From February 21 to 25, the country’s first 24/7 all-news channel will air special episodes of “Talkback with Tina Palma” “Strictly Politics”, and New York Festival finalist “Storyline” on the different faces of EDSA, and will culminate with the live coverage of the 25th anniversary celebration on February 25.

ANC will also bring together the known faces and unsung heroes of People Power in the forum “ANC Presents: EDSA 1986,” to be anchored by Cheche Lazaro live from the ABS-CBN studios at 6:30pm.

Cheche Lazaro will lead the panel that will retrace the events leading to the People Power with memorabilia, photos, and footage, and analyse where the Philippines stands now since the restoration of democracy.

Well-regarded for its round-the-clock news and world-class coverage and features, ANC has become a byword among the movers and shakers in society, who have turned to the channel for both news and analysis on local and international issues.

“ABS-CBN took a big risk 15 years ago by launching a cable news channel when television was focused on churning entertainment programs. And with the passion and brilliance of ANC’s journalists, it developed to become a chronicler of Philippine history, in the same way CNN is to the US or BBC is to the UK. Like the pioneer that it has always been, ANC will continue to stand for excellent journalism and continue being a frontrunner among local news channels,” said ANC Managing Director and ABS-CBN Head for News and Current Affairs, Ging Reyes.

Since 21 May 1996, ANC has not only been home to the country’s top broadcast journalists, which included broadcasting greats like Tina Monzon-Palma, Angelo Castro Junior, Cheche Lazaro, and the late Frank Evangelista, but also a bastion of journalistic integrity and excellence that spans four Philippine presidents.

The very first channel fully dedicated to news and current affairs, ANC has been the main source of unbridled news coverage of Filipinos all over the world. Viewers are given a front row seat in the most important hearings and events, and have access to breaking news whatever time of the day.

ANC is also one of the pioneers of citizen journalism in the country by incorporating the use of social media in its programs. In fact, ANC is one of the country’s most followed news organizations on Twitter and Facebook. The channel also figured heavily in preparing voters for the 2010 election by organizing presidential leadership forums and a series of debates.

ANC will also bring back its highly-regarded short film project amBisyon with “Kinse,” 15 short films about human rights and hope directed by the likes of Carlitos Siguion-Reyna, Erik Matti, and Raymond Red. “Kinse” will have a theatrical premiere this April and will air on ANC all month of May.

Viewers and political observers should also watch out for “ANC Presents: The Nation Up Close,” a special one-hour weekly talk show (Thursdays 7PM) that offers an incisive assessment of the hottest national issues.

Another highlight of ANC’s 15th year anniversary is the return of its former business and stock market news anchor Coco Alcuaz, who most recently served as the Manila Bureau Chief of international cable news channel Bloomberg. Alcuaz now heads ANC’s Business News.

Stay tuned to the year-long 15th anniversary celebration of the 2010 Rotary Club of Manila Journalism Awards TV News Station of the Year, ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel on SkyCable channel 27.

ANC Opens 15th Year Celebration with EDSA Anniversary Special originally appeared on Starmometer on February 18, 2011.

His name is Bebot Momay, journalist number 32 and victim number 58. His daughter Reynafe was the first civilian on the massacre site carved into the hillside of Ampatuan town. They found his jacket, identified his dentures, and followed his trail from Isulan to Buluan. But his body has not been found since he disappeared on November 23 last year.

On the third installment of its “Truths” documentary series, ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel delivers a haunting piece on Reynafe’s search for her father this Monday (Nov 22) at 6pm.

The documentary, entitled “58,” gives a poignant view of the massacre one year after, how Toto Mangudadatu has not stepped on the grave site since the day he was told his wife’s body had been found raped and brutalized, and why Bebe Decena leaves lit Marlboro Reds on the grave of his son Bogs, “so he can still smoke.” It also tells the story of Jude Reblando, who carried his father’s broken body down the hill to his mother.

They talk about the demon-kings of Maguindanao, and their armies. They talk about waiting. They talk about their dead. “58″ is about the victims, the dead and the living, the families that now stand before 57 graves marked November 23, 2009.

Directed by filmmaker Kiri Dalena, written by Storyline’s Patricia Evangelista, and with cinematography by acclaimed photojournalist Luis Liwanag, “58” was produced in partnership with USAID, The Asia Foundation and the Embassy of Canada, with video shot exclusively with Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

The night after the airing of “58,” ANC then presents “Crying for Justice – The Maguindanao Massacre Media Forum,” anchored by veteran broadcast journalist Cheche Lazaro. Find out when the victims will get justice, what the government is doing wrong and right, and what can be done in the future to prevent people killing with impunity from guest panelists and resource persons on Tuesday (Nov 23), at 6pm.

Catch the premiere of “58” on ANC SkyCable channel 27 on Monday (Nov 22), 6pm with replays at 10:30pm on the same day, and on November 23 at 7am, November 27 at 2pm, and November 28 at 9:30am. Don’t miss “Crying for Justice – The Maguindanao Massacre Media Forum” on Tuesday (Nov 23) at 6pm with replay at 10:30pm on the same day, and on November 24 at 3am and 1pm, November 27 at 9pm, and November 28 at 5am, also on ANC.

Family of slain Manila Bulletin journalist Bong Reblando:

Director Kiri Dalena in Maguindanao:

Editha Tiamzon, wife of slain UNTV driver Daniel Tiamzon before court hearing on the Maguindanao Massacre:

ANC Documentary ’58′ Follows Search for Missing Maguindanao Massacre Victim originally appeared on Starmometer on November 21, 2010.

Probe is going full circle by celebrating its remarkable run, which began during the presidency of Corazon Aquino, with a two-part series on June 23 and June 30 on ABS-CBN about the ascent to presidency of the late Aquino’s son, President-elect Benigno Aquino III.

Join Cheche Lazaro on “Probe Profiles” this Wednesday (June 23) as she features life in the Malacañang Palace with a series of interviews with presidential offsprings Nini Quezon, Ilocos Norte Governor-elect Imee Marcos, and former Sen. Jun Magsaysay, former presidents Joseph Estrada and Fidel V. Ramos, and even Palace employees and servants who will bare the secrets of Malacañang.

On June 30, Lazaro will zero in on Sen. Noynoy Aquino’s march to presidency beginning with the grueling 2010 election campaign to his inauguration. Get the inside story behind the issues in his candidacy and the transition to his administration straight from his campaign manager and future budget secretary Butch Abad, incoming presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, and the Aquino sisters.

Under the leadership of its main anchor and chief driving force Lazaro, Probe continuously raised the standard in news and public affairs programming by combining intensive and courageous reports with outstanding storytelling and production values.

In its 24 years on air, from its days as “Probe” to “The Probe Team,” “The Probe Team Documentaries, to “Probe” again on ABS-CBN and finally “Probe Profiles,” it was never afraid to question the government with pointed features on its officials and projects. It never backed down from calamities with extensive coverage of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption, the 1990 earthquake, and the infamous maritime disasters.

It dared to dip into controversial topics like the Maria Theresa Carlson Case, the Fertilizer scam, and the unpaid GSIS benefits of teachers and government employees. It tackled sensitive topics such as insurgency, poverty, corruption, and police brutality without resorting to sensationalism or pressure from the commercial requirements of mounting a television show.

It also unearthed inspiring stories and explosive revelations in its feature stories about the country’s leaders and celebrities.

Probe also displayed its integrity and independence, never straying from its core values despite changing formats, program titles, and TV networks. Facing a threat of censorship in relation to a story it did on the lifestyle of former PAGCOR chairman Efraim Genuino in 2003, Probe bolted out another network, and eventually returned to the station where it started, ABS-CBN.

And now, 24 years after being founded by a group of broadcast journalists which included Lazaro and current ABS-CBN Head of News and Current Affairs Maria Ressa, Probe is now a byword for excellent journalism, while Lazaro is an icon of credibility in Philippine broadcasting, a pillar that symbolizes both professionalism and integrity in media.

Probe consistently garnered critical acclaim here and abroad, with over 40 trophies from award-giving bodies including Golden Dove Awards, Star Awards, and the New York Festivals immortalizing the brilliance and hard work of the team behind it.

It already changed the face of news and public affairs programming in the Philippines. It served as training ground to some of the country’s top journalists such as Karen Davila, Bernadette Sembrano, Pinky Webb, Twink Macaraig, David Celdran, Tony Velasquez, and a dozen more working on and off cam in local networks and international media organizations like CNN, Reuters, and Al-Jazeera.

It already taught Filipinos how to embrace their freedom by exercising their right to know and their responsibility as citizens to act.

Despite the exit of “Probe Profiles,” Lazaro said Probe Productions Inc. will continue churning up brave and quality projects and might return to television, while she will still be seen as anchor of “Media in Focus” on ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel.

Lazaro said, for as long as Filipinos look at the nation with probing eyes and minds, the Probe legacy lives on.

Don’t miss the last two episodes of “Probe Profiles,” Wednesdays, after “Bandila” on ABS-CBN. View previous episodes of “Probe Profiles” at www.probetv.com.

Che Che Lazaro Focuses on Aquino’s March to Presidency on the Last 2 Episodes of ‘Probe Profiles’ originally appeared on Starmometer on June 22, 2010.

This will mark the first time on Philippine TV history that a secretary of state will be holding a televised public forum.

ABS-CBN senior vice president for news and current affairs Maria Ressa and anchors Ricky Carandang and Pinky Webb will moderate the forum.

Tony Velasquez and Ces Drilon will be stationed in live points at Siliman University in Dumaguete and Ateneo de Zamboanga in Zamboanga City, where students will have the chance to ask Clinton questions on national and global issues.

Ted Failon and Cheche Lazaro, on the other hand, will anchor the coverage for ABS-CBN and ANC, respectively, from the ABS-CBN studios.

Take part in the forum. Send in your questions at www.abs-cbn.com/ancliveevents, http://botomoipatrolmo.multiply.com, www.facebook.com/abscbnnews, www.facebook.com/botomo, or www.twitter.com, just search ANCCLINTON.

Watch “Hillary Clinton: The Manila Forum An ABS-CBN Exclusive” tomorrow, Friday (Nov 13), live on ANC (SKYCABLE ch. 27) at 8am and on ABS-CBN channel 2 at 9am.

ABS-CBN Airs Forum with Hillary Clinton originally appeared on Starmometer on November 12, 2009.

Politics’ smooth-talking senator, Francis “Chiz” Escudero is determined to become the youngest elected Philippine president. This Wednesday (Oct 28) on “Probe Profiles,” Cheche Lazaro gets to know the 40-year-old senator who promises a fresh approach to politics and governance.

In the third installment of the program’s series “Kilala Mo Ba Talaga Sila?” Lazaro takes a keen look at Chiz’s life as the son of the agriculture minister of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Now the father of two-year-old twins and Sorsogon City, which he founded, the senator bares his plans to assume the most difficult role of fathering the nation come 2010.

Saying he has yet to meet a person “who entered politics as an angel and ended up as a saint,” Chiz talks about the seeds of idealism that he wants to sow once he reaches Malacañang. Testing his claims, Lazaro leafs through his performance in Congress and grills him about his controversial political affiliations.

For a behind-the-scenes look, visit http://probeprofiles.multiply.com. Watch Chiz answer the hottest questions on “Probe Profiles” on Wednesday, October 28, after “Bandila” on ABS-CBN. “Probe Profiles” is replayed Fridays at 3 a.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. on the ABS-CBN News Channel. The episodes may also be viewed for free on Probe’s official website, http://www.probetv.com.

Chiz Escudero Takes the Hot Seat on ‘PROBE PROFILES’ originally appeared on Starmometer on October 27, 2009.

ABS-CBN’s weekly feature of personalities in the news, “Probe Profiles” shifts it focus on the possible choices for the post to be vacated by President Arroyo on June 30, 2010.

The special series, which starts Wednesday (Oct 14), examines the background and qualifications of the men and women who have expressed intentions to run for president next year. More than a litany of personal ID details, the series titled ‘Kilala Mo Ba Talaga Sila?’ tackles their brand of leadership by probing into their public and private lives.

For the first installment of the series, Cheche Lazaro faces presidential frontrunner and biggest spender Senator Manuel “Manny” Villar. A businessman with a rags-to-riches story, Villar explains how his management background—along with “sipag at tiyaga”—can drive his blueprint for the country’s growth.

‘Probe Profiles’ follows the senator as he touches base with the public while Lazaro also sits down with a staunch critic of Villar, who gives a different perspective of the senator’s brand of leadership and performance in the legislature.

Understand why Villar’s business should be everybody’s business on “Probe Profiles” on Wednesday, (Oct 14), after “Bandila” on ABS-CBN. “Probe Profiles” is replayed Fridays at 3 a.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. on the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC SKYCABLE 27). The episodes may also be viewed for free on Probe’s official website, http://www.probetv.com. For a behind-the-scenes look, visit http://probeprofiles.multiply.com.

Presidential Wannabes to be Probed on ‘Profiles’ originally appeared on Starmometer on October 13, 2009.