I-Witness' 13th Anniversary begins with 'Lihim ng Kanluran'

  More than 7.000 islands make up the Philippine archipelago. For its anniversary series, I-Witness will travel to the four corners of the Philippines to show the diversity of the people in this place we call home.        For the first leg of this series, Sandra Aguinaldo journeys to the western edge of the Philippines to Balabac Island in Palawan to take a peek at the lives of the Molbog tribe. No other television camera has reached this place, until now.   To reach them, Sandra will travel from Manila by plane to Puerto Prinsesa, hop on a van for a 5-hour road trip, and then take a 6-hour boat ride, crossing a snake and crocodile-infested swamp.    Upon reaching Barangay Pasig, the remoteness is rewarded with pristine and breath-taking scenery. In this place, time seems to stand still and the Molbog's way of life has been preserved for many generations.   Disconnected from modern comforts, some of the old women are sill comfortable doing their daily chores without their upper garments. In lieu of hospitals and doctors, people turn to witch doctors for medical help. Most members of the Molbog tribe don't care much about politics either-having no idea who the current Philippine president is. The simple life is at utmost here, and perhaps the key to preserving their culture and traditions.   How does geography change the way Filipinos live in different parts of the country? Sandra Aguinaldo finds the answers this Monday on I-Witness.