Jessica Soho earns AIBs nomination for KMJS -Fresh off her win at the ContentAsia Awards for the documentary “Secret Slaves,” highly esteemed GMA Public Affairs host Jessica Soho is set to raise the Philippine flag anew—this time at the prestigious 2024 Association for International Broadcasting (AIBs) Awards in London, for the Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) episode “Minahan sa Homonhon Island” (Nickel and Dime: The Cost of Mining in Homonhon Island).
“Minahan sa Homonhon Island,” which aired in KMJS earlier this year, is nominated in AIBs’ Sustainability category. The investigative documentary delved into the detrimental effects of large-scale mining in Homonhon Island, Guian, Eastern Samar. The episode generated discussions online as Soho flew to Guiuan, Eastern Samar to personally investigate the issue.
Soho expressed her gratitude to the AIBs for the nomination, dedicating the latest recognition to the residents of the island. “We would like to give back the honor to the people of Homonhon island in Eastern Samar of Central Philippines. They were the ones who called our attention to their plight and their story – how their beautiful and historic island is being ravaged by several large-scale mining operations for ore and nickel,” says Soho.
“These are minerals that mostly serve the foreign market, and until now, the residents continue to ask: if it’s true that mining brings riches and development, why is it that majority of them remain poor as their island is slowly being turned into a wasteland? A story can only do so much, but we would like to think that by recognizing our work, AIB is helping us amplify the voices that should be heard. Thank you,” she adds.