- If you were looking for radio program on DZBB-AM, see Saksi sa Dobol B.
| “ | Sama-sama tayong magiging Saksi! | ” | |
—Arnold Clavio and Pia Arcangel during the newscast's opening billboard from December 18, 2023. | |||
Saksi (originally titled Saksi: GMA Headline Balita and previously Saksi: Liga ng Katotohanan) is the longest-running newscast of GMA Network. It premiered on October 2, 1995, as a late-afternoon newscast. In 1996, it moved to a primetime slot and in 2002, transferred to a late-night timeslot. The newscast airs live daily from Monday to Fridays from 10:20pm to 11:00pm, and is currently anchored by Pia Arcangel.
History[]
In the last quarter of 1995, GMA Network launched an early evening news program that distinguished itself from other newscasts by taking the viewers right to where the news is happening. The pace was brisk, the look was new, the language was easily understood and the response was overwhelming. it transferred its timeslot from primetime (6:00 pm) to evening (10:30 pm), replacing the defunct late-night news program Frontpage. It also expanded its running time from 15 minutes to 30 minutes with its reformat as a late-night news program
1995-1996: Enriquez and Davila era[]
The program, originally entitled "Saksi: GMA Headline Balita", started as a 90-minutes newscast from Monday to Friday. It was then anchored by Mike Enriquez (then known as "Mr. Saksi") and Karen Davila. "Saksi" became popular in such a short time, that people were using the word as a catchphrase, complete with the pointed forefinger like the program’s news anchors. In the early years of the newscast, the anchors, especially Enriquez, popularized the word "pasok" (come in) in introducing kapuso reporters (who included Jessica Soho, Daniel Razon, Arnold Clavio, Mao dela Cruz, Susan Enriquez, Tina Panganiban-Perez, Jiggy Manicad, Martin Andanar, Israel Cando, Abner Mercado, Marilen Cawad, Alex Tinsay and Jay Taruc among others) This method of introducing reporters was also previously used in GMA's other regional news programs patterned after "Saksi" like "Balitang Bisdak" (Cebu), "Testigo" (Davao) and "Ratsada" (Iloilo).
1996-1998: Tiangco, Enriquez and Davila era[]
On July 8, 1996, Mel Tiangco joined Enriquez and Davila, after her transfer from ABS-CBN when she was suspended from doing a TV commercial. Economist Solita "Winnie" Monsod also joined the newscast with her own opinion segment, "Mareng Winnie" (which became a moniker by which she has been since known for). Other special segments, such as Huling Hirit (light human-interest stories to cap the newscast, reported by Kara David), S na S (Showbiz sa Saksi) (a showbiz segment with Lyn Ching then she anchored with Enriquez, Davila and Tiangco) and Jessica Soho Reports were also added to the news program, as its set was reformatted and running time was expanded to 30 minutes.
On May 29, 1998, Enriquez and Davila took-over an indefinite leave and eventually left the newscast, leaving Mel Tiangco as the sole anchor.
1998-1999: Tiangco, Sonza and Cruz-Valdes era[]
In June 1, 1998, Jay Sonza and Luchi Cruz-Valdes was joined by Mel Tiangco and they replaced Enriquez and Davila while Enriquez appointed as an anchor of GMA Network News with Vicky Morales who and the news team switched the newscast to Taglish then Filipino. Sonza, who was also transferred from ABS-CBN as news anchors with Mel Tiangco, continued to use Mike Enriquez's catchphrase "pasok" when he anchored the newscast. Davila, on the other hand became a co-host of Extra-Extra, a magazine program featuring different human-interest and entertainment stories (which also served as pre-programming to Saksi). New segments such as, "Pulso ng Mamamayan" where the program asks to citizens to speak up and tell them what they think of what's happening in the country today. Thus, Saksi and Partners Mel and Jay are the news programs exclusive to them and expanded the newscast to 90 minutes.
1999-2004: Enriquez and Morales era[]
On August 23, 1999, Tiangco was appointed as anchor of Frontpage, which replaced GMA Network News on the late-night weeknight slot. She, Sonza and Valdes were replaced by Enriquez and Morales, thus continuing their partnership on GMA Network News. The original subtitle, "GMA Headline Balita," was also dropped since then. Enriquez returned to Saksi after a year of absence. He continued to used the word "pasok" but only for live reports. In the last quarter of 1999, this style of introducing reporters was also previously used in GMA's other regional news programs patterned after "Saksi" premiered on October 4 like Balitang Bisdak (GMA Cebu), Testigo (GMA Davao, now One Mindanao) and Ratsada (GMA Iloilo, now relaunched into One Western Visayas). The studio set also used chroma-key technology, and later on they transferred to the newly built GMA Network Center in 1999. This was also the beginning of simulcasting the newscast on the network's radio station, Super Radyo DZBB 594 kHz.
On July 15, 2002, Saksi exchanged timeslots with Frontpage in order for the latter show to compete with ABS-CBN's TV Patrol (which was, incidentally, the newscast that Tiangco came from before transferring to GMA). By the same day, the program is reformatted as a late-night newscast. The shift to late-night also prompted the start of "Side Trip", a human-interest segment hosted by Howie Severino.
In the same year, Saksi won the Gold Medal for Best Newscast in the New York Festival, becoming one of the few news programs outside the United States to receive the said honor. The award (with the George Foster Peabody Award that the network won in 1998) was later recognized by the Philippine Congress by issuing the network a commendation for its work in News and Public Affairs.
On June 30, 2003, along with Unang Hirit, Frontpage: Ulat ni Mel Tiangco, and GMA Flash Report, it relaunched and introduced its new studio set, new theme music, and graphic package.
On September 23, 2003, Bernadette Sembrano quit the program.
In the same year, "Saksi" won the the Gold Medal for Best Newscast in the New York Festival, becoming one of the few news programs outside the United States to receive the said honor. The award (With the Peabody Award that the network won in 1998) was later recognized by the Philippine Congress by issuing the network a commendation for its work in News and Public Affairs.
On March 12, 2004, Enriquez left the newscast for 24 Oras, with Morales remaining as the main anchor. The newscast was also given new weekday graphics and new virtual background.
2004-2014: Clavio and Morales era[]
On March 15, 2004, after Enriquez left for 24 Oras, Arnold Clavio was named his replacement. The newscast was reintroduced as "Saksi: Liga ng Katotohanan" (Legion of Truth).
In September 2004, the show was listed top 10 from the AGB Nielsen TV Ratings, leading Saksi, the most-watched late-night newscast.
On December 1, 2005, the coverage by Saksi of a siege of Camp Bagong Diwa was mentioned in the best news program category in the
The show relaunched in April 17, 2006 with a new graphics package, and a new set with floating large rear projection screens that allow the anchors to virtually "talk" to correspondents in live feeds, also the anchors are doing stand-up news delivery. The studio set was shared by 24 Oras during that time. Nathaniel Cruz, who later became a resident meteorologist of GMA News and Public Affairs for IMReady in 2012, anchors weather news during severe weather conditions.
A notable coverage of the program was the 2005 Papal conclave which was covered by Morales at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City.
On August 11, 2008, together with Unang Hirit, 24 Oras, GMA Flash Report, GMA Weekend Report, Balitanghali and News on Q, it was relaunched with a new start, new opening billboard (OBB) and a competitive outlook.
On April 2010, the show became the home of Vizrt Touchscreen system a real-time broadcast solutions system which is used in the YouScoop segment designed and developed by GMA New Media.
On February 21, 2011, alongside Unang Hirit, 24 Oras, 24 Oras Weekend and GMA Flash Report, the newscast transferred its new studios, Studio 5; launched new graphics, new theme, and new OBB. The new theme music is a remix of Saksi 2002-2011 theme music & an element of an opera voice which was developed in 2010.
On October 10, 2011, Saksi updated only its graphics. This also use a new font Antique Olive on their graphics, replacing Myriadfont, which is used on other GMA newscasts.
On June 4, 2012, Saksi and other GMA News programs launched its new weather segment titled IMReady: GMA Weather (based on the advisory advertisement of the said title and the branding of IMReady, now GMA Integrated News Weather Center).
On June 2013, Saksi introduced its augmented reality graphics, initially used at the beginning of the show for presentation/demonstration purposes. It is currently used for US Dollar exchange rate, Metro Manila air index, some live crosses and for other occasional purposes (such as Christmas/New Year Countdowns and demographics/data gathering in connection of a certain news story).
A notable coverage of GMA News for "Super Typhoon Yolanda", covering the devastating Typhoon Haiyan (international name), won its 4th George Foster's Peabody Awards in 2014
On July 2013, Mikael Daez joined the show as the anchor of the segment Midnight Snack The segment was later retitled as Midnight Express.
2014-present: Clavio and Arcangel era[]
On November 3, 2014, GMA News announced the appointment of Pia Arcangel to the late-night newscast. Her arrival to the newscast was scheduled to November 3 but it did not took effect as Arcangel was on a hosting Unang Hirit, Rhea Santos became his co-anchor, finishing the departed anchor's five remaining episodes. Instead, was given a new and enhanced studio set, which was exclusively for 24 Oras.
On November 10, 2014, Pia Arcangel, former anchor of Balitanghali, finally arrived the newscast, joining Clavio, replacing Morales, who moved to 24 Oras as it's 3rd anchor. The same night, the show updated its graphics, opening billboard, and title card. Another innovation for the newscast is by sending reactions through text messaging. Another addition is the segment Trending Saksi, which focuses on different personalities in showbiz and Showbiz Saksi.
On March 16, 2015, the show updated its title card, returning the Eurostile text font.
On July 7, 2017, Saksi, for the third time, unveiled its new title card. The opening title was introduced on July 17, 2017.
On December 17, 2018, the newscast began airing on Studio 2, as its main studio, Studio 5 (which was also used by 24 Oras and State of the Nation) underwent renovations. Studio 2 is also the studio where GMA News TV's programs are filmed.
On May 13, 2019, in time with the 2019 Philippine general election, the newscast returned to the newly-renovated Studio 5 along with 24 Oras and State of the Nation. The newscast aired with new OBB, graphics, and logo (in which the font used is similar to its teleradyo spin-off). The newscast also updated its theme song, replacing the old theme song that was in use since 2014, and the ticker has been removed completely.
In April 2020, the program was suspended due to the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The show resumed its programming on June 1, 2020.
On December 18, 2023, Saksi, alongside 24 Oras, the Unang Balita segment of Unang Hirit, Balitanghali, State of the Nation and GMA Integrated News Bulletin revamped their graphics, logo, and music, as well as the OBB, which features rotating letters/logos akin to the 2013 and 2016 Marvel Studios logos. The change is part of GMA Integrated News's unified corporate identity.
On June 3, 2024, the newscast moved to its earlier 10:20pm to 11:00pm timeslot to avoid conflicting with GTV's State of the Nation, which airs from 11:05pm to 11:25pm. Later that month, Arnold Clavio later became inactive due to a hemorrhagic stroke, with Atom Araullo anchoring in his place for the meantime. On October 25, 2024, GMA Integrated News posted on their social media accounts, announcing Arcangel as the sole anchor for the newscast.[1] It was also reported that Clavio would be permanently laid off from the newscast as a cost-cutting measure. On November 12, 2024, the opening billboard was updated, and the footage of the anchors was re-recorded to have Arcangel say the title of the newscast alone.
Anchors[]
- Pia Arcangel (since 2014)
Segment Hosts[]
- Amor Larrosa (2023, GMA Integrated News Weather Center)
Former anchors[]
- Mike Enriquez (1995–2004)
- Karen Davila (1995–1998)
- Mel Tiangco (1996–1999)
- Jay Sonza (1998–1999)
- Luchi Cruz-Valdes (1998–1999)
- Vicky Morales (1999–2014)
- Arnold Clavio (2004-2024)
Segment anchors[]
- Winnie Monsod (1996–1999, Mareng Winnie)
- Lyn Ching (1996–2002, S na S: Showbiz na Saksi)
- Kara David (1996–2002, Huling Hirit)
- Jessica Soho (1996–1999, Jessica Soho Reports)
- Amado Pineda (1995–1996, weatherman)
- Rey Pacheco (1996–2004, weatherman)
- Howie Severino (2002-2013, Side Trip)
- Mikael Daez (2013, Midnight Express)
Trivia[]
- With only one anchor, Saksi is tied with State of the Nation, TV5's Frontline Express and ABS-CBN's TV Patrol Weekend as among the currently airing Philippine television newscasts to have a sole anchor.
- Alongside Frontline Express and TV Patrol Weekend, Saksi is also among the currently airing newscasts in which their sole anchor is a female.
References[]
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