On November 12, 2014, the FSO Cadets Batch XXI, together with Foreign Service Institute (FSI) Assistant Director Julio S. Amador III and FSI coordinators, participated in a courtesy call and study tour of the 9TV network main studio, located at the Worldwide Corporate Center in Mandaluyong City. The activity was part of the FSO Cadets’ Module on Public Diplomacy which was intended to familiarize them on how media influence Philippine foreign policy formulation.

Mr. Jose Cecilio “Jing” F. Magsaysay, 9TV Senior Vice-President for News and Current Affairs, welcomed the FSO Cadets and guided them to the network studio’s various areas (e.g., the nerve center, editing room, digital archives area, and the newsroom and green room studios). Mr. Clift Daluz, 9TV’s News Media Manager, also oriented the FSO Cadets on the network’s public service and online news content sections. Other 9TV officers present during the activity were Mr. Alfonso Marquez (Vice-President, News and Current Affairs), Mr. Ferdie Aboga (Senior Manager, News Production), and Mr. Patrick Añonuevo (News Administrative Officer).

Among other matters, Mr. Magsaysay acquainted the FSO Cadets on how the network gathers and broadcasts news. Mr. Magsaysay also shared with them some of the network’s future plans, including broadcasting news in other native languages, (e.g., Bicolano), in addition to the current Cebuano and Kapampangan newscasts.

Formerly known as TalkTV and Solar News Channel, 9TV is currently in transition to be re-launched as CNN Philippines in January 2015, in time for the apostolic visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines. By inking a partnership deal with CNN, one of the world’s most trusted international news networks, and re-branding itself as CNN Philippines, the network hopes to bring news of global and local Filipinos to the world.