Marga Ortigas has been a journalist for almost 30 years, getting her start in television during the most catastrophic volcanic eruption in recent history - when Mount Pinatubo blew up in the Philippines. Eventually, she moved to London and joined CNN International, covering Europe and the Middle East. This included a year in Iraq and time in Gaza. A decade later, she returned to Asia for Al Jazeera. As the network's Senior Asia Pacific correspondent, she travelled across the region from a base in Manila, handling breaking news, speaking to decisions makers, and meeting those most affected by calamities. She was recognised by the International Committee of the Red Cross for Humanitarian Reporting. Marga was also awarded a British Council scholarship and completed a master's degree in literature in the United Kingdom.