Cheche Lazaro, (born Cecilia Lim in 1945 in Los Angeles, California), is an acclaimed Filipino broadcast journalist and the founding President of Probe Productions Inc.
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In 1966, she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in speech and drama at the University of the Philippines. She continued her studies at the University of Michigan and obtained her Master's degree in Radio-Television in 1968.
She has been married to a Filipino businessman named Delfin Lazaro for almost 40 years, and together they have two children (Lisa and Carlos) and a grandchild.
Cheche Lazaro started her career working as a reporter for ABS-CBN. Between July 1986-December 1987, she became director/manager of network's Public Affairs department. This allowed her to be appointed Team leader/Reporter for the network's coverage of President Corazon C. Aquino's visit to Singapore and Indonesia.
Lazaro soon left her position in ABS-CBN in 1988 to create her own production company, Probe Productions, with the help of fellow journalists, Luchi Cruz-Valdez and Maria Ressa. This led her to produce several documentary programs such as 5 and Up for ABC 5 (now TV5), The Probe Team, I-Witness, and Cheche Lazaro Presents for GMA Network, which eventually became her home network.
There, she was able to produce award-winning documentaries, particularly one involving the Doña Paz. The relationship with the network, however, was put to a test in 2003 when GMA-7 refused to air a Probe segment about a lifestyle check on PAGCOR Chairman Efraim Genuino. The network saw the story as a half-baked job that would unjustly ruin the subject's reputation. Lazaro saw it as censorship.
The rift was played out in media. After 16 years of good relations with GMA-7, the network pre-terminated the contract of Probe.
Despite this setback, she was able to return to the limelight when Probe began reairing on ABC in June 2004. After a year's stay, she decided to go back in 2005 to her channel of origin, ABS-CBN.
Between 1992 to 1995, Lazaro was also the chairman of the broadcast department at the University of the Philippines.
Currently, she is a member and board adviser for the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.
Lazaro as a host has obtained various awards from Philippine award-giving bodies. She has been awarded 'Best News Magazine show host' nine times by the Star Awards. The Probe Team, the first Filipino investigative news magazine for television, has won both local and international recognition. It has received 'Gawad CCP Para sa Telebisyon "10 Best TV Programs of the Philippine Television" ten times.
Then, Cheche Lazaro makes a new Program come from Probe Production, Named Probe Profiles. This program is the last Program of Cheche Lazaro and the team. In exactly July 1, 2010, Wednesday makes their last episode containing the story of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III way back from the candidacy, his struggles and the achievement of Pilipino to be President of the Philippines.
| Event/Award-giving Body | Award | Reason/Program | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBP Golden Dove Awards | Best Female Public Affairs Host | The Probe Team | 1993 |
| Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) | "Hall of Fame" | The Probe Team | 2000 |
| KBP Golden Dove Awards | Best Female Public Affairs Host | I-Witness | 2001 |
| KBP Golden Dove Awards | Best Program Promoting Culture and the Arts | Cheche Lazaro Presents | 2001 |
| New York Festival | Silver World Medal | Television Documentary and Information Program on Social Issues/Current Events | 2001 |
| Provincial government of Bulacan | Dangal ng Lipi Award Para sa Sining at Kultura | 2003 | |
| Malolos Heritage Foundation | "Most outstanding daughter of Malolos" | Accomplishments in the field of broadcasting | 2003 |
| University of the Philippines | "Gawad Plaridel Award" | Outstanding contributions to the local television industry and broadcast journalism.[1] | 2007 |
| Philippine Movie Press Club | "Excellence in Broadcasting" | Outstanding contributions to the local television industry and broadcast journalism. | 2010 |