Watching the TV coverage of Philippine Movie Press Club or PMPC’s Star Awards (may for movies, tv at music na version yan ha!) was part of my childhood. (bagets pa ako mahilig sa showbiz!) I would really stay up late to witness the winners. (as in hatinggabi na yan di pa tapos sa dami ng commercials!)

When I joined the entertainment industry, I was able to cover several Star Awards red carpet events. (taga ambush interview ng mga celebs!) I also had the chance to be nominated in different categories for my tv hosting stints. (so baka naman next time pwede nako mag win!)

But my friend and fellow columnist, Mr. Thrillmaker himself Joee Guilas, never covered any PMPC event nor became just a nominee in a category because he is a true blooded Star awardee! He recently bagged the Star Awards Best Male Newscaster for his nightly newscast on PTV. (kalaban ang mga bigating veteran anchors ng bansa ha!)

“It came as a total surprise. Even my nomination shocked me a bit when I did not see some of the “usual suspects” in the list. Truth to be told, I actually came to the awards night prepared to lose. Given the heavyweights I was up against, I knew that winning would be quite a stretch. So I consulted with my trusted fashion stylist, Oli Sara, who was still in LA at that time, for a quick online consultation. I got fashion designer Richard Barretto of Hitomi Fashions to do my suit and then booked my one-man grooming team, Kenny delos Santos, to make sure everything will be on point come finals night. I attended the event thinking I’d lose in my category and was eyeing to bag the Male Star of the Night special award! (hahahahaha) Kidding aside, just to be nominated side by side with those big names in the industry was. A huge honor in itself. “ Joee recalls (sa awards night ba ito pupunta o sa beauty pageant?!)

Joee, who is also a respectable figure in the field of public relations, considers this recognition very special. (kilala rin sya sa mundo ng mga espiritista at manggagamot! Charot lang!)

“It means the world, I mean the universe, to me! (hahahahaha!) Not only is it an affirmation that I am somehow doing something right in my chosen field of broadcasting, I also consider it a vindication for government media communications personnel that we are equally capable and committed to providing the public the truth as our private sector counterparts. History was made on that stage that night when I won the award. It was the first time in the PMPC Star Awards’ 35-year history that the trophy was handed to someone from the government network. The victory carries with it the message that no one has the monopoly of excellence. Anyone can and must pursue excellence," Joee says. (parang Gloria Diaz, first Miss Universe ng Pinas!)

Delivering the news is not new to Joee. He used to cover news beats for ABC5 and ABS-CBN (at dahil naikot nya lahat ng beat, slight na nahilo sya ha!)

“I really thought I went blank when I delivered my acceptance speech that night. Thought I did a terrible job on stage as a result of my shock. Reaching home past midnight, and seeing that people were already asleep gave me the chance to have my moment and think of the people who actually led me to that night. I remembered my mom, who, aiming to ensure I won’t end up frustrated in my pursuit of a media dream, told me: 'Anak, mag-abogado ka na lang. Baka di ka maging successful dyan, di ka naman pang-TV.' Of course, she eventually ended up my biggest fan. My TV idols, Noli de Castro and Tina Monzon-Palma, for shaping me to be the kind of broadcaster that I am now; and my corporate bosses, Lorenzo Tan of RCBC and Kingson Sian of Newport World Resorts who have always shown understanding and support to their executive who wants to do on-cam work. Memories and the lessons I’ve learned from these people made me cry (while holding my trophy) until early morning. Super thankful ko sa kanila,“ Joee narrates. (how cinematic, tears with the trophy ang scene ha!)

In his acceptance speech during the Gabi ng Parangal, he paid tribute to his fellow broadcasters. “It had 34 editions of the PMPC Star Awards for this trophy to be handed to someone from the government television network. It also had to take a pandemic to redirect the people’s eyes to the kind of work that we do in PTV. It brings to mind what my newscasting partner, Rocky Ignacio, used to tell me when I was just starting in PTV: Joee, hindi man tayo ang pinakamalaking istasyon sa bansa, tandaan mo na ang taong bayan tututok yan sa sasabihin ng pamahalaan lalo na sa panahon ng kagipitan. Ang tropeong ito ay para rin sa mga kasamahan ko at katrabaho na naging katuwang ko sa pagtupad ng aking pangarap. This goes to the mostly under appreciated men and women of PTV.” (ilalagay ka na raw sa mga history books at kahit pa sa mga pocketbooks!)

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