On its second year, the Gawad Agong sa Pamamahayag recognized journalists who served as “the eyes, ears and voice of the indigenous peoples.”
By DEE AYROSO
Bulatlat.com
MANILA — The Gawad Agong para sa Pamamahayag 2014 recognized journalists who reported about indigenous peoples in their stories, photos or commentaries, serving as “the eyes, ears and voices of the indigenous peoples.”
“This recognition comes from the indigenous communities, for media practitioners who carried the indigenous peoples’ voices, as we assert our right to our ancestral lands and self-determination,” said Piya Malayao, coordinator of the Indigenous Voices in Asia-Philippines.
The awarding was held last night, Sept. 15, at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani auditorium in Quezon City.
Many of those who received the awards or special citation said it was “unexpected.”
Among them was Edgie Francis Uyanguren, host of the program “May punto ka dyan!” aired over DZUP 1602. His winning entry featured an interview with an indigenous leader who had just been released after being arrested on trumped-up charges.
Ilang-ilang Quijano of the Pinoy Media Center also said her group did not expect the special citation for their video documentary “Didipio,” which is about the resistance against gold mining by the indigenous communities in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya. The documentary was directed by King Catoy and was shot for only two days during a fact-finding mission in the mining area in Didipio village.
“It was a sad, sad place, with all the destruction, the cutting of trees. But in spite of it all, there was still fire in the people,” she said.
A special citation was also given to Radyo Sagada, a community radio run by indigenous broadcasters and has started airing in Sagada, Mt. Province since 2011.
Bulatlat.com reporter and radio host Raymund Villanueva, also of Kodao productions, received a citation award, along with Fr. Delfo Canceran, for the episode “Mga katutubo at ang kanilang kwento sa kasalukuyang panahon” in their program “Talaakayan” aired over Radio Veritas.
Malayao said the recognition aims to encourage more media practitioners to report about indigenous peoples, as they confront threats against their communities, ancestral lands and culture, such as destructive mining and other projects, discrimination and human rights violations.
The judges were Rorie Fajardo, Leti Boniol of the Philippine Daily Inquirer and international actress Monique Wilson.
Gawad Agong is given by the Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan sa Pilipinas (KAMP), Koalisyon ng Katutubong Samahan sa Pilipinas (KASAPI), Cordillera People’s Alliance (CPA) and Kusog sa Katawhang Lumad (KALUMARAN). It is part of the Indigenous Voices in Asia project in cooperation with the Asia Indigenous People’s Pact (AIPP) and with the support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA.)
Here is the list of awardees:
Radio – Edgie Francis Uyangoren, May punto ka dyan! DZUP 1602 (“Mga hamon sa kalikasan at katutubo”)
Photo essay – Vincent Go, UCA News (“Coming back to war-torn village”)
Online media – Clarissa Militante UCA News (“Wanted: new ways to seek justice for Philippines tribals”)
Print – Germelina Lacorte, Phil. Daily Inquirer (“As peace dawns, ‘lumad’ seek answers”)
TV documentary – Jay Taruc, GMA I-witness (“Tarima”)
Citation awards:
For Radio:
Raymund Villanueva and Fr. Delfo Canceran, OP, Talaakayan, Radio Veritas (“Mga Katutubo at ang Kanilang Kwento sa Kasalukuyang Panahon”)
Eduardo Bartolome, Veritas Point Blank, Radyo Veritas –Bayombong (“Amianan Salakniban”)
Print:
Desiree Caluza, Inquirer Northern Luzon (“Remembering Macliing Dulag”)
Karlos Manlupig, Inquirer Mindanao (“Dreams die young in Talaingod Davao del Norte”)
TV documentary:
Jayson Santos, Real Time, GMA News TV (“Silang Mga Wala sa Mapa”)
Kara David, I-Witness, GMA Network (“Mga Datu ng Mahagsay”)
Photo essay:
Boy Bagwis, Pinoy Weekly Online (“We will defend our land and culture even with our primitive weapons”)
Online media:
Jose Torres Jr., UCA News (“Philippines rapid growth leaves tribals far behind”)
Ilang Ilang Quijano, Pinoy Weekly Online (“Destroying Didipio”)
Special citations:
Radyo Sagada
Pinoy Media Center, for the video documentary “Didipio” 
