The "PROBE Team's" Robert Alejandro never imagined himself to be a TV reporter. In fact, his
five-page curriculum vitae is devoid of any broadcasting background and only lists his
professional affiliations with the art world.
Loner
A former art director at McCann-Erickson Philippines, Robert's work
revolves around designing book covers, doing graphics, art design and renovation for theme
parks, malls, bars and restaurants. Describing himself as a shy loner, this UP fine
arts graduate would rather tinker with his computer and be absorbed in his universe of
colors, paint brushes, pencils and sketch pads rather than deliver his spiels on camera.
But when he found himself doing just that three years ago, he took it as a
divine cue and taught himself to learn and enjoy the art of TV reporting.
For Robert, everything happened by accident. A few years ago, Probe's
"Five and Up" children's program featured him as the artist and son of the
owners of Papemelroti chain of stores who designed children's books. A few weeks
after that, he was invited to be a guest host in another program, "Gameplan",
and later, was offered to be an on-cam reporter for "The Probe Team".
Hesitant
"I was very hesitant to do it at first because I was not interested
in television, my Tagalog was very poor, and I'm shy," Robert reminisces.
When shooting time came, and Robert found himself in the company of Che-che
Lazaro, Karen Davila and Love Anover, he virtually froze. "Sabi ko sa
sarili ko, anong ginagawa ko rito? During the take, Karen would encourage and
instruct me and say, deliver your lines with conviction, Robert and I'd go 'Oh my God,
ano ba 'tong napasukan ko?"
And true enough, when he first watched himself on TV, he felt like throwing up.
"Walang halong biro, pero nag-turn talaga ang tiyan ko,"
he laughingly recalls.
This "baptism of fire" only lasted for awhile, and Robert soon found
himself enjoying his work. He likes the travels that go with his job, and has become
more comfortable appearing before the TV cameras. His innate curiosity
has also resulted in a number of good interviews, eliciting praises not just from the
show's producers, but from the viewing public as well.
It was however his drawings that drew favorable feedback from
"Probe's" viewers. During location shoots, Robert brings his pen and
sketch pad, sits in one corner and draws a striking scene.
"At first, we didn't think of including my drawings in the show but
sometimes, the camera would capture me sketching and the audience got curious. So
after getting some positive feedback, the producers decided to show it. And I told
them, since I'm a novice reporter, pag-drawing lang talaga ang alam kong
gawin ng magaling."
TV Shoots
Robert's artworks are expressed in different media. There are pens
and pencil sketches, watercolor paintings, and charcoal and crayon drawings that he
painstakingly rendered during his memorable TV shoots. Samples of his subjects
include child sampaguita vendors (a favorite "Probe" story of his), a lighthouse
in Capones island, Zambales, underwater scuba-diving scenes, a baby ostrich in Cagayan de
Oro, portraits of children in Agusan, etc.
Viewers say these artworks added more impact to "Probe's" episodes
because Robert's images enhance the tone, hue and drama of the stories.
And with the program's tight editing and panache in story-telling, the fusion of
Robert's artwork and his reportage truly becomes a moving audio-visual experience.
Currently, these artworks are being exhibited at the Papemelroti Cafe on Roces
Ave., QC and have been generating visitors from various walks of life.
The consummate artist is now part of the local TV world and has found himself
already being recognized in public places. "At first, I don't know how to react
because I'm really shy, but my parents told me to smile and say hello to the people.
Otherwise, I might be branded as suplado."
This new celebrity status, however, does not stop the 38-year old artist from
doing the simple things he loves, like taking public transportation, riding the MRT, going
to malls and watching movies. "I love my freedom at ayoko ng naka-kahon.
I'd rather quit my job than change my current lifestyle, " he avers.
Hard work
His stint with "Probe" is hard work, but Robert enjoys every
minute of it. He says he has grown a lot and gets high from their out-of-town
shoots.
"I tell you, this thing that Che-che has been doing is just like a
ministry. There's no economic value but the things that I learn from the stories
that we make and the goodness of the people I meet really touch my soul."
Robert cites a small fishing village in Bataan as an example of a story that
moved him: "Pinangangalagaan nila talaga yung mga turtle eggs at humanap
sila ng other source of income para lang ma-preserve ang buhay ng mga turtle.
Mahirap sila but they're doing good work. Itong mga ganitong kwento
yung kailangang isigaw mo talaga sa bayan at sabihing maganda at magaling ang ginagawa
nila."
Through his travels, Robert has also proven that the Philippines is one
extraordinary beautiful country. "Sobrang ganda ng ating bansa. At
mababait ang mga tao, lalo na sa probinsiya. Ang nakaka-depress nga lang,
marami ring problema ang bansa natin, at wala tayong political will," he sighs.
Aside from these discoveries, Robert is also slowly getting interested in the
art of video production. He explains: "As an artist who creates and works with
visuals, I also got fascinated with post-production work. I'm praying about this and
I believe that since God put me in 'Probe', I don't think it's just for reporting.
Who knows? I might venture into other fields."
Portfolio
For someone whose work portfolio includes the design of Alabang Town
Center, Metropolis Star Mall and the Ayala Museum, Robert remains surprisingly simple.
He has no vices, doesn't like to go to parties, and refuses to attend art exhibit
openings.
"I'm really an introvert who just projects as an extrovert when I'm on
cam," he says in jest.
His close friends compare him to a Polyanna who always says good things about
people and doesn't engage in malicious talk. When asked if he has an artist's temper
and tinge of madness, he jokes, "Hindi pa ba crazy yong wala akong
bisyo, di mahaba ang buhok ko at wala akong balbas?"
He advises parents who have children with artistic tendencies to encourage and
praise their kids. "Kasi when I was a child, I'd draw on the walls of
our house, pero kahit minsan hindi ako pinagalitan. My notebooks would be
filled with my doodles, but I never got reprimanded. So I was encouraged more to
express myself through drawing."
Simple things make Robert happy. A smile, a friendly call, and positive
words even from strangers make his day. "Minsan, when I get sad over a
lot of things, mayroong stranger na bigla na lang lalapit sa akin at
sasabihing ang galing-galing mo sa 'Probe'. That brightens my day na.
Lalo na pag sinasabihan ako ng ang galing mong mag drawing ha?
Solved na ang araw ko!"
This fusion of art and TV reporting makes Robert Alejandro's life
extra-meaningful these days.
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