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WHAT transpired in a reflective office afternoon is a serious
response to the call of nature and wildlife. The originator is no
less GMA Public Affairs—the most trusted media organization in the
country—which spearheaded the cause of the late night show Born to
be Wild.
Set as distinct from the existing shows in the
Kapuso channel’s late-night strip, Born to be Wild is the first in
local television to highlight and take action on ecological issues
onscreen. It has managed to put justice to the imperative use of the
media via advocating conservation efforts.
Executive producer Angelli Atienza and program
manager Joy Madrigal tell of the anecdotes and hard work that arise
behind Born to be Wild’s cameras. “The show completes the roster
of GMA’s late-night offerings. This is a fresh concept that
answers the need for more serious and in-depth discourses about
environment and wildlife. We are happy the show has been
well-received,” says Madrigal.
Though the show is apparently successful in
terms of viewership and commercial loading, there were serious
apprehensions that came to the fore before its airing. “Since this
is a new concept, we asked who would openly accept or support a show
dedicated to environment and wildlife. The misconception about
nature and wildlife is the commonality of the matter. That’s why
we constantly struggle to package our stories in a manner that would
hold the interest of the audience,” Atienza says.
How can a show as meticulously crafted as Born
to be Wild be not worth the interest of its viewers? From the
researchers to producers to hosts, everybody is totally involved in
pitching and producing stories. “Even hosts Romi Garduce and Doc
Ferdz Recio are very hands-on. They are the type who live by the
environmental creed,” Madrigal adds.
Unlike any usual program that requires the
typical processes of brainstorming and taping, Born to be Wild gets
atypical because its lead animals and natural occurrences are hard
to schedule for shoots. Just the same, Atienza and Madrigal claim
they are overwhelmed with the way the show is going. There are
positive feedbacks that entail the change of viewers’ mindset.
“We know of some people who quit smoking because of the show,”
says Madrigal.
The viewers have indeed shifted from
indifference to involvement as they have become more aware about the
rights of animals and wildlife law. Born to be Wild is in constant
liaison with the government, academic and commercial sectors to make
the advocacy more widespread. The show conveniently gets
sponsorships and inputs from its partners, having a cause that
attends to an impersonal setback.
In the upcoming episode, Born to be Wild goes
into the deep and the dark to encounter creatures too rare for
acquaintance. Recio explores the mystical Bathala Cave on Marinduque
Island, known as an abode for huge python snakes. Deep inside the
cave, Recio studies reptile behavior and discovers why the creatures
prefer the cavern for shelter. In a province long-exploited by
mining activities, Bathala Cave remains one of the last few
sanctuaries for wildlife.
Meanwhile, Garduce goes diving to explore a
marine protected area in Handumon, Bohol. Because of the
community’s efforts, the area once called a “cemetery” by the
locals, now boasts of a diverse and colorful underwater world. Even
the rare seahorse finds shelter, thrives and breeds in this rich
body of water.
This is another specailly conceptualized,
researched and documented episode from Born to be Wild. Catch the
deep and the dark and get swayed with this national campaign for
environment protection this tonight on GMA-7.
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