Carrying the interactive look and feel that “Bandila” is known for, the microsite aims to translate the “Bandila” TV experience to an online experience with streaming of the latest newscast and posts on the night’s biggest news, including the amazing and inspiring stories from segments Patok! and Astig!

It will also serve as a portal for “Bandila” viewers, with a display of the latest posts and feeds from the official accounts of “Bandila” on Facebook and Twitter, as well as all Bandila-related posts bearing the hashtag #bandila.

“Bandila” executive producer Paul Henson said what makes the microsite even more special is that it will enable the public to get to know more about and learn more from Ces, Julius, Karen, three of the Top 5 most followed Filipino media practitioners on Twitter.

He said the site will show the public the other sides of the three anchors, who are all working journalists that actively pursue, write, and produce their stories.

“Each of them will have a webpage on the site, where they can post videos and photos from their reports for ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs programs. People can also find here articles on the anchors and also those written by them as working journalists,” he said.

To initiate more interaction, the anchors will also post a question in the site for people to answer or comment on. The best entries will be carried on the microsite.

Find out the biggest news in the nation and join the online discussions with Ces Oreña-Drilon, Julius Babao, and Karen Davila at http://bandila.abs-cbnnews.com. Catch ABS-CBN’s award winning late night newscast “Bandila” from Monday to Friday, after “SNN” on ABS-CBN.

Ces, Julius, & Karen Launch ‘Bandila’ Microsite originally appeared on Starmometer on April 25, 2011.

ABS-CBN’s multi-awarded news program “Bandila” won Best Newscast while anchor Ces Oreña Drilon took home the prestigious Ka Doroy Valencia Broadcaster of the Year trophy at the 19th KBP Golden Dove Awards last Thursday (Nov 25) in Tagaytay City.

“Bandila” and Drilon’s triumphs followed the successful debut of the program’s new format last November 22. With more and more viewers getting hooked to its fast-paced and interactive format, the new “Bandila” is all set to change the landscape of late night newscasts.

Headlined by the triumvirate of acclaimed journalists Drilon, Julius Babao, and Karen Davila, the new “Bandila” not only offers comprehensive reports on the day’s biggest news but also allows viewers to immediately react on news reports.

Drilon, Babao, and Davila can be seen during the newscast using their own tablet and laptop computers to read comments that viewers send in through social networking and micro-blogging sites.

“Bandila” executive producer Paul Henson said this is ABS-CBN’s way to empower Filipinos to take part in issues that matter to them. Henson added, just like the award-winning “Bayan Mo, iPatrol Mo: Ako ang Simula” citizen journalism campaign, “Bandila” is a platform where ordinary citizens can be heard.

The four-year old newscast is currently enjoying positive reviews online, with posters commending its “revolutionary,” “hip and informative” concept, as well as its powerhouse combination of anchors.

Twitter user Jun Robles twitted last November 25 “I had a venti of Starbucks coffee last nyt to keep myself awake for Bandila. I wasnt disappointed. Ur format is revolutionary!”

Itsmemyk, meanwhile, likened “Bandila” to another ABS-CBN program with cult following. He posted last November 24, “@juLiusbabao @cesdrilon @Karen_DaviLa Bandila is the “Showtime” of late night TV! dahil lahat nakaabang! It’s the latest fad, habit, hobby.”

Even Filipinos abroad are getting into the Bandila “fever.” Twitter user joven2181 said “Bandila is the breakfast of Vancouver. I like u expressing your opinions about each news. the best trio tandem in newscast kayo.”

Viewers also raved about the rapport of the three anchors. All experienced and award-winning, each of them gets to contribute some analysis and backgrounders on the issues from time to time.

With its exciting new format and the energy and wisdom brought in by Drilon, Babao, and Davila, “Bandila” has veered away from the traditional late night newscast template that late night viewers have outgrown.

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs went home victorious from the KBP Golden Dove Awards. Henry Omaga Diaz was honored as Best TV Newscaster, Rated K was named Best magazine Program, Sports Unlimited was awarded Best TV Sports Program, Harapan Vice Presidential Debate was judged Best Special Program and Salamat Dok was hailed Best TV Public Affairs Program.

Take part in the newscast by sending your comments and reactions to the official Facebook and Twitter pages of “Bandila” and official accounts of the three anchors. Catch “Bandila” with Ces Oreña Drilon, Julius Babao, and Karen Davila after “SNN” from Monday to Friday on ABS-CBN.

Ces Drilon, Julius Babao and Karen Davila Keep Viewers Up with Interactive ‘Bandila’ originally appeared on Starmometer on November 26, 2010.

Babao and Davila’s addition to the program also marks the dawn of a new and more interactive “Bandila,” wherein viewers are given a chance to air their reactions to every news item.

Through the official pages of “Bandila” on Facebook and Twitter, and the three anchors’ personal accounts, people may send in their comments while the newscast is going on. After each report, Drilon, Babao, and Davila will read some of the entries live on air.

“Bandila” executive producer Paul Henson said this is another way to empower Filipinos, aside from encouraging them to report to the award-winning “Bayan Mo, iPatrol Mo: Ako ang Simula” citizen journalism campaign.

“We want our viewers to have a platform where they can immediately express themselves, where they feel empowered to take part not just in the discussion but in finding solutions to the issue at hand,” he said.

Known as “working journalists,” Drilon, Babao, and Davila have established their credibility in the industry with news reports and stories they themselves have pursued, written, and produced.

Drilon has long juggled anchoring and reporting duties from her stint in “The World Tonight” in the early nineties up to the present day as one of the original anchors of “Bandila.” People turned to her for information in critical news events such as the Manila Peninsula Siege in 2007, where she was among the few journalists whose lives were put in danger.

Drilon is also the anchor of current affairs gems like “Pipol,” “The Correspondents,” and “I Survived.”

Like Ces, Davila is a former anchor of “The Correspondents,” the news documentary program that has won her awards from UNICEF Child Rights Awards (2005), Asian TV Awards (2006), and New York TV and Film Festivals (2004 and 2007). Davila was also named Broadcast Journalist of the Year by the Rotary Club of Manila in 2004 and one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men in 2008.

Davila also won Best Female TV Newscaster in the recent 2010 PMPC Star Awards, while Babao took home the trophy in the male category for the third straight year. Babao also anchors a radio program in DZMM and the investigative program “XXX,” where he personally joins authorities in surveillance and raids to show his commitment to the resolution of the problems raised to them.

“Bandila” itself has gained numerous recognitions and/or nominations from award-giving bodies like Golden Dove Awards, Star Awards, Asian TV Awards, and the International Emmys.

With decades of experience and a bundle of awards among them, Drilon, Babao, and Davila are expected to bring depth and savvy to “Bandila” and also increase viewer participation through their use of social media within the program.

Be part of history as it unfolds. Join Ces Oreña Drilon, Julius Babao, and Karen Davila from Monday to Friday, after “SNN” on “Bandila.” Take part in the newscast by sending your comments and reactions to the official Facebook and Twitter pages of “Bandila” and official accounts of the three anchors.

Ces Oreña-Drilon, Julius Babao and Karen Davila to Raise All-New ‘Bandila’ originally appeared on Starmometer on November 20, 2010.

ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs Division announced that the use of augmented reality and touch screens, which it used in its “Halalan 2010” election coverage last May, will now be part of its nightly newscasts to help make news stories more understandable to viewers.

The country’s number one newscast “TV Patrol,” which now returns to its original title, will continue to break important news and begin producing investigative reports, in-depth political analyses by Lynda Jumilla, and sports news.

Broadcast journalists Ted Failon, Karen Davila, and Julius Babao will anchor the newscast on weeknights, while Bernadette Sembrano and Alex Santos will take over on weekends.

One of the changes introduced in “TV Patrol” is the “Bayan Mo, i-Patrol Mo” segment, wherein citizens will now be involved in finding solutions to the problems in their own communities with reporter Sol Aragones.

Through the years, “TV Patrol” has been actively bridging those in need with those who are willing to help through its public service segment that will now be called “Lingkod Kapamilya.” It will also soon set up a public service center.

On the other hand, the late night newscast “Bandila” anchored by Henry Omaga Diaz and Ces Orena Drilon will have more in-depth political stories and analysis by Lynda Jumilla and weekly consumer reports by Alvin Elchico.

ABS-CBN remains to be the most credible broadcast news organization in the country with multimedia platforms reaching more Filipinos worldwide and a wide pool of multimedia journalists who report on TV, write for abs-cbnnews.com, and engages with the people using their social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook.

Tune in to the new “TV Patrol” and “Bandila” beginning Wednesday (June 30) on ABS-CBN.

Newscasts Meet New Technology in ‘TV Patrol’ and ‘Bandila’ originally appeared on Starmometer on June 28, 2010.

Here is the list of nominations received by ABS-CBN:

Best News Programme:
Bandila – “EDSA Shootout”

Other nominees:

CNN Today – CNN International (Hong Kong)
Al Jazeera KL Newshour: Bangkok Protests – Al Jazeera English (Malaysia)
Election Counting Day Coverage – IBN 18 Broadcast Limited (India)
Al Jazeera KL Newshour: Myanmar – One Year On – Al Jazeera English (Malaysia)

Best Current Affairs Programme:
I Survived

Other nominees:

Poisoning the Poor, Electric Waste in Ghana (Korea)
Drugs Business Inside Prison Cell (Indonesia)
Sunday Report: “Sichuan Earthquake One Year On- The Unspeakable Truth” (Hong Kong)
Man Made Marvels: Sydney Opera House (Singapore)
PD Notebook: “Barricaded Plaza, Human Rights in Custody” (Korea)

Best Game or Quiz Programme:
Pilipinas Game Ka Na Ba?

Run for Money (Japan)
Yok Siam (Thailand)
Super Kid Game (Thailand)
Hole in the Wall-Season 1, Episode 1 (Hong Kong)
Lharn Phoo Koo E-Joo (Thailand)
Classroom Genius (Thailand)

The Asian Television Awards (ATA) is the Asian television industry’s most significant and celebrated event, recognising excellence in programming, production and performance across the Asia Pacific region. The 14th Asian Television Awards is happening on December 3, 2009 at the Pan Pacific, Singapore.

ABS-CBN Receives 3 Nominations at the 14th Asian TV Awards originally appeared on Starmometer on November 14, 2009.

Last week, Korina made a special report about the actual contents of various Gluthathione products and was aired via The World Tonight, ANC (ABS-CBN News Channel), Bandila and TV Patrol. With the help of PIPAC and Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD), the report exposed the real contents of L-gluthathione, the active ingredient of these whitening pills. About ten products were tested and only one is telling the truth. That instead of 500 mg. of L-Gluthathione, the report exposed that most of them actually contain less than 10% of what these products claim on their labels.

Korina emphasized that two products, namely Vaniderm and Lucida DS, have only 5.4 mg. and 4.4 mg. content of gluthathione respectively.

Lucida DS is being endorsed by Gabby Concepcion and Sen. Loren Legarda while Vaniderm, on the other hand, is being endorsed by Toni Gonzaga and Maui Taylor.

Ms. Galindez, the senior vice-president of United Shelter Health Products and distributor of Lucida DS in the Philippines, said that they plan to file a libel case against the ABS-CBN journalist this week.

The case will be filed in various places like Ilo-ilo, GenSan, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Iligan, Koronadal, Zamboanga and even in the US, Malaysia and Dubai where the product are also distributed.

Korina Sanchez to be Sued by Lucida DS Gluthathione for Libel originally appeared on Starmometer on May 26, 2008.