ANC chronicles stories that shaped the nation's past 15 years

MANILA, Philippines - ANC caps off its 15th year celebration with a one-hour special documentary that will revisit the biggest, most important, and most controversial news stories that broke on ANC and shaped the course of the country’s history.

Anchored by Angelo Castro Jr. and Tina Monzon-Palma, the special will air on ANC tomorrow, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. featuring ANC’s rich collection of photos and footage its reporters have gathered in the past 15 years.

In the documentary, Angelo and Tina will present the news channel’s most memorable coverages — from the scandals that rocked former Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s nine-year reign to former Pres. Joseph “Erap” Estrada’s tumultuous saga before and after his impeachment in 2000.

ANC carries the distinction of being the country’s first and only 24-hour cable news channel and has solidified its status as the news channel to beat when it kept on breaking story after story. It was the first station to reveal Estrada’s brown envelope controversy; Corazon Aquino’s death; the gruesome 2009 Maguindanao massacre that shocked the nation; and Hubert Webb’s acquittal early this year.

ANC saw an eventful 15 years since its foundation in 1996. It brought its viewers all the drama and action as they happen with its live and blow-by-blow coverage of the most gripping hostage takings, mutinies and court trials.

At the station’s anniversary thanksgiving, ABS-CBN president and COO Charo Santos-Concio said because of ANC’s non-stop reportage of breaking events, its viewers don’t just tune in because they want to be in the know, but because they want to feel secure.

“People who watch ANC want to be assured that there are news people watching over them, that if all else fails, news people will be the last men standing, that there are news people who care 24 hours a day so that lives will be saved and dreams fulfilled,” she said.

“ANC has the power to change the history of the Philippines,” she added. “When the time comes that our country has become clean, we can be sure that we played the part in making it happen.”

ANC managing director Ging Reyes also expressed that today’s competition with other local news channels only pushes them to continue standing for journalistic credibility and excellence.

“We’re not sure where the story will take us but as always, ANC is there, its working men and women ready for any challenging coverage,” she said.

Meanwhile, ANC treats its viewers with a year-end special highlighting its coverage of the biggest local and international news stories including issues that trended on social media sites, to be anchored by Pinky Webb. It will air on Dec. 23 at 7 p.m.

Business anchor Coco Alcuaz will run down the reports and events that mattered in the business world and the economy this year in a Business Nightly two-part year-end special. Part one will air on Dec. 22, 9 p.m. and part two the next day.