Latest news with #JessicaSoho
GMA Network
6 days ago
- General
- GMA Network
Townspeople protest against quarrying site in Angono, Rizal
Townspeople protest against quarrying site in Angono, Rizal A quarrying site in Angono, Rizal has earned the fury of the town residents for supposedly causing floods and dust-related illnesses, among other pressing concerns. In Sunday's episode of 'Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho,' Jessica Soho headed to Angono, Rizal to visit the quarrying site that has been operating for 10 years. Quarrying is referred to as an extractive industry because it collects natural resources to be used by people. Before the quarrying site operated in 2015, there were houses built on the mountain in Sitio Labahan. The mountain once stood high, but due to the quarrying explosions, it has since decreased in size. Aside from Angono, several towns in Rizal are the site of quarrying operations, 30 of which are registered. Most of these operate in parts of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, dubbed Luzon's backbone when it comes to storms. As a result, the mountains lose their trees. Based on Mines and Geosciences Bureau data from 2022, the mineral output and sales value for the province of Rizal reached 1.3 billion pesos A high school in the area was closed because the students were affected by the dust and loud machinery. Meanwhile, the annex building of Dr. Vivencio Villamayor Integrated School was closed due to the pandemic, but continued to be out of use because the mountain behind it was cut off, thus posing danger for the students. Residents complain that the dust from the quarrying site has been affecting their health. They would also get sick with coughs and colds. Luzviminda said, 'Pagka kasi nagpapasabog sila, pinapaalis nila kami rito. Pinapalikas nila kami.' ["When they are operating, they make us leave."] Although warnings are issued, Luzviminda said that the blasting is deafening. Luzviminda added that one part of their home has cracks. The recent typhoons also caused bad flooding, and the Angono river overflowed because quarrying debris caused a blockage. A member of the Angono LGU said, 'Hindi maiiwasan na 'yung mga siltation pond nila, katulad 'pag ganitong tag-ulan, umaapaw 'yun at ito ay may mga silt.' ["It's inevitable that their siltation ponds, especially during the rainy season, will overflow carry silt with them.'] 'Dine-dredge namin every year to maintain 'yung containment capacity para hindi mag-overflow. May silt kami na nakukuha. Kasi hindi mo maiwasan 'yung water, 'yung surface runoff. Kahit du'n sa planta nila, may mga surface runoff 'yan kasi wala namang puno. 'Di ba, mga open pit 'yan. So walang ibang mapupuntahan 'yan kundi sa mga tributaries.' ["We dredge every year to maintain the containment capacity and prevent overflow, but silt still accumulates. You can't avoid the water of surface runoff because there are no trees. It's all open pits. So the water has nowhere else to go but into the tributaries.'] Protests Because of the nonstop issues due to quarrying, locals and the LGU called on stopping the operations. The progressive group Bayan Rizal and the group of environmental advocates Protect Sierra Madre are highly against the quarrying in Rizal. A Bayan Rizal representative said, 'Tumututol kami sa mga ganyang mga quarry kasi po 'yan, 'yan ay malaking pinsang idinudulot sa mga mamamayan, lalung-lalo na po ang vulnerable, 'yung mga mararalita.' ["We are against that kind of quarrying because it causes great harm to the people— especially the vulnerable and the poor."] The representative added, 'Tutol po kami diyan. Bukod pa riyan, nawawasak po ang kalikasan.' [That's why we are against it. On top of that, it also destroys nature."] The representative cited that the Sierra Madre is called the mother of mountains for a reason. 'Depensa po 'yan sa kalikasan na siyang sumasangga sa panganib sa mamamayan. Mahabang panahon na po ang pagtatanggol ng Sierra Madre sa mamamayan. Ngunit bakit nila winawasak?' ["Sierra Madre is nature's defense. It shields people from danger. It has been protecting us for a long time. So why are they destroying it?"] The KMJS team tried to get a statement from the mentioned quarrying companies, but they declined to give one The KMJS team reached out to the quarrying companies operating in the area to get their side, but they declined to provide a statement. The Angono LGU also said that they oppose giving permits to quarrying companies. 'Kaya nga lang, ang kapangyarihan ng munisipyo, ng local government unit ay naka-confine lang sa Local Government Code. May mga national law na umiiral na hindi na po saklaw ng kapangyarihan ng ating pamahalaang bayan.' ["The powers of a municipality, as a local government unit, are limited to what is outlined in the Local Government Code. There are national laws in effect that go beyond the authority of our municipal government.'] They added that if operations require more than five hectares, it has to be approved by the national government through the Department of Natural Resources (DENR) Mines and Geosciences Bureau. The DENR also pointed out that quarrying has its positive benefits, like gathering materials to build infrastructure and gives jobs to those who need it. Group of environmental advocates Project Sierra Madre said, 'Dahil nga nagkakaroon ng mga pagkasira, 'yung mga bagyo na dumadaan ay unang humahampas doon sa mga nasirang parts, mga parte o bahagi ng Sierra Madre, kaya malaki rin 'yung nagiging epekto doon sa mga adjacent na mga komunidad.' ['Because of the destruction, the typhoons that pass through now hit the weakened parts of the Sierra Madre first, which greatly affects the surrounding communities.'] The group added that quarrying is a tragedy done by real people. 'Sinasabi nga na new normal ng administrasyon pero tayo hindi tayo naniniwala na ang mga sakunang nararanasan natin sa mga nagdaan ay bagong normal dahil ito ay mga trahedya na totoong gawa ng tao,' they said. ['The administration say it's the new normal, but we don't believe that the disasters we've experienced in the past are simply part of that. These are tragedies that are clearly man-made.'] 'At nakikita natin na ang quarrying ang isa sa maraming dahilan kung bakit marami ang nagkakaroon ng casualty, nagkakaroon ng pinsala sa ari-arian. Hindi yan dahil sa natural na malakas ang mga bagyo. May mas malalim pa na pinagmumulan at 'yun nga 'yung malalim na paghuhukay sa mga bundok ng Sierra Madre dito sa Rizal.' ['We see quarrying as one of the major reasons behind the high number of casualties and the damage to property. It's not just because the typhoons are naturally strong. There's a deeper cause, and that's the deep excavation of the Sierra Madre mountains here in Rizal.'] —JCB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Jessica Soho to youth: Use your voice to tell the stories that matter
Veteran journalist Jessica Soho called on young Filipinos to use their voices, digital platforms, and storytelling skills to challenge injustice and create lasting change—delivering an impassioned keynote at the 2025 Global Youth Summit held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Speaking before a crowd of over 14,000 on Sunday, Soho drew from her four-decade career in journalism to urge youth to go beyond trends and entertainment, and instead focus their energy on issues that matter. 'Focus your cameras and your energy too on things that need to change,' she said, recalling how a viral video of students crossing the dangerous Tamugan River in Davao eventually led to the construction of a hanging bridge, after her team aired the story on Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS). Soho also praised the generation's courage in challenging long-standing narratives, particularly the overuse of the word 'resilience.' 'Dahil ba nakakangiti pa rin tayo sa gitna ng kalamidad ay basta na lang natin tanggapin ang kahinaan ng sistema?' (Just because we smile through disaster, should we accept a broken system?) She reminded participants that inequality remains stark: the richest 1% of Filipinos capture 17% of the country's income, while the bottom 50% receive only 14%. Globally, wealth is even more concentrated, with 1.6% of the world holding nearly half of its wealth. Soho also reflected on her own beginnings—raised in La Union by a government employee father, a market vendor paternal grandmother, and a retired public school teacher maternal grandmother. Her mother, an agriculturist, passed away due to cancer when Jessica was eight. She said these early experiences shaped her perspective and commitment to telling stories of the marginalized. 'Bata pa lang, mulat na ako sa mga realidad at buhay ng mga tindera at mga magsasaka,' she said. (Since I was young, I've been exposed to the lives of vendors and farmers.) Use 'bubog' She then encouraged the youth to transform personal struggles into strength, citing National Artist Ricky Lee's advice to use 'bubog' (shards or wounds) as building blocks rather than burdens. 'Pagtagumpayan niyo sana sa buhay ang inyong mga bubog!' (May you overcome the wounds you carry in life.) As digital natives, Soho said, the youth have a unique advantage, but also a responsibility. 'Be responsible citizens and netizens. Criticize if you must—but elevate the level of discourse. No gutter language; no name-calling; no body shaming.' The veteran journalist also warned about misinformation and deepfakes, especially those falsely using her likeness for scams. 'Konting pakiusap lang po: Huwag kayong maniwala sa deepfakes ko na naglalako ng kung anu-anong produkto.' (Here's an appeal: Please don't believe deepfakes of me endorsing random products.) Despite her concerns for the future, Soho expressed faith in the younger generation's potential. 'Nakikitaan ko ang inyong henerasyon ng pag-asa. Baka kayo ang matagal nang hinihintay na pagbabago.' (I see hope in your generation. You might be the long-awaited change.) —KG, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
30-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
GMA Network Posts ₱2.0 Billion Net Income After Tax in H1 2025
GMA Network, the country's leading broadcast company, delivered strong financial results in the first half of 2025, with net income after tax surging more than threefold year-on-year to ₱2.0 billion. The Network's consolidated revenues reached ₱10.1 billion, up from the ₱7.8 billion recorded in the same period last year. Advertising revenue rose to ₱9.3 billion, driven by election-related placements during the May midterm polls, alongside higher revenues from production services and others. Operating expenses (OPEX) increased by 6% to ₱7.6 billion, mainly due to higher cash and non-cash production costs, as well as general and administrative expenses. Its strong revenue growth enabled the Network to deliver ₱3.8 billion in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) for the period ending June 2025, a solid 91% increase from the previous year. GMA Network's robust performance is complemented by its continuing dominance of nationwide ratings in H1 2025, according to Nielsen TV Audience Measurement. The multi-awarded public affairs program "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho" is the most-watched show in Urban Philippines for Q2 2025. Reaffirming its leadership as the country's most credible and top news source is GMA Integrated News. Its comprehensive 'Eleksyon 2025: The GMA Integrated News Coverage' earned the highest viewership on-air and online compared to competitions. The Network also continues to strengthen its leadership in the digital space, securing the No. 15 spot in the Tubular Leadership Worldwide rankings for June 2025, according to data from global analytics company Tubular Labs. It remains the highest-ranking media company in the Entertainment and Media category in Southeast Asia. As part of its 75th anniversary celebration, GMA Network launched a fresh lineup of innovative programs in June, reinforcing its commitment to high-quality storytelling.
GMA Network
30-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
GMA Network Posts P2.0 Billion Net Income After Tax in H1 2025
GMA Network, the country's leading broadcast company, delivered strong financial results in the first half of 2025, with net income after tax surging more than threefold year-on-year to P2.0 billion. The Network's consolidated revenues reached P10.1 billion, up from the ?7.8 billion recorded in the same period last year. Advertising revenue rose to P9.3 billion, driven by election-related placements during the May midterm polls, alongside higher revenues from production services and others. Operating expenses (OPEX) increased by 6% to P7.6 billion, mainly due to higher cash and non-cash production costs, as well as general and administrative expenses. Its strong revenue growth enabled the Network to deliver P3.8 billion in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) for the period ending June 2025, a solid 91% increase from the previous year. GMA Network's robust performance is complemented by its continuing dominance of nationwide ratings in H1 2025, according to Nielsen TV Audience Measurement. The multi-awarded public affairs program "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho" is the most-watched show in Urban Philippines for Q2 2025. Reaffirming its leadership as the country's most credible and top news source is GMA Integrated News. Its comprehensive 'Eleksyon 2025: The GMA Integrated News Coverage' earned the highest viewership on-air and online compared to competitions. The Network also continues to strengthen its leadership in the digital space, securing the No. 15 spot in the Tubular Leadership Worldwide rankings for June 2025, according to data from global analytics company Tubular Labs. It remains the highest-ranking media company in the Entertainment and Media category in Southeast Asia. As part of its 75th anniversary celebration, GMA Network launched a fresh lineup of innovative programs in June, reinforcing its commitment to high-quality storytelling.
Filipino Times
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Jessica Soho inspires UP graduates with bold, heartfelt commencement speech
Award-winning Kapuso journalist Jessica Soho returned to her alma mater, the University of the Philippines Diliman, as the keynote speaker during its 114th General Commencement Exercises. In a stirring address, she reminded the graduates of the privilege and responsibility of being an 'Iskolar ng Bayan.' 'Eh ano ngayon kung UP ka?' she challenged. Soho urged graduates not to see the question as an insult, but as a reminder to use their voices and education for the greater good. She called on the Class of 2025, many of whom began their academic journey during the pandemic, to become agents of hope and change. 'With your voice, baka naman, meron nang pag-asa. Sana, kayo ang matagal nang hinihintay na pagbabago.' Soho emphasized empathy and social connection, reflecting on the Filipino values of loob and kapwa, saying: 'Hindi mo puwedeng sabihing maganda ang loob mo kung wala kang malasakit sa kapwa.' The veteran journalist also reflected on her own career, sharing how real-life relationships led her to powerful stories like her award-winning exposé 'Kidneys for Sale,' which influenced national policy on organ trafficking. She recounted her coverage of major events—from local tragedies like the 1990 Baguio earthquake and Super Typhoon Yolanda to global conflicts in Afghanistan and Israel. Soho urged graduates to stay grounded, ask questions, and use their privilege and tools to serve society. She ended her speech with a powerful challenge: 'Go rock the world!'
