GMA News and Public Affairs bags 6 major awards from USIFVF

Competing against 23 countries, GMA Network garnered seven major awards from the prestigious US International Film and Video Festival, given last weekend in the world's "cradle of filmmaking" -- Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. The most awarded news organization in the country, GMA News and Public Affairs bagged six landmark awards including the Gold Camera Award for Jessica Soho’s Philippine Agenda: Education which won in the Documentary for Public Issues and Concerns category. Silver Screen Awards were also given to Arnold Clavio’s Philippine Agenda: Health, Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, Wish Ko Lang, Sandra Aguinaldo’s I-Witness documentary “Iskul Ko Number 1", and Reporter’s Notebook's "Batang Kalakal". This year’s success was the biggest haul of GMA News and Public Affairs at the USIFVF. “One network, GMA, has created some of the most wonderful programming that we at the festival have seen over the years," declared Lee Gluckman Jr, USIFVF chairman. Maki Pulido's Reporter's Notebook story "Batang Kalakal" was also awarded last year with a Gold World Medal at the New York International Film Festival, together with Sandra Aguinaldo's I-Witness documentary "Iskul Ko, Number One" which received a Silver World Medal, respectively. "The media, especially in the Philippines, has an important role to play, it gives voice to the marginalized sector. It exposes corruption in all sectors of the society. This is one of the missions that Reporters Notebook takes seriously," Pulido states.

The multi-awarded team. (from left) Emergency host Arnold Clavio, Reporter's Notebook host Maki Pulido, Wish Ko Lang host Vicky Morales, ETV Asst. VP Gigi Santiago-Lara, ETV Program Manager Melo Esguerra, USIFVF Chairman Lee Gluckman Jr., Proudly Filipina Executive Producer Nena Dumol, GMA VP for News Jessica Soho, GMA Network SVP for News and Public Affairs Marissa Flores, I-Witness documentarist Sandra Aguinaldo and Program Manager Arlene Carnay. GMA Network’s sister station, Q Channel 11 meanwhile, earned a Gold Camera Award for the program Proudly Filipina for Motivational program in the Entertainment category. Certificates for Creative Excellence were also given to 100% Pinoy, Reporter's Notebook's "Pulong Diablo", Jay Taruc’s I-Witness documentary “Batang Kalabaw", and Kara David’s I-Witness’ documentary “Gapos". Q Channel 11 programs Kids on Q and May Trabaho Ka received similar recognitions. Talaga namang ang goal natin ay makapaghatid ng information, makapag-impart primarily sa audience natin ng information para ma-empower sila. Pero pag ganitong nare-recognize tayo lalo na sa labas ng bansa, para siyang sweetener. Parang bonus (Our primarily goal really is to impart information to our audience to empower them. When we get recognized especially outside the country, it comes as a sweetener, a bonus)," said Marissa Flores, senior vice president of GMA News and Public Affairs. US International Film and Video Festival is one of the world’s leading competitions for corporate, documentary educational, entertainment and student productions. Complete list of awardees are as follows: GMA News and Public Affairs programs

GOLD CAMERA AWARD (Documentary: Public Issues and Concerns) Philippine Agenda: Education hosted by Jessica Soho

SILVER SCREEN AWARD (Documentary: Public Issues and Concerns) Philippine Agenda: Health hosted by Arnold Clavio

SILVER SCREEN AWARD (Documentary/Social Issues) Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho hosted by Jessica Soho

SILVER SCREEN AWARD (Entertainment: Motivational) Wish Ko Lang hosted by Vicky Morales

SILVER SCREEN AWARD (Documentary/Social Issues) I-Witness: Iskul Ko Number 1 by Sandra Aguinaldo

SILVER SCREEN AWARD (Documentary/Social Issues) Reporter's Notebook: Batang Kalakal by Maki Pulido Creative Excellence 100% Pinoy ("Kalabaw") Reporter's Notebook ("Pulong Diablo") I- Witness ("Batang Kalabaw") I- Witness ("Gapos") Q Channel 11 program

GOLD CAMERA AWARD (Entertainment: Motivational) Proudly Filipina

Creative Excellence May Trabaho Ka! Kids on Q