GMA News TV unveils 2014 projects

CEBU, Philippines - GMA News TV was the channel to watch out for in 2013 — launching groundbreaking new series and bringing home an unrivalled haul of international awards, while covering the biggest breaking stories of the year. 

 The coveted George Foster Peabody Award, a Silver World Medal at the New York Festivals, a Silver Medal at the US International Film and Video Festival, the UNICEF Asia-Pacific Child Rights Award, only Philippine finalist at the Japan Prize, the Philippine Quill Award for Excellence, the most television wins at the Catholic Mass Media Awards — these were just a few of the international and local honors that GMA News TV took home the past year, led primarily by its documentary program “Reel Time” and its flagship newscast “State of the Nation” with Jessica Soho.

 â€œBayan Ko,” which won the Catholic Mass Media Award for Best Drama Series, the educational series “Titser,” the popular love anthology “Wagas,” as well as the historical docudrama Katipunan were all created by GMA News TV production teams in 2013, taking the channel beyond traditional news and current affairs programming. 

 GMA News TV is ready to continue its winning streak this 2014.  

 Following on the heels of the “Katipunan” series, GMA News TV presents another period drama in 2014 – “Ilustrado.”  The series will take viewers through Jose Rizal’s travels in Europe, including Rizal’s many romances, his rivalry with Filipinos abroad, his poverty and homesickness and his passion to write about his homeland. 

 GMA News TV also launches Cine Totoo: the 1st Philippine International Documentary Film Festival.  Cine Totoo will be awarding grants to 11 documentary filmmakers to produce their dream projects.  Three winners will be chosen from among the grantees – Best Documentary, Jury Prize and Audience Choice Award – and all three will air on GMA News TV come September 2014. 

 Meanwhile, GMA News TV reminds viewers about some of its most valuable titles.

 The only show of its kind currently on Philippine TV – “Investigative Documentaries,” hosted by Malou Mangahas, solidly follows the paper trail behind issues every week.  “Investigative Documentaries” assesses the performance of political clans, studies the impact of government policies and investigates corruption. Trust the program will do even more of this in 2014. 

 â€œI Juander,” led by Susan Enriquez and Cesar Apolinario, has captured viewers’ hearts with its unforgettable social experiments and its entertaining discussion of Filipino culture, food, traditions and superstitions. 

 Hosted by veteran documentarists Kara David and Howie Severino, “News To Go” is the no-frills morning newscast with relevance, depth and insightful interviews that give context to the news.

Game-changing weekend documentary programs “Reel Time” and “Front Row” have been sweeping the awards the past two years. The documentaries tackle poverty and social ills, telling the raw stories of the subjects themselves, using no hosts or voice-overs. 

 These programs and many more, have contributed to making and keeping GMA News TV the Philippines No. 1 news channel. (FREEMAN)