GMA wins 3 medals at New York Festivals

MANILA, Philippines - GMA 7 once again proves that Filipino talent is world class by winning three world medals and one finalist certificate at the 2011 New York Festivals World’s Best TV Programs and Film Awards.

The groundbreaking Biyaheng Totoo series won the Silver World Medal in the Special Report category, the I-Witness documentary Paraisong Uhaw won Bronze World Medal in the Social Issues/Current Events category, Lupang Hinirang (The Philippine National Anthem) won Bronze World Medal in the Music Video category, and Born to be Wild’s The Born Expeditions Finale received a finalist certificate in the Nature and Wildlife Category.

Months before electing the next Philippine president, GMA News trekked remote villages to seek what forgotten Filipinos really need from the country’s next leader — all captured in a truth journal. Through letters addressed to the next president, the journal carried the hopes and dreams of Filipinos from the 10 poorest provinces in the country. It was later passed on to Pres. Noynoy Aquino.

Biyaheng Totoo aired on 24 Oras, Unang Hirit and Balitanghali during last year’s national elections. The series was conceptualized by GMA’s SVP for News and Public Affairs Marissa Flores, manager for special assignments Deo Dominic Bugaoisan and News Creative Imaging head Sheila Paras.

In 10 emotionally-driven stories told by 10 seasoned journalists Sandra Aguinaldo, Ruth Cabal, Kara David, Michael Fajatin, Chino Gaston, Joseph Morong, Connie Sison, Jay Taruc, Raffy Tima, and Jun Veneracion, Biyaheng Totoo revealed what it’s really like to be poor in one of the poorest nations in the world.

The I-Witness episode Paraisong Uhaw hosted by Kara David, took viewers to Sampad, Masbate and Barangay Rizal where residents are in dire need of safe, clean water. The eye-opening documentary tapped into the lives of people who have no access to a most basic resource. Kara and the I-Witness team met a family whose only resort is to dig the ground with their bare hands for muddy drinking water. Other residents, on the other hand, have no choice but to mix their baby’s milk formula with water that’s dirt-brown. It is this raw reality that created an impact on many. After the episode aired, 11 water wells have been built for the community through the generosity of viewers.

Lupang Hinirang from GMA Network’s Program Support Department/Creative Services Division, is the riveting cinematic version of the Philippine National Anthem featuring some of the Network’s biggest stars. The two-and-a-half minute music video tells Philippine history through a series of stunning recreations of historical events from the Battle of Mactan to the 1986 People Power Revolution in EDSA.

The Born Expeditions Finale, hosted by Doc Ferds Recio and Kiko Rustia, is the unforgettable ending of the very first Born Expeditions special. The Dragon Hunt segment followed Doc Ferds and his team on a hunt for the newly-discovered lizard species — the elusive bitatawa.