{{Short description|Filipino journalist}} {{Use Philippine English|date=September 2022}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Sandra Aguinaldo | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|04|29}} | birth_place = Manila Philippines | occupation = Journalist, news anchor, writer, documentarian | employer = GMA Network | alma_mater = University of Santo Tomas, (BA) | years_active = 1995–present | spouse = Brimar Rodica | television = ''24 Oras'' <br /> ''I-Witness'' <br /> ''Saksi'' }} '''Sandra Aguinaldo''' (born April 29, 1975) is a Filipina television news anchor journalist, writer and documentarian. She is best known as one of the news reporters of ''24 Oras'' and one of the hosts of ''I-Witness''. In 2015, Aguinaldo together with her co-hosts in ''I-Witness'' won as the Best Documentary Program Hosts during the 29th PMPC Star Awards for Television.<ref name=pmpc>{{cite news|url=http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2015/12/04/1528872/alden-richards-maja-salvador-lead-winners-29th-star-awards-tv|title=Alden Richards, Maja Salvador lead winners of 29th Star Awards for TV|last=Jimenez|first=Joyce|date=December 4, 2015|accessdate=May 19, 2017|newspaper=The Philippine Star}}</ref>
==Early life==
Aguinaldo is the only child of Felipe, her father who is an engineer, and Irene, her mother who died when she was four years old.<ref name=varsitarian>{{cite news|url=http://varsitarian.net/news/20081117/sandra_aguinaldo_behind_the_camera|title=Sandra Aguinaldo: Behind the camera|last=Santos|first=Tomas|date=November 17, 2008|accessdate=May 19, 2017|newspaper=The Varsitarian|publisher=University of Santo Tomas}}</ref> She grew up at Angono, Rizal and she spent her childhood liking different kinds of art.<ref name=varsitarian /><ref name="gma2" /> She developed her writing skills in high school and decided to take up journalism at University of Santo Tomas (UST) where she graduated. In 1993, she became the editor-in-chief of ''The Flame'', UST Faculty of Arts and Letters' official student journal.<ref name=varsitarian />
==Career==
After Aguinaldo graduated from college, she became a copywriter at an advertising firm.<ref name=varsitarian /> In 1996, she entered the broadcast industry and was the head writer of ''Usapang Business'', a television program of ABS-CBN.<ref name=varsitarian /> After a year, she went to print media and became the senior report of ''The Manila Times''.<ref name=varsitarian />
Eventually, she worked for GMA Network as news reporter for ''24 Oras'' and ''Saksi''.<ref name=varsitarian /> She also hosted ''I-Witness'', a television documentary program of GMA Network.<ref name=gma>{{cite news|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/publicaffairs/iwitness/389311/iwitness15-some-of-the-best-stories-come-accidentally-sandra-aguinaldo/story/|title=#IWitness15: "Some of the best stories come accidentally."|date=November 22, 2014|accessdate=May 19, 2017|newspaper=GMA News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.inquirer.net/183377/i-witness-at-16|title='I-Witness' at 16|date=November 13, 2015|accessdate=May 19, 2017|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pep.ph/guide/tv/5223/meet-pinay-alcoholics-on-i-witness-on-december-7|title=Meet Pinay alcoholics on I-Witness on December 7|date=December 6, 2009|accessdate=May 19, 2017|newspaper=Philippine Entertainment Portal}}</ref> She initially joined ''I-Witness'' in 2006 when Vicky Morales took a leave of absence and she was a temporary replacement but eventually, she became a regular of the show.<ref name=gma /><ref name="gma2">{{cite news|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/publicaffairs/iwitness/282541/a-lesson-in-balance-sandra-aguinaldo/story/|title=A lesson in balance: Sandra Aguinaldo|last=Tantengco|first=Cristina|date=November 16, 2012|accessdate=May 19, 2017|newspaper=GMA News}}</ref>
When she started as a reporter for GMA Network, she was assigned to difficult reporting tasks such as the conflict in Mindanao, particularly in Jolo, Sulu, where she interviewed members of the Abu Sayyaf, Moro National Liberation Front and Moro Islamic Liberation Front; and she also covered the bombings in Israel.<ref name=varsitarian /><ref name="gma2" /> During the campaign of the Philippine presidential election in 2004 and before she was going to report for ''24 Oras'', she was berated by presidential candidate Fernando Poe, Jr. due to her presence at the stage.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/244917/fpj-berates-gma-7-reporter|title=FPJ berates GMA-7 reporter|last=Dizon|first=Nikko|date=April 2, 2004|accessdate=May 19, 2017|newspaper=The Philippine Star}}</ref> Two days after the incident, they were reconciled.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/245140/fpj-sandra-agree-forget-past|title=FPJ, Sandra agree to forget the past|last=Dizon|first=Nikko|date=April 4, 2004|accessdate=May 19, 2017|newspaper=The Philippine Star}}</ref>
In ''I-Witness'', she was able to produce different kinds of documentary including topics about poverty, which was questioned in 2012 when Aguinaldo and her co-hosts were at the "docufest" in Baguio.<ref name=gma2 /> It was asked that "in continuing to feature stories of poverty, are documentaries a form of exploitation?".<ref name=gma2 /> For Aguinaldo, when she makes documentary about poverty, she tries to give inspiration instead of making the poor people depressed.<ref name=gma2 /> Her documentary entitled "Pasan-Pasan" is about children with disability who goes to school despite being handicapped.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.inquirer.net/48027/inspiring-tales-on-tv|title=Inspiring tales on TV|last=Bais|first=Andy|date=July 6, 2012|accessdate=May 19, 2017|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer}}</ref> She also presented the documentary entitled "Iskul ko No. 1", which is about the Sindagan Elementary School, a school in Southern Leyte ranked top one in the 2006 National Achievement Test for graduating students.<ref name=gma2 /> "Iskul ko No. 1" won silver medal during the 2007 New York Festivals.<ref name=gma />
In 2014, Aguinaldo together with Arnold Clavio were awarded by USTv of University of Santo Tomas as the Outstanding Thomasian Media Personalities.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.inquirer.net/136692/students-pick-tv-faves|title=Students pick TV faves|last=Arcilla|first=Camille Anne|date=March 7, 2014|accessdate=May 19, 2017|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer}}</ref> In 2015, Aguinaldo together with Kara David, Howie Severino and Jay Taruc won as the Best Documentary Program Hosts for ''I-Witness'' during the 29th PMPC Star Awards for Television.<ref name=pmpc /> In 2016, Aguinaldo together with Kara David were nominated in the same category during the 30th PMPC Star Awards for Television but they lost.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/150088-winners-pmpc-star-awards-2016-television/|title=LIST: Winners, PMPC Star Awards 2016 – television|newspaper=Rappler|date=October 24, 2016|access-date=May 19, 2017}}</ref>
==Personal life==
Aguinaldo is married to Brimar Rodica, a police officer whom Aguinaldo met during a funeral in Pangasinan.<ref name=varsitarian />
==Awards== {|class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Work ! Award ! Category ! Result ! Source |- | Rowspan="2"|2011 | Rowspan="2"|I-Witness | 25th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Documentary Program Host | {{won}} | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2011/11/25/751428/gma-network-bags-honors-25th-star-awards-tv|title=GMA Network bags honors at 25th Star Awards for TV|website=philstar.com}}</ref> |- | 8th Lasallian Scholarum Awards | Recipient, Outstanding Televised Feature on Youth and Education | {{won}} | <ref>{{cite web|url=http://xsite.dlsu.edu.ph/offices/mco/scholarum/2011/|title=The Lasallian Scholarum|website=xsite.dlsu.edu.ph}}</ref> |- | 2012 | I-Witness | 26th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Outstanding Documentary Program Host | {{won}} | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/16594-photos-26th-pmpc-star-awards/|title=PHOTOS: 26th PMPC Star Awards|website=Rappler|date=November 22, 2012 }}</ref> |- | 2013 | I-Witness | 4th ENPRESS Golden Screen TV Awards | Outstanding Documentary Program Host | {{Nom}} | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pep.ph/news/local/37297/2013-golden-screen-tv-awards-nominees-bared|title=2013 Golden Screen TV Awards nominees bared|website=PEP.ph}}</ref> |- | Rowspan="2"|2014 | I-Witness | 28th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Documentary Program Host | {{won}} | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2014/11/24/1395355/kim-chiu-coco-martin-lead-winners-28th-star-awards-tv|title=Kim Chiu, Coco Martin lead winners of 28th Star Awards for TV|website=philstar.com}}</ref> |- | {{N/A}} | 10th USTv Student's Choice Awards | Outstanding Thomasian Media Personality | {{won}} | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/showbiznews/news/9908/kapuso-shows-and-personalities-win-big-at-the-10th-ustv-students-choice-awards/story |title=Kapuso shows and personalities win big at the 10th USTv Students' Choice Awards | Showbiz News | GMA Entertainment - Online Home of Kapuso Shows and Stars - Story |publisher=Gmanetwork.com |date= |accessdate=2019-10-25}}</ref> |- | Rowspan="3" | 2015 | rowspan="3" | I-Witness | 29th PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Documentary Program Host | {{won}} | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2015/12/07/1529813/gma-wins-big-pmpc-star-awards-tv|title=GMA wins big in PMPC Star Awards for TV|website=philstar.com}}</ref> |- | 9th Gandingan Awards (UP Los Baños) | Best Documentary Program Host | {{won}} | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://legacy.uplb.edu.ph/component/k2/312-gandingan-2015-the-uplb-isko-t-iska-s-broadcast-choice-awards |title=University of the Philippines los Baños - GANDINGAN 2015: The UPLB Isko't-Iska's Broadcast Choice Awards |website=legacy.uplb.edu.ph |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922025035/https://legacy.uplb.edu.ph/component/k2/312-gandingan-2015-the-uplb-isko-t-iska-s-broadcast-choice-awards |archive-date=22 September 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> |- | 6th ENPRESS Golden Screen TV Awards | Outstanding Documentary Program Host | {{won}} | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://entertainment.inquirer.net/168839/golden-screen-awards-full-list-of-winners|title=2015 Golden Screen TV Awards full list of winners|first=Arvin|last=Mendoza|website=entertainment.inquirer.net|date=April 27, 2015 }}</ref> |- | Rowspan="2" | 2016 | rowspan="2" | I-Witness | 10th Gandingan Awards (UP Los Baños) | Gandingan ng Kabataan | {{won}} | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pep.ph/guide/tv/23304/gma-7-chosen-as-best-development-oriented-tv-station-during-gandingan-2016 |title=GMA-7 chosen as Best Development-Oriented TV Station during Gandingan 2016 | PEP.ph |website=www.pep.ph |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922025820/https://www.pep.ph/guide/tv/23304/gma-7-chosen-as-best-development-oriented-tv-station-during-gandingan-2016 |archive-date=22 September 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> |- | Platinum Stallion Media Awards of Trinity University of Asia | Most Trusted Field Reporter | {{won}} | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.inquirer.net/bandera|title=Bandera|website=INQUIRER.net Mobile}}</ref> |- | Rowspan="4"|2017 | Rowspan="4"|I-Witness | 31st PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Documentary Program Host | {{won}} | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2017/11/15/gma-wins-lions-share-of-pmpc-tv-awards/|title=GMA wins lion's share of PMPC TV awards | Leony Garcia|first=Leony|last=Garcia|website=BusinessMirror |date=November 15, 2017}}</ref> |- | 7th Edukcircle Awards | Best Documentary Program Host | {{won}} | <ref>{{cite web|url=http://manilastandard.net/mobile/article/250241|title=Kapuso personalities honored at various award shows|website=Manila Standard |date=October 25, 2017 }}</ref> |- | 11th Gandingan Awards (UP Los Baños) | Best Documentary Program Host | {{won}} | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://legacy.uplb.edu.ph/component/k2/752-abs-cbn-central-luzon-tv-station-are-uplb-gandingan-s-big-winners |title=University of the Philippines los Baños - ABS-CBN, Central Luzon TV station are UPLB Gandingan's big winners |website=legacy.uplb.edu.ph |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922024040/https://legacy.uplb.edu.ph/component/k2/752-abs-cbn-central-luzon-tv-station-are-uplb-gandingan-s-big-winners |archive-date=22 September 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> |- | 7th PMAP Makatao Media Excellence Awards | Special Award | {{won}} | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/showbiznews/news/35569/gma-network-wins-big-at-the-7th-pmap-makatao-awards-for-media-excellence/story|title=GMA Network wins big at the 7th PMAP Makatao Awards for Media Excellence|first=Jansen|last=Ramos|website=www.gmanetwork.com}}</ref> |- | 2018 | I-Witness | 32nd PMPC Star Awards for Television | Best Documentary Program Host | {{Won}} | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph//article/1769471|title=Mga mananaug sa 32nd PMPC Star Awards for TV|first=Timmy|last=Basil|date=October 16, 2018|website=Sunstar}}</ref> |}
==References== {{reflist}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aguinaldo, Sandra}} Category:1975 births Category:Living people Category:Filipino television journalists Category:ABS-CBN people Category:ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs people Category:GMA Network (company) people Category:GMA Integrated News and Public Affairs people Category:Filipino women television journalists Category:University of Santo Tomas alumni Category:People from Rizal (province)