MANILA, Philippines — A tie between actress-content creator Ivana Alawi and veteran broadcast journalist Kara David for the Best Host for Public Service award at the inaugural FAMAS Broadcast Awards has sparked debate on social media, with netizens divided over what defines public service in today's media landscape.
The awards ceremony, held on Monday, marked the first edition of the FAMAS Broadcast Awards, expanding the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences' recognition beyond cinema to honor excellence in television, documentaries, podcasts, digital content and other broadcast platforms.
Alawi and David shared the Best Host for Public Service trophy, recognizing their efforts to use media in serving communities and creating positive social impact.
David posted on Instagram, "Waaaaahh! Maraming salamat FAMAS awards for Broadcast Arts. This was totally unexpected. Salamat po sa pagkilala sa aming mga programa."
(Waaaaahh! Thank you so much to the FAMAS Awards for Broadcast Arts. This was totally unexpected. Thank you for recognizing our programs.)
"Makaaasa po kayo na lalo pa naming paghuhusayan ang aming trabaho. Salamat sa GMA at lalo na sa aking I-Witness at I-Listen teams sa inyong dedikasyon sa trabaho. Higit sa lahat, salamat po sa lahat ng Pilipinong nagtiwalang magbahaging kanilang kuwento. Salamat po sa pagtitivala. Alay namin ito sa inyo!
At siyempre, salamat po Panginoon," she added.
(You can count on us to work even harder and continue giving our best. Thank you to GMA, and especially to my I-Witness and I-Listen teams, for your dedication and hard work. Most of all, thank you to every Filipino who trusted us enough to share your stories. Thank you for your trust. We dedicate this award to all of you. And of course, thank You, Lord.)
Shortly after the winners were announced, social media users expressed mixed reactions over the tie. While many congratulated both women, others questioned whether influencer-driven charitable content should be evaluated alongside public service journalism.
X (formerly Twitter) user @chiro_dempsey47 posted, “FAMAS should just stop handing out awards. Either bulok ang taste ng mga judges or nadadala sa pakimkim. Mukhang nahiya pa ng konti kaya pinag tie na lang kay Kara David. Baka solo ni Ivana yang BEST PUBLIC SERVICE SHOW & HOST kung hnd viral ang expose ni Kara recently.”
("Either the judges have bad taste or they were influenced (by gifts/bribes). It looks like they got a bit embarrassed, so they just tied it with Kara David. Maybe Ivana would have gotten the BEST PUBLIC SERVICE SHOW & HOST awards solo if Kara’s recent expose hadn’t gone viral.")
"Naintindihan ko kung saan nangagaling yung outcry ng mga tao, kasi magkaiba ng lanes si kara david at ivana, althou natulong si ivana sa vlogs niya kara david’s work is much more immersive & eye opening to the public i think there shud be a different category for ivana," @brionesaaronme wrote.
(I understand where the public outcry is coming from because Kara David and Ivana Alawi are in completely different lanes. While Ivana does help people through her vlogs, Kara David's work is far more immersive and eye-opening for the public. I think there should have been a separate category for someone like Ivana.)
Several netizens argued that David's decades-long career in journalism, highlighted by investigative documentaries on "I-Witness" and stories that amplify marginalized communities, represents a different standard of public service. David, a Peabody Award recipient and journalism professor, also won Best Documentary during the ceremony for "Embalsamador De Motor," an episode of "I-Witness."
Others, however, defended Alawi, pointing to her large-scale charitable initiatives through her online series "Ivana for All."
Supporters said the actress and YouTube creator has used her massive digital following to provide direct assistance to families in need, raise public awareness and mobilize donations, arguing that tangible community impact should also be recognized as public service.
Despite the differing opinions, both awardees emphasized in their acceptance speeches that public service is rooted in compassion, sincerity and a genuine commitment to helping others.
Alawi also received the Best Public Service Show award, while David emerged as one of the night's biggest winners after taking home multiple honors.
