Luchi Cruz-Valdez’s dream interview

Throughout her 30 years in the industry, multi-awarded broadcast journalist Luchi Cruz-Valdes has sat down with some of the country’s most prominent newsmakers.

Now working as News 5’s chief and senior vice president for news and information, Cruz-Valdes said that there are still a lot of personalities she would love to interview in the future. One of them, she revealed, is controversial TV host Willie Revillame.

“I don’t know if I’m just fooling myself, but I have this illusion that I can draw out the real Willie,” she told entertainment reporters during the press con of “Anggulo,” her new public affairs program on TV5.

Why Willie among all local celebrities? “Because he’s an enigma,” Cruz-Valdes said. “I really want to know what drives him to do the things he does. He gives away so much money—even his personal money sometimes … Is he for real?”

No-holds-barred

Although they work in the same backyard, Cruz-Valdes said she has yet to convince Willie to accept her requests. Willie has reservations when granting interviews, but she won’t settle for anything less than a no-holds-barred one-on-one.

Aside from Willie, Cruz-Valdes also looks forward to chatting someday with President Aquino and US President Barack Obama.

On the pressures of heading a news division that’s up against two established giants, Cruz-Valdes said: “There’s relief and pride in knowing that we’re a strong number three. Ang pinakamalaking fulfillment dito is being able to create something from scratch.

While ABS-CBN and GMA 7 have the stranglehold on veteran journalists, Cruz-Valdes said News 5’s edge are the drive and aggressiveness of its staff.