Aljo Bendijo is a Filipino broadcast journalist based in Manila. He is the best known for host Hoy Gising, then anchoring ABS-CBN's flagship newscast TV Patrol from 2001 to 2003 with Korina Sanchez and Henry Omaga-Diaz and Batingaw of People's Television Network from 2008 to 2012, as well as one of the host of One Morning Cafe and Good Morning Pilipinas. He is formerly joined RPN to anchor Newswatch Aksyon Balita from 2006 to 2007. He currently hosts "Sonshine Newsblast", the flagship newscast program of DZAR 1026 in Manila.
Bendijo started his television career at ABS-CBN Regional Network Group's Davao station in 1994 while obtaining his college degree and hosted a public-service program on the station's regional radio station DXAB. He then became anchor of TV Patrol Southern Mindanao with Girlie Balaba in 1997 following a reformat in the program. It was renamed TV Patrol Davao. He then rose to national fame when he was first TV host of Hoy Gising on May 8, 2000 and the former national reporter and by named as one of the three anchors in the reformat of the main TV Patrol in ABS-CBN Manila on March 5, 2001. He joined after Noli De Castro left as anchor to participate at the 2001 Senatorial elections, alongside returning anchor Korina Sanchez and then-interim anchor Henry Omaga-Diaz. His anchoring skills were absolutely commended by the management that they gave him his own show, Sapul Kayo Diyan!, which aired on Saturdays at 10:30pm. Aside from these three shows, Bendijo also excelled as one of the field reporters of the News & Current Affairs Division. He bagged the "Best New Male TV Personality" award at the 15th PMPC Star Awards for Television in 2001. Following his anchor stint, he was named as one of the hosts of the morning show Magandang Umaga, Bayan and was its newsreader, alongside Katherine de Castro, on March 5, 2002. In 2003, he was not seen on TV Patrol for unknown reasons and following this, the newscast underwent a reformat change adding Julius Babao to the roster, joining Sanchez. He left MUB also after a year, ending his 9-year career in the network.
2006–2007: Various TV appearances
Bendijo was seen in 2006 anchoring Hataw Balita on UNTV, following his three-year hiatus from TV, with Daniel Razon, Jay Sonza and lawyer Mel Mauricio, hosting the Hataw Balita segment. He left the show and transferred to RPN. In the network, he became one of the first anchors of RPN Action News with former ABS-CBN talents Erwin Tulfo and Connie Sison for a year, which replaced Arangkada Balita, anchored by then-Teledyaryo anchor and former TV Patrol anchor Angelique Lazo.
2007–2012: Stint at ''People's Television Network (PTV)''
After his stint at RPN and UNTV, Bendijo then moved to the government-owned NBN 4. He became the main host of the morning show One Morning Cafe with Veronica Baluyut-Jimenez from 2007 to 2010. He anchored the late-night flagship newscast Batingaw with Kathy San Gabriel and Cathy Villar from 2008 to 2012. On September 1, 2015, he again joined People's Television Network's morning show Good Morning Boss as host and one of the main anchors of PTV's flagship news program News @ 6 now became an anchor of PTV News with Kathy San Gabriel and Ria Fernandez.
Since 2012, Bendijo has been part of the roster of anchors for DZAR 1026, the flagship radio station of Sonshine Media Network International and has been anchoring the newscast Newsblast. He also hosts DZAR's public service program Isyu at Batas with De La Salle University Law School Vice Dean and Law professor Atty. Antonio "Butch" Jamon, Jr. The program deals with legal opinions on different issues of national interests and at the same time extending free legal advises especially to less fortunates and indigents. On September 12, 2016, Bendijo assumed as main anchor for RadyoBisyon aired live from Monday to Friday, 6:00 to 7:00 am, over PBS Radyo ng Bayan, PTV 4 and IBC 13 with co-host Czarinah Luzuegro. Radyo Bisyon words of "radio" and "television" is the national morning newscast of Media Ng Bayan. He also hosts Hamon-Bendijo, an issue based commentary radio program with Dean Butch Jamon also with Radyo ng Bayan 738 kHz right after RadyoBisyon. Currently, he anchors Radyo Pilipinas News Nationwide with Alan Allanigue on Radyo Pilipinas, Monday to Friday, 7:00 to 8:00 am and BIRADA BENDIJO on Facebook.
Other activities
Business ventures
Aside from his anchor stint, Bendijo tried merchandise and retail business in Imus, Cavite. He also managed the band Sidecrash, which had been known as 12 Months to Pay. The band is composed of five members who are also Davaoenos.
Public image
He named as one of the Top 10 Cutest newsmen in the country by spot.ph. in 2010.
