It’s just 3 days before the 2022 Philippine National Elections.
As we head out to excercise our right to vote on Monday, local media networks will also air marathon coverages on the state of affairs and the latest situation on the ground. Some will begin on election night, while some will even blaze the trail on the eve of election day.
Let’s check out how things will be like on May 9, most importantly, the schedule of major Philippine media networks.
GMA and GTV
For the leading television network, GMA, they will kickstart their marathon coverage on election day at 4:00am, with Unang Bugso ng mga Balita, that will rundown the latest news just before the opening of polling precincts
Then at 5:00 am, the main Eleksyon 2022 show begins and will run until 12:00 nn. Viewers on channel 7 will be enjoying regular programming thereafter.
At 5:30 pm, the rolling coverage will continue and will lead-in to 24 Oras, which will retain its 6:30 pm start time and will run until 8:30 pm. After which, Telebabad dramas will be pre-empted as Eleksyon 2022 continues until 11:00pm, when it gives way to Saksi. Eventually, on May 10, the E22 special will air for 12 hours more from midnight till noon.
Over at their sister network, GTV, things will be a little different. On election day, they will start things with a simulcast of DZBB Super Radyo’s special coverage via Dobol B TV at 5:30 am. Regional TV News will also air that day at a later time of 10:00 am. Then at 10:30 am, GTV will finally simulcast GMA’s Eleksyon 2022 special program.
At 12:00 nn, Balitanghali will air with a special election edition. By 1:00 pm, the Eleksyon 2022 rolling coverage will continue exclusively on GTV as GMA gives way to regular programming. By 6:30 pm, GTV will also broadcast 24 Oras, as well as the 8:30 pm edition of Eleksyon 2022. Then, the channel will opt-out at 10:00 pm as State of the Nation airs a special hour-long election edition.
GTV returns to simulcasting GMA at 11:00 pm with Saksi and the overnight Eleksyon 2022 coverage at 12:00 mn.
On May 10, Dobol B TV kicks off at the usual time of 5:30 am, with Regional TV News still airing at 10:00 am. Meanwhile, Balitanghali will air at an earlier time at 10:30 am and will run for 90 minutes that day.
Livestreaming will also be provided on GMA News and Public Affairs’ social media pages
TV5 and Cignal
Over at Reliance, TV5, along with its sister DTT channel One PH, FM news radio station Radyo5, and News5’s social media pages, will mount a 31-hour election coverage. Bilang Pilipino 2022 will begin at 5:00 am on May 9 and will run continuously until May 10, Tuesday, at 12:00 nn.
The special will be hosted in rotation by key News5 personalities, led by the division’s chief Luchi Cruz-Valdes, Cheryl Cosim, Julius Babao, Ted Failon, Ed Lingao, Maeanne Los Baños, Lourd de Veyra, and Gretchen Ho.
Last minute preparations are now also underway, as seen on the Instagram Reel posted by Cheryl Cosim. A new set has also been built just for the coverage.
Meanwhile, over at Cignal’s English-language news channel One News, they are set to mount a 42-hour-long special coverage, which begins May 9 and will run through May 10.
ABS-CBN (and A2Z)
The Kapamilya network will also join the election marathon coverage craze as they stage a 28-hour-long Halalan 2022 special program from May 9 to 10. It will be airing on the following ABS-CBN platforms: Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, ANC, TeleRadyo, and ABS-CBN News’ digital and social media pages.
But before that, ABS-CBN News will provide special election-related news bulletins on Sunday, May 8, from 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm on Kapamilya Channel, TeleRadyo, and ANC.
On election day, the Kapamilya coverage that will begin at 5:00 am will be fronted by Noli de Castro, Henry Omaga-Diaz, and Karen Davila. Following them, at 9:00am, will be the tandem of Alvin Elchico and Bernadette Sembrano.
The coverage will take a short break on Kapamilya Channel and A2Z to give way to It’s Showtime at 12:00 nn. After which, Halalan 2022 will return from 3:00 pm and air until TV Patrol starts at 6:30 pm. Once the program ends at 8:30 pm, the rolling Halalan 2022 coverage will continue until 12 noon of the following day.
The 2022 election coverage will mark the first time that ABS-CBN will dabble into a ‘no sign-off’ broadcast on free TV after two years after its main terrestrial channel was shut off.
Just a side note: Balitang A2Z will be pre-empted on that day, with the news team focusing on the combined coverage with fellow Zoe Broadcasting stations Light TV and Radio, titled Bantay Boto 2022 which airs on Light TV starting May 9 at 8:00 pm.
Government Communications Group
The state-run broadcasters PTV, IBC, and PBS, will be joining forces with other offices within Government Communications Group, like the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Philippine News Agency (PNA), and the Philippine Broadcast Service (PBS), among others, for a 48-hour marathon Hatol ng Bayan 2022 coverage that will begin on Sunday, May 8, and will continue until May 10, 2022.
On May 9, though, the coverage starts at 5:30 am on PTV, IBC, Radyo Pilipinas AM stations, as well as on the online platforms of participating broadcasters and partners.
CNN Philippines
For its third national election, CNN Philippines will be rather conservative as it elects to only have a 19-hour-long coverage. The Filipino Votes 2022 will begin at 5:00 am and end at 12:00 mn. Throughout the day, analyses and updates will be provided by the CNN PH team, led by Pia Hontiveros, Pinky Webb, Rico Hizon, and Ruth Cabal.
The CNN Philippines coverage will also be heard simultaneously across all RPN Radyo Ronda stations in the country.
After May 9, the CNN Philippines coverage will continue on the channel’s news programs.
All roads will lead to the polling centers come Monday.
After a year (or years) of preparations, the day has finally come for the Philippines to vote its new set of leaders that will lead us into the next 3 or 6 years. No matter where you get the news, may it be on TV, radio, internet, or even print, may the decision that you will make not just align with your personal aspirations and values, but also, to the dreams and goals of the entire country.
So, on Monday, May 9, 2022, let’s become the light of real good and long-lasting change that we’ve always wanted to happen. Let’s get out and vote as one nation. Tara, Boto Pilipinas!