LOCAL newscasters are considered stars in their own right, and even have their own loyal followers. Some of these news presenters have evolved into very credible TV hosts for lifestyle and public service programs, and a few have even successfully launched political careers.
With the recent major turbulence caused by the pandemic and the denial of the free TV franchise renewal petition of media giant ABS-CBN, we witnessed some big albeit calculated movements among newscasters.
Ted Failon, who served the Lopez-owned network for three decades, is now with TV5 as main anchor for Radyo 5 on weekdays, and he is on the air for four hours every morning.
“Everything happens for a reason. I felt sad I was left without a choice to leave the company I served for a long, long time. But then again, a new door opened, and negotiations were swift and smooth, so I said yes to Radyo 5.”
He added, “Radio has always been special to me. I really can’t say for certain if I’ll be back as a TV newscaster. Only time will tell. I am enjoying more ‘me time’ at the moment, and spending it with my family and my grandkids is just so precious to me.”
Another newscaster who took the big leap is Erwin Tulfo, who used to be one of the lead anchors for Aksyon on TV5 where his tandem with the station’s news bureau chief Luchi Cruz-Valdes was widely followed.
Tulfo is now with PTV4’s prime-time newscast Ulat Bayan. Tulfo teams up with Alex Santos, Dianne Querer and Aljo Bendijo, and they are being touted as the government station’s Power4. Santos had stints with UNTV, ABS-CBN’s DZMM and Studio 23 while Bendijo was once the most promising young newscaster of the ABS-CBN news department during his younger years. Credited in gathering this formidable team is Kat de Castro, the daughter of ABS-CBN’s main anchor Noli de Castro.
It is interesting to note that Tulfo has made the rounds of all major TV networks as news presenter. Aside from his stint with TV5, he also cohosted Bitag on IBC13, delivered the news for RPN’s NewsWatch Aksyon Balita and hosted the popular Isumbong Mo program with his brothers. He also had memorable experiences with ABS-CBN’s Magandang Gabi, Bayan and Magandang Umaga, Pilipinas.
But his first outing was with PTV4 for Pangunahing Balita and PTV Weekend Report from 1987 to 1992. “With Ulat Bayan, I come full circle. I am happy to be of service to the Filipino people as a newscaster. I am excited because we will not only be delivering comprehensive coverages of the news, but we will also have investigative segments. What excites me also is that the four of us will be discussing interesting issues and will be be doing a lot of free-flow bantering on air,” Tulfo shared.
And while we are on the topic of new beginnings for newscasters, I am just happy to learn that Rhea Santos, then GMA New TV’s prized and perhaps the station’s most gorgeous broadcast journalist, has just launched her newscasting career in Canada.
Santos, a former anchor of GMA’s Unang Hirit, migrated to Vancouver last year and now delivers the Filipino newscast for Canadian broadcasting company OMNI Television.
“I am just elated to have been presented with this opportunity to do what I love, and to continue my passion as a broadcast journalist. And this time, to be of service to all the Canadian-Filipinos where I live now,” she enthused.
All the best to Erwin, Ted and Rhea. Continue to make us proud.