Four from GMA News among most trusted Filipinos, Reader's Digest poll says

Four journalists from GMA News were among those who made the top 15 most trusted Filipinos in a nationwide survey by popular monthly magazine Reader's Digest Asia. Jessica Soho, GMA Network vice president for news programs and multi-awarded broadcast journalist, ranked third on the list of 80 people in the Reader's Digest Asia survey, after actress and philanthropist Rosa Rosal, who was named the most trusted Filipino, and world-renowned singer and actress Lea Salonga who ranked second. Respondents were asked to rate a predetermined list of 80 Filipinos that included President Gloria Arroyo (no. 78), boxing icon Manny Pacquiao (36), and former first lady Imelda Marcos (74).

"For two decades Soho has been the familiar face in front of the camera whenever a big story breaks. She has reported on issues such as the Mount Pinatubo eruption, the black-market sale of kidneys and Cory Aquino's death and burial," wrote Sarah Etchells in the magazine's March 2010 issue, where the complete survey results are published. GMANews.TV editor-in-chief Howie Severino ranked sixth on the list, tied with bowling champion Paeng Nepomuceno; news anchor and GMA Kapuso Foundation executive vice president Mel Tiangco ranked 9th; and news anchor and GMA senior vice president for radio operations Mike Enriquez ranked 13th. Readers' Digest said the list of 80 people was presented in random order to the respondents who were asked to rate the people on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 meaning they "don't trust [the person] at all" and 10 meaning they "trust completely" the person. "We then calculated an average score for each and ranked them in order of perceived trustworthiness," Readers' Digest said. The survey was conducted in October 2009 by independent market research company The Digital Edge on behalf of Readers' Digest. Philanthropist Tony Meloto, founder of Gawad Kalinga, ranked fourth on the list. He was followed by Liberal Party standard bearer Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, who is the most trusted politician on the survey. "With the passing of his mother last year, there is a sense of sentimentality attached to Aquino," Etchells wrote. ‘A great honor and challenge’ In a report by GMA News' Claire Delfin over 24 Oras, the four GMA News pillars said that they were greatly honored by the survey results. "Isa ang Readers' Digest sa mga nagturo sa akin na mahalin ang reading o pagbabasa kaya napakalaking karangalan nito na mapabilang sa mga pinaka-pinagkakatiwalaang Pilipino, at mabibigat ang mga kasama ko sa listahan (Readers’ Digest is one of the publications that made me love reading, so I consider it a great honor to be included in its list of the most trusted Filipinos, especially since a lot of those included in the list are also highly respected)," Soho said.
Severino, also an award-winning documentary filmmaker for I-Witness, said he was very grateful for the honor. "Ito siguro ang isa sa pinakahangarin ng isang journalist, na magkaroon ng tiwala sa kanya ang publiko (This is probably one of the top aspirations of any journalist, to earn the trust of the public," he said. Tiangco said she was very happy about the recognition, adding that "being trustworthy [is a] way of life; it is part of your innate character." Enriquez said he considers the recognition a challenge. "Hamon [ito] na dapat hindi natin basagin yung pagtitiwala na yan so kailangan mas lalo pang pag-igtingin yung pagbabalita at pagseserbisyong totoo (This is a challenge not to break that trust so we must work to further improve our news delivery and public service)," he said. Mix of politics, showbiz, sports, civil society The list of 80 personalities is a mix of figures from politics, showbiz, sports, arts and culture, the religious sector, business, and civil society. President Arroyo was the third lowest-ranked figure at number 78. She was followed by deposed president Joseph Estrada, who was convicted of plunder and later pardoned by Mrs. Arroyo. Estrada is running for president again. Cosmetic surgeon Hayden Kho Jr. was the least trusted among the 80 personalities that Readers' Digest asked the respondents to rank. The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) revoked his license after his sex tapes with actress Katrina Halili and several other women became public. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV