GMA's '24 Oras' and 'I-Witness' nominated at the 2013 International Emmy Awards

The Philippines' most awarded broadcast news organization has once again received international recognition after earning two nominations at the 2013 International Emmy Awards.

 

GMA primetime newscast “24 Oras” was nominated under Emmy's News category, while acclaimed documentary program "I-Witness" received a nomination under the Current Affairs category.

 

Both entries are the only nominees from the Philippines and the whole of Asia in their respective categories.

 

The two GMA programs will compete against entries from the United Kingdom, Brazil, Romania, and Germany.

 

24 Oras was nominated for its coverage of Typhoon Pablo last December 2012. Reporters Jiggy Manicad and Cedric Castillo provided a vivid account of the devastation wrought by the natural disaster by reporting live from New Bataan, Compostela Valley where the typhoon wreaked havoc the most. Rescue teams  looked for survivors amidst the muddy wreckage left by the storm. Survivors tearfully searched for the bodies of their missing loved ones. Other typhoon victims begged for food.
 

In addition, 24 Oras kept people informed with up to the minute weather updates. It also paved the way for the public to help the victims through the GMA Kapuso Foundation, which was first on the scene in aiding the affected residents.

 

The Typhoon Pablo coverage of 24 Oras spurred viewers to discuss the effectiveness of the Philippines' disaster mitigation program. The newscast also showed Filipinos' resilience amidst adversity.

 

Also nominated for an Emmy award is the I-Witness episode entitled "Alkansiya" which was shot in the far-flung barangay of Sulungan in Eastern Samar. This documentary by Kara David tells the story of a 12-year old boy named Anthony as he engages in different tasks to earn a living. The most challenging of which requires him to dive and scour the seabed for a sea creature used in Chinese cooking and medicine. Anthony's hard work is rewarded with only a few coins that he saves in his alkansiya or piggy bank.

 

This poignant tale of a child’s unwavering determination earned Kara David and her I-Witness team the prestigious UNICEF Child Rights Award for 2012. The documentary, in turn, has become instrumental to Anthony’s education, through the help of Filipinos who have been inspired by him.

 

The International Emmy Awards Ceremony is an annual event that aims to promote and recognize outstanding television programs from across the globe. The 2013 International Emmy Awards for the Current Affairs and News category will be held in New York on October 1. — GMA News