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By Gary C. Devilles
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He may not exactly be the pleasant voice that
warms your mornings and tells you that the world is a better place,
but for almost twenty years as a broadcast journalist on radio and
television, Arnold Clavio’s voice booms with energy that wins
hearts and minds of listeners and viewers, helping people to discern
important issues, and promote a sense of responsibility and public
awareness for children with life-threatening diseases who are
unfortunately bereft of emotional and financial support. Clavio’s
foray into the broadcasting industry is largely credited to his
wife, who, as he recalls, was then pregnant with their first child.
His wife was listening to the radio (DWIZ to be specific) and heard
that there was an opening for an announcer. Since he was a
Journalism graduate from the University of Santo Tomas, his wife
thought then that maybe this was the opportunity he was waiting for,
a chance to land a real job. Arnold was hesitant at first as
he was still mounting two productions with the Teatro Tomasino, the
university resident theater group. Although hooked in theater, he
was also aware of the growing expenditures of his new family and the
pressure to provide adequate support, so he nonetheless went to the
station office and filed his application for the job.
Clavio shares that his first attempt at being a
broadcaster was overwhelming because he had no idea that he would be
competing with other broadcasters with more experience. But
things turned out favorable for him, and it helped that the
secretary of the office happened to be a UST alumna who immediately
took a fondness of Clavio. His theater experience also gave him an
edge over other hopefuls during the audition.
Back then, radio program anchors would announce
the time of the day on a regular basis and Clavio still remembers
his first lines on air: “Ang oras ay hatid sa inyo ng… [This
time is brought to you by…]”
His mom was proud of her son’s feat, and
cooked pasta for Clavio to celebrate. The following week, he was
given a two-liner, and it was his father’s turn to host a
celebration. “Mababaw lang talaga ang kaligayahan ng aming pamilya,
“ he admits, in whisper.
Things were going smoothly for Clavio until one
day, for no apparent reason, he was terminated by the station
manager. “I was clueless, “ he reveals. Thinking that his days
as a broadcast journalist are over, he took on a job in a
packaging business. When the owners of the firm learned about
his real passion, they introduced him to a relative who had strong
ties with a TV and radio network owner. That introduction
paved the way for Clavio to return to where he thinks he really
belonged.
Clavio’s first assignment was to cover Malacañang
and the Senate during the most exciting time of Cory Aquino’s
presidency and this stint introduced him to other veteran
journalists like Jun Bautista and Bobby Guanzon. Over the
radio, he was doing “Istorya ni Boto,” a light yet critical take
on political scenario of the country at that time. His antics
made him so popular that Jessica Soho and other broadcast
journalists of GMA 7 thought of getting him for Brigada Siyete, a TV
public affairs program, where his job was primarily to anchor and
provide critical though amusing commentaries and remarks.
Brigada Siyete paved the way for his exposé of
“dog-fighting” in the countryside and the Abu Sayyaf crisis in
Basilan. In retrospect, Clavio says that his assignment in
Basilan was his most challenging work to date. He recalls a story
where an Abu Sayyaf member was asking for his jacket and he refused
to give it. “Pwedeng pagbalik ko na lang [I’ll give you one when
I come back],” he remembers telling the person who wanted his
jacket so much. His crew members, fearing for their lives, thought
that his candid remark would send them to their graves. It was
providential nothing happened to them when apparently they have
witnessed another Abu Sayyaf member firing his gun indiscriminately
at civilians.
Another challenge for Clavio then was the
problem of sending news to Manila. Without the benefit of Internet
and other modern communication devices, he interviewed Abu Sayyaf
members in the morning, worked on their stories, edited these by
afternoon, and then sent their works via banca to the next town to
catch the only flight to Manila so that his story would be aired the
following day. When almost all TV networks were reporting that the
Abu Sayyaf hostages were already dead, it was only GMA 7 news that
delivered the accurate news.
Clavio was eventually tasked to host Emergency
in 1996, a late-night public affairs program of GMA 7 that features
life-threatening situations, medical breakthroughs and highlights of
the human spirit. It was on this show that he got the idea of
helping poor children with life-threatening diseases who come from
families that cannot provide adequately for their medication and
needs. In one episode, he remembers how he was able to make a kid
suffering from cancer laugh uncontrollably. That moment was
indeed cathartic not only because he felt genuinely the suffering of
the child but he wanted to do something concrete for a lot of them,
not just in telling their stories.
Clavio eventually sought the help of friends
like Pat Go-Niesce, Felipe Gozon, and Bo Sanchez, and together they
came up with a foundation that would help ease the burden of these
children and inspire them to focus on their future. Igan ng
Pilipinas Foundation Inc. provides resources as incentives for
children undergoing chemotherapy and other medical procedures.
“Igan” is short for “kaibigan,” the Tagalog term for friend.
The foundation has also provides support programs and activities for
these children, raises public awareness for their condition and
funding for their medical needs.
Clavio is a father of three and what he feels
for his own kids, he feels also for other children as well. For many
years now, he has been part of Unang Hirit, a daily morning show
where he reports the news and current events. Being a comic at
heart, Clavio became a staple for the morning show. “You really
can’t be that dead serious in a morning show,” he quips,
“that’s why there’s a need to be as light as possible without
compromising the philosophy of public service.”
It is in his radio shows that Clavio becomes
much more passionate as a broadcast journalist. “Radio listeners
are different from TV viewers,” he explains. As an anchorman
with Ali Sotto in Dobol A sa Dobol B, DZBB Super Radyo AM 594khz, he
relentlessly pursues truth and listeners are quick to see his
sincerity and professionalism. He recalls his exclusive interview
with then-Captain Panfilo Villaruel who took over the Ninoy Aquino
International Airport main tower in 2003. When Villaruel was
already surrendering via DZBB, government troops apparently were
unaware of what was going on and continued to assault the captain.
Before Villaruel died, he was talking to Arnold, telling him of what
was terribly wrong in this country. That poignant moment still
remains fresh in Clavio’s memory.
Without a doubt, Clavio has earned his
reputation over the years and this could be proven by the numerous
awards and citations he has received from the Golden Hearts
Foundation Inc. in New York, Catholic Mass Media Awards and Golden
Dove Awards. Currently, he is anchoring Saksi: Liga ng Katotohan, a
late-night newscast of GMA 7. When asked about the present
controversy regarding ratings of TV networks, Clavio has this to
say, “the broadcasting industry is a small world, and it is sad
that when one meets peers from the other network one cannot help but
be hurt by this accusation.” In the end, Arnold hopes that the
real broadcast journalists will see beyond this controversy, that
news is not just business talk, and the commitment to listeners and
viewers becomes paramount to all. These are the few things he
learned when he was still in journalism school and these are also
the same things he feels should be told at present.
He encourages young and aspiring journalists to
continue what they are doing and pursue their ideals even though the
job is not financially rewarding. When asked if he is going to
enter politics, Clavio’s reply was quick and firm, “What for?
When one can do what he truly loves and can make a difference in the
lives of others along the way, that in itself is service to one’s
country, service to humanity.”
In this age of silencing truth, Arnold
Clavio’s voice continues to be heard—delivering news, delivering
change.
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