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.

Kara David's “Mailap na Mangyan" : I-Witness (October 18)

Kara David brings you her latest documentary about the Bangon's of the Mangyan Tribe. Their unique traditional cultures are now being threatened by modern influence.

Forced to live under the shadow of another Mangyan Tribe, for years the Bangons escaped notice from the lowlanders. They retreated to the mountains of Mindoro and avoided modern influence.

As more and more lowlanders explored the hinterlands, things drastically changed and threatened the traditional ways of these elusive people. With no other place to run to, they are slowly forced to assimilate and accept modern influence.

However, things were not easy for the Bangons. The desire to hold on to their own culture has made them the target of discrimination from those who know little of them. This has forced some to accept new ways of life and slowly let go of their unique and colorful tradition. The few who remain steadfast in staying true to their culture are said to have retreated even deeper into the mountains.

Kara David's “Mailap na Mangyan" airs on I-Witness this Monday, October 18, after Saksi.

I-WITNESS “Kape Para Kay Lean" airs Monday (September 20)

Kara David investigates and discovers the effects of drinking rice coffee instead of milk of 3-year-old Lean Francisco.

Lean Rey Francisco is almost 3 years old, but unlike many kids his age, he cannot play, walk, crawl, nor sit up. His malnourishment is so severe that the simple task of rolling over requires tremendous effort from the child. His grandmother is the only adult taking care of him and his two other siblings in Pasacao, Camarines Sur.

Lean has never tasted milk from his mother but fed on rice coffee for most of his 3 years.

In Pasacao, 80% of the children weighed were severely malnourished and all of them are coffee drinkers. Because of poverty, most people in Pasacao believe that coffee is enough to feed a child. But how much nutritional value does coffee really have?

What happened to Lean?

Kara David's search for answers takes her to Bulacan in search of Lean's mother, then to Manila where medical records show Lean was once a healthy baby. As the child's history unfolds, Kara discovers how coffee became a great determinant of Lean's condition.

I-WITNESS “Kape Para Kay Lean" episode airs Monday (September 20, 2010) after Saksi!

KARA “Mister” (Japanese version) Music Video

Checkout the new music video of Korean girl group KARA to their single “Mister” (Japanese version), under Universal Music Japan.