Veteran broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez bid goodbye to her dzMM radio morning program as she takes a year off from ABS-CBN's news programs starting May 8.

Her farewell comes after Sanchez and Senator Mar Roxas II confirmed their engagement over ABS-CBN's popular afternoon show "Wowowee" last April 18.

In her farewell message over Tambalang Failon at Sanchez, her weekday radio program with Ted Failon, Sanchez said she would miss engaging her television-radio viewers and listeners.

"Sa dinami dami ng natutunanan ko sa akin buhay, may nagsasara ng pinto pero mas madami ang bumubukas. I'm not sad that I'm leaving. Well, it's a leave dahil alam ko naman na nasa ibang level na tayo na kahit hindi tayo magkikita araw-araw ay hindi tayo mapaghihiwalay ng espasyo, distansiya o panahon," Sanchez said.

Public service

Sanchez looked back at her long career as a radio commentator and said she had tried to help serve the public through her program.

"Ang importante ay 'yong nakakatulong ka. Ang pinaka-importante talaga ay 'yong nakakadala ka ng katotohanan, ng importanteng kaganapan kasi nakakaapekto lahat yan sa buhay natin," Sanchez said.

She said she never imagined she would leave her broadcasting work over radio for such a long leave of absence.

"Nasanay na ako na sa bawat pagtatapos o pagkakaantala ay dapat na may kasunod na nangyari ayon sa nakasulat sa ating tadhana. Kaya kung 'yong serbisyo publiko naibigay ko po sa lahat ng ating mga tagapakinig sa DZMM at tagapanood sa TeleRadyo ay nakabigay ng pagkakaiba at kabutihan sa kanilang buhay, sa kanilang kaalamam sa kasiyahan. Yon na po ang kapalit ng 20 taong pag-gising namin ng  maaga sa radio," she said.
 
"Ito po talaga ang aking pamilya, at dito po, sa palagay ko, sa radyo ako nagkaroon ng behikulo para magbigay ng totoong serbisyo. Totoong pagbabago sa mga tao, at ito ang aking naging behikulo para masabi ko ang mga hindi masabi ng iba," she added.

Time for Mar

The broadcaster also admitted that she's not perfect, and asked for forgiveness for those she may have hurt unintentionally.

"Hindi po ako perpekto. May iba siguro akong natapakan na hindi dapat, may nasaktan na hindi dapat, yon po ang hinihingi ko ng paumanhin kun sakaling ay nagkamali sa loob ng 20 na ‘yan," Sanchez said.

Sanchez said it was now time to give more time with the man she loves after 20 years as a broadcast journalist.

"Alam nyo, 20 taon ako dito pero sa tingin ko ay panahon na din para magbigay at mag-alok ako ng konting panahon para sa aking personal na buhay. Kasi kapag wala na akong ngipin at saka hindi na ako makalakad ay hindi naman kayo ang kasama ko kung hindi siya. So kailangan may puhunan sa relasyon na 'yan," Sanchez said.

Wedding preparations

The soon-to-be Mrs. Roxas said that she will be preparing for her upcoming wedding during her leave.

"Wala pang mga detalye, kaya nga ako magli-leave para maasikaso ko ang mga 'yan," she said.

Sanchez also said she wants to have a church wedding.

"Siguro naman simbahan, para pagpalain kami ni Lord," she said.

Aside from her radio program, Sanchez is also taking a leave from anchoring ABS-CBN's late night news program, "Bandila."

However, Sanchez will still continue to host her weekly ABS-CBN magazine show, "Rated K," shown every Saturday.

Wowowee

During Wowowee's April 18 episode, Roxas cried after Sanchez, expressed her love for him.

The senator told Wowowee host Willie Revillame that it was Sanchez who made him stop wanting to be a bachelor.
 
Sanchez, who was wearing her engagement ring, said she never thought she would meet the man in her life.

"Kala ko kasi, Willie, hindi na ito darating sa buhay ko e....Gusto ko lang sabihin kay Mar na, kahapon, ngayon, at bukas, iyong iyo ako," she said.