GMA International: Bridging gaps among Filipinos abroad

Kudos to GMA International for another successful year. Despite challenging times, 2013 nevertheless saw the team reaping the fruits of its hard labor with a string of notable feats and recognitions.

For one, GMA International continues to enlarge its presence by reaching out to more Filipino households in various parts of the world among them, Palau, Malaysia, as well as with new carriers in Canada and Singapore.

But the most noteworthy of all is the re-launch in the Middle East, which was borne out of the Network’s desire to be more relevant and to provide viewers in this key market with better services. Having the second largest population of Filipinos abroad next to North America, GMA International knows all too well the importance of providing our kababayan quality news and entertainment.

In fact, in commemoration of its eighth year, GMA International, together with new partner in the Middle East, My-HD, staged a star-studded concert in the magnificent city of Dubai. As a testament to its success, the two-part special titled Kapusong Pinoy Sa Dubai featuring Christian Bautista, Rachelle Ann Go, Julie Anne San Jose and Marian Rivera drew in droves of eager supporters from all over the Middle East.

Just the same, GMA International’s different celebrations of the country’s Philippine Independence Day were well-attended and the featured Kapuso artists, warmly received by their fellow Pinoys. Year after year, more and more Filipinos look forward to what the Network has prepared in making the yearly affair more meaningful and memorable.

Throughout all these, GMA International has paid close attention to strengthening its affinity with second generation Filipino-Americans by instilling in them a greater appreciation of their roots and opening their eyes to the richness and diversity of Filipino culture.

Apart from the events that took place in June, the remaining months of the year were also highlighted by events spearheaded or jointly produced by GMA International. These include the OPM Festival and Pista sa Nayon event in Canada, which celebrated Filipino music at its finest; Battle of the Barrios, a talent competition participated in by Fil-Am youth in New York; and the recently-concluded My Husband’s Lover US Tour, which validated how the groundbreaking show has really become a worldwide phenomenon, among others.

Again, the Kapuso artists, who participated in the events, proved what it means to be a Kapuso as they eagerly performed for their audiences, and graciously attended to their fans’ requests, while essentially giving them a piece of home.

GMA Pinoy TV and GMA Life TV subscribers were also treated to new original shows such as The Balikbayan Project, GMA Pinoy TV’s first-ever original series revealing real-life experiences of the Basco Family as it explored the islands of its ancestors, and Home Away From Home, a docu-series that gives viewers a peek into the homes of noteworthy Filipinos all over the world. GMA News TV International, meanwhile, introduced regional newscasts into its programming line-up — an initiative that was very much appreciated by Filipinos abroad who originally come from the provinces.

2013 was also a year of many wins for the Network’s international operations and distribution department. GMA won a total of eight awards in the esteemed NAMIC Excellence in Multicultural Marketing Awards (EMMA), which is the most number of awards garnered by the Network in its long history of joining the said global marketing competition. Pusong Pinoy sa Amerika, GMA Pinoy TV’s long-running program on immigration law, was recognized by various award-giving bodies winning as Best TV Show in the Migration Advocacy and Media Awards, and bringing home a bronze in the Information Category of the Telly Awards. The show was also honored for its Outstanding Reporting on Civil Liberties Ethnic Communities in the NAM Ethnic Media Awards. Likewise, Power ng Pinoy, which showcases success stories of Filipinos abroad, brought home two golds in the Hermes Awards, two bronzes in the Telly Awards and an Honorable Mention in the Plaridel Awards. Meanwhile, Kusina Master, which airs internationally on GMA Life TV, won as Best Lifestyle Show in the NAMIC Vision Awards.

And in light of recent events, some carriers of GMA International agreed to broadcast the channels for free to provide Filipinos overseas access to the developments in the rescue and relief efforts in areas affected by Yolanda. Similarly, GMA International was also at the heart of fundraising initiatives by Filipino communities and associations — a clear manifestation of the role that they play in fostering the bayanihan spirit all over the world.

“To many Filipinos living in many parts of the world, 2013 has been a challenging year, especially during this last quarter,” recalled GMA VP and head of International Operations, Joseph Francia. â€œGMA International is grateful to be of service to our countrymen abroad, bringing them closer to home through relevant news and entertainment from home on GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV and GMA News TV,” he ended.