It is “same-same, but different.”
On Monday, August 10, TV5 officially relaunched its morning news program under the new, but old, title of Frontline Sa Umaga.
The said revamp coincides with the transfer of seasoned journalist Ed Lingao from the late-evening newscast Frontline Tonight, where he joined the entire squad from the show’s predecessor, Gud Morning Kapatid, that aired its final episode last Friday, August 7.
The debut episode of the third iteration of the newscast as a standalone program revolved around the major headline of the day, the persistent rains that caused widespread flooding and disturbed thousands of residents who fled to evacuation centers.
The show ditched GuMoKa’s trademark sofa in favor of a desk, where Lingao was joined by Andrei Felix, Angela Lagunzad-Castro, and Dimples Romana. Chiqui Roa-Puno was also in the studio to present other segments.
Meanwhile, Laila Pangilinan, Mondi Lopez, weather forecaster Alvin Pura, and skin doctor Dr. Richard Gadiaza were all deployed to the field for the latest developments in their respective areas.
The hook-up with the True FM show Ted Failon at DJ Chacha between 6:30 to 7:00 am was also retained.
HISTORY IN A NUTSHELL
Frontline Sa Umaga was first launched as a standalone 30-minute newscast at 6:00 am with former Kapatid anchor Paolo Bediones in May 2021, later being joined by Marga Vargas after it was transferred to late mornings in October of that same year.
In 2022, Gretchen Ho was tapped to become the sole anchor of the show and was accompanied by Jes Delos Santos, who made the move from Cignal TV’s One News, the following year.
It was in June 2023 when the first iteration ended as it was later absorbed into Gud Morning Kapatid as a news segment.
However, that would be reversed in 2024 when Jes Delos Santos, Ruth Cabal, and Andrei Felix teamed up for the revived version that aired as a separate pre-programming (at first) and later post-programming to GuMoKa — where the news segment became known Frontline Sa Umaga Express.
But in another twist, that setup ended soon afterwards and Gud Morning Kapatid was shifted to an earlier time of 5:30 am in October 2024.
It was only in mid-2025 when Frontline Sa Umaga was brought back as a segment after the morning show’s Pasada Balita branding was retired.
TV5’s Frontline Sa Umaga airs within the 5:30 to 8:00 am window every Monday to Friday.
