GMA News & Public Affairs big winner at COMGUILD Awards

MANILA, Philippines - GMA News and Public Affairs was honored recently at the 2011 COMGUILD Awards with three major citations — including the Best News Program award, given to 24 Oras, GMA Network’s flagship primetime newscast.  

24 Oras, anchored by Mike Enriquez and Mel Tiangco, received 37.3 percent of the votes from the judges at the COMGUILD. Senior program manager Antonio Magsumbol and program manager Kathrina dela Cruz accepted the award for 24 Oras.  

Organized by the COMGUILD Center for Journalism, the panel of judges for the COMGUILD Awards is composed of college deans, chairs of Mass Communication departments and some members of the academe from universities all over the country.

Arnold Clavio, on the other hand, was named Best Entertainment Talk Show Host (for GMA News TV Channel 11’s Tonight With Arnold Clavio) and Jiggy Manicad was named Best Male Field Reporter of the Year. 

Clavio, who also anchors Saksi, Balita Pilipinas, and hosts Rescue and Unang Hirit received 43.45 percent votes.

“Napakalaking hamon po sa akin na makapagbigay po ng impormasyon at kayo’y mapasaya sa programang kakabit ang aking pangalan,” Clavio said during the awarding ceremony.

GMA News’ senior reporter Jiggy, anchors 24 Oras Weekend and GMA News TV Channel 11’s NEWS TV QRT (Quick Response Team), a groundbreaking newscast that is designed to be lightning-quick and ready to broadcast from any place and in any situation.

Jiggy said, “Ito ang inspirasyon ko sa trabaho, para lalong mapabuti… (para yung) mga istorya na hindi basta basta nakukuha ay ma-produce namin nang maayos at patas para sa publiko.”

This is Jiggy’s third win as Best Male Field Reporter. One more award and he will join Mel Tiangco in the COMGUILD Hall of Fame. Last year, Mel was named COMGUILD’s first ever Hall of Fame honoree for the Most Outstanding News Presenter award. Mike was also a previous COMGUILD awardee, bagging the honors for Most Outstanding Male News Presenter in 2007.