Atom Araullo marks birthday on 'UKG'

MANILA -- Broadcast journalist Atom Araullo celebrated his birthday on "Umagang Kay Ganda" on Tuesday, one day before he turns 34 on Wednesday.

Araullo thanked his "UKG" family for being part of his "morning routine ko for the past years."

"Siyempre 'yung family ko na lagi akong ginigising kapag 'di ako nagigising ng umaga, at sa lahat ng mga manood na na hindi nakakalimot, thank you, thank you," he added.

Umagang Kay Ganda, October 18, 2016

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Cheche Lazaro probes LGBT issues in docu

MANILA -- Veteran broadcast journalist Cheche Lazaro tackles homosexuality and its many permutations in a two-hour documentary that weaves the points of view of people with same-sex attraction, their families, and the sectors that either support or reject them.

According to study of two nationwide surveys eight years ago, one in every four Filipinos would not want to have lesbians and gay men as neighbors.

Twenty eight percent of the respondents also considered their sexuality as something "unjustifiable."

The following year, 2006, and three years later, 2009, a government institution gave flesh to the negative attitude of many Filipinos toward the gay community.
Gay CO
The Commission on Elections shut the door on the Filipino lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBT) by denying the application for accreditation of the party-list group Ang Ladlad, the LGBT political party.

Ladlad was disqualified to run in the 2007 elections for failing to prove its nationwide membership, while their petition in 2010 was junked on grounds of immorality.

But the Supreme Court intervened and gave Ladlad the go-signal to join the 2010 elections. The LGBT political party, whose advocacy equal rights among all Filipinos, failed to make it.

Over the years, the Filipino perception of the gay community has found expression in a number of ways – discrimination in terms of employment, bullying in schools, harassment in work places, and in some cases, grisly murders.

Yet, despite the risks, a number of personalities have come out of the closet to be counted as part of a “growing” community in search of their own truths after years of living a lie.

In time with the an internationally observed National Coming Out Day this month, "Cheche Lazaro Presents" takes a deeper look into the world of the LGBTs and their struggle for acceptance in the special documentary, which airs on Sunday after "Gandang Gabi Vice" on ABS-CBN.

Former child star and singer Aiza Seguerra talks about her journey of acceptance, while gay comedian Ogie Diaz gives a peek into his 13-year blissful marriage that has produced four daughters.

A woman narrates how science has helped her own transformation into a man while her very conservative father looks back at how his family dealt with the situation.

A bisexual ordained as a minister and will be installed as a pastor, and a married lesbian couple share their views about love and family. Eight gay men way past their prime complete the tales of joys and pains of being “different.”

Joining the discourse are experts from various fields – a psychologist, geneticist, sex realignment doctor, human rights activist and priests.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Who are the hottest PH newswomen today?

MANILA – Three ABS-CBN broadcast journalists have made it to the annual list of an online magazine’s Top 10 Hottest Newswomen this year.

ABS-CBN News Channel’s Maiki Oreta, who regularly hosts “Square Off,” came in at No. 7.

Noting her sweet almond-eyed exterior, Spot.ph described Oreta as "sharp, witty, and assertive.”

“ABS-CBN's resident business and finance guru is one person you know you can't mess around with—and that's what makes her so appealing,” the article said.

Aside from Oreta, two other women reporting for ABS-CBN News and its radio arm were included in the list.

Carolyn Bonquin, who regularly reports for the flagship newscast “TV Patrol,” placed sixth, while dzMM’s Tina Marasigan made it to second place.

“It's hard not to sit up and take notice of this doe-eyed cutie. In fact, the folks over at ABS-CBN couldn't help but uproot her from the ABS-CBN Southern Tagalog beat and give her a spot on the Metro Manila field,” the article said of Bonquin.

As for Marasigan, Spot.ph said: “The former UAAP courtside reporter for UST and current ABS-CBN reporter has been gathering admirers since before she was put under the national spotlight. She's a seasoned model and a beauty pageant veteran. They say beauty is subjective, but Marasigan can definitely make any head turn.”

Topping this year's list is Michelle Mediana of the No. 3 network TV5, who became a "media sensation" early this year when she assigned to Taiwan to report on the diplomatic row between Manila and Taipei over the death of a Taiwanese fisherman.

"The youthful mestiza was so enthralling to the locals that some Taiwanese newspapers dubbed her assignment as a 'conspiracy' to distract from the greater issue," the website said.

Below is the full list of Spot’s hottest newswomen this year:

1. Michelle Mediana
2. Tina Marasigan
3. Cata Tibayan
4. Kara David
5. Bianca Saldua
6. Carolyn Bonquin
7. Maiki Oreta
8. Isabella Cantú
9. Tricia Zafra
10. MJ Marfori

Last year, ABS-CBN News’ Zen Hernandez topped the “Top 10 Hottest Newswomen: 2012 Edition” list. In its write-up for Hernandez, the reporter was described as an “Angel Locsin look-alike.”

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Karen Davila meets idol Diane Sawyer in NY

MANILA – ABS-CBN broadcaster Karen Davila recently met her idol, a fellow anchor, during a trip with her family in New York.

According to a column by Ricky Lo of The Philippine Star newspaper published on Monday, Davila was able to meet “ABC World News” anchor Diane Sawyer with the help of Nina Pineda, a Filipino-American broadcast journalist in ABC.

“Meeting Diane Sawyer, who is my idol and role model, was the highlight of my US trip this year; it was a moment of inspiration,” Davila was quoted as saying.

“I felt at home, like I was talking to a girlfriend,” she added. “Wala siyang ere, walang kiyeme. She’s so radiant, elegant and down-to-earth.”

Lo wrote that after their meeting, Davila was invited by Sawyer to attend the “ABC World News” story conference the next day.

“Diane told me what she remembers most about the Philippines is Cory Aquino and that’s a good thing to remember the Philippines by. She said she traveled to the Philippines and interviewed Cory whom she described as a very respectable lady,” Davila was quoted as saying.




Davila spent 11 days in New York with her family. Aside from her meeting with Sawyer, she also visited some tourist attractions such as the Statue of Liberty and the Museum of National History.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

What would Taberna, Babao ask Chito Miranda

MANILA Philippines -- Broadcast journalist Anthony Taberna hopes to tackle the Chito Miranda-Neri Naig sex video scandal in his newest TV program "TNT: Tapatan Ni Tunying," which airs every Thursday.

Taberna, who is known for his hard-hitting commentaries and interviews, said he has only one question for Miranda.

"Bakit? Bakit mo ginawa 'yon? Bakit ka nag-video, bakit ka nag-record eh recording artist ka na," Taberna said in a press conference on Tuesday.

Taberna admitted he watched the video just to find out if the footage is authentic. He also believes that Miranda and Naig were not the ones who released the video.

"Kailangan bang sumikat ni Chito eh sikat na sikat naman si Chito. Lalong hindi kailangan ng babae at kahihiyan niya 'yon, ibibilad niya ba ang sarili sa kahihiyan. Sa palagay ko hindi pwedeng sinadya nilang gawin 'yon para ilabas sa publiko. Mas pinaniniwalaan ko 'yung ninakaw at ang gusto kong malaman ay kung sino ang nagnakaw at sinadya bang nakawin. Baka kasi may nakakaalam na may ganoon at sinadyang nakawin," Taberna explained.

"Hindi na ito kay Chito at Neri, ang gusto kong malaman dito ay pwede bang pagbutihan ng gobyerno ang paghahanap sa mga cyber criminals na ito. Kasi ngayon may TRO sa anti-cyber crime law, hindi natin magamit ang provision ng batas laban sa nag-upload niyan o nagpasa kasi suspended 'yung effectivity ng batas. Baka ngayon maging isang argument 'yan for the implementation of that law. Kasi may kakayahan ang gobyerno para ma-trace kung sino originally ang nag-upload niya," Taberna said.

Meanwhile, broadcast journalist Julius Babao said he is open to help Miranda and Naig to get justice via his show "Bistado," which airs every Monday.

"Kung lalapit sila sa amin, we can help them at pwede namin silang dalhin sa authorities para mapabilis ang pag-solve sa crime. Kasi hindi mabilis i-solve yon. Si Chito lang siguro ang makakaalam noon, kasi kapag sa bahay nangyari ang nakawan madaling malaman 'yon -- sino ang may access sa house. I'm sure by now alam niya kung sino 'yon. Ang lumalabas parang may motibo na ipahiya, ilabas sa public para pag-usapan o mapahiya," he said.

On Monday, the camp of Miranda said they are considering filing raps against those who leaked and posted photos and a video of him and his girlfriend, in an intimate moment.

According to Rommel Cajayon of Backbeat Management, which handles the career of Miranda, they are now consulting lawyers to identify the social networking sites that shared the sex video.

Cajayon said Miranda is decided about pressing charges against the unnamed suspects.

Miranda has yet to grant interviews about the scandal.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Broadcast journalist Angelo Castro, 67

Broadcast journalist Angelo Castro Jr. has lost a long battle with lung cancer, his home network, ABS-CBN, announced on Maundy Thursday, April 5. A pillar in the revival of ABS-CBN after the EDSA People Power Revolution of 1986, Castro anchored the network's main news programs and was a key part of the network's revival after it had been shuttered by the Marcos regime, and the regaining of its dominance of Philippine airwaves.

"ABS-CBN News anchor Angelo Castro Jr. passed away today at 67. My colleagues & I mourn his passing,” Castro's fellow newscaster Tony Velazquez earlier announced on Twitter. Minutes after Velasquez’s announcement, Castro's death was confirmed by the Twitter account of ABS-CBN.

Angelo Castro Jr. was an anchor of The World Tonight, an evening news show that was shuttered after ABS-CBN was closed down when martial law was declared in September 1972.

The show was resurrected in September 1986 with Castro as anchor, together with now senator Loren Legarda. Although Castro retired in September 2009, he returned as news anchor in November last year. He was joined by fellow broadcast journalist Tina Monzon-Palma and InterAksyon columnist Teddyboy Locsin.

TV5's head of news and information, Luchi Cruz Valdez, on Thursday called Castro's death a "great loss to Philippine broadcast journalism." TV5, she said, "condoles with Angelo Castro's family, and with our colleagues at ABS-CBN."

Diagnosed with lung cancer in 2008, ACJ was given 3 months to live. After taking a hiatus for over two years, he returned to ANC in 2011

ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC), tweeting as @ANCALERTS, reminded followers and fans of Castro's pivotal role in the resurgence of ABS-CBN. "ACJ became News Manager when ABS-CBN reopened in 1986. He created TV Patrol making it the country's longest-running newscast in Filipino," ANC noted. Castro became the network's senior vice president for News & Current Affairs in 2000. "He eventually left the post but continued anchoring The World Tonight," another ANC tweet said.

Less known to most, ANCALERTS said, "Angelo Castro Jr. was nominated as FAMAS Best supporting actor for Kumander Alibasbas in the 80's...Before becoming a journalist, (he) had a flourishing TV & film career. He played the role of "Bong" in Baltic & Co. in the 70s."

source: interaksyon.com