BANDILA (TV PROGRAM)

'''Bandila''' (Flag in Tagalog/Filipino) is an International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences-nominated late-night national newscast of ABS-CBN. It replaced ''ABS-CBN Insider'' and returned Korina Sanchez back to newscasting after nearly two years since she left ''TV Patrol''. It was launched on July 3, 2006 as part of the network's re-programming campaign.
Henry Omaga-Diaz and Ces Drilon join Sanchez as the anchors of the said program.

Contents

About

Reportage

Context

Criticism

Trivia

References

See Also

Related Pages

External links

About

''"Bandila"'', which is the Filipino word for flag, also alludes to the term “banner story,” or top news of the day. It airs Monday-Thursday 11:15-11:45 p.m. and every Friday at 11:30-12 midnight.
Maria Ressa, head of ABS-CBN News & Current Affairs Division explained this as: “Three colors, three stars, three anchors.” Charie Villa, head of newsgathering, said Drilon, Diaz and Sanchez were “three of the network’s most experienced reporters-anchors.” The news program gave a comeback to journalist Korina Sanchez after she was appointed as Chief Correspondent for Philippine and Global Operations of ABS-CBN News.
The network's goal for ''Bandila'' was to make it agenda-setting, nationalistic and fast-paced.
The move of the network to put the late-evening news program in an earlier timeslot is said to be the station's response towards responsible journalism and public service. It is pitted against comedy programs of the other networks.
It is also the very first news program in the history of Philippine Television (and probably in the history of News & Journalism) that had an official theme song, titled ''Isang Bandila'' composed and sung by Rivermaya's lead singer, Rico Blanco.
That said, it may very well be the first news program in television or radio to use musical cues in the rock genre.
During its pilot episode, it broadcasted the controversial video of General Lim organizing a coup d'etat against President Gloria Arroyo.
The over-all Executive-in-charge of Production of the news program is Luchi Cruz-Valdez. Anchor Sanchez is situated in the studio, while Drilon and Diaz report from the newsroom.
On November 2006, Australian broadcaster, SBS, broadcasts "Bandila" at 6:50am Tuesday-Saturday, replacing NBN's Teledyaryo as the Filipino News service on Worldwatch. "Bandila" is also broadcasted on the digital multichannel, SBS World News Channel on replay at 6:50am, 3:00pm and 9:35pm Tuesday-Saturday. The program is on a day delay, and is fed from ABS-CBN's satellite service, TFC.
Bandila's tagline: "Sa ngalan ng bayan, sa ilalim ng nag-iisang ''"Bandila"''.

Reportage

''Bandila'' became popular because it went where its competitor dared not to go in terms of reportage style and the choice of timeslot. It was known for airing blow-by-blow account of the events in Lebanon and Israel with the help of their appointed Chiefs from the network's Europe and Middle East News Bureau. The Lebanon-Israel War and OFW rescue coverage was and is still being covered exclusively because ABS-CBN is the only station that was able to send a news team in Beirut and Israel. It was also consistent in reporting exclusive stories that are never reported by other news programs.
At the height of the Nursing Board Exam leakage issue in the Philippines, ''Bandila'' is the only news program that was able to reveal the Nursing board exam review centers and schools that received a copy of the leakage. It was also the very first news program that revealed the name of the officials who initiated the leakage, and the first to interview Nursing board exam takers that attended the distribution of the leaked review materials. Veering from a usual practice of news programs, ''Bandila'' noticeably dispelled with entertainment gossip & crime reports. This bold move was acclaimed by the media practitioners in the country. ''Bandila'' has also toned down the volume in so far as news reading is concerned, shying away from the loud and exaggerated delivery of the news by its competitors.
''Bandila'' was also lauded for its comprehensive report on the Subic Rape Case. The report gave the news program its first ever nomination for the Philippines on the International Emmy Awards spearheaded by the The International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.^[1][2]

Context

In the September 2006 Issue of PJR Reports, a newspaper released by the Center of Media Freedom and Responsibility, it was mentioned that ''Bandila''’s strength is its willingness to take a story and explore the various issues surrounding it. To quote the article, "it takes an issue to another level by adding perspective and analysis to it, thereby providing viewers a journalistic ingredient sorely lacking in many TV reports: context". Such objective causes the reports to be longer than usual.

Criticism

Due to the lengthy primetime programs of ABS-CBN, ''Bandila'' starts 20 minutes late from its promised timeslot. However, it still managed to address the continuing concern about the television networks’ preoccupation with ratings rather than public service.^[3]

Trivia

★ Henry Omaga Diaz was awarded as one of the Ten Outstanding Media Personalities by the International Media Associates Inc. (IMAI) last November 29, 2006.

★ Korina Sanchez was also included as one of the Most Well-Liked Female Personalities in the Anak TV Seal Awards 2006.^[4]

★ Bandila earned for the Philippines its first ever nomination for an International Emmy® Award for their report "The Subic Rape Case Promulgation". ^[5][6]. It was the first time that entry from the Philippines became a finalist on the award giving body. It became one of the four nominees in the News category out of the eight semi-finalists. Incidentally, TV Patrol World, the primetime news program of ABS-CBN, was also chosen as one of the eight semi-finalists for the news category, while the TV series Sa Piling Mo and Super Inggo, also from ABS-CBN, were regional semi-finalists for the categories Drama Series, and Children and Young People, respectively.^[7]

★ It attained its highest Mega Manila rating ever on August 16, 2007 (Thursday). It garnered a 19.7% beating its competitor that is a drama anthology program that garnered an 18.1%.

References

1. 2007 International Emmy® Awards Nominees for
News and Current Affairs Categories Span Asia, Europe & Latin America
2. "Bandila" earns Emmy nomination for its "Subic Rape Case Promulgation" episode
3. Money or service?
4. ABS-CBN bags Anak TV Seal Awards
5. ABS-CBN's 'Bandila' earns Emmy nomination
6. ABS-CBN news program earns RP’s first-ever Emmy nod
7. The 2007 International Emmy Awards

See Also

★ ABS-CBN raises Flag of Journalism Excellence (Manila Times article)

★ Strong Start for Bandila (INQ7 Article).

★ Rallying behind Bandila (PJR Reports - CMFR, September 2006 Issue)

Related Pages

★ Korina Sanchez

★ ABS-CBN News

★ ABS-CBN Insider

★ The World Tonight

External links

★ Bandila Official Website

★ ABS-CBN News

★ ABS-CBN

★ ABS-CBNNow