Veteran anchor Henry Omaga-Diaz bids farewell to 'TV Patrol'
ABS-CBN News veteran anchor Henry Omaga-Diaz has bid goodbye to TV Patrol to start a new chapter with his family abroad.
Omaga-Diaz ended his journey with the network’s flagship news program on Friday, Aug. 30.
Nearing the end of tonight’s newscast, the team paid tribute to him, showing some clips from his previous news coverage and special video messages from his loved ones.
“Kaya sa mahigit na apat na dekada niyang pagbabalita at pagiging Kapamilya, isang pasasalamat at pagpupugay sa nag-iisang Henry Omaga-Diaz."
The TV Patrol team also gave him farewell gifts including ABS-CBN-colored caps and a sweater bearing his initials and his radio patrol number 14, which he used in the early years of his career.
For his part, the veteran broadcaster expressed his gratitude and appreciation to his co-anchors and the rest of the team in the newsroom
"Mami-miss ko kayong lahat. Si Kabayan (Noli de Castro) ho, sa make-up room, wala kaming ginawa kung 'di mag-marites at hindi lang 'yan ah, nae-extend pa kahit weekend. Nagka-kape kami ni Kabayan, nagdi-dinner, nagma-marites," he said.
"Si Karen (Davila) mahilig ng advice, e. Karen, nami-miss ka namin noon kapag uma-absent ka, nami-miss ka namin ni Kabayan,” he said, adding, “Ang hirap bigyan ng advice e kasi ang gagaling na eh. Hindi na kailangang bigyan ng advice, ang kailangan 'yung memories," he added.
"Grabe po ang naging suporta ng aking mga kasamahan sa newsroom, hanggang sa pag-edit ng script, ng video, kahit na nung nagpa-patrol na ako, 'yung kanilang mga mensahe, 'yung pinapakita nilang pagmamahal. 'Yun ang pinakamagandang feeling eh, 'yung mga colleagues, nakikita mo mismo 'yung pagmamahal sa kanila," he continued.
He also thanked the network’s big bosses for their utmost support and understanding.
‘A journo’s journo’
Notable personalities in the industry have also expressed their appreciation and best wishes to Omaga-Diaz.
“Putting Henry Omaga-Diaz on TV patrol was one of the best news decisions made by ABS-CBN. It was what Henry deserved and what TV patrol needed. Salamat, HOD! All the best in this next chapter,” journalist Lynda Jumilla-Abalos wrote in her X post.
Weathercaster Ariel Rojas also expressed his appreciation to the veteran anchor, saying it was a “great honor” to have worked with him in every newscast.
"Lumaki akong napapanood si [Henry Omaga-Diaz]. Di ko akalain na makakatrabaho ko sya, much less be the one to introduce me on [TV Patrol]. It was my great honor and privilege to have worked with you every night. Safe travels and see you around, HOD!” he wrote. “We will definitely miss you.”
Lumaki akong napapanood si @HenryOmagaDiaz. Di ko akalain na makakatrabaho ko sya, much less be the one to introduce me on @TVPatrol.
— Ariel Rojas (@arielrojasPH) August 30, 2024
It was my great honor and privilege to have worked with you every night. Safe travels and see you around, HOD!
We will definitely miss you. pic.twitter.com/K7fpczShPv
ABS-CBN News’ Chief of Reports Jeff Canoy also described him as a “bastion of humility.”
“HOD is a journo’s journo. A kick-ass reporter. And a bastion of humility. Someone we can only hope to be a fraction of,” he wrote.
"HOD, salamat at good luck sa ‘yong APOstolic duties sa Canada. Ma-mimiss namin ang mga pasabog mo, ang iyong “A1 source chismis”, ang biglaang mga pagyaya na kumain, ang mga medyas na magkaibang kulay at ang pangisi-ngisi mo sa gilid ng newsroom dahil 1) naka-iskup ka 2) o nanalo sa plants vs zombies,” he fondly recalled. “Thank you for the mentorship.”
Omaga-Diaz spent a combined 10 years in TV Patrol, from 2001 to 2003, and the weekend telecast TV Patrol Weekend from 2004 to 2006. He returned as one of the anchors of the news program in October 2022.
In his 33 years of service under the network, he has covered significant events such as disasters and conflicts in and outside the country, including the evacuation of OFWs from Libya to Crete due to civil war in Libya in 2011.
Omaga-Diaz served as a host for programs such as Hoy Gising! from 1997 to 2001, and XXX: Exklusibong, Explosibong, Expose from 2006 to 2009; and produced investigative reports. He also served as an anchor for the midnight telecast Bandila from 2006 to 2010.
