Ed Lingao

Eduardo D. Lingao (born November 20, 1976) is a Filipino broadcast journalist, investigative reporter, war correspondent and news anchor. He has worked across print, television, and online platforms.

Early life and education Lingao completed his Journalism degree at the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication in 1988. He was a student during the 1986 People Power Revolution, an event he has said influenced his worldview and his approach to journalism.

Career

Print journalism beginnings Lingao began his career in print journalism with The Manila Chronicle in 1987. He joined The Manila Times as a reporter in 1989. In 1992, he had a brief stint in broadcasting with SkyCable News before returning to The Manila Times in 1998 to take on editorial roles until the temporary closure of the newspaper outfit.

Broadcast and war correspondence Lingao moved into broadcast journalism with ABS-CBN Integrated News & Current Affairs. Through his work on The Correspondents, he has covered numerous local conflict zones, including clashes between military forces and rebel groups in Mindanao, as well as international conflicts such as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has also reported on high-risk political and security events, including the Oakwood Mutiny.

Multimedia and investigative journalism In 2009, Lingao joined the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) as Multimedia Director, where he oversaw the integration of print, broadcast, and digital platforms for investigative reporting.

Return to broadcasting Beginning in 2014, Lingao returned to broadcast media, working with TV5 and OneNews. Among his notable shows are Wag Po!, a social commentary talk show that he co-hosted, and The Chiefs, a current affairs program. He currently anchors late-night newscast Frontline Tonight and primetime news program Storycon.

Personal life Lingao and wife, Esther, launched the Laptop Project, which donates laptops to students in remote areas, inspired partly by their daughter, Elizabeth or Ellie, who died from an aneurysm in 2017.

He has been nicknamed "Grass Man" or "Damong Lingao" within the PCIJ due to his fondness for military-green attire and frequent field assignments. Lingao later received the Titus Brandsma Leadership in Journalism Award in 2019 for his three decades of work across multiple media forms. In 2017, he was honored with the Glory Medal of Distinction by his alma mater, the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication. In 2022, he was named one of People Asia Magazine’s Men Who Matter awardees.