Yong Chavez shares how she became a Hollywood correspondent for ABS-CBN | ABS-CBN

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Yong Chavez shares how she became a Hollywood correspondent for ABS-CBN
Yong Chavez shares how she became a Hollywood correspondent for ABS-CBN
Toff C.
Published Oct 21, 2023 03:02 PM PHT

Yong Chavez opened up about how she became a correspondent for ABS-CBN News and The Filipino Channel (TFC) in Hollywood.
Yong Chavez opened up about how she became a correspondent for ABS-CBN News and The Filipino Channel (TFC) in Hollywood.
In an interview with ANCX, the entertainment journalist shared that it was former ABS-CBN’s bureau chief for North America Ging Reyes who paved the way for her to be part of the Kapamilya network in America.
In an interview with ANCX, the entertainment journalist shared that it was former ABS-CBN’s bureau chief for North America Ging Reyes who paved the way for her to be part of the Kapamilya network in America.
Yong relayed that she was covering an event for Philippine News in California that time when she met Ging.
Yong relayed that she was covering an event for Philippine News in California that time when she met Ging.
"Pag-uwi ko, meron akong voice mail from Ging… kung gusto ko daw mag-contribute. So that was the start [of my career at ABS-CBN]," she shared.
"Pag-uwi ko, meron akong voice mail from Ging… kung gusto ko daw mag-contribute. So that was the start [of my career at ABS-CBN]," she shared.
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The reporter shared that she was initially covering general assignments which included crime stories. One time, she was covering a story about a father who killed his entire family.
The reporter shared that she was initially covering general assignments which included crime stories. One time, she was covering a story about a father who killed his entire family.
Yong realized that covering crime stories was too much for her to handle. "I told myself, ‘I can’t do this,’ and decided to focus on entertainment journalism," she said.
Yong realized that covering crime stories was too much for her to handle. "I told myself, ‘I can’t do this,’ and decided to focus on entertainment journalism," she said.
One of the career highlights for Yong was when she was finally invited to cover the Emmys. She was invited to cover the event when she became part of ABS-CBN's TFC.
One of the career highlights for Yong was when she was finally invited to cover the Emmys. She was invited to cover the event when she became part of ABS-CBN's TFC.
"It’s such a huge deal for me because I never imagined I would have the opportunity. I had been applying to be part of the media covering the event every year, only to receive constant rejections," she said.
"It’s such a huge deal for me because I never imagined I would have the opportunity. I had been applying to be part of the media covering the event every year, only to receive constant rejections," she said.
She recalled her experience during her first time at the Emmys saying, "Pero doon ako sa dulong dulo. There were a hundred journalists na dadaanan [ng artista]. Madalas hindi talaga titigil sa iyo ang artistang malalaki e. Doon ko din naranasan 'yung publicist na puti, pupunta sa section namin, sasabihin ‘That’s just international, don’t mind them.’ They won’t be able to do that now. Kung 'di mava-viral sila."
She recalled her experience during her first time at the Emmys saying, "Pero doon ako sa dulong dulo. There were a hundred journalists na dadaanan [ng artista]. Madalas hindi talaga titigil sa iyo ang artistang malalaki e. Doon ko din naranasan 'yung publicist na puti, pupunta sa section namin, sasabihin ‘That’s just international, don’t mind them.’ They won’t be able to do that now. Kung 'di mava-viral sila."
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Recently, Yong won the the International Media Awards at the 60th Annual ICG Publicists Awards in the US.
Recently, Yong won the the International Media Awards at the 60th Annual ICG Publicists Awards in the US.
"I’m just from a small country then ang mga kalaban ko are from all those other big countries na malalaki ang reach like UK and New Zealand. So I attended the event thinking, I was just going to eat lunch with my husband," she admitted.
"I’m just from a small country then ang mga kalaban ko are from all those other big countries na malalaki ang reach like UK and New Zealand. So I attended the event thinking, I was just going to eat lunch with my husband," she admitted.
"So when Ethan Peck announced my name, I really just spoke from the heart,” she said.
"So when Ethan Peck announced my name, I really just spoke from the heart,” she said.
The journalist remarked that it was priceless for her as she was able to represent Filipinos on such an esteemed awarding ceremony.
The journalist remarked that it was priceless for her as she was able to represent Filipinos on such an esteemed awarding ceremony.
"Kung minsan we are looked down upon. Akala kasi ng iba kapag may accent ka, what you're saying is not as important as what the others are saying. So to be able to say that I’m from ABS-CBN, The Filipino Channel on that stage, to be able to let them know where I came from, that’s priceless talaga," she said.
"Kung minsan we are looked down upon. Akala kasi ng iba kapag may accent ka, what you're saying is not as important as what the others are saying. So to be able to say that I’m from ABS-CBN, The Filipino Channel on that stage, to be able to let them know where I came from, that’s priceless talaga," she said.
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Yong was also recently chosen as a voter for the Golden Globe Awards.
Yong was also recently chosen as a voter for the Golden Globe Awards.
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