Kara David shares how she became an ‘I-Witness’ host by accident

Kara David didn’t start off as the award-winning documentarist we now know and admire.

In an interview on "The Howie Severino Podcast," the journalist shared that back when she was starting out as a broadcast journalist at GMA, she wrote scripts for other "I-Witness" hosts.

"Napunta ako sa I-Witness kasi nagsulat muna ako ng scripts for other hosts. I remember I wrote a script for Mike Enriquez, I wrote a script for Ma'am Jessica [Soho]," she said.

"So parang medyo kilala na ako sa I-Witness, ng mga staff sa I-Witness because kapag kailangan nila ng scriptwriter, I can write the scripts for them."

[I got into I-Witness because I wrote scripts for other hosts. I remember I wrote a script for Mike Enriquez, I wrote a script for Ma'am Jessica. So I was kind of known by the I-Witness staff because if they need a scriptwriter, I can write the scripts for them.]

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After proving her writing skills, an opportunity presented itself when the documentary show needed additional hosts.

One time, she recalled, GMA Senior Vice President for News and Public Affairs Marissa Flores was looking for a host for a month that had an extra Monday. 

"Si Ma'am Marissa Flores, there was a fifth Monday, isang month na lima 'yung Monday tapos apat lang 'yung host. So sabi nila, 'pag-audition-in kaya natin si Kara tutal nagsusulat na naman siya ng script sa I-Witness? Why not?'" she recalled.

[Ma'am Marissa Flores, there was a fifth Monday, a month that had five Mondays and they had only four hosts. So they said, "what if we ask Kara to audition? After all, she already writes scripts for I-Witness? Why not?"]

Kara passed the audition but she also knew that it was just "one shot" and not a regular deal.

When she started, she said she didn't have a researcher and had to create her own team and the content she wanted.

That time, Kara remembered a teacher who wrote to her a few months earlier to request for an old car battery because their area had no light and they hoped to use it at night to help the children doing their homework.

According to the journalist, the teacher explained: "Kasi po 'yung mga bata po rito, gasera lang po ang ginagamit. Tapos kapag nilapag po namin 'yung gasera, para po silang mga gamu-gamo sa dilim. Nagkukumpulan po sila roon sa isang liwanag."

[The kids here use only a gas lamp. When we use the lamp, they're like moths in the dark. They swarm around the light.]

When Kara read the letter, she decided to create a documentary based on the teacher's request.

That was how her documentary "Gamu-gamo sa Dilim" was born.

"Tapos awa ng Panginoon, ang ganda ng reception doon sa documentary and it was nominated for a CMMA at nagulat ako kasi hindi ko naman ine-expect," she said.

[By God's grace, it had positive reception and it was nominated for a CMMA. And I was surprised because I didn't expect it.]

Kara said that was finally when she was got the chance to become a regular host.

"Hindi na siya naging one shot deal. Tapos ayan, magkasama na tayo sa I-Witness hanggang ngayon," she said.

[It wasn't just a one shot deal anymore. After that, I've been with I-Witness until now.] – Kaela Malig/RC, GMA News