Ted Failon
Encyclopedia
Mario Teodoro Failon Etong (born March 29, 1962), better known by his names Ted Failon or Teodoro Failon is a Filipino
broadcast journalist, radio commentator
, and a former congressman
representing the first district of Leyte
, Philippines
, from 2001 to 2004.
at St. Andrew's School Parañaque
in 1974, and high school
at the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta
Las Pinas Campus Department of Business High School in 1979. He took up AB
Economics
in Colegio de San Juan de Letran
while working as a disc jockey in a small joint along EDSA and Cubao, Quezon City.
He earned a Bachelor
in Broadcast Communication
degree from Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Manila in 1996, and has attended the Bachelor of Laws
program of Arellano University
.
at Radyo DIWA 531 kHz in Tacloban City
from 1983 to 1988, and later Program Director
at DWGV-FM 99.1 in Angeles City
, Pampanga
from 1988 to 1990.
In 1990, he moved to ABS-CBN
where he went on to become an executive producer
and news anchor. In ABS-CBN, he anchored Hoy Gising!
from 1992 to 2001, TV Patrol in 1992, and Pulso: Aksyon Balita
from 1999 to 2000.
He also joined DZMM
in 1990 and was first heard in the Gising Pilipinas
until 1997. He also hosted the top public service radio show Aksyon Ngayon
with Korina Sanchez
from 1991.
, Failon entered politics
when he ran for a seat in the House of Representatives
, representing the 1st District of Leyte. He won the seat, defeating veteran politician Alfred Romualdez, the husband of actress Cristina "Kring-Kring" Gonzales and nephew of former Philippine First Lady
Imelda Romualdez Marcos. He would soon retire from broadcasting to concentrate on his Congressional duties. Failon served in the 12th Congress
, but retired at the end of his term in 2004 to resume his broadcasting career at ABS-CBN. He was succeeded by Representative Remedios L. Petilla, a former governor of Leyte.
After serving as Representative of 1st district of Leyte, Failon resumed his broadcasting
career at ABS-CBN in 2004. On November 15, 2004, he and Karen Davila
joined Julius Babao
in anchoring the newly-rebranded TV Patrol World. He was also assigned to be the weekday anchor of Radyo Patrol Balita: Alas Siyete (Radio Patrol News: Seven O'Clock) the same year.
On October 24, 2009, he was given a public service and magazine show entitled Failon Ngayon
. On November 8, 2010, he was joined by veteran anchors Korina Sanchez
and Noli De Castro
on TV Patrol.
On January 10, 2011, he was joined by TV Patrol co-anchor Noli De Castro
as the anchor of Radyo Patrol Balita: Alas Siyete. He was also assigned to join De Castro in his radio program Kabayan in its last 30 minutes after the said newscast. He also currently hosts a weekday morning commentary program on DZMM
entitled Tambalang Failon at Webb (successor of Tambalang Failon at Sanchez with Korina Sanchez) with Pinky Webb
.
Failon himself denied any involvement in the shooting of his wife, and he tested negative for powder burns in a paraffin test conducted by the Quezon City police.
The family driver and three housemaids of the Failon family were charged by the Quezon City police for obstruction of justice
, for allegedly destroying important evidence in the shooting, which occurred at the Failon family home. This was followed by the arrests of Mrs. Failon's brother and sister by the Quezon City police, allegedly also for obstruction of justice.
In March 2010, the NBI ruled Trina's death a suicide
due to depression and cleared Failon and others of the charges.
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
broadcast journalist, radio commentator
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, and a former congressman
House of Representatives of the Philippines
The House of Representatives of the Philippines is the lower chamber of the...
representing the first district of Leyte
Leyte
Leyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, from 2001 to 2004.
Early life
Ted Failon was born and raised in Tacloban City, Leyte, on March 29, 1962. Working early on to financially support his studies, he finished his elementary schoolElementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
at St. Andrew's School Parañaque
St. Andrew's School Parañaque
Saint Andrew's School is a private Catholic parochial school of the Cathedral Parish of St. Andrew and managed by the Diocese of Parañaque. It is located in Parañaque City, Metro Manila, Philippines...
in 1974, and high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
at the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta
University of Perpetual Help System DALTA
The University of Perpetual Help System DALTA is a co-educational and non-sectarian university. It offers courses in pre-school, elementary, secondary and the tertiary and graduate levels; as well as short vocational, technical and special courses.-History:...
Las Pinas Campus Department of Business High School in 1979. He took up AB
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
in Colegio de San Juan de Letran
Colegio de San Juan de Letran
The Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Letran College, or simply Letran is a private Roman Catholic institution of learning located in Intramuros, Manila, in the Philippines. The college was founded in 1620. Colegio de San Juan de Letran has the distinction of being the oldest college in the...
while working as a disc jockey in a small joint along EDSA and Cubao, Quezon City.
He earned a Bachelor
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Broadcast Communication
Communication Arts
Communication Arts is the largest international trade journal of visual communications. Founded in 1959 by Richard Coyne and Robert Blanchard, the magazine’s coverage includes graphic design, advertising, photography, illustration and interactive media. The magazine continues to be edited and...
degree from Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Manila in 1996, and has attended the Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
program of Arellano University
Arellano University
Arellano University is a private, nonsectarian university located in Manila, Philippines, established in 1938 by Florentino Cayco, Sr. as the Arellano Law College which was later known as Arellano Colleges...
.
Early career
Failon first worked as an announcerAnnouncer
An announcer is a presenter who makes "announcements" in an audio medium or a physical location.-Television and other media:Some announcers work in television production , radio or filmmaking, usually providing narrations, news updates, station identification, or an introduction of a product in...
at Radyo DIWA 531 kHz in Tacloban City
Tacloban City
The City of Tacloban is a port city approximately 360 miles southeast of Manila. It is the first in Eastern Visayas to be classified as a Highly Urbanized City. It is the capital of the Philippine province of Leyte and is the largest city in terms of population in Eastern Visayas...
from 1983 to 1988, and later Program Director
Program director
In service industries, such as education, a program director or programme director researches, plans, develops and implements one or more of the firm's professional services...
at DWGV-FM 99.1 in Angeles City
Angeles City
The City of Angeles , located within the province of Pampanga in the Philippines, is locally classified as a first-class, highly-urbanized city. Its name is derived from El Pueblo de los Ángeles in honor of its patron saints, Los Santos Ángeles de los Custodios , and the name of its founder, Don...
, Pampanga
Pampanga
Pampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast...
from 1988 to 1990.
In 1990, he moved to ABS-CBN
ABS-CBN
ABS–CBN Corporation is a Philippine-based media conglomerate. It is the Philippines' largest media and entertainment conglomerate. The corporation was the merger of Alto Broadcasting System which at that time owned by James Lindenberg and Antonio Quirino, and the Chronicle Broadcasting Network ...
where he went on to become an executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
and news anchor. In ABS-CBN, he anchored Hoy Gising!
Hoy Gising!
Hoy Gising! was originally a TV Patrol segment turned into a long-running public service program. Three years later, Hoy Gising! revived the program again for Saturday afternoon airings as Hoy Gising! Kapamilya.-Origin and Style:...
from 1992 to 2001, TV Patrol in 1992, and Pulso: Aksyon Balita
Pulso: Aksyon Balita
Pulso: Aksyon Balita is the first Filipino language-late night newscast of ABS-CBN pitting up against GMA Network's GMA Network News...
from 1999 to 2000.
He also joined DZMM
DZMM
ABS-CBN DZMM Radyo Patrol 630 is the flagship AM station of ABS–CBN Corporation in the Philippines. The station's studio is located at the ABS-CBN Broadcast Center, Sgt. Esguerra Ave., cor. Mo. Ignacia St., Diliman, Quezon City, while the transmitter is located at F. Navarette St., Obando, Bulacan...
in 1990 and was first heard in the Gising Pilipinas
Gising Pilipinas
Gising Pilipinas is an hour-long morning radio newscast of DZMM. It is simulcast on DZMM TeleRadyo, The Filipino Channel, and ABS-CBN. It had stopped its simulcast on ANC in mid-2010...
until 1997. He also hosted the top public service radio show Aksyon Ngayon
Aksyon Ngayon (DZMM program)
Aksyon Ngayon is a public service program aired on DZMM every weekday mornings at DZMM. It is currently anchored by Kaye Dacer and Julius Babao with Zaldy Naguit, who broadcasts at the Aksyon Ngayon Center interviewing needy people...
with Korina Sanchez
Korina Sanchez
Korina Maria Sanchez-Roxas is a Filipina broadcast journalist, TV host and commercial endorser.-Early life:Korina Sanchez was born on October 5, 1964 in Hong Kong. Her father, Ramon P. Sanchez, Sr. , was the General Manager of then Hong Kong landmark, Ambassador Hotel. She is the only girl of Ramon...
from 1991.
House of Representatives
In 2001Philippine general election, 2001
The senatorial election was held in the Philippines on May 14, 2001. Independent candidate Noli de Castro, a former television anchor of TV Patrol of ABS-CBN was announced as the topnotcher...
, Failon entered politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
when he ran for a seat in the House of Representatives
House of Representatives of the Philippines
The House of Representatives of the Philippines is the lower chamber of the...
, representing the 1st District of Leyte. He won the seat, defeating veteran politician Alfred Romualdez, the husband of actress Cristina "Kring-Kring" Gonzales and nephew of former Philippine First Lady
First Lady of the Philippines
The First Lady/ Gentleman of the Philippines is the unofficial title of the hostess/host of the Malacañang Palace, the nation's residence of its head of state...
Imelda Romualdez Marcos. He would soon retire from broadcasting to concentrate on his Congressional duties. Failon served in the 12th Congress
12th Congress of the Philippines
The Twelfth Congress of the Philippines was the national Lower House of the legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Senate of the Philippines and House of Representatives of the Philippines...
, but retired at the end of his term in 2004 to resume his broadcasting career at ABS-CBN. He was succeeded by Representative Remedios L. Petilla, a former governor of Leyte.
Return to broadcasting
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
career at ABS-CBN in 2004. On November 15, 2004, he and Karen Davila
Karen Davila
Karen Davila or Kristin Karen Davila in real life is an award-winning broadcast journalist, one of the most-admired TV news personality, Filipina TV Host and News Anchor from ABS-CBN. She is one of the news anchor of Bandila and Headstart with Karen Davila on ANC...
joined Julius Babao
Julius Babao
Julius Caesar Concepcion Babao is a Filipino broadcast journalist, radio commentator and former talk show host for the Philippine television station ABS-CBN...
in anchoring the newly-rebranded TV Patrol World. He was also assigned to be the weekday anchor of Radyo Patrol Balita: Alas Siyete (Radio Patrol News: Seven O'Clock) the same year.
On October 24, 2009, he was given a public service and magazine show entitled Failon Ngayon
Failon Ngayon
Failon Ngayon is a magazine and public service show broadcast on ABS-CBN. It is hosted by Ted Failon. It was launched on October 24, 2009....
. On November 8, 2010, he was joined by veteran anchors Korina Sanchez
Korina Sanchez
Korina Maria Sanchez-Roxas is a Filipina broadcast journalist, TV host and commercial endorser.-Early life:Korina Sanchez was born on October 5, 1964 in Hong Kong. Her father, Ramon P. Sanchez, Sr. , was the General Manager of then Hong Kong landmark, Ambassador Hotel. She is the only girl of Ramon...
and Noli De Castro
Noli de Castro
Manuel Leuterio de Castro, Jr. , better known as Noli de Castro or "Kabayan" Noli de Castro, was Vice President of the Philippines ....
on TV Patrol.
On January 10, 2011, he was joined by TV Patrol co-anchor Noli De Castro
Noli de Castro
Manuel Leuterio de Castro, Jr. , better known as Noli de Castro or "Kabayan" Noli de Castro, was Vice President of the Philippines ....
as the anchor of Radyo Patrol Balita: Alas Siyete. He was also assigned to join De Castro in his radio program Kabayan in its last 30 minutes after the said newscast. He also currently hosts a weekday morning commentary program on DZMM
DZMM
ABS-CBN DZMM Radyo Patrol 630 is the flagship AM station of ABS–CBN Corporation in the Philippines. The station's studio is located at the ABS-CBN Broadcast Center, Sgt. Esguerra Ave., cor. Mo. Ignacia St., Diliman, Quezon City, while the transmitter is located at F. Navarette St., Obando, Bulacan...
entitled Tambalang Failon at Webb (successor of Tambalang Failon at Sanchez with Korina Sanchez) with Pinky Webb
Pinky Webb
Joanna Marie Pagaspas Webb, known as Pinky Webb is a news anchor on the Philippine television channels ABS-CBN and ANC as well as the radio station DZMM...
.
Wife's death
Failon was married to Trinidad "Trina" Arteche–Etong (1965–2009) for 25 years. On April 15, 2009, Trinidad Etong was rushed to the hospital after sustaining a gunshot wound to the head. She died from her injuries the following day. Failon himself had rushed his wife to the hospital, and subsequently issued a statement saying that he had found his wounded wife in their bathroom after she had used his handgun in a suicide attempt. Hours after the shooting, Failon was arrested, allegedly for tampering with the crime scene, though he was able to leave police custody the following day to be at his wife's bedside.Failon himself denied any involvement in the shooting of his wife, and he tested negative for powder burns in a paraffin test conducted by the Quezon City police.
The family driver and three housemaids of the Failon family were charged by the Quezon City police for obstruction of justice
Obstruction of justice
The crime of obstruction of justice, in United States jurisdictions, refers to the crime of interfering with the work of police, investigators, regulatory agencies, prosecutors, or other officials...
, for allegedly destroying important evidence in the shooting, which occurred at the Failon family home. This was followed by the arrests of Mrs. Failon's brother and sister by the Quezon City police, allegedly also for obstruction of justice.
In March 2010, the NBI ruled Trina's death a suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
due to depression and cleared Failon and others of the charges.