From avoiding math to becoming 'utusan' in the newsroom: Jessica Soho's humble beginnings in journalism

Jessica Soho, one of the most decorated broadcast journalists of our time, initially did not plan on ever working as a reporter.

As a young adult, she dreamed of becoming a lawyer. A media career was never on the horizon—there were no journalists in her family, no footsteps to direct her to a life of storytelling.

In the pilot episode of "The Howie Severino Podcast," Jessica narrated how she ended up in the field of journalism.

"I was taking up political science in UP 'cause I wanted to go into law," she said. "Unfortunately, at that time the curriculum for political science required four math subjects."

Jessica wanted to escape the math classes. She struggled with Math 11, the algebra course, and she didn't think she would get a passing grade.

So she did what she had to do: look for a course with only one required math subject. Journalism was the first one she found.

Journalism would probably work as a pre-law course, she thought, still sticking to her law school aspirations. Even after she graduated and started working for GMA Network, she still did not think she would pursue a position as a reporter.

"I just need a job so I could have save up for my tuition fees in the College of Law. That was my plan," she said.

So she simply followed orders. If she was asked to make coffee, she would do it. If she was told to answer the radio, she would do it. She did not mind being an "utusan."

An opportunity opened up when a team suddenly needed a reporter. Jessica knew how to write stories, but she needed a lot of guidance on technical side of broadcasting.

"Ang tawag nga sa akin sa newsroom, 'Ayan na 'yung pinabili lang ng suka, naging reporter.'"

("In the newsroom, I was called 'that one who just bought vinegar and ended up becoming a reporter.')

Jessica, however, began to prove her mettle as a journalist. Early in her career, she was one of only two reporters allowed to cover former President Ferdinand Marcos in Hawaii as he was dying.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

But way back in college, Jessica already had an inkling that maybe she was meant to work in the media. Reading stories from the New York Times and the Washington Post brought to class by Prof. Louie Beltran, she thought it would be nice to be a journalist.

"Sabi ko, 'Sige na nga. Baka ito na 'yung calling ko.'"

("I said, 'Fine. This might just be my calling.'")

—MGP, GMA News