TV Patrol rolls out public service caravan

ABS-CBN celebrated the 30th anniversary of TV Patrol last Independence Day with a tribute to Filipinos whose resilience and compassion for others inspire the newscast to continue delivering news and service to Filipino families.

The flagship newscast of the Kapamilya network has also rolled out the TV Patrol Community Caravan, which has gone to different communities nationwide to conduct job fairs, livelihood seminars, feeding programs, classroom repairs and relief goods distribution with the help of government agencies, private sector and non-government organizations.

A covenant signing was held last June 8 among ABS-CBN, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Department of Science and Technology, Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines, Robinsons Land Corporation, Energy Development Corporation, Carl Balita Livelihood Center, House of David, Republic Biscuit Corporation and Unilever Philippines to fortify their partnership for the TV Patrol Community Caravan.

Labor Undersecretary Claro Arellano said, “This is a significant teaming up for the benefit of our countrymen, as it is important that they are informed of these job opportunities.”

At the signing, TV Patrol anchors Noli de Castro, Ted Failon and Bernadette Sembrano also expressed their gratitude to be part of an institution that values malasakit and public service.

“I am always where the action is. I cannot just stay inside the studio. But the best experience I have had in the program is whenever I get to help our countrymen who really have nothing,” said Noli.

Bernadette, meanwhile, relished the opportunity to work with and learn from her co-anchors. She said, “I am blessed to have icons to work with who have unwavering passion to serve. Thank you for the chance to go around the country and be with our countrymen and have that kind of familiarity, where they embrace you and tell you their life stories like thank you very much for that opportunity to touch lives.”

Ted also paid tribute to the entire ABS-CBN team that covered Typhoon Yolanda in Tacloban with him. “What I realized there is that, this is not about us. It’s not about our story but the story we witnessed there. That is why we did our best to get to Cebu and transmit the very first video that you saw about Yolanda. Thank you to those who covered Yolanda with us and those who covered the fundraising we did for the victims,” he shared.

TV Patrol has also opened its newsroom and studio to students of journalism and mass communications to expose and train them for the industry they would one day belong to, in the hope that like Noli, Ted and Bernadette, they will also be excellent journalists who have the value of malasakit. 

Meanwhile, as part of the 30th anniversary celebration, the Ito Ang Aming Pangarap music video was launched. It features Dolores Frando, a housewife who took it upon herself to teach, feed and bathe street children from her community, and Jefferson dela Pena, who despite being born with no lower limbs, has persevered to study and follow his passion for skateboarding.

They are joined by husband and wife Cris and Myrna Franco, who have proven that their lack of eyesight cannot hamper their desire to help people with the same condition, and Iah Seraspi, who did not let financial difficulties stop her from finishing her studies and becoming one of the topnotchers in the 2015 National Teachers Licensure Examinations. 

ABS-CBN News head Ging Reyes said people like them give the men and women of ABS-CBN News strength and inspiration to continue working hard to gather news and bring service to Filipinos no matter what challenges may lie ahead.

“As long as there is a parent working hard to give his or her family a better life, a child dreaming to finish school, a community that wants to ensure the safety of everyone, and a country that hopes to be free from fear and poverty, we will continue to work together in TV Patrol and care for one another,” she said.

Dolores, Jefferson, Cris, Myrna and Iah expressed their gratitude for the recognition they received from ABS-CBN. Myrna said she hopes this paves the way for her to inspire people to serve others as well as to reach their own dreams.

Myrna said, “I am very happy and thankful to ABS-CBN for the opportunity to share my story to Filipino viewers.”

Jefferson added that he hopes people will believe they can do the impossible when they see him enjoy life despite his disability.

People can watch their stories in the music video, which features the voices of Bugoy Drilon, KZ Tandingan, Ebe Dancel and Gloc-9. Ito Ang Aming Pangarap was written by Christian Abuel with music by Thyro Alfaro and Yumi Lacsamana. The video was produced by the ABS-CBN Creative Communications Management division and directed by Paolo Ramos and Lorenz Roi Morales.