Planet Philippines, a documentary by GMA News and Public Affairs which aired last year, clinched the Bronze World Medal for Environment and Ecology at the recently concluded 2010 New York Festivals Television and Film Awards.

Program Manager Ella Evangelista-Martelino along with actor and environment advocate Richard Gutierrez, who hosted Planet Philippines, flew to New York to attend the ceremonies at the American Airlines Theater in Manhattan.

“It is my first time to attend such a prestigious gathering of international journalists and artists,” shares Richard. “I am honored to be here.”

“Our film was not about poverty or armed conflict or calamity. Instead it highlighted the uniqueness and the wealth of our natural resources,” says Ella Evangelista-Martelino. “We are grateful we got to show the world another side of the Philippines; this recognition from peers from across the globe is but a sweet bonus.”

Entries from more than thirty countries were reviewed by media professionals and critics. “The NY Festivals is the first and only international awards competition that uses the internet in its judging process,” says its festival director Rose Anderson. “It is the high quality of the entries which gives the competition its value.”

“We were up against tough competition from other countries. Some of the entries for our category were obviously produced over a longer period of time, with bigger budgets,” says Ella Evangelista-Martelino, who was part of this year’s jury. A jury member abstains from judging works from its own company.

Shot in high definition, Planet Philippines explored some of the more unknown territories in the country. “Production was physically challenging and the team took a lot of training and preparation. But the footage we got was well worth every bruise and scratch,” says executive producer Angeli Guidaya-Atienza. “The documentary proved that the Philippines is an amazing piece of the planet.”