Monday, January 23, 2006
Humility keeps Ratsada anchor on top
FOR someone who's been facing the camera for some time now, it's ironic that Gerthrode Charlotte Tan-Baterina suddenly found herself uneasy in front of the lenses.
"Hindi ako sanay sa pictorial eh," she admitted.
A graduate of the University of the Philippines with a double major in Broadcast Communication and Management, Charlotte - as she's popularly known by Ilonggo viewers, anchors Iloilo's number one local news program - Ratsada.
Charlotte not only shares broadcasting duties for Ratsada, she also has her hands full being its executive producer.
"I have been through four stages in my career - field reporter, junior reporter, an anchor and executive producer," Charlotte said, as she settled comfortably on a chair after the pictorial that GMA Network arranged for her and co-anchor Jon Gellangarin.
"I started as a field reporter for GMA Iloilo getting assigned in various beats like City Hall, the Hall of Justice, the provincial capitol then the graveyard shift. Then pinatawag ako for screening para sa Ratsada. Five months later, I began my stint with Ratsada (as anchor)," said Charlotte, who at one time also served as Vice President for TV at the Iloilo City Hall Press Corps.
She reviews the news menu, decides which goes into the line-up together with the desk Head, assigns breaking stories to Ratsada staffers, goes to the field herself to file a story and even dedicates her weekends to Kapuso Kabarangay, the mobile unit of Ratsada.
But when the clock strikes six o'clock, Charlotte trades her EP hat and assumes anchor duties as she delivers Ratsada's hottest news, which has become a primetime habit of Ilonggos.
With Ratsada's popularity increasing, Charlotte is now more than ever determined to steer the program to greater heights.
"My personal wish for Ratsada is for it to become 10 times stronger, more responsible, to educate the viewers and to be able to impart the level of maturity to my subordinates especially since I'm the EP of Ratsada," she expressed.
Charlotte without a doubt is a workaholic but this doesn't mean that she doesn't know how to let her hair down. After all, the adage "all work and no play make Jill a dull girl" is applicable to all.
"I read books. I love reading books. I'm into F. Sionil Jose. I like the way he writes, a style, which I am keen to take after now that I am also a regular columnist for The Post. Sionil Jose is very good in expressing details."
At 6:30 after Ratsada's closing credits, Charlotte usually heads to the mall.
"I'm such a mall rat!" she declared.
"Even if I'm so tired, a trip to the mall is all I need. Nakakatanggal kasi ng stress. At saka mahilig talaga akong magtititingin ng iba't-ibang mga pwedeng bilhin eh," Charlotte confessed.
At 25, the charming RATSADA anchor and EP seems to have it all - an exciting and blooming broadcasting career, loyalty of Ratsada viewers and the respect of her colleagues, plus a loving husband in Philippine Air Force Lt. Florante Baterina. But she's careful not to let it all get in her head.
"I think that's my best trait, my humility. 'Di ko inaabuso 'yung position na ibinigay sa amin." she ponders.
And what would be her advice to those who would to pursue a broadcasting career and be someone like her in the industry?
"Never let go of a dream.
(January 23, 2006 issue)
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