NewsWatch 45th Anniversary Documentary

October 23, 2015

'‘NewsWatch’ celebrates its 45th anniversary since June 1, 1970, with a documentary commemorating the milestone to air on 9TV (RPN-9). (Logo courtesy of RPN)'

NewsWatch, the country’s longest-running English newscast of Radio Philippine Network (RPN), is 45 years old.

The gold standard among local newscasts, NewsWatch has been on the air since June 1, 1970. It became one of the highly watched English newscasts on Philippine television, having covered the beginning of Martial Law, three EDSA People Power revolutions, seven Philippine presidential administrations, and other notable events.

Over the years, journalists such as Dennis Cabalfin (one of the original newscasters of RPN started his news career in the 1960's), the late veteran news icon Harry Gasser (the face of RPN's main primetime well-respected news anchor, Cathy Santillan; Buddy Lopa, Coco Quisimbing; the dynamic duo Dodi Lacuna and Cielo Villaluna, former RPN news manager and the executive vice-president Frankie Abao (one the most known newscasters in the country), Loren Legarda, the broadcast journalist Lulu Pascual (one of the most familiar faces on television), Eric Eloriaga, Cristina Peczon, Joee Guilas, Orly Mercado, Marigold Haber-Dunca, Jay Esteban, Queen Sebastian and Joyce Burton-Titular. Today, original anchors Erik Espina, Cristina Peczon and financial expert Francisco Colayco continue to uphold its tradition of journalistic excellence.

NewsWatch endured our spin-offs during the glory days. They are: Now, the main editions of the newscasts are:
 * NewsWatch Balita Ngayon (a Filipino-language early evening newscast,1975-90)
 * NewsWatch Kids Edition (1979-93)
 * NewsWatch Evening Cast,(1986-2000: early evening) (Cielo Villaluna and Cristina Peczon)
 * NewsWatch Prime Cast (1986-2000: late-nights) (Harry Gasser, Cathy Santillan and Eric Eloriaga)
 * NewsWatch Now (2001-05: late-nights)
 * NewsWatch First Edition (2008-09: early evening)
 * NewsWatch Second Edition (2008-09: late-nights)
 * NewsWatch sa Umaga (7:00AM anchored by Michael Fajatin) (1990-94, 2014-present)
 * NewsWatch sa Tanghali (11:30AM anchored by Melo del Prado) (1990-99, 2014-present)
 * NewsWatch (11;00PM) (1970-86, 2005-07, 2009-2012, 2013-present)