“BATCH 2012: PANGALAWANG YUGTO” 15th Anniversary Special "Dokumentaryo" by Sandra Aguinaldo

There are nightmares that you bring even into your waking hours.  Tragedies so deep it seems the hurt may never heal.

For the students of Bayug Elementary School, the horror still grip them, two years after Typhoon Sendong hit Iligan City.

In the documentary “Batch 2012”, I-Witness shared the story of Limuel Gonzaga, who graduated salutatorian despite losing his mother, his home and his entire school to the massive flooding that destroyed his community. He may have lost everything, but not his dreams and his determination. He is now studying in a private school through the help of his sponsors.

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.