Hector Ó hEochagáin has promised his new TG4 travel documentary will take viewers on 'deeper and more epic journeys'.
The broadcaster has filmed all over the world and in Hector: Ó na Philippines go dtí na Solomons, he returns to Asia and the Pacific Islands to see how things have changed since he was there 20-years-ago.
This time, Hector and his producers really “wanted to push the boat out” and they were keen to scope out stories that few people would encounter as tourists.
“Manilla [in the Philippines] has changed immensely since when we were there as young TV makers from TG4,” he told The Hard Shoulder.
“Singapore is the future; Singapore, they want it to be the future.
“Is it the future? We tried to go down underneath into the shade and darkness of the skyscrapers.
“Get some really alternative stories about life in one of the world’s most modern cities.”
🇵🇭 🤝 🇮🇪
🗺️ @hectorirl - Ó na Philippines go dtí na Solomons ✈️
⏰ Déardaoin ~ Thursday @ 21:30 #HectorTG4 @NewDepMedia pic.twitter.com/4xgViv5x0m— TG4TV 👁 (@TG4TV) September 6, 2023
Among the people they interviewed were undocumented migrants who left their home country in order to toil away on building sites.
Wages are higher than they are at home - but the work is also dangerous and their rights as workers tenuous.
“[It’s] just like Qatar, all the tragedies and the horror of what happened when they were building a glitzy World Cup, the same thing is happening in Singapore,” Hector said.
“One of the stories is, we talk to the undocumented young Bangladeshi men and Indian men who have to pay $10,000 or more to get a contract to build a skyscraper and these beautiful five star hotels that the tourists want.
“But when they get injured and when they get injured, they’re undocumented.”
Hector: Ó na Philippines go dtí na Solomons will be broadcast on TG4 on Thursday at 9.30pm.
You can listen back here:
Main image:Hector Ó hEochagáin
