By Jose Paolo S. dela Cruz
After more than two decades apart, public relations executive Joee Guilas reunites with his first love — and their story continues to air every night on PTV4.
No. This isn’t a Valentine’s story, although love and passion most definitely play a huge part in it.
From working in one of the country’s largest banking institutions, to one of the largest integrated resorts in the Philippines, Joee Guilas, who is currently Resorts World Manila’s corporate communications director, has definitely made a name for himself as a PR man. And while the achievements are aplenty for this former “Men Who Matter” awardee, Joee eventually found himself longing to go back to his roots.
“I’ve always felt like I have to do something to give back to the people. I finished college in UP [Diliman], as a state scholar, and went to public school for my secondary education. All my life, I’ve been using the people’s money,” says the BS Economics Graduate. “I know I have a mission.”
Owing to his excellent communication skills and flair for on-cam work, Joee, in the early ’90s, became a broadcast journalist who covered the finance beat for ABS-CBN and TV5. His contemporaries include Rico Hizon and Cathy Yang, who both worked abroad at some point in their careers. “I think the three of us did a good job for young reporters during our time. The two of them actually went abroad to pursue broadcasting careers in huge international networks,” Joee reminisces.
Joee says he chose to stay behind, not for lack of international offers, but because he always felt he had a mission to give back to the country. “There were many opportunities. It was the heyday of broadcasting, but something in my heart always held me back.”
And while his career led him away from journalism for a while, it also eventually led him back to his original passions.
Voice of the people
In January 2021, Joee signed up as a news anchor for PTV 4’s nightly English newscast PTV News Tonight. As one of the few anchors in the network who’s equally well-versed in English and Filipino, he eventually also became the anchor of the government network’s Ulat Bayan newscast, which airs every Saturday night.
Being on-air six times a week also comes on the heels of his well-loved day job. As soon as he clocks out from his office in Pasay City, Joee would fly to Quezon City, study his script in the midst of heavy traffic, and deliver the news by 9pm.
And then, the pandemic hit. “It was difficult since a lot of industries are affected but it made my anchoring job even more fulfilling. I felt like this is what giving back is. It made me realize that as a broadcast journalist, I have a big role in informing the public,” he says.
Joee also says that even though he works for a government station, he makes sure to maintain fairness and balance whenever he interviews public officials. “At the end of the day, you are the anchor and you have the final say. You will have to ask the questions that the public wants to ask, even if the answer might not be entirely favorable to the government,” says Joee. “To do that, you have to have a strong sense of what is fair and just.”
He also notes that it helps that the Duterte administration doesn’t seem to put much interest in censoring the national news, even if it airs on PTV 4. “The day’s hottest news will always be the headline, no matter the personalities involved. Even members of the opposition are most definitely welcome on our new programs,” Joee assures.
At the end of the day, which consists of two demanding jobs and a slew of hosting gigs here and there, Joee continues to soldier on.
“No matter how tiring it may be, I always remember that I have a responsibility to bring the news to the people; information that they can use to make important decisions in their everyday lives,” concludes Joee.
