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WATCH: FHM babe Jef Gaitan debuts as newscaster ABS-CBN News

Posted at Jan 22 2014 12:22 AM | Updated as of Jan 22 2014 08:22 AM

MANILA -- "Banana Split" actress and one-time FHM cover girl Jef Gaitan debuted Monday as a news presenter on ABS-CBN Sports+Action's primetime newscast, "News+", delivering updates on celebrities and lifestyle topics.

Gaitan joined veteran broadcast journalist Anthony Taberna in the new 30-minute format, which replaced Studio 23's "Iba Balita" in its timeslot at 9:00 p.m.

Before joining ABS-CBN's "Banana Split," a late-night gag show that airs weekdays and on Saturdays, the 24-year-old model was known as one of the contestants in the Philippine edition of the reality show "Survivor" in 2009.

Her exposure on the Kapamilya program, which saw her form a sexy trio with fellow mainstays Sunshine Garcia and Aiko Climaco, eventually landed her a feature on men's magazine FHM.

The three recently graced the cover of the publication, posing topless in a selfie-inspired shoot.

But Gaitan said she is reconsidering her sexy image, citing her stint as a news presenter.

She also named other ABS-CBN showbiz reporters including Phoemela Baranda, Gretchen Fullido, and Ginger Conejero, as her inspiration.

"Siyempre I'll try really, really hard para maging credible ako as a showbiz reporter," she said during the recent media launch of ABS-CBN Sports+Action.