Award-winning documentarist Kara David recalls scary moment on 'Bawal Judgmental'

After 25 years of groundbreaking stories, Kara David has definitely seen her fair share of unforgettable moments.

During her guesting on Eat Bulaga's "Bawal Judgmental," the award-winning documentarist recalled a scary incident while exploring a mine in Kalinga.

"Pumasok kami sa isang tunnel mine tapos nahulog ako sa bangin," Kara said.

"Hindi naman ako nabalian pero sugat lang 'yung likod ko talaga," she added.

Kara apparently lost her grip while following a miner into the tunnel and plummeted down a hole. The crawl space was so small that she had to hold a camera herself with one hand.

"May hawak din akong kamerang ganiyan tapos, a'yun, nabitawan ko 'yung sarili ko, nahawakan ko yung camera," Kara said.

"Ang galing ko — 'yung camera na-save ko, 'yung sarili ko, hindi," she added.

In dangerous situations like these, Kara stressed that it's always important to keep calm and keep going.

"Nalaglag ako mga isang palapag 'yun eh… tapos, ayun, nagpahinga lang ako tapos sabi ng kasama ko akyat na daw ulit, back to work na. Kasi, syempre, hindi ka makakalabas ng tunnel kung hindi ka umakyat diba?" She said.

Kara has gone to great lengths just to tell a story, but she also learned the importance of trust and safety whenever she's out on the field.

"Kapag sinabi ng team ko or sinabi ng camera man ko na huwag tutuloy, hindi talaga ako tutuloy kasi responsibilidad ko yung crew ko, di ba? So kahit gaano kalakas ang loob mo, kung hindi buo ang loob ng team mo, at malalagay sila sa panganib, huwag na," the journalist said.

"No story is worth dying for. Walang saysay ang isang reporter na patay, So safety first, always. Always, safety first," she added.

Kara was one of the guests on "Bawal Judgemental" on Wednesday, March 10.

She was joined by her fellow GMA reporters Mariz Umali, Saleema Refran, Marisol Abdurahman, Tina Panganiban-Perez, Lei Alviz and Bernadette Reyes. — LA, GMA News