Pia Hontiveros switches off her microphone–for now

HONTIVEROS. Richly deserves viewers’ appreciation and gratitude.

Last December 4, we were channel-surfing, as usual, and caught the last 15 minutes of “Strictly Politics,” the weekly public affairs show hosted with consistent perspicacity and distinction by Pia Hontiveros.

Last we’d heard about Pia, she was on maternity leave. “Oh, good,” we thought, “she’s given birth and now we can enjoy her show again on a regular basis.”

The guest on-cam when we tuned in was Secretary Mar Roxas, and Pia was pressing him to talk about his plans —
to run or not to run in the next polls? As he was dancing his way around the question, however, we heard Secretary Roxas saying something about Pia’s own future plans. Hey, what was going on?

And, at the end of the interview, he up and gave the program host a huge bouquet of flowers, which we’ve never seen him do before. Was the interview that good?

Farewell telecast

After Secretary Roxas had stepped out of camera range, Pia faced the camera and dropped the “bomb”: She revealed that this was her farewell telecast, and that she was leaving “Strictly Politics” — after some 17 years with ABS-CBN.

Wow.

In the past, Pia has been one of only a handful of local TV news people whom we’ve praised to high heavens for her excellent work. It helps that she’s the loveliest woman in the TV news business, but it’s the quality of her work that is so exceptional and deserving of viewers’ appreciation and gratitude.

Unlike many local news “stars,” Pia never calls attention to herself, and focuses her attention completely on delivering and making sense of the news, and the political kings and queens who make it.

Which is not to say that she’s an efficient automaton. On “Strictly Politics,” her analytical prowess has helped viewers cut through self-absorbed politicos’ balderdash and poppycock, and astutely focus on the issues rather than on the flaky personalities involved. Why, at one point, she even had the cool audacity to cut a big politician down to size by pointing out, “This is my show, not yours!”

Observation

That cool observation must have won her many viewers’ attention and respect that night.

By the way, we weren’t among them, for the simple reason that, ever since Pia started her TV career, she already had ours.

So, you can imagine how sad we felt when she announced that she was hanging up her microphone — for the nonce.  We figure that her new baby may be part of the reason, so we won’t protest too loudly.

This reminds us of the time, a couple of years ago, when another acclaimed and revered TV news person, Cheche Lazaro, called us up to explain why she was going on semi-retirement mode: “I’m becoming a grandmother for the first time, and I want to focus on that.”

Family is more important than work and service to the viewing public — we get that. And we philosophically step aside to give Pia and Cheche the space and time they need.

Trouble is, who will take their place? When Cheche went on semi-retirement mode, some younger talents did make their presence felt, but most of them were of the usual glossy, superficial, self-absorbed sort. You know the type, they say they’re in the biz for the viewers, but they’re actually in it for themselves — and they intend to go far without having to work all that hard to get there. There are exceptions to the rule, but nowhere near enough of them to fill in the blanks left by genuine players like Pia and Cheche when they go on “family leave.”

Medium

Fact is, when it comes to real news talents, our networks have exceedingly narrow “benches.” So, what are we to do? Make-do with the “replacements,” provided they  haven’t compromised themselves — yet.

OK, we’ll agree to do that — provided the replacements are temporary, and Pia and Cheche will eventually return to the medium that sorely needs truly service-oriented and selfless workers like them. Promise?