'Aso sa Hagdan' sa I-Witness

Howie Severino and his docu team return to one of the most postcard-pretty villages in the Philippines, Batad in Ifugao, because of a dog.    They had heard about a smart dog named Escargot who knew how to guide tourists through the village's rice terraces shaped like an amphitheater. But when the documentarians arrive, many of the homes were empty. Someone had died, and the community was at the wake. The visitors are invited to witness a violent death ritual.    When the lowlanders finally take a trek with Escargot, they learn that Batad is facing a large problem that could soon erase their status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Escargot himself disappears before Howie's journey is over. An unexpected companion takes his place and accompanies them to one of Batad's hidden natural treasures.    Another I-Witness episode, another adventure. The journeys never stop. This Monday, January 30, 2012, 11:30 pm after Saksi.