ABS-CBN aims to bolster its late-night newscast Bandila by bringing together broadcast journalists Ces Oreña Drilon, Julius Babao, and Karen Davila to deliver the day's hottest stories beginning Monday (November 22).
Henry Omaga-Diaz was one of the original anchors of Bandila, along with Ces and Korina Sanchez. It aired its pilot telecast on July 2006.
After four years, he will no longer be part of Bandila, but he will continue doing special reports and investigative stories for the Kapamilya Network.
According to ABS-CBN's corporate communications department, the entry of Julius and Karen also marks a more interactive Bandila, where viewers can air their reactions to every news item.
Through the official pages of Bandila on Facebook and Twitter, and the three anchors' personal accounts, viewers may send in their comments while the newscast is going on.
After each report, the three anchors will read some of the entries live on air.
Bandila executive producer Paul Henson said this is another way to empower Filipinos, aside from encouraging them to report to the "Bayan Mo, iPatrol Mo: Ako ang Simula" citizen journalism campaign.
"We want our viewers to have a platform where they can immediately express themselves, where they feel empowered to take part not just in the discussion but in finding solutions to the issue at hand," said Henson.
Ces has long juggled anchoring and reporting duties from her stint in The World Tonight in the early '90s up to the present, as one of the original anchors of Bandila.
She was among the journalists whose lives were put in danger during the Manila Peninsula Siege in 2007. Ces is also the anchor of current affairs programs such as Pipol, The Correspondents, and I Survived.
Like Ces, Karen is a former anchor of The Correspondents, the news documentary program that has won her awards from UNICEF Child Rights Awards (2005), Asian TV Awards (2006), and New York TV and Film Festivals (2004 and 2007).
She was also named Broadcast Journalist of the Year by the Rotary Club of Manila in 2004 and one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men in 2008.
Karen also won Best Female TV Newscaster in the recent 2010 PMPC Star Awards, while Julius took home the trophy in the male category for the third straight year.
Julius also anchors a radio program in DZMM and the investigative program XXX, where he personally joins authorities in surveillance and raids.
Bandila itself has gained numerous recognitions and/or nominations from award-giving bodies like the Golden Dove Awards, Star Awards, Asian TV Awards, and the International Emmys.
Ces Oreña Drilon, Julius Babao, and Karen Davila will host Bandila from Monday to Fridaystarting Monday, November 22, on ABS-CBN.