Local Legends: Environmental Artist tells the story of 74-year-old Ric Obenza’s decades-long personal commitment to restoring Davao’s forests, the home of the Philippines endangered national bird – the Philippine Eagle.
This ABS-CBN documentary earned Silver in Heroes from the Grand Jury for its portrayal of Obenza’s passion and engagement with the people of Davao province as he inspired them to experience the joys of planting and appreciating nature through art.
Regina Reyes is the Head of News and Overall-in-charge of Production for Local Legends. She is a member of the TV & Film Awards Advisory Board and the Grand Jury. In this edition of Content POV, she shares how this documentary series came to be and what the Silver Medal means for ABS-CBN.
"Local Legends was born from a simple idea - that there are ordinary people who inspire us with their creativity and unbreakable spirit. These people became legends in their communities through their hard work and generosity. Many of them don’t necessarily become celebrities or gain much wealth, but their lives are so rich with lessons and values that become their legacy. And it’s been our privilege to share their stories with the world.
The recognition we received from the New York Festivals this year is especially significant as our network, ABS-CBN is reeling from the biggest threat to its existence. The shutdown of our broadcast operations last May 5, 2020, has greatly diminished our capacity to produce long-form programs and documentaries. Efforts are ongoing to have our broadcast license renewed. Our journalists continue to cover news and issues that matter to Filipinos all over the world. At the same time, we are looking at this setback as an opportunity to take advantage of other platforms where we can show our stories and continue serving the public."
For more on ABS-CBN, this interview from Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)