ABS-CBN TFC ends 2019 in a high note after it bagged two awards at the recently held Migration Advocacy and Media (MAM) Awards: The Best Regular TV Program on Migration won by “Kabayani Talks” and the Best TV Interstitial on Migration bagged by “Lines and Letters”.
Launched in 2018, “Kabayani Talks” is a public service program that aims to aid the overseas Filipinos in the different issues and concerns they are facing overseas with the guidance from different government agencies and experts. The show’s host, Jasmine Romero, considers the recognition from MAM Awards as an affirmation that their program is “on the right track” in serving the overseas Filipinos.
On the other hand, the digital series “Lines and Letters” shares the inspiring stories of the overseas Filipinos with the use of art and spoken poetry. “Lines and Letters” Executive Producer Mark David Acob dedicated not only their work but also the award to all overseas Filipinos who ABS-CBN TFC has been serving for 25 years now.
During his welcoming remarks, Commission on Filipinos Overseas Secretary Francisco Acosta noted the media’s importance in providing support to the Filipinos abroad. “I have personally learned that our migrants abroad have three important sources of support: our government represented by migrant agencies, the Filipino organizations abroad, and of course, the media. This triangulate partnership must work hand-in-hand to consistently inform our Filipinos abroad about their rights, update them on developments in our country, and encourage political involvement in their postal place and in their homeland,” Secretary Acosta stated.
As he congratulated the 20 awardees this year, Secretary Acosta also reminded everyone: “Higit sa prebelihiyo, kalakip ng gantipalang ito ay responsibilidad. Isang tungkulin ang making at hindi pananhimik. Maraming salamat sa pangako ninyong responsibilidad ng pagkukuwento, lalo na sa mga Pilipinong nangangailangan ng boses. Ipagpatuloy ninyo ang paglikha ng mga obra na tumatalakay sa buhay ng mga kababayan natin sa ibayong dagat.”
Meantime, TFC News EMEA Senior Correspondent Maxxy Santiago’s radio program “Luv2DMax” was also named Best Regular Radio Program on Migration, and ABS-CBN Films’ box-office movie “Hello, Love, Goodbye” as Best Full-Length Film on Migration.
Migration Advocacy and Media Migration (MAM) Awards was conceived by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas in 2011 to “recognize the positive and significant contributions of media outlets, institutions and practitioners in the field of print, radio, movie, television, advertising, and internet from the government and private media organizations in the Philippines and abroad, in raising public awareness on issues on Filipino migration, advocating the cause of Filipinos overseas, or promoting a positive image of Filipinos overseas.”
