Jessica Soho and the lesser-known details shaping her life on and off screen

Jessica Soho and the lesser-known details shaping her life on and off screen

Jessica Soho is widely known as a respected journalist and media icon, but her story goes far beyond what viewers see on screen. Behind the awards and headlines are lesser-known details that have shaped both her career and personal life. From quiet habits to defining moments, Jessica Soho’s journey reflects discipline, resilience, and purpose.

The Philippines' multi-awarded journalist Jessica Soho.
The Philippines' multi-awarded journalist Jessica Soho. Photo: @Pinoy History (modified by author)
Source: UGC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

key takeaways

  • Jessica Soho is known for being highly private, disciplined, and deeply committed to journalism.
  • Her career spans decades of investigative reporting and leadership in broadcast journalism.
  • Soho became the first Filipino to win the British Fleet Street Award for Journalism.

Name

Maria Jessica Aspiras Soho

Date of birth

March 27, 1964

Place of birth

Agoo, La Union, Philippines

Age

61

Nationality

Filipino

Ethnicity

Filipino

Zodiac sign

Sagittarius

Hair colour

Black

Eye colour

Dark brown

Parents

Abelardo Soho (father),

Maura Aspiras (mother)

Marital status

Single

Profession

Broadcast journalist, TV host

Social media

Instagram

X(Twitter)

Facebook

TikTok

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Who is Jessica Soho?

Jessica Soho is the Philippines' most awarded broadcast journalist and a premier, long-time anchor for GMA Network, known for hosting the top-rated news magazine show Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS). With a career spanning over four decades since 1985, she is a pioneering figure in investigative reporting and documentary work, having received top international accolades, including the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award.

How old is Jessica Soho?

Jessica Soho is 61 years old as of 2026. She was born on March 27, 1964, in San Fernando, La Union, Philippines.

Five facts about Jessica Soho
Five facts about Jessica Soho. Photo: @Pinoy History (modified by author)
Source: Original

Jessica Soho's parents

Her parents are Abelardo Soho (father), a government employee, and Maura Aspiras-Soho (mother), an agriculturist. She was raised in La Union with influence from her grandmothers, Sixta Aspiras and Concepcion Soho. She has Chinese roots, with her paternal grandfather having immigrated from Guangdong, China.

Maura Aspiras-Soho passed away when Jessica Soho was young, at eight years old. When her father remarried, she gained a brother and two half-siblings.

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Education background

Jessica Soho is a graduate of the University of the Philippines.

Career

An accidental journalist whose dream was to become a lawyer, Jessica started as a reporter in 1985, choosing to work in television despite her lack of training in broadcast journalism. She is the host of the news magazine program Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho on GMA, and was the news anchor for State of the Nation on GMA News TV (now GTV) from 2011 to 2021.

Is Jessica Soho a lawyer?

No, Jessica Soho is not a lawyer. She is a highly acclaimed Filipino broadcast journalist, reporter, and television host, known for her work with the GMA Network.

How much does Jessica Soho earn?

There’s no official public record of Jessica Soho’s exact salary or net worth. As a top journalist and media personality with decades of experience, she’s widely believed to earn a substantial income from her work in television, hosting, special projects, and possibly endorsements, but precise figures aren’t publicly disclosed.

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What awards has Jessica Soho received?

  • Jessica Soho is the most-awarded Filipino broadcast journalist, recognised for her extensive work in news and public affairs. She has won two prestigious George Foster Peabody Awards (1999, 2014), multiple New York Festivals TV & Film Awards, and was inducted into the Reader's Digest Trusted Brands Awards Hall of Fame after winning "Most Trusted TV Host" for 13 consecutive years.
  • Became one of GMA Network’s most trusted news anchors and senior journalists.
  • First Filipino to receive the British Fleet Street Award for journalism.
  • Hosted and led award-winning documentary and news programs, including long-running public affairs shows.
  • Earned multiple local and international journalism awards for investigative and human-interest reporting.
  • In 1998, the media icon became the first Filipino to win the British Fleet Street Award for Journalism.
  • In 2015, Soho was given an honorary doctorate in humanities by the University of Northeastern Philippines during its 67th commencement exercises in April.

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Is Jessica Soho married?

Jessica Soho is not married and does not have children. She has never publicly confirmed having a husband.

Jessica Soho’s crucial covers

  • Philippine coup attempts (late 1980s): Reported on major political unrest early in her career, establishing her credibility as a field journalist.
  • Mt. Pinatubo eruption (1991): Delivered frontline coverage of one of the country’s most devastating natural disasters.
  • International conflict reporting: Covered war and crisis stories abroad, making her one of the few Filipino journalists to do so at the time.
  • Investigative documentaries: Led in-depth reports on social issues, corruption, and marginalised communities through public affairs programs.
  • Human-interest stories nationwide: Through Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho highlighted extraordinary Filipino stories from remote and urban areas alike.

What is Jessica Soho's legacy?

Jessica Soho is a towering figure in Philippine media, recognised as a multi-awarded broadcast journalist, documentarian, and news executive with a four-decade career defined by credibility, integrity, and impactful storytelling. Known for her work in conflict zones and investigative reporting, she elevated the standards of journalism, notably through i-Witness and Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS).

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What is Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho about?

Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho is a long-running Philippine television magazine show that features real-life stories from across the country. The program covers a wide range of topics, including human-interest stories, culture and traditions, social issues, food, travel, and extraordinary personal experiences.

Hosted by veteran journalist Jessica Soho, Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho is known for its in-depth storytelling and nationwide reach. Over the years, it has become one of the most trusted and watched public affairs shows in the Philippines.

Is Jessica Soho Chinese?

She is of Chinese descent through her paternal grandfather with a surname Szeto (later baptized as Pedro Szeto later in his life or Pedro Soho), who immigrated to the Philippines from Kaiping County, Guangdong, China, in the early 20th century.

Trivia

  • She is the first Filipino to win the British Fleet Street Award for journalism.
  • Jessica Soho is known for being extremely private, rarely discussing her personal life in interviews.
  • She has covered both local and international conflicts, uncommon for Filipino journalists when she started.
  • Despite her serious journalistic reputation, she also covers food, culture, and travel stories on TV.
  • Her show Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho has remained on air for over a decade, consistently ranking high in ratings.

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Looking beyond the spotlight reveals how Jessica Soho’s off-screen values influence her presence on screen. Her consistency, privacy, and commitment to storytelling have played key roles in her longevity. These lesser-known aspects help explain why Jessica Soho remains influential and trusted to this day.

Kami.com.ph recently published an article about Suho EXO. Suho, whose real name is Kim Jun-Myeon, is a renowned singer, songwriter, and actor from South Korea.

Suho has built a legacy for himself in the South Korean entertainment industry. His presence in the entertainment industry will be greatly missed now that he must fulfil the compulsory military service. Click on the link above to learn more.

Source: KAMI.com.gh

Authors:
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Arianne Ayson (SEO writer)

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Kevin Omuya (Lifestyle writer)