One Western Visayas gets new look, upgraded reportage

One Western Visayas, pioneering unified Hiligaynon newscast, marks its anniversary by debuting a new look and upgraded delivery of news and information in Western Visayas tomorrow, August 12.

It was on August 27 last year when GMA Regional TV took the bold step of launching its fourth regional newscast to cater to Kapuso viewers in Iloilo, Bacolod, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental.

One Western Visayas further challenges itself this time as it breaks the monotony of having the news delivered from a desk which viewers have been accustomed of. Instead, its revamped news studio now consists of a more relaxed environment where anchor Atty. Sedfrey Cabaluna will be seen seated on a couch, somehow reaching out to viewers like a family member in their extended living room.

Joining Atty. Cabaluna are Bacolod co-anchor and correspondent Adrian Prietos and Iloilo co-anchor Kaitlene Rivilla who will deliver news and stories that are more comprehensible and appealing to the audience. Together with Prietos and Rivilla are the newscasts’ award-winning correspondents Zen Quilantang, Darylle Marie Sarmiento, and John Sala along with the network of stringers across Western Visayas—all dedicated and committed to bring the local news that matters to the viewers in the regions.

“For the past two weeks this month, we have been presenting our local newscasts in Eastern and Central Visayas and North Central Luzon as extensions of the viewers’ living rooms in the regions so as to better connect with them,” says GMA Regional TV Vice President and Head Oliver Amoroso. “One Western Visayas is no exception. In just a span of 11 months, it has been able to accomplish its goal of providing a unified local newscast for our Kapuso in Western Visayas.”

He adds, “Local news is an essential part of our daily lives. Yet in this age where Filipinos are bombarded with a myriad of choices on how to consume information, it becomes more crucial for us in GMA Regional TV to become more efficient and creative in producing and presenting our news and feature stories. This is why beginning August 12, we give our viewers a better One Western Visayas.”

One Western Visayas Bacolod co-anchor and correspondent Adrian Prietos (center) and Iloilo co-anchor Kaitlene Rivilla (second from right) are joined by award-winning correspondents (from left) John Sala, Zen Quilantang, and Darylle Marie Sarmiento.

The youngest GMA Regional TV local news program, One Western Visayas has also made a name by reaping recognitions from various award-giving bodies. At the recent Gandingan 2019: The 13th UPLB Isko’t Iska’s Multi-Media Awards by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), it won the “Most Development-Oriented News Story” award for “GMA Regional TV Presents: Modern Day Heroes.” At the same time, its report “Bigyan ng Halaga” emerged as the “Most Development-Oriented Feature Story”.

“These only reflect our commitment to produce programs attuned to stories, voices, and viewership outside of Metro Manila. We thank our Kapuso viewers because without them, One Western Visayas would not be this successful,” ends Amoroso.

One Western Visayas airs from Mondays to Fridays at 5 p.m. on GMA TV-6 Iloilo with simultaneous broadcast on GMA TV-6 Guimaras and via satellite on GMA TV-13 Bacolod, TV-10 Sipalay, TV-5 Roxas, TV-2 Kalibo, and TV-7 Tablas.