00:00In the past two decades of Unang Hirit,
00:02many were given a break to become a host and a news reporter.
00:07I'm going to float here in the dead sea.
00:10One of them is Rhea Santos.
00:13I started Unang Hirit in the year 2000.
00:16I remember July 1, 2000.
00:18That was my first day in Unang Hirit as a segment producer.
00:24Rhea Santos is with us.
00:27That was my first job in Unang Hirit, behind the camera,
00:31as a segment producer.
00:33I remember Beauty Patrol, La Mierda,
00:36those fashion tips.
00:38I was their go-to person when it comes to Beauty Patrol
00:41or the latest events that Unang Hirit should go to.
00:46That's where I really started.
00:48This is the Holy Land.
00:51I will never forget that.
00:53Every Sunday, I was their go-to person
00:56when it comes to visiting the Church.
01:00The Holy Land is one of my biggest coverages.
01:05We went around the Holy Land
01:07and watched the story of Jesus here in the Philippines.
01:12Wow! I thought it was a party today.
01:16Rhea says that what Rhea missed the most
01:19was their true friendship.
01:22You know, we were just hanging out.
01:24We were supposed to be working, but...
01:28We were just hanging out in between segments,
01:30chatting,
01:32giving updates on our lives,
01:33how our children are doing,
01:34what our plans are.
01:35I think that's why our friendship became solid
01:38because it's not just professional,
01:40we don't just work together.
01:42Off-cam, we talk about each other.
01:46She's sincere,
01:48she tells me what my problems are,
01:49what I'm going through.
01:51It has changed because I went abroad,
01:56but she's still there.
01:57How are you, Igan?
01:58Susan, I miss you.
02:00I miss being with them.
02:06Like Rhea,
02:07Ivan Mayrina also started his career in the first row.
02:11It's easy to remember.
02:12First of all, it was the year 2000.
02:14And when I started in the first row,
02:17I started my career in TV.
02:20And in GMA.
02:22This was my entry point in GMA and my TV career.
02:27I was invited by an old friend of mine
02:29from UP College of Mass.
02:31He said,
02:32Hey, we're looking for this.
02:33Do you want to try it?
02:35I said,
02:36Why not?
02:37And then I tried it.
02:38There, I entered the first row
02:40as a segment host slash producer
02:43of Sports and Travel.
02:45So there it is.
02:46What I remember is,
02:47I always do remote work
02:49when there's a storm or flood.
02:51That's what I remember
02:53how I started in the first row.
02:55And I've been doing it for 15 years.
02:57So until now, I'm still doing it.
02:59It's still the same.
03:00Nothing has changed.
03:02We're still in the news
03:04and we're still providing services
03:07to our fellow countrymen,
03:08especially in times of calamity
03:11where we need the help of our fellow countrymen.
03:15I went to the first row
03:16because a boss here at GMA
03:19asked me if I wanted to audition
03:21for a sports segment.
03:23And to my surprise,
03:24my audition was for a weather presenter.
03:27That's where I really started.
03:28And of course,
03:29we were lucky
03:30because we were chosen for the first row.
03:32I've been watching it everyday since I was a kid.
03:34I had the privilege and opportunity
03:36to use the airtime of the first row
03:39to promote
03:40and of course,
03:41to introduce the new show of GTV.
03:44After that,
03:45I also became a part of it.
03:47I also extended our food adventures
03:50to those of us who wake up earlier
03:53and were able to show
03:55the other side of the food culture of the Filipinos.
03:59Like I said,
04:00it's hard to do this kind of work
04:02because you have to wake up early.
04:04I'm a night owl.
04:06So,
04:07the opposite happened.
04:09I didn't expect it.
04:10I'm a bit ridiculous.
04:11But when they told me that,
04:14I was so happy.
04:15Of course,
04:16this is the longest running morning show here in the Philippines.
04:19I was just supposed to be a guest
04:21for a couple of days.
04:23But,
04:24I had the opportunity to be part of the show.
04:28Semi-regular host of the show,
04:30which was the UH Conliners.
04:32Eventually, it grew.
04:34It grew into something bigger.
04:36And now,
04:37I can proudly say that I'm part of UH Morgana.
04:41Good morning, mga boys!
04:43Good morning, Jessa Studio!
04:45It's not just their friendship that grew at UH Mercado.
04:49Because of their on-screen affection,
04:51they were able to return to reality.
04:54Why are you here?
04:56Who can forget the love story
04:59of Nawanchu Trevino and Joy Spring,
05:01who we know as One Choice?
05:05The people at UH,
05:07from the hosts
05:09to the people working behind the camera,
05:11they know it.
05:13They helped me.
05:14Because during that time,
05:16when Joy's guested,
05:17I had a crush on her for a long time.
05:19And,
05:20when she signed up for Unang Hirit,
05:22I told them to guest Joy.
05:26And,
05:27they helped me out with it.
05:28They guested her.
05:29She said yes.
05:31And then,
05:32after that,
05:33we had chemistry.
05:35That's when we started dating.
05:37And the rest is history.
05:38And they were all talking about Nawanchu.
05:40But funny enough,
05:41our first episode together
05:44was actually a Halloween special of Unang Hirit.
05:47That was the first time we were together in Unang Hirit.
05:50And our costumes were Chucky and Bride of Chucky.
05:55So, our first photo,
05:57in our first ever episode of Unang Hirit together,
06:00I was wearing a wife and bride outfit,
06:03and Chucky was holding our hands.
06:06That's when I started hashtagging OneChoice.
06:08Joyce, do you know my favorite color right now is pink?
06:11Why?
06:12Because whatever you wear,
06:14that's my favorite color.
06:15Ah, because you're pink for me?
06:17Oh, yes!
06:19And every day, we would travel together.
06:21Or we would see each other in places
06:24where we would travel to for Unang Hirit.
06:26And we always talk because of that.
06:29So,
06:30I think that's how we developed so quickly.
06:34It's not just the life of the host that changed this show.
06:37Because they also had a big influence on the lives of the viewers.
06:41Just like the 33-year-old JR,
06:45who they consider to be the number one fan of Unang Hirit.
06:50Do you have fans,
06:52like this JR?
06:54Oh my gosh.
06:55Who are like your children?
06:57The number one fan.
06:58As in?
06:59As in?
07:00Is he texting you?
07:02Of course.
07:03Are you texting him?
07:04No, I'm not.
07:05He's close.
07:06Because you shared us.
07:08You're already part of the UH family.
07:12You really became a part of it.
07:14And you go out of your way to meet these people.
07:17Yes.
07:18Ah, JR.
07:19JR.
07:20Because,
07:21for example, we have a contest for kids, right?
07:23Especially during vacation.
07:25If we're on the line,
07:26the winner is JR.
07:28Until I noticed,
07:29it's always JR.
07:31He's always the winner.
07:32So,
07:33that's when he came here.
07:35Yes.
07:36And,
07:37I told him,
07:38you've already set up a sari-sari store.
07:40It's full of people.
07:42JR is only 8 years old,
07:44but he's already following his favorite morning show.
07:47According to him,
07:48he used to watch the game segments of the show.
07:52I joined the show,
07:53until I became a host.
07:57And,
07:58now,
07:59they told me not to join anymore
08:01because I'm already good at it.
08:03I'm always the winner.
08:07If there's anyone who documented the evolution of Unang Hirit,
08:10it's JR.
08:13Because he's also complete with pictures
08:15with the hosts since 1999.
08:18This is where I went to the first studio.
08:22I approached Ms. Susie to take a picture.
08:25This is Ms. Miki.
08:28This is Ryan.
08:30He raised my hand.
08:32This is Mr. Eagle.
08:35He was also there when I saw him.
08:38We took a picture together.
08:40This is Mr. Hans.
08:42We're still in contact.
08:45That became my hobby.
08:47To see my growth,
08:49to see the looks of the hosts back then and now.
08:53JR is even more grateful to Unang Hirit Hosts.
08:58Because when he needed help,
09:01his great-grandparents were not the only ones
09:03to help him.
09:07My mom was COVID-19.
09:09She was sick.
09:12So, I called them.
09:15Why?
09:16Why?
09:22My dad had a stroke.
09:26They helped me.
09:31They were more helpful
09:33and more powerful.
09:39Especially, Mr. Arnold.
09:42I won't stop supporting Unang Hirit
09:44because I love the Unang Hirit Hosts.
09:49I love them.
09:51Thank you so much for everything.
09:53For helping us.
09:55Ever since they turned 4 years old,
09:59JR has never been to Unang Hirit's studio.
10:03He really missed his UH friend.
10:08On the 25th anniversary of the show,
10:11we invited JR to Unang Hirit's studio.
10:19Hello!
10:22How are you?
10:24Hi, JR!
10:26How are you, JR?
10:31Where are you from?
10:33I'm from Buto.
10:35You're from Buto?
10:36Yes, I'm from Buto.
10:37You're from Buto?
10:38Yes, I'm from Buto.
10:39You're from Buto?
10:40Yes, I'm from Buto.
10:41You're from Buto?
10:42Yes, I'm from Buto.
10:43JR is a new mom!
10:49Guard!
10:51Guard!
10:52JR is here!
11:00Welcome back!
11:01Oh, Susie!
11:02Oh, Susie!
11:03Who are you?
11:04What's your name?
11:07Are you from Bulacan?
11:08No, I'm from Balas.
11:09Butolan.
11:11How are you?
11:12Oh, my God!
11:14I love it!
11:151999!
11:16Wow!
11:17Ryan!
11:21Oh, my God!
11:27JR is just one of the millions of people
11:30who helped Unang Hirit.
11:33Their mission never ends
11:36because sometimes, they also became a part of
11:39the dreams of their companions.
12:03Unang Hirit
12:04Unang Hirit
12:05Unang Hirit
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