ABS-CBN brings Angelo closer to home

The hostage situation that took place between Iraqi terrorists and OFW Angelo dela Cruz put the country in dire straits, as everyone held their breath until the final decision. Fortunately, ABS-CBN’s extensive news coverage of the hostage situation provided complete, up-to-date news from the start of this tumultuous event when ABS-CBN launched the vigil Kandila at Panalangin, until his recent homecoming.

Highlight of this coverage was in a nondescript room at the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad. Angelo finally saw his wife and family and spoke with them in an emotional, powerful virtual reunion. The images of his family and their voices were brought to Angelo from a hotel room in Clark Field in Angeles, Pampanga. Filipinos here at home wept as the Dela Cruz family reunion was brought to them via TV on Channel 2 and Studio 23, on cable through ANC (ABS-CBN News Channel), on radio through DZMM and on the web through ABS-CBN Interactive. Broadcast through TFC (The Filipino Channel), Angelo had a tearful reunion with his father, children and wife Arsenia from Amman in Jordan.

The success of the Angelo dela Cruz news coverage lies in its extensive preparation and operations. ABS-CBN news teams composed of Danny Buenafe, ABS-CBN Middle East bureau chief, senior correspondent Henry Omaga-Diaz, correspondent Jay Ruiz, and senior cameramen Benrus Pascual, Val Cuenca, and Rolly Marcelo kept us informed of every twist and turn from their stations in Baghdad and Amman, Jordan. ABS-CBN Global in the Middle East, which was headed by Raffy Hizon, pulled out all stops to facilitate the teams’ Middle East shuffle, from logistics to diplomatic assistance. Meanwhile, ABS-CBN stringer Maxxy Santiago broadcast the latest from Kuwait.

ABS-CBN news platforms also supplied news updates from live points in Malacañang Palace, Dept. of Foreign Affairs, Plaza Miranda, Mendiola, Welcome Rotonda, and other places around the Philippines. ABS-CBN senior correspondent Doris Bigornia and correspondent Maan Macapagal stayed with the Dela Cruz family throughout their ordeal.

The Filipino Channel also contributed a lot to the coverage of this hostage drama. TFC Baghdad played a big role by giving diplomatic assistance, financial support, logistics, and lodging for the people in the Middle East. In fact, the entire coverage broadcast by TFC was the source of information from the Philippines for Middle Eastern countries, so much so that it affected diplomatic negotiations between the Philippine government and the holders of Dela Cruz.