Broadcast journalist Mariz Umali has officially joined the country’s longest-running morning show, Unang Hirit (UH).
The newest UH member shares her excitement in joining the award-winning Kapuso morning show. “At first I couldn’t believe it. But when the bosses told me that I’m going to be officially part of the show, I was grateful because the hosts and anchors of Unang Hirit are my friends.”
Umali has been a Kapuso for 17 years already, joining GMA Network right after getting her BA Broadcast Communication degree from the University of the Philippines Diliman. She anchored and hosted several GMA and GMA News TV shows and specials such as Balitanghali Weekend, Pamana: Saving Our Heritage, Brigada, News TV Live, Kape at Balita, Born to be Wild, and iWitness, among others.
She was recently named as Best Female Field Reporter at the 2019 Gawad Tanglaw. Throughout her career, her most memorable coverage was the Double Canonization of St. John Paul II and St. John XXIII in Vatican. Umali is a veteran of hard news reporting, having been stationed to the Malacañang and PNP beats.
“I love that I am able to help other people through the stories that we do. In a sense, feeling ko calling din ito or vocation. I’ve been doing this for the past 17 years since I graduated,” explained Umali.
In Unang Hirit, viewers will also get to see a different side of Umali, far from the serious reporter or anchor they see when she delivers the news. Though it will be a big change from her field reporting life, Umali is more than ready and looking forward to starting her weekdays with the UH barkada.
“The only adjustment will be my morning routine because I need to wake up at 4:00 a.m..But I look forward to starting my day with the UH barkada, and of course, our viewers – at makapaghatid ng balita sa kanila, umaga pa lang,” she said.
When she’s not in the field looking for news, Umali is actively serving the church at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Shrine. She also loves to go scuba diving, watching movies, traveling, and singing with her husband and GMA co-broadcast journalist Raffy Tima.
Catch Mariz Umali in Unang Hirit together with the rest of the UH barkada—Arnold Clavio, Rhea Santos, Ivan Mayrina, Susan Enriquez, Connie Sison, Suzi Abrera, Lyn Ching-Pascual, Lhar Santiago, Love Añover, and Luane Dy, as well as Nathaniel “Mang Tani” Cruz, Atty. Gaby Concepcion, and Mareng Winnie Monsod—from Monday to Friday, 4:55 a.m., on GMA-7.
