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Sarihay in Focus: “Matanglawin: Delubyo” (ABS-CBN)

Posted on May 19, 2015

(Eighth in an eleven-part series.)

Matanglawin is the ABS-CBN network’s long-running documentary show that tackles various topics of interest, especially those related to current events affecting the country. Its episode on disaster preparedness – a theme resonant with one of the Foundation for the Philippine Environment’s (FPE) main thrusts for environmental action – earned the first Sarihay Media Award for Best TV Magazine Program/Talk Show.

Matanglawin host Kuya Kim Atienza (center) and others aboard the environmental rescue boats developed by the Tzu Chi Environmental Recycling Center. (Screenshot from the episode.)

In the wake of the massive destruction brought about by back-to-back natural disasters in the last quarter of 2013 – the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that ravaged Bohol in October and super-typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) which laid waste to eastern Visayas a month later – the Matanglawin episode was aired to shed light on the science behind such devastating natural events, as well as on practical solutions developed to prepare for and respond to them.

Matanglawin is a show that, by design, presents scientific facts and figures in easy-to-understand ways. The result is an informative, entertaining, and engaging half-hour for viewers of all ages.

In the winning episode, the show complemented authoritative statements from representatives of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and the National Operational Assessment of Hazards (Project NOAH) with crafty, do-it-yourself home experiments and easily relatable analogies to help the audience understand how and why earthquakes, typhoons, and flooding occur.

Kuya Kim interviews the young robotics specialists of Bulacan’s Dr. Yanga’s Colleges. The kids demonstrated some of their inventions in the program. (Screenshot from the episode.)

More importantly, in addition to explaining the calamities, the particular episode shone the spotlight on important actions and inventions developed to address future occurrences of such disasters. Showcasing innovative and scientifically sound measures that range from the level of preparation to that of responding to the impacts and effects of natural disasters, the episode proved an inspiring point that Filipino ingenuity is more than capable of dealing with and rising above the worst that the forces of nature can bring.

Ultimately, the Matanglawin episode drove home the point that with proper knowledge and understanding, human crises brought about by these extreme yet naturally occurring events can indeed be mitigated, thus keeping casualties and damages at a minimum. All it takes is a measure of awareness and responsibility from each and every Filipino.

“Bagyo, lindol, baha: Hagupit ng kalikasan ay hindi natin maiiwasan, pero sa tamang kaalaman at simpleng paraan lamang, aksidente’t pinsala, pwede nating iwasan,” according to the ever-informative Kuya Kim.

Watch the episode through this link.

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The Sarihay Media Awards was launched last February 2014 in recognition of the important role of the media in promoting awareness and better understanding of environmental and sustainable development issues among policymakers, decision makers, and the public. The campaign served as both acknowledgement and reward to those who deliver outstanding and responsible reportage of environmental news. The term "Sarihay" comes from the Filipino phrase, "Samu't Saring Buhay", which aptly describes biodiversity.