Sine Totoo proudly presents Philippine Agenda's
Education episode, which was the 2008 Gold Camera Award winner in the Social
Issues category of the US International Film and Video Festival.
The brainchild of Jessica Soho, GMA Network's Vice-President for News, Philippine Agenda aimed to raise the level of concern of viewers about the biggest problems facing the nation today and allow them to make sound choices come election day.
Philippine Agenda: Education documented classes held under the trees in Masbate, hundreds of students crammed into a single classroom in Caloocan, and students taking over absentee teachers in Maguindanao.
The eye-opening episode followed students who walk six kilometers a day to get to their barrio school, leaving home at 3 a.m. in order to make it on time for flag ceremony. It also profiled a teacher who loves his work but must sideline as a tricycle driver before and after class, in order to feed his family.
The phenomenal issues facing Philippine education were discussed in the episode and aired in time for the 2007 elections. These include the high dropout rate among elementary school students to the lack of training for teachers, the malnutrition suffered by many school children to the lack of simple desks and chairs in public schools, and the overall lack in investment in the sector.
Sine Totoo host Howie Severino interviews program manager Arlene Carnay and executive producer Joy Madrigal about the show. Despite years of featuring education stories on their programs, they admit to still being surprised by what they discovered while producing Philippine Agenda.
Learn why the groundbreaking television program won the USIFVF Gold Camera Award when Sine Totoo airs Philippine Agenda: Education, this Saturday late night on GMA-7.