GMA Network’s morning newscast, Unang Hirit, makes it as a nominee in the Live Breaking News category of the 2018 Golden Nymph Awards of the Monte-Carlo Television Festival in Monaco. It is the sole Philippine nominee this year in the entire awards, alongside entries from Al Jazeera English, BBC News, Sky News, and Russia’s RT for the said category.
The Monte-Carlo Television Festival has, for more than half a century, presented the very best of television from around the world. Over the course of the Festival, an international jury of leading actors and industry professionals attend screenings of all the programs in competition. The Festival culminates in the Golden Nymph Awards which will be on June 19 this year.
Unang Hirit’s entry is its coverage of the Resorts World Manila attack in June 2017. What was initially thought to be an attack related to the ongoing siege of the ISIS-linked Maute group in the Southern Philippines was soon revealed to be the work of a lone gunman, a disgruntled gambler indiscriminately firing at casino guests and setting gambling tables on fire.
News anchor Connie Sison rushed to the scene and asked then NCRPO Chief and now PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde in a live ambush interview the questions the public was asking. As the event unfolded, Unang Hirit provided the first information about the attacker and put to rest speculations of a terror attack. A seasoned and relentless journalist, Sison also interviewed a worker who helped save escaping employees. She was also among the first to obtain a photo of the dead suspect.
Reporters Vonne Aquino, Jay Sabale and Victoria Tulad were among the first at the scene as the attack began past midnight. By the time Unang Hirit aired, they have pieced together the complete picture which includes victims, witnesses, Resorts World officials and the authorities.
Unang Hirit is the Philippines’ longest-running morning show. For nearly two decades, it has been the morning habit of television viewers by delivering the day’s freshest news and featuring the latest personalities, places and trends. “Unang Balita” is the newscast within Unang Hirit and is anchored by Arnold Clavio, Rhea Santos, Ivan Mayrina, Connie Sison, and Susan Enriquez.