ABS-CBN's Hadji Rieta Now A Kapuso

Hindi lang sa mga celebrity uso ang pagtawid bakod from their previous TV network to another. This phenomenon also happens even with the serious people of News and Public Affairs: Mel Tiangco, who's from ABS to GMA News. Erwin Tulfo from ABS to TV5, Aljo Bendijo from ABS to IBC 13, Karen Davila from GMA to ABS, Cheryl Cossim from ABS to TV5, and more. That is why considering these cases, it is not surprising to know what Al Hadjie Rieta did.

Al Hadjie Rieta is a former News Anchor of TV Patrol Laoag of ABS-CBN Northern Luzon. I met Al Hadj at the 1st I-witness Docuseminar held in SM Megamall on 2008 when he was still a student of Mass Communication in Northwestern University. Undeniably, he is a smart, dynamic and a proactive person. 

Me and Al Hadj at the
1st I-Witness Docuseminar

I can remember him talking to almost everybody in the event. He was very active with the discussions and interactive activities prepared by the I-witness hosts. You can see his energy and passion towards news and public affairs, that's why it wasn't a surprise for me to see him on a regional TV doing a live news telecast. 

On an interview with Media Newser Philippines, a leading weblog delivering news and opinions about the Philippine TV News, Al Hadj said that GMA had offered him an oppurtunity to be a national reporter. He said,

"I transferred to GMA-7 because there was an opportunity for me to be a national reporter. Lahat naman pangarap ito kaya when I learned na puwede I grabbed it already. ABS-CBN did offered me a national job, but I have to wait, eh ang GMA-7 ito na inaantay lang ako na mag-yes."

 He added that he initially tried to apply in GMA News, so as I supposed, it wasn't really hard for him to accept the offer since it appears that his first interest belongs to Kapuso Network. His facebook became clamoured with different opinions from his "followers" about his decision in changing his news tribe. One of them posted,

"Sana hinintay nlang niya na mging national reporter s ABS-CBN..tama si ma'am eli, ang mga Pinoy 'd mrunong mkontento. Palipat-lipat gaya ng mga artista. Ba't di nila kyang mghintay? Suportahan nlang natin siya. He is an anchor/reporter in TV Patrol Ilocos and an Iglesia Ni Cristo member. "

When he was asked about working with the rival network ABS, he said,

"Nandun yung pakiramdam na nahihiya ka kasi siyempre sila yung unang nag-train sayo, pero ganun talaga eh. I compete sa trabaho naman, not personally."

I'm lucky Al Hadj granted me a brief interview this evening about joining the Kapuso News Team.

Anong masasabi mo sa opinyon ng ilang tao na ang paglipat mo  from ABSCBN Laog to GMA News ay pagpapakita raw ng kawalan ng utang na loob?

Sa totoo nga napaka thankful ako sa ABS-CBN dahil ang laki ng itinulong nila para ma build ako. Nakakalungkot lang kasi sinasabi ng iba na walang utang na loob, hindi naman siguro ganoon, from the start naman the management (ABS-CBN Laoag) always reminds us na kung sa tingin namin e gusto namin mag grow i infrom lang namin sila, that's what I did and they gave me that chance.

What was the initial reaction of ABS-CBN team when you told them that you will be transferring to GMA news?

Nandun yung initial reaksyon na medyo dissappointed pero kalaunan they told me naman na they do respect my decision at masaya sila doon.

Paano or kamusta ang naging adjustment mo on working with the former rival news team?

I never thought naman na rival station eh, kasi sa Laoag, ang TV Patrol ang nangunguna when it comes to newscast, so sa akin parang wala naman, kasi nga hindi naman masyadong ramdan doon sa amin yung competion with other TV networks (ABS-CBN - TV5).

Anong blessing or advantage ang dumating sayo in going to Kapuso Network? How about challenges?

Siguro masasabi kong blessing yung natupad yung isa sa mga pangarap ko to be a national reporter at GMA7 pa. The challenges would be yung takbo ng buhay dito sa Manila, I always naghahabol sa oras, yung parang napaka bilis ng oras dito. Although nakakasabay naman.

Whats new with Hadji now that he's a Kapuso News Correspondent?

New, siguro expect na maging mas mature pa ako sa trabaho.

-end of the interview-

Well, I don't see anything wrong from what he did. As one of the young individuals in the news and public affairs industry, it is still better to get the oppurtunity while it lasts. The "utang na loob" thing from the people who had helped you gain more knowledge and skills to do the job better should not be an objectional reason to accomplish higher goal and to step up. 


Afterall I think, Al hadj did his job very well while he's on the fences of  ABS-CBN, so the Kapamilya news team has nothing to object on his choice of leaving from what he can consider as training ground in the actual field.

He added on my interview:

Sana yung mga nagsasabi ng hindi maganda or kung meron man, sana maintindihan nila. Ulitin ko, hindi naman ito isang kawalan ng utang na loob it's just that isa itong career movement.

Al Hadj envisions to be a part of the I-witness team in the next 5 years. His network debut at GMA Network happened last Friday, June 24 at 24 Oras. You can also see him on other GMA Newscast such as Balitanghali on NewsTV.

To al hadj, goodluck to your new endeavor and more power ka-Iwit! =)