The Filipino Channel (TFC) scored a double, consecutive win for “JuanEUKonek” and TFC@theMovies as the show won Best TV Program and “EDSA Woolworth” clinched Best Film at the recently concluded Media Advocacy and Migration Awards (MAM) of the Inter-agency commission (IAC) on the Month of Overseas Filipinos held at Social Security System (SSS) in Quezon City, Philippines.
“JuanEUKonek,” a program produced by JREM exclusively for TFC, won its second straight win as the Best TV program(regular category) just as it celebrates its 2nd anniversary.
According to CFO Executive Director Undersecretary Mary Grace Tirona, “JuanEUKonek” won for showing the varied lives of Filipinos in Europe from the conditions of au pairs(specifically Filipinos living with a host family and their children on the basis of an equal, mutual, and caring relationship) in Scandinavia, to the plight of Filipino nurses, especially the achievements of Filipinos, and including the reality of same-sex marriages which caught the attention of the jury. “Ipinakita ng JuanEUKonek na nariyan din ang malayang pagsama ng mga lalaki o dalawang babae man.Sana magkaroon ng patakarang matuwid at di kinaugaliang pagsasama para na rin sa pag-alaga ng pagimpok sa kanilang kinabukasan at pati na rin ng kalusugan nila sa gitna nga paglaganap ng HIV. (‘JuanEUKonek’ shows the reality of same sex relationships. I hope we can encourage responsibility among them in terms of health and financial literacy),” Tirona said.
Representing “JuanEUKonek” was executive producer and host Rose Eclarinal who received the award on behalf of fellow presenters ABS-CBN Middle East and Europe Bureau Chief Danny Buenafe and Legal Consultant and community leader Gene Alcantara.
Meantime, TFC@theMovies won its second award for its second exclusive production “EDSA Woolworth” which told the story of a blended family, who despite their mixed values,recognize their differences and love each other as one true, family. Produced by Rafael “Raffy” Lopez and directed by John-D Lazatin, “EDSA Woolworth” is TFC@theMovies’ second production since “A Mother’s Story” which also won a MAM Award under the same category in 2012.
Lazatin, who is also the Business Unit Head for TFC@theMovies says the second award validates TFC’s decision to venture into film production in pursuit of its goals to tailor-fit content for the OFs. “The reality is that the OFs is faced with a lot of issues and we at TFC have the platform to bring these to fore so we do so in the best way we can as OF ourselves. With A Mother’s Story and now EDSA Woolworth, we tried to dramatize the real-life situations of both transient workers and migrant Filipinos who face detachment and continued negotiation of identities in their second homes. In all their challenges, one thing is key in helping them survive and cope love for family as these movies show,” Lazatin shared.
Lead actress Marietta Subong or Pokwang who received the award with reel and real-life partner Lee O’ Brian said: “Pinapakita ng EDSA Woolworth ang pagmamahal ng pamilyang Filipino. Pagdating sa pamilya, wala tayong inuurungan. Dito natin na-realize na hindi madali ang buhay ng mga migrante. Nagpapadala sila tuwing Pasko pero hindi natin alam ang pinagdadaanan nila (EDSA Woolworth shows the Filipino’s love for family. When it comes to family, we are ready to face any challenge. The movie helped us realize the migrant’s life is not easy. They send us gifts at Christmas but we do not know the real picture – that they are actually having a hard time.”
Through MAM Awards the IAC which include the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) has been receiving entries that hope to capture more of the real issues that OFs face, through the print, television, film, radio and online media.
CFO Chairperson Secretary Imelda Nicolas admitted the jurors had a hard time choosing from the 50 entries because of the richness of the Filipino talent across platform. “Magagaling ang mga Filipino kahit na anong format. Very adaptable ang mga Filipino. Maski ano ang circumstance, somehow they survive brilliantly and rise above whatever the consequences are.Global ang output pero local ang issues. It was tough for the judges to choose 10 winners from 50 entries (I can really say that the Filipino is great no matter whatcommunication tool he uses. The output was global but the issues were local or endemic to their second homes. Also, Filipinos are very adaptable, no matter what the circumstances are.”
Eclarinal affirmed: “Kaya nating makipagsabayan noon pa pero wala lang avenues, or programs na tumututok para ma-highlight iyong mga achievements ng mga Filipinos. (The Filipino can keep up with other global citizens but has not been given the opportunity to do so.”
Through MAM Awards, CFO and the other inter-agency committees hope to provide another sustainable platform that will showcase not only the innate Filipino talent but also keen sense on the issues that affect the migrants. Underscretary Tironahoped: “the wealth of information has helped us understand the migrant and his family and friends. However, she says it should not end there as we need to keep on raising awareness especially for the next generation.”
The other winners are as follows:
Nene Ho, the publisher and editor-in-chief of the free monthly newspaper-magazine for Asians in Taiwan – The Migrants (Best Newspaper-Magazine on Migration)
Edna Manlapaz, one of the authors of the book on Filipina migration and women empowerment – Many Journeys, ManyVoices (Best Book on Migration)
Maria Genevie Kim and Lee Kwang-Hoon of the Woongjin Foundation for their cultural and entertainment radio show for Filipino migrants in South Korea – Philippine Language Multicultural Family Music Radio (Best Radio Show on Migration)
Rose Paquette for her article at the Philippine Daily Inquirer – Hikes in Container Cargo Tariffs Worry Balikbayan Box Senders (Best Print Article on Migration),
Cherry Hidaki for her Philippine Digest website – www.phildigest.ipcdigital.com
(Best Website on Migration),
Antonio Neri Echevarria, Jr. for his Pinoys to Canada blog – www.pinoystocanada.wordpress.com (Best Blog on Migration)
Google Philippines – for its poignant online ad Miss Nothing (Best Advertisement on Migration)
Romabel Yumul, Associate Producer of the magazine TV show Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho of GMA-7 (Best Episodic TV Show on Migration)