GMA shows, personalities win big at Gandingan Awards 2025

GMA Network programs and personalities won big at the 19th Gandingan Awards, organized by the University of the Philippines (UP) Community Broadcasters’ Society.

This year’s awarding ceremony was held Saturday at DL Umali Hall at UP Los Baños with the theme, “Tagahabi ng Kasaysayan Para sa Bayan.”

GMA Network took home a total of 19 awards and citations, with Emil Sumangil winning Best News Anchor and the Most Development-oriented Investigative Story going to "Reporter's Notebook: Nasaan ang Pera: Pabahay.”

For the Host/Personalities category, Joseph Morong was hailed as Best Field Reporter while Best TV Program Host went to Raffy Tima.

“The Atom Araullo Specials: Mga Boses sa Hukay” won Most Development-oriented Documentary.

The award for Most Development-oriented Feature Story went to “24 Oras: How to Spot deep fake.”

“The Howie Severino Podcast” was named Most Development-oriented Educational Program.

GMA News Online was also recognized for Most Development-oriented Online Feature Article with “Living the History Reenactment buffs tell tales of Filipinos' Wartime valor” that showcased amateur reenactors in the country who honor World War II veterans.

Aside from the awards, GMA also received three special citations: the World War II series “Pulang Araw” for Most Development-Oriented Drama Program; “Julie xStell - Ang Ating Tinig” for Most Development-Oriented Musical Segment/Program; and  NCAA Siglo Uno: Inspiring Legacies ng GMA Synergy sa pagsungkit ng Special Citation sa Most Development-oriented TV Plug.

Here is a list of this year’s Gandingan Awards winners from GMA Network:

• Most Development-oriented Public Service Program - Dear SV
• Most Development-oriented Feature Story - 24 Oras: How to Spot deep fake
• Most Development-oriented Documentary - The Atom Araullo Specials: Mga Boses sa Hukay
• Most Development-oriented Investigative Story - Reporter's Notebook: Nasaan ang Pera: Pabahay
• Most Development-oriented Drama Program - Pulang Araw
• Best FM Radio Program Host - Papa Dudut, Barangay LS
• Best TV Program Host - Raffy Tima
• Best News Anchor - Emil Sumangil
• Best Field Reporter - Joseph Morong
• Most Development-oriented Educational Program - The Howie Severino Podcast
• Most Development-oriented Environment Program - KMJS Nickel and Dime
• Most Development-oriented Gender Transformative Program - State of the Nation
• Gandingan ng Edukasyon - Kim Atienza
• Gandingan ng Kabataan - Martin Javier
• Gandingan ng Kabuhayan - Jiggy Manicad
• Gandingan ng Kalikasan - Jessica Soho
• Most Development-oriented Online Feature Article - Living the History Reenactment buffs tell tales of Filipinos' Wartime valor
• Most Development-oriented TV Plug - NCAA Siglo Uno: Inspiring Legacies
• Most Development-oriented Musical Segment/Program - JuliexStell: Ang Ating Tinig

Started in 2007, the UP Community Broadcasters’ Society bestowed recognition to stations, programs and personalities, both local and nationwide.  

Each year, the Gandingan Awards adopt a different theme as a challenge to the media to give focus on different aspects of development as well as to shine the light on different issues being experienced by Filipinos. 

The awarding process begins with nominations in November to January where different media organizations send their entries. All of the submissions undergo a stringent screening process before a panel of judges. For this year’s Gandingan, the panel was composed of selected leaders, students, professors and experts in the field of Humanities and Social Sciences from UPLB’s College of Arts and Sciences. The judges then select finalists based on the following criteria: Development-Orientedness, Relevance to the Theme, Ethical Value, Technical Value, and Entertainment Value. 

Meanwhile, the selection of the nominated personalities are based on the following criteria: Delivery & Projection, Authority & Credibility, and Track Record. —RF, GMA Integrated News