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#IWitness15: "Some of the best stories come accidentally." -Sandra Aguinaldo
Sandra Aguinaldo was already a seasoned reporter for local newspapers before taking her journalistic skills to a different medium --- television. In 1996, she entered the broadcast industry where she was able to experience braving conflict areas and mass uprisings all in the name of passion for producing stories that matter.
But of all her stories, her journey with “I-Witness” was one she did not see coming. Then-host Vicky Morales had to take a leave, leaving a spot open for pinch-hitters. Sandra could not recall how or why it happened, but next thing she knew, she was producing the first of her many award-winning documentaries for the program.
More than a decade later, Sandra has countless of stories under her belt. “Boy Pusit” (2006), a story of three boys who were taught to make a living out of catching squid in the seas of Masbate, bested hundreds of entries across the world when it bagged the Gold World Medal for Documentary in the 2007 New York Festivals.
The following year, “Iskul Ko No. 1” (2007), which chronicled the success of a rural school in Southern Leyte after it jumped from rank 78 to rank one in the National Elementary Achievement Test, gained international acclaim when it brought home a silver medal in the same category.
Follow Sandra Aguinaldo’s journey here:
But of all her stories, her journey with “I-Witness” was one she did not see coming. Then-host Vicky Morales had to take a leave, leaving a spot open for pinch-hitters. Sandra could not recall how or why it happened, but next thing she knew, she was producing the first of her many award-winning documentaries for the program.
More than a decade later, Sandra has countless of stories under her belt. “Boy Pusit” (2006), a story of three boys who were taught to make a living out of catching squid in the seas of Masbate, bested hundreds of entries across the world when it bagged the Gold World Medal for Documentary in the 2007 New York Festivals.
The following year, “Iskul Ko No. 1” (2007), which chronicled the success of a rural school in Southern Leyte after it jumped from rank 78 to rank one in the National Elementary Achievement Test, gained international acclaim when it brought home a silver medal in the same category.
Follow Sandra Aguinaldo’s journey here:
“Iskuwater,” 2005. Sandra Aguinaldo followed the lives of families who were victims of a fire that burned most of the houses occupied by informal settlers in NIA Road, Quezon City. With Sandra here are Ianessa Valdellon-Balderama (former Program Manager of I-Witness), Kristoffer Brugada (former Executive Producer of I-Witness Sandra Team), Ivy Magparangalan, April Carpio, and Shari Andrelei Dala.
New York Festivals, New York City, 2008. Howie Severino and Sandra Aguinaldo each received an NYF Silver Medal for their respective I-Witness documentaries “Huling Hala Bira” and “Iskul Ko No. 1.”
“Pating,” 2010. Sandra Aguinaldo explored the waters of Leyte as she tried to find the killer shark which nearly mutilated some of the residents in the area.
“KAMPANAkaw,” 2010. Centuries-old church bells had gone missing in Bulacan just as the Christmas season loomed in. In the silence, Sandra Aguinaldo scoured the area and antique shops in Manila to help bring back the joyful noise of the churches’ belfries.
“Pobreng Mayaman,” 2011. Despite the brewing storm that time, Sandra Aguinaldo pursued the story of Elida Alvarez, a woman who became popular in their community in Baseco, Manila for extending help to others whenever necessary, no matter what the cost.
I-Witness Image Plug shoot, 2011. Sandra Aguinaldo and the other hosts worked with a professional fire dancer as they shot a promotional video for the I-Witness 12th anniversary, “patuloy na nag-aalab ang bawat kuwento.”
“Lihim ng Kanluran,” 2012. Sandra Aguinaldo travelled to the western edge of the country where no other television crew has set foot. There she met the students of Brgy. Pasig, Balabac Island, Palawan who, unfortunately, only have direct access to elementary education.
“Lihim ng Kanluran,” 2012. Sandra Aguinaldo met the women of Malbog Tribe in Balabac Island who led such simple lives away from civilization that they were comfortable working half-naked.
“Taste of Japan,” 2013. In a two-part documentary featuring the rich culture of Japan, Sandra Aguinaldo received a “royal” treatment as she partook in the dishes exclusive for Japanese VIPs -- highlighted by no less than a performance from these geishas.
“A is for (Big) Apple,” 2013. I-Witness teamed up with the US State Department in a special documentary following the life of Chito Atienza, a Filipino English teacher in New York for 28 years. Because of his hard work, Atienza was awarded the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Teacher of the Year award by the New York Times. With Sandra are Disney Carreon, videographer, and Marilen Go-Nuñez, executive producer.
“Sikreto sa Ilalim ng Siyudad,” 2013. Under the bustling urban life of Bonifacio Global City lies a labyrinth used by soldiers back when BGC was still called Fort Mckinley. Sandra Aguinaldo traced history along its walls, hoping the secrets they keep would not be forgotten.
“Buwis Buhay, Gabay Buhay,” 2013. Teachers of Pegalongan Elementary School in Brgy. Malabay, Davao had to face life-threatening experiences everyday just to get to school. Sandra Aguinaldo met Randy Halasan, the school’s principal, who never intended to stay long in his post but later realized what his students and the whole community needed: dedicated teachers.
"Trabaho Lang Po!," 2014. The I-Witness Sandra Team took a break after hours of shooting. In this documentary, Sandra tried her hand at the dirtiest and filthiest jobs -- all in the name of discovering the dignity of labor.
“Malampaya, Islang Bakal,” 2014. Before Sandra Aguinaldo, no other television crew has entered the dangerous Malampaya Gas Platform in an island out in the West Philippine Sea. Here, Sandra got a taste of the extraordinary lives people living on a gas platform lead. She even had to go through Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET) in the one year it took for I-Witness to make this documentary.
“Itim na maskara,” 2014. In a remote village in Masbate, Sandra Aguinaldo met Bingbing, a young girl often ridiculed because of her skin condition. With the help of I-Witness, Bingbing went to see a doctor for the first time in hopes of finding a cure.
I-Witness airs every Saturday, 10:30 PM, on GMA-7. For more information about the show, follow I-Witness on Facebook and Twitter. ---Princess Daquigan/BMS/ARP
