00:00 Well, now that we've celebrated the 50th anniversary of PTV,
00:04 let's find out the stories that gave color and voice to our country's television.
00:08 Where we'll get to know the numerous news anchors of the station
00:13 that brought confusing news and information to every home inside and outside the country.
00:18 And to share with us their #KwentongPTV,
00:23 we'll be joined by the former news anchor of People's Television Network,
00:27 Princess Sabiba Saripaudak,
00:29 and also Jasmin Romero and Atty. Romulo Macalintal.
00:33 Good morning to you all!
00:37 Good morning, Miss Diana and Miss J.
00:41 Wow, it's so nice to see them here.
00:44 So, Atty. Romulo and Miss Jasmin joining us online and live here in the studio.
00:48 Yes, Miss Princess.
00:49 Maybe let's start with Miss Princess.
00:51 What are the stories or events that are memorable for you
00:55 from your time as an anchor of PTV4?
00:58 I think the most unforgettable moment,
01:01 and I think the nation also never forgets,
01:04 is that being hailed as the first hijabi Muslim news anchor in the Philippine TV,
01:10 which never happened in any network.
01:12 And when we were here, it is not only the family that really cheered,
01:17 it is the Bangsamoro community, it is the Filipino community,
01:22 Filipino Muslim, and the Muslim community.
01:24 We're really happy to finally see somebody wearing a hijab,
01:29 and they are representing not only our identity and religion,
01:34 but the voice of the Bangsamoro.
01:36 So, it's the representation and inclusivity.
01:39 You are the manifestation, Miss Princess, here on PTV.
01:43 Let's go to Miss Jasmin and Atty. Macalintal.
01:46 What are your #KwentongPTV memorable moments
01:52 on the government channel? Miss Jasmin first.
01:55 There are so many memories here on PTV.
01:59 I remember, if I would quantify it,
02:02 there are two good memories.
02:04 The first one is when I joined PTV
02:06 because it really signaled the beginning of my broadcast career.
02:10 And second, more of behind the scenes,
02:13 I remember at that time,
02:16 of course, there was still NBN back then.
02:19 Now, it's PTV, right?
02:20 So, during the NBN, where I was with,
02:24 it wasn't, of course, we know that
02:26 the resources are big, not like major news networks.
02:30 So, I remember, even though my designation is anchor,
02:34 I became a reporter,
02:37 I became a videographer, editor of our own news.
02:41 We became a one-man team back then
02:44 to produce stories,
02:46 especially in the telegaryo sports and NBN sports
02:49 during that time.
02:50 And I was so proud because
02:52 this is where my skills as a reporter were really tested.
02:57 And the last one, maybe,
02:59 the camaraderie that I experienced
03:02 with my former colleagues on Channel 4
03:05 because it was so fun.
03:07 It was a kind of place that I would look forward to
03:10 going every single day.
03:12 So, those are my good memories here on PTV.
03:16 Miss Jasmin, this is where you really started on PTV,
03:19 your journey as a broadcaster.
03:22 As a TV broadcast journalist, yes.
03:26 I had a beginning in radio in another station,
03:30 but for TV, it was really here.
03:32 Okay, let's now go to Attorney Mack.
03:35 I call him Attorney Mack because he's a very good friend.
03:37 You, sir.
03:38 Well, for me, I remember the times of brownouts.
03:44 Even though the work was hard,
03:47 even if it was a brownout, it was okay.
03:49 Although back then,
03:52 we didn't have a salary or no salary,
03:55 but it was just work.
03:56 That's where you can see the dedication of the personnel
03:59 and officers of PTV4, NBN.
04:03 This was back then.
04:04 And back then, almost only one camera was functioning.
04:08 And sometimes, there was no news
04:11 because of a total blackout or brownout in our area.
04:15 But even though we were there,
04:20 or the camera was on,
04:22 sometimes, it would die.
04:23 But it was okay.
04:24 And the work of our cameramen was continuous.
04:28 There was an instance where only one camera was functioning.
04:31 So, when the camera was focused on me,
04:36 later, we would move seats.
04:40 For example, me and my co-anchor,
04:43 Evelin Katigbak,
04:45 she would suddenly stand up and move to my seat.
04:48 Sometimes, there was a time when she moved,
04:51 and when she moved,
04:53 the camera was focused on her,
04:55 but she was wearing shorts.
04:58 So, people would see that
05:00 that's what was happening inside.
05:02 Sometimes, they thought she was wearing a nice blazer,
05:05 or a tie,
05:07 but they didn't know that the anchors were only wearing shorts.
05:11 So, those are the incidents that I will never forget on Channel 4.
05:16 And of course, that's what gave me the opportunity
05:20 to be seen on television as a newscaster,
05:25 and my ambition to become a newscaster came to life.
05:29 Their stories are so funny.
05:32 Yes, and you can hear how they started,
05:35 and you can see where they are now.
05:37 It's a bit inspiring to know all of these.
05:40 And they mentioned that even though the resources are limited,
05:43 the dedication and the service we are saying
05:46 for the people we see,
05:48 did you reach the goal, Ms. Princess?
05:50 I think it's a show that I reached,
05:53 but it's true that we also reached it,
05:56 that I'm not that techy,
05:58 like what I'm seeing now.
06:00 When we were still here, when we started in 2012,
06:03 we also worked for one month.
06:06 We edit.
06:07 What I don't do is to be a cameraman
06:10 because it's heavy, right?
06:11 And it needs to be high.
06:12 So, how can I get coverage if it's so cute
06:15 and the two of us are heavy?
06:16 So, we edit, we voice over, we write the news,
06:19 and we were very happy.
06:21 That's one thing that I will never forget,
06:23 which really boosts our journalism.
06:26 Alright, for you, Ms. Princess,
06:28 what did you feel when you were introduced
06:30 as the first news anchor
06:32 who wore a hijab in the Philippines?
06:35 Did you have struggles because of this?
06:37 You know, Chino,
06:39 first of all, you will feel that you were very proud.
06:44 Second, you know, after a day,
06:47 it sank in that,
06:49 "Wait, this is not just because of me."
06:52 This is not because I wanted to have a name.
06:55 It's not because I wanted for people to know me
06:59 or our, what do you call this,
07:01 my identity to be known to the public.
07:03 But it's actually saying to myself
07:06 that we have a mission here.
07:08 We are here because it's God's plan.
07:11 Remember that we were here auditioning,
07:13 so you weren't just chosen to sit.
07:16 So, it's really something that God played with it.
07:19 You just ask for it.
07:21 God, if it's for me, alhamdulillah.
07:23 If it's not, alhamdulillah still.
07:25 So, when we were introduced as the first hijabi,
07:30 that's when I realized
07:31 that God gave us a huge responsibility.
07:35 It is to, first, it's like to have a dawah,
07:38 meaning an Islamic education.
07:41 Like, we're here wearing a hijab,
07:43 and you can see that there are Muslims.
07:45 So, you are already giving them the dawah.
07:47 You are giving them the idea that,
07:49 "Wait, the Muslims also know how to speak.
07:53 They know how to speak Tagalog, they know how to speak English.
07:55 They can express also,
07:56 and they could be productive as women at the same time."
07:59 It's not true that women were oppressed in Islam.
08:02 They can also work.
08:04 And because of this, I really could remember
08:07 that people were like, "We are so proud of you.
08:09 You're here."
08:10 And I keep on saying to them that,
08:12 "This job is not only for me, but it is a representation.
08:16 We have a voice here now, alhamdulillah,
08:18 in this media industry,
08:20 and we're here to be the voice and representative of our community."
08:24 So, that's really the biggest thing that I see
08:27 in our role.
08:29 And in terms of the struggles, of course,
08:31 it's already there.
08:32 It's normal.
08:33 Your first time, you were nervous, right?
08:35 So, when we were first invited,
08:38 the first day, there was a storm.
08:40 It didn't rain on us.
08:42 It didn't rain on Lanao del Sur.
08:44 So, Ms. Cathy was there,
08:47 and she's like,
08:48 "Okay, you know what you're going to do.
08:50 This script and all."
08:51 So, Brother Audrey was also there.
08:54 So, they were like, "Just go with the flow."
08:56 And then, this is the background, and so on.
08:58 So, I was really nervous.
09:00 But, as they say,
09:02 as you go along with it,
09:03 you fight that fear.
09:06 And at the same time,
09:07 you also master your craft
09:09 by, you know,
09:11 through educating yourself,
09:13 and the research, most especially.
09:14 And you still have a program in Radio Pilipinas.
09:16 Yes, yes.
09:17 We're still continuing.
09:18 From here,
09:20 when the Duterte administration came,
09:22 they offered us to be appointed as channel manager
09:25 for Salam TV.
09:26 So, at that time,
09:27 we were the Salam TV hosts
09:30 at the same time.
09:31 So, they said, "Princess,
09:33 you have to detach yourself from news
09:35 because we need representation here."
09:39 So, alhamdulillah,
09:40 when they gave us that kind of opportunity
09:44 and responsibility,
09:46 at first, I really didn't take it.
09:48 Yes, because I was really scared.
09:51 I said, "I might not be able to handle it.
09:52 I might not be able to handle it."
09:54 So, they were like, "You can do it
09:55 because you're the one there.
09:57 No one else."
09:58 And then, a few months after,
10:00 Salam Radio also came into light.
10:04 And until now, alhamdulillah,
10:06 Salam Radio is still here,
10:07 6 to 8 p.m.
10:08 on Radio Pilipinas.
10:11 Okay.
10:12 Let's go back to Ms. Jasmine
10:13 and Atty. Macalintal.
10:15 Let's talk about lessons.
10:16 What have you learned
10:18 from your experience in PTV?
10:20 It has given you a lot of professional growth.
10:23 And maybe, speaking about lessons,
10:25 what lessons can they share
10:27 with our new journalists
10:30 and new broadcasters here in PTV?
10:33 For me, I learned a lot of lessons.
10:38 But maybe, from the perspective of a journalist,
10:41 what I learned is that
10:42 you need to find a way
10:44 even if your resources are limited
10:46 to deliver news.
10:48 It's not because your budget is small
10:51 or you don't have the resources,
10:53 you won't be able to deliver.
10:54 Because the people of the country need to listen,
10:57 to watch what they need to watch.
11:00 So, this is where your creativity
11:03 and your self-doubt will come out.
11:06 Even if it's still there,
11:08 it will be removed
11:09 when you produce a good news.
11:11 So, I think that is one big lesson
11:13 that I can impart
11:14 to the new broadcasters here.
11:16 These days, technology is advanced.
11:19 Even with a cellphone,
11:20 you can already produce a whole news.
11:22 Take advantage of this opportunity.
11:24 And especially,
11:25 because you have the opportunity
11:27 to deliver good news,
11:29 make it good.
11:31 Enter a high-level broadcast
11:34 or journalism ethics.
11:36 Study your craft,
11:38 your profession.
11:41 And always remember
11:42 that we are not here to become famous
11:44 or to show off.
11:45 But we are here to serve.
11:47 It's so nice to hear this from Ms. Jasmine
11:50 considering that she has already succeeded
11:52 in the world of broadcasting.
11:53 And you said that Ms. Jasmine Romero
11:55 is the one who brought this to PBB.
11:58 Let's ask Atty. Macalintal about lessons.
12:01 Atty.
12:02 We learned a lot from Channel 4.
12:06 I always tell them about Channel 4.
12:08 And you know,
12:10 that's where it really started.
12:14 Oh, that's a shame.
12:15 You're back again.
12:18 Actually, it all happened by accident.
12:23 I was a resource person
12:26 in the Cordillera Autonomous Region
12:28 coverage of Channel 4.
12:30 I was just a resource person there.
12:32 But there were times
12:34 when the newscaster was not there.
12:37 So sometimes, they would read news
12:39 or news items.
12:40 And when we returned to Manila,
12:42 I was offered to do newscasting
12:45 here in Channel 4.
12:46 So that's where it all started.
12:48 And since then, I built up more confidence
12:53 in facing my clients
12:55 and in facing the court.
12:57 And my view of handling cases
12:59 became broader.
13:01 Especially when you're a newscaster
13:04 and you're always seen by people,
13:06 you have high expectations.
13:08 So you need to develop your confidence
13:11 and you need to know how to be with the people.
13:15 Wow.
13:16 It's really inspiring to hear this
13:18 from three reputable people,
13:20 considering that this is where it all started.
13:22 Thank you so much for sharing your story, PTV,
13:25 with us this Wednesday morning.
13:27 Princess Habiba,
13:29 Jasmine Romero,
13:30 and Attorney Romulo Macalintal,
13:32 the former news anchors
13:34 who touched the hearts of Filipinos.
13:36 Again, thank you and stay safe.
13:38 Happy 50th anniversary.
13:40 Thank you very much. Happy 50th anniversary.
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