Broadcast Journalist Audrey Dones Gorriceta Honored

Broadcast journalist Audrey Dones Gorriceta of Sword TV’s Kamay na Bakal has been named Remarkable Host/Anchor in the Philippines at the 3rd Philippines Finest Business Awards and Outstanding Achievers 2025, organized by La Visual Corporation and SIRBISU Channel.

The award recognizes Audrey’s outstanding contributions to the media industry and his rare ability to connect with audiences. With professionalism, charisma, and insightful storytelling, he has become one of the country’s most trusted voices on television.

“My heartfelt thanks to La Visual Corporation and SIRBISU Channel for this recognition,” Audrey said, noting that he looks forward to celebrating the achievement at the Newport Arts Theater in Pasay City on September 30, 2025.

Audrey’s path to success was far from straightforward. A Fine Arts student after high school, he shifted to Hotel and Restaurant Management at his mother’s urging. While in HRM, he discovered his gift for public speaking—a turning point that led him to become a professional boxing ring announcer.

His stage presence soon caught the attention of a PTV4 director. Competing with 300 applicants, Audrey’s dedication and passion landed him a coveted reporter role despite his lack of formal journalism training. While working, he pursued and completed a degree in Broadcasting at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP).

Today, more than a decade later, Audrey is a household name, admired for his fairness, credibility, and ability to engage viewers. His career reflects not just talent but also his deep sense of responsibility to inform and uplift the public.

Pet Corner

Meet Bruno, a four-year-old Shih Tzu owned by Desiree Tibay Dungo. Affectionate, playful, and outgoing, Bruno is a loyal house companion who never hides his joy at being reunited with loved ones.

Community Spotlight: Consul General Priscilla Zanoria

Warm thanks to Philippine Honorary Consul General Maria Priscilla Zanoria in Reykjavik, Iceland, for extending her care to my aunt, Pilar Bendicio De Mesa, a retired public school teacher from Legarda Elementary School and recipient of an Outstanding Manila Teacher Award.

A graduate of the University of the Visayas and the University of Iceland (civil engineering), Consul General Zanoria has been a gracious host to Filipinos in Iceland. She personally organized a birthday celebration for my aunt and toured her around the country’s scenic spots—churches, fishing villages, glaciers, and volcanic landscapes.

“Without my best friend Lucita Mendoza and Consul General Zanoria, I would not have experienced Iceland, a very beautiful country. She has been very supportive and accommodating,” De Mesa shared.

Additional Highlights

• Breakfast at Springboard Café (España, Manila): Security guard Leonimar Camus, baristas Dominic Masanque and Maru Bautista, and chef Chicco Uriarte gave exceptional service. At night, the café often transforms into a study hub for University of Santo Tomas students.
• UC Berkeley Journalism Appointment: Veteran journalist Monica Campbell has been named permanent director of the California Local News Fellowship, the country’s largest publicly funded journalism initiative. Campbell, who has decades of reporting and editorial experience, will guide the program after serving as editor and mentor to its fellows.
• Pampanga Encounter: At Mabalacat City College, I was warmly greeted by utility employees Olivia Samson Cocjin and Rica Abacial (celebrating her birthday on September 26) during the Meet and Greet event with new MCC President Dr. Sonny de Guzman.
• Visit to Manila City Hall: I recently visited the office of Mayor Isko Moreno, whom I first met years ago in Makati and later interviewed in San Francisco. At City Hall, I was introduced by secretary Jed Raul Maderazo to information officer E-jhay Talagtag, a fellow La Sallian. Later, I was captivated by the heartfelt singing of Sharon Quintero of Manila’s tourism staff during a Kasalang Bayan ceremony. By chance, I also stepped into a press conference on the city’s flood-control controversy. (I hope to sit down with Mayor Isko Moreno for a separate interview soon.)