One program. Twenty-three years. Four special stories.
This November, I-Witness invites viewers to take a journey with Kara David, Atom Araullo, Sandra Aguinaldo, and Howie Severino as they continue the legacy of sharing life-changing documentaries with four powerful stories to mark the show’s 23rd year on air.
In what can be considered a fitting conclusion to his two decades of documenting Jose Rizal’s life for television, Howie Severino goes to Dapitan in “Ang Huling Pag-ibig ni Rizal” this Nov. 5.
After years of living in the biggest and most glamorous cities in the world, Rizal was exiled in the remote town of Dapitan in Mindanao.
Like anywhere else, Rizal found love there. Howie and his team tell the touching and tragic story of a romance that both Rizal’s family and the church rejected.
The documentarists learn that amid this personal drama, Rizal produced grand feats in Dapitan that few remember today, including his biggest work of art seen only from a tall tower.
On Nov. 12, Atom will delve into reclamation projects with his documentary “Hiram na Lupa”.
“We’re investigating a huge issue that has been hiding under our noses for years,” Atom explains. “More than a hundred reclamation projects are being planned, have been approved, or are ongoing all over the archipelago. These are major projects that have social, environmental, and even political dimensions. Affected communities have been sounding the alarm for a while. Now, we want to take a comprehensive look at the issue. Who gains from these projects? And do the benefits outweigh the costs?” he asks.
Kara, meanwhile, will embark on a different expedition in her story, “400 Kilometro”, airing on Nov. 19.
The documentary follows the journey of three cyclists. “For one, it is in a way a personal challenge to prove that it’s never too late to cycle. For another cyclist, it’s a homecoming. And for the last cyclist, it’s her way of thanksgiving and giving back. It’s a celebration of life, strength, and camaraderie,” Kara shares.
Finally on Nov. 26, Sandra presents an eye-opening documentary about corneal transplant with “Sa Mata ni Joel”.
“The documentary opened my eyes to the fact that many Filipinos need corneal transplant but there are not enough people willing to donate,” shares Sandra. “I believe there’s a need to launch a campaign to spread awareness among Filipinos that they can donate their organs when they die so they can help others either live, or lead better lives.”
These documentaries will be aired 10:30 p.m. on GMA./PR
