Joseph Gideon B.

Cundangan 12/6/19
1LM2 - ReadPH

Film analysis: Limang Dekada

Before I start, let us first acknowledge history. History is a staple to human development
throughout the years. History makes us look at the past for reference in order to make the future
as we live in the present. History is rich in multiple occurrences that shaped the world as it is
today. It is a platform to which information and knowledge of old could be used as relevance to
how we live such as culture, tradition, and general development. With this being said, the film
“Limang Deakada: The GMA News 50th Anniversary Special” makes us look back to what the
GMA news crew was like before and how it developed to what it is now. The way they exercised
their ability in journalism in order to gather news and information on what’s happening in the
nation in turn sharing it for the public to be informed.

The film is a huge importance on portraying what the Philippines’ media industry was like in
1959, all thanks to a man named “Robert La Rue Stewart” or “Uncle Bob” for short. Uncle Bob
risked it all just to join the trend of television and from which station 7 was created. This station
then became the home of GMA. The film also depicted the struggles of news anchors during the
controversial era of President Ferdinand Marcos, where numerous incidents took place, one
notable is the Plaza Miranda bombing. This showed the wits and determination of our filipino
news anchor that despite the military’s take over, that no matter what was the state of our
country, they would go to great lengths to provide news for the public. To cite one of the famous
news anchorwoman of the station, Tina Monzon-Palma is one of the well known. Palma, being a
vetran in broadcasting, showed competence and strength in reporting during the time of Martial
Law in our country. She was also one of the first female news anchors on Philippine television.

One of the biggest events the media had to cover was the death of Benigno Ninoy Aquino III that
took the nation by storm. The death of a national icon that was too much to process for some but
our news anchors and broadcasters showed professionalism and broad casted it for the public to
be informed. With this being said, our journalists, news casters, and many more have gone
through a lot and are still going through it in order to produce publication for the masses to see.
They have maintained a level of quality wherein the people, our people, has trusted the news
station of GMA.

All in all, the blast from the past that this film provided showed how much passion our
journalists have in serving the country. Despite the mudslinging of political factions throughout
the years, the dangerous and unpredictable events that unfold, our journalists and news casters go
above and beyond to provide information for the nation. This also showed the development of
media throughout the years through technology. As stated earlier, history is a platform for
development and this film is living proof of the continuing increase in quality in news platforms
in GMA and a reference to how something can go from something small to something
revolutionary.