ABS-CBN President and CEO Charo Santos-Concio opened the 43rd International Emmy Awards last November 23 (November 24 Manila time) with a heartwarming and inspiring speech that underlined how television has become a significant part of people's lives.
Charo, who served as Gala Chair of the prestigious awarding event this year, delivered this in front of global media leaders as well as celebrities at the Hilton Hotel in New York City.
Here is her full speech:
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the 43rd International Emmy Awards. I am thrilled to be your gala chair this year.
"The International Emmy Awards does not only celebration television excellence from all over the world. It also demonstrates the power of television a medium of empathy, connection, and understanding among all the peoples of the world.
"It doesn't shrink into one small village. It turns us into one big family.
"Television is the next best thing to meeting people and races in the flesh. When we get to know them more intimately, we begin to care about people and things that would otherwise be mere statistics. We begin to care about other people's quest for love, pursuit of dreams, cry for justice, celebration of triumph, or struggle for survival. And the more we care, the less we fight.
"During dark days of terror, we come together in prayer. So the world, far from falling apart, is even inspired to unite. There will be fewer barriers between territories as we continue to erase the boundaries between platforms, devices, and screens. There are many more changes waiting to happen, technologies waiting to be invited, lifestyles and consumption habits waiting to be experienced, stories waiting to be told. More heroes, more dreams.
"The Philippines is not yet a major player in the market. But many of our shows have already been warmly welcomed in several territories partly because now, more than ever, we are thriving in a globalized environment.
"We are grateful that through our content, we can show the world the real wealth of our country. These are our strong family values and our resilience as a people. And we see no better way of achieving it than through television.
"So in all the years to come, I will continue to admire the International Emmys for keeping television as the world’s meeting place. I will honor all of you professionals in this field, artists, journalists, executives, engineers and technicians, marketeers, you are the world's messengers of hope. Your work inspires us to become better persons. Your work preserves and celebrates all things that make us human.
"Thank you and welcome to the world's most important annual television event."
You can watch it here:
Also part of the 43rd International Emmy Awards was actor-producer Piolo Pascual, who presented the award for Best Telenovela with “The Bold and the Beautiful” star Karla Mosley.
Charo is the first Filipino TV executive chosen as a Gala Chair, while Piolo is the first Filipino celebrity tapped to present at the International Emmys.
The International Emmy Awards is composed of leaders and movers from 500 companies (TV, internet, mobile, and technology sectors) and over 60 countries.
It recognizes excellence in programming in these areas: Arts Programming, Current Affairs, Comedy, Documentary, Drama Series, News, Non-Scripted Entertainment, Telenovela, and TV Movie/Mini-Series, it also recognizes excellence in Performances, Kids programming, and Digital.
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