Pia Arcangel is the new host of Tunay na Buhay

Award-winning Kapuso broadcast journalist Pia Arcangel is the new host of GMA Public Affairs’ Tunay na Buhay starting today.

Pia has been with GMA Network since 2003 when she became one of the hosts of the network’s morning show Unang Hirit. She also hosted the children’s show Art Angel where she, along with her co-host Tonipet Gaba and Krystal Reyes, won the 21^st, 22^nd, and 23^rd PMPC Star Awards for Television as Best Children Show Hosts. She also became part ofBalitanghali with Raffy Tima for 9 years. Now, she co-anchors 24 Oras Weekend and Saksi.

“There was never a doubt about me saying yes,” shares Pia about her being the new host of Tunay na Buhay. “It never entered my mind to say no because I’m really a fan of the show and I’ve seen how Rhea does it so I was beyond grateful when they called me and considered me to take her place. I’m looking forward to meeting different personalities and different people because every time you meet someone, you learn something from them especially if you have an in depth conversation with the person. I’m excited their stories with other people in the hopes of inspiring other people as well,” she adds.

Tunay na Buhay is a docu-reality show featuring stories with themes and life lessons meant to inspire and celebrate the triumphs of the human spirit. It tells the stories of people from all walks of life—from politicians, prominent personalities, to an ordinary person on the street—giving the audience tales of inspiration and learning.

For Pia’s first episode on August 14, she will feature the life story of Sen. Manny Pacquiao.

Aside from telling people’s life journey, Pia will also introduce new segments for the show: the “Prangkahan with Pia” and “Pia Asks.”

“It’s not what we’re used to [delivering] hard news so sabi ni Rhea mag-eenjoy raw talaga ako. You’d be seeing the less ‘newsy’ side of me because I’d be trying what the celebrities do. They’d be introducing me to their daily activities also so if sasayaw sila susubukan ko ‘yun! I will be joining them in their outdoor activities so isa rin ‘yun sa nilu-look forward ko. Meron rin kaming mga bagong segment na inihanda at kailangan kong paghandaan. Ito ang ‘Prangkahan with Pia,’ so direct questions with personalities na ma-iinterview namin, isasalang namin sa prangkahan. Meron din ‘Pia Asks’ so ito mga random questions. Merong madadaling tanong. Meron din mahihirap na tanong. ‘Yun ang dapat nilang abangan at paghandaan,” says Pia.

Pia also shared her ultimate dream interview, “My super-duper dream interview talaga is Pope Francis. Yung exclusive sit down interview talaga, hindi ambush kasi parang feeling ko kahit two minutes lang with him, I’ll learn so much. Sa local naman, it’s the Pillars of GMA News because it’s different when you talk to each other na pag nagkakasalubong kami. Pero imagine if we talk about their career path. So imagine if I get to do that with the Pillars because sila nag-cover sila ng 1986 Revolution and all the big moments in history so it would be fun to talk about those.”

Catch Pia Arcangel as the new host of Tunay na Buhay, starting August 14, 11:35 p.m., after Saksi on GMA-7.