Rhea Santos facts for kids

Rhea Santos-de Guzman (born June 1, 1979) is a famous Filipino TV host and journalist. She is known for being a main host on the morning show Unang Hirit for many years. She also hosted other news and public affairs programs like Reporter's Notebook and Tunay na Buhay. After working in the Philippines for 19 years, she moved to Vancouver, Canada, to study more and continue her career there.

Early Life and Dreams

Rhea Santos was born on June 1, 1979, in San Mateo, Rizal. She spent most of her childhood in Marikina. She has two brothers, one older and one younger. She went to St. Scholastica's Academy of Marikina for elementary and high school.

Becoming a Journalist

Rhea studied Mass Communications at St. Paul University Quezon City. She graduated with high honors, which is called magna cum laude. Even in her first year of college, she showed interest in journalism. She even interviewed Arnold Clavio, who would later become her co-host on Unang Hirit.

When she was in high school, Rhea knew she wanted to be a journalist. But she also dreamed of becoming a beauty queen! Her mom supported this dream. Rhea joined a competition in 1996 and won an award for "Best in Swimsuit." She is 5 feet 9 inches tall, so she also worked as a model for commercials and fashion shows. She even tried out for Binibining Pilipinas, a big beauty pageant, but decided not to continue.

Rhea's TV Career

After college, Rhea worked for an airline and a public relations company. But she really wanted to be a TV journalist. So, she started sending job applications to TV networks.

Starting at GMA Network

In July 2000, GMA Network hired her as a segment producer. This meant she helped put together parts of TV shows. One day, she got a chance to fill in as a newscaster and host for Unang Hirit, GMA Network's morning show. She did so well that she became a regular host on the show in 2001.

In 2003, Rhea became a field reporter for a segment called GMA Action Force. She interviewed many different people. In 2004, she got her own show called At Your Service-Star Power. She also co-hosted a special show for Eat Bulaga! with her Unang Hirit co-host, Arnold Clavio. The next year, she co-hosted Pinoy Abroad, a show about Filipinos living in other countries.

Hosting News and Documentaries

From 2005 to 2010, Rhea anchored a primetime news show called News on Q. She also hosted a public affairs program called Women's Desk (later Draw the Line) and a documentary show called DoQmentaries.

In 2009, she started co-hosting Reporter's Notebook with Jiggy Manicad. She reported from different places and covered important events, like the Maguindanao massacre.

New Adventures and Moving to Canada

In 2011, Rhea left Reporter's Notebook to host Tunay na Buhay. This show tells the life stories of famous people. She hosted this show until 2019. In 2013, she appeared as a guest on The Ryzza Mae Show. In 2016, she hosted a TV special about the movie Imagine You and Me.

In 2019, Rhea decided to leave her job as a journalist in the Philippines. She moved to Canada with her family to study more. She took up Broadcast and Online Journalism at the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

Rhea worked in Philippine TV news for 19 years. She covered many big events, including:

• Philippine national elections.
• Important speeches by Philippine presidents.
• The September 11 attacks in New York City.
• The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.
• The impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

She holds the record for being the longest-serving female morning newscaster in Philippine TV history! On September 1, 2020, she started her new job in Canada. She became an anchor for the national Philippine edition of Omni News in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Personal Life

Rhea Santos married Carlo de Guzman on September 17, 2004. Carlo is a businessman. They have two children, named Uno and Yuan. Besides her TV work, Rhea also had a baking business called Curious Chef Philippines. In 2010, an entertainment website called Spot.ph named her one of the hottest TV news anchors in the Philippines.

Her last episode of Tunay na Buhay was special because it featured her own life story.

TV Shows and Appearances

Here are some of the TV shows Rhea Santos has been a part of:

• Unang Hirit – (2000–2019)
• Frontpage – (2003–2004)
• i-Witness: Abakada ni Ina – (2004)
• Eat Bulaga!: Silver Anniversary Special – (2004)
• At Your Service-Star Power – (2004–2005)
• Pinoy Abroad – (2005–2006)
• News on Q – (2005–2010)
• Draw the Line – (2005–2009)
• 100% Pinoy! – (2006–2007)
• Case Unclosed – (2009)
• Reporter's Notebook – (2009–2011)
• Tunay na Buhay – (2011–2019)
• Follow That Star – (2013) – featured celebrity
• The Ryzza Mae Show – (2013) – guest
• The 700 Club Asia – (2016) – guest
• Imagine You & Me: The Journey – (2016)
• OMNI News: Filipino Edition – (2020–present)
• OMNI Prairies: Pinoy Konek – (2020) – guest

Awards and Recognitions

Rhea Santos has won many awards for her work in television. Here are some of them:

• In 2001, she won "Best Morning Show Host" for Unang Hirit at the 15th PMPC Star Awards for Television.
• She won the same award again in 2002, 2008, 2013, and 2015.
• In 2004, a special episode of i-Witness she was part of won "Best TV Magazine Show."
• In 2005, her show At Your Service won a "Gold Camera Award" at a festival in the U.S.
• In 2006, she won "Best Travel Show Host" for Pinoy Abroad.
• In 2017, she won "Best Morning Show Host" for Unang Hirit at the Gawad Tanglaw Awards.