Charms Espina, an Icon of Change from the Philippines

Icons of Change International Awards 2025

Charms W. Espina
Senior News Anchor | PTV News Tonight (PTV-4, Philippines)
Host | Voice of America (VOA) – Stories from the Grid & The Global Roundup
Founder | Pawcible Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation Initiative

SDG Focus: Sustainable Development Goal 16 – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Changemaker for Public Trust, Ethical Journalism, and Community Advocacy (Philippines)

Few journalists today embody the breadth, resilience, and public-service ethos required of modern media as powerfully as Charms W. Espina. A seasoned broadcast journalist with over 12 years of frontline experience, Charms has built a distinguished career on the pillars of credibility, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to informing and empowering citizens.

As the Senior News Anchor of PTV News Tonight, the flagship English newscast of the Philippines’ state broadcaster PTV-4, Charms delivers fair, engaging, and high-quality reporting to national and global audiences. Her storytelling range is exceptional—capable of shifting seamlessly from high-stakes breaking news to in-depth analyses, election coverage, humanitarian features, disaster reportage, and presidential events. Whether on-ground or on-air, she stands as a trusted voice during moments that test public confidence and national stability.

Her influence extends across international platforms through her work with the Voice of America (VOA), where she hosts Stories from the Grid, a documentary program spotlighting narratives of resilience, innovation, and community impact. She also anchors The Global Roundup, a weekly update program bridging local audiences with global developments, and conducts in-depth conversations with thought leaders on her PTV segment Interface. Across all formats, Charms demonstrates mastery of multiple media disciplines—FM and AM radio, live interviews, digital content, lifestyle storytelling, and major event coverage.

Charms’ work reflects the values of SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, particularly through her role in strengthening public trust in state media. Her commitment to accuracy, transparency, and ethical storytelling reinforces the crucial role of responsible journalism in democratic societies.

Her contributions outside the newsroom are equally compelling. As a licensed environmental planner and trained advocate under Al Gore’s Climate Reality Leadership Corps, Charms champions climate resilience, community education, and local empowerment. She communicates climate urgency with clarity and empathy—mobilizing citizens, youth, and grassroots leaders toward low-carbon, future-ready solutions.

A lifelong animal welfare advocate, Charms has spent more than two decades rescuing and rehabilitating abandoned and mistreated animals. She founded Pawcible, a privately funded shelter soon to become a full-fledged foundation, providing a safe haven for animals and advocating for responsible pet ownership. It is a testament to her character—her instinct to protect, uplift, and give voice to the vulnerable.

Her work has earned significant recognition:
• Best Talk Show – One ASEAN, Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA), 2017
• Asia’s Most Outstanding TV News Anchor and TV Host, Asia’s Golden Icons Awards, 2022
• Best News Programme – PTV News Tonight, 29th Asian Television Awards, 2024
• Nominated Best News Presenter/Anchor, 28th, 29th & 30th Asian Television Awards (2023–2025)

These accolades shows not just her professional excellence but her sustained commitment to elevating the standards of Philippine journalism.

Charms W. Espina’s career is defined by purpose: amplifying truth, strengthening institutions, and inspiring civic responsibility. Her multi-sector contributions—journalism, climate advocacy, environmental planning, and animal welfare—reveal a leader who views service not as a role, but as a lifelong mission.

In honoring Charms W. Espina with the Icons of Change International Award 2025, we celebrate a journalist whose voice carries both authority and heart. She reminds us that storytelling, when grounded in integrity, has the power to heal divisions, illuminate truth, and advance a more just and peaceful world.

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