GMA expands reach in North Central Luzon
Broadcast network GMA has expanded its regional reach, particularly in North Central Luzon, with the recent addition of a news hub in Ilocos Norte.
To date, the network has three news hubs spanning this part of the country — GMA Dagupan in Pangasinan and the “twin stations” of Ilocandia, which are GMA Ilocos Sur in Vigan City and the newly-opened Ilocos Norte station in Laoag City.
Located right behind the provincial capitol, GMA Ilocos Norte is the network’s fifth regional station in Luzon and its 12th in the Philippines. The network has three regional stations in Visayas and also four in Mindanao. They’re planning to open another one in the Luzon area soon.
“It’s staying true to our mantra that ‘local news matters.’ With the establishment of our local news hub in Ilocos Norte, we’re able to provide more relevant news and information to our viewers in North Central Luzon,” said Oliver Amoroso, first vice president and head of GMA Regional TV and Synergy, and acting head of GMA Integrated News, in an interview with The STAR.
He further noted that it was the vision of the GMA management, under the “leadership of our chairman and CEO Felipe Gozon, to service more areas for news.”
“Each province or city is diverse, with unique issues and concerns. GMA Integrated News primarily tackles national issues while Regional TV newscasts focus on local concerns. GMA Ilocos Norte complements our news operations in GMA Ilocos Sur and GMA Dagupan, servicing important and key areas in North Central Luzon,” he said.
With the opening of GMA Ilocos Norte, GMA Regional TV News now covers Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Pangasinan, parts of Pampanga, Tarlac, La Union, Benguet including Baguio, Isabela, Cagayan Valley, Nueva Ecija, Olongapo in Zambales, parts of Bataan, and Batanes, he further said.
Audiences can get their fix of news and information from these areas through consolidated news programs airing on local channels. These are Mornings with GMA Regional TV at 8 a.m., and One North Central Luzon every 5:10 p.m. The newscasts use the Ilocano, Tagalog and Pangalatok languages. Meanwhile, a regional TV-produced national news program, GMA Regional TV News, airs on GTV every 10 a.m.
To mark the latest GMA milestone, a mall event was also held at Robinsons Ilocos. It was hosted by Martin Javier of Game On and was graced by TiktoClock hosts Rabiya Mateo and Jayson Gainza, and All Out Sundays performers Hannah Precillas and Garrett Bolden.
Rabiya felt at home in Ilocos Norte because before joining Miss Universe Philippines, she was a frequent visitor to the place, she later told The STAR.
“I traveled a lot to (nearby) Batac before because I used to teach at the review center of Mariano Marcos State University. I taught Physical Therapy graduates, as part of their preparation for the board exams,” said the former beauty queen.
“I do miss it (teaching) and I hope to go back to it in the future. Iba talaga yung magnitude niya. I must say, it gives me a different kind of joy seeing former students passing the board exam,” she said.
“When it comes to showbiz, it’s more of the personal (development). I like seeing my growth in acting and hosting.”
Jayson, on the other hand, had a blast joining a GMA Regional TV event. He will be turning one year as a Kapuso artist in October. He said he got the opportunity to join GMA with the help of fellow comedian Pokwang.
“Masaya ako kasi tinanggap naman nila ako ng buong-buo. Kinabahan lang ako nung una kasi baka yung expectations ng Kapuso ‘di ko mabigay kasi kailangan iba rin sa binigay ko sa Kapamilya (I am happy because they accepted me completely. I was just nervous at first because I might not be able to meet the expectations of the Kapuso because it has to be different from what I did for the Kapamilya),” said Jayson, who’s also part of the cast of Mga Lihim ni Urduja.
“Thankfully, I’m able to do hosting (with GMA) and I realized I can host a noontime show (before Eat Bulaga). I was just surprised that they got me for TiktoClock. Ini-enjoy ko lang para di ako ma-pressure (I’m just enjoying it so I won’t feel the pressure),” he added.
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