The Other Dos

“It (broadcast journalism) is a brutal arena where the knives are sharp and the toughest Kevlar vest in the world will not protect you forever.” — Bill O’Reilly

ABS-CBN and DZMM news anchor Anthony “Ka Tunying” Taberna has been part of our daily lives for almost three decades. A popular and multi-awarded broadcaster and radio commentator then over ABS-CBN, he is a professional TV and radio host who works on news and public affairs. During his being connected to ABS-CBN, he co-hosted a morning TV program entitled “Umagang Kay Ganda,” where he began his popularity in the segment “Punto por Punto” and “Exclusibong, Explosibong, Expose” also on the same network. He is also a radio commentator and is heard over the program “Dos Por Dos,” aired every day on mornings and late afternoons.

Born in San Antonio, Nueva Ecija, he studied communications at New Era University. He began his career as a part-time news writer in 1992 at DZEC, operated by Eagle Broadcasting Corporation. In 1997, he transferred to DZMM, an AM radio station owned by ABS-CBN, where he became a Radyo Patrol reporter. In January 2000, he joined Gerry Baja in “Ito Ang Radyo Patrol” (which literally means, “This is Radio Patrol”). He gained the respect of his viewers and listeners by making a genuine connection to his audience. His incisive commentaries and tenacious investigative reporting earned him a reputation as a sought-after public watchdog against questionable activities by government officials. The exposure of then-Batangas governor Antonio Leviste’s illegal trip outside his prison cell, the exclusive interview with Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol and rescuing a grandmother from a dog case, where his own family locked her, for instance, are just a few of the exposes, interviews, and rescues that he and his team had worked on.

His tandem with Gerry Baja then moved on to “Gising Pilipinas” in 2002, before they were given their own show, “Dos Por Dos” (“Two by Two”), which aired late every afternoon. Ka Tunying has since worked his way to the top, making him one of the most admired broadcasters in the country. At the peak of his popularity, his shows included “Umagang Kay Ganda,” “Dos Por Dos,” “TV Patrol,” and “Kuha Mo.”

On July 31, 2020, Taberna left ABS-CBN due to the ABS-CBN franchise renewal controversy when the Philippine Congress rejected the new legislative franchise of the network and he subsequently joined Manila Broadcasting Company’s AM radio station DZRH in August 2020 and his show Dos por Dos moved to the station and resumed airing on August 31.

Over half-a-year since setting up a new home with AM Radio station DZRH, Ka Tunying is back to regular programming. That is, besides delivering his uniquely humorous and well-mannered style of delivering hard-hitting commentaries on the most pressing issues for everyday Filipinos, he also devotes more time to advocacies, still on their behalf.

Today, Ka Tunying is busy attending to his own personal businesses like a chain of restaurants, a salon, as well as an events and multimedia agency, together with his wife Rossel. Anthony always makes it a point to spend quality time for his wife and two kids. The family spends time going home to the province on weekends, enjoys some getaways and outings and goes swimming.