Filtered By: Showbiz
Showbiz

GMA-7 bags three awards in 54th New York Festivals


Out of the 12 entries fielded by the Philippines at the 54th New York Festivals International TV & Films Awards held on April 12 in Las Vegas, three of the awards went to entries of GMA-7.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV The star-studded cinematic version of the "Lupang Hinirang" (Philippine National Anthem) from GMA Network’s Program Support Department/Creative Services Division, won a Bronze award in the Music Video category. The two-and-a-half minute music video features some of the network’s biggest stars and 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.

I-Witness host Kara David
Another Bronze award was given to GMA-7's I-Witness: "Paraisong Uhaw" (A Parched Land) in the Social Issues/Current Events category under the Documentary/Information Program heading. The episode took viewers to Sampad, Masbate and Barangay Rizal where residents are in dire need of safe, clean water. This eye-opening documentary tapped into the lives of people who have no access to a most basic resource. Kara David and the I-WITNESS team met a family who resorted to digging the ground with their bare hands to get muddy drinking water. Other residents have no choice but to mix their baby’s milk formula with water that’s dirt-brown. This raw reality created an impact on the public, and after the episode aired, 11 water wells have been built for the community through the generosity of viewers. The third award of the Kapuso network is a Silver trophy for Biyaheng Totoo (Real Journey) in the Special Report in News: Reports/Features category. Biyaheng Totoo aired on 24 Oras, Unang Hirit and Balitanghali during last year’s national elections. The series was conceptualized by GMA’s Senior Vice President for News and Public Affairs Marissa Flores, Manager for Special Assignments Deo Dominic Bugaoisan, and News Creative Imaging Head Sheila Paras. Months before electing the next Philippine president, GMA News trekked to 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 President Noynoy Aquino. Meanwhile, Born To Be Wild: The Born Expeditions Finale earned a finalist certificate for the Nature & Wildlife category. Hosted by Doc Ferds Recio and Kiko Rustia, the episode 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'. The “Humpback Saga," on the other hand, featured the first full length documentation of humpback whales by local media Representing GMA-7 during the awards ceremonies were Michelle Seva, Assistant Vice President for News Programs and Specials; Regie Bautista, Vice President for the Program Support Department; Deo Bugaoisan, Manager for Special Assignments; and Kara David, host of I-Witness. “This award is dedicated to the people living in the most impoverished places in the Philippines. It reminds us that we, as members of a news organization, should continue to strive to be agents of change... and that we can do so much good just by doing what we should be doing as responsible journalists," said Bugaoisan, who headed the team that produced the Biyaheng Totoo series. "Very humbling for all of us kasi andito ang CNN, andito ang ESPN. You're on the same level with them kahit papaano, and I'm proud to say na lumalaban ang Pilipino," David said on GMA's News To Go program on Thursday. The annual New York Festivals International TV & Films Awards aims to honor the "World's Best Work" in news, sports, documentary, information and entertainment programs, as well as music videos, infomercials, promotion spots, openings and IDs. - with reports from Philippine Entertainment Portal, GMA Corporate Communications, and Carmela G. Lapeña/YA, GMA News
LOADING CONTENT