Aljo Bendijo

Aljo Bendijo
Born	Alexes Joseph Rubia Bendijo[fn 1] (1974-02-06) February 6, 1974 Davao City, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Education	AB Mass Commucation AB Broadcast Communication Bachelor of Law
Alma mater	Ateneo de Davao University Holy Cross of Davao College Polytechnic University of the Philippines[1] Arellano University School of Law
Occupation	Journalist, Newscaster, Radio commentator
Years active	1994—present
Agent	ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs (1994-2006) Media ng Bayan (2007-2012; 2015-present]]
Known for	TV Patrol Davao TV Patrol Sapul Kayo Dyan! Magandang Umaga Bayan Hataw Balita NewsWatch Aksyon Balita One Morning Cafe Batingaw/Teledyaryo: Final Edition Good Morning Boss News @ 6 Sonshine NewsBlast Isyu at Batas PTV News RadyoBisyon
Religion	Born-again Christian[2]

Aljo Bendijo (born Alexes Joseph Rubia Bendijo^[1] on February 6, 1974) is a Filipino broadcast journalist based in Manila, Philippines. He is the best known for anchoring ABS-CBN's flagship newscast TV Patrol from 2001 to 2003 with Korina Sanchez and Henry Omaga-Diaz and Batingaw (which became Teledyaryo: Final Edition) of People's Television Network from 2008 to 2012, as well as one of the host of One Morning Cafe and Good Morning Pilipinas. He is formerly joined RPN to anchor Newswatch Aksyon Balita from 2006 to 2007. He currently hosts "Sonshine Newsblast", the flagship newscast program of DZAR 1026 in Manila.

Early life and background

Bendijo was born and grew up in Davao City, Philippines

Aljo Bendijo was born as Alexes Joseph Rubia Bendijo on February 6, 1974 in Davao City and is the eldest of three children. He started out having part-time jobs as waiter and janitor while he was studying at the Southeastern University in his hometown. A proud scholar, he took up AB Mass Communication for two years at the Ateneo de Davao University before moving to Holy Cross of Davao College where he obtained his degree in 1996. He also obtained a degree in Broadcast Communication at Polytechnic University of the Philippines ^[1][3] and pursued law at Arellano University School of Law in Pasay City where he earned his Bachelor of Laws degree (LL.B.).^[2]

Career

1994-2004: ABS-CBN News career

Bendijo started his television career at ABS-CBN Regional Network Group's Davao station in 1994 while obtaining his college degree and hosted a public-service program on the station's regional radio station DXAB. He then became anchor of TV Patrol Southern Mindanao with original anchor Cristina Banluta and Girlie Balaba in 1997 following a reformat in the program. It was renamed TV Patrol Davao.

He then rose to national fame when he was named as one of the three anchors in the reformat of the main TV Patrol in ABS-CBN Manila on March 12, 2001.^[4] He joined after Noli De Castro left as anchor to participate at the 2001 Senatorial elections, alongside veteran newscasters Korina Sanchez and Henry Omaga-Diaz. His anchoring skills were absolutely commended by the management that they gave him his own show, Sapul Kayo Diyan!, which aired on Saturdays at 10:30pm. Aside from these two shows, Bendijo also excelled as one of the field reporters of the News & Current Affairs Division.

He bagged the "Best New Male TV Personality" award at the 15th PMPC Star Awards for Television in 2001. Following his anchor stint, he was named as one of the hosts of the morning show Magandang Umaga, Bayan (MUB) and was its newsreader, alongside Katherine de Castro, on March 5, 2002.

In 2003, he was not seen on TV Patrol for unknown reasons and following this, the newscast underwent a reformat change adding Julius Babao to the roster, joining Sanchez. He left MUB also after a year, ending his 10-year career in the network.

2006-2007: Various TV appearances

Bendijo was seen in 2006 anchoring Hataw Balita on UNTV, following his three-year hiatus from TV, with Daniel Razon, Jay Sonza and lawyer Mel Mauricio (Razon and Sonza had been ABS-CBN anchors, and then transferred to GMA with Mauricio), hosting the Hataw Balita segment. He left the show and transferred to RPN. In the network, he became one of the first anchors of RPN Action News (later became NewsWatch Aksyon Balita) with former ABS-CBN talents Erwin Tulfo and Connie Sison for a year, which replaced Arangkada Balita, anchored by then-Teledyaryo anchor and former TV Patrol anchor Angelique Lazo.

2007-2012: Stint at People's Television Network (PTV)

After his stint at RPN and UNTV, Bendijo then moved to the government-owned NBN 4.^[5] He became the main host of the morning show One Morning Cafe with Veronica Baluyut-Jimenez from 2007 to 2010. He anchored the late-night flagship newscast Batingaw (which became Teledyaryo: Final Edition) with Kathy San Gabriel and Cathy Villar from 2008 to 2012. On September 1, 2015 he again joined People's Television Network's morning show Good Morning Boss as host and one of the main anchors of PTV`s flagship news program Former in News @ 6 now later anchor of PTV News with Kathy San Gabriel and Ria Fernandez.^[6][7]

2012 - present: SMNI Radio and Radyo ng Bayan career

Since 2012, Bendijo has been part of the roster of anchors for DZAR 1026, the flagship radio station of Sonshine Media Network International and has been anchoring the newscast Newsblast. He also hosts DZAR's public service program Isyu at Batas with De La Salle University Law School Vice Dean and Law professor Atty. Antonio "Butch" Jamon, Jr. The program deals with legal opinions on different issues of national interests and at the same time extending free legal advises especially to less fortunates and indigents. On September 12, 2016, Bendijo assumed as main anchor for RadyoBisyon aired live from Monday to Friday, 6:00 to 7:00 am, over PBS Radyo ng Bayan, PTV 4 and IBC 13 with co-host Czarina Luzuegro. Radyo Bisyon words of "radio" and "television" is the national morning newscast of Media Ng Bayan. He also hosts Hamon-Bendijo, an issue based commentary radio program with Dean Butch Jamon also with Radyo Bayan 738 kHz right after RadyoBisyon.

Other activities

Business ventures

Aside from his anchor stint, Bendijo tried merchandise and retail business in Imus, Cavite. He also managed the band Sidecrash, which had been known as 12 Months to Pay. The band is composed of five members who are also Davaoenos.^[8]

Public image

He named as one of the Top 10 Cutest newsmen in the country by spot.ph. in 2010.^[9]

Personal life

Bendijo is known to be good friend with fellow ABS-CBN anchor Bernadette Sembrano.^[10] He is now married to Melanie Galita-Bendijo of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation.

Filmography

Television

Radio

Notes

References

External links

• Aljo Bendijo at the Internet Movie Database