This pandemic has turned us into news junkies, so we were tuned in when Rico Hizon came on on our TV screen in the evening last March 30 on Cnn Philippines. That was quite a change, because we’ve been used to our mornings with him on BBC.

We knew that he could be settling back home, after living in Singapore for 22 years, we just weren’t sure which Philippine media organization he’d join. Although we’d meet up with friends on his visits to Manila, he kept that information from us until CNN’s head Armie Jarin-Bennett announced on March 27 his appointment as senior anchor and director for news content development.

But even as early as late last year, we felt he was so ready to come home. At one merienda that ran into early dinner with our good friend, TV producer Noel Ferrer, he was telling us why he knew it was time to come home and he couldn’t talk enough about the need to have more good news in Philippine media. As early as then, we knew his homecoming was only a matter of time.

In truth, this Filipino who became a global broadcasting icon during his 17-year stint with BBC has never really left home, in a manner of speaking. Apart from the business or hard news, he’s always been into lifestyle, entertainment and the arts. He’s one of the early collectors of BenCab, and the National Artist and his partner Annie Sarthou have become his good friends. A few years back, he helped mount the highly acclaimed Filipino musical, “Sabel,” based on BenCab’s iconic image and which starred Iza Calzado. He also helped set up a BenCab art exhibit in Singapore.

And—as many know, he’s an avid follower of our teleserye. He beats me with his updated takes on local show biz.

This is a side to Rico that perhaps not many know, since they’ve been used to him reporting on business and giving business analysis for more than a decade.

Coming home wasn’t a tough decision at all, he told us in an interview as the pandemic broke out.

“I’ve been living overseas for the past 25 years, from Hong Kong to Singapore. Melannie and I have been planning this move the past two years. But it was also finding the right time and the right job.

Filipino culture

“My dad (Jose Hizon) turned 92 and I felt it was time to spend more time with him. Melannie and I also wanted our 15-year-old son Migo to know more about our very own Filipino culture and heritage and be closer to his lolo, having been born and raised in Singapore.”

He said he didn’t think twice about his move to CNN. “When CNN Philippines asked me to be part of the team, I didn’t hesitate to join one of the most respected news organizations in the world and in the Philippines.”

His first two weeks on the job as senior news anchor have been, in his words, “smooth and seamless. Although many of us were working from home, the team made me feel at home.”

He broadcasts from a studio in Metro Manila. On Monday, April 20, 9 p.m., he premieres “The Final Word with Rico Hizon.”

He couldn’t have come home at a more crucial time, given the pandemic and people’s hunger for news. He sees the crisis as a challenge: “These are indeed challenging times—we are fighting an unseen and unpredictable enemy. While our brave front-liners are protecting and saving lives, we in media also have a vital role. We face a different battle. And we at CNN Philippines have to fight the rumors and misinformation. We have to keep spreading the facts, to empower people with information they need and trust. The most important thing in these challenging times and with a news stream from various sources is to report the news that is balanced, accurate and fair, always report both sides of the issue.”

Even in his Facebook posts, it’s apparent that he believes the spotlight could be trained more on the good news. “Good news is not played up enough. We should focus not only on mainstream news, but also on the positive action, triumphs, victories and success of Filipinos, whether big or small. And now in this period in our lives we should uplift, inspire and boost the morale of Filipinos with nuggets of good stories.”

Of course, he will miss his 17-year stint in BBC. “The BBC News teams in London and Singapore were my second family. I anchored ‘Asia Business Report’ for 17 years and ‘Newsday’ for almost 10 years. They provided me many opportunities, both professionally as well as in personal growth and development.”

That was more than enough time to gather precious moments at the news deck. He’s interviewed the Who’s Who from across spectrums—to name a few: Microsoft’s Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, billionaire Warren Buffet, former US President Bill Clinton, former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad, Nobel Prize Laureate Mohammad Yunus, Philippine Presidents Fidel Ramos, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Benigno Aquino III, football world champion Pele, Kobe Bryant, Jamie Foxx, Emma Stone, K-pop phenomenon PSY, Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, Journey’s Arnel Pineda, celebrated photographer Annie Leibovitz, bestselling author Amy Chua.

Well-rounded journalist

And that’s not even half of the list. His has been an exciting universe in global broadcasting. “It made me a well-rounded journalist, not only focusing on general news but also on business, sports, entertainment, culture. My experience overseas educated me day in and day out on the various responsibilities inside and outside of the newsroom. I would like to share these best practices which I learned overseas with my new media family.”

Expectedly, after having lived in Singapore for 22 years, he will miss that second home.

“It was a wonderful and unforgettable experience for me, Melannie and our son Migo. I will miss the transportation system, it’s so efficient. I take the bus or subway home. I will miss the cleanliness of the city, the parks and the gardens. I will miss the food, from chicken rice to chili crab. Singapore is a major travel hub. It takes us to any city around the world.”

Now that he’s back home, he would have wanted to resume the Pinoy lifestyle—except that the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) happened. “It’s quite unfortunate that my family comes amid this health crisis,” he said. “Apart from that, though, I love malling with my wife, eating out with family and friends, and finally I can get to attend art exhibit openings and visit my favorite art galleries and museums, which I haven’t been able to really do the past 25 years. I love OPM music, so I will be able to watch concerts and musicals when I’m not anchoring my CNN PH programs.

“More importantly, I will able to spend more time with my dad.”

Welcome home, Rico! We just hope there will be enough good news you can report.