learn sign language? You can take classes at Deaf and Terp Inc.