Peter Musñgi (1996–2010) Martin Andanar and Leddy Tantoco (2010–13) Dennis Antenor, Jr. (2013–15) Daniel Castro (2016–17) Jenill Demorito and Rod Marcelino (2019–20)
Spanning 24 years and aired cumulatively on five hosting networks, the show was anchored by Neil Ocampo, self-styled as - and later nicknamed - the Total News-Tertainer (a portmanteau of "newscaster" and "entertainer"), a newscaster with an exceptional entertaining caliber, which he maintained throughout his career. Todo Balita incorporated light-hearted and jovial banter between the anchor and his characters that were vocal impersonations of various political figures and caricatures of a Filipino everyman, a style which became a hit to its listeners.
Program history
Background
Neil Ocampo transferred to DZMM from RMN's DZXL months after the 1986 People Power Revolution as one of the station's first batch of recruited Radyo Patrol reporters. By 1990, he was given his first regular hosting spot on DZMM's mid-morning timeslot (11 AM to 1 PM, including a 15-minute noontime newscast) with Gel Santos-Relos as co-anchor, but the pairing did not last. In 1993, the then-31 year-old reporter eventually was given an evening timeslot for his eponymous "Oh Yes! It's Neil Ocampo!" after serving as pinch hitter for the station's other programs following the dissolution of his pairing with Santos-Relos.
1996-2001: Todo Arangkada
In 1996, Ocampo was moved back to the mid-morning timeslot as host of Todo Arangkada that ran every Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon and every Saturday from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. Todo Arangkada served as the originating show for most of the host's voice impersonations as it combined straight news commentary and light banter. [1]
2001-2010: Todo Balita on DZMM
With Noli De Castro's candidacy for the Senate in the 2001 elections, DZMM's management promoted Ocampo to the vacated morning primetime slot (5:00 - 7:00 am) and Todo Arangkada was relaunched on March 5, 2001 as Todo Balita.
Upon the launch of DZMM's cable television counterpart in April 2007, Todo Balita's unique programming style posed a problem to management on how it could be successfully parlayed to cable television audiences without running the risk of destroying the program's patented illusion. Marah Faner-Capuyan would recount on DZMM's 30th anniversary documentary 30/630: Kwento ng Tatlong Dekada that they had to make photographed caricatures of Ocampo's vocal impersonations at first, but by the latter half of TeleRadyo's first year of broadcast, the control room would relent in showing Ocampo on-camera as viewers had taken notice of the program being broadcast live but still without the studio being seen, contrary to the channel's intended purpose.
In 2008, Todo Balita's first 15 minutes began to be simulcast over ABS-CBN as a lead-in to Umagang Kay Ganda.
Ocampo took a leave from DZMM in November 2009 to run for mayor of Marilao, Bulacan, but was eventually defeated. In the interim, the show continued with rotating anchors as a straight-forward news and commentary program until the hosting reins went permanently to Vic de Leon - Lima and David Oro.
Todo Balita aired its last DZMM broadcast on July 9, 2010, in preparation for the return of Noli de Castro's Kabayan.
2010-13: Radyo5 92.3 News FM
Todo Balita was relaunched on Radyo5 92.3 News FM on November 8, 2010, with Ocampo returning as host. In an interview by the Philippine Entertainment Portal, the anchor disclosed that the impetus for his transfer to TV5's FM venture was refusing an offer by DZMM for his program to occupy the 3:00 - 5:00 am slot as de Castro's lead-in, as he felt that the timing was too early and unfit for his program's format.
The program remained intact with additional segments such as HBO: Hambalos Banat On-the-Spot and CNN: Commentary ni Neil. It also brought minor changes to the names of the characters impersonated by Ocampo
On April 2013 Todo Balita aired its last broadcast on Radyo5 due to undisclosed reasons. The 6:00 am weekday spot was eventually renamed to Radyo Singko Balita with Ocampo's relief anchor Joel Gorospe serving as host. On June 17, 2013, its timeslot was permanently taken over by Orly Mercado: All Ready! with Orly Mercado.
During its run on FM radio, the program commissioned an intro rap jingle that lasted from 2011 to 2013.
2013-15: Arangkada Balita
After leaving Radyo5 92.3 News FM, Neil Ocampo moved to DZRH as host of the 5:00 am Arangkada Balita and the 6:30 am ACS Balita every weekdays. During its run on the station, the show was also a springboard for the network's anniversary specials every July.
By 2015, the anchorman would depart from DZRH, citing an indefinite leave.
2016-17: Todo Arangkada Balita on DZRJ
In August 2016, the then-58 year-old anchorman was unveiled in a press conference as a veteran recruit of Kaye Dacer's 8TriMedia Broadcasting. He returned on the air three months later (November 7) on DZRJ-AM under 8TriMedia's airtime lease through the third iteration of Todo Balita as Todo Arangkada Balita airing weekdays at 8:00 am to 10:00 am with the long-running format being carried over.
Weeks into the program's run, 8TriMedia planned to move Ocampo to the 6:00 PM slot by December 2016 to compete with national TV newscasts simulcast on AM stations, but never materialized.[2]
On March 14, 2017, Todo Arangkada Balita recommissioned its rap jingle, albeit removing stanzas that referenced Radyo5. However, on December 8, 2017, the program unceremoniously ended on DZRJ after the station terminated 8TriMedia's blocktime agreement. Furthermore, Ocampo went into a sabbatical as the program was excluded from the ensuing integration made by DZRJ for 8TriMedia personnel affected by the displaced lease.
2019-2020: Todo Arangkada Balita on DZXL
In the latter part of September 2019, RMN's DZXL ran promotions of Neil Ocampo's return to broadcasting which materialized on October 19.
Todo Arangkada Balita: The New Generation initially ran Saturdays at 10:00 am to noon until it was reduced to an hour by January 2020 when the program Bisaya Gyud! of then-incumbent PCO Secretary Martin Andanar bought the 11:00 am slot as a blocktimer. Notwithstanding the reduction to a weekly broadcast, its erstwhile format remained intact.
Ocampo hosted the broadcast until February 29, 2020 - three weeks before the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. Owing to both the government restrictions and his failing health which prompted the medical hiatus, the anchor chair went to Rod Marcelino as a fill-in for the next four Saturdays until it was quietly cancelled after the March 28 broadcast.
Todo Balita deviated from the usual straight-forward news-talk format as the host interjected light-hearted and playful banter with his various vocal impersonations that became a hit to the public as the characters were often the ones throwing the praises and/or jibes about the topic at hand while Ocampo served as the straight man.
During his absence for illness or special assignments, the program is presented in a straightforward style with the substitute as a sole host.
Characters/Vocal impersonations
Name
Notes
Mang Tonyo/Jejemon Tonyo
Ocampo's caricature for the middle-aged everyman and the most recognized of his impressions. He addresses the public as "mga anak" (children) and often threw the most diatribes on a controversial topic
Ocampo's "Mang Tonyo" impression also appeared on Hoy Gising! in the late 1990s.
Both iterations of the "Tongressman" spoke in a heavy Batangas Tagalog accent resembling that of actor Leo Martinez. His comedic backstory often describes the Tongressman as having been previously jailed. Tongressman Abnoy serves as a more formal and restrained counter to Mang Tonyo's no-holds barred jabs
Kiskis Flavor
An anagram to then-DOH Secretary and later Senator Juan Flavier, Kiskis Flavor often was the show's "insider" in an incumbent administration's cabinet
Other minor recurring characters were "Pareng Erap" (parodying Joseph Estrada) "Dugong Diokterte" (a parody of Rodrigo Duterte) and Bato Bato Pick (a pun on then-Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa). However, Ocampo would sometimes mimic real-life competitors like Rey Langit or play one of his characters during introductions to a live field report.
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