Documenting life, making history

A thriving organ trade, a forgotten war shrine, a portrait of an impoverished family, a hungry community — these are the stories that show the sad state of a struggling society. And for 13 years, I-Witness has provided the public with a pair of lens that exposes these truths.

Hosted by award-winning broadcast journalists Howie Severino, Kara David, Jay Taruc and Sandra Aguinaldo, I-Witness has become more than a simple documentary program. When I-Witness tells a story, the world listens.

“Storytelling is a vital part of our culture and civilization, and we need to do it right,” begins Howie. Adds Kara, “Our mission as journalists and documentarists is to give viewers a new pair of lens with which to see the world. Silipin ang mga kuwento sa likod ng malalaking isyu. Maging mikropono ng mga taong maliliit o mahina ang boses. Maging tulay sa mga taong di naaabot.”

Since its first episode in 1999, I-Witness has acted as the bridge between the subject and the audience, helping Filipino viewers become vehicles of compassion through stories that touch on the gripping and compelling truths in society.

In the same year, a documentary by one of its original hosts Jessica Soho titled Kidneys for Sale won for I-Witness its first George Foster Peabody Award. Incidentally, this was also the first for the country. Dubbed as the Oscars of the broadcast industry, the Peabody award is the most prestigious and highly-coveted accolade in the international broadcast arena.

Since then, I-Witness has garnered innumerable recognitions from local and international award-giving bodies including the Catholic Mass Media Awards, PMPC Star Awards, US International Film and Video Festival and New York Festivals.

In 2010, I-Witness won its second George Foster Peabody Award — which is likewise the country’s second — through Kara’s inspiring documentary Ambulansyang de Paa that chronicles the bayanihan spirit exhibited by a Mangyan community in Oriental Mindoro. These mountain residents brought their gravely-ill to medical institutions by carrying them in woven hammocks, transporting them through rugged mountain terrain.

“Stories of hope amidst despair, stories of heroism and volunteerism or bayanihan amidst poverty, that’s what I always try to look for,” says Kara. “A lot of Filipinos have become cynical of our country’s future but as a journalist, I’ve always believed na kasama sa mission ko ay ‘yung magbigay ng hope at inspiration. Na sa kabila ng kahirapan, katiwalian at problema, marami pa ring pockets of hope in our country. Mahirap man tayo sa salapi, mayaman tayo sa malasakit.”

She joined I-Witness as a pinch-hitter reporter in 2002. “I never imagined myself being part of this show. Ang pangarap ko noon ay makapagsulat kahit isang episode lang ng I-Witness. I never imagined hosting it,” she narrates emphatically.

Kara currently co-anchors News To Go with Howie and hosts Powerhouse, both airing on GMA News TV Channel 11.

It was in 1993 when Jay started out as a production assistant in RPN 9 before he became a production assistant and researcher in GMA’s Brigada Siete. “(I was assigned to cover) a flash flood at the foothills of Mt. Parker in South Cotabato,” shares Jay of his first reportorial break.

On-camera reportorial assignments followed suit ranging from sensational crimes, environmental conflicts, child labor stories and anything in between. It wasn’t long after that his hard work was rewarded.

“After winning the first George Foster Peabody Award for GMA Network in 1999 (which he won together with Jessica Soho’s I-Witness documentary Kidneys for Sale) for a Child Labor story we did, I was offered to do four I-Witness episodes. The rest is history,” Jay recalls of his foray into I-Witness.

As a documentary maker, Jay constantly looks for new and interesting ways of telling a particular story. And with each presentation, he hopes to share with the audience the same impact it has on him. “We wish that these stories will not only be memorable to our viewers, but rather an enriching experience,” Jay muses.

Even in her fledgling career then as a print reporter, Sandra has been trained to deal with matters concerning the public as she covered beats such as the final phases of Fidel V. Ramos’ presidency as well as the short-lived Estrada rule. In 1999, she started as a writer for Saksi and the then primetime newscast Frontpage before becoming a TV reporter and a host of I-Witness.

Known for her various documentaries on the plight of education in the country, Sandra has reaped prestigious awards including a Silver World Medal for Documentary in the 2008 New York Festivals for Iskul Ko, No. 1, a story of a grade six student in Leyte, who, despite being second in her class, could not attend high school because of poverty.

More than any recognition, Sandra is proud of having produced documentaries that helped change the lives of people. One such story is Kubling Yaman ng Cama Juan, which documents the lives of high school graduates who needed money to pay for their tuition in college.

“We followed them and their parents as they desperately try to raise money in time for the school opening. One father stayed up all night catching palakang bukid and sold them in the morning. He earned about P120 that day but that’s hardly enough to feed his family. Another parent tried to sell the only piece of land he owns just to raise the tuition money,” recalls Sandra, overwhelmed by the efforts and importance these families put on education.

What she found more remarkable was what followed after the story aired. “We received so many calls from here and abroad offering scholarships for the kids,” shares Sandra, pleased that I-Witness was able to help their subjects. “They are now third year college students in Nueva Ecija.”

To Sandra, producing documentaries does not stop after a particular episode airs or after a situation is presented. “I love doing inspiring stories for I-Witness and leaving our viewers with burning desires to improve their lives or help others improve their lives. One thing that still amazes me up to now is the generosity of our viewers. Some are not even rich but then just want to share what they have. Nakakabilib silang lahat,” she says.

This month, I-Witness taps the country’s next generation of storytellers — young students who hold the potential to shape society and make a difference. All four hosts — Howie, Kara, Jay and Sandra — revisit their respective alma mater to lead the special screenings of their most-awarded documentaries.

Howie goes back to the Ateneo de Manila University, where he finished high school in 1979, for the screening of his documentaries Saplot and Daloy.

Kara, a graduate of the University of the Philippines Diliman, returns to the College of Mass Communication where she graduated in 1995, to lead the screening of Gintong Putik and El Fraile: Ang Pagsuko ng Fort Drum.

Jay travels back to the Centro Escolar University to join Mass Communications students in viewing his documentaries Lapnos and Ahon. He earned his Mass Communications degree in the said university in 1992.

Sandra revisits the University of Santo Tomas where she graduated with a degree in Journalism in 1993. She heads the screening of her documentaries Pasan-Pasan and Kalam in front of Communication Arts and Journalism students.

The program’s homecoming activity is part of GMA’s Buhay Ang Gabi campaign. Featuring the network’s formidable strip of late-night public affairs programs, Buhay Ang Gabi seeks to further uphold GMA’s commitment to deliver Serbisyong Totoo until the end of each day.

I-Witness airs every Monday night after Saksi leading GMA’s four-day late-night public affairs strip, which includes Reporter’s Notebook (Tuesday), Born To Be Wild (Wednesday) and Alisto (Thursday).