Unang Hirit (First Strike) is a Philippine morning show broadcast by GMA Network. It premiered on December 6, 1999 replacing Mornings @ GMA, and is currently hosted by Arnold Clavio, Suzi Entrata-Abrera, Lyn Ching, Susan Enriquez, Ivan Mayrina and Mariz Umali. The program airs daily from Monday to Fridays at 5:30 to 8:00 AM on GMA Network. It is the longest-running morning show in the Philippines.
Overview[]
Unang Hirit was premiered on GMA Network on December 6, 1999, replacing Mornings @ GMA. Lyn Ching, Suzi Entrata, Ryan Agoncillo, Mickey Ferriols, Arnold Clavio, and Miriam Quiambao started the show as the original hosts.
On July 15, 2002, the show launched the news segment Unang Balita.
On June 30, 2003, the show relaunched its studio set, and graphics package. It changed its set and graphics again on March 15, 2004 as Clavio became the anchor of the late-night newscast Saksi. Pia Arcangel became one of its hosts during this year. The show relaunched with the introduction of the show's clock mascot (named Clocky).
On August 11, 2008, the show relaunched its main studio, graphic package. The studio for Unang Balita was also used for Q's Balitanghali and News on Q. Around 2009, Unang Hirit aired its special edition on Sunday for the typhoon coverage. On December 2009, the show celebrated its 10th anniversary by launching a new logo. The clock mascot was still used on the lower thirds. On March 22, 2010, corresponding with the summer season, newly upgraded graphics have been shown with a summer aspect to it. This was also the day when Connie Sison, Luane Dy and Monica Verallo were formally announced on-air that they are officially part of the UH Barkada. A new OBB was also launched again corresponding with the summer season. In 2010, the new opening billboard is launched corresponding with the school opening. On January 3, 2011, the show was renamed or had an added tagline "Bagong Dekada" in the show's name.
On February 21, 2011, along with 24 Oras, Saksi and GMA Flash Report, the program introduced a new studio set, new graphics, new theme, and new OBB. The clock mascot was removed entirely from the graphics. On April 11, 2011, UH original host Edu Manzano returned to the show. A day later, Lhar Santiago accidentally broke his right arm and his injured right eyebrow during the show's game called "Tumbang Preso". He was later sent to the hospital. On October 19, 2012, Susan Enriquez left the show to anchor and host the newest morning newscast-commentary program Kape at Balita aired on GMA News TV beginning October 22; however, due to the cancellation of the show in 2013 later, Enriquez later returned on the show. On October 22, 2012, the show updated its graphics and GMA reporter Jun Veneracion join the show as a replacement for Clavio less than a month when he came back to the show on November 12, 2012. Ivan Mayrina who was initially a reliever, became part of the show and eventually introduced as one of the anchors of Unang Balita during this year.
On March 3, 2014, Unang Hirit re-introduced a new studio set, a newer and better graphics, and launched new segments such as: "UH Online Tambayan", and Unang Selfie (a contest where the viewers then and now selfies will give away free grocery packages). Pia Arcangel was dropped out from the newscast, Susan Enriquez joined Clavio, Santos, Mayrina and Sison. The show's jingle was corresponding with the summer season, in which, this time the jingle was performed by the UH Barkada in fiesta version, naming itself "Pambansang Morning Show" celebrating its 15th anniversary on the air. This is, for the first time, the only GMA News program that reformatted a new look, unlike other newscast such as 24 Oras and Saksi, and also, some GMA News TV newscast.
On July 31, 2019, longtime host Rhea Santos announced that she will be leaving the show after 19 years and will migrate to Canada with her family to study online journalism. Her last day of work is on August 2. She was replaced by Mariz Umali who has been a semi-regular in the show since April 2019 and eventually became a regular since July 26, 2019. At the same time, both Unang Hirit and Unang Balita had new graphics.
On December 2, 2019, in time for their upcoming 20th anniversary, the show unveiled new logos, graphics, and musical scoring. The show also announced that Arn-Arn, the program's long-time puppet (which disappeared in 2017), would be making a comeback in the show as well as former hosts who will return for the week-long anniversary special. Arn-Arn eventually did not return after his puppeteer Danilo "Totong" Federez died in August 2022.
In March 2020, production was halted in March 2020 due to the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The show resumed its programming on April 13, 2020.
On April 18, 2022, the show revamped with new logo, title card and graphics. The logo on the lower thirds are now moved from the lower left to the lower right side, with the lower left corner now occupied by sign language interpreters.
On February 28, 2023, Connie Sison retired from the show to focus on her family and health; however, she would still remain as the anchor of Balitanghali and host of Pinoy MD. On May 15, newcomer Matteo Guidicelli joined the show as its regular host.
On October 2, 2023, Unang Hirit, transferred to a new studio with a 360-degree rotation platform, LED video walls, and differently-oriented plasma displays, including an interactive monitor. Along with this change came a new logo and graphics, which now uses orange instead of golden yellow.
On December 18, 2023, Unang Balita changed its graphics to tie-in with the unified look of other GMA Integrated News newscasts, prompting Unang Hirit to change its lower-third graphics to the ones used by the other GMA newscasts only for Unang Balita.
In June 2024, Arnold Clavio suffered a hemorrhagic stroke, and went on hiatus from the show due to health reasons. In his place, Ivan Mayrina served as the lead host and anchor for Unang Balita for the meantime. On August 5, 2024, Clavio returned to the show. In a November 2024 interview with Nelson Canlas, he stated that resuming his work duties would help him recover from the stroke.
On December 2, 2024, as part of its weeklong 25th anniversary celebration, the show unveiled a new logo, using yellow text for the logo and blue for the number 25. A new version of the theme song also debuted on the same day, performed by Zephanie, Mark Bautista, and Jose Mari Chan. The graphics (especially the lower-thirds, which only changes for Unang Balita) remain intact, however. A celebration titled "National Unang Hirit Day" was held on December 6, marking the show's 25th anniversary. It took place outside the GMA Network Center, while the Unang Balita segment remains inside the studios.
Hosts[]
- Arnold Clavio (since 1999)
- Suzi Entrata-Abrera (since 1999)
- Lyn Ching (since 1999)
- Susan Enriquez (since 2009)
- Ivan Mayrina (since 2010)
- Mariz Umali (since 2019)
- Matteo Guidicelli (since 2023)
UH Funliners[]
- Shaira Diaz (since 2021)
- Kaloy Tingcungco (since 2022)
- Jenzel Angeles (since 2022)
- Roxie Smith (since 2022)
- Anjay Anson (since 2022)
- Kim Perez (since 2022)
- Cheska Fausto (since 2023)
- Sean Lucas (since 2023)
- Shuvee Etrata (since 2023)
Segment hosts[]
- Gaby Concepcion (since 2003)
- Chef JR Royol (since 2022)
- Anjo Pertierra (since 2023)
Former hosts[]
- Ryan Agoncillo (1999–2001)
- Mickey Ferriols (1999–2000)
- Mon Isberto (1999–2000)
- Miriam Quiambao (1999–2003)
- Eagle Riggs (1999–10)
- Martin Andanar (2000–05)
- Hans Montenegro (2000–03)
- TJ Manotoc (2000–03)
- Arn-Arn (2000–17)
- Rhea Santos (2000–19)
- Lhar Santiago (2001–21)
- Love Añover (2002–22)
- Daniel Razon (2000–05)
- Pia Arcangel (2003–14)
- Atom Araullo (2003–04)
- Edu Manzano (2003; 2011)
- Tessa Nieto (2004)
- Drew Arellano (2004–14)
- Diana Zubiri (2005)
- Jolina Magdangal (2006–09)
- Oscar Oida (2007–09)
- Paolo Bediones (2007–09)
- Sunshine Dizon (2007–08)
- Nikki Dacullo (2008–09)
- Monica Verallo (2010–14)
- Connie Sison (2010–23)
- Luane Dy (2010–21)
- Tonipet Gaba (2012–16)
- Jun Veneracion (2012–23)
- Nathaniel "Mang Tani" Cruz (2013–22)
- Mikael Daez (2014–15)
- Hiro Peralta (2016–18)
Former segment hosts[]
- Jackie Lou Blanco (1999-06; Feel Good With J-lou)
- Cory Quirino
- Luchi Cruz-Valdes
- Oscar Orbos
- Bea Binene
- Manny Calayan
- Pie Calayan
- Kat Manalo
- Fanny Serrano
- Olen Juarez-Lim
- Connie Sison
- Regine Tolentino (2004–18)
- Winnie Monsod (2004–21)
- Juancho Trivino (2016–21)
- John Philip Balang Bughaw (2016–18)
- Boobay (2016–2022)
- Phytos Ramirez (2017–19)
- Yuan Francisco (2017–20)
- Klea Pineda (2018–19)
- Clint Bondad (2018)
- Joyce Pring (2018–19)
- Donita Nose (2019–20)
- Krissy (2019)
- Angelica Ulip (2019–20)
- Leanne Bautista (2019–20)
- Chef Jose Sarasola (2020–21)
- Rabiya Mateo (2022)
- Ashley Rivera (2022)
- Michael Sager (2022-2023)
Segments[]
- Bantay Presyo
- Boses ng Masa
- Buena Manong Balita
- GMA Weather
- Hirit ni Mareng Winnie
- Hirit Pa More ni Mareng Winnie
- Hirit Trapiko
- Kapuso sa Batas
- Kapuso sa Kalusugan
- #LagotCam
- People, Places, and Events
- Ronda Reports
- Senior Moment
- Showbiz Hirit / Showbiz Bullets
- Talakayan with Igan
- UH Barangay Blowout
- UB Express
- UB Express: Overseas
- UH Game
- UH Online Sikat
- UH Serbisyong Totoo
- UH Summer Outing
- Unang Balita
- Breaking News
- #DashCam
- Hirit Good Vibes
- Huli Cam
- Lodi Noypi
- Ronda Probinsya
- Traffic Hirit
- UB Explainer
- Unang Chika
- Unang Ronda
- Headlines (News in broadsheets and banner stories in newspapers)
- Words of Wisdom - Heartfelt messages of the hosts that are sure to inspire the viewing public
Timeslot[]
Unang Hirit first aired on weekdays from 5:00 to 8:30 am from 1999 to 2002. In 2002, the show was moved to 5:15 to 8:30 am. From September 19, 2011, the show airs from 5:00 to 8:00 am. By 2015, the show started slightly early by five minutes, airing from 4:55 am to 8:00 am.
The show occasionally aired on Sundays during special coverages (eg. COVID-19 community quarantine).
On April 13, 2020, the show was shortened to 2 hours from 6:00 am to 8:00 am. On June 8, the show extended its runtime to 2 hours and 30 minutes, airing from 5:30 am to 8:00 am.
Accolades[]
References[]
External links[]
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