RADIO and How I See It Then and Now

I love radio. The first time I went on the air was in high school for a short newscast stint. Months later, I found myself doing radio on a regular basis after Joey Joey (then a famous FM radio disc jock in Laoag) personally asked for Dad's permission for me to be a radio DJ. So, it was DWSN-FM for me, then DWIL-FM before I had a stint at KNDI in Honolulu. When I flew back to my home city, I joined my husband, Anthony (also a DJ or radio presenter as we say it now), at DWHP-FM (now I-FM). Anthony tagged me along,when ABS-CBN opened in Laoag City in the early 90's. There was just a handful of ABS-CBN Laoag staff then. Anthony was the man for news (he did national and international news bits on ABS's Sarimanok Channel)and did the sales too. ABS had an FM station up on a hill in San Nicolas and, right you are, Anthony had to be there as job extension with ABS. Now, ABS has a new set of people. Teaching is my profession but radio has always been an extension. Even at INCAT where I teach,the radio bug continues to bite me. I have been assigned as Program Director of the school's BEAT-FM Station. It's a cool jazz and RnB station with news and campus info thrown in daily. After months of going off the air for some reason, BEAT-FM is rejoining the airwaves this June. Presentations on FM Radio before were way classier than today. DJs were encouraged to speak English, sound and act amiable and respectful. No DJ would sit in front of the mic without putting sensible stuff in between his ears, doing his homework ( like keeping himself updated with the news, music, fashion, politics, relationship and spiritual stuff, etc. so that listeners would have their fill ). DJs were looked up to like some icon. It felt good to receive fan mails,gifts and visits. There was significant respect towards DJ's then. We could tell an FM station and an AM station apart based on the language, format and the music that were used. Now, sometimes listening to an FM station is like listening to an AM station. FM presenters in Laoag seldom use English. Ilocano and Tagalog are the staple...and if they somehow throw in a smattering of English, their lines are very wanting of perfect grammar and excellent pronunciation. Presenters should be aware that their listeners (especially students) can catch their flaws and actually think they are correct unless someone steps in to rectify or regulate them. Presenters have a big responsibility towards their listeners. They should not only entertain but they ought to also inform and educate in between. Radio is a tool for education and blabbing on the air without any direction or objective is pointless. I notice there is this trend among DJs of taking the persona of a male gay even if they are actually straight in private. I hope it's not a desperate move to draw in listeners. Can't there be truth in presenting? Just like truth in advertising? Listeners can't be fooled. Yes, listeners can't be fooled. Over-modulation of speaking voice has taken the backseat. Gone are the days of "barking". No wonder Chico and De la Mar are still drumming up the airwaves with their squeaky and cartoony voices...because they are natural. And their English is not bad. Turn on the radio please. Whatever station you want to listen to ( Laoag's local stations, NYC's Lite-Fm, Pensacola's First Radio Station or DZRH)enjoy but don't be fooled.