GMA Regional TV and Synergy brings back its award-winning GMA Masterclass to the University of the Philippines Cebu this September 22, 2025 via the “GMA Masterclass: The Cebu Press Freedom Week Special” in celebration of the 33rd Cebu Press Freedom Week.
24 Oras anchor and GMA Integrated News senior news producer Emil Sumangil is set to headline this year's masterclass where he will share his experience and expertise to spark a meaningful conversation with aspiring journalists in Cebu.
Sumangil has been a prominent and respected figure in broadcast journalism for 20 years. He is known for his comprehensive and frontline coverage of major news stories, including crime and disasters, as well as stories that highlight public grievances. His extensive work includes a series of exclusive reports on the high-profile case of the 34 missing sabungeros.
“Isang karangalan po na maging bahagi ng selebrasyon ng Cebu Press Freedom Week ngayong taon sa pamamagitan ng GMA Masterclass Series. Bilang mga susunod na henerasyon ng mamamahayag, mahalagang maagang maimulat ang isipan ng kabataan sa kung ano ang maaari nilang maiambag para manaig ang patas na paghahatid ng balita, lalo na sa nagbabagong news landscape sa panahon ngayon,” shares Sumangil.
For his part, Senior Vice President and Head of GMA Integrated News, Regional TV, and Synergy Oliver Victor B. Amoroso, says:
"Each leg of the award-winning GMA Masterclass has been a great opportunity for meaningful conversations. We are proud to continue this initiative, and once again hold it as part of our annual commemoration of the Cebu Press Freedom Week. Participants will learn a lot from Emil Sumangil, a journalist dedicated to upholding press freedom and delivering fair, balanced, and accurate news."
The GMA Masterclass Series: The Cebu Press Freedom Week Special will be hosted by 24 Oras ‘Game Changer’ Segment Host, and Sparkle artist and sportscaster Martin Javier.
In 2024, respected and award-winning journalists Malou Mangahas and Raffy Tima talked about ‘Documentaries in a rapidly changing news media landscape’ during the Masterclass.
In 2023, the first time the Masterclass joined the Cebu Press Freedom Week celebration, it tackled the topic, 'Journalism in the Age of AI (Artificial Intelligence)' with Howie Severino, Editor-at-Large of GMA News Online and Consultant of GMA Integrated News; Aileen Rae Perez, GMA Integrated News Assistant Vice President and Deputy Head for Social Media; Pia Arcangel, Broadcast Journalist and Anchor of Saksi and 24 Oras Weekend; and Nikko Sereno, GMA Regional TV News Correspondent.
Since 2018, the GMA Masterclass Series has become a platform for industry leaders to engage with students and academics on a wide range of local and national issues. The initiative has received multiple accolades, including "The Most Development Oriented TV Plug" at the Gandingan 2020 Awards and an Excellence Award at the 18th Philippine Quill Awards.
