‘36 Peso Challenge’

Episode on February 2, 2008 Saturday, 11:30 p.m. In 2004, the National Statistical Coordination Board set the Philippines’ poverty threshold at P36 a day: meaning P36 is the amount a Filipino should have everyday in order to go beyond the poverty line. This Saturday, Sine Totoo presents the documentary that tested the government’s claim that P13,113 per person annually or P36 a day divides the haves from the have nots. Jay Taruc’s experimental documentary “P36" was awarded Best TV Documentary by the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc. at the 2007 PopDev Media Awards. In this episode, Jay and his team find out just how far 36 pesos can actually go. Jay issues the P36 challenge to Filipinos from different economic backgrounds – a teacher, a jeepney driver, a PR consultant, and a congressman. Their ingenuity, their priorities, and their discoveries are followed by Jay and his cameras. Sine Totoo host Howie Severino invites I-Witness host Jay Taruc and former researcher turned municipal councilor Gerald Paragas on the set to discuss how they came up with this experimental documentary. Is P36 really enough for a Pinoy not to be officially considered poor? Is it enough for a healthy and dignified lifestyle? Find out as Sine Totoo airs “P36" this Saturday late night over GMA 7.

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Noong 2004, lumabas sa pag-aaral ng National Statistical Coordination Board na 36 na piso ang poverty threshold sa Pilipinas. Ibig sabihin, kung ang isang Pilipino ay may P36 sa isang araw, hindi na siya mapabibilang sa mga mahihirap. Ngayong Sabado, tampok sa Sine Totoo ang dokumentaryong sumubok sa istatistikang ito ng pamahalaan. Ang “P36" ni Jay Taruc ay pinarangalang Best TV Documentary sa PopDev Media Awards noong nakaraang taon. Sa dokumentaryong ito, isang eksperimento ang magaganap. Hinamon ni Jay ang mga Pinoy mula sa iba’t ibang antas ng lipunan – isang guro, tsuper ng jeep, PR consultant, at kongresista. Sinubukan nilang pagkasyahin ang P36 sa kanilang mga pangangailangan sa loob ng isang araw. Nakapanayam ni Howie Severino ng Sine Totoo sina Jay Taruc at Gerald Paragas, ang researcher ng dokumentaryong ito. Paano nga ba nila naisipang gawan ng dokumentaryo ang isang isyung nakabase sa istatiska? Sapat nga ba ang P36 bawat araw para mabuhay nang disente ang bawat Pilipino? Ano na nga ba ang mabibili sa halagang ito? Alamin ang sagot sa “36 Peso Challenge" ngayong Sabado ng hatinggabi sa Sine Totoo.