Leo Andanar Lastimosa (born September 26, 1964) is a veteran tri-media journalist based in Cebu City, Philippines.
He was formerly an anchor for TV Patrol Central Visayas, the host of Arangkada on DYAB Radyo Patrol 1512, and a columnist for Cebu's newspaper, The Freeman.
Personal life[]
Lastimosa is the son of a farmer and a public school teacher. Growing up in poverty in Talisay, he had a dream of becoming a writer. During high school, he decided to submit an unsolicited article to the publisher of The Freeman, a local daily in Cebu. His submission was published the next day, an event that encouraged him to pursue a journalistic career. He then took up a degree in political science at the University of San Jose-Recoletos.
Aside from journalism, he also ventured into music. He penned the lyrics of "Awit ni Dodong", the winning entry of the theme song contest for the Jose “Dodong” R. Gullas (JRG) Halad Museum. About a lover's hopes and fears for a beloved, the song was put into music by Emilio Villareal.
Lastimosa married to practitioner Iris Jakosalem.
Career[]
His professional journalism career began in 1985, prior to his move to ABS-CBN, at DYLA-AM radio station. He later moved to another radio station, DYRF. During the height of the first EDSA revolution, he played a role in the newsroom operations at the radio station.
In 1995, he became a news director in the newly-launched radio station, DYAB Radyo Patrol 1512, and started hosting the regular television program, Banat Visayas, Sulong Mindanao. He claimed he had received death threats in the course of his journalistic career.
In 2003, he became an anchor for TV Patrol Central Visayas, which aired on ABS-CBN Channel 3. He also began writing a column called Arangkada in The Freeman, a local daily newspaper, using the Cebuano language.
Awards[]
Lastimosa has won numerous awards and recognition for his work. Notably, the Talisay City Council passed a resolution congratulating him for his win at 2005 KBP Golden Dove Awards citing his "commendable competence, integrity and fairness in the field of newscasting and showed his dedication and deep love for his country and people by his humble service as a media man."
- Best TV Newscaster, The 14th Golden Dove Awards of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP)
- Garbo Sa Sugbo, by the Cebu Provincial Government in the field of broadcast journalism and television
- Best TV News Program, TV Patrol Central Visayas, 16th Cebu Archdiocesan Mass Media Awards, 2013
- Outstanding Talisaynon, by the Talisay City Government in the field of media.
- Hall of Fame, Radio News Category, Cebu Archdiocesan Mass Media Awards (CAMMA)
- Hall of Fame, Radio Commentary Category, Cebu Archdiocesan Mass Media Awards (CAMMA)
- Finalist, Column Writing Category, Cebu Archdiocesan Mass Media Awards (CAMMA)
- Special Citation, Kasayurang Kinuykoyan, National Press Club (NPC), 1991
- Best Public Affairs Program (Arangkada), KBP Golden Dove Awards, 1998
- Best Public Affairs Program Host, KBP Golden Dove Awards, 2002
- Best Commentary Program (Kuwentas Klaras), KBP Golden Dove Awards, 2002
- Best TV News Program, Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA-Manila), 2005
Trivia[]
- Since Leo Lastimosa wrote the lyrics of "Awit ni Dodong" which is performed by Emilio Villareal and became a winning entry of a theme song contest, he is one of the news personalities to venture into music other than journalism, the other being Bernadette Sembrano.