Ivan Mayrina on keeping ‘Unang Hirit’ relevant in the age of vlogs and IG stories

Ivan Mayrina (third row, left) with other “Unang Hirit” hosts

After two decades, GMA 7’s “Unang Hirit” (UH) continues to soar. The Kapuso morning show remains to be a breakfast staple of Pinoy viewers.

Over the years, the UH barkada has grown. Pioneer hosts Arnold Clavio, Suzi Entrata-Abrera and Lhar Santiago were joined by Ivan Mayrina, Lyn Ching, Love Añover-Llanko, Susan Enriquez, Connie Sison, Mariz Umali and Luane Dy, as well as “Mang Tani” Cruz, lawyer Gaby Concepcion and Mareng Winnie Monsod. Now, the group is made extra-colorful with the presence of Boobay, Juancho Triviño, Joyce Pring, Yuan Francisco, Angelica Ulip and Leanne Bautista.

As UH turns 20, the show pays it forward by rewarding viewers with various prizes, which include a house and lot.

“Unang Hirit” is it!

Here’s my chat with Ivan Mayrina:

What UH moment stands out in your memory? The “Mareng Winnie” segment when Sen. Risa Hontiveros was the guest and Lito Atienza was on phone patch. We were discussing the reproductive health bill. Sen. Hontiveros and Winnie were for the RH bill, and Atienza was against it. And it was up to me to try to balance the discussion.

To this day, I still look back at that episode and ask myself how to handle something like that. I don’t think there’s a clear answer. I got criticized online for that, and I also criticized myself. I know I could’ve done better.

Do you check out videos of UH’s rival ABS-CBN show?

All the time. We must not rest on our laurels. Even if our UH team feels that we have already mastered hosting the show, we still have to be updated on what our competitor is up to. That’s how we can keep evolving.

What was your most embarrassing moment in UH? When I was still a newbie in the show and Igan (Arnold Clavio) gave the cue to my segment by saying, “Good Morning Ivan,” and I replied, “Good Morning, Ivan,” instead of “Good Morning, Igan.” They were all laughing I didn’t know why, only to realize that I greeted myself on national television. I chalk that up to the fact that it was tough waking up before dawn. I still wasn’t used to it back then.

How will UH remain relevant in the age of vlogs and IG stories? We are still a morning habit. Although people now have their alternative sources of information. In social media, tuning in to UH makes them feel like they have company during breakfast and while they’re getting ready for the day.

Even if they aren’t glued to their TV sets, just hearing our voices gives them a sense of familiarity. I would like to think that we are still relevant. And if you look at the ratings, there is still a substantial number of households that watch TV.

What’s your fondest memory of your GMA colleague, Cesar Apolinario? Our Subic trip 10 years ago. Cesar was a friend to everybody. He was very generous with compliments. He would send text messages to commend me about a good story that I’ve reported. He always suggested contact persons and materials/videos for my reports. In our Viber group, he’s the most “bibo,” so he will really be missed. He’s gone too soon. He made me realize that everything is fleeting.

If Santa would ask you what’s the nicest and naughtiest thing you did this year, what would your answer be? Nicest: When I have a coverage about a calamity, I get carried away. Like, in the recent earthquake in Cotabato, I felt the urge to give something. I didn’t want to leave my interviewees empty-handed, so I played Santa Claus. It’s just something that I do, not as a TV personality, but as a human being—helping out someone who is in a very difficult situation.

Naughty: Since my cohosts and I are super close, in between news items, we talk about anything and everything. No censorship. INQ