I-Witness marks 16th year with Lakbay sa Gitnang Silangan

MANILA, Philippines – This month, GMA 7’s I-Witness celebrates its 16th anniversary and with it comes an ambitious endeavor from the producers of the show.

For the first time in the history of I-Witness, the four hosts — Howie Severino, Kara David, Jay Taruc and Sandra Aguinaldo — come together in one episode to bring viewers stories of unsung Filipino heroes in Dubai.

Dubai is the commercial, banking and tourist hub of the United Arab Emirates, the second-biggest Arab world economy after Saudi Arabia. Therefore, it is no wonder that OFWs flock there to seek good fortune.

For a country that has more oil reserves than fresh water, Sandra experiences the water adventures that UAE has to offer. She gets to meet the Filipino workers in WADI, the wild water theme park in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. She also discovers that the arid, water-scarce U.A.E. is doing its best to provide fresh water to its citizens by producing desalinated water.

Howie’s penchant for skateboarding gets him to encounter young Pinoy skateboarders doing their routine in a park. He also meets other Pinoy youth currently studying in Filipino schools. Helping their own country is not far from the student’s agenda but for now they have to settle in a foreign country.

For Kara, entrusting her safety to the only Filipino desert safari driver in the sand dunes of U.A.E. is one experience she will treasure. As she gets to know him inside the SUV, while rolling down the treacherous sand terrain, she begins to admire his tenacity in driving as well as the sacrifices he made to feed his family.

And lastly, Jay gets a treat from fellow Pinoy broadcasters in the only Filipino radio station in Dubai. They let him get a try to host his “own” radio program. With fellow I-Witness hosts as his guests, he realizes that it takes guts to entertain radio listeners.

Join Howie, Kara, Jay and Sandra in the special episode tonight after Celebrity Bluff.