‘Reel Time’ bags international grand prize, GMA Network on its fourth straight win

One of GMA Network’s award-winning documentary programs, “Reel Time,” is this year’s grand winner of the prestigious UNICEF Asia-Pacific Child Rights Award for Television.

It's winning episode "Buho," follows the life of three children who risk their lives daily to get bamboos 15 to 40 feet high from the forest that are manually cut by their families to become barbecue sticks.


MJ is deaf and RJ has difficulty hearing. According to the program’s executive producer Eleazar Del Rosario, "Remarkably, they understand each other well. A friendship bound by bamboo, the kids and their stories of sacrifice to provide for their family hinge on those humble sticks."

"Buho" competed for the grand prize against Al Jazeera's "101 East," ABS-CBN's "Mukha" and Channel News Asia's "Get Real," "Flight of the Falcons," and "Undercover Asia."

Since “Reel Time” aired in 2011, this is their 7th episode that received finalist status in the prestigious award for their documentaries "Lusong," "Alitaptap sa Dagat," "Salat," "Batang Halau," "Gulong," "Dungkoy," and now "Buho."

Documentaries from GMA Network Inc. have won the grand prize for the past three years. Previous winners were “Front Row: Ulilang Lubos" (2014), “Reel Time: Salat" (2013), and “I-Witness: Alkansya" (2012).


According to Del Rosario, the kids have received positive reaction after the documentary was aired.

"We received several messages saying they were touched and inspired by the kids’ stories and inquired how they can send help to their families. There was one who offered to give a machine so they will no longer have to manually cut the sticks.

Also, the Division Office of the Department of Education pledged to put up a special education class in the nearby school to cater to children with special needs in the remote area. We received positive reactions but we are still waiting for more comprehensive plans from the local and national government to provide sustainable livelihood and better access to special education for these communities."

Watch the excerpt of the episode here:
 

"Reel Time" airs every Sunday, 9:00 PM on GMA News TV. For more information, follow the show on Facebook and Twitter. For updates on your favorite documentaries, also follow the Facebook, Twitter and Instagram account of GMA Public Affairs. ---BMS, GMA Public Affairs