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It’s ironic that after almost four years of hosting
Magpakailanman, Mel Tiangco still hasn't been featured in the inspirational drama hit.
It’s ironic that after almost four years of hosting Magpakailanman, Mel Tiangcostill hasn't been featured in the inspirational drama hit. Text by Jillian Q. Gatcheco.
What most people do not know is that Mel's success story epitomizes the show's thrust that we should take risks and take charge of our lives. It's about time we found out.
"Pag tinatanong ako, how did your career begin, I always say, 'I auditioned in Channel 9, but I was taken in by Channel 4.'" Mel shares. Her rejected audition in Channel 9 led to another blessing: a man named Edwin Fargas, whom she clearly impressed with her audition, told her to try out with Channel 4, then a government station.
"This Edwin Fargas came up to me and said, 'You know, I don' t understand why he doesn't like you! You are so good! You know, the first time you faced the camera, this is the first time I've seen a girl that way!’ Sabi niya, ‘You go to this guy in Channel 4. This guy is my friend. I know that they’re also looking for newscasters there. You try it there.’ Sinulat niya pangalan nung kaibigan niya, Rudy Aquino, so ako naman, pauwi na ako, I’m still confused, pupuntahan ko pa ba yung Channel 4 o hindi? Sayang naman damit ko, at saka sayang, may makeup pa ako! Naku, puntahan ko na nga! So I went to Channel 4. Right then and there, they gave me an audition, and that was it.”
And just like that, Mel was on air within a week. She refers to this part of her life as a “full circle moment.” “What’s really amazing about Edwin Fargas is that I did not know him. I was what you call a walk-in applicant. No background, no nothing, I (was) just ‘kapal muks’ ba in short! Kapal ng mukha ko, I just went in there and said ‘I want to do this, I’ll be good at it,’ I told him. And hindi mo naman kakilala, hindi mo naman kaibigan, wala namang referral sa iyo, pero siya, he took the effort to say, ‘You know, you’re good. Pumunta ka nga dito.’ Dapat yun, wala na siyang pake, ibang channel na yun e. Channel 4 na yun e! Bakit pa niya ako irerefer dun?”
”But in Channel 2, it’s also interesting! Di ba napunta ako ng Channel 2? Channel 2, nakakatuwa rin yan!” Mel adds.
Mel was lucky enough to have a radio show when Marcos declared Martial Law, because the government stations closed down, and most of her colleagues lost their jobs. One day, her friends asked her to drive them to ABS-CBN for a job opening. “E ako naman, ayoko na. I don’t want to go back to TV anymore. That was really traumatic for me, wala na, dead na yung aking television career,” says Mel.
She finally gave in to her friends’ request, but she said that she had to pass by Channel 4 first to get a demo tape she requested for. “Yung the serendipity of the event! Kasi nagpa-dub ako for posterity. I want something for me, nagpa-dub ako dun sa kaibigan ko sa NMPC (National Media Production Center or Channel 4), bawal yun, e! So under the table yun!” Mel shares.
After getting the tape, she drove her friends to ABS-CBN and was persuaded to stay. “Isa-isa, tinanong sila, ‘O, what did you do, what did you do?’ E tinanong ako! Ala! E sinabi ko, ‘I was a newscaster.’ Sabi niyang ganun, ‘Do you know how to newscast in Tagalog?’ sabi sa akin. E sabi ko, ‘Yes!’ Kahit hindi naman ako marunong! ‘Yes sir,’ sabi ko namang ganiyan! ‘Do you have a demo tape?’ sabing ganiyan. E hindi ba mayroon akong kinuha? That was really not for there! Talagang wala lang! I just wanted a tape so I would have it for my personal (use)! ‘Yes I do!’ sabi ko. ‘Where is it?’ ‘It’s in my car.’ Hindi ko nga binaba e, kasi I had nothing to do with it. Sabi niya dun sa secretary niya, ‘O, samahan mo nga si Ms. Tiangco, kukunin niya yung tape.’ Kinuha ko yung tape, pinanood nila yung tape, Would you believe, doon sa grupong iyon, ako lang ang tinanggap! Galit na galit silang lahat sa akin! Ako lang ang tinanggap, imagine! That’s another very good story!’
Mel imparts that she would want these two experiences at the start of her career to be highlighted if her life story would be featured in Magpakailanman. “Si God, no, talagang you’ll really see His hands, really showing you what to do, and where to go!” she says.
Mel has proven that it always pays off to leave your comfort zone and to take risks, because it is in committing mistakes and encountering hardships that you discover better opportunities. This award-winning news anchor and host has definitely gone a long way from her Channel 4 days. She now balances three shows,24 Oras,
Magpakailanman, and
Mel & Joey.
”Sometimes it gets so hectic, every 10 minutes count!” This is probably the reason why Mel’s favorite past time is “sleep,” something that she doesn’t have the luxury of doing all the time, especially with her busy schedule.
When Mel does have the time to spare, however, she is able to catch her favorite TV shows such as Oprah, Law and Order, and the Today Show. “I watch a little of the Maury (Povich) Show, I watch a little of the
Jerry Springer Show, on cable, but I like to watch some of our Public Affairs show, mostly.
I-Witness,
Reporter’s Notebook,” shares this retro music lover.
Mel is also the COO and EVP of the Kapuso Foundation, where she serves, inspires, and empowers those who need it most. If one will notice, most of Mel’s work is geared towards public service, be it in
24 Oras where she delivers the daily news report, in
Mel & Joey, where she talks about human-interest stories that provoke and inform, or in
Magpakailanman, where she inspires the weary and the problem laden every Thursday night.
”The dream is that I really want to have an impact on the people, on their lives, I’d like my shows, I’d like my work, I’d like my person to have a positive impact on the lives of our people, whether it is through my news show, or
Mel & Joey, or
Magpakailanman. That’s my dream, you know? If it happens at all, you know, you have a show that can change the lives of the people in one impact, I’d really love to have that. That is now what I dream for my career.”
Mel’s dream isn’t far from reality. All the people whose lives Mel has touched can definitely attest to that.
