- A friend of mind who works in GMA 7 messaged me immediately after someone informed her that GMA's Motorcycle Diaries was looking for me to give them a pre-departure orientation for their trip to India, initially schedule of departure being July 7. Apparently, GMA called the UP Asian Center, and the Asian Center was kind enough to refer them to me (my prof in Indian Studies is currently attending a conference abroad, and I'm the only Indian (not yet, but hopefully in the future) specialist left.)
- After numerous changes to the schedule, I was finally able to give the orientation this afternoon. The GMA service van fetched me from my house to GMA, where I was joined by Arcie and Em, the segment producer and one of the show's researchers. We immediately went to Moto Market in Libis. Needless to say, Moto Market is a store for motorcycle enthusiasts.
- The orientation was held in a small conference room in the second floor. After setting up, Mr. Jay Taruc, Mr. Joseph Almeda, Dir. Rember Gelera, and other GMA staff. The main orientation was about Indian culture and society, and some more in-depth information about the specific places that they were going to.
- Everyone actively participated in the orientation. Some of the questions were hard to answer because they dealt with sensitive issues in India. Some were hard to answer, just because the outcomes were on a case-to-case basis (ie. what would happen if a guy touches a girl, etc.) It's difficult to answer these kinds of questions because the Indian society is very pluralistic, meaning they are used to living with all kinds of people on a daily basis - people who come from different, even contradicting linguistic and cultural backgrounds, and even linguistic backgrounds. Therefore, one action may offend one person, but may not offend the other at all.
- The orientation took longer than expected, but the warm and engaging staff and crew made it all worthwhile. I also had the privilege of riding the GMA van all the way home.
- GMA's Motorcycle Diaries is a travelogue-style documentary that airs in GMA News TV channel 11, every Friday 8pm. My episode will be aired some time August. The show's Indian expedition was done in celebration of the show's second anniversary. (I hope I'll look nice in the telly.)
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| Do's and Don'ts in India. |
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| Testing some devices/gadgets. |
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| With Mr. Jay Taruc and Mr. Joseph Almeda. |
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| Motorcycle Diaries. Haha. |
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