Cherie Mercado-Santos: From news to new
Behind the scenes and before the cameras in the Filipino film Tingga (“lead” in English), which screened at the Siné Film Festival (SFF) in Toronto, was former TV5 and CNN Philippines news anchor Cherie Mercado-Santos.
“I wanted to say ‘yes’ to the uncomfortable just to see what I could learn,” she shares.
This year’s Siné Film Festival, Canada’s premier Filipino film festival, was significant because it took place for the first time at the TIFF Lightbox —home of the Toronto International Film Festival.
Tingga, written and directed by Filbert Wong, was among the films showcased last month at the SFF, now on its third year. The festival was presented by Siné Institute, a Canada-based, not-for-profit organization committed to nurturing Filipino talent in the creative industries.
Tingga takes you to the world of Bogs, an everyman blue-collar worker, as he becomes ensnared by a mysterious voice.
Cherie, who relocated to Toronto with her husband Mike Santos and their two daughters in 2021, describes the film as “a deeper look into mental health and how we don’t really understand the workings of the mind. What makes people snap. Tingga is a deeper, closer look into that.”
“Honestly, Tingga was far from my comfort zone. After over two decades in Philippine news and government, moving to Canada shifted my world. Even though I came in as a senior producer in the same industry, the landscape is different. The roles I knew by heart—from leading a team, to mothering and managing a household—suddenly came with steep learning curves in a new country,” she shares.
“I trusted the captain of this ship, Filbert, completely, so I jumped into the behind-the-scenes production to apply what I recently studied in my Advanced TV and Film program here,” says Cherie.
And as for being before the cameras again, albeit for a cameo, she says, “That was another ‘yes’ to a very questionable proposition! It was a total reality check. Even in my small role as a corrections officer, I struggled to nail the emotions. Mahirap pala talaga umarte! It reminded me of how much I dreaded being an on-cam reporter 30 years ago. Everything feels like a failure at the start.”
Cherie, one of the most beautiful faces in the broadcast industry in the Philippines before her big move to Toronto, must have found fulfillment in acting—she’s willing to try it again. “Consider me officially open for my next ‘questionable proposition’.”
Starting over
After a high-profile career—including 10 years at ABS-CBN, senior anchor roles for TV5 and CNN Philippines, and as a presidential appointee in the Department of Transportation—Cherie intentionally closed her news chapter for a new chapter in Canada.
Why did she leave behind her thriving career in the Philippines to start anew in Toronto?
“We moved to Canada in 2021 during the pandemic, once travel restrictions began to ease. We relocated so my children could attend a specialized arts high school. They receive world-class instruction in subjects like life drawing, ceramics, drama, and dance from highly qualified teachers—all within the public school system. Both of my children are artists; the eldest is now attending the OCAD (Ontario College of Art and Design) University, and the younger one is currently enrolled in the specialized high school.
“Family was also a major factor, as my parents and siblings have lived in Canada for decades. The pandemic, coupled with my sister surviving an aneurysm, cemented our decision to be close to them,” she explains.
Rather than pursuing the safety of established news networks in Toronto, she chose a path defined by the “immigrant venture.”
Even while still in the Philippines, she was invited to be part of Filipino TV (FTV). Intrigued by the vision of its founders, Filbert Wong and producer Anjo Pallasigui, that prioritizes sincerity over celebrity, Cherie accepted the invitation. Their shared mission is to build from the ground up, supporting Filipino creativity within the diaspora (there are reportedly around a million Filipinos in Canada). For Cherie, FTV enables fellow immigrants navigate their new lives through the connecting power of music, film, and authentic storytelling.
While she doesn’t label herself a “film person,” Cherie views filmmaking as a vehicle for community support. By taking on roles in Kahel (a Fil-Canadian mystery/thriller) and Tingga, she has embraced the creative process as an extension of her own immigrant journey.
In 2025, she led FTV’s comprehensive coverage of Manila FAME, showcasing Filipino creativity to the North American audience.
In the same year, she was the recipient of the prestigious Golden Balangay Excellence in Media Award. She was also recognized by the Integrated Filipino Canadian Nurses Association for her efforts to amplify the voices and struggles of internationally educated nurses across Canada.
What does Cherie miss most about the Philippines?
“I miss the beaches! I also miss our rural areas, particularly those untouched by ‘Manila-fication,’ which tends to bring traffic and pollution. And, of course, the warmth of the people!”
What doesn’t she miss?
“The politics. I also don’t miss the traffic, the inefficiencies in customer service, or the palakasan and ‘sipsip’ culture within the bureaucracy.”
Cherie believes that a legacy isn’t just about what you’ve achieved, but who you uplift. Today, she is no longer just reporting the news, she is actively helping the next generation of Filipino creatives who will be the news.
