Jessie Cruzat shares unlikely journey into journalism

MANILA — Long before Jessie Cruzat became an ABS-CBN reporter covering crime stories, his broadcasting career began with something much simpler: repeatedly asking to be greeted on a local radio station in Bicol.

Cruzat shared his unlikely journey into journalism during an interview on “Oh My Gan!”, alongside veteran journalist Gus Abelgas and fellow reporter Jeff Caparas.

A native of Ragay, Camarines Sur, Cruzat said he had already been involved in school publications from elementary through college, but it was his family’s habit of listening to the radio that eventually led him to broadcasting.

His parents regularly listened to news programs, while Cruzat initially preferred music stations. With only one radio at home, however, he eventually started listening to the programs his parents enjoyed.

“Parang na-engganyo na lang din ako makinig kasi no choice, isang radyo lang naman ‘yung meron sa bahay,” he recalled.

What began as listening eventually turned into participation. Cruzat started texting a local radio station to ask its anchor to greet him on air.

After hearing his name mentioned on the radio, he became fascinated.

“Ganun pala ‘yung feeling pag nabati ka sa radio, narinig mo ‘yung pangalan mo,” he said.

In 2013, while still in Grade 8, Cruzat covered the inauguration of a school in their community as a student journalist. He wrote a short news item on his phone and sent it to the radio station. To his surprise, the anchor read his report on air.

Soon, Cruzat was regularly sending updates from Ragay, covering everything from the weather to local community events.

His reports eventually caught the attention of veteran Bicol broadcaster Aling Sonia, who invited the young Cruzat to train at her station.

“Bakit hindi natin i-invite dito ‘yung estudyanteng ‘yan, ‘yung batang ‘yan? Kung gusto niya talagang mag-radyo, tuturuan ko siya,” Cruzat recalled being told.

At just 14 years old, Cruzat began spending his summer vacations learning the ropes of radio broadcasting.

His early assignments included covering the Naga City Police Office and providing updates on the market, traffic and other community developments.

“Morning pa lang, alas-kuwatro ng madaling araw, lumalabas na ako,” he recalled.

Cruzat clarified that he was not a regular employee at the time and that his parents had given their consent. He described himself then as a young trainee eager to learn.

His mentor would later play an even bigger role in his life.

After Cruzat’s father died, Aling Sonia helped him continue his education by making him a scholar through senior high school. Cruzat continued building his career after his mentor’s passing in 2019.

From 2019 to 2021, he worked as a radio jock at Barangay LS 101.5 in Naga, even hosting an evening matchmaking program. He later joined GMA Regional TV as an anchor and eventually became a reporter while continuing his studies.

In 2024, Cruzat saw an opportunity to join ABS-CBN.

“Fortunately, siguro may nakita naman ‘yung ABS na makakaya ko rin. Then the rest is history,” he said.

But covering crime has also exposed Cruzat to stories that are difficult to leave in the field.

He recalled seeing a decomposing body for the first time around 2016, an image he said followed him home.

“Pag pipikit, nakikita ko,” he said.

One of the most difficult stories he later covered involved three young siblings who died in a fire in Sto. Domingo, Quezon City. Cruzat remembered seeing their mother before she learned that her children had died.

He stayed at the scene after noticing firefighters and police officers signaling to one another, sensing that something was wrong. Cruzat said he eventually carried the emotional weight of the mother’s grief home with him.

“Magdamag akong gising kasi ang bigat sa pakiramdam,” he recalled.

Despite years of exposure to crime scenes, Cruzat believes journalists should never become completely comfortable with death and violence.

“Medyo nakakatakot nga rin o nakakabahala kasi hindi dapat ganun eh. Dapat meron pa ring sort of discomfort,” he said. “Hindi normal ‘yung may namamatay. Hindi normal ‘yung may binabaril.”

Now working alongside Abelgas, someone he once watched on television from the province, Cruzat said journalism remains anchored in purpose.

For aspiring journalists, his advice is to understand why they want to do the work in the first place.

“This is a thankless job,” Cruzat said. “Magtatrabaho ka for public service, pero wala namang taong magte-thank you sa’yo. Pero gagawin mo ‘yun dahil kailangan.”

“You have to really find that specific why, ‘yung purpose mo. At makikita mo lang ‘yun sa puso.”

From a Grade 8 student sending community updates to a radio station in Bicol to reporting national stories for ABS-CBN, Cruzat said that same passion remains at the heart of his journey.

“Pag wala kang puso sa ginagawa mo, walang saysay ‘yung ginagawa mo,” he said.