JULIUS BABAO laughs off the rumor that it’s his wife, Christine Bersola, who convinced him to move to TV5 since Christine is with Cignal TV OnePH, sister station of the Kapatid channel.
“It’s really my decision.” he says. “After being with ABS-CBN for 28 years, parang may hinahanap ako.
"I felt I needed change and explore what else I can do in media. I’m now 53 and I want to get more opportunities in my career.”
He will be the main anchor of TV5’s primetime newscast, “Frontline Pilipinas”. He says he prayed with his wife and their two children (Antonia, 16, and Antonio, 12, their patron saint is San Antonio de Padua.)
They all asked for divine guidance. They always pray the rosary as a family, then they’ll pray for each other and it helped them all become closer to one another.
One sign is a text he got from Luchi Valdes asking him if he’s interested to join TV5. He told ABS-CBN about it and they said they’ll respect his decision.
And now, TV5 hosted a presscon to officially present him and welcome him as “Frontline Pilipinas” anchor. Those who warmly welcomed him include TV5 News big boss Luchi Cruz Valdez, Cheryl Cosim, Ed Lingao, DJ Chacha, Gretchen Ho, his own wife Tintin, and many more.
“It’s a life well-lived with ABS-CBN and I have no hard feelings for ABS-CBN since everyone knows that’s where I met my lifetime partner,” he says. “I only have so much love for the Kapamilya people. Sa paglipat ko, hindi ako maninibago o kakabahan kasi most of them, mga nakatrabaho ko na before.”
He also hopes to host a service-oriented radio program.
“I’m hoping for a show where I can use my skills as a radio anchor to reach listeners and viewers even in the provinces. Matagal kasi nawala ang ABS-CBN sa mga probinsiya and I heard malakas ang TV5 sa mga provinces. It’s my way of reaching out to them again and helping them after about two years of absence.”
He feels like he’s starting again.
“I’m really very excited and I feel like I’m about to begin a new chapter in my life and my career. So now, I’m ready to grow some more kasi in this life, you should never stop growing, you should never stop dreaming, you should never stop reinventing yourself and I’m ready to do all that now in my new home as a Kapatid.”
