'The Atom Araullo Specials: Munting Bisig' wins silver award at the Cannes Corporate Media and TV Awards

Atom Araullo just celebrated his birthday on Wednesday, and there's no better gift for him than to receive yet another award for one of his documentaries.

"Munting Bisig," which aired on "The Atom Araullo Specials" last August 2021 bagged a silver award for Documentaries and Reports (TV, Online, and Cinema) in the Human Concerns and Social Issues category at the Cannes Corporate Media and TV Awards.

It is the third award "Munting Bisig" has received just this year alone, following the Gold Award in the Documentary: Social Issues category at the New York Festivals TV and Film Awards 2022 and Best Asian Documentary at the Asia Content Awards (ACA).

"Munting Bisig" looks at children working amid the global pandemic. Atom followed the lives of children who put their lives at stake to help their families survive even if they were exposed to the COVID-19 virus.

There's 15-year-old Pancho, the youngest compressor diver in their barangay in Paracale, Camarines Norte, who braves diving into 40 feet of mud to collect soil, hoping to find gold.

There's Yeseleen, one of only two child labor profilers in the entire Cordillera, whom Atom accompanied in the mountains of Kalinga to find other children engaged in hard labor.

In Pasay, Atom met 12-year-old Joshua, the breadwinner of his family.

Four years since it premiered on GMA Network, Atom and "The Atom Araullo Specials” (TAAS) continue to make waves on the local and international scene, shedding light on Filipinos’ social issues.

Congratulations on the win, Atom. Here's a happy birthday to you! — with reports from Franchesca Viernes/ LA, GMA News