There was a time when TV stations, like government offices, rested on weekends. In short, the news and public affairs departments were nowhere in the programming grid of the channels. It seems with the advent of specialized broadcasting and news channels on satellite and cable channels, free TV stations felt the pressure to adapt to the evolving TV audience.
And, that was how 24 Oras Weekend came about. It started as a special news program when there was important news the station needed to convey to the audience until such time the management decided to establish the newscast as part of the programming grid on Saturday and Sunday.
On February 21, 2010, the weekend edition of 24 Oras was launched, replacing GMA Weekend Report. Former Balitanghali and current Saksi anchor Pia Arcangel and Reporter’s Notebook host Jiggy Manicad anchors the weekend edition.
The newscast is GMA Network’s flagship primetime newscast on Saturday and Sunday, and it remains the top news source of Filipino viewers nationwide every weekend.
Data from the industry’s widely-trusted ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement show that from Aug.1 to Sept. 10, 2 (with Sept. 3 to 10 based on overnight data), 24 Oras Weekend topped the National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM) with an average people rating of 8.4 percent. It beat TV Patrol Weekend’s average people rating of 5.5 percent.
In Urban Luzon, 24 Oras Weekend toppled competition with an average people rating of 9 percent. TV Patrol Weekend only managed to get 4.1 percent. 24 Oras Weekend posted an even bigger margin in Mega Manila (based on official data as of Sept. 2) with an impressive 9.2 percent average people rating versus TV Patrol Weekend’s 3.4 percent.
This comes on the heels of a consistently strong ratings performance this year, with the Kapuso weekend newscast averaging a 7.8 percent people rating in NUTAM from January to September 10. TV Patrol Weekend trails behind with 5.3 percent.
The newscast has been consistently part of the list of GMA’s top-rating weekend programs.
Manicad has been in broadcast journalism for two decades, anchoring as well f GMA News TV’s afternoon newscast Quick Response Team (QRT). A hardcore news guy, Jiggy’s work reflects QRT’s tagline “Sumusugod kahit saan, sa ngalan ng katotohanan”.
He has gained the public’s admiration and respect through his coverage of various national and international events. Some of these include being caught in between opposing parties during the EDSA People Power 3, reporting on the tragic story of marine corporal Angelo Abeto (which won a Gold World Medal at the 2009 New York Festivals), and covering the conflicts in Mindanao and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He was also a member of GMA Team Everest, which reported on the historic climb of mountaineer Romi Garduce. It was the first time that a Philippine news organization broadcast live from the base camp of Mount Everest.
In 2014, GMA News and Public Affairs won its fourth George Foster Peabody award for its coverage of Super Typhoon Yolanda. Manicad was at the forefront of that award-winning coverage – and was the first reporter to go live on Philippine television, reported the team’s first-hand experience, and showed videos of Yolanda’s wrath. Together with Jessica Soho.
Also, Manicad and Arcangel co-anchored a special edition of 24 Oras Weekend showing the aftermath and the start of rescue and relief operations.
Arcangel started with GMA News in 2002 as a field correspondent and has been the anchor of 24 Oras Weekend since 2010. She started covering the police beat on the graveyard shift before she was assigned to cover Congress. Since then, Pia has covered a wide range of beats as a broadcast journalist—from politics, to human interest, and even sports.
She was part of the GMA News team that covered the funeral of Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in 2005.
She also covered the Manny Pacquiao – Oscar dela Hoya match in 2008, and the first fight between Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley in 2012.
As a news anchor, Arcangel is known for her clear and concise delivery of the news and strong interview skills. Together with Arnold Clavio, she also co-anchors GMA’s late night newscast Saksi.
Both Manicad and Arcangel have a passion for imparting lessons to the youth. As his way of giving back, he conducts “Jiggy Manicad Stories,” a free journalism lecture/workshop for students. Arcangle, meanwhile, teaches at Assumption College.
★★★★★
There is more to look forward to in GMA Network’s primetime series Alyas Robin Hood after Solenn Heussaff made her debut appearance on the show.
In an interview, Solenn said how happy and overwhelmed she is to be part of the sequel. When asked about what she’s most excited about, fight scenes is her quick answer and attributed her yearlong training from her previous series, Encantadia.
This time around, Solenn says she is ready for more daring action stunts and has been preparing for months.
She breathes life to the character of Iris Lizeralde, a wealthy and carefree high society ‘it’ girl who will later fall in love with Robin Hood (Dingdong Dantes).
The wait was worth it as Iris’ hot and sultry entrance to the series wowed viewers and caught the attention of netizens. After an intense car chase, she bumps into Pepe but the two are off to a not-so-good start. Soon, Iris and Venus (Andrea Torres) will face each other and fans are already avidly waiting for this showdown to happen.
Two beautiful and both remarkable women will be involved with the same man. Pepe is once again caught in the middle. Will he commit to the decision he already made or will his heart tell him otherwise?
★★★★★
The Kapamilya network was recently honored by the ComGuild Awards, which recognizes the significant contribution of broadcast and journalism professionals.
Ted Failon led the winners from ABS-CBN as he entered the Hall of Fame for Best AM Radio Anchor, while his show Failon Ngayon was also inducted to the Hall of Fame for Best AM Radio Program.
Bandila, ABS-CBN’s late night news program, was cited as Best News Program of the Year.
Other ABS-CBN journalists who won awards include Alvin Elchico (Best Male Field Reporter of the Year), Chiara Zambrano (Best Female Field Reporter of the Year), and Atom Araullo (Most Popular Television Personality of the Year).
Meanwhile, MOR 101.9 disc jock DJ Cha-Cha was honored as Best FM Radio DJ, while Bobby Yan was hailed Best Lifestyle Program Host.
The awarding ceremony is held annually during the Conference of Journalism and Mass Communication Students of the Philippines that is attended by student delegates from all over the country.
★★★★★
Albie Casino joins the cast of ABS-CBN’s hit afternoon series Pusong Ligaw as Leon, a teenager believed to be Tessa (Beauty Gonzalez) and Caloy’s (Joem Bascon) missing son.
Just like Rafael, Leon was also found in a river when he was just about to turn a year old. Despite uncertainties, Jaime (Raymond Bagatsing) still made Tessa believe that they have already found her long lost child. Leon remains clueless as well, but saw the situation as an opportunity for him to pay his debts and get himself out of poverty.
How long can Jaime deceive Tessa? As Marga (Bianca King) finds out about Leon, what will she do to hide the truth from Caloy? What will Caloy do once he finds out that he and Tessa have a son?
Pusong Ligaw airs after It’s Showtime on ABS-CBN and on ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167).
★★★★★
So Atom Araullo has disengaged himself from ABS-CBN. The now former broadcast journalist is bent on carving a niche in another profession. Can it be acting? He stars in Mike de Leon’s new film Citizen Jake.
Here’s what Araullo said of his departure from the Kapamilya network:
Working with ABS-CBN for over a decade has been an amazing adventure. However, the time has come to explore emerging opportunities and challenges beyond the organization.
Although I am taking a new path, I have nothing but respect and gratitude for the company that helped me become the journalist I am today.
To all the hardworking men and women of ABS-CBN, maraming maraming salamat.
And here’s what ABS-CBN said:
ABS-CBN has allowed journalist Atom Araullo to explore new interests in film, broadcast, and digital media outside of the company. Atom says the training and exposure he got from the network as reporter and TV host have equipped him to try out other opportunities in the media industry here and abroad.
ABS-CBN wishes Atom all the best in his future endeavors. He will always remain a Kapamilya.
Will the competing network be interested in the now movie star? I doubt it!