TFC reaches new heights, more viewers in “Balitang Global: Middle East – Europe Edition”

QUEZON CITY, Philippines - June 9, 2014 - PRLog -- Marking more than a decade of service to the continuously growing Filipino community in the Middle East and Europe and in celebration of 20 years of The Filipino Channel (TFC), the premier network recently launched its latest news program, “Balitang Global: Middle East – Europe Edition” Saturday.

“Balitang Global: Middle East - Europe Edition” is the newest addition to TFC’s international news programs “Balitang America” and “Balitang Canada.”  Balitang Global is a 30-minute newscast which airs every Saturday and Sunday (before TV Patrol Weekend), delivering timely and relevant news and features within the Middle East and Europe regions.

The program will deliver news that is relevant to viewers while the anchors will render more credibility since veteran journalists, multi-awarded Henry Omaga-Diaz and the Philippines’ Mutya ng Masa Doris Bigornia will cover and dissect the stories themselves. “I am much honored to be a part of this team and to be able to cover and report what is happening in the Middle East and Europe,” Bigornia shared.  “Isang pribilehiyo ang maging bahagi ng Balitang Global at makasama ang ‘Mutya ng Masa.’  Naniniwala akong malayo ang mararating ng programang ito (It is a privilege to be part of ‘Balitang Global’ and to be doing this with the ‘Queen of the Masses’ (I believe this program will inform and empower a lot for our viewers),” Omaga-Diaz added.

Providing news relevant to OFs in the region is the global news team spearheaded by Middle East-Europe News Bureau Chief, Danny Buenafe and supported by news correspondents, Maxxy Santiago (Middle East) and Rose Eclarinal (Europe) with over 60 reporters mobilized in different parts of the regions.

ABS-CBN Middle East, FZ LLC Managing Director Edgardo Garcia assures viewers abroad and in the Philippines that the program will stay true to the mission of ABS-CBN and TFC.  “We will always be in the service of the Filipino worldwide. We continuously explore ways and means to reach out to Filipinos in the two regions through the most effective medium and ‘Balitang Global’ is a clear manifestation of that,” Garcia said.

Aside from the regular newscast, “Balitang Global: Middle East-Europe Edition” includes feel-good stories on OFs and a variety of segments catering to all Filipinos in the two regions:  OFW Alert, a public service segment hosted by Omaga - Diaz, that tackles different issues and concerns of OFWs in the legal and medical field; Handog Sa Masa also a public service segment, hosted by Bigornia, which aims to help kababayans abroad and their families in the Philippines through the aid of government agencies; Bida Ka! which features international achievements and the ‘galing’ ng Filipinos in the field of sports, academics, and other professions; Kabuhayan Tips which offers guides from OF businessmen and Filipino business experts on how Kapamilyas can start their own business abroad or in the Philippines; and lastly, Usapang Global, an interactive segment where opinions of viewers touching on a relevant topic are read at the end of the program and the hosts’ reaction on the viewers’ opinions are heard.

For its premiere presentation, “Balitang Global: Middle East – Europe Edition” headlined the current status of the Philippines and the Middle East on the ME Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus or also known as MERS-CoV and the OFW in Saudi Arabia, referred to as “Mario”, who was raped, beaten, and abandoned in the desert in Riyadh.  The pilot’s feature also revisited Angelo Dela Cruz, a former contract worker in Iraq and a father of eight, who was kidnapped and was threatened to be beheaded in June 2004 by Iraqi insurgents in Baghdad and was released in July of the same year.  The program took a closer look at Dela Cruz’ current situation in his hometown of Mexico, Pampanga in Luzon, Philippines.

Stay informed and be empowered.  Watch TFC’s latest news program, “Balitang Global: Middle East-Europe Edition” airing every Saturday and Sunday (before TV Patrol Weekend) in TFC Middle East and TFC Europe and every Monday, 1 a.m. via the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) with back-to-back episodes.  Catch it on TFC’s online service, TFC.tv.  Stay connected with global Kapamilyas, visit www.facebook.com/KapamilyaTFC or follow us on twitter @KapamilyaTFC and instagram for more updates.