Balitanghali anchors Raffy Tima and Connie Sison continue to bring mid-day news to Filipinos here and abroad as the two award-winning seasoned journalists renewed their ties with GMA Integrated News on February 9.
Present during the contract signing were First Vice President and Head of GMA Regional TV and Synergy, and Acting Head of GMA Integrated News Oliver Victor B. Amoroso and GMA Integrated News Vice President and Deputy Head for News Programs and Specials Michelle Seva.
As news anchors of GTV’s award-winning midday newscast Balitanghali, Raffy and Connie are beyond grateful to begin 2023 as proud Kapuso. The newscast celebrated its 17th year on air last November.
“I feel honored that GMA has once again entrusted me with the great responsibility of co-anchoring Balitanghali,” said Raffy, who is a pioneer news anchor of the newscast.
“I am so grateful to our Lord for blessing me with Balitanghali. I am happy that GMA Integrated News continues to trust me to deliver GTV’s noontime newscast alongside Raffy all throughout these years. It gives me tremendous honor to continue to be a part of such a dynamic team,” added Connie.
Amoroso underscored Raffy and Connie’s work in Balitanghali.
“We are grateful for the hard work and dedication of Raffy and Connie. Throughout the years, Balitanghali has successfully created a niche for alternative noontime offerings and its content and delivery of news items continue to set it apart from other shows. It is a testament to GMA’s commitment to enrich the lives of Filipinos everywhere with the responsible delivery of news and information, further cementing GMA Integrated News as the ‘News Authority of the Filipino.’ We are more than proud that we have Raffy and Connie anchor Balitanghali,” he said.
A recipient of the “Best News Anchor” award at the 2022 UP Community Broadcasters’ Society’s Gandingan Awards, Raffy has done coverages here and abroad, with some of his stories reaping honors from prestigious award-giving bodies. He is also known for his expertise in drone journalism – using drones and 360 cameras in reporting news and producing documentaries. His story “Inside Marawi: A Report on 360 Video” earned him a Silver Award in the Craft/Production Techniques: 360 Video category at the 2018 U.S. International Film & Video Festival (USIVF). Together with Marisol Abdurahman, Raffy’s “Combat Camera Team” story for Brigada won a bronze medal at the 2018 New York Festivals Television and Film Awards for the Current Affairs category and a Certificate of Creative Excellence at the USIVF. A two-time Best Male Newscaster awardee at the PMPC Star Awards for Television, Raffy was also one of the speakers at the GMA Masterclass Series held in March last year.
As one of GMA Network’s senior news anchors and public affairs hosts, Connie is the very first recipient of the Department of Science and Technology’s Bantog Award for Media Practitioner in Television for Pinoy MD. In 2018, she represented the Philippines at the Monte-Carlo TV Festival in Monaco for her outstanding coverage of the Resorts World Attack for Unang Hirit in June 2017. Together with her Unang Hirit co-hosts, Connie won the Best Morning Show Host at this year’s PMPC Star Awards for Television.
Also in attendance in the anchors’ contract signing were GMA Integrated News Consultant Grace dela Peña Reyes, GMA Corporate Communications Assistant Vice President Jojo Aquio, Balitanghali Senior Program Manager Ahd Marco-Bautista, and the program’s Executive Producer Ralph Baudin.
With the strengthened synergy of GMA Integrated News, Balitanghali provides more live reports from various areas in the Philippines. Breaking news and developing stories are updated within the newscast.
Aside from the day’s news items, viewers are also treated to feel-good features, as well as diverse entertainment and lifestyle stories. Further, Balitanghali is a fully signed-interpreted program.
Catch Raffy and Connie in Balitanghali, weekdays at 11 a.m. on GTV with simulcast airing on digital channels I Heart Movies, Heart of Asia and Pinoy Hits. Kapuso abroad can watch the newscast on the Network’s international channel, GMA News TV.
For more information about GMA Network, visit www.gmanetwork.com.
