The new NewsBreakers

 MANILA, Philippines - ‘Young Star’ scopes out a few new faces behind the news desk, asking them to look back on the year that was and follow their nose for news in the year that will be.

There’s no escaping from the news — especially bad news — but even when the stories take a 180, and say, Manny Pacquiao has won another belt, our friendly neighborhood anchors will surely be in attendance. Whether it’s the morning, evening, or the occasional siesta time news flash, these young and accomplished reporters represent, while putting the lie to any notions that they need only stand and look pretty — and now, they’re newsworthy, too.

Shows: Sapul Sa Singko, Lupet, and the showbiz presentation in TEN (The Evening News).

Significant news event that affected you: “The hostage crisis. I cried on air — I’m not supposed to do that, I think. Thankfully, it was a wide shot.”

“I have a day job, I suppose you can call it that,” says Shawn Yao, transition from publishing to broadcasting was as simple as her agent imploring her to go to an audition. “They just made us do a bunch of things — it could’ve been anything.”

Fast forward seven months and many 3 a.m. call times later, and Shawn has managed to rise to ubiquity over at TV5, where she has three shows. There are no signs of her slowing down, though, and even with multiple stints on TV, her job as the photo and style editor of Uno magazine is still a crucial aspect of her career. “I work for Uno, and I have been, ever since before. And I really don’t want to give it up — I’m not going to.”

Ted: She’s got the touch: Shawn wrangles an iPad.

Shawn Yao, 28, TV5

Shawn’s asterisks of 2010:

1. Automated elections

2. Bar exam blast

3. Ivan Padilla: “Everyone seems to have forgotten, but we really shouldn’t.”

4. Wang-wang

5. Lotto

6. Shawillie

7. NU closing down: “But there is AM programming on FM. I think that’s pretty cool.”

8. Lost sperm sample of Hubert Webb

9.Ronald Singson

10. The RH Bill

What’s next for 2011:

1. P-Noy’s love life

2. Kris’s love life: “That’s always going to be in the news.”

3. More on the Ampatuan trial

4. More changes from the previous administrations

5. Death and accidents are always news.

* * *

Mariz Umali, 31, GMA

Shows: GMA’s Flash Report and Balitanghali

Significant news event that affected you: “The hostage crisis. I was assigned to the hospital where all the victims were being treated, and it was devastating. And really damaging for Filipinos.”

Nine years into hard news and field reporting, and Mariz Umali is still beaming — a prime example of a person who genuinely loves what they do. Her pursuit for broadcast journalism took a break when she studied to become a pharmacist in college, but she eventually shifted back. “I didn’t feel like it was my calling,” she says.

It has been a gradual, and by-the-book climb for her since then, having gone through the internship, the exams, and odd news beats. It’s been nine years, and she’s surely collecting the well-deserved dividends. “(For me, news) is natural already. It’s what we project, it’s what we do.”

Miss communication: Mariz Umali is hot for all kinds of media. Photos by SHAIRA LUNA

Mariz’s asterisks of 2010:

1. Campaign period before the elections: “I was assigned to cover Erap, and it was exciting and educational. People can get very antagonizing, but you have to learn how to balance — we’re not there to kiss ass.”

2. Automated elections

3. Bar exam blast

4. Pipeline

5. Mt. Bulusan eruption

6. The first human case of bird flu

7. Hostage-taking incident

What’s next for 2011:

1. Noynoy Aquino

2. Manny Pacquiao

3. RH Bill

4. Peace talks

5. Something that affects the nation is always news.

* * *

Michael Templo, 34, TV5 (formerly ANC)

Templo’s temple: TV5’s Mike Templo kneels before the shrine of “com.petence and professionalism.” Photos by ERIK ALESSI

Shows: Sapul Sa Singko, Aksyon Sabado and Aksyon Linggo, Iba Yung Pinoy (and OFW radio talk show on 92.3)

Significant news that affected you: “Pacquiao winning his eighth title. I’m just awed about his road to success, and how it can be an inspiration to all of us.”

Crossing Borders is right. Not only was Mike Templo the former host of an ANC show that specializes in US immigration matters, he is also a practicing lawyer and a partner at Templo & Templo, a law firm that has offices in Manila and New York. From visas, housing, and other overseas concerns, Mike’s weekly show covers every alien conundrum. His move to TV5 signaled a barrage of new avenues to which he can address the same issues, and grapple with some new ones, too. “Being a newscaster is similar to my profession as a lawyer,” he says. “You have a responsibility to the general public to provide competence and professionalism.”

Mike’s asterisks of 2010:

1. Deciding to move to TV5

2. Guesting on TV5’s Sapul and playing guitar on air

3. My first airing as a TV5 Newscaster

4. P-Noy winning the presidency

5. Pacquiao winning his eighth boxing title

6. Hostage crisis, or how our SWAT dealt with it.

What’s next for 2011:

1. TV5 becoming number one in all categories.

2. Pacquiao wins another title

3. New product from Apple/Mac

4. Global warming hastens

5. More flooding and typhoons in the Philippines

6. Major conflict in Korea

Aksyon is always news.