Born to be Wild hosts renew contract with GMA Network

BORN to be Wild hosts and expert veterinarians Doc Ferds Recio and Doc Nielsen Donato recently renewed their commitment to GMA Network and to the environment in a contract signing held last August 14.

Present during the signing were GMA Network Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Felipe L. Gozon, Senior Vice President for News and Public Affairs Marissa L. Flores, and Senior Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Arlene Carnay.  Corporate Affairs and Communications Vice President Angela Javier Cruz, Corporate Communications Assistant Vice President Jojo Aquio, and Born to be Wild Senior Program Manager Angeli Atienza were also at the event.

Atty. Gozon lauded the program’s dedication to the environment, commending Doc Ferds and Doc Nielsen’s expertise as well. “Si Doc Ferds at si Doc Nielsen [ay] hindi lamang beterinaryo, kundi beteranong TV personalities. Sila lang ang merong ganitong program sa television sa atin at ang maka-labindalawang taon sila ay nagpapatunay na talagang top-rating ang kanilang program at maraming awards ang dalawang ‘yan,” he said.

The Born to be Wild hosts greatly appreciated having no less than Atty. Gozon gracing their contract signing with the Network.

“Born to Be Wild is a specialized show and there’s a niche for this type of show. There’s a need also for a program like this and ‘yun ang advocacy [namin]. Nagpapasalamat kami na binigyan [kami] ng pagkakataon na gumawa ng ganitong palabas na nagfo-focus sa environment natin,” Doc Nielsen shared.

“We’re very honored and very thankful,” said Doc Ferds. “12 years na ang Born to Be Wild. We want to keep on doing what we love to do. We are very happy that we are the ones chosen to represent ’yung advocacy ng GMA for the environment and wildlife, and to share our learnings with the people. The thrust of the program is to make it more palatable or mas madaling maintindihan ng mga kababayan natin,” he added.

The country’s pioneer environmental program, Born to be Wild premiered on the Kapuso Network in 2007 to provide environmental awareness to viewers of all ages. It tackles various topics on nature, wildlife, and the critical issues facing the environment in line with the network’s “Kapuso ng Kalikasan” advocacy. The GMA Public Affairs-produced show is also contributing to thousands of life-saving animal treatments and wildlife rescues over the years.

“When we started 12 years ago, ang mga hayop na nare-rescue namin at nako-cover namin [ay ‘yung mga] hinampas, pinalo or pinatay kasi they [people] don’t know what to do. Hindi nila alam kung ano ang gagawin kung sakaling may ahas na naligaw sa bahay nila or wildlife. Nowadays, sinasabi nila na hindi nila sinaktan kasi napanood daw nila sa Born to Be Wild na ganito pala ang dapat gawin. Ang sarap sa pakiramdam na nakatulong kami at nakapagbigay kami ng kaalaman at tumatak sa kaisipan ng tao at audience,” Doc Ferds shared.

Born to be Wild has been a consistent choice of the viewers that resulted to various local and international awards. It was named ASEAN Champion of Biodiversity and New York Festivals Finalist, among other accolades. Doc Ferds and Doc Nielsen were also awarded with the Gandingan ng Kalikasan citation by the University of the Philippines – Los Baños.

As it begins another year on air, Born to be Wild is committed to feature more stories about the environment and wild life.

“Maraming aabangan,” shares Doc Nielsen. “The stories and the advocacy about wildlife are never-ending. Kahit na paulit ulit namin itong pini-feature, yung hayop lang ang pare-pareho [pero] ‘yung stories nila iba-iba lalo na [dahil] the times are changing. Hindi lang scientific people ang dapat nakakaalam kundi pati na rin ang mga common na nanonood.”

Watch more stories on the environment and continued public service from the country’s leading nature and wildlife show Born to be Wild every Sunday, 9 am on GMA -7.