The award-winning program that pioneered investigative journalism on Philippine television is bidding goodbye for now after almost a quarter of a century in investigating the top issues and personalities in the country.

Probe is going full circle as it celebrated its remarkable run, which began during the presidency of Corazon Aquino, with a two-part series about the ascent to presidency of Cory’s son, President-elect Benigno Aquino III.

In the two-part special, Cheche Lazaro featured life in the Malacañang Palace with a series of interviews with presidential offsprings Nini Quezon, Ilocos Norte Governor-elect Imee Marcos, and former Sen. Jun Magsaysay, former presidents Joseph Estrada and Fidel V. Ramos, and even Palace employees and servants who will bare the secrets of Malacañang.

On June 30, Cheche zeroed in on Sen. Noynoy Aquino’s march to the presidency beginning with the grueling 2010 election campaign to his inauguration, getting the inside story behind the issues in his candidacy and the transition to his administration straight from his campaign manager Butch Abad, incoming presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, and the Aquino sisters.

Despite the exit of Probe Profiles, Lazaro said Probe Productions Inc. will continue churning up brave and quality projects and might return to television, while she will still be seen as anchor of “Media in Focus” on ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel.

Lazaro said, “for as long as Filipinos look at the nation with probing eyes and minds, the Probe legacy lives on.”

Q: Arnel, anong klaseng buhay ang nakagisnan mo?

A:  Ah, kalye, tapos yung trabaho ng mga nanay at tatay ko, yung pagiging sastre nila. Masaya naman yung maagang pagkabata ko pero yung magmula, nung magsimula ng magkasakit yung nanay ko, du’n na nagsimula yung kalbaryo ng buhay namin.

Q: Ilan taon ka nung nagkasakit yung nanay mo?

A: Siguro, mga ano ako, mga 10 years old ako, and then finally, na-confine siya nung mga 11 ako. Tapos, sinuko niya yung laban sa hospital, she was there for 1 and 1/2 year eh. So, mag 13-13 ako. (more…)