Who Is Zen Hernandez? 5 Things About the Esteemed Journalist

Talk of romance between journalists Atom Araullo and Zen Hernandez has been circling the rumor mill in the past few years. Attention on the pair ignited once again after Atom, in an interview on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, admitted that he’s in a long-term relationship with a public figure whom he did not name.

“I think people know. People on social media know. They see us often,” he said. After the revelation, all eyes turned to Zen, who's long been the center of speculation when it comes to Atom’s love life. On her own, though, Zen is a respected journalist and TV anchor who’s been delivering reliable and crucial stories to Filipinos for over 18 years. Below, let’s get to know more about the magnetic woman who brings us the news every weekend.

Zen was born on October 4, 1981. In an Instagram post, she recalled almost being named Lindsey, Jaclyn, or Catherine by her mother. Her dad, on the other hand, wanted to name her Zenifer, and we all know who won in the end. “Parang ship name daw nila - Zenaida + Fernando. Sooooo Pinoy!” wrote Zen in a birthday post dedicated to her late father.

Zen took up Broadcast Communication in UP Diliman, ending her studies on a high note after graduating cum laude. She went on to work at eTelecare Global Solutions as an Information Technology Helpdesk Team Leader, before pursuing a full-time career in journalism at ABS-CBN in 2006. Zen slowly made her way in front of the camera by starting out as a news researcher. Years later, she finally became a broadcast journalist and news anchor for TV Patrol Weekend, known for her calm demeanor, hard-hitting national updates, and commentary on journalistic integrity.

Truly an esteemed news reporter, Zen has been recognized for her work numerous times. In November 2014, she was given the Best Morning Show Host award at the PMPC Star Awards. More recently, the 2024 Asia’s Pinnacle Awards deemed her Asia’s Distinguished News Anchor in Broadcast Journalism.

Posting about her achievement, Zen shared her win with her TV Patrol team. “As we in the media would always say, it takes a village to mount a newscast like TV Patrol - whether it be weekdays or weekend. So any kind of recognition is always a pat on the back for our entire news team,” she wrote in her caption. “At the end of the day, we all share the common goal of uplifting the lives of every Filipino. Let us continue working together for our beloved Pilipinas."

Zen prefers spending her weekends at home with a good book. Her introverted nature is also the reason why she rarely gives interviews about herself on camera. In a rare guesting on Karmina Constantino’s Youtube channel, the news anchor, who’s used to asking the questions, admitted to getting nervous whenever the tables are turned and she’s the subject of the interview.

Zen loves posting about her international excursions on Instagram. Among the many places she’s been to include Bhutan, Rome, Paris, Japan, and Spain. During her visit to Switzerland, she brought out her inner K-drama fan and took photos at the Kleine Scheidegg railway station, where one of the scenes for Crash Landing on You was filmed.