GMA Network dominated the “Gandingan 2016: The 10th UPLB Isko’t Iska’s Multi-media Choice Awards” with a total of 22 recognitions including the Best Development-Oriented TV Station (Gandingan ng Kaunlaran Award) for GMA 7. The ceremony was held March 19 at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna.
Leading the list of Kapuso winners were GMA News and Public Affairs programs and personalities.
GMA News Pillar Jessica Soho was awarded Best Magazine Program Host for Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, which, in turn, was named as Best Magazine Program. This serves as the eighth Best Magazine Program Host citation for Soho, who was inducted to the Gandingan Awards Hall of Fame in 2012 after winning the said award for five consecutive years.
Meanwhile, its coverage of Bagyong Luis in September 2014 earned Unang Hirit the Best Morning Show award. Arnold Clavio, Susan Enriquez, Rhea Santos, Connie Escuderro, Ivan Mayrina, Suzi Abrera, Lyn Ching-Pascual, Love Añoever, and Tonipet Gaba were named Best Morning Show Hosts.
Reporter’s Notebook was recognized anew as Best Investigative Program for its “Kalbaryosa Isla” episode, which looked into the state of education in Libucan Island in Tarangan, Western Samar. Jiggy Manicad and Maki Pulido were awarded Best Investigative Program Hosts.
I-Witness was named as this year’s Best Youth-Oriented Program for “Remember Me,” a documentary by Sandra Aguinaldo featuring the heart-breaking reunion of a Filipina daughter with her now wheelchair bound Korean father. Aguinaldo was also conferred the Gandingan ng Kabataan distinction.
Kara David, meanwhile, received the Gandingan ng Kababaihan award for her “I-Witness” documentaries and was also named as Best Development-Oriented Talk Show Host for Powerhouse.
Travel and wildlife show Born to be Wild took home the Best Environment-Oriented Program award with its hosts, Doc Ferds Recio and Doc Nielsen Donato, receiving this year’s Gandingan ng Kalikasan award.
Leading local news channel GMA News TV also won big that night.
State of the Nation with Jessica Soho, GMA News TV’s flagship evening newscast, won as Best News Program for its “National Day of Mourning: Justice for Fallen 44” special report; while its anchor, Jessica Soho, was cited as Best News Anchor.