National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) is set to air the first-locally produced documentary called “Asia’s Titanic.” The one-hour exclusive, to premiere on NGC (Sky Cable Channel 41) Tuesday (August 25) at 9 p.m., probes into the world’s worst peacetime maritime disaster, far beating the number of casualties when the famous Titanic sank in the middle of North Atlantic in 1912.

Filipino director Yam Laranas is behind the project, proud of such an unprecedented achievement. During the media premiere held at Rockwell Plant last Tuesday, the highly achieving filmmaker told the Manila Bulletin, “This is more like a film presented as a documentary. There’s nothing political about it nor we’re trying to be controversial about issues like whose fault caused the sinking. We’re just retelling what happened.”

The documentary is indeed cinematic and well-edited, with remarkable voice Joonee Gamboa as narrator. Survivors were interviewed and lots of the scenes were reenactment. According to its press release, this is the first documentary produced by NGCI in collaboration with a Filipino film production group under the NGCI-EDB (Economic Development Board) development fund grant.

It’s already etched in history that MV Doña Paz sank upon collision with an oil tanker on December 20, 1987. About 4,000 died in the tragedy which easily dwarfed the 1,500 people who went into the sea with Titanic on April 14, 1912. “Asia’s Titanic” features a witness who recalled that there were lots of soldiers as passengers during that fateful trip, simply because they were headed for that year’s Christmas vacation along with the rest.

NGC Philippines territory director Jude Turcuato stated, “The documentary is a milestone for Filipino filmmakers to celebrate the launch of an exceptionally high- quality movie to Filipino and global audiences with a strong admonition about sea safety.”

At the premiere which also displayed a small replica of the fallen ship, Laranas was vocal about feeling elated with his and his team’s work. He added, “There were just pictures of the incident that is why most of the scenes were reenacted.”

Laranas also directed the Hollywood version of his movie “Sigaw” to be shown soon. That foreign version, titled “Echo,” also has Iza Calzado in the cast.

“Asia’s Titanic” will be replayed on August 26 at 4 a.m., 9 a.m., and 1 p.m.; August 30 at 9 p.m.; and August 31 at 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.