GMA dominates 10th UPLB Gandingan Awards 

GMA Network dominated this year's Gandingan Awards, raking in 22 recognitions in the annual ceremony given by the UP Community Broadcasters' Society to honor outstanding people, programs and materials.

The network received the recognition for Best Development-Oriented TV Station (Gandingan ng Kaunlaran Award). Veteran news anchor Jessica Soho, a GMA News Pillar, was awarded Best Magazine Program Host for “Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho,” which was recognized as the Best Magazine Program.

It was the eighth Best Magazine Program Host citation for Soho, who was inducted into the Gandingan Awards Hall of Fame in 2012 after winning the said award for five consecutive years.

Kapuso morning show “Unang Hirit” received the Best Morning Show Award for its coverage of Bagyong Luis in Septmeber 2014, while its hosts Arnold Clavio, Susan Enriquez, Rhea Santos, Connie Escuderro, Ivan Mayrina, Suzi Abrera, Lyn Ching-Pascual, Love Añoever, and Tonipet Gaba were named Best Morning Show Hosts.

“Reporter's Notebook,” meanwhile, was recognized as the Best Investigative Program for “Kalbaryo sa Isla,” which showed the state of education in Libucan Island in Tarangan, Western Samar. Hosts and news anchors Jiggy Manicad and Maki Pulido were awarded Best Investigative Program Hosts.

Another GMA News and Public Affairs program, “i-Witness,” was named Best Youth-Oriented Program for Sandra Aguinaldo's “Remember Me,” a documentary  featuring the heart-breaking reunion of a Filipina daughter with her now wheelchair-bound Korean father. Aguinaldo also received the Gandingan ng Kabataan distinction.

Award-winning journalist and news anchor Kara David received the Gandingan ng Kababaihan award for her documentaries in “i-Witness,” and was also named Best Development-Oriented Talk Show Host for “Powerhouse.”

Travel and wildlife show “Born to be Wild” took home the Best Environment-Oriented Program award with its hosts, Doc Ferds Recio and Doc Nielsen Donato, receiving this year’s Gandingan ng Kalikasan award.

GMA News TV's flagship evening newscast “State of the Nation with Jessica Soho” received the Best News Program award for  for its “National Day of Mourning: Justice for Fallen 44” special report, while its anchor, Jessica Soho, was cited as Best News Anchor.

Soho and GMA News reporter Victoria Tulad were also named Best Documentarist for “Brigada,” which was recognized as the Best Documentary Program for “Ang Mga Ginto ng Smokey Mountain,” a special report on how children scour the former landfill for gold.

“Investigative Documentaries” was named the Best Women-Oriented Program for “Para Kay Nanay,” an episode which looked into the sacrifices made by mothers for children with hereditary conditions.

The Best Public Service Program award was taken home by “Bawal Ang Pasaway kay Mareng Winnie” for the “Girian sa Makati” episode that tackled the stand-off in Makati City Hall.

Online category winners

Gandingan Awards' online category was launched this year, recognizing several online features from GMA News Online.

“Special Report: Rape in the Philippines, Number Revealing Disturbing Trend” won as  Best Online News Article, while “Tindog: Leyte Matapos ang Yolanda” article was named as Best Online Feature Article.

GMA News Online was also awarded the Best Development-oriented Online Video for its “Special Multimedia Feature: Living with HIV in the Philippines.”

The Gandingan 2016: The 10th UPLB Isko’t Iska’s Multi-media Choice Awards was held Saturday, March 19, at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna. —Bianca Rose Dabu/KBK, GMA News