"HAPDI NG LAPNOS" A Jay Taruc 15th Anniversary Special of iWitness

A couple of years ago, I-Witness showed the world the heartwrenching documentary about patients admitted to the burn unit of Davao City Medical Center, the only hospital catering to burn victims in all of Mindanao.

As part of I-Witness’ 15th anniversary, Jay Taruc and his team go back to the place where pain and tears are synonymous with healing.

Quite a lot has happened in two years. The burn unit has been renamed “Rizal D. Aportadera, Jr. Burn Center” to honor the name of the doctor whose efforts and sacrifice were instrumental in saving the lives of burn patients.

Revisiting I-Witness' 'Kubling Yaman ng Cama Juan'

There are hidden riches in the far-flung farming community of Nueva Ecija. Such was the premise of Sandra Aguinaldo's documentary "Kubling Yaman ng Cama Juan," which aired last year on GMA-7's I-Witness.

In the documentary, Sandra went to the remote barangay of Cama Juan in San Antonio, Nueva Ecija where she met five friends bound for college after graduating in a public high school. Camille Basilio, Arlene Ramos, Jessica Duran, Jerick Marin, and Mherry Camarota were honor students of their graduating batch in Zacarias Aquilizan High School. Their teachers call them "kubling yaman"-students with hidden exceptional potential, but lack the final touches that would make them truly stand out.

Son and daughters of fishermen, all five friends knew that finishing college would provide them a ticket to a better future. But they were also aware that it would take more than their passion for learning to put them through college. In a country where education ends up being a privilege to a few, Camille and her friends knew that their dream may never become a reality.

Doc thanks I-Witness during Davao docufest

For Dr. Rizal Aportadera, founder of the Mindanao Burn Center, the recently concluded I-Witness Docufest in Davao City was more than just a chance to watch first rate documentaries from GMA-7’s flagship documentary program. It was a chance for him to personally thank the men and women behind the documentary “Lapnos” by Jay Taruc.

“Lapnos,” which recently brought home the Silver Medal in the 2012 New York Festival, tells of the harrowing tales of burn victims from the Mindanao Burn Center.

It was one of the eight documentaries showcased in the third leg of the I-Witness docufest Regional Tour held last Sunday, August 12, at the Cinema 5 of Gaisano Mall in Davao City.

In the event, Dr. Aportadera explained how people started to take notice of the Center after watching the documentary. He further added how donations started pouring in to help the burn victims. 

I-Witness Docufest goes to Davao City

After the successful kick-off in Cebu and following the well-attended screening in Iloilo last month, GMA-7’s multi-awarded documentary program I-Witness gears up for the third leg of its docufest regional tour on Sunday, August 12, in Davao City. 

Together with I-Witness’ multi-awarded documentarists—Howie Severino, Kara David, Jay Taruc, and Sandra Aguinaldo—watch one riveting documentary after another starting 12 noon at Gaisano Mall Cinema 5.

GMA’s I-Witness kicks off Docufest Regional Tour

In celebration of its 13th year, GMA-7’s flagship documentary program I-Witness: The GMA Documentaries returns to the big screen! Catch GMA’s finest documentaries in a series of documentary festivals in key cities all around Visayas and Mindanao—a first in the regions.

From a community who risk their lives in search for gold, to the harrowing condition of burn patients in a hospital and to people who live around rail-road tracks facing an imminent demolition … these acclaimed documentaries bring to light important social issues reflecting our society.

GMA News and Public Affairs wins three World Medals in 2012 New York Fest

GMA News and Public Affairs makes the country proud anew after winning three Silver World Medals and six Finalist Certificates at the highly prestigious 2012 New York Festivals Television and Film Awards held on April 17 at the NAB Show in Las Vegas.

I-Witness’ Lapnos (Burn) episode won the Silver World Medal for the Social Issues and Current Events category, while GMA News TV’s Front Row brought home two Silver World Medals – one for the Social Issues category for its Yaman sa Basura (Child Urban Miners) episode and another one for the Biography/Profiles category for the documentary program’s Bente Dos (Twenty-Two) episode.

I-Witness’ Lapnos gives viewers a glimpse inside the burn unit of the Mindanao Burn Center in Davao City . Here, Peabody Award winner Jay Taruc learns about the victims’ individual – at times, harrowing – stories.