I-Witness: A Legacy of Service
In 1999, Jessica Soho and other innovators at GMA-7, spearheaded by Marissa Flores, embarked on an ambitious experiment: to gauge Filipino audiences' readiness for a long-form documentary show featuring in-depth discussions of pressing issues, a departure from the usual news format. This groundbreaking initiative led to the birth of I-Witness, a pioneering force in TV documentaries that has since become the most celebrated documentary program in the Philippines.
Marking its 25th anniversary in 2024, I-Witness has achieved the distinction of being the longest-running Public Affairs program in the country, a remarkable feat in a fiercely competitive industry. Its enduring success can be attributed to its refusal to rest on its laurels, even with a legacy that includes some of the most illustrious names in Philippine broadcasting.
Over the years, I-Witness has served as a training ground for broadcasting icons such as Jessica Soho, Mike Enriquez, Mel Tiangco, Jay Taruc, Sandra Aguinaldo, Cheche Lazaro, Luchi Cruz-Valdes, and Vicky Morales, all of whom honed their skills in I-Witness productions. The show's commitment to excellence extends behind the camera, with leading producers and directors receiving cutting-edge training during their career journeys.
The program's longevity, fame, and numerous accolades underscore the immense value of this investment. I-Witness stands as the sole Philippine TV program to receive two George Foster Peabody awards, along with multiple New York Festivals World Medals, Asian TV Awards, Asia-Pacific Child Rights Awards, and an Emmy nomination.
Beyond the accolades, I-Witness continues to produce groundbreaking, compelling, and impactful stories. It thrives by embracing innovation while remaining rooted in the core values of journalism.
In its milestone year, I-Witness aired a special documentary series spotlighting extraordinary tales of community heroism and selfless individuals on a mission. Program hosts Kara David, Howie Severino, Atom Araullo, John Consulta, and Mav Gonzales, along with their respective teams, journeyed to remote corners of the Philippines to capture these authentic sagas of valor.
These stories include the upland communities safeguarding eagles for decades (Atom Araullo's "Kabilin sa Panapatan" or "Eternal Gift to People"), a Mangyan youth trekking long trails to help village children obtain birth certificates (Howie Severino's "Sa Ngalan ng Pangalan" or "In Honor of Thy Name"), coaches training competitive swimmers on a remote island with aspirations of bringing glory to their neglected community (Mav Gonzales' "Swim for Gold"), a doctor who travels by boat to provide medical care to a remote town (John Consulta's "Doctor on Boat"), and Indigenous Peoples in Mindanao assisting victims within their tribes to speak out and file charges against perpetrators (Kara David's "Kapalit ng Katahimikan" or "The Price of Silence").
These special anniversary episodes aired every Saturday from September 14 to October 12 on GMA, reaching audiences far and wide. I-Witness's impact extends beyond television screens, as it is utilized in classrooms and movie theaters as supplementary educational content, and its stories continue to resonate online long after their initial broadcast.
***
No comments:
Post a Comment