After more than four decades in broadcast journalism, Jessica Soho knows the path is anything but easy, but she wants the next generation of journalists to keep going.
Speaking with Manila Standard Entertainment at the press conference for her upcoming Halloween movie, KMJS’ Gabi ng Lagim The Movie, Soho urged young reporters to stay relentless in their pursuit of truth, even in a country rife with corruption and systemic challenges.
“To the young journalists, I hope you’re doing great. I know that this profession is really difficult, but we have to do it for the country—that’s really it,” Soho said.
The 61-year-old seasoned broadcast journalist stressed that investigative reporting is more important now than ever.
“The country needs us even more now to uncover what the public should know and focus on the issues that need attention,” Soho continued, highlighting the human cost of wrongdoing.
She also warned that those in power have already amassed wealth through corrupt practices, leaving ordinary citizens to struggle.
“The corrupt ones? They’re okay—they can leave anytime. You know how much wealth they’ve stolen. But what about us? What about the people who work hard every day just to survive in this country?” she added.
Soho encouraged young journalists to fully leverage the tools and technology at their fingertips.
“More research, especially with the tools at your fingertips and the swipe of your fingers— all that technology should help you do your work better,” she said, while acknowledging the work remains demanding.
“I cannot assure you that things will get easier because they won’t. I’ve been at it for the past 41 years, and it’s even more difficult now,” the journalist shared.
Reflecting on her decades of reporting, Soho noted the striking similarities between current societal problems and those she covered in the 1980s—a period marked by political instability, economic collapse, and capital flight.
“I’m 61 now, and these are still the issues I’ve been covering. I just hope things have changed. It feels like all the issues from the 1980s have just been recycled to the present day,” she said.
Despite the ongoing challenges facing both journalists and citizens, Soho remained resolute.
“We just have to keep working and keep striving. That’s really it. Let’s fight for our profession and fight for the truth. I also know that nothing is impossible,” Soho stated.
Soho will headline the film adaptation of Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho’s long-running TV special, Gabi ng Lagim, bringing real-life Halloween-inspired stories to the big screen.
Featuring Sanya Lopez, Jillian Ward, Miguel Tanfelix, and Elijah Canlas, KMJS’ Gabi ng Lagim The Movie is set to premiere nationwide in cinemas on Nov. 26.
