GMA 7 senior correspondent Jiggy Manicad (Photo by MICHAEL VARCAS)

MANILA, Philippines — GMA 7 senior correspondent Jiggy Manicad arrived for this interview straight from anchoring a live broadcast of News TV QRT (Quick Response Team) from a demolition site. News TV QRT is a daily 30-minute newscast televised on location, right where the action is.

Amid the mayhem and confusion that surrounded the coverage, not to mention the risk to his life and limb, Jiggy remained calm and collected. Then again, it had been another action-packed day for him.

In the 16 years that he has been in media, Jiggy has been eating action for breakfast. In fact he has escaped death and danger several times in the course of his work as a reporter.

He had his head bleeding when he was hit with a stone during the coverage of EDSA Dos in 2001.

A Huey chopper he was riding in with other journalists crashed in 2003.

He got caught in crossfire between the military and rebels in Mindanao in 2008.

He looked at death straight in the eye as he witnessed a soldier dying in a Basilan camp.

He was supposed to cover the filing of candidacy of Toto Mangudadatu in Maguindanao with 32 other media people in November, 2009. But he was forewarned about the imminent bloodbath. That infamous day came to be known as the day of the Ampatuan massacre.

Jiggy has also roamed the country and the world to cover the most relevant of stories. He has rubbed elbows with the world’s best journalists to cover the most important of events like the 2009 inauguration of US President Barack Obama. One of his dangerous stories even landed him an international award. His report on an army corporal who died from an ambush by rebels in Mindanao on 24 Oras won Gold World Medal at the 2009 New York Festivals. His Reporter’s Notebook’s “Lunok Droga” documentary also bagged the Silver Screen Award in 2009 US International Film and Video Festival.

But now, he says that he is playing on the safe side. A father of two little girls he now has to think of his family first before any “adventure” comes along.

“Parang nandoon ako sa safer side ngayon. Dati kasi parang kahit ano lang. Ngayon, talagang nag-a-assess ka na ng situation. Dati kapag may tip ang military, punta tayo doon, sakay sa truck, regardless kung ma-ambush kayo. Ngayon hindi. Iki-clear mo muna sa office,” he shares.

A native of San Pablo, Laguna, Jiggy had very simple dreams when he was younger – to become an auto mechanic! He never intended to attend college. But after passing the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT), he was persuaded by some classmates to take up Communication Arts at the State University’s Los Baños campus.

Jiggy likes being out there on the field, meeting people, listening and witnessing the stories as they unfold. Even as he already anchors news shows like 24 Oras in the studio, he still likes to do enterprise stories for the docu show Reporter’s Notebook with fellow reporter Maki Pulido. Jiggy still does not want to be tied up to a desk!

In this 60 Minutes interview Jiggy shares how as a young college graduate he boldly asked two leading broadcasters for a job with their networks, and succeeded at that; how his first on-cam newscast ended up as a big disaster; and why despite the seeming peril on his life, Jiggy likes it that he has the best job in the world. (Angelo G. Garcia)

STUDENTS AND CAMPUSES BULLETIN (SCB): We learned that you landed this job not without some luck because of how you encountered the right people at the right time, specifically Noli de Castro and Jessica Soho?

JIGGY MANICAD (JM): When I started with ABS-CBN, nag walk-in applicant lang ako. Galing ako sa Laguna, bumaba ako ng bus terminal nang madaling araw, around 4 a.m., punta sa ABS, pinapila ako ng guard sa Hoy Gising, ang haba ng pila! Ang target ko nun si Kabayan (Noli de Castro) dahil sikat na sikat nung time na ‘yun ang Magandang Gabi, Bayan (MGB).

Ang alam ko hanggang 8 a.m. ang radio show niya kaya binantayan ko siya talaga. Nung pasakay na siya ng kotse, hinarangan ko ‘yung pinto, “Kabayan, mag-aapply po ako ng work.” Sabi niya, “Ah ganun ba, sige balik ka na lang next week.” Tapos sinara na niya pinto. The following week bumalik ako, nakausap ko ‘yung writer ni Kabayan, at natanggap naman ako as researcher for MGB. I worked there for three months.

‘Yung sa GMA naman, dahil nung time na ‘yun ang payat ko, pinapila ako ng guard sa “Kapwa Ko, Mahal Ko” (laughs)!

SCB: Akala nila kailangan mo ng dugo...(laughs)

JM: Oo. Sabi ko, “Bakit po sa Kapwa Ko, Mahal Ko eh wala naman po akong sakit. Puro may TB pa ‘yung andun baka mahawa pa ako.” “Basta pila ka diyan.” So pumila ako ng three hours hanggang nakapasok na ako. Nakasalubong ko naman si Ms. Jessica Soho. Ganun ulit sabi ko, “Ma’am mag-a-apply po ako sa news.”

SCB: Ang galing naman ng mga nakakasalubong mo...

JM: ‘Di ba (laughs)? Sabi niya “Ah Gganun ba, sige, sige.” Very accommodating siya, sinamahan niya ako sa newsroom, pinakilala niya ako sa VP ng news, sabi niya “Boss, mag-aapply ‘to. Sige, mag exam ka na dun”. After two weeks pinabalik ako, ‘yun na, nagging writer ako na pang night shift. Wala silang reporter sa gabi so kapag kailangan nila, lumalabas ako pero ang main job ko, mag produce ng scripts para sa newscast sa umaga. ‘Yung mga ginagamit ng anchors, ako gumagawa. So kapag may breaking news, takbo na rin ako, kumukuha ako ng detalye. ‘Yun ‘yung naging training ko.

SCB: At which point did you realize that this was what you wanted to do and not the creative writing you were involved in during high school?

JM: When I was doing field work, I was really enjoying it. Ang gaan gawin kahit na may mga assignments na delikado talaga at times.

SCB: What was your first coverage like?

JM: My first story for MGB was about the Mangyans of Occidental Mindoro. Umakyat kami ng bundok, ang hirap. And I had to transcribe about 50 tapes of interview! And the producer wanted to read the complete transcripts or else hindi ka susuweldo.

By my third episode, sabi ko hindi ko kaya. So I resigned and went back to UP Los Baños to work as assistant editor for Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Studies and Research in Agriculture. Pero after seven months, I realized parang di ko gusto ang ganung trabaho. I missed the field work, although mahirap pero mas masaya siya. Pero ngayon ang tatargetin ko na ‘yung pagiging writer kasi ‘yun ang background ko. So I thought I would try applying to Channel 5.

SCB: Coming from ABS-CBN, why not GMA?

JM: Prior to ABS, nag-apply ako sa GMA pero natanggap ako as driver/PA sa radyo. Sabi ng HR, kapag wala ‘yung reporter, ako ang ilalagay sa field, ako ang driver, ako ang reporter. Ang sabi ko, may problema po ako, taga probinsiya ako hindi ko alam ‘yung mga kalye (laughs)!

SCB: What was your first on-camera assignment like?

JM: Writer ako noon ng GMA Balita. Wala kaming reporter nung umaga, eh may traffic segment. Sabi nung producer at saka ‘yung anchor, si Alex Tinsay, ako na lang daw mag-traffic report. Sabi ko, hindi ko alam ‘yung mga kalye dito kasi taga-probinsiya ako. Eh di mali-mali ako niyan mag traffic report! Disaster talaga ‘yung first two months (laughs)! Marami akong blunders on-cam. Sasabihin ko nasa España ako, tapos correction, nasa Commonwealth po pala ako. Buti nga wala pang YouTube nun (laughs)! Kung meron, patay na ako ngayon (laughs)!

In the line of fire

SCB: Have you had life-threatening coverages?

JM: Meron ‘yung tungkol sa isang victim na pinatay daw ng NPA. Nahukay daw ng military sa bundok. Ang sabi nung military, sumakay kami sa chopper pero di kami maka-land. At 1,000 feet ‘yung Huey chopper, nawalan na ng control, umiikot na ‘yung body.

SCB: What were you thinking at that moment?

JM: Sabi ko, patay, eto na! Nakapagdasal pa ako ng prayer to St. Michael and to Mama Mary. Alam ko, walang nabubuhay sa chopper crash, kasi sa lahat ng coverages ko na ganyan, walang buhay. Sunog na sunog o bali-bali. Suwerte na lang kung mabuhay ka. Pero suwerte talaga kasi ‘yung left side, bangin, ‘yung right side puro mga bato. Sa gitna kami bumagsak, puro lupa. Naputol lang ang tail. Siyam kami sa helicopter. Lahat ‘yun na-document, naka-roll pala ‘yung camera man.

SCB: Have you been caught in crossfires during coverages?

JM: Naipit kami sa encounter ng military at Abu Sayaff in 2008. Nagkaroon ng engkuwentro buong araw at buong gabi. Tapos ‘yung mga sundalo na escort na namin, umalis na rin kasi lalaban na daw sila. Sumama kami sa camp kung saan dinadala ‘yung mga injured. Sa camp, may mga snipers na hinahabol ‘yung military. Akala namin mao-overrun ‘yung camp kasi mga 300 ‘yung Abu Sayaff eh mga 20 na lang yung sundalong naiwan.

SCB: Have you gotten death threats?

JM: Ay oo. Dumating ‘yung time na may mga kidnapping stories ako. May death threats na tipong text na 13 crosses, may “rest in peace.’’ Tinext back ko, “Ikaw din, rest ka na, baka pagod ka na,” (laughs).

Nasa coverage kami, bukas ‘yung bintana nung news car, may lumapit sa amin, sabi susunod na daw kami, tapos naglakad siya papalayo. Nirereport ko sa mga boss para malaman nila. Dumating ‘yung time na nag-offer sila ng bodyguards, pero sabi ko ang hirap naman. Nag-ingat na lang ako. Pero alam ko ‘yung group na ‘yun, nahuli na. Mga 20 yata sila, ‘yung iba doon suspects pa sa Betty Chua kidnapping, ‘yung executive na kinidnap tapos binaril.

In this Reporter's Notebook

SCB: How do you pick the stories you feature on “Reporters Notebook”?

JM: Malaki ang human interest factor like stories on children, trafficking, mga buhay kalye. Basta makatisod kami ng ganyan, automatic pitch agad namin. Mga disaster, danger stories.

SCB: Are you more partial towards stories like these as opposed to beat reporting?

JM: Hindi naman sa ayaw ko ng beat reporting, pero dati pa, ‘yung enterprise stories talaga ang na-develop na side ko eh. Kunyari, me kuwentuhan sa kalye, tapos me naikuwento siya na maganda, doon ako naghahanap ng stories. Nung binata pa ako, naghahanap talaga ako ng away. Punta ako ng Mindanao, punta ka ng ganito, sama ka sa operation. ‘Yun ‘yung nakaka-challenge. Hindi siya ‘yung pangkaraniwan.

SCB: What has been your favorite enterprise story?

JM: Ang favorite ko ‘yung naipit kami sa Basilan. From that story, ‚yung story ng eleksiyon, nakatisod kami ng isang story, ‘yung mga injured na sundalo na dinadala sa camp. Nakunan namin dun ‘yung isang sundalo, nagde-deliryo siya kasi meron siyang shrapnel wounds. Ang nangyari sa kaniya, humihingi siya ng rescue, pero walang ma-provide na rescue ang military, walang helicopter para dalhin siya sa ospital. Six hours siya nagkakaganon until dumating ‚yung rescue, hapon na. Pero on the way to the hospital, namatay siya.

‘Yung story na ‘yun, nanalo sa New York Festival. Pero at the same time, nagalit sa akin ‘yung military. Hindi ko daw pinresent truthfully ‘yung story, hindi naman daw totoo, nagkaroon ng firestorm. Hindi daw six hours, meron daw silang helicopter. Talagang naging word war ‘yun sa diyaryo. Binabanatan nila ako. Pero the video would prove na tama naman ako. Malaking story ‘yun.

SCB: Have you come face to face with temptations?

JM: Maraming nag-ooffer diyan ng kung anu-ano, but when you value these values, hindi mo siya titignan, magdadalawang-isip ka. Halimbawa may nag-accuse sa’yo, what will stand is kung ano talaga ‘yung pagkatao mo.

Na-experience ko before, may ginawang story ang Imbestigador sa lugar namin, dayaan ng mayor sa elections. ‘Yung isang kandidato, nahuli ng Imbestigador may carbon paper ‘yung balota. Paglabas ng botante, ibibigay nila tapos babayaran nila. Na-document ‘yun. Lumabas ‘yung story. Natalo siya. Ina-accuse ako nung kandidato na binayaran daw kami ng incumbent kaya ini-expose namin siya. Sabi ko, ipaabot natin sa management. ‘Yung mga ganung klase na kaya mo siyang panindigan.

The Filipino journalist

SCB: You had the chance to work with journalists from other countries with a grant from British Council…

JM: It was a three-month grant. Ako lang ang Pinoy. Nagkaroon kami ng exposure sa working ng BBC, CNN London, saka sa mga local channels. I learned a lot just by seeing the difference in how we work. Sa amin, sulat ka muna ng script, bago mo ipasok ‘yung video. Sa kanila, video muna bago mo latagan ng script. Kailangan, kapag nag-shoot ka doon, kumpletong-kumpleto. Walang makakalusot.

SCB: Being in that environment, with journalists from other countries, did you find out any advantages that Filipino journalists have over others?

JM: ‘Yung freedom of expression talaga, malaking bagay. ‘Yung sa ibang mga kaklase ko, halimbawa sa Africa o sa Middle East, sobrang controlled. Hindi mo masyadong ma-expose ‘yung mga storya na gusto mo.

‘Yung Pinoy journalists, iba ‚yung production values. Mas maganda ‘yung pagka-produce ng stories. Pinag-produce kami ng stories, so nung prinesent na siya sa klase, mas kumpleto ‘yung sa atin, hindi boring. Nagugulat sila dun sa style, sa klase ng video na kinukunan.

SCB: Are we more skilled than some journalists in other countries? BBC’s Rico Hizon says Filipino broadcast journalists are better at multi-tasking.

JM: Under pressure kasi palagi ang Pinoy, so kayang-kaya niya, relaxed pa (laughs). Under pressure, nakaka-adapt talaga tayo.

Totoo ‘yung sa multi-tasking. Ang labanan kasi ngayon, lalo na kapag out of the country, one-man news team ka o kayong dalawa lang ng cameraman. Kapag nakasama mo ‚yung iba, ‘yung malalaking networks, may kasamang producer ‘yan, editor, cameraman, assistant. Tapos ‘yung hotel nila maayos, lalo na sa war coverages. Kami, dalawa lang. Pero in terms of output? Pareho lang in terms of quality of story. Kayang tapatan!

SCB: What made our broadcast journalists the way they are?

JM: Feeling ko kasi sanay sa hirap (laughs). Mahirap tayo pero kailangan natin mag-produce. ‘Yung training dito, mahirap, at paglabas mo dala mo talaga. ‘Yung Pacquiao coverages? Ang hirap nun. Pero kapag nakasabay mo ‘yung malaking networks? Ang gara ng mga ‘yun! Pero ang quality of stories eh pareho lang.

SCB: Magugulat kaya ang isang Filipino broadcast journalist kapag binigyan mo ng maraming pera, kasi nasanay siya na maging creative dahil kulang palagi?

JM: Oo, ang laking bagay. ‘Yung mga stories sa National Geographic like “Don‘t Tell my Mother”, kayang-kaya ng Pinoy ‘yun. Pero ang laki ng production costs nun.

Tiningnan ko ‘yung coverages nung Obama inauguration, pare-pareho lang. Kaya talaga, at par ‘yung Pinoy. Kaya nga sa Middle East media, ang daming Pinoy dun na cameraman, tapos may mga reporters. Mas maayos talaga tayo mag-trabaho, very professional. Saka iba ang disiplina natin. Walang tulugan. ‘Yung coverage ko sa inauguration, diyan ko na-experience na magshu-shoot ako, umaga doon, gabi dito. Matutulog na ako, hihingan nila ako ng summary, umaga na dito eh. For five days, ganon. Dumating ‚yung time na ‘yung kasama kong cameraman, sabi eh natulala na daw ako. Kasi wala kang tulog, sobrang lamig, nagtipid pa kami. Merong warmer sa paa, five dollars isa. Sabi ko nung una, di na natin kailangan ‘yan, huwag na tayong bumili. My God, nag negative eight!

Ang ginawa ko para makasingit dun sa mga tao na ayaw magpasingit, sinuhulan ko ng dried mangoes. Kain kayo, kain kayo, hanggang sa nakapasok kami (laughs).

SCB: Paano kung wala kang dala na dried mangoes?

JM: ‘Yun ang problema. Kasi lahat mainit na ang ulo (laughs)!

And to think he wanted to be a mechanic...

SCB: Have you always wanted to become a reporter?

JM: Actually hindi. After high school, magte-take lang ako ng vocational course, magmemekaniko ako, magseset up ako ng talyer, ganun lang kasimple. May relative kami na in-encourage niya akong mag migrate to Australia. Sabi niya sa akin dapat skilled ako so better after high school mag take ka ng vocational course para madali kang makapasok kasi point system daw dun.

SCB: You mean wala ka talagang balak mag college?

JC: Wala kasi ang feeling ko ‘yung vocational course ang easiest way magkatrabaho, kumita, makatulong sa pamilya. ‘Yung parents ko, public school teachers and four kaming magkakapatid, puro boys. Lumaki ako sa lola ko, father side tapos namatay lola ko. Nag-alaga sa akin ‘yung mga auntie ko. Kasi nung time na ‘yun, parents ko nasa Bicol, dun nagtuturo nanay ko.

SCB: But still, you landed in UP...

JM: May namigay ng UPCAT form sa klase. Ang target ko Forestry kasi hindi quota course. Pero sabi ng seatmate ko, mag Communication Arts na lang kami. O sige ‘yun na lang. But even after I passed the UPCAT, hindi pa din ako decided mag college. Pero sabi ng pinsan ko na talagang nag strike sa akin “Eh tanga ka pala eh bakit hindi ka mag college? Bakit hindi mo i-try?” So, sige try natin (laughs).

SCB: Were you a working student?

JM: I applied as a news writer in the school paper, and then as a student assistant sa Public Affairs office. Nagsusulat ako ng speeches, news articles about the university. Meron akong allowance na P750 a month, at P35 na tuition lang ang binabayaran ko. Nung malapit na ako mag graduate, sabi ko, parang ito ‘yung direksyon ko. Parang ito lang ‘yung experience na puwede kong ilagay sa resume. ‘Yun na ‘yung ginamit ko na way para makapag apply ng work. At nung mapasok ako sa GMA, dito na lang talaga ako natuto writing for TV.

SCB: And your initial plan to migrate and be a mechanic?

JM: Wala na (laughs)!

SCB: But do you appreciate where you are now?

JM: Sobra! Ang hirap ng pinagdaanan ko. Nung college, wala akong makain. Sasakay ako ng jeep, sa likod ako ng driver, ako ang taga-abot, boss bayad po, hanggang sa malito siya, iisipin niya ako ‘yung nagbayad. Style di ba? Magdadasal ako, kasi kulang ang pera ko, Lord sana makapulot ako kahit limang piso. Kaya na-appreciate ko ang lahat kasi ang hirapo. Ang impression ‘yung work sa TV madali, pero marami na din akong kaibigan na na-burn out na, nag-resign. ‘Yung mga ibang kakilala ko na batang reporters kapag may tinatanong sila binibigyan ko rin naman ng ideas. Hindi rin naman ako madamot sa stories. Kapag may malaki akong stories, binibigay ko sa kanila.

The family man

SCB: Is it hard to be a reporter on the go and a family man at the same time?

JM: I have two daughters and mahirap na part talaga ‘yung may na mi miss kang milestones. Nung before pa ngang pinanganak ‘yung eldest, nag fourth month ultrasound ‘yung wife ko, wala ako, nasa inauguration ni Obama. So nung nalaman na girl, wala ako. Nung first time na nag crawl ‘yung anak ko, nasa coverage na naman ako. Pero nung dumapa naman ‘tong second ko, andun naman ako sa bahay.

SCB: Are there regrets?

JM: Hindi naman pero pinag-usapan nga naming mga reporters, ‘yung mga anak namin hindi namin gagawing reporters. Puwedeng chef or architect, basta ibang field (laughs). Kung gusto nila, as much as we can, ibang exposure ‘yung ibibigay namin.

SCB: How did you meet your wife Marnie?

JM: Sa GMA, desk editor siya dati. Nag-aral din siya sa London Film School. She has her own company now.

SCB: Do you dream of directing someday?

JM: Sulat lang. Sa wife ko ang directing. Ang ginagawa niya kasi merong international film si Dingdong Dantes, nag-work ako sa kanya as creative consultant doon sa film na ‘yun. ‘Yung ibang projects, tumutulong ako.

SCB: Do you clash at work?

JM: ‘Yun pa, hindi kami puwedeng mag-work kasi magkaaway kami kapag nagwo-work kami (laughs). Sabi ko sa kanya, hindi talaga tayo puwedeng magtrabaho. Tutulungan kita, ‘yun na ‘yun, huwag mo nang i-criticize. Kung gusto mong baguhin, baguhin mo. Minsan matatawa na lang siya.

Dream assignment

SCB: Have you thought of teaching?

JM: Nag-apply ako, pero wala akong oras. Pero meron akong sisimulan na free lecture seminar doon sa amin sa San Pablo (Laguna) para sa mga high school students. ‘Yun na lang ang pinaka contribution ko na kahit papaano makapag-train din ako ng mga gustong maging journalists. Unlike sa kaso ko na blangkong blanko ako na pumasok, dito kahit papaano magkakaroon sila ng kaalaman sa technology, writing lecture, etc.

SCB: Was there a teacher that changed your life?

JM: ‘Yung thesis adviser ko, Prof. William Remollo. Nabigyan niya ng focus ‘yung pag-iisip ko during my thesis days. Kasi dati average student, happy-go-lucky. But he trained me to focus, malaking bagay kasi nagagamit ko siya hanggang ngayon sa work. Siguro kung hindi ko siya naging adviser, sabog pa rin ako hanggang ngayon. Noong estudyante kasi ako wala talaga akong pakialam. Feeling ko nga, kung si Manny Pacquiao, naging complete boxer ang description sa kanya, sa akin naging complete journalist ako. Hindi naman ako marunong magsulat, natuto akong magsulat. Wala naman akong exposure sa TV, natuto akong mag-edit, humawak ng camera, higher level of technology, naa-apply na namin. ‘Yung mga bagay na ‘yan, naging complete journalist ako.

SCB: Do you see yourself hosting a daily talk show like Anderson Cooper?

JM: Sana. Mas masarap ‘yun kapag nasa studio. Iba ‘yun. Kapag minsan feeling namin na ‘yung Quick Response Team ganun ‘yung nangyari deployment kung saan on a smaller scale. Kasi si Anderson kahit saan, sa Africa, etc. ‘Yung sa amin parang local level. Pero sana makapag out of the country kasi usually naman kapag may mga stories na giyera or pilgrim, nagpapadala naman.

SCB: What’s your dream assignment?

JM: Makasama sa space shuttle ng Discovery. Pero hindi na matutupad (laughs). Kakatapos lang ng mission. Kung saan-saan na kami nakapunta, mainit, malamig. Parang space na lang ‘yung kulang.

SCB: Do you see yourself growing old in this industry?

JM: Oo, ‘yun na talaga, hopefully, as anchor, as host.

SCB: What are the most important things you learned from your mentors in this industry?

JM: Na sobrang importante ng integrity at credibility mo. Huwag mo itong sisirain dahil ‘yun talaga ang tinitingnan ng tao. Kailangan din ng values sa field, ‘yung tamang pag-uugali. Hindi lang naman ako, pati ang buong organization. Kahit sinong tanungin mo sa industry, alam nila ang values na pinahahalagahan ng GMA.

SCB: What’s your advice to aspiring broadcast journalists?

JM: Ang mga bata gusto pumasok sa TV para sumikat. May glamour, prestige, pero hindi. Kapag ganun ang motivation mo, ‘yung journalistic side, mawawala. Dapat nandoon ka pa rin sa gusto kong kunin itong story na ‘to, mag-produce ng magandang story. Kailangan ready sila sa matinding hard work. Pure hard work ang kailangan nilang gawin kasi na-feel ko noon, assignment after assignment. Ganun ang naging buhay namin. Hindi overnight na magiging senior reporter ka na agad. Everyday may assignment, kailangan mong tutukan, pagbutihin ‘yung production.