Veteran TV anchor Henry Omaga-Diaz bids goodbye to ‘TV Patrol’

Henry Omaga-Diaz on ‘TV Patrol’ | Image: Screengrab from YouTube/ABS-CBN News

After 33 years in service, seasoned television anchor Henry Omaga-Diaz bade farewell to “TV Patrol” as he is set to join his family abroad.

Omaga-Diaz made his final appearance as a mainstay anchor of the news program on Friday night, Aug. 30. Fellow anchors Noli de Castro, Karen Davila, Bernadette Sembrano, Gretchen Fulido and Ariel Rojas paid tribute to him.

“Ang Panginoon may plano para sa ating lahat at ang bilib ako sa ‘yo (The Lord has a plan for all of us and what I admire about you) is you take it with such grace. Ang hindi alam ng marami, on and off camera, ang bait-bait mo. Wala kang masamang tinapay sa kahit kanino sa katrabaho mo, napaka-humble mo, Henry, wala kang dalang yabang,” said Davila.

(What many people don’t know, on and off camera, is you are such a kind person. You don’t have any bad word for everyone you work with; you’re very humble, Henry; you don’t have egoism.)

“Good luck, Henry. Nag-usap na tayo kung ano’ng gagawin mo habang nasa Canada ka. Kung may problema ka, tawagan mo lang ako,” expressed de Castro. (Good luck, Henry. We have already talked about what you will do while you are in Canada. If you have any problem, just call me.)

Omaga-Diaz declared that he would miss his “TV Patrol” family as he thanked his co-anchors and ABS-CBN bosses, and applauded the newsroom staff for their commitment and hard work.

“Grabe po ang naging suporta ng ating mga kasamahan sa newsroom, hanggang sa pag-edit ng script, sa video… ‘Yun ang pinakamagandang feeling eh, ‘yung mga colleagues, nakikita mo mismo ‘yung pagmamahal sa kanila,” he said.

(Our colleagues in the newsroom have been very supportive, up to editing the script, the video… That’s the best feeling, those colleagues, you can see the love in them.)

In a recorded message, Omaga-Diaz’s wife, Gigi, said, “Finally, the day has come after a very long wait. You will now be joining me here in Canada. I know it was a tough and difficult decision for you to leave something that you’re most passionate about—the things that you love to do most—and have dedicated your entire career to your Kapamilya. But with God’s blessing, I’m sure you will find ways and opportunities for you to share your stories here. This is home and we are happy and excited for you to be here. See you soon.”

Despite leaving “TV Patrol,” Omaga-Diaz said he is set to continue his journalistic endeavor in Canada.

“‘Di na ko araw-araw makikita sa [TV] Patrol, pero ‘di aalis ‘yung pagiging mamamahayag…. ‘Yung gagawin ko do’n ay related din sa journalism,” he shared on Radyo 630, formerly DZMM TeleRadyo. 

(You may not see me in TV Patrol every day, but the journalist in me will not go away…. What I will do there is still related to journalism.)

In his four decades in the news business, Omaga-Diaz was dispatched to cover wars, natural disasters and international coverages such as the trial for the murder of domestic worker Sarah Balabagan in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 1995 and the 2011 transfer of OFWs from Libya to Crete as a result of the country’s civil war. 

He also served as host of “Magandang Gabi… Bayan” from 2001 to 2006, “Hoy Gising!” from 1997 to 2001, and “XXX: “Exklusibong, Explosibong, Expose” from 2006 to 2009. 

Aside from anchoring “TV Patrol,” Omaga-Diaz was also the anchor for the midnight telecast “Bandila” from 2006 to 2010.