ABS-CBN, GMA-7 clinch New York Fest medals

CEBU, Philippines - ABS-CBN bagged five recognitions in the prestigious 2014 New York Festivals International TV & Film Awards, including two world medals for its special documentary “Agosto Beinte-Uno” and investigative program “Failon Ngayon.”

The documentary “Agosto Beinte-Uno: Ang Pagpatay kay Ninoy Aquino” that revisited the assassination of former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. won a silver world medal in the Graphic Design: Promotion/Open & ID category. It also received a finalist certificate in the Biography/Profiles category.

Ted Failon’s weekly investigative program “Failon Ngayon,” on the other hand, won the bronze world medal in the Current Affairs category for its episode ‘Tagas ng Minahan’ that probed the environmental hazards caused by mining spills in relation to a sediment flow incident that contaminated Balog river, all the way to San Roque Dam.

Finalist certificates were also awarded to ABS-CBN’s educational program “Matanglawin” in the Educational/Instructional category for its episode ‘Elephants’ and ABS-CBN Creative Communications Management for its plug “Sprout” in the Green Promotion category.

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Meanwhile, GMA Network clinched seven world medals at the 2014 New York Festivals.

 Among the Filipino awardees, the Kapuso network went home with the most number of awards — 11 in total, including four finalist certificates —and sent the biggest contingent to the recognition ceremonies held last April 8 at the 2014 NAB Show in Las Vegas.

Weekday news magazine program “Tunay na Buhay” led GMA-7’s esteemed list of winners with its Gold World Medal in the Community Portraits category. The winning entry “Mga Sanggol at Langaw” episode featured the sub-human conditions in the slums of Tondo, Manila where majority of the residents barely make a living out of scavenging among mountains of trash.

Its high regard for culture and history made the children’s show “Tropang Potchi” a big winner in the Children/Youth Program category, bringing home a Silver World Medal for the episode “Talaandig Tribe,” which brought forth to public consciousness the customs and traditions of the Talaandig Tribe of Bukidnon.

GMA News TV’s “Reel Time” triumphed with its documentary titled “Silang Wala sa Mapa,” a story on how the B’laan indigenous people of Mindanao survived generations without modern medicine, giving the program a Silver World Medal in the Community Service Program category. Also a Peabody awardee, “Reel Time” has been a constant contender in the New York Festivals, winning a Silver World Medal for its “Salat” episode in 2013 and receiving Finalist Certificates for its “Lusong” and “Tira” episodes in 2012.

News magazine program “Brigada,” in turn, took home the Silver World Medal in the Community Portraits category for its “Gintong Krudo at Sipa ng Pag-asa” stories. Reporter Micaela Papa showed the story of impoverished children who swim through the filthy waters of the Navotas Fish Port to collect and sell spilled petroleum oil in “Gintong Krudo”; while Steve Dailisan’s “Sipa ng Pag-asa” told of an inspiring report on the lives of young garbage collectors in Payatas who dream to rise from poverty through football.

News TV Quick Response Team won the Bronze World Medal in the Best Coverage of Breaking News category for its live on-the-ground reportage, led by anchor Jiggy Manicad, of the Zamboanga siege.

“Front Row,” likewise, was presented the Bronze World Medal in the Community Portraits category for the episode “Lusong Dunong,” a story on the pupils and teachers of San Esteban Elementary School in Pampanga who hold classes in flooded rooms.

GMA News’ advocacy campaign for a well-informed 2013 elections dubbed “Dapat Tama,” meanwhile, was given the Bronze World Medal in the Music Video Category.

GMA News pillar Jessica Soho, widely regarded as the country’s most awarded broadcast news journalist, received the Finalist Certificate for the Best News Reporter/Correspondent category for her “Photographs of Typhoon Pablo” special report aired in “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho,” which captured the pain and suffering in the wake of typhoon Pablo.

 Also awarded the Finalist Certificate were I-Witness’ “Ganito Tayo Noong Martial Law” documentary in the History & Society category; GMA News & Public Affairs’ election project Camera Juan in the Social Issues category; and GMA Program Support Department’s advocacy campaign Diploma in the Station/Image Promotion category.

The New York Festivals, given by the International Television & Film Awards, is now on its 57th year of recognizing the World’s Best TV & Films. This year, NYF’s Grand Jury panel awarded 140 Gold World Medals, 146 Silver, 112 Bronze, and 235 Finalist Certificates from thousands of entries submitted from over 50 countries. (PR)