# GMA Public Affairs

GMA Public Affairs is the public affairs division of the Philippine media conglomerate GMA Network, Inc. that currently produces and airs documentaries, magazine, tv series, films, anthology, infotainment and other public affairs genre programs and content for free-to-air TV channels (GMA Network and GTV) and online platforms. It later ventured into television series and movie production.

## History

GMA's Public Affairs division was established in 1987 when Tina Monzon-Palma, then head of GMA News, recognized that a 30-minute newscast was not adequate and sufficient to inform the general Filipino public on what is happening to the recently established Aquino government after the historic People Power Revolution in February 1986.
The public affairs division started with five news personnel including Marissa La Torre-Flores (who would later lead GMA News and Public Affairs as its senior vice president until 2022), and held office inside the cameramen's locker room before moving into the state-of-the-art GMA Network Center with no experience, equipment, camera and an improvised set broadcasting at the old GMA building in EDSA with only a passion-to-work attitude. Today this division, with more than 500 news personnel—both locally based and with international assignments—and producing 16 of the most awarded programs on Philippine television today, is one of the more active.
Weekend with Velez was the first network-produced public affairs program on GMA, afterward renamed Velez This Week and was hosted by Jose Mari Velez.
From a makeshift and improvised set, the once GMA News and Public Affairs garnered several honors and recognitions from local and international award-giving bodies, including two gold medals in the New York Festivals and their first Peabody Award in 1999.
Coinciding with its 20th anniversary in broadcasting excellence, GMA News and Public Affairs aired a documentary entitled 20: Dalawampung Taon ng GMA Public Affairs (20: Twenty Years of GMA Public Affairs) on October 28, 2007.
On April 27, 2020, GMA News and Public Affairs Digital launched a podcast channel available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Effective October 2022, as Flores stepped down in retirement as SVP of News and Public Affairs, GMA News rebranded as "GMA Integrated News" with the appointment of Oliver Victor Amoroso as its head/SVP, splitting GMA News and Public Affairs into two distinct departments. GMA Public Affairs retained its name with Nessa Valdellon currently heading the department as its First Vice President (FVP).

## Accolades

In 1999, George Foster Peabody Award recognized the documentaries "Kidneys for Sale" and "Kamao" by Jessica Soho and the I-Witness team and Jay Taruc's child labor story on Brigada Siete. On December 9, 2003, the Philippine House of Representatives 12th Congress commended GMA News and Public Affairs through Resolution 787 authored by Rep. Rodolfo Plaza for its efforts in uplifting the standards of the Philippine broadcast industry by receiving the first Peabody Award for television news awarded to an Asian country in 1999.
In 2010, Kara David's I-Witness documentary, "Ambulansiyang de Paa," won GMA News and Public Affairs second Peabody Award. GMA News TV's documentary program Reel Time's "Salat" episode received a Peabody Award in 2013. In 2014, Peabody awards recognized Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho and four GMA News programs State of the Nation with Jessica Soho, 24 Oras, Saksi, 24 Oras Weekend for its coverage of the Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

## Programs
### Currently aired TV programs

| GMA Network Born to Be Wild Cayetano in Action with Boy Abunda Dami Mong Alam, Kuya Kim! I-Witness Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho Maka Pera Paraan Pinoy M.D. Reporter's Notebook Resibo: Walang Lusot ang May Atraso Tadhana The Atom Araullo Specials Unang Hirit (co-production with GMA Integrated News) Wish Ko Lang! | GTV Biyahe ni Drew Business Matters Filipino at Heart with Teacher Jean Good News Kasama si Vicky Morales i Heart PH iJuander Lutong Bahay Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho Negosyo Goals Pinas Sarap |

### Defunct TV programs
## List of films

* The Cheating Game (2023; co-produced with GMA Pictures)
* Firefly (2023; co-produced with GMA Pictures)
* Lost Sabungeros (2024; co-produced with GMA Pictures)
* Green Bones (2024; co-produced with GMA Pictures)

## List of drama series

* Titser (2013)
* Katipunan (2013)
* Sa Puso ni Dok (2014)
* Ilustrado (2014)
* Dangwa (2015)
* D' Originals (2017)
* I Heart Davao (2017)
* My Guitar Princess (2018)
* Inday Will Always Love You (2018)
* TODA One I Love (2019)
* One of the Baes (2019–2020)
* The Lost Recipe (2021)
* Owe My Love (2021)
* Love You Stranger (2022)
* Lolong (2022–present)
* The Write One (2023)
* Zero Kilometers Away (2023)
* In My Dreams (2023)
* Black Rider (2023–2024)
* Makiling (2024)
* Recipes of Love (2024)
* Maka (2024–present)
* My Ilonggo Girl (2025–present)

## Presenters
### Program presenters

| Presenter | Program/s | Notes |
| Jessica Soho | Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho | |
| Vicky Morales | Wish Ko Lang!, Good News Kasama si Vicky Morales | Also part of GMA Integrated News as co-anchor of 24 Oras |
| Arnold Clavio | Unang Hirit | Also part of GMA Integrated News as co-anchor of Unang Balita sa Unang Hirit |
| Howie Severino | I-Witness | Also part of GMA Integrated News as consultant, podcast host and GMA News Online as editor-at-large |
| Kara David | I-Witness, Pinas Sarap | |
| Sandra Aguinaldo | I-Witness | Also part of GMA Integrated News as news correspondent |
| Atom Araullo | I-Witness, The Atom Araullo Specials | Also part of GMA Integrated News as anchor of State of the Nation |
| Drew Arellano | Biyahe ni Drew | |
| Connie Sison | Pinoy M.D. | Also part of GMA Integrated News as co-anchor of Balitanghali |
| Susan Enriquez | IJuander, Pera Paraan, Unang Hirit | Also part of GMA Integrated News as news correspondent and co-anchor of Unang Balita sa Unang Hirit |
| Empoy Marquez | IJuander | |
| Suzi Entrata-Abrera | Unang Hirit | |
| Lyn Ching-Pascual | Unang Hirit | |
| Ivan Mayrina | Unang Hirit | Also part of GMA Integrated News as news correspondent and co-anchor of Unang Balita sa Unang Hirit and 24 Oras Weekend |
| Mariz Umali | Unang Hirit | Also part of GMA Integrated News as news correspondent and co-anchor of Unang Balita sa Unang Hirit |
| Matteo Guidicelli | Unang Hirit | |
| Mav Gonzales | I-Witness | Also part of GMA Integrated News as news correspondent |
| John Consulta | I-Witness | Also part of GMA Integrated News as news correspondent |
| Ferds Recio | Born to Be Wild | |
| Nielsen Donato | Born to Be Wild | |
| Maki Pulido | Reporter's Notebook | Also part of GMA Integrated News as news correspondent |
| Jun Veneracion | Reporter's Notebook | Also part of GMA Integrated News as news correspondent |
| Marian Rivera | Tadhana | |
| Emil Sumangil | Resibo: Walang Lusot ang May Atraso | Also part of GMA Integrated News as news correspondent and co-anchor of 24 Oras |
| Mikee Quintos | Lutong Bahay | |
| Kim Atienza | Dami Mong Alam, Kuya Kim! | Also part of GMA Integrated News as segment host in 24 Oras and GMA Entertainment Group as host of TiktoClock |