Reel time’s ‘Batang Halau’ wins Best TV Show at 2012 Migration Advocacy and Media Awards

CEBU, Philippines -  GMA News TV’s Reel Time took home the 2012 Migration Advocacy and Media Award for Best TV Show for its episode on stateless children, Batang Halau.

Batang Halau documents the halau children of Sabah, Malaysia. Halau, which means “driven away” in Malay, are persons without any documents to prove their identity or nationality.

Majority of them are Filipinos who left the southern islands of the Philippines to escape armed conflict and poverty. They recount the hardships they face as stateless persons in a foreign country, and their dreams of having a formal education and recognition of their identity.

It is estimated that there are more or less 50,000 halau people in Sabah, Maysia. Since they are considered illegal immigrants, the Malaysian government does not provide them with shelter, medical assistance or education.

“We were aware of the illegal migration going on in the southernmost parts of Mindanao to Sabah.  Reel Time decided to chronicle the stories of the children who have been deprived of their basic rights, most importantly education,” said Eleazar del Rosario, the Director and Executive Producer of the documentary.

“It is truly a great honor for GMA News TV’s Reel Time to be recognized as MAM’s Best TV Show,” said Nowell Cuanang, Senior Program Manager. “We are inspired to pursue more quality documentaries in the coming years”.

Twelve media entries from the United States, Australia, Kuwait and the Philippines received the Migration Advocacy and Media (MAM) Award this year. The MAM awards were conceived by the Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO) to recognize the significant contribution of media in raising public awareness on issues and challenges related to migration and development. (FREEMAN)