Now here’s the latest news from Rico Hizon

Rico Hizon can talk up a storm. Even while he’s being primped for this section’s pictorial, he answers questions thrown his way ever so gamely.

With eyes closed as foundation is applied to his face and his salt-and-pepper hair is lathered with hair products, the conversation runs smoothly.

And that’s in between Rico’s own curious queries as to the clothes he will be made to wear.

As anchor of the news program Asia Business Report, airing Monday to Friday mornings on BBC World, Rico is comfortable in business suits that are a second skin to him.

But away from his job, Rico admits his fashion taste is really quite conservative. He may wear yellow or orange collared shirts, but when it comes to short-sleeved polos, he sticks to stripes and plaids, if not complete solids. Nothing adventurous – to the frustration of his wife Melannie, who’s been influencing him to go for more patterns and bolder designs in his casual wear.

"I’ve dressed this way since high school. I haven’t really changed all that much," Rico laughs heartily. "But Mel has convinced me to try out other things. She shops for me in Singapore where we are based and picks out stuff that I wouldn’t think of wearing. But actually, the clothes are really nice. So little by little, with my wife’s help, you could say my look is evolving."

But the suits will remain a staple, of course. Rico has as many as 50 stashed in his closet – to be mixed and matched with his ties that number over a hundred. It is with the ties that he can go somewhat "wild" through bright colors and motifs.

Most of the ties and suits he wears today date back to his stint with the cable channel CNBC, where he had Ermenegildo Zegna as a clothes sponsor. But with the BBC being partially funded by the UK government, he and the other anchors are no longer allowed to have sponsors. That’s why Rico said he had to turn down an endorsement for a Philippine-based men’s line, which would have had him gracing a billboard along EDSA.

Anyone who gets to peek inside Rico’s knapsack would probably raise his or her eyebrows because there is MAC foundation among his things. Rico is probably one of the few men whose work requires him to put on makeup. Well, just foundation, really – so as not to appear ashen on television. The surprise is, he has to apply it to himself as BBC does not really have a makeup artist in the studio.

Rico has rather unusual working hours. Since Asia Business Report airs early in the morning, Rico is already up at 4 a.m. Melannie wakes up just to kiss him goodbye, while he sneaks a peek at their still-sleeping two-year-old son Migo.

A cab picks up a casually clad Rico from their condominium at 5 a.m. and whisks him off to his office where he wears his trademark suit. When his on- and off-camera duties are done for the day, at around 2 p.m., he trades the suit for his casual clothes once more.

Usually, Mel and Migo pass for Rico and together they eat out, then enjoy a romp in the park or a visit to a mall. Weekends are reserved for equally leisurely pursuits, sometimes with the Hizon trio donning matching shirts (like the ones with the huge Ralph Lauren logo).

"You know, even if my job is a high-pressure one, I love every minute of it. But what I love even more is spending time with my family," Rico enthuses.

PHILIPPINE STAR: When did you know that you wanted to become a reporter?

RICO HIZON: Since I was very young. I remember at age 10, I would already mimic broadcasters like Bong Lapira when they delivered the news. I would have my own breaking news bulletins. I would annotate the things happening in our house. Everyone in the family would, of course, have a good laugh. I later took up communication arts, majoring in journalism at De La Salle University.

Have you always had the gift of gab?

I think so. I don’t know where I get it from because my parents are low-key, quiet people. But me, I guess I’ve always loved speaking in front of crowds. In my elementary school, La Salle Greenhills, I won oratorical and elocution contests in both English and Filipino.

Was your first job on television?

Actually, I got my first real paycheck when I was still in high school, going on to college. I was a crewmember at the first McDonald’s branch, in Makati. I flipped burgers, assembled Quarter Pounders with Cheese, worked the counter and mopped the floors – the works! It was a good learning experience, not to mention I was earning. I managed to save, but most of it went into building my record collection.

I also joined bazaars, like during the holiday season, where I’d sell consigned items. It was a lot of fun, talking to customers, convincing them to buy. I enjoyed dealing with people even then.

So, what was your first job on television?

I was a production assistant for Uncle Bob’s Lucky 7 Club, a children’s show. I made coffee for my bosses, I did errands – in short, a gopher. Later on, I was tapped to put together the hourly GMA News Live bulletins. I didn’t know that what I was doing then was multi-tasking, but I was the writer, producer, researcher, reporter and cameraman all rolled into one. I’d be in the studio alone and conducting the newscast while operating the teleprompter with my feet. No kidding!

My big break in local television came by way of two public affairs programs, Dong Puno’s Viewpoint and Art Borjal’s Issues and Answers. I was a reporter/segment producer for both shows. I was so happy to be part of Viewpoint especially when it began winning the industry’s top awards. Then I became an anchor for Business Today, an early morning program, which was really what launched my career in business news.

That’s where I got used to waking up so early in the morning. I’d be up at 4:30 a.m., reading newspapers for relevant business information. I’d be on air by 7 a.m. Those were really full days for me. After the show, I’d make my reportorial rounds and return to the studio by 4 p.m. By 6 a.m., I’d be writing the script for the next day’s show and editing my pieces by 8 a.m. I was actually the very first full-time business reporter every appointed at GMA News. Since I didn’t exactly have a local role model to show me the ropes, I practically had to figure out things for myself.

How did you break into the international broadcast scene?

I sent sample videos of my work to CNBC Asia (NBC’s business channel), hoping to be accepted as a Philippine correspondent based in Manila. Instead, they offered me the news anchor position which involved not only switching jobs but also leaving the country and moving to Hong Kong. I was CNBC Asia’s very first Filipino news anchor.

From 1995 to 1998, I was based in Hong Kong, hosting the daily flagship breakfast news program Today’s Business and the daily market-based, two-hour program Morning Call. It was a very interesting time for me as a broadcast journalist. I reported live on the Hong Kong handover to China and interviewed the first Chief Executive, Tung Chee Hwa. I also reported on the Asian financial crisis and the meltdown of the regional stock and currency markets, and got to interview the likes of Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and Philippine President Fidel Ramos on the impact the crisis was having on their respective countries.

How did you end up in Singapore?

Well, that’s where I became based after CNBC merged with Asia Business News. I was anchor and business editor, with the programs Wake Up Call in the mornings, Power Lunch at noon and Asia Nightly News, the evening prime-time newscast.

Then in 2002, I was hired by the BBC for Asia Business Report, also airing from Singapore. Multi-tasking pa rin. I am an anchor/writer/producer/reporter. I report on the latest business and financial news, changes in the stock and currency markets, economic developments and social issues in the region. I also do stories for BBC’s World News Service Radio and the global business program World Business Report.

People always ask me, "Do you just read the news?" or "Are the questions just written for you?" There’s always this misconception that we’re just faces on the screen and everything is fed to us. If we were just told to do that, I wouldn’t be here.

Business and financial news are highly specialized fields and knowing and understanding the subject matter is very important. The majority of our viewers are business people and they’ll know what you’re talking about.

Do you have a routine to prepare yourself for your morning newscast?

I don’t eat or drink, not even coffee. I just have a glass of water to clear the throat. Then I apply makeup, eyeliner… just kidding! Only foundation. Then I sing about two songs – ballads, Filipino songs – just to get the modulation right.

But can you really carry a tune?

Actually, yes. I used to be a choir member at the San Antonio Parish. Then in high school, I almost became a member of La Salle’s Kundirana. I already passed the auditions. But I was engaged in other extracurricular activities, aside from being class president in my senior year, so finally, I had to make a choice. I chose the Forensics Guild, where I served as president. Kaya hindi ako naging Kundirana, "Kundisana" lang.

What are your interests outside of business news (and singing)?

I’m a sports fan. I particularly love watching football; I followed the World Cup series earlier this year. And I’m a serious collector of sports memorabilia, particularly football jerseys, toys and figurines (of players). I have a closet full of jerseys, tags intact. I have a Pelé shirt that he autographed when he came to Singapore.

When David Beckham was in town, my wife had all sorts of memorabilia signed by him. By chance, she went to the hotel where he was billeted, hoping to catch a glimpse of him, when she actually bumped into him coming out of the elevator – without bodyguards. She took the chance and asked if he could autograph the Beckham stuff that she had brought along. So we have his Manchester United shirt that he signed right on the number 7, and other things. Maybe someday, it will all go on eBay. But then again, maybe we’ll just hang on to them.

Melannie and I are also art collectors. We love to surround ourselves with Philippine art, and we do our share of promoting it in Singapore. Mel runs ArtSentralAsia, an arts events company that organizes exhibits that expose Filipino artists’ works to a new audience.

A few years ago, we started a collection of palette art. We give palettes of different sizes and shapes to artists and they render paintings on them. We now have about 50 pieces, including works by Bencab, Malang and Anita Magsaysay-Ho and many young artists. The collection was featured in an exhibit at the Crucible Gallery last year and this year, it’s on a campus tour. The current stop is the Enderun Colleges in Ortigas Center. "Through the Palette’s Eye" will also be presented at the CCP Main Gallery next year.

Is it true that there’s another side to you, that in contrast to your being a "serious" business journalist, you are actually a jologs at heart?

Yes, I am, admittedly! Mel and I love watching the soap operas on TFC (The Filipino Channel). I watched every single episode of Gulong ng Palad. I followed Bituing Walang Ningning, although I didn’t like the ending. They stretched it out so much, with the showdown concert between Dorina Pineda and Lavinia Arguelles running for three to four nights. I personally feel that Sarah Geronimo wasn’t ripe for the role although she has a very good voice; but in terms of emotions, kulang pa. Angelika de la Cruz was good as the villain Lavinia.

Now, we’re watching Maging Sino Ka Man. We also watch The Buzz. People we know from Manila who go to Singapore are sometimes surprised that we’re so up-to-date with showbiz chismis. That’s because we get to see the same shows aired in Manila.

Where does this interest in telenovelas and showbiz come from?

When I was a reporter for GMA, I also got to cover entertainment events and interview celebrities. That’s how I met the likes of Ricky Lo, Isah Red, Leah Salterio… Since then, I’ve been fascinated with showbiz. I was hooked! You might not believe it, but in fact, I even published a jologs quiz book several years ago featuring questions about Sharon Cuneta movies and the like.

How has living abroad all these years affected you?

I’ve been living the expat life for 11 years now. Though the places I’ve been to, Hong Kong and Singapore, aren’t really that far away, they’re still not home. That’s why I try to visit the Philippines as much as I can, especially to be with my parents who are on their own now. Singapore may be the cleanest, most modern place, but there’s nothing like Manila. I think being based abroad has made me more patriotic. It’s when you’re away from your country that you really begin to appreciate it.

Wherever I’ve been, I’ve always tried to raise the Philippine flag. I often get mistaken for a Japanese or a Singaporean, but when I’m asked where I’m from, I always say I’m a Filipino. Mel and I are affiliated with groups that tie us back to home; like, I’m now chairman of the Philippine Cultural Society in Singapore and we hold Filipino celebrations that affirm and reinforce our roots. This is very important to us because we are raising our son in a foreign country.

Is this part of the reason you came up with a good-news website?

My friends and I had long lamented the fact that in the international media, the Philippines seemed to be always getting a bad rap. People abroad only know of us as a land of disasters, coups and terrorism. So we said, why don’t we do something about it? We agreed that the best way we can counteract the negative image is through the Internet because it has a global reach. Early this year, we launched the website www.goodnewspilipinas.com, which focuses on anything positive about the Philippines and Filipinos. I’m the managing editor.

Yes, there is bad news, but there are also a lot of good things happening in our country. So that is what we highlight in goodnewspilipinas.com. We want to reach Filipinos across the globe and help boost their spirits and bring renewed hope and confidence in our country. For foreigners, it is a way of introducing ourselves to them and showing them what we are about.

What exactly can be found on the site?

Good News Pilipinas presents stories on achievements and breakthroughs by Filipinos both in the Philippines and abroad. We have sections like "The Good Balita" (news on national events), "Biz Progress," "Sporting Gold," "Beauty of the Philippines," "Arts and Culture Achievements," "Showbiz Success" and "Technology Milestones." We emphasize Filipino success stories in "We Are Pinoys!" Then we provide space for opinions in "Inspirational Views," with articles authored by Filipinos who, for example, share their experiences in other countries.

It’s an online venue where Filipinos can come together and share their successes, whether big or small, so it can serve as an inspiration for others to achieve their own successes in life, too. The advocacy we all share in this website is simple: Love for country. Pride in being Filipino.

Your name: Rico M. Hizon

Your favorite qualities in a man: Kindness and compassion.

Your favorite qualities in a woman: Strong faith, street smart, patient and loving.

Your favorite occupation: Watching Pinoy teleseryes and listening to OPM music.

Your chief characteristic: Pragmatism.

Your idea of happiness: Malling with my family.

Your idea of misery: Not being with my wife Melanie and son Migo.

Your favorite color and flower: Yellow and sunflower.

If not yourself, who would you be? Secretary General of the United Nations.

Where would you like to live? New York.

Your favorite prose author: Krip Yuson.

Your favorite poet: Cirilio Bautista.

Your favorite painters and composers: Bencab, Anita Magsaysay-Ho, Malang, Mark Justiniani, Jose Santos III, Elmer Borlongan, Marcel Antonio, Louie Ocampo, George Ganseco, Willy Cruz.

Your favorite heroes in real life: My dad Jose S. Hizon, Jose Rizal.

Your favorite heroines in real life: My mom Leonor M. Hizon, Gabriela Silang.

Your favorite hero in fiction: Captain Barbell.

Your favorite heroine in fiction: Darna.

Your favorite food and drink: Hainese chicken rice and dalandan juice.

Your favorite names: Jose Miguelin Federico Benedicto "Migo."

Your pet aversion: Arrogant people.

What characters in history do you most dislike: Dictators and megalomaniacs.

What is your present state of mind? Contented.

For what fault have you the most tolerance? Ignorance.

Your favorite motto: Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.

– Based on The Marcel Proust Questionnaire