Just recently, when typhoons Pedring and Quiel hit Central Luzon and caused loss of lives and destruction of properties, the public did not only need rapid and accurate information about the storm. Immediate assistance in terms of free supply of food, water and other basic needs became very urgent for the victims too.
And UNANG HIRIT, GMA's eleven year old morning public affairs program, undoubtedly delivered both - up-to-the minute news and "Serbisyong Totoo".
"Since nagsimula ang UNANG HIRIT, laging magkasama ang news and public service. Asahan natin na 'pag may ganyang mga uri ng calamity, katulong yung iba pang sectors, talagang gumagawa kami ng feeding programs, medical missions at katulong kami sa paglilinis ng community," shares UH main host and GMA News and Public affairs pillar Arnold Clavio.
With the help of GMA Kapuso Foundation, Unang Hirit was able to bring loads of relief goods in different barangays and evacuation sites in Pampanga and Bulacan.
Their "Serbisyong Totoo" efforts also included providing simple yet important needs --- "libreng patubig, libreng palaba, libreng paligo, libreng cellphone charging stations, and libreng pasakay sa bangka" . Clavio adds that Unang Hirit will always be there to reach out and help those in need.
And the public, seemingly, is returning the favor to the Kapuso morning program as UNANG HIRIT continues its dominance in its timeslot in both Mega Manila and Urban Luzon based on the latest data from the most widely recognized ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.
In viewer-rich Mega Manila, UNANG HIRIT posted an household audience share of 33.6 for the full month of September, significantly higher than ABS-CBN's Umagang Kay Ganda's 32.8 share points, and TV'5 Sapul sa Singko and Kumare Klub's 10.8 and 15.2 share points, respectively. Meanwhile, from October 1 to 7, UNANG HIRIT registered a household audience share of 34.5 that clearly bested Umagang Kay Ganda's 31.4 share points, Sapul sa Singko's 10.7 and Kumare Klub's 14.8 share points.
Likewise, UNANG HIRIT led the Urban Luzon ratings game by garnering a household audience share of 34.8 versus Umagang Kay Ganda's 32.3 share points, Sapul sa Singko's 10.4 share points and Kumare Klub's 14.3 share points during the whole month of September. And from October 1 to 7, UNANG HIRIT's 36.8 household audience share points evidently ruled Umagang Kay Ganda's 31.2 share points, Sapul sa Singko's 9.8 share points and Kumare Klub's 12.9 share points.
Clavio humbly adds that the consistent high ratings of the program is just icing on the cake --- a big bonus to the achievement of the program's true objective. "Basta kami alam naming may natutulungan, may napaglilingkuran. Yung ganyang figures, sukli na lang yan, para bang salamat dahil yun naman ang nagbibigay sa amin ng saya at sigla. Ang hirap pong gumising ng ganito kaaga, pero dahil nandiyan sila, may dahilan para gumising ka ng maaga at ipagpatuloy 'yung ginagawa."
Join Arnold Clavio and the rest of the UH barkada composed of Rhea Santos, Suzi Entrata-Abrera, Lyn Ching-Pascual, Pia Arcangel, Connie Sison, Love Añover, Susan Enriquez, Drew Arellano, Lhar Santiago, Luane Dy, and Monica Verallo, Mondays through Fridays, from 5:00 to 8:15am only on GMA Network.
- Text and photos courtesy of GMA Network Center