• Home
  • About Us
    • About the Publisher
    • Advertise with Us
  • Contact Us
  • Login
  • Subscribe

Grimag

  • Editor’s Notes
  • OSM! Video Gallery
  • Biting The Big Apple

Journo Don Tagala: Watching History Unfold is the Best Job Ever

 

By Marivir R. Montebon

 

New York City – Multi-awarded broadcast journalist Don Tagala always thought that he would be a doctor, until he realized that the media was a more exciting world to tread. He decided to be a journalist in 1994 when he worked as science researcher for the children’s TV show Sineskwela (literally school of Science) of the ABS-CBN Foundation in Manila.

“Ang saya pala sa TV (TV is a lot of fun). I saw a different world. That started it all,” Tagala eagerly shared his professional passion to his colleagues of the Filipino American Press Club of New York on its first professional development session for 2017.

Members of the FAPCNY (from front to back) Cristina Pastor of the Filam.net, Lenn Almadin of FIOS 1, Monette Rivera of ABSCBN, Rachelle Ocampo of Makilala TV, and Momar Visaya of Asian Journal listen to Tagala.

“Can you name any other job where you see history unfolds? This is the best job ever,” he told his colleagues of the press at the Oak Room of the Unification Theological Seminary in Manhattan last February 18.

Since his work with Sineskwela, Tagala keenly observed the craft of filming, editing, and writing and developed his own style of reportage. Tagala has come a long way since that children’s science TV show. Although he has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the University of the Philippines and was a science whiz teenager at the Manila Science High School, becoming a media practitioner was what his heart had desired.

His many awards and citations are proofs of Tagala’s love for his profession. Today, he continues to work for ABS-CBN North America’s “Balitang America” (American News) for US and Philippine audiences.

Tagala begun his stint as video journalist in 2002 in Chicago and has since then reaped a total of 7 bronze Telly Awards. He is best remembered for his featured story titled “Casting Call: The Story of Sam Milby” which won in the 2012 Telly Awards and 2013 Plaridel Award for Best Documentary.

He remembered when not so long ago, his stories had to be sent overnight to Los Angeles for editing, recording, and then aired the following day. Technological advancement has changed things swiftly since then, but the discipline and ethics of the job remain the same.

Tagala has covered for local community issues and national politics – Pres. Barack Obama’s presidency and Pres. Donald Trump’s inauguration.  He likewise braved the path of Hurricane Katrina and reported heart-wrenching tragedies of the Sandy Hook Elementary School and Orlando Pulse Night club shootings.

Asked if he was ever intimidated by media practitioners of giant companies like Fox, MSNBC, or CNN, he said there was that initial feeling. “But it dissipated. It became a really friendly and welcoming feeling when I got to know them through many coverages,” he quipped.

 

 

 

Mar 1, 2017Admin
Diversity in the Big Apple is a Daily Celebration for FamiliesJen Elizabeth: A Fleeting Life Well-Lived
You Might Also Like
 
Distinguished Filipino Women: A Lot of Hard Work and Good Attitude
 
Filipinos Excited to Hear the First US Presidential Debate Tonight

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Admin
4 years ago Around Town, Feature EventABS-CBN, CNN, Don Tagala, FilAm Press Club of New York, Fox, Manila Science High School, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Sineskwela, Telly Awards, University of the Philippines198
0
GooglePlus
0
Facebook
0
Twitter
0
Delicious
0
Linkedin
0
Pinterest
Forums
  • OSM! has a new look. What do you think?
Categories
  • Main Feature
  • Features
  • Feature Event
  • Diane Fermin Roeder: Bamboo Stilletto
  • Debbie Almocera: Cranial Corner
  • Sylvia Hubilla: Granny Gorgeous
  • Ruth D. Ezra: Kit’s Kitchen
  • Leani M. Auxilio: Le Fou’s Stories
  • Janet Villa: Mothering Heights
  • Arlene Donaire: Lensanity
  • Resto Rendezvous
  • Your ZEN Health
  • OSM! VLog
Email-subscription

Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest news and event postings.

Most Viewed Posts
The Baby didn’t Come with a Manual
7 years ago
9,398 views
Vanette’s Secret: Cooking Yummy Dried Fish Without the Smell
5 years ago
8,793 views
FilAm Lt. Christal Theriot: Newest US Army Apache Pilot
4 years ago
6,685 views
Maguayan, brother of sky god Kaptan.
The Visayan Creation Myth
9 years ago
6,422 views
Filipinos Known to Take Care of Their Elderly
6 years ago
5,334 views
Recent Posts
  • On sexual harassment: Cuomo apologizes for having caused people to be uncomfortable or feel pain March 3, 2021
  • Surviving the lockdown is all about ‘perspective’ March 1, 2021
  • Filipino restos survive the pandemic through innovation and as usual, great food February 27, 2021
  • Cebu group in NYC launch food sharing drive February 25, 2021
  • Congressional Hispanic Caucus pushes for legalization of essential workers in COVID Relief Bill February 22, 2021
Archives
2014 © OSM!