I-witness wins 2008 UNICEF and Popdev Awards

I-Witness’ Jay Taruc and his team won the 2008 ABU CASBAA UNICEF Child Rights Award while Sandra Aguinaldo and her team won the 2008 Popdev Media Awards for "Best TV Documentary." Out of 69 entries from 10 countries in Asia, the documentary “Batang Kalabaw" (Child Beasts of Burden) was chosen for the prestigious award this year for being “the best television programming on children's rights produced in the Asia-Pacific region." “Batang Kalabaw" tells the story of 14–year old Cherilyn and her young friends who trek up and down the mountains of Agusan del Sur for more than 6 hours to carry logs weighing as much as 15 kilos. Cherilyn is the sole breadwinner of her family and acts as a parent to her five siblings. This is the second I-Witness episode that won this award following the episode “Selda Inosente" (Angels in Prison) hosted by Kara David that won in 2003. The documentary had also previously received a Certificate for Creative Excellence at the 2008 US International Film and Video Festival and the 2008 Catholic Mass Media Awards. The awarding ceremony was held on November 24 in The Westin Resort in Bali, Indonesia. Meanwhile, Sandra Aguinaldo’s I-Witness documentary "Nanay na si Nene" received the Popdev Media Award for it's outstanding contribution in promoting awareness about the population problems in the country today. Besting 406 entries in its category, Aguinaldo’s documentary filmed the lives of two very young mothers and their difficulties as they faced the responsibility of having children at such an early age. Barely able to take care of herself, 13-year old Lealyn just gave birth to twins and could only feed her babies water and sugar. Belinda, 14, was then five months pregnant and could not afford pre-natal care or check-ups with an OB-Gyne. Aguinaldo also discussed the factors that cause early pregnancies in teens and how they could be prevented with sex and reproductive health education. The documentary was chosen for the prestigious award by an elite panel of organizations from the development and journalism communities, as well as government agencies and private groups. The awarding ceremony was held on November 26 at the Mandarin Oriental Suites in Cubao, Quezon City. Now on it's fourth year, the annual Popdev Media Awards was conducted by the Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) with the support of the United Nations Population Fund to honor outstanding and responsible journalism on population and development during the year.

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Nanalo ang I-Witness team ni Jay Taruc ng 2008 ABU CASBAA UNICEF Child Rights Award habang ang team naman ni Sandra Aguinaldo ang nanalo ng 2008 Popdev Media Awards para sa "Best TV Documentary." Mula sa 69 entries ng 10 bansa sa Asya, ang dokumentaryong “Batang Kalabaw" ang napili para sa prestihiyosong karangalan ngayong taon dahil sa malalim na pagtalakay nito sa karapatan ng mga bata sa Asia–Pacific region. Inilahad ng “Batang Kalabaw" ang kuwento ni Cherilyn, 14 taong gulang, at ang mga kaibigan niyang akyat–baba sa mga bundok ng Agusan del Sur ng anim na oras para magbuhat ng mabibigat na troso. Tinitiis ni Cherilyn ang pagbubuhat ng 15 kilong troso araw-araw para buhayin ang limang kapatid na umaasa sa kanya. Ito ang ikalawang episode ng I-Witness na nanalo ng award na ito kasunod ng “Selda Inosente" ni Kara David na nanalo noong 2003. Ilang karangalan na rin ang natanggap ng “Batang Kalabaw" ngayong taon tulad ng Certificate for Creative Excellence sa 2008 US International Film and Video Festival at sa 2008 Catholic Mass Media Awards. Ginanap ang awarding ceremony noong Nobyembre 24 sa Westin Resort sa Bali, Indonesia. Samanatala, ang dokumentaryong "Nanay na si Nene" ni Sandra Aguinaldo ay ginawaran ng Popdev Media Award dahil sa pagpapalaganap nito ng kaalaman tungkol sa mga problema sa populasyon ng ating bansa. Mahigit 400 na kalahok ang tinalo ng dokumentaryong ito na ipinakita ang buhay ng dalawang batang ina at ang mga pagsubok na pinagdadaanan nila dahil sa mabigat na responsibilidad na kanilang dinadala. Ang 13 taong gulang na si Lealyn, kailangang alagaan ang kambal na anak pero walang maipakain maliban sa tubig na hinaluan ng asukal. Si Belinda, 14, limang buwan nang nagdadalantao pero walang pera para makapagpa-check up man lang o makabili ng bitamina para sa dinadala niyang sanggol. Tinalakay din ni Aguinaldo ang mga sanhi ng maagang pagbubuntis sa kabataan at kung paano makatutulong ang sex at reproductive health education para maiwasan ito. Ginanap ang awarding ceremony noong Nobyembre 26 sa Mandarin Oriental Suites sa Cubao, Quezon City.