Saturday, August 18, 2012

Kara David

Through Kara’s eyes
Peabody Award winner Kara David
By ANGELO G. GARCIA, INA H. MALIPOT, and JASER A. MARASIGAN
August 21, 2010, 6:39pm


Kara Constantino David is never really content in being just a journalist. She has always aimed to make a difference.

More than a teller of tales, she matches her documentaries with a deep passion for change and a commitment to action. Her work “Gamu-gamo sa Dilim” resulted in bringing solar power to a community; “Selda Inosente” paved the way for the release of an NPA detainee together with her five-year-old daughter; and “Buto’t Balat” kicked off a feeding program in one of the most malnourished towns in Bicol.

More recently, “Ambulansiyang de Paa,” the I-Witness episode that won Kara and her team the prestigious Peabody Award last April, brought about a message of hope and highlighted the unique Filipino trait of “bayanihan” to the world. The episode, shot in the poor Mangyan town of Apnagan, Oriental Mindoro, showed residents bringing their sick to the nearest health facility — by foot.

Since becoming a full-fledged broadcast journalist in 2001, Kara has made it her mission to cultivate patriotism and solidarity, and to defend children’s rights through her TV shows I-Witness and OFW Diaries on GMA-7. It is her documentaries on children that have made the most impact. Kara has already garnered a number of local and international awards for her work and advocacy, including the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) award in 2007, the UNICEF Child Rights award, Best Social Awareness Program at the Asian Television Awards, Silver Medal at the US International Film Festival and Finalist at the New York Festivals.

Realizing that showing images of despair on TV just won’t do, she took it upon herself to change the lives of her subjects for the better. “Are you here in the media to win in the ratings and the awards? Or are you here to save these children? I realized na hindi enough para sa akin na pumunta sa isang lugar at mag-interview, pack up at wala na akong connection,” she says.

So Kara put up Project Malasakit Foundation to give poor but deserving kids she meets while doing her documentaries, the education they deserve. Her foundation now has 15 scholars.

In this 60 minutes interview, Kara shares learnings from her father Randy David and mother Karina Constantino; from the children who taught her things she never expected she would learn from; and the fulfillment of a life-long dream of becoming a teacher, only in a bigger classroom called television. (Jaser A. Marasigan)

STUDENTS AND CAMPUSES (SCB): What do you think it is about your documentary “Ambulansiyang de Paa” that won over Peabody judges?
KARA C. DAVID (KCD): The president of the awards committee said, almost all entries from Asian countries were about poverty. Naiba raw ‘yung “Ambulansiyang de Paa” because it had a bayanihan angle to it. Hindi lang siya about poverty, it’s about people rising above poverty, kahit hindi sila tinutulungan ng gobyerno. There is that spirit of community and volunteerism dun sa mga Mangyans. I told myself that I’m not going to do another poverty story, it has to be something more.

‘Yung “Ambulansiyang de Paa’’ is really not so shocking to me. Lagi akong umaakyat ng bundok at palagi akong nakakakita ng ganun, nag-iiba lang ang mode ng ambulansiya. Minsan duyan, minsan kahoy siya na merong tela, minsan stretcher, pero palaging may paa kasi binubuhat.

SCB: What made you decide to do that story, considering that you’re used to seeing that happen?
KCD: Sometimes, when you see something on a regular basis, you get numb. But when we brainstorm, tinatanggal namin ang mga sarili namin sa mga nakita na namin at nilalagay namin ang sarili namin as a viewer. Ano pa ba ‘yung hindi nakikita ng ibang tao?

It’s the same thing with my second documentary, “Selda Inosente.” Na-assign ako sa sa jail beat. Naging close na ako sa mga preso sa Muntinlupa, naging ninang na ako sa maraming binyagan. Until minsan nagtanong ang nanay ko kung saan ako papunta. Sabi ko sa binyagan sa Munti. Nagulat siya, “Binyagan sa Munti? Ibig sabihin may mga bata sa Munti?” Then it dawned on me, oh my God, mali nga ‘yun ano?! Then we did “Selda Inosente” about children born inside prison, na pagkalabas na pagkalabas nila sa womb ng nanay nila, they’re already in prison.

SCB: How important is this award to a journalist like you?
KCD: Wala siya sa range ng pangarap ko, para na siyang Pulitzer! ‘Yung Christianne Amanpour lang ang mga nananalo diyan! Nung bago ako sa GMA, natatandaan ko nung nanalo si Ma’am Jess (Jessica Soho), sigaw siya nang sigaw “Nanalo ang I-Witness ng Peabody!”

Sabi ko, “Wow, ano ‘yun Ma’am?” (laughs). “Kara, ano ka ba, it’s like the Nobel Prize for electronic media, for broadcast journalism.”

After that, I associated Peabody with the Nobel Prize. And I’m not going to win the Nobel Prize (laughs)!

SCB: What did you say in your acceptance speech?
KCD: Sinulat ko sa CR (laughs). I had it in my mind pero hindi ko pa siya nasulat, kaya sa CR sinulat ko tapos minemorize ko siya nang bonggang-bongga. Tuwing tumatanggap ako ng award, it’s very tempting to thank your family and friends. Pero alam ko naman na hindi ako nanalo dahil celebrity ako. I won because I became a microphone for the people that I interviewed. So it’s really an award of the people who worked for that story. Binigay ‘yun ng Panginoon para sa mga taong ‘yun for their voices to be heard. And I always say, lalo na ‘pag international award, this is the only chance for other journalists to hear what the Philippines is really all about. Kaya ang sinabi ko, yes we are poor, there is poverty in my country pero marami pa rin kaming compassion, marami kaming bayanihan and it’s the trait that make Filipinos unique and it’s the trait na karapat-dapat lang parangalan. We are proud, we are inspiring and you should be inspired of our experience. Natuwa naman sila, applause sila, ang daming nagsabi na that was a very moving speech kasi it was different.

SCB: Who were you wearing in the awards?
KCD: Tuwang tuwa sila sa damit ko, may mga pictures pa na pinaghahawakan nila ‘yung damit ko. The gown was made by Oliver Tolentino, a finalist in the Oscars designer challenge, and forte niya ay piña fabric but modernized.

He made strips out of the piña fabric, dyed it violet, purple, iba-ibang shades. Tapos tinahi-tahi niya, wove it and made it into a tube dress. ‘Yung itsura niya, iba ‘yung texture, ‘pag nakikita ng tao, “What fabric is that?” When I say it’s made of pineapple fiber, they say “What?! What else can you guys create?” Ang sabi ko, “Well, Filipinos are miracle workers!” Kaya namin gumawa ng tela sa pinya, labanan ninyo ‘yun, di ba (laughs)?

SCB: Winning the Peabody, are you now more pressured to make excellent documentaries?
KCD: Lagi naman ako pressured, may Peabody man o wala. Hindi ako magpapa ipokrita, masarap manalo ng award, gusto kong umaakyat ng stage at speak to the audience. It’s an opportunity to talk to the world. Pero hindi ‘yun ang dahilan kung bakit gumagawa ako ng docu.

The reason I do I-Witness, it’s the love for the mountains, the love for Filipinos, and the hope that our story will contribute for other Filipinos, to be compassionate to their fellowmen. It’s an advocacy, in one word. It’s a privilege given to me by the Lord, by GMA, by the people to talk to the Filipino people for one hour every month.

Always the children
SCB: You are well-meaning when you do your docus, but have you gotten any negative feedback?
KCD: From mayors (laughs) pero hindi naman sila ‘yung subjects. One time, mga batang prostitute ang subjects ko. Tinakpan ko ‘yung mukha nila, but the children got mad at me! Kasi nakilala daw sila ng mga tricycle drivers sa paligid nila. We did not violate any laws, pero kung taga dun ka, at naririnig mo ‘yung bata, alam mo ‘yung bihis ng damit, makikilala at makikilala mo siya kahit gaano mo siya takpan.

They felt betrayed. “Sabi mo ate hindi mo kami ipapakita eh bakit nakilala pa rin kami.”

It was a big lesson , na ‘pag bata, hindi lang dapat tatakpan ang mukha, pagpa palitin ng damit, i-relocate sa ibang lugar, at papalitan ‘yung boses. Ang hirap, ang hirap, hirap, hirap. ‘Yun, na depressed ako nang sobra. Also when my child-subjects die, I get totally depressed.

SCB: Children dying of natural causes?
KCD: Of malnutrition. “Buto’t Balat” is my most awarded documentary. It won the Asian Television Award, in Japan, in New York, nanalo dinsiya dito sa Pilipinas. It was about three children, one died after we aired the interview. We were rejoicing about the high ratings, then may biglang tumawag, namatay si Angela.

Nung namatay si Angela, sabi ko, kukuha ako ng maraming pera, magfi-feeding program ako dun sa Bicol. So I joined the show Extra Challenge so I could give the prize. ‘Yung last leg ng race, mananalo na kami, sabi nung producer “Ms. Kara may message ka nga pala, namatay na si Jeremy.” When I won the Asian Television Award, the last kid died.

SCB: During these times, do you question yourself why you are in media?
KCD: Yes, I ask if we are here to win in the ratings, to win in the awards or are you here to save these children? Na question ko talaga sarili ko kasi namatay sila. I realized na hindi enough para sa akin na pumunta sa isang lugar at mag interview, pack up, at wala na akong connection. After that gumawa na ako ng foundation ko...

SCB: What is the foundation for?
KCD: Kasi hindi ko na kaya ‘yung guilt. Hindi ko na maatim na wala akong gawin. May ginawa naman ako to tell their story, ‘yun lang naman ang trabaho ng journalist, magkwento. Pero sometimes you cannot detach and I feel that the Lord put me there to do more than just to tell their story. Kaya gumawa ako ng Project Malasakit in 2002, nagpapa-aral, feeding, etc.

SCB: Who benefits from Project Malasakit?
KCD: When I did the documentary “Gamu-gamo sa Dilim,” meron doong valedictorian na bata na pagkatapos namin mag-shoot sa Mindoro, sinundan ako sa Maynila kasi ayaw na raw niya sa Mindoro. Iniuwi ko siya ng Mindoro and then sabi ko sa kanya, I will be your ate forever, papa-aralin kita but you cannot live with me in Manila. Ginawa ko siyang scholar. Pina-aral namin siya hanggang college. May asawa na siya at anak ngayon. Naunahan pa niya ako (laughs). When she graduated from high school, that’s when I started getting more scholars. Ngayon meron na kaming 15 from all over the country. Meron kaming child laborers, child prostitute, meron kaming malnourished kid na pinapataba namin. Tumaba na sila ngayon, nag-aaral naman sila.

SCB: With Project Malasakit, do you now feel more fulfilled with what you do?
KCD: Kapag binibigyan ako ng card, ng grades, you feel na kahit na hindi ka nanalo sa ratings, alam mong you are able to changesomebody’s life. Kahit na hindi nagpa-interview sa’yo ‘yung isang pulitiko. It’s what keeps me sane. When you see these children na nagbabago, hindi na nagbubuhat ng uling, hindi na nagtatanim ng tubo, nararamdaman mo na hindi ka dapat maging jaded as a journalist kasi may pagbabago na puwedeng magawa, one child at a time.

SCB: Obviously, children are your favorite subjects…
KCD: It’s always children. Lagi nilang tinatanong why? Sabi nila kasi nanay ako, pero hindi. It’s more than that. Children kasi are the hardest to interview but very challenging ‘pag nagsalita ang bata, alam mong totoo ‘yun.

Sila ang barometer ng poverty at ng kung anu-ano. Mga bata din ang pinakamahina sa society, they’re the weakest. Pero they’re the ones who give us hope and strength. Sila ‘yung hindi napapakinggan, pero kapag nagsalita sila, sila ‘yung pinakatotoo. It’s a challenge and it’s an advocacy.

SCB: But children are also prone to exploitation by some journalists…
KCD: Kasi sabi nila mananalo ng award ‘pag bata ang subject kasi nakakaiyak. I have nothing against journalists who do stories on children, sana lang kapag nag-interview sila ng bata, huwag nilang i-exploit at utus-utusan na gumawa ng kung anu-anong mga bagay, huwag nilang i-feed ng sagot. Sana genuinely gusto mong maging mikropono ng boses ng batang ‘yun, hindi dahil may potential na manalo ng award.

SCB: Parang may angst?
KCD: (laughs) Kasi when I watch, nahahalata ko kapag inuutusan ‘yun bata. Kids don’t lie. May napanood ako recently, may mga batang may hawak na baril, halatang-halata namang pinaglaro ‘yung mga bata. Naiinis ako. I mean, babaran mo sila. Kaya ang I-Witness, we do not do our shoots in one day. ‘Pag pupunta ako sa isang community, limang araw ako dun, inaalam ang schedule nila, nag-aabang.

Last month, alas-kwatro raw gumigising ang mga tao para umigib ng tubig sa Masbate. Gising ako alas-tres. Hintay kami. Nasaan ‘yung pila, walang tao. Maya-maya may isang tao, akala ko ba may pila? May pila nga, ayan ‘yung mga balde, pinila na naming kagabi ‘yung mga balde babalikan na lang namin mamayang alas-siyete. Gusto kong sabunutan ‘yung researcher! May pila nga naman, balde lang!

Knowing Marx at eight!
SCB: You came from a family of historians. Why did you take up Mass Communication?
KCD: My lolo, Renato Constantino is a historian, tapos my lola Leticia Constantino, historian din. My father and mother are both social scientists.

Maging history teacher sa public school, ‘yun lang ang pangarap ko sa buhay. So I took up History but got bored!

SCB: When you were younger, kailan nag-sink in na iba ‘yung family mo?
KCD: Ikaw ba naman, pangalanan kang Kara Patria, beloved country. Sabi ni Mama because I was born September 12, 1973, martial law na ‘yun and she was supposed to be jailed. Nahuli ang nanay ko ng military but was not jailed because she was pregnant with me! In a way, the baby in her womb saved her life. So paglabas ko, pinangalanan niya akong “beloved country’’ because ‘yung baby before me, ‘yung kuya ko, namatay because nakunan siya habang nasa demonstration. Kaya ang pangalan nun si Demo.

Buntis siya nagra-rally siya. Nalaglag ‘yung baby. Ako ‘yung susunod, ikukulong naman ‘yung nanay ko. Buti na lang hindi siya kinulong.

Alam namin na hindi kami normal growing up kasi kapag nag-uusap-usap “Nasa’n ang Mama mo? Nasa’n ang Papa mo?” “Nasa abroad po.” “O, bakit nasa abroad? Nagtatatrabaho? Ano ginagawa dun, nagbabakasyon?” “Nagsasalita.” “Nagsasalita ng ano?” “May rally para sa bayan.” ‘Yung mga magulang namin hindi parang doktor o abugado, sa amin nagra-rally (laughs)!

SCB: How old were you when you went to your first rally?
KCD: Mga seven years old, nung ginawa ni Mama yung kantang “Sana’y Mayaman,” a protest song about equality. Bata pa lang kami ine-explain na sa amin ng Nanay ko kung ano ang Marxism, ang socialism. The song goes… “Kung ang tao ay sampu at ang pera ay sampu lamang.

Tig-isa-isa ang mga mamamayan. Walang kaguluhan…Pero paano kung kapag ang isa ay kumuha ng lima, ano ang maiiwan sa siyam na natira?

Paghahati-hatian ang naiwang pera. Ang siyam ay mahirap at iisa ang may kaya,” (sings). She would explain na kailangan pantay-pantay ang lahat. Ang aga-aga ng exposure namin sa kailangan pantay-pantay.

SCB: Hindi ka ba pinag-initan sa school?
KCD: UP kami eh, from kinder to college, so very secular, very liberal, very progressive thinking. Ang hang-up ko lang noon, usong-uso ang mga Tretorn, Reebok tapos wala ako, kasi multi-national company! (laughs).

SCB: Hindi pwede bumili…
KCD: Hindi pwede! Naka-Dragonfly ako, yung pekeng Tretorn!

SCB: Was there ever a time that you asked your parents why they chose the life they lived?
KCD: Oo. Tinatanong namin tapos nagi-guilty lang kami (laughs). ‘Yung awitin ng Nanay namin, that was a response to my brother who asked bakit konti lang ‘yung toys namin eh may pera naman kami. So gumawa ng awitin si Karina Constantino-David that starts with: “Tanong ng anak, Inay mayaman ba tayo? Sagot ng Ina, hindi anak ko.” In essence, sabi ng Nanay ko, mahirap din ‘yung masyado tayong nag-aasam ng more than what we need.

SCB: Do you feel any pressure to live up to what your parents have done?
KCD: Ang kabilin-bilinan lang sa amin ng mga magulang ko is huwag lang namin sisirain or babahiran ‘yung pangalan namin. And to do good. Di naman ‘yun mahirap gawin eh. Di naman mahirap gumawa ng tama, mas mahirap nga gumawa ng mali. Ewan ko bakit ba sinasabi ng mga taong mas madali gumawa ng mali eh mas madaling gumawa ng tama! They said “Ilabas mo kung ano man ang sinabi sa ‘yo, be respectful to them and let the people decide kung paniniwalaan sila or hindi.”

So ‘yung mga pulitiko na na-interview ko na napahiya sila sa mga report ko, hindi ako ‘yung nagpahiya sa kanila, sila ang nagpahiya sa sarili nila.

It’s the pulitiko na kumbaga nahuhuli sa bibig ang isda, di ba?

When I interviewed Mark Lapid or sabihin na lang natin na isang governor ng Pampanga, dati at anak ng action star (laughs), tinanong ko siya,

“Ang sabi ng mga tao, di ka daw pumupunta sa kapitolyo, lagi ka daw nasa labas.” Ang sagot niya sa akin, “Trabaho din naman ang pag-go-golf eh. Kasi siyempre, may mga imini-meet akong mga investors so trabaho din naman ‘yun..”

Inere ko lang ‘yun pero ang pangit ng dating na parang during the time na dapat nasa kapitolyo ka eh nag-go-golf ka. Pero hindi ako ang nagsabi nun. Siya ang nagsabi nun. ‘Yung ang kabilin-bilinan sa akin ng Tatay ko, “Huwag kang magmo-moralize sa voice over mo. Hayaan mo sila to speak for themselves.” Ayun lang naman ang ginagawa ko at hanggang ngayon, buhay pa naman ako (laughs).

SCB: People hoped when your father said he would run in Pampanga against Gloria Arroyo?
KCD: Yes. Thank God hindi natuloy. Hindi namin gusto. I think we could better serve our country by not being politician. We’re not a political family, lalo na ang tatay ko. Mas kailangan siya ng bayan, as critic, as an intellectual, kaysa ‘yung kasama siya ng dalawang daan na kongresista. And ako rin, I believe mas mase-serve ko ang bansa ko being a journalist.

Mommy cool
SCB: You spend three to five days doing your documentaries, how does that affect your being a mother?
KCD: Alam na nila (laughs). Every month mawawala ako. I’m a single mother but very blessed with a very supportive family. Julia is turning 10 and she knows. You’re going to the mountains again Mama, which mountain are you going to this time? On both our birthdays, we don’t hold parties, I take her out to see her country. Kapag birthday niya, happy trip ‘yun, turista kami — Palawan, Davao, Bohol. Kapag birthday ko and Christmas, outreach to the Aetas, Mangyans. Kapag Christmas, outreach din ‘yun. Mamimigay kami ng old clothes, magre-repack kami sa bahay. I hope that when she grows up, she will develop the same love for her country and her people. Umuubra naman. Mukhang mabait naman ‘yung bata. (laughs)

SCB: Were you exposed to this kind of work as a child?
KCD: Yes. DSWD Secretary ang nanay ko when I was young. Nagra-rally si Mama sa kalsada, nandun din kami. Memorize ko ang mga aktibista songs, pati tula ni Amado V. Hernandez. Nire-recite ko siya sa taas ng jeep tuwing may rally noong 80’s (laughs). Tapos kumakanta ‘yung nanay ko. Ini-explain ni Mama kung anong ibig sabihin nun. Of course, hindi ko naintindihan lahat ng mga laot, ang langit sa piling mo, hindi ko naintindihan lahat. Ang corny ba ng childhood ko?

SCB: How did your parents react when you got pregnant?
KCD: Nagalit, siyempre. But I was already 27 when I got pregnant pero devastated pa din ang parents ko. My mom was very, very supportive, ang tatay ko ang di niya matanggap kasi…

SCB: Traditional?
KCD: Di siya traditional. Kasi pinalaki kami na alam namin ang contraceptives. Pero ang hindi matanggap ng parents ko, bakit ‘di ako nag-contaceptive! (laughs) weird ba? ‘Yun ‘yung naiinis sila na parang ang tanga-tanga ko. They gave us all the freedom.

SCB: Was your relationship with your dad strained at that time?
KCD: Oo, habang buntis ako di niya ako kinakausap. Pero meron kaming medium na parang, “Pakitanong nga kay Kara kung gutom siya.”

“Gutom ka daw ba Kara?” “Sabihin mo gutom ako Papa.” “Gutom daw siya, Papa.” (laughs) Pwedeng yung kapatid ko, yung yaya. “Sabihin mo kay Kara namumutla na siya.” “O, ito ibigay mo ito sa kanya, magsabaw siya.” Di nga niya ako kinakausap pero alam kong concerned siya but he was really very, very disappointed. Sa bahay kasi, kung ano ‘yung pinasok mong sitwasyon, ikaw ang bahalang lumabas diyan. Panindigan mo ‘yan.

SCB: Nag-iba ba how you do your stories after you gave birth?
KCD: Yeah, lumawak ang mundo ko. Hindi lang sa how do I make my stories, how I conduct my life. Before I got pregnant, I use to sky dive. Nagpapa-tattoo ako kung saan saan. Here (shows her ankle) and here (shows her lower back). Ano siya, iconic sign of a rebel parang Magdalo (laughs).

SCB: Nagalit ba sila nung nakita nila?
KCD: Si Papa nagalit kasi I’m mutilating my body daw, whatever (laughs). Pero tanggap na nila na weirdo akong tao. Actually, ‘yung mama ko sobra siyang supportive. Nung nakita niya yung tattoo ko, sabi niya “gusto ko din! San ‘yan, san ‘yan?” galit na galit ‘yung tatay ko. So my two other sisters, they have tattoo tapos yung nanay ko, gusto niya talaga pero di na niya tinuloy. My mom, groovy siya talaga. Super, super cool person. Siya din ang nagsabi sa akin na huwag magpakasal nung nabuntis kasi you should not get married just because you got pregnant, kailangan love mo din ‘yung guy. Sobrang supportive si mama. Kasi Lamaze ako. Wala akong anesthesia nung nag-deliver ako kasi gusto ko din.

Gusto ko din ma-feel lahat ng pain (laughs)!

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Effective Listening

Effective listening means:
Hearing the words.
Understanding the message.
Putting it into action.

Before you decide whether to accept or reject an idea, before you argue, before you make statements, before you decry – first make sure you're being objective. Otherwise, you're expressing an emotional prejudice – not an intelligent opinion.

From: Ms. Cristina San Pedro's Post