Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala

Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala
Born Kara Magsanoc
Philippines
Occupation Broadcast journalist
activist
Employer CNN, Asianeye
Known for Founding I Can Serve
Religion Catholic
Spouse(s) Dondi Alikpala
Parent(s) Carlitos & Letty Jimenez Magsanoc

Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala is a Philippine broadcast journalist who produces news documentaries. When diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997, she fought the disease with the help of doctors and survived. She founded the advocacy organization ICanServe[1] which has the mission of arming "women with breast care health and breast cancer information through high impact campaigns."[1] In addition, Magsanoc-Alikpala is the managing director of Manila-based Asianeye Productions[1] and a contributing producer to CNN.[1] She was selected as one of three celebrity critics for the Philippine reality-show "Dokyu".[1][2] She lives and works in Manila.

Early career

Magsanoc-Alikpala is the daughter of Philippine Daily Inquirer editor Letty Jimenez Magsanoc and Dr. Carlitos Magsanoc.[3] Both of her brothers are doctors.

Journalism career

Magsanoc-Alikpala was a managing director of Asianeye Productions as well as a producer for ARD German television and a contributing producer to CNN.[1][2][4][5] Asianeye made an extensive documentary on Martial Law called "Batas Militar" which got the "highest rating for any television documentary in the Philippines," according to one newspaper account.[5] She was a reporter for Voice of America and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.[1] Asianeye developed shows called "docu-musicals" for ABS-CBN's a "A Christmas Prayer," and the firm won awards on several occasions.[1] In 2007, the Asianeye staff watched 200 movies made by the Philippine action movie star Fernando Poe, Jr. as part of an effort to make a TV special; Magsanoc-Alikpala divided the work to select footage for their project.[6] She has produced and reported for documentaries through the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, The Probe Team and for SkyCable News.[1] As a broadcast journalist, she reported on significant stories, such as the capture of four Abu Sayyaf members in 2002; her reports were broadcast on the Voice of America.[7][8]

Breast cancer and ICanServe

In 1997, Magsanoc-Alikpala was diagnosed with breast cancer.[3] It was a transformative event in her life. She survived, but the experience changed her. In 1999, she started the I Can Serve Foundation[9] along with her friend Crisann Celdran who wrote "we knew very little and had different experiences but shared one dream: that cancer survivors should not go through this path alone."[10] She encourages women to make breast self-examination a "lifetime habit."[11] According to one source, the Philippines has the highest incidence of breast cancer in Southeast Asia.[11]

The I Can Serve Foundation, sometimes identified with all words together as ICanServe, has been described as a "dynamic patient support networking group" and has been lauded for its efforts to alleviate the rising incidence of breast cancer among Filipino women.[12] One woman who survived breast cancer joined ICanServe afterwards, and she described Magsanoc-Alikpala as "pretty", "perky", and "talented" and wrote Magsanoc-Alikpala's efforts to organize fellow survivors was a "miracle".[13] In 2004, Magsanoc-Alikpala was awarded the Bessie B. Legarda Memorial Foundation Award.[14] The foundation had its tenth anniversary in 2007.[9] She published advice about how to organize cancer support groups.[15]

The organization, along with the Philippine Cancer Society, organizes a variety of initiatives to promote awareness, including "fun runs" since 2002 in such cities as Fort Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.[9] Magsanoc-Alikpala works with government officials including Philippine Senate President Manny Villar to promote awareness.[16] It promotes awareness with local officials such as in Marikina City.[11] Its "Pink Kitchen" creative promotional effort, credited as the idea of Bettina Osmena, features top chefs serving fine cuisine; the events are well publicized in the media.[17] The Pink Kitchen event has been described as "one of Manila’s most anticipated food festivals; the 2008 event showcased over 50 chefs serving French, Italian, Spanish, Middle Eastern, Indian, Burmese, Japanese, Thai, Indonesian and Singaporean specialties.[18] One chef named a new dish after her; chef Sincioco’s Tickled Pink Salad a la Kara featured beetroots and a dark pink tinge in a "fuchsia concoction."[19] In 2006, the organization planned the Philippine's first nationwide early breast cancer detection effort.[17]

Celebrity and awards

In 2007, Magsanoc-Alikpala was chosen as one of three celebrity critics on a popular Philippine TV show Dokyu which has an "eclectic panel" of experts examining film projects.[20] The TV program is a competition-based reality program which gives a platform to independent documentary filmmakers.[1] She offers advice and encouragement to aspiring talents.[5][21]

In 2008, Magsanoc-Alikpala won a Balance Award from the magazine Working Mom which recognized balance between career and family; a reporter described Magsanoc-Alikpala's efforts as "indefatigable ... as chairperson of the breast cancer awareness support group."[22]

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 ""Dokyu" Critic #2: Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala". ABC/Dokyu. 2009-11-11. Retrieved 2009-11-11. Magsanoc-Alikpala is the managing director of Asianeye Productions Corporation, producer for ARD German TV, and contributing producer to Cable News Network (CNN).
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Patricia Evangelista hosts ABC-5 show "Dokyu"". Philippine Entertainment Portal. May 16, 2007. Retrieved 2009-11-11. These three critics are Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, Prof. Danilo Araña Arao, and Ed Lingao.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "SILVER LININGS.(Society)". Manila Bulletin. September 2, 2005. Retrieved 2009-11-11. Kara Magsanoc Alikpala, the brave and charming daughter of my STC classmate and PDI editor Letty Jimenez Magsanoc ... Kara whom I had known since she was in diapers, the firstborn daughter of Letty and Dr. Carlitos Magsanoc, founded the "I Can Serve" Foundation soon after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997.
  4. ↑ "Guinsaugon Landslide (02)". Kuwentos. February 22, 2006. Retrieved 2009-11-11. As soon as I get closer to the camp, I see CNN’s Hugh Rimington discussing the situation with some other people. Out of nowhere I hear someone say, “Hey cuz!” It was Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, running around with CNN.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Documentarian tapped as 'Dokyu' critic". Sun Star Manila. May 19, 2007. Retrieved 2009-11-11. KARA Magsanoc-Alikpala will be one of the three distinguished critics when "Dokyu: Ang Bagong Mata ng Pinoy Documentaries" returned on ABC 5 starting Friday at 10 p.m. "Dokyu" will now be a competition program, in different levels or categories. For the first season it will be a student documentary competition.
  6. ↑ Bayani San Diego Jr. (2007-12-09). "FPJ forever". Inquirer. Retrieved 2009-11-11. The staff of Asianeye productions tried to watch all of the 200-plus films made by Action King Fernando Poe Jr. in putting together the new TV special “Alay ni Da King,” which airs tonight on ABS-CBN. It was daunting. “We divided the work,” says Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, AsianEye executive producer.
  7. ↑ Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala (2002-06-21). "CORRESPONDENT REPORT". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 2009-11-11. INTRO: An Abu Sayyaf leader is believed to have been shot in a fight with Philippine troops, but officials have yet to confirm if he was killed in the encounter. ... Kara Magsanoc Alikpala has the details from Manila.
  8. ↑ Kara Magsanoc Alikpala (21 June 2002). "Philippine Troops Shoot Abu Sayyaf Leader". VOICE OF AMERICA News VOA.com. Retrieved 2009-11-11. Abu Sabaya is accused of leading a band that kidnapped dozens of people, including an American missionary and a Philippine nurse killed recently in a battle with government troops. Kara Magsanoc Alikpala has the details from Manila.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Julie Alegre (September 8, 2009). "Run for your life". Philippine Star. Retrieved 2009-11-11. “Everyone has been touched, whether directly or through relatives or friends,” Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala affirms. A survivor of breast cancer herself, Kara founded the I Can Serve Foundation, an advocacy group for early breast cancer detection. In December this year, the foundation is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
  10. ↑ "Avon Celebrates Three Women’s Shining Moments". Beautynomics. 2009-07-31. Retrieved 2009-11-11. Compelled to connect with a cancer survivor to help her on her own journey, she met Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala. They and two other survivor friends, despite limited resources, ended up forming the I CanServe Foundation.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "Mayor MCF leads info drive vs. breast cancer". Marikina City. 2008-06-25. Retrieved 2009-11-11. Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, founding president of IcanServe and herself a cancer survivor, echoed Mayor Fernando’s sentiment, adding, “We ultimately want women to take charge of their health.”
  12. ↑ "C Network Media Forum aims for Patient Empowerment". C Network. 2009-11-11. Retrieved 2009-11-11. “I Can Serve Foundation”, led by Ms. Kara Magsanoc- Alikpala, is one of the most dynamic patient support networking group actively promoting awareness and directions to alleviate the rising incidence of breast cancer among Filipino women.
  13. ↑ Maria Fatima L. Tioseco (2005). "When God gave me cancer, He gave me everything!". Pink Ribbon. Retrieved 2009-11-11. Pretty, perky, talented Kara Magsanoc Alikpala started the miracle of organizing, mobilizing and rousing fellow breast cancer survivors to help women recognize the signs, to help women who cannot afford treatment, and to help them to emotionally and spiritually cope with the disease.
  14. ↑ CRISPINA MARTINEZ-BELEN (November 2, 2009). "Loren plants ‘seeds of hope,’ launches humanitarian mission at the Luneta". Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation. Retrieved 2009-11-11. Senator Legarda presented recently the 2009 Bessie B. Legarda (BBL) Memorial Foundation Award ... Andrews is the 9th BBL awardee whose esteemed roster includes ... journalist and head of the breast cancer support group ICanServe Foundation Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala (2004)
  15. ↑ "CLCI Speakers Bureau". FranklinCoveyPhilippines. 2009-11-11. Retrieved 2009-11-11. These are some of the papers written and presented during national cancer conferences in the country: ... How to Organize Breast Cancer Support Groups Published for the cancer resource book ICANSERVE written by Breast Cancer survivor Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala
  16. ↑ "Senate of the Philippines–14th Congress". Senate of the Philippines. November 16, 2006. Retrieved 2009-11-11. 1ST SENATE BREAST CANCER FORUM: Sen. Sergio R. Osmena III whose wife Betina is a cancer survivor, ... I Can Serve Founding President Kara Magsanoc - Alikpala and Sen. Sergio R. Osmena III.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "‘Serving’ The Pink Kitchen Menu". BusinessMirror. 2006-08-12. Retrieved 2009-11-11. ... The Pink Kitchen event at the Rockwell Tent. To initiates like me, Kara M. Alikpala explained the significance of “Pink.” If the red ribbon is for support for AIDS, pink is for breast cancer. The group behind it is the ICanServe Foundation, an advocacy group committed to fighting breast cancer ... pioneer the first nationwide early breast-cancer detection program.
  18. ↑ Mandy Navasero (2008-10-11). "Food festival for a cause". Inquirer. Retrieved 2009-11-11. Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, founder of ICanServe, enthuses: “Everyone comes out a winner in Pink Kitchen! We’re here to support a very worthy cause.”
  19. ↑ "Jessie is tickled pink". Inquirer. 2007-10-17. Retrieved 2009-11-11. Kara is Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, founder and moving spirit of I Can Serve, an advocacy and assistance group for breast cancer.
  20. ↑ Oliver Pulumbarit (2007-06-15). "Facets of Pinoy life in ‘Dokyu’ tilt". Philippine Inquirer. Retrieved 2009-11-11. The reformatted show does away with the singular critique of the featured documentaries . The new episodes have an eclectic panel of critics—broadcast journalists Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala and Ed Lingao and journalism professor Danny Arao—whose reviews of the finalist documentaries offer an analytical perspective.
  21. ↑ "PUP's 'Pundido' wins ABC Channel 5 Dokyu student tilt". Sun Star Manila. August 18, 2007. Retrieved 2009-11-11. ABC news manager Ed Lingao, another critic, commended "Pundido" for its "excellent scripting" while documentarist Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, who reviewed the PUP documentary when it was aired on DOKYU last June 29, applauded the writers and the director for coming up with "a simple story with a lot of heart."
  22. ↑ Philip Cu-Unjieng (November 30, 2008). "Light of our lives". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 2009-11-11. For Health and Well-Being, the indefatigable efforts of Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala as chairperson of the breast cancer awareness support group I Can Serve had her trooping to the stage,