Jessica Soho
Maria Jessica Aspiras Soho (born March 27, 1964) is a Filipina broadcast journalist known as the host of the news magazine program "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho" (2004present) on GMA Network. She formerly anchored the newscast "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho" on GMA News TV from 2011 to 2020. Soho is a multi-awarded journalist. In 1998, Soho became the first Filipino to win the British Fleet Street Award for Journalism. In 1999, Soho and the "I-Witness" team received the Philippines' first Peabody Award for producing the "Kidneys for Sale" and "Kamao" documentaries. Soho's story  of a hostage crisis in Cagayan Valley made her the first Filipino to win in the New York Film Festival. Early life. Soho was born in La Union in the northern Philippines, on March 27, 1964. Her parents are Abelardo Soho, a government employee, and Maura Aspiras, an agriculturist. Soho's grandmothers, Sixta "Apo Ittang" Aspiras and Concepción "Cion" Soho, influenced her in telling stories. Soho attended the University of the Philippines Diliman to study mass communication. One of her professors was Luis Beltran, who inspired Soho to finish her studies and practice journalism in Manila. Career. Soho joined GMA  News and Public Affairs in January 1985. Soho's first voice-over report was a feature story on the inauguration of the Manila Line 1 from Baclaran to Monumento. Soho was later assigned to the defense and military beats. In 1991, Soho earned a Bronze Award at the New York Film Festival for her coverage of a hostage crisis in Cagayan Valley, the first for a Filipino. She also received the Ka Doroy Valencia Award given by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas. In 1994, she received the Grand Prize from the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union for her coverage  of a breaking news story. Soho is included in the list of 100 Filipino Women of Distinction chosen during the Philippine Centennial celebrations. Soho helped conceptualize the one-hour documentary television program "I-Witness", which she co-presented from its premiere in 1999 to 2004. The "I-Witness" documentaries "Kidneys for Sale" and "Kamao" made her the first Filipino reporter, with GMA Network as the first Filipino network, to win a Peabody Award in 1999. She won the Asian Television Award for Best News and Current Affairs Special for the 2001 "Saksi Sa Kasaysayan" documentary. In 2014, Soho's GMA  news programs "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho" and "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho" were recognized by the Peabody Awards for their coverage on Super Typhoon Yolanda. "State of the Nation" also earned Soho consecutive wins for Most Trusted News Presenter by "Reader's Digest Asia". In 2015, Soho was given an honorary doctorate in humanities by the University of Northeastern Philippines during its 67th commencement exercises on April. Controversy. In May 2013, a controversy sparked involving Soho and comedian Vice Ganda, involving a joke directed at the anchor during the latter's concert held that May. Vice mentioned Soho , among several other personalities, in a stand-up skit involving celebrities starring in a pornographic film, adding that Soho would be gang raped if she were cast, as well as making several jokes ridiculing her weight. Vice Ganda later issued a public apology during his regular appearances in "It's Showtime", admitting to his wrongdoing and that he offended Soho and several others with his jokes. Soho later acknowledged Vice's apology but she denied any intent to close any further discussion with the comedian. In June 2021, Nas Daily announced that Soho, among other known Filipino personalities, which include  Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, fashion designer Michael Cinco, and food vlogger Erwan Heussaff would teach courses through his Nas Academy. However, following the Whang-od controversy, Jessica Soho has made a statement that she would no longer pursue the Jessica Soho course in Nas Academy. In January 2022, Soho was accused of being "biased" against Bongbong Marcos, a presidential candidate in the 2022 Philippine presidential election, by his spokesman Victor Rodriguez after declining to participate in "The Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews" on GMA Network. GMA responded to Rodriguez's claim on Marcos' absence, saying "Throughout her career, Ms. Soho  has consistently been named the most trusted media personality in the Philippines by both local and foreign organizations, a testament to her embodiment of the GMA News and Public Affairs ethos: 'Walang Kinikilingan, Walang Pinoprotektahan, Serbisyong Totoo Lamang'". Accolades. International recognitions. Asian TV Festival British Embassy in Manila Reader's Digest Trusted Brands Asia Local recognitions. Adamson University ALTA Media Icon Awards Anak TV Seal Award Catholic Mass Media Awards CCP Gawad Natatanging Parangal CLASS Awards (City of Malabon University) COMGUILD Center for Journalism EdukCircle Awards Federation of Philippine Industries, Inc. FemaleNetwork.com Gawad Duyan Awards Gawad Pasado Awards Golden Dove  Awards International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines International Business and Academe Conference's Service Excellence and Partners Awards International Center for Communication Studies (ICCS) Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas Mary Kay Philippines Metro Pacific Corporation Journalism Awards Metrobank Foundation MTRCB TV Awards Paragala Awards Platinum Stallion Media Awards PMAP Makatao Awards for Media Excellence PMPC Star Awards for Television School Press Advisers Movement (SPAM) PUP Mabini Media Awards The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS) Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Award Rotary Club of Manila UmalohokJUAN Awards UPLB Gandingan Awards USTv Students' Choice Awards Jessica Soho