A story that began nearly two decades ago has reached a remarkable milestone.
GMA journalist and documentarist Kara David recently celebrated the college graduation of Ekang, the child whose difficult childhood was chronicled in her 2007 I-Witness documentary, “Sa Mata ni Ekang.”
In a social media post, David shared photos marking Ekang’s graduation and expressed her pride in the young woman’s achievement. Ekang, whose name is Lilian, has now earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree.
The milestone represents a dramatic turn from the circumstances documented when David first met her.
In “Sa Mata ni Ekang,” which aired in February 2007, David introduced viewers to Ekang as a three-year-old girl growing up in a deeply troubled environment in Metro Manila. GMA’s original report described the difficult circumstances surrounding her family and the harsh realities she was exposed to at such a young age.
Years later, David’s connection with Ekang continued beyond the documentary.
Through Project Malasakit, David helped provide educational support to children whose stories had been featured in her documentaries. Philippine Star previously reported that the initiative has provided scholarships to children who were once subjects of David’s documentaries.
That support helped Ekang pursue an education and eventually reach the graduation stage.
A story that came full circle
For David, Ekang’s graduation is more than a personal celebration. It is a powerful example of how a child’s circumstances do not necessarily have to determine her future.
When David first documented Ekang in 2007, the child was only three years old. GMA later revisited Ekang and other children featured in David’s documentaries for the I-Witness 20th-anniversary special, showing how their lives had developed years after their original stories were told.
The original documentary itself became one of David’s recognized works. “Sa Mata ni Ekang” won a Silver Screen Award at the 2007 U.S. International Film and Video Festival, adding to the documentary’s significance in David’s career.
But nearly 20 years after viewers first met the young Ekang, it is her graduation—not an award—that has captured attention.
From documentary subject to graduate
Ekang’s journey also reflects one of the recurring themes in David’s work: following the lives of people long after their stories first appear on television.
David has continued to use documentary storytelling to highlight Filipinos facing poverty, inequality and difficult circumstances. Her work has also extended into educational advocacy through Project Malasakit.
Her latest post about Ekang’s graduation has therefore resonated with people who remember the little girl from “Sa Mata ni Ekang.”
The transformation is striking: the three-year-old child viewers first encountered in 2007 is now a college graduate with a degree in Business Administration.
And perhaps the most powerful part of the story is that this chapter did not end with the documentary.
It continued with a scholarship, years of perseverance and, ultimately, a graduation cap.
Ekang’s achievement serves as a reminder that a difficult beginning does not have to dictate the ending—and that sometimes, a story first told on television can continue to change lives long after the cameras are gone.
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