Jessica Soho

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Aspiras and the surname or paternal family name is Soho.

Maria Jessica Aspiras Soho (Tagalog: [ˌdʒɛsiˈka ˈsɔho]; born March 27, 1964) is a Filipino broadcast journalist affiliated with GMA Network. She is the host of the news magazine program Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho on GMA, and was the news anchor for State of the Nation on GMA News TV (now GTV) from 2011 to 2021.

Jessica Soho
Soho with fellow journalist Jiggy Manicad in 2014
Born	Maria Jessica Aspiras Soho (1964-03-27) March 27, 1964 (age 61) San Fernando, La Union, Philippines
Alma mater	University of the Philippines Diliman
Occupations	Journalist presenter
Years active	1985–present

Soho is a multi-awarded journalist.^[1] In 1998, Soho became the first Filipino to win the British Fleet Street Award for Journalism.^[2] In 1999, Soho and the I-Witness team received the Philippines' first Peabody Award for producing the "Kidneys for Sale" and "Kamao" documentaries.^[3] Soho's story of a hostage crisis in Cagayan Valley made her the first Filipino to win in the New York Film Festival.^[4]

Early life

Maria Jessica Aspiras Soho was born on March 27, 1964, in San Fernando, La Union, Philippines.^[5][6] Her parents are Abelardo Soho, a government employee, and Maura Aspiras, an agriculturist.^[1] Soho's grandmothers, Sixta "Apo Ittang" Aspiras and Concepción "Cion" Soho, influenced her in telling stories. She is of Chinese descent through her paternal grandfather with a surname Szeto (later baptized as Pedro Szeto later in his life or Pedro Soho), who immigrated to the Philippines from Kaiping County, Guangdong, China, in the early 20th century.^[1][7]

Soho attended the University of the Philippines Diliman to study mass communication. One of her professors was Luis Beltran, who inspired Soho to finish her studies and practice journalism in Manila.^[8]

Career

Soho joined GMA News and Public Affairs in January 1985.^[1] Soho's first voice-over report was a feature story on the inauguration of the Manila Line 1 from Baclaran to Monumento. Soho was later assigned to the defense and military beats.^[9]

In 1991, Soho earned a Bronze Award at the New York Film Festival for her coverage of a hostage crisis in Cagayan Valley,^[9] the first for a Filipino.^[10] She also received the Ka Doroy Valencia Award given by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas. In 1994, she received the Grand Prize from the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union for her coverage of a breaking news story. Soho is included in the list of 100 Filipino Women of Distinction chosen during the Philippine Centennial celebrations.^[10]

Soho helped conceptualize the one-hour documentary television program I-Witness, which she co-presented from its premiere in 1999 to 2004.^[11] The I-Witness documentaries "Kidneys for Sale" and "Kamao" made her the first Filipino reporter, with GMA Network as the first Filipino network, to win a Peabody Award in 1999.^[4] She won the Asian Television Award for Best News and Current Affairs Special for the 2001 "Saksi Sa Kasaysayan" documentary.^[4]

In 2014, Soho's GMA news programs Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho and State of the Nation with Jessica Soho were recognized by the Peabody Awards for their coverage on Super Typhoon Yolanda. State of the Nation also earned Soho consecutive wins for Most Trusted News Presenter by Reader's Digest Asia.^[12][13]

In 2015, Soho was given an honorary doctorate in humanities by the University of Northeastern Philippines during its 67th commencement exercises on April.^[14]

Public Image and Influence

Jessica Soho is widely regarded as one of the most respected journalists in the Philippines. Her commitment to in-depth reporting and storytelling has earned her numerous accolades and a strong following among viewers.^[15]

Soho's work has been credited with setting high standards in broadcast journalism, particularly through her long-running program, Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho. In 2022, she was recognized as one of the most trusted TV news personalities in the country, reflecting her significant influence on public opinion.^[16]

Beyond her reporting, Soho has become a cultural icon, often referenced in popular media and social discussions. Her interviews and features frequently trend on social media platforms, showcasing her ability to engage with a broad audience and address pressing societal issues. In 2023, she was honored as the Global Awardee for Journalism at the 13th The Outstanding Filipino Awards (TOFA) held in Los Angeles, California, recognizing her exceptional contribution to journalism.^[17]

Controversies

In May 2013, a controversy sparked involving Soho and comedian Vice Ganda, involving a joke directed at the anchor during the latter's concert held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.^[18] Vice mentioned Soho, among several other personalities, in a stand-up skit involving celebrities starring in a pornographic film, adding that Soho would be gang raped if she were cast, as well as making several jokes ridiculing her weight. Vice Ganda later issued a public apology during his regular appearances in It's Showtime, admitting to his wrongdoing and that he offended Soho and several others with his jokes. Soho later acknowledged Vice's apology but she denied any intent to close any further discussion with the comedian.^[19]

In June 2021, Nas Daily announced that Soho, among other known Filipino personalities, which include Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, fashion designer Michael Cinco, and food vlogger Erwan Heussaff would teach courses through his Nas Academy. However, following the Whang-od controversy, Jessica Soho has made a statement that she would no longer pursue the Jessica Soho course in Nas Academy.^[20]

In January 2022, Soho was accused of being "biased" against Bongbong Marcos, a presidential candidate in the 2022 Philippine presidential election, by his spokesman Victor Rodriguez after declining to participate in The Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews on GMA Network.^[21][22] GMA responded to Rodriguez's claim on Marcos' absence, saying "Throughout her career, Ms. Soho has consistently been named the most trusted media personality in the Philippines by both local and foreign organizations, a testament to her embodiment of the GMA News and Public Affairs ethos: 'Walang Kinikilingan, Walang Pinoprotektahan, Serbisyong Totoo Lamang'".^[23][24]

Accolades

International recognitions

British Embassy in Manila

Year	Category	Result	Ref.
1998	Fleet Street Awardee for Investigative Journalism	Won

Reader's Digest Trusted Brands Asia

Year	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
2011	Digest's Most Trusted News Presenter	State of the Nation with Jessica Soho	Won	[12]
2012			Won
2013			Won
2014			Won
2015			Won
2016			Won	[13]
2017			Won	[25]

Local recognitions

Adamson University

Year	Category	Result	Ref.
2012	Adamson University Media Award	Won	[26]

ALTA Media Icon Awards

Year	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
2015	Best Magazine Program Host	Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho	Won

Anak TV Seal Award

Year	Category	Result	Ref.
2007	Most Admired Female Personality Awardee	Won
2008		Won
2009		Won
2010		Won
2011		Won
2012		Won
2013	Hall of Famer	Won

Catholic Mass Media Awards

Year	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
2002	Best Public Affairs Show Host	Jessica Soho Reports	Won

CCP Gawad Natatanging Parangal

Year	Category	Result	Ref.
1989	Special Award	Won
1990		Won

CLASS Awards (City of Malabon University)

Year	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
2014	Most Outstanding Female News Presenter of the Year	State of the Nation with Jessica Soho	Won

COMGUILD Center for Journalism

Year	Category	Result	Ref.
2015	Media Persona of Excellence	Won	[27]
	Hall of Fame for the Most Outstanding Female News Presenter	Won

EdukCircle Awards

Year	Category	Result	Ref.
2012	World Achiever in Documentary	Won	[28]
	Most Outstanding Filipino Documentarian of All Time	Won
2013	Most Outstanding Journalist of the Year	Won
2014	Best Female News Anchor of the Year	Won
2015	Best Female News Anchor of the Year	Won
2016	Best Magazine Show Host	Won

Federation of Philippine Industries, Inc.

Year	Category	Result	Ref.
2014	Bayabay Media Award	Won	[29]

FemaleNetwork.com

Year	Category	Result	Ref.
2013	Womanity Award in the field of Media	Won	[30]

Gawad Duyan Awards

Year	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
2014	Himay-Ulat Award	State of the Nation with Jessica Soho	Won

Gawad Pasado Awards

Year	Category	Result	Ref.
2015	PinakaPASADOng Mamamahayag sa Larangan ng Kamalayang Pilipino	Won

Golden Dove Awards

Year	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
2002	Best Public Affairs Show Host	Jessica Soho Reports	Won

International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines

Year	Category	Result	Ref.
2014	CEO Excel Award	Won	[31]

International Business and Academe Conference's Service Excellence and Partners Awards

Year	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
2013	Best TV Public Affairs Host	Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho	Won
	Outstanding Broadcaster of the Year	—	Won

International Center for Communication Studies (ICCS)

Year	Category	Result	Ref.
2012	Most Outstanding Filipino Documentarian of All Time	Won	[32]

Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas

Year	Category	Result	Ref.
1999	Best Host in Golden Dove Awards	Won
	Broadcaster of the Year (Ka Doroy Valnecia Award)	Won

Mary Kay Philippines

Year	Category	Result	Ref.
2003	Women with a Heart Award	Won

Metro Pacific Corporation Journalism Awards

Year	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
1997	Political Reporter of the Year Award	"The Ipil Massacre" coverage	Won

Metrobank Foundation

Year	Category	Result	Ref.
2001	Outstanding Broadcast Journalist Award	Won

MTRCB TV Awards

Year	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
2009	Best Female Host	Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho	Won	[33]

Paragala Awards

Year	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
2015	Best Magazine Show Host	Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho	Won
	Best News Program Female Anchor	State of the Nation with Jessica Soho	Won

Platinum Stallion Media Awards

Year	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
2015	Best Female News Anchor	State of the Nation with Jessica Soho	Won

PMAP Makatao Awards for Media Excellence

Year	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
2015	Best TV Public Affairs Program Host	State of the Nation with Jessica Soho	Won

PMPC Star Awards for Television

Year	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
2002	Best Magazine Show Host	Jessica Soho Reports	Won
2003			Nominated
2004			Nominated
2006		Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho	Nominated
2007	Best Public Service Program Host	Sana'y Muling Makapiling	Nominated
	Best Magazine Show Host	Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho	Nominated
2008	Best Public Service Program Host	Reunions	Nominated
	Best Public Affairs Program Host	Hot Seat	Won
	Best Magazine Show Host	Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho	Nominated
2009	Best Public Service Program Host	Reunions	Nominated
	Best Magazine Show Host	Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho	Won
2010	Best Public Service Program Host	Reunions	Nominated
	Best Magazine Show Host	Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho	Won
2011	Best Female Newscaster	State of the Nation with Jessica Soho	Won
	Best Public Affairs Program Host	Brigada	Nominated
	Best Magazine Show Host	Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho	Nominated
	Excellence in Broadcasting Lifetime Achievement Award	—	Won
2012	Best Magazine Show Host	Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho	Won
	Best Female Newscaster	State of the Nation with Jessica Soho	Nominated
2013	Best Public Service Program Host	Reunions	Nominated
	Best Magazine Show Host	Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho	Won
	Best Female Newscaster	State of the Nation with Jessica Soho	Nominated
2014	Best Documentary Program Host	Brigada	Nominated	[34]
	Best Magazine Show Host	Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho	Nominated
	Best Female Newscaster	State of the Nation with Jessica Soho	Won
2015	Best Magazine Show Host	Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho	Nominated'	[35][36]
	Best Female Newscaster	State of the Nation with Jessica Soho	Won

School Press Advisers Movement (SPAM)

Year	Category	Result	Ref.
2014	Award of Excellence in the Field of Broadcasting	Won

PUP Mabini Media Awards

Year	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
2014	Best Television Female News Program Anchor	State of the Nation with Jessica Soho	Won
	Best Television Magazine Program Host	Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho	Won

The Outstanding Women in the Nation's Service (TOWNS)

Year	Category	Result	Ref.
2001	Broadcast Journalism	Won

Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Award

Year	Category	Result	Ref.
1993	Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Award	Won

Rotary Club of Manila

Year	Category	Result	Ref.
1989	TV Journalist of the Year	Won
1990		Won
2003	Hall of Fame, Journalism Awards for Broadcast Journalism	Won

UmalohokJUAN Awards

Year	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
2015	Best News Anchor	State of the Nation with Jessica Soho	Won

UPLB Gandingan Awards

Year	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
2008	Best Magazine Program Host	Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho	Won
2011	Best Magazine Program Host		Won
2012	Best Magazine Program Host		Won
	Hall of Fame for Best Magazine Program Host		Won
2013	Best News Anchor	State of the Nation with Jessica Soho	Won
2015	Best News Anchor		Won
	Best Investigative Program Host	Brigada	Won
	Best Magazine Program Host	Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho	Won

USTv Students' Choice Awards

Year	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
2013	Best Female News & Current Affairs Program Host	State of the Nation with Jessica Soho	Won
2014	Students' Choice of Magazine Program Host	Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho	Won	[37]
	Students' Choice for News Program Host	State of the Nation with Jessica Soho	Won
	Student Leaders' Choice of TV Personality	—	Won
2015	Students' Choice for Female News Host	State of the Nation with Jessica Soho	Won

Honors

• Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa – University of Northeastern Philippines (2015)