PUBLISHING DATE: JULY 2015
(Cover Story - Original Submission)
NATIONAL ICON, INTERNATIONAL STAGE
Freshly brewed coffee and BBC News for breakfast. For millions of Asian viewers, it’s a daily ritual as wonted as that cup of joe, delivered by a face many feel acquainted with. Rico Hizon, the only Filipino (and Southeast Asian) broadcast journalist in BBC News, breaks the fast with his shows Asia Business Report and Newsday. And it’s not just for Asian consumption. His face is seen on more than 300 million households worldwide. That alone makes him a cause for pride, but it’s his passion to raise the Philippine flag wherever he goes that names him a national icon.
Even as a child, Hizon was a fan of watching the news. The daily routine with his mother ripened into a fascination for the art. “I got into public speaking in school. Communication is my passion,” he shares. The Communication Arts and Business graduate from De La Salle University worked from the ground up, starting as a production assistant with GMA News and Public Affairs. “I started as a gofer. I made coffee, bought food, wrote and printed scripts, edited video reports. I worked hard and I learned a lot,” he muses. Eventually, Atty. Dong Puno, his mentor, invited him to co-anchor a morning business program Business Today with Vicky Morales. This was in 1990.
Finding his niche in business, an opportunity presented itself in 1995 when CNBC Business News, then based in Hong Kong, sought for an Asian anchor. “They we’re looking for someone who the viewers can relate to. Someone with a neutral accent. I asked, ‘are you sure you’re talking to me?’” he quips. It is this unpretentious, go-getting attitude that has catapulted Hizon to the world’s stage. He was the main anchor of CNBC Today, Squawk Box, Market Watch, and Power Lunch and was also the only Filipino and South East Asian anchor of the network. It was in 2002 when he joined BBC News based in Singapore. “Everyday is a fulfillment of a dream. I represent the Philippines wherever I go and I tell everyone I meet that I’m Filipino,” he shares.
Keeping with the standards of BBC and his stance on journalism, Hizon explains the amount of preparation that goes into every news bit and interview, remaining unbiased and eliciting the information needed to deliver quality news. This groomed him to interview personalities from the financial and political world. He’s sat with the likes of US President Bill Clinton and Microsoft’s Bill Gates. An avid sports and entertainment fan, he’s come face-to-face with World Boxing Champion Manny Pacquiao, NBA Superstars Lebron James and Kobe Bryant, and K-Pop phenomenon PSY to name just a few. He’s been all over the world moderating and hosting top global events such as the UN Conference on Economic and Social Change in New York.
With the international spotlight a normalcy in Hizon’s career, he furthers the country’s face by exemplifying what a first-rate Filipino is. Well respected in his industry and lauded by his colleagues, the multi-awarded broadcast journalist adds another accolade under his belt when he was recently given the Highly Commended Award in the Best News Anchor category at the 2014 Asian Television Awards.
But more than Hizon’s accomplishments, it’s his grounded nature that merits attention. When asked what assignments made the most impact in his 25 years as a journalist, it wasn’t the interviews with world leaders that he remembers but the BBC News coverage he did on Typhoon Haiyan in Tacloban. Even his penchant for collecting Filipino art was brought by an assignment to cover now renowned artist Benedicto Cabrera (Bencab) early in his career. His devotion to promote the local scene has been blazing since. The Philippines will always be home, and it shows. Living in Singapore with wife Melanie and son Migo, Hizon and his family are active in the Filipino community. “When the Philippine Embassy asks me [to host or do anything for them], I’ll do it. Like when I hosted the Philippine Independence Day. There are 180,000 Filipinos in Singapore. I tell them to be positive, to be proud of who they are. We come from different industries. We should be proud. We are of service to our country,” he says.
“Some say I’m like the Manny Pacquaio or the Leah Salonga of news,” he quips. In his typical unassuming demeanor, he laughs and shakes his head as if disapprovingly. But that’s what he is exactly. Ambassador is indeed a fitting title for Hizon.
Image from https://www.behance.net/gallery/28903977/Dasmarinas-Village-Gazette-July-2015
Freshly brewed coffee and BBC News for breakfast. For millions of Asian viewers, it’s a daily ritual as wonted as that cup of joe, delivered by a face many feel acquainted with. Rico Hizon, the only Filipino (and Southeast Asian) broadcast journalist in BBC News, breaks the fast with his shows Asia Business Report and Newsday. And it’s not just for Asian consumption. His face is seen on more than 300 million households worldwide. That alone makes him a cause for pride, but it’s his passion to raise the Philippine flag wherever he goes that names him a national icon.
Even as a child, Hizon was a fan of watching the news. The daily routine with his mother ripened into a fascination for the art. “I got into public speaking in school. Communication is my passion,” he shares. The Communication Arts and Business graduate from De La Salle University worked from the ground up, starting as a production assistant with GMA News and Public Affairs. “I started as a gofer. I made coffee, bought food, wrote and printed scripts, edited video reports. I worked hard and I learned a lot,” he muses. Eventually, Atty. Dong Puno, his mentor, invited him to co-anchor a morning business program Business Today with Vicky Morales. This was in 1990.
Finding his niche in business, an opportunity presented itself in 1995 when CNBC Business News, then based in Hong Kong, sought for an Asian anchor. “They we’re looking for someone who the viewers can relate to. Someone with a neutral accent. I asked, ‘are you sure you’re talking to me?’” he quips. It is this unpretentious, go-getting attitude that has catapulted Hizon to the world’s stage. He was the main anchor of CNBC Today, Squawk Box, Market Watch, and Power Lunch and was also the only Filipino and South East Asian anchor of the network. It was in 2002 when he joined BBC News based in Singapore. “Everyday is a fulfillment of a dream. I represent the Philippines wherever I go and I tell everyone I meet that I’m Filipino,” he shares.
Keeping with the standards of BBC and his stance on journalism, Hizon explains the amount of preparation that goes into every news bit and interview, remaining unbiased and eliciting the information needed to deliver quality news. This groomed him to interview personalities from the financial and political world. He’s sat with the likes of US President Bill Clinton and Microsoft’s Bill Gates. An avid sports and entertainment fan, he’s come face-to-face with World Boxing Champion Manny Pacquiao, NBA Superstars Lebron James and Kobe Bryant, and K-Pop phenomenon PSY to name just a few. He’s been all over the world moderating and hosting top global events such as the UN Conference on Economic and Social Change in New York.
With the international spotlight a normalcy in Hizon’s career, he furthers the country’s face by exemplifying what a first-rate Filipino is. Well respected in his industry and lauded by his colleagues, the multi-awarded broadcast journalist adds another accolade under his belt when he was recently given the Highly Commended Award in the Best News Anchor category at the 2014 Asian Television Awards.
But more than Hizon’s accomplishments, it’s his grounded nature that merits attention. When asked what assignments made the most impact in his 25 years as a journalist, it wasn’t the interviews with world leaders that he remembers but the BBC News coverage he did on Typhoon Haiyan in Tacloban. Even his penchant for collecting Filipino art was brought by an assignment to cover now renowned artist Benedicto Cabrera (Bencab) early in his career. His devotion to promote the local scene has been blazing since. The Philippines will always be home, and it shows. Living in Singapore with wife Melanie and son Migo, Hizon and his family are active in the Filipino community. “When the Philippine Embassy asks me [to host or do anything for them], I’ll do it. Like when I hosted the Philippine Independence Day. There are 180,000 Filipinos in Singapore. I tell them to be positive, to be proud of who they are. We come from different industries. We should be proud. We are of service to our country,” he says.
“Some say I’m like the Manny Pacquaio or the Leah Salonga of news,” he quips. In his typical unassuming demeanor, he laughs and shakes his head as if disapprovingly. But that’s what he is exactly. Ambassador is indeed a fitting title for Hizon.
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