Broadcast journalist Ces Orena-Drilon is ready to open a new chapter in her career in media with her appointment as content acquisition head of the ABS-CBN lifestyle ecosystem Group as she bid goodbye to Bandila viewers on Dec 21.
Known for her courageous reporting as a reporter of ABS-CBN and her insightful interviews and inspired storytelling as one of the network’s most trusted news anchors, Ces now oversees all lifestyle-related content sourcing, acquisition, and development as ABS-CBN pushes further into the digital space and further into creating more local programming.
In her new assignment, Ces is at the forefront of building the lifestyle content of ABS-CBN as the country’s leading media and entertainment company transitions into an agile digital company.
Never to shy away from a challenge, the social media-savvy anchor is excited to put into use more than three decades of experience in news media to lead the Kapamilya media and entertainment company in finding and producing lifestyle stories for different audiences.
“It is invigorating to be in the middle of the changes happening in the entire media industry. The way people consume content nowadays is digital. Feedback is so instantaneous and measurement is very clear. As the content head of the lifestyle ecosystem, I get to play a role in addressing the needs of different lifestyle markets, taking in consideration the continuous evolution of technology and communication,” explained Ces.
With her new role in ABS-CBN, Ces is stepping down as one of the anchors of the late night newscast Bandila, which began in 2006 with her as one of its original anchors.
ABS-CBN head of integrated news Ging Reyes, meanwhile, stated her full support for Ces in her new endeavor. ABS-CBN’s news chief has been instrumental in this shift in her career after appointing her as News Lifestyle Ecosystem head last year.
“I am very happy that she is evolving. Her journalistic skills and her mastery of storytelling that she developed through the years working in the field and as an anchor will surely come in handy as she leads in building up the lifestyle content of ABS-CBN in line with the company’s digital thrust,” she shared.
Ging also thanked the multi-awarded journalist for her contributions to ABS-CBN News since she began as a business reporter for “The World Tonight” to becoming part of various INCA programs including Pipol, The Correspondents, I Survived, Krusada, and Bandila” on ABS-CBN and Business Nightly, Pointblank, Get Real, and The Rundown on ANC.
“No one can question the passion and excellence Ces has shown throughout her career here in ABS-CBN. She never backed down from any assignment. She did not quit even after being kidnapped while pursuing a story. She will be missed in the field but she will continue to play a big role beyond news in her new capacity,” she said.
Ces was awarded by the KBP with the “Ka Doroy Broadcaster of the Year” in 2010. In 2017, she was among People Asia’s “People of the Year,” where she was recognized for setting “high standards, provided industry benchmarks or pushed the envelope in innovative ideas and programs.”