I got reminded by a Facebook post earlier about the premiere of “Inside Malacanang” its a documentary episode at National Geographic Channel and it features the daily life and the work of their staff under the Office of our President Benigno “noy noy” Aquino III, the docu was shot last year around June 2011, and the other exact footage was taken during the June 12, 2011 Independence Day celebration in Kawit, Cavite. The docu is produced and directed by Marnie Manicad and this is for NGC, I saw Marnie Manicad’s portfolio of docu and video from their website and I’m surprised that she is also the producer and director for my favorite motoring show “Turbo Zone”. I like that motor show because I like their style in featuring a story and I love the shots of cars and test drive videos, and now compare it to tell a story about people, well, that’s “Inside Malacanang”
View Marnie Manicad website here
We are curious on what is the life inside Malacanang, I’ve been there in the palace years ago during the year of presidency of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the palace is like a giant museum, full of artworks, nice setting, lots of bodyguards and security, staff, paintings and etc. I just got heads up that the walls of the palace are bullet proof. If US have their own White House, here in the Philippines we have our Malacanang Palace. and this docu tell the story and never before and release information about inside the palace.
I missed the 1st 30 minutes of the docu because people here at home are busy watching Sarah G live, but then I told them that I want to watch the docu and I’m glad that they allowed me to watch the episode and now it hook us up to watch it with focus.
Here are some screen caps from the episode, If you missed the episode, try to catch a replay in NGC, just check your local tv guide for schedules.
The feature that I saw after switching the channel to NGC, is about their official photographer for the palace. Above is JR’s photo of President Noy and US President Barrack Obama
I like this feature and here we get to know more about their official photographer who is always near and behind our President whenever there’s an event. The docu mentioned that there are only two official photographers for President Noy, I think the other photographer stays on the other side of the view or infront of the President whenever theres an event he is present.
JR’s photograph this and it shows two iconic person from different lands
My only complain is that the subtitles are so small, they should blow up the font more bigger and color it yellow, I’m not sure if theres a rule in editing about having a white or yellow subtitles, but I prefer a bigger subtitles on screen, we have a giant tv here at home and the subs are so small.
JR, official photographer for Malacanang
Its a great feature also that they have President Noy in an interview and he gives comments and add more story about their staff and how they work with him.
This photo that JR took make him start to work with President Noy. Its cool that our president chose the people personally those he want to work with.
And another feature is about our President Security Group of PSG,, here they have their own training ground and facility, they also have their own shooting gallery and all PSG are sharp shooters…wow!
One of their training is that they have lots of styles on how to secure the president in different matters or any terror attack, they even have a rescue plan mission if ever the president got kidnap.
Here they show the vehicles they use in Malacanang
This van is a PSG vehicle that follows the president where ever he may go and a shocking revelation that the van is super loaded with heavy artillery, lots of bullet supplies, bazooka and it looks like they are ready for war….if you ran into a PSG vehicle on the road, I suggest that you avoid them, they are the army in the shadows of the president.
Group commander of PSG shares some info about the role of the PSG and how they are dedicated for the nation to always make sure that the president is safe, they also showed a video on how they escort the presidential car going to Cavite…oh my lord..they are in full force, funny thing is that the presidential car and its escort obey traffic rules…thats a great role model that our president shows, no sirens and obeying traffic rules. The PSG is always ready to move and all car doors are open whenever the stoplight is red.
One scary view is that the presidential convoy is also escorted by lots of choppers, and I just can’t believe the chopper flew under the air highway of passenger planes that prepares to land in NAIA.
Final feature is about the presidential food taster, his work is to make sure that the food is okay to be consumed by our president, he examine the food that was prepared, check if there are poison, he tastes and eat it first and then do some UV ray examination, he even prepare water for the president. This is one of the tough job in Malacanang.
I miss the half of the feature, but I’m going to watch out for the replay in NGC
Malacanang….
The Palace
Our president
End of credits
the producer and director
Review:
The documentary is well presented and the story telling is clear and fast, my only complain is that the voice over is on low volume and compare to other NGC docu that the voice over’s volume is a bit high just to highlight the focus of the story. English subtitles are small, but readable when you focus on the text below the frame. It is beautifully done with lots of awesome shots of the palace, the people and the president. I hope that there will be another episode about “Inside Malacanang” the one hour time for this episode is so short, they can make a 5 part mini series about Malacanang. I saw a short feature about the palace in History channel,but they showed the interior of the palace and even interviewed Imelda Marcos and she shares her story on what happened when the people kick them out of the palace during the people’s revolution.
There's this error that was aired on this episode and I don't know where and what part? I'm sure the error was seen during the 1st 30 min, which I missed during its premiere air.
(after 3 days, I read this online at Rappler and saw an apology letter from NGC - http://www.rappler.com/nation/2768-natgeo-admits-airing-unrevised-malaca%C3%B1ang-docu . The channel broadcasted the wrong tape and not the revised version of the docu)
Its a collectors item for me already if they will make this a mini series, I can imagine now a DVD or Blu Ray edition of this episode and if ever there’s a new docu on the way for NGC and it will be shot and produced here in the Philippines, I want Marnie Manicad do the magic for us, their work already proves that the Filipino can make a ground breaking docus that fits and with international quality and taste. The docu is such an eye opener and if ever I’m going to work in Malacanang, I want to be a blogger and just enjoy covering the life inside Malacanang and also share the story of the every day lives of the people who are working for our country.
