Kodak Philippines, Inc. has partnered with Probe Foundation, Inc. and the United Nations Millennium Campaign – Philippines for this year’s Stand Up, Take Action campaign, a global initiative to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and end extreme poverty by 2015.

Probe Foundation and Kodak are spearheading the Search for the Philippines’ MDG Warriors, a two-part competition involving a nationwide search for MDG advocates and a student documentary contest. Photo shows (from left) Yasmin Tang, Executive Director of Probe Media Foundation Inc.; Jerome Nicdao, Country Business Manager for Retail Systems Solution, Kodak Philippines, Inc.; Anna Cabaños, Country Business Manager for Digital Capture & Devices, Kodak Philippines, Inc.; Dulce Saret, National MDG Campaign and Advocacy Specialist, UN Millennium Campaign – Philippines; and Lucille Sodipe, Project Officer for The Search for the Philippines MDG Warriors.

This is the story of the little production company that made a big impact on the Philippine broadcast industry.

After over two decades of fearless stories, groundbreaking concepts and quality productions, award-winning and pioneer investigative program “Probe” will finally unveil its own story in “Probe: Ang Ating Kuwento” this Sunday (July 18) on ABS-CBN Sunday’s Best.

Former Probe members including its co-founder and current ABS-CBN Head of News and Current Affairs Maria Ressa, broadcast journalists Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, Judith Torres, David Celdran, and Tony Velasquez, and many others will join “Probe” main anchor and driving force Cheche Lazaro in remembering the biggest and most memorable stories in the program’s glorious run.

Reporters, producers, production assistants and even camera crew will recount how they covered specific events as Probe’s story is intertwined with the country’s history in the last 24 years.

They talk about the challenges they faced, the dangers they encountered in pursuit of a story.  The reporters and producers also discuss how storytelling has changed as the show changed formats and stations over the years.

The viewers will also get a glimpse of what went on behind the camera as the Probers share their funny stories on coverage.  Lastly, the Probers also talk about the Probe standard, their learnings from Probe and from Lazaro herself.

Under Lazaro’s leadership, Probe became a byword for excellent journalism with stories that didn’t only bare the highs and lows of the country but also raised the standards in broadcasting.

Probe also became a training ground for world-class anchors, reporters, producers, writers, graphics designers, editors, and cameramen, who make up its elite list of alumni.

Lazaro maintains that the world has not seen the last of “Probe.” “We’re closing the weekly format but we will continue to make a positive contribution to television,” she said.

Don’t miss “Probe: Ang Ating Kuwento” this Sunday (July 18) after “TV Patrol Linggo” on ABS-CBN.

The award-winning program that pioneered investigative journalism on Philippine television is bidding goodbye for now after almost a quarter of a century in investigating the top issues and personalities in the country.

Probe is going full circle as it celebrated its remarkable run, which began during the presidency of Corazon Aquino, with a two-part series about the ascent to presidency of Cory’s son, President-elect Benigno Aquino III.

In the two-part special, Cheche Lazaro featured life in the Malacañang Palace with a series of interviews with presidential offsprings Nini Quezon, Ilocos Norte Governor-elect Imee Marcos, and former Sen. Jun Magsaysay, former presidents Joseph Estrada and Fidel V. Ramos, and even Palace employees and servants who will bare the secrets of Malacañang.

On June 30, Cheche zeroed in on Sen. Noynoy Aquino’s march to the presidency beginning with the grueling 2010 election campaign to his inauguration, getting the inside story behind the issues in his candidacy and the transition to his administration straight from his campaign manager Butch Abad, incoming presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, and the Aquino sisters.

Despite the exit of Probe Profiles, Lazaro said Probe Productions Inc. will continue churning up brave and quality projects and might return to television, while she will still be seen as anchor of “Media in Focus” on ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel.

Lazaro said, “for as long as Filipinos look at the nation with probing eyes and minds, the Probe legacy lives on.”

MANILA, Philippines, May 21, 2010— As build-up to the September 17-19 Special Edition Stand Up, Take Action Campaign to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Probe Media Foundation, Inc. partnered with the United Nations Millennium Campaign to launch the “Search for the Philippines’ MDG Warriors.”

“As a UN Millennium Campaign partner, Probe is taking a more positive approach to helping promote the MDGs. We are doing this by searching for inspiring people and organizations, and by encouraging students to tell their stories to the public,” said veteran broadcast journalist Cheche Lazaro, President of Probe.

Probe has been committed to helping create a deeper understanding and appreciation of social issues by producing stories that move the hearts and capture the minds of viewers. By involving students, Probe also hopes to discover a fresh generation of talented broadcast journalists and ‘documentarists.’

This two-part competition involves a nationwide search for individuals or organizations whose selfless work and commitment to public service have produced a great positive impact on any of the MDGs, and a contest for college students to produce a documentary about the winning MDG warriors.

“We are aiming to discover a new breed of heroes,” Lazaro said. “We believe that while the government has the primary responsibility of working to achieve the MDGs, we, as a country, can get there faster and easier if we all take a stand and get ourselves actively involved.”

According to Minar Pimple, UN Millennium Campaign Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, “By honoring these individuals and organizations, we encourage others to make their own contribution for the accelerated achievement of the MDGs. At the same time, this is one way of putting the pressure on government leaders to deliver on their MDG commitment, especially as we commemorate the 10th year of the Millennium Declaration.”

By signing the Millennium Declaration of 2000, 189 world leaders committed to achieving eight Millennium Development Goals anchored on eradicating extreme poverty by 2015. These are:
1) end extreme poverty and hunger;
2) achieve universal education;
3) promote gender equality;
4) reduce child mortality;
5) improve maternal health;
6) combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases;
7) ensure environmental sustainability and
8 ) develop a global partnership for development.

The Stand Up Campaign, a yearly global mobilization aimed at reminding government leaders of their MDG commitment, is special this year because it is happening right before the MDG Summit to be held in New York in September. At the Summit, world leaders will be asked to present their MDG Breakthrough Plans for the accelerated achievement of the MDGs by 2015.

Nomination for the Search for the Philippines’ MDG Warriors opens on May 25, 2010, and will run until June 30, 2010, at 11:00 P.M. Anyone who is of legal age by June 30, 2010, can nominate any individual or organization that has impacted the society by working to achieve the MDGs, provided the nominee has not been previously awarded by any national or international award-giving body. The nomination form can be downloaded from, www.probetv.com (click here). Self-nominations will not be accepted.

Seven finalists representing each of the seven (MDG 1-7)   focus MDGs of the Campaign in the Philippines, will be chosen to receive cash prizes and special awards. From these finalists, a special committee will determine the grand winner, who will be awarded with a study tour abroad.

To find out more about the Search for the Philippines’ MDG Warriors, download the competition guidelines (click here).

What is one thing that has become a natural instinct for us nowadays?

Making sure we do not leave home without  our  cellphone.

There was a time when all we were concerned about was not missing an important call when our cellphones rang.  Today, with technology constantly upgraded, we have  cellphones that can take pictures, shoot video and upload our shots to the internet seconds after we have pressed the stop button on our phones.

No need to bring film to be processed, no need to ask someone to air our story.  We have become citizen-journalists with the freedom to choose what story to tell, when and from where we find something with an interesting story to tell.

Big, bulky cameras and the long tedious process of crafting a story has now been reduced making it accessible to anyone who has a keen eye, a genuine interest in news as it happens where you are and most importantly I think, a commitment to seek the truth, verify and be fair to all concerned.

With the elections just days away, we are faced with the challenge of observing and recording a first in our country and in Asia.  The automated election process needs to be watched carefully.  This is the first time since 1907 that the “mano-mano” way of counting our vote will be replaced by machines that will do the count for us.

Let’s be active participants. Make a difference by participating. Be a citizen-journalist.

— Cheche

(you can upload your videos about the campaign, elections or just about anything that affects you on probetv.com, click here.)

Register and become a member of probetv.com. Don’t forget to verify your email address as soon as you get a verification email.

Once registered, log in the website.

Click SHARE on the menu bar.

There are two easy steps in uploading video.

Step One, type in the information about your video:

TYPE in your TITLE.

Then type a DESRIPTION of your video – Please tell us when the video was taken or made and the location. It would be great if you can give a short background of the topic or issue. You can also tell us about your experience in making the video. Share with us what happened behind the scenes and something about yourself, if you want.

CHOOSE the MAIN CHANNEL – choose Citizen Journalism from the dropdown menu

CHOOSE OTHER CHANNELS – choose other channels that you think your video or report is related to. Is it about environmental issues? Is it election related? does it cover art and culture or technology? You can relate it to 5 more categories.

ENTER the TAGS – don’t underestimate the TAG! Viewers who are looking for specific topics and video can type in search words in the probetv search box. So type in tags that will make your video more searchable by your friends and future fans!

CLICK ADD.

Step Two,  choose your file and upload.

Click the BROWSE button to select the video you want to upload.

Find you file (from your computer or external hard drive)

The allowed video formats are mpg, mpeg, avi, divx, mp4, flv, wmv, mov, asf, vob, 3gp, mkv

The maximum file size is 200MB

Once you’ve chosen your file, click UPLOAD.

Then your done. Just give the site a few minutes to convert and post your video in the Citizen Journalism Channel and other channels you clicked.

We cant wait to watch your videos!

Email us if you have any questions at inquiry@probetv.com

- Team ProbeTV

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Probe Profiles’ presidential series “Kilala mo ba talaga sila?” will be shown at the UP Film Institute, Cine Adarna at 5 pm.

Before the screening the Profiles team will be there to give a short talk about the show.

See you there!