Maki Pulido

GMA-7 news and investigative reporter Maki Pulido recently filed her last story to prepare her bid to represent the first district of Pangasinan in Congress.

“Actually, hindi ko alam na i-e-air nang gano’n,” she told Manila Bulletin Entertainment Online on Nov. 16, referring to the Nov. 10 episode of “Reporter’s Notebook” (“RN”) that turned out to be a tribute to her 15 remarkable years in broadcast journalism.

“I was only given the script to do the voice over,” said Pulido, who simultaneously tendered her resignation from “RN” (as reporter and Miggy Manicad’s co-anchor) and GMA-7’s news team. She is replaced by Rhea Santos on “RN,” which is aired late Tuesday nights on Channel 7.

“It was one of the most – if not the most – difficult decisions I’ve ever made in my life,” she shared. “But no matter how hard it is, I have to protect my show, to avoid having a conflict of interest.”

"RN” is an investigative program that delves into a wide range of societal problems. Since its inception in 2004, it has won recognition here and abroad, including the Asian Television Awards (Best Current Affairs Program, 2008), New York Festivals for Television (Gold World Medal for the best human interest story, 2008) and US International Film and Video Festival (Silver Screen Award for the Documentary/Social Issues category, 2009).

“I’ve been presenting the problem, [now it’s time to take] the opportunity to help directly,” Pulido pointed out.

“The malnutrition episode clinched it for me,” she added, recalling that she and the “RN” team only stumbled upon the story while working on their dumpsite episode. Three small coffins caught their attention and they learned later on that the cause of death of those three kids, including a one-year-old, was severe malnutrition.

“Ang mga nakaupo ba [in public office ay] exposed dito?” she remembered asking herself especially since she’s also a mother who can’t imagine seeing her child dying because there’s nothing to eat. “May pondo kung hindi [lang] binubulsa. Masama ang loob ko sa ganyan. Nakakainis na.”

“Malay mo naman kung makatulong ako,” she said of her decision to run for congresswoman in her home province of Pangasinan.

The first of six legislative districts of Pangasinan is comprised of Almaninos City and municipal towns Agno, Anda, Bani, Bolinao, Burgos, Dasol, Infanta, Mabini and Sual.

Pulido’s father Nestor is serving his last term as Anda mayor. Her mother Alice, a member of the provincial board, sets her sights on succeeding him.

Pulido and her mother will run under former President Joseph Estrada’s political party, Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, where the latter is a longtime member.

“She’s been there ever since and until everybody else has left,” Pulido said. “Besides she’s a friend of Erap.”

Pulido described breaking the news of her decision to her “RN” team as tearful and emotional.

“I will make you proud of me,” she promised them. “’Pag sinwerte ako [na manalo sa eleksyon] I want to make a difference.”