Leaving acting to broadcasting
At 44, William Thio is still good-looking, physically fit and he is having the blast of his broadcasting career right nowadays. He is already a news anchor and got recognitions for his work!
He was known to be one of the many Close-Up (Toothpaste) Boys where he got the commercial in 1996.
From there, he also joined the showbiz bandwagon during his late teens. The next year, he was launched via ABS CBN’s Star Circle Batch 5. He was introduced along with John Lloyd Cruz, Baron Geisler, Shaina Magdayao, Tanya Garcia and Serena Dalrymple among others.
Unknown to many, William is a grand nephew of screen legend Rosa Rosal. He was recruited by a talent scout and offered him work as a fashion model and an actor. He was still studying in college in the US then and because there were showbiz offers, he skipped school and continued joining the local biz.
The very photogenic and charming William easily learned the art of modeling and the ins and outs of the showbiz industry.
The half-Indonesian, half-Filipino William also got acting jobs (movies and TV) and was paired with Ruffa Gutierrez, Donna Cruz and Rosanna Roces.
But the acting career didn’t last for long.
William was his own critic when it comes to acting, “When I watched myself on the screen, naiisip ko parang hindi yata ako magaling sa acting and my Tagalog was bad then. So sabi ko, babalik na lang uli ako sa US para mag-aral.”
But, even his studies in the US were short-lived. He flew back to the Philippines to attend to the family business which is construction.
While doing the business, he still had few showbiz stints like joining (then) ABC 5’s reality show titled “Singles” and GMA 7’s “30 Days” (2004), where contestants had a goal to get a second wind with their showbiz career. William didn’t win. It was Dino Guevarra who won.
Two years after, he went back here again and that was when his broadcasting career started.
His first broadcasting job was in RPN-9’s “One Morning” and co-hosted the longest-running public service program (aired in PTV-4) “Damayan” with his grand aunt Rosa Rosal. He was also offered a broadcasting job by NBN-4 and later, by the Global News Network being one of their news anchors and public affairs talk show host.
Right now, William can say that he is happy and contented with what he is doing.
He told us, “I can now say that I have found my place in the business.”
William is also very thankful with PTV-4 and with the Philippine News Agency headed by Sec. Martin Andanar.
“PTV-4 was my real training ground. We were taught to get our own stories not relying to others. One-man team ang training sa amin dito,” William beamed.
His show in UNTV “Why News,” also gave William an award where he won in the 2015 Gawad Amerika for Most Promising Newscaster and also got the World Class Filipino Achiever Award in the field of news and public affairs broadcasting.
He is busy doing four news and public affairs shows right now: a bio-docu show titled “Spotlight” and “Why News” (both in UNTV), a talk show titled “Opinion Leader” and news show called “News Force” (both in Global News Network), a morning show and “Damayan Ngayon” (both in PTV4 where he continues the legacy of his Lola Rosa) and also does a late night webcast news show produced by the Philippine News Agency titled “PNA Newsroom.”
“Maganda na ang government network natin. State-of-the-art na rin. Sec. Andanar wants the government station to be world-class,” he proudly told us.
Because of a very hectic schedule, (he manages their family business and working as a TV broadcaster), we asked William does he still have a free time? “I run in UP. Pero sinisingit ko na lang din, sa dami talaga ng ginagawa ko araw-araw,” he answered.
The very focused William is also a dog lover. In fact, he is the Director of the Philippine Canine Club where dog owners and lovers meet and join different dog shows in and out of the country.
On the romantic side, William is still single! Though he was engaged twice, he remained to be in search for Miss Right. The girl should make William laugh. They should enjoy each other’s company and she should have a pleasant and sunny disposition in life.
He is not in a hurry though to find her. And when she finds her, he promises to give the girl all the stars in heaven. William can be very sweet and romantic, isn’t she ladies?
The hardworking guy also wants to put up his own foundation for Tuberculosis patients.
He said, “Iba kasi yung may nagagawa ka para sa ibang tao. This is one that I can do for a lifetime. It is also very feasible so magagawa ko talaga ang makatulong.”
As for his parting words, the very independent William shared these inspiring words, “Raise your own self. Kasi wala namang ibang tutulong sa sarili mo kundi ikaw lang. Look at the brighter side of life kahit na ano pa ang pinagdaanan mo. You are the author of your own life kaya dapat galingan natin.”
