On a regular day, BBC’s Rico Hizon goes on air seven times a day beginning at 5:30 in the morning to report the latest in Asian business. Lately, however, Rico has seen himself pinned to his anchor chair twice as much, as other global programs in the British news organisation require constant update on the business affairs in Asia.

“I’ve been here six years, but we’ve never seen anything like it, this volatility in the market,” he says.

The ongoing financial crisis has definitely made the 42-year old anchor’s job a frenzied one. The day Smart Investor visited him for a photo shoot in the BBC Asia studio, Rico was shuttling from the gallery to his desk preparing for broadcast every thirty minutes.

“We live in very exciting times. Although depressing and grim, it’s very exciting because Asia is now given a lot more importance and coverage which we didn’t have in the past,” Rico says.

With calls from London, New York and Washington coming in to request for up-to-date reports, Rico makes sure he is always there to deliver the news. Apart from his regular Asia Business Report, he also provides updates for World News America and World News Today global edition. On such days, work extends up to 4:30 in the afternoon.

LIFE IN THE NEWSROOM

Prior to joining the British Broadcasting Corporation in 2002, Rico was with CNBC Asia as part of the launch team in Hong Kong back in 1995. He anchored the morning edition of CNBC Today and was part of the Squawk Box, Market Watch and Power Lunch.

Rico finished his broadcast journalism degree from the De La Salle University in Manila. His broadcasting career began in the late 80s when he worked as production assistant for a children’s show in one of the Philippines largest network, GMA Channel 7. But his sights had always been set on becoming a television reporter.

Rico found his niche in business news when he covered the stock market beat, reporting straight from the trading floor of the Makati Stock Exchange in the country’s central business district. He anchored a daily business programme where he honed his skills in financial reporting. That was where people from NBC saw him and tapped him to be part of the team in Hong Kong. At 28, Rico adjusted fairly well with his new job in the former British colony.

The job later required for him to relocate in Singapore. After seven years with CNBC, he moved to BBC. Today, Rico is the lone Filipino anchor in the British news organisation, which currently employs more than 10,000 people. “I don’t feel any pressure at all because I really enjoy what I do,” he says.

In his 18-year career as a broadcast journalist, Rico has been privileged to interview a number of notable business and political personalities. Among those he considers memorable are his conversations with Tony Fernandes, Richard Branson and Bill Gates. His dream interviews would be with former British prime minister Tony Blair, US presidential nominee Barrack Obama and actress Angelina Jolie.

For now, Rico’s time is spent mostly in the studio talking to analysts about the prospects for the Asian economy.

INVESTING IN ART

With an extensive knowledge in finance and the stock market, one would think that Rico would be as well-entrenched in the capital markets with his investment. He, however, prefers to stash his cash in property and bank deposits.

“I stopped buying stocks for several years now because I don’t want it to affect my work. I don’t want that stress. Right now, I would rather invest in something that I can see, something tangible,” he says. “I also put my money in art.”

This passion for art began when he was still a cub reporter who fell in love with the medium while covering an art exhibit back in the Philippines. He used all his savings of about $500 to $800 to buy a painting of the Filipino artist Benedicto Cabrera.

He and his wife Melannie – a former fl ight attendant he met in 1997 through a blind date set up by friends – have a large art collection of about 200 pieces from Filipino artists – Bencab, Anita Magsaysay- Ho, Malang, Arturo Luz and Jose Elizalde Navarro, to name a few. He also collects works of young contemporary artists.

The couple has also made it an advocacy to hold art exhibits in Singapore for Filipino contemporary artists. The exhibits are also brought to Indonesia.

“In 2005, no one really cared about Filipino contemporary artists, but now they are the toast of art exhibits and auctions,” Rico says.

Apart from his indulgence in art, Rico enjoys spending time with his wife and four-year old son Migo by going to malls and amusement parks, watching movies and just going around Singapore.

“I think the beauty of doing the morning shift is that you still have the afternoons for yourself. If it’s a normal day not like past few months, I finish at about 1pm or 2pm. My wife fetches me, we have lunch and we go shopping,” Rico says.

He describes himself as a caring and supportive husband. As a father, he says he is the disciplinarian.

DIPLOMATIC DREAM

The early daily grind has been a staple in his long career that Rico refers to himself as the resident morning anchor. So far, he has had 38 co-anchors and counting.

His success in the international broadcasting field has garnered recognitions from several organisations and institutions in the Philippines. Recently, he received the “Yes the Filipino Can!” award for being a role model to the youth and society.

To him, the award signifies not only his achievement as a broadcaster but also represents the successes of other Filipino overseas workers who excel in their field. Being with the BBC, he feels that he is giving the respect due to the migrant worker and for Asians too. “I raise the flag for Asians who not necessarily have to be educated in Europe or in the US to be able to be in this position,” Rico says.

“If you have the knowledge, drive and perseverance, you can be here. You just have to be consistent day in, day out. There is really no room for mistakes,” he adds. Beyond his broadcasting career, Rico sees himself doing diplomatic work. “I want to represent my country in any capacity, whether it be in government or in the diplomatic corps. I want to give back and for me, this is the way after BBC,” he says. He plans to take up his master’s degree in public policy in preparation for achieving his goals.

Rico is quick to point out, however, that being a television news anchor affords him the chance to grow old in the business. For now, what really inspires him is the news and getting it across to the viewers.