Paolo Del Rosario shuttles between two networks
MANILA, Philippines — Working in two networks is indeed a blessing for Paolo Del Rosario, who shuttles duties between Bilyonaryo News Channel (BNC) and Cignal TV. Before, that was not allowed and would be strictly stipulated in your contract that you cannot appear in competing networks. Today, however, the atmosphere is friendly and even welcoming, for more opportunities.
The young commentator and host joined Bilyonaryo News Channel two years ago. “I think I may have been the second anchor to go air on Bilyonaryo in 2024 (Mai Rodriguez was the first one),” he shared. “That was July 20, my birthday, when I went on air. So, the first year of Bilyonaryo, I was part of it already. It was a bit of a birthday gift.”
He remains connected with Cignal TV. “I came to an agreement with Bilyonaryo that I will be part of both networks,” he disclosed. “I do sports for Cignal. Everything else, I can do for Bilyonaryo.
“I still do PBA for Cignal. I did men’s volleyball for them, Asian Games. It’s an unusual situation, but I’m a bit fortunate in terms of being part of networks. I’m so blessed. The agreement between Cignal and Bilyonaryo is good.”
Paolo started with CNN Philippines as a writer, but technically, his very first job was with TV5. Even before he graduated from college, he was a courtside reporter for football.
That was not his initial goal, however. In college at De La Salle University (DLSU), he took a double degree of Communication Arts and Advertising Management. He graduated in 2014.
He also briefly ventured into theater via Michael Williams’ company, Theater Down South, in Alabang. Paolo also got the chance to work with Philippine Opera Company. He acted in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” as Thisbe, one of the lovers in Babylon. “I even had to cross-dress to be able to do that role,” Paolo recalled. “For me, being uncomfortable is really the pathway to growth. It was a challenge I really enjoyed.”
Acting onstage was a “dream” for Paolo, but he was modest about the experience. “I had to be realistic,” he admitted. “If I was good, maybe until now, I’d still be acting. The commitment and discipline in theater are different. I always take my hat off to my theater friends.
“I had to carve my own path, as well. I’m happy with the direction I did take. But that was part of my education… It helped me grow.
“To be honest, I don’t think I worked on the craft enough to be able to justify it,” he admitted. “(But) it will be a privilege to do theater again.”
When he went looking for work, he found an opportunity with TV5. “I even auditioned, but I wasn’t fortunate enough,” he rued. “I tried to carve my own path. My dad worked at TV5 as a broadcaster, apart from being a basketball coach. What happened was when TV5 approached me for football, their other talent needed to leave the country for two months.
“I was next in line in terms of those who auditioned. That’s why they took me in. It took me two months before I moved to CNN Philippines. I was also one of the first hires of CNN. When I applied, they were still Solar (News Channel).
“I initially applied as a writer because I felt I needed to build my own credibility as someone who could do sports news, whom you could listen to which actually matters. That I really had to do the work, learned how to write, learned how to do my job.”
After one year as a writer, Paolo made his transition to on-cam talent, first as reporter and then a year after, pinch-hitting as anchor for Sports news.
In 2018, he moved to Cignal TV. “(Cignal) offered me the opportunity to work in sports, the PBA, which is what I really wanted,” Paolo said. “I did a bit of volleyball, football which is my main sport, and basketball. I did something which I’ve never done before. To be uncomfortable and grow in that way.”
Not surprisingly, Paolo also imagined himself working in films. “It was my goal to die in a movie,” he smilingly said. “I guess that is one of the easier things to do. To be able to die onscreen is my goal.”
He does not see himself as a leading man, though. “Maybe the best friend of the leading man,” he smiled. “If the opportunity comes around, I wouldn’t mind trying, at the very least. But to be fair, I also have the realization. My job now as someone who does the news, someone who holds the credibility, especially in hard news.”
When asked about how he starts his day at work, he said, “Before I go on camera, I try to say a little prayer just to center and remind myself that the job I have, the opportunity I have, it is one in a million.”
“It quiets everything down,” he said. “If I can I touch the ground just to remind myself that I’m still on Earth, before I do the sign of the cross, my meditation and prayer. That’s so important to do before I start my day in everything that I pursue.”
Paolo is very busy the entire week but he feels lucky he has a very patient fiancé, half-Japanese MJ Aoki, with whom he is tying the knot in April 2027. Thankfully, his family also understands his schedule.
His dad, Richard, was a professional basketball player and became basketball coach. “The nice thing about my dad is that he never forced his ambitions on me. He never forced me to play basketball. He became a broadcaster in the PBA and a TV host, as well. But I will not say that he was the reason I entered the industry,” he said.
“In fact, when I applied at Solar, I didn’t tell him. I only said later I already have a new job. He got surprised. I do look up to the way he worked in this industry. Especially when I started out, the thing he always told me, ‘Be nice to everyone around you who’s working. Respecting their life’s worth is the least you can do’.”
His mom is Yvonne Del Rosario. His two siblings are Joshua and Ysabella.
“We have built this culture of understanding within the household that there are important events which we will have to miss and we have certain commitments when it comes to our jobs,” Paolo said.
“I worked on Christmases and my birthdays. I work on weekends. My mom and even my grandma understand somebody with this kind of lifestyle and this kind of work.
“The fact that my dad was able to raise me well when he was 19 years old. I was not a planned baby, for sure. I’m sure he wasn’t mature then yet. It was always a struggle to keep us going as a family unit. The ability to hold everything down and try everything to make it work, that inspired me the most to make dad as my role model. That gave me a better sense of responsibility and accountability in the things that I do.”
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