Acclaimed broadcast journalist Jiggy Manicad fearlessly took the plunge into politics and ran for the Senate in 2019. It seems the universe has different plans for him.

During a roundtable interview with Jiggy at The Giving Cafe in Mandaluyong on Jan. 5, he shared that although he did not regret entering politics, he realized it was not for him.

"Entering politics allowed me to realize na hindi ako built for politics, meaning yung politics until after pinasok ko siya hindi ko nakikita yung system niya, kahit 20 years akong reporter ako. Iba yung mundo niya, hindi ako para doon, so let's leave it to the politicians," Jiggy said.

(It made me realize I'm not built for politics. After I entered politics, I didn't know their system. Even though I've been a reporter for 20 years, their world is different, I'm not for that, so let's leave it to the politicians.)

Jiggy decided to run for Senate after seeing the plight of many people during super typhoon "Yolanda" in 2013.

"Nakita ko kasi yung Pilipinas kapag tinamaan ng sunod-sunod ng bagyo na malalakas dulot ng climate change, hindi siya makakabawi, and walang makakain. Na experience ko yun first-hand sa Yolanda. So sabi ko wala talagang clear-cut policy yung government about food security. So nagdecide ako lalaban ako sa Senado nung 2019 to create policies and craft policies," Jiggy said.

(Because I saw that when the Philippines is hit by a series of strong typhoons caused by climate change, it cannot recover, and there is nothing to eat. I experienced that firsthand during Yolanda, so I said the government needs a clear-cut policy about food security. So I decided to run for senate in 2019 to create and craft policies.)

Although Jiggy was unsuccessful in his bid for the Senate, he continued to help others through his educational show "Agriprenuer."

Back to his roots 

“To be honest, kinakabahan ako,” Jiggy said upon returning to his newscasting stint.

He also shared that he asked one of the executives if he could go early on set to practice for his lines.

"Kaya nagsabi ako dun isa sa mga executives kung pwede ako pumasok ng maaga magpapractice lang ako, " he added.

(So I told one of the executives that if I could come in early, I would practice) 

For 23 years, Jiggy served as an international award-winning broadcast journalist and was the former anchor and host of GMA7's 24 Oras Weekend, Reporter's Notebook, and GMA News TV's Quick Response Team (QRT).

Jiggy earned a degree in Communication Arts from the University of the Philippines Los Baños. His dedication to delivering news and stories has made a remarkable impact in the industry.

He retired from reporting in 2015 to take care of his three children and stopped covering events in 2018.

"In 2015, ni-retire ko na yung reportorial para maalagaan ko yung family kasi kung daily coverage ako parang may time na galing akong isang probinsya kukuha lang ako damit tapos lilipad na ulit ako for another coverage," he said. 

(In 2015, I retired from reporting to take care of my family. When I was doing daily coverage, it seemed like there was a time when I came from a province, I would get some clothes, and then I would go to another coverage)

After thinking that his career in craft was over, Jiggy received a sign from the universe when he was offered a reporting stint on television. On Dec. 7, 2023, he signed with TV 5 to become one of the newest anchors for Frontline Pilipinas.

"Yung nga bagong tahanan sa TV5, and for the longest time, hindi ko naman ineexpect na babalik pa ako sa journalism kasi talagang niretire ko na siya, and when I did that no regrets and talagang no looking back, but with this new development, the excitement, yung energy, and yung passion nadiscover ko na nandun pa rin, " Jiggy said. 

(That's the new home at TV5, and for the longest time, I didn't expect to return to journalism because I retired, and when I did that, I had no regrets and no looking back. But with this new development, the excitement, the energy, and the passion I discovered are still there) 

Jiggy announced that he will make his live debut on Frontline Pilipinas on Tuesday, Jan. 9, citing ease of decision-making as the main reason for his return.

TV5 aims to provide credible information to viewers nationwide through Jiggy's passion for public service on its primetime newscast.

"In terms of writing, kung paano ko siya ipepresent, nagsulat ako ngayon, unang story ko, idedevelop ko pa siya ng mas maikli, mas madaling maintidihan kasi iba na ngayon kasi di ba nga social media malakas na siya ngayon. So ibang atake ang gagawin ko dito," he said. 

(For my first story, I will develop it briefly to be easier to understand because social media is strong now. So I will do a different attack here.) 

Advice for future journalists 

After years of experience in journalism, Jiggy offers candid advice to aspiring reporters.

"Yung journalism is our way of being honest and truthful, transparent with Integrity ito yung mga magagawa natin dito doing reporting and journalism," Jiggy said. 

(Journalism is our way of being honest, truthful, and transparent with integrity. These are the things we can do here doing reporting and journalism) 

Jiggy stressed the importance of truth, honesty, and quality content in news writing that is based on technology.

"Sa harap ng pagbabago ng technology at landscape ng media really yung truthful, honest and content is still king, yan pa rin ang babalik-balikan ng publiko, so dito dapat tayo sumandal palagi," he added.

(In the face of changing technology and the media landscape, truth, honesty, and content are still king; that's what the public will come back to again and again, so we should always rely on this.)