Rodrigo Defeo Manicad Jr. is a Filipino television news producer/reporter and newscaster. He was formerly an anchor of the weekend edition of GMA Network's flagship news program24 Oras and on GMA News TV's Quick Response Team before resigning from the network in April 2018 and running as senator on the 2019 Midterm Elections under PDP-Laban.
Biography and career
Rodrigo Defeo Manicad Jr. is the son of Rodrigo Manicad Sr. and Lusviminda Defeo Manicad. He was born on November 15, 1974. He finished elementary and secondary in San Pablo Colleges. He took Communication Arts in the University of the Philippines Los Baños. As a kid, he loved animals specially dogs. As a matter of fact, his dog Tikboy was chosen as one of the K-9 dogs of the National Bureau of Investigation. He worked as assistant editor of the International Rice Research Institute. Years later, he found himself back in Manila, becoming one of the writers of the popular show Magandang Gabi, Bayan in ABS-CBN. He later transferred to GMA Network for he wanted to be become a newscaster. He got the shot and is currently working as a reporter of Reporter's Notebook. During the May 1, 2001 Riot in Mendiola, San Miguel Manila, he was seriously injured his head in the middle of the riot between the protesters and the authorities. His stories include insurgency and extremism in Mindanao, disasters and the illegal arms trade. In 2004, he was awarded the British Chevening Scholarship Award. He then took a postgraduate course in International Broadcast Journalism at Cardiff University in Wales. He was chosen from 800 applicant-journalists from all over the country. As part of the program, he had his practicum at the BBC in Norwich, England. He is also an awardee of Ten Outstanding Young Men for 2012 for journalism. On April 20, 2018, Manicad announces his departure from GMA Network and resignation from media service during his program, News TV Quick Response Team, after the prospective senatorial candidate under the ruling PDP–Labanpolitical party for 2019 midterm elections.
