I-Witness presents Sa Piling ng Wala

MANILA, Philippines - For the past 12 years, GMA 7’s I-Witness has brought hundreds of eye-opening documentaries to the screen, often giving Filipinos a glimpse of human struggles, triumphs, cultures and experiences.

This month, four veteran documentarists — Howie Severino, Sandra Aguinaldo, Jay Taruc and Kara David — uncover what it means to live a dignified human life in the special series Sa Piling ng Wala. The hosts tackle the four most basic human needs — food, water, shelter and clothing — by immersing with individuals and communities with no access to these bare essentials.

For the first time in the docu show’s history, the four hosts come together in a series where each episode is invariably linked to the next, and where all hosts play a part in each other’s documentaries. Sandra lives through the unresolved issue of hunger in Kalam, Jay experiences a world without water in Uhaw, Kara searches for shelter in Silong and Howie unravels the human person’s need for clothing in Saplot.

I-Witness’ anniversary series Sa Piling ng Wala begins tonight with Kalam.

In a nation where people toil to defy hunger, putting food on the table is a daily struggle. Hand-to-mouth existence is still a reality for millions of Filipinos.

In the municipality of Tarangnan, Eastern Samar, considered as having the highest malnutrition rate in Eastern Visayas, constant hunger and malnutrition reigns in the most vulnerable families. Barangay Mancares, a coastal community in Tarangnan, is home to Mercy Matilla. She lives with her husband Sonny and their six children. Thin and underweight, they are all malnourished.

Despite the couple’s combined efforts as a crab hunter and a laundrywoman, the family income is never enough to feed every member of the family.

 Sandra will join Mercy’s family’s constant hunt for one of man’s most basic needs — food.

 I-Witness airs after Saksi.