"As a reporter, all I wanted to do was to give a voice to the voiceless by telling the stories of the poorest and most marginalized Filipinos. In those 23 years of my career as a broadcast journalist, I traveled from Luzon to Mindanao and documented the perennial problems that challenge millions of Filipinos.
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Now, beyond reporting, I continue to strive in serving Filipinos by sharing my story, inspiring others - especially the youth - to keep the spirit of journalism alive, and to provide opportunities that educate others particularly the underprivileged.
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Poverty, crime, disaster, malnutrition, and corruption - I am thankful I can now serve differently in addressing these same issues as fervently as I reported them before."
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- Jiggy Manicad
Jiggy Manicad is an award-winning broadcast journalist and now a committed public servant promoting progress for his fellow Filipinos through agriculture, entrepreneurship, and education.
For 23 years, Rodrigo "Jiggy" Defeo Manicad served as an international award-winning broadcast journalist and was the former anchor and host of GMA7's 24 Oras Weekend, Reporter's Notebook, and GMA News TV's Quick Response Team (QRT).
For his untiring dedication in reporting the plight of Filipinos in scenes of war, disaster, crime, and more, he has earned over 100 journalism awards, including The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) award for broadcast journalism in 2012, the Metrobank Foundation's Journalist of the Year in 2014, the University of the Philippines at Los Baños (UPLB) Distinguished Alumnus Award for Public Service, as well as those from the New York International Film and Video Festivals, US International Film and Video Festival, Asian Television Awards, Catholic Mass Media Awards and more. Manicad also led the media coverage of Typhoon Haiyan, resulting in his network winning the internationally coveted George Foster Peabody Award.
Following his stellar career in journalism, Manicad is now a dedicated public servant advocating for development through agriculture and education.
Through the Jiggy Manicad Learning Foundation (JMLF), he has led in providing free classes and lectures on journalism and reporting to over 80 public and private schools around the Philippines. JMLF also regularly distributes school supplies and educational materials and organizes feeding programs and workshops for kids in the poorest of the poor communities nationwide.
As the host of the GMA7 show AgriPreneur, Manicad is also pushing for better conditions for the country's millions of farmers and agripreneurs. Aside from providing learning opportunities and promoting best practices innovations in agriculture and business through his show, Manicad is also a staunch advocate for the welfare of farmers, believing that a successful agricultural industry is a big step closer towards a better Philippines for all.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
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The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Award for Broadcast Journalism (2012)
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George Foster Peabody Award (as part of the team that led the Typhoon Haiyan Coverage in Tacloban City) (2014)
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Journalist of the Year, Metrobank Foundation and Probe Media Foundation (2013)
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University of the Philippines at Los Baños (UPLB) Distinguished
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Alumnus Award for Public Service (2014)
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"Super Journalist" Award for the SM Super Media Awards (2014)
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Men Who Matter by People Asia Magazine (2015)
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Outstanding Lagunense (2010)
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Outstanding San Pableno (2009)
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Fellow, Jaime V. Ongpin Journalism
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Multiple Citations as Best TV Reporter and Best News Anchor from the Gandingan: Broadcast Choice Awards, Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption Awards, COMGUILD Center for Journalism Awards, OFW Gawad Parangal, Sangyaw Awards and more
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Awards from the New York International Film and Video Festivals, US International Film and Video Festival, Asian Television Awards, Catholic Mass Media Awards, Kagitingan Awards for Television and more
FOR YOUR READING LIST:
On the Edge: On Assignment with Jiggy Manicad
Anvil Publishing (2016)
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On The Edge is a compilation of twenty of the news reports by one of GMA News and Public Affairs’ award-winning broadcast journalists, Mr. Jiggy Manicad. The book features Mr. Manicad’s coverage of some of the most relevant and controversial local and international events.