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Arnold Clavio is a highly controversial journalist among the Kapuso fanbase/community and is or may be one of the leading causes of flame wars and/or flame edit wars, and may also contain inaccurate, misleading, or shocking content. You can still edit and/or comment on this article but with extreme caution!
Reason: Controversy that occurred in 2020 regarding his past relationship with Sarah Balabagan.

Arnold Clavio, commonly nicknamed Igan, is a Filipino newscaster and TV host. He currently hosts the morning show, Unang Hirit and its newscast segment Unang Balita. He is also a co-host of One On One on DZBB with Connie Sison, and has anchored Saksi from 2004 to 2024.

Biography

Arnold_Clavio_para_sa_GMA_Integrated_News

Arnold Clavio para sa GMA Integrated News

Whilst in school, Clavio was a member of his school newspaper's editorial staff. In college, he studied journalism at the University of Santo Tomas (UST).[1]

After graduating, Clavio worked as a news writer at DWIZ. After a year, he became a field reporter for GMA Network's flagship radio station, DZBB.[2]

Clavio made his first appearance as a television news reporter in 1994, when GMA offered him a reporter's slot in Brigada Siete,[3] co-hosting with the late Louie Beltran and Jessica Soho.[2][4] The next year, the Philippine Department of Health awarded Clavio top prize in their Philippine AIDS-STD Media Awards for his report on Sarah Jane Salazar.[5] Later that year, the Asian Broadcasting Union named Clavio's coverage of Abu Sayyaf the "Best Reportage of a Crisis."

In 1996, Clavio became the host of Emergency, a late-night news and public affairs program, replacing Edu Manzano.[6] In 1999, he began to co-host Unang Hirit, an early morning news and lifestyle program.

Three years later, Clavio was hosting his morning radio program, Dobol A sa Dobol B.[5] The program was named 1999's "Best Public Affairs Program" on radio by the KBP Golden Dove Awards.

On November of that year, he co-hosted the Eat Bulaga Silver Special, a collaboration between TAPE Productions and GMA News and Public Affairs, with his co-host from Unang Hirit, Rhea Santos.

In 2009 and 2010, Clavio hosted a variety of television programs. In March 2009, he co-hosted Case Unclosed, replacing Kara David. In September of that year, he was a guest newscaster for 24 Oras Weekend, a special weekend newscast that aired after Typhoon Ondoy, Typhoon Pepeng, and the Maguindanao massacre.

In March 2010, Clavio became the host of Kandidato, a public affairs talk show featuring interviews with presidential candidates. The next month, the primetime talk show Tonight with Arnold Clavio was launched on the Q channel and GMA News TV. Clavio also hosted a new public service program called Rescue a month later.

In February 2011, he became a solo newscaster on Balita Pilipinas.

In March 2012, he was named as one of the 18 awardees at the 2nd UST AB Gantimpala Awards held at Club Filipino in Greenhills.[7]

In December 2012, Clavio was inducted to the Eastwood City Walk of Fame for his work as a newscaster.[8][9]

On June 11, 2024, he suffered a hemorrhagic stroke.

As he was driving home after playing golf on June 11, he felt a strange sensation on his right side. He describes it as "matinding pamamanhid sa kanang braso at binti."

"'Di ko na rin maramdaman ang pag-apak sa pedal ng gas at brake," he said on Instagram.

He decided to take a break at a nearest gas station to check himself.

"Papunta ng restroom, hindi na ako makalakad. Kailangan ko na may mahawakan," the Kapuso journalist narrated.

He quickly checked if there was a droop on his face, or if his eyes were swollen.

According to Medical News Today, a droop or numbness on the left side of a person's face is a common sign of stroke.

But when he found none, Arnold went back to his car and told himself he will stop at the nearest hospital. The drive down from Antipolo was not easy, he added.

At the emergency room of Fatima University Medical Center, he underwent a number of tests. "Lumitaw na ang blood pressure (BP) ko ay nasa 220/120 at ang blood sugar ko ay umabot ng 270," Arnold continued.

He took a CT Scan and quickly learned there was a "slight bleeding" in the left part of his brain. "At sa oras na yon, ako ay nagkaroon na ng ‘HEMORRHAGIC STROKE’!" He narrated.

Arnold said he was transferred to St. Lukes Hospital in Metro Manila for further observation. "Agad akong inasikaso sa ER ng kanilang brain attack team at dinala sa Acute Stroke Unit ng ospital para ganap na bantayan ang aking BP at sugar," he continued.

Arnold did not disclose whether or not he was safe from danger but he managed to say a thanksgiving prayer and a lesson in his post.

"ARAL: Feeling OK does not mean your OK. Feeling good does not mean we’re good. Listen to your body. Traydor ang hypertension! Always check your BP," he wrote.

Controversy

On March 15, 2012, the Philippine Football Federation lodged a formal complaint with the GMA Network regarding allegedly "racist, discriminatory, libelous and malicious statements made by Clavio."[10][11]

In May 2013, after TV host Vice Ganda made a "rape joke" in reference to Clavio's fellow anchor Jessica Soho, Clavio came out in defense of Soho, expressing his disapproval of Vice's remarks.[12]

On November 6, 2013, Clavio came under fire for an interview conducted with attorney Alfredo Villamor on the morning talk show Unang Hirit. Villamor was standing in for Janet Napoles to discuss the "Pork Barrel scandal."[10]

In August 2020, former OFW Sarah Balabagan, who is now a host of a Las Vegas-based radio program, claimed in a Facebook livestream that Clavio was the father of her eldest child, and that their relationship happened when she was still 17 years old.[13][14] The revelation also sparked criticism on social media, with one Twitter user calling him "a pedophile".[15] Balabagan had clarified in her livestream that the revelation was not out of revenge, but to merely put rumors to rest.[16] She also added that she apologized to "everyone she hurt", including her family and Clavio's family, and that Clavio's wife forgave her through Facebook Messenger.[17][18]

On November 13, 2020, Clavio, along with his co-host Ali Sotto, earned the ire of netizens after he asked an 'insensitive' question towards a woman who was a victim of Typhoon Vamco (locally named Ulysses). Vamco brought heavy flooding and left Metro Manila and several parts of Luzon in devastation on Thursday, November 12. Among those who were affected by the flood was Angela Jardin whom the two asked, a resident from Provident Village in Marikina. She and five other people were stranded on the third floor of her house during the Typhoon's landfall. The conversation earned a lot of criticism from netizens who called out the radio anchors for being insensitive towards the victim. Netizens said it seems like he blamed the victim for choosing to stay in their house. Many netizens called out Clavio and Sotto for their "privilege" as they assume that others have options to find a better shelter.[19]

Career timeline

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1994-2001 Brigada Siete Host
1995-1998 GMA Balita Anchor
1995-2009 Emergency Host
1998-1999 Mornings @ GMA Host
1999-present Unang Hirit Host/Anchor (Unang Balita)
2004-2024 Saksi Anchor
2007 Philippine Agenda Host
2009-2010 Case Unclosed Host
2010, 2013 Kandidato Host
2010-2013 Rescue Host
2010-2020 Tonight with Arnold Clavio Host
2011 Sanib Puwersa Host
2011-2012, 2017-present Dobol B sa News TV/Dobol B TV Radio anchor
2011-2014 Balita Pilipinas Primetime Anchor
2013-2021 Alisto Host

Radio

Title Year
Dobol A sa Dobol B 1998–2020
One on One with Igan 2008–2014
Saksi sa Dobol B 1999–present
One on One: Walang Personalan 2021-present

Trivia

  • Other than Unang Hirit, Arnold Clavio is the longest serving anchor of Saksi with a record of 20 years from 2004 to 2024.
    • His departure from the newscast may be due to health reasons (thus limiting his appearance to Unang Hirit) and as part of the cost-cutting measure.
  1. "Emergency" (3 March 2001).
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Arnold Clavio: Ready for any Emergency". philstar.com (August 13, 2003).
  3. Philippine Daily Inquirer March 16, 2002.
  4. Philippine Daily Inquirer March 15, 2002.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Arnold Clavio celebrates 25 years in journalism". GMANetwork.com (December 19, 2012).
  6. Philippine Daily Inquirer March 16, 2002.
  7. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :0
  8. "Arnold Clavio, kabilang sa 27 na ginawaran ng bituin sa Eastwood City Walk of Fame". GMANetwork.com. Retrieved on 5 December 2012.
  9. "Arnold Clavio Biography". pinoystop. Retrieved on 2014-10-02.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Template:Cite news
  11. "Brown-skin chauvinism: GMA-7, Clavio should apologize (updated)" (21 March 2012). Retrieved on 6 November 2013.
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  19. "Arnold Clavio bashed for 'insensitive' remark to a victim of Typhoon Ulysses".
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