- Jiggy Manicad is one of PDP-Laban’s bets to run in the 2019 senatorial race
- The news anchor is an alumnus of University of the Philippines – Los Baños
- He is not the only news anchor who switched to politics
Senate President Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III revealed that the TV reporter Jiggy Manicad is one of the possible names that the ruling PDP-Laban would present in the 2019 senatorial race.
Jiggy Manicad has been a TV reporter for 11 years and part of 24 Oras Weekend on GMA-7 and a News TV Quick Response Team anchor. Before that, he was also once a writer in ABS-CBN’s “Magandang Gabi, Bayan,” but later found himself wanting for more. Thus, he transferred to GMA to become a newscaster where he was given the privilege to have his own show “Reporter’s Notebook.”
Jiggy is an alumnus of UP- Los Baños where he finished a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts. His strong personality and dedication for newscasting, and providing national service at the same time, has led him to receive the “Best News Anchor” and “Best Investigative Program Host” during the Gandingan Awards in 2017.
His hard-work and resilience probably caught the attention of Senator Pimentel and sought him to be as one of the candidates for next year’s senatorial election.
This is not the first-time broadcasters and news anchors entered politics. In fact, they are next in line to becoming potential politicians. Following the celebrities, of course.
One good example is Noli De Castro who became the Philippine Vice President from 2004 to 2010. He is a renowned TV Anchor the election ended up being a landslide. Apparently, he ended up going back to being a TV News Anchor not able to stand the dirty schemes happening in the government.
Mon Ilagan, the famous mayor of Cainta who served his term in 2004-2013, was also a radio broadcaster for 25 years and received an award named Reporter of the Year in 1994.
Senator Chiz Escudero also became a TV and Radio host and broadcaster earlier in his life. May to August 2000, he hosted “Ngayon na Pinoy”, a TV program on RPN-9 and anchored several programs in DZAR 1026 AM and DZMM.
Finally, our favorite weather broadcaster and the one and only Matanglawin – Kim Atienza – also went to politics for twelve years starting 1994 to 2004. He served as councilor of the 5th district of Manila for three terms. He was tempted to run as Mayor of Manila City but declined and pursued his radio and television career.
