Jay Taruc “Rabies": I-Witness (November 15)

Jay Taruc did an investigative documentary in 2000 about the effects of “Rabies" which was instrumental in raising awareness. Now ten years later, Taruc and his I-Witness team revisits the Hospital ward that that treats rabies patients.

This episode airing this Monday, November 15 is a part of I-Witness 11th anniversary month-long special!

I-Witness celebrates 11th anniversary month-long special

GMA-7's I-Witness continuously delivering a wide range of topics which are very relevant, inspiring, and definitely making an impact on the lives of Filipinos over the years. The documentaries shown every week teaches the viewers to be aware to the people and the things around us.

It has presented a wide range of stories – from social issues, tales of war and conflict, remarkable personalities, culture and history, as well as the idiosyncrasies and triumphs of the Filipino.

Proof of their in-depth quality stories are the recognitions from the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award.

I-Witness is celebrating its 11th anniversary with a month-long anniversary series with the slogan “Bawat Kuwento ay Obra."

To illustrate how the craft of the documentary has evolved over the years, the program will embark on a retelling of the classics – stories from the show’s first generation which have left an indelible mark on Philippine television. By reviewing these classics, I-Witness hopes to demonstrate how the issues themselves have developed throughout the decade.

Armed with new information, new perspectives and new technologies, respected journalists Howie Severino, Kara David, Jay Taruc and Sandra Aguinaldo review powerful stories taken from the first year of I-Witness and examine where the country stands in terms of these issues today.

Starting November 8, I-Witness presents a month-long anniversary series beginning with the acclaimed ‘Kidneys for Sale ’.

‘Kidneys’ is perhaps one of Philippine TV’s most memorable stories. First told by Jessica Soho in 1999, this classic I-Witness documentary exposed the rampant sale of kidneys in an urban poor community. A group of men marked with stitches on their sides lined up for what is now the unforgettable image which showed the plight of those who sold their organs for a quick way out of poverty. This documentary was part of the body of work which won GMA’s and the Philippines ’ first Peabody Award.

Sandra Aguinaldo reviews the decade-old issue of kidney trading in the Philippines . This exchange of the most intimate of goods, of human body parts, is still a thriving multi-billion dollar business servicing the most desperate.

The Philippines is one of the world’s hot spots for human organ trafficking involved in the illegal sale of kidneys. Still, the supply cannot meet the demand. Approximately one person with kidney failure in the country dies every hour.

This time, I-Witness goes deeper into the issue of kidney trading in the Philippines . The documentary will attempt to give the viewer “the whole picture" – stories of the recipients and the donors, the small-time trading, to the elaborate black market transplant tourism, and a review of the Philippine government’s policies to control a trade that preys on the vulnerability of the desperate recipients and sellers.

Sandra Aguinaldo’s ‘Kidneys for Sale ’ is the first of several documentary remakes to watch out for this November. Jay Taruc’s ‘Rabies’ airs on November 15, Kara David’s ‘Koreksyonal’ airs on November 22, and Howie Severino’s ‘Kamao’ airs on November 29.

Each I-Witness story is labored like a work of art. Rediscover the art of the documentary beginning November 8.

Jay Taruc “Buhay Patay": I-Witness (October 25)

Jay Taruc explores the world of embalming and the people whose reality is to deal with death on a daily basis in the documentary episode titled, “Buhay Patay".

A depressing and a frightening job for some people but to others, it became a family business.

“Buhay Patay" airs this Monday, October 25, on GMA-7's I-Witness.

Jay Taruc “EXORCIST" I-WITNESS' documentary, October 11

Do you feel the creep and horror every time you watch the iconic exorcism scene like the girl twisting her head 360 degrees and speaking cursing languages when a priest is doing exorcism. Now, Jay Taruc investigates and enters to the world of Pinoy Exorcism with the help of people from the office of Exorcism under the Archdiocese of Manila in his I-WITNESS' documentary titled, “EXORCIST".

For the first time on Philippine television, the Office of Exorcism under the Archdiocese of Manila has opened its doors to a documentary team for an in-depth discussion of a subject that has long been kept behind closed doors. I-Witness has been allowed access to the official “exorcists" of the Church as well as confidential exorcism footage.

Father Jocis Syquia, head of the Office of the Exorcism, divulges what really goes on during the exorcism ritual conducted by a team of experts composed of priests, a lawyer, a doctor, and volunteers commissioned by the Archdiocese. The team is tasked to handle cases of demonic disturbances in persons, places or things.

The critically acclaimed film, “The Exorcism of Emily Rose," is based upon the tragic true story of Anneliese Michel who died after months of undergoing exorcism rituals. Anneliese’s story is controversial and raised questions about exorcism. After this incident, the Vatican revised their book of exorcism rituals and required that a doctor and lawyer be present whenever a ritual is to be performed.

Accordingly, before any exorcism ritual can occur, a psychiatric evaluation and a series of interviews have to be completed by the person, for the exorcist to determine if it is an authentic demonic attack.

Father Syquia and his fellow exorcist Father Jojo Cerrudo have been involved in numerous cases of demonic possession. They tell of moments when they had to grip onto their faith to continue what they were doing because the demon, they said, retaliated in unexpected ways. To these real-life exorcists, it is all part of a battle to bring the person back to a meaningful relationship with God.

I-WITNESS' “EXORCIST" will air this Monday, October 11 in GMA-7.