'Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho' wins gold medal at the 2023 New York Festivals

“Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” has won the gold medal at the 2023 New York Festivals (NYF), which means Jessica Soho has now received gold, silver, and bronze nods from the awards body.

The program was honored for the story “Wounds of Woes,” which featured a 14-year-old boy named Daxen, who has a skin condition called Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, a reaction of the body towards certain drugs. It was learned that Daxen’s condition was due to the medicine he takes for seizures. Daxen was cared for by his aunt while his mother worked as an OFW in Singapore.

After his story aired on “KMJS,” Daxen’s life changed and was able to begin recovery thanks to the support of the viewers, community, local government units, and hospitals.

Daxen’s story also opened the conversation on the state of the Philippines’ medical services, OFWs’ sacrifices, and the bayanihan spirit.

“So para bang in this story, ang daming issues na kabit-kabit na nagsama-sama para mabuo ang kwento ni Daxen,” Soho said in an interview following the NYF win.

She added that though the story shared Daxen’s struggles, it was also a story of hope. However, she said that Daxen is still in need of help for his skin to go back to how it used to be, and for the bleeding in his eyes to stop.

Meanwhile, Soho is nothing but proud to have completed the gold, silver, and bronze medals.

“Nakakatuwa syempre at nakaka-proud, lalo na para sa aking mga kasama sa aking mga programa, ‘KMJS,’ ‘SONA,’ ‘Brigada’ kasi nakumpleto na natin ‘yung line-up ng ating mga medalya,” she said.

Soho added that it takes a village to create a program and is thankful that she is the face of the show.

“Pero pribilehiyo po talaga na ako ang nasa harap ng mga programang ito, ako ang mukha, boses, pangalan pero sa totoo lang po ang lahat ng ito, katas ng sakripisyo ng aking mga kasama sa aking mga programa. Team effort po ang nag-uwi ng mga medalyang ito. Hindi lang po iisang tao,” she said.

“Malaking karangalan na ako ang nakapronta pero hindi ho ito magagawa ng isang tao lang kasi ang TV work is so tedious, napakamabusisi, hindi ho yan kakayanin ng isang tao lang. It takes a whole program—it takes the whole network to bring home these medals,” she added.

While she thanked the whole team behind the show, she said that the program’s inspiration isknowing that they can help change lives. She added that the medals come from those who help the less fortunate featured on the show.

“Lagi kong sinasabi na ang ‘KMJS’ ay hindi namin programa, programa po ninyo ito, programa po ng mga manonood,” she said.

“Ang ‘KMJS’ ay hindi ninyo lang po paboritong kakwentuhan tuwing Linggo, ito po ay kwento ng bawat Pilipino. Kwento po ng bawat isa sa atin, ng bawat pamilya na may pinagdaraanan, kung sino tayo at kung ano ang mga pangarap na gusto natin marating," she added.

That said, she hopes that the bayanihan spirit continues.

“At higit sa lahat, sana po huwag kayong magsasawang tumulong dun sa mga kababayan nating nangangailangan kasi ‘yung kanilang pagkukwento ng kanilang mga pinagdaraanan ay ‘yun po ang tanging napanghahawakan nila para magkaroon po ng pag-asa,” she said. “So habang nandiyan po kayo na nanonood at tumutulong sa kanila, nabubuhay din po ang pag-asa sa kanilang puso."

“KMJS” and Soho have won several awards from the festival in previous years.
 
In 2022, the program won the bronze medal for the story “Ranelyn’s Dress.” They also won bronze in 2019 for “Salay.”

In 2014, Soho’s program “Brigada” won silver medals for the stories “Gintong Krudo” and “Sipa ng Pag-asa” by reporters Micaela Papa and Steve Dailisan.

Meanwhile, Soho’s first bronze medal was in 1991 for her coverage of the hostage crisis in Cagayan Valley. It was the first medal a news organization received for a news coverage and the first for the Philippines.

She received another bronze medal and was named Best News Anchor for “State of the Nation with Jessica Soho” or “SONA” in 2018. She was the first Filipino to win in the category.

—JCB, GMA Integrated News