My Romance with Radio

I practically grew up with a transistor radio glued to my ears. As early as elementary school, I was already tuning in to various radio stations from Bicol and parts of the Visayas, including Bacolod, Roxas, and Iloilo. I enjoyed listening to news, music, and radio soap operas.

Doing the laundry in the streams, which was common in our community then, was always accompanied by the sound of transistor radios broadcasting drama serials. It was a familiar sight to see women washing clothes while following the latest episode of their favorite radio dramas. I knew this firsthand because my mother would often bring me with her to the stream to help carry the laundry in a palanggana balanced on my head.

There was no television in our community during the 1980s, so radio was the primary source of news and entertainment for most families. Batteries for transistor radios were common household items. As the batteries gradually lost their power, the radio's volume would slowly fade until the sound became almost a whisper. At that point, people would leave the batteries under the scorching heat of the sun, hoping they would regain enough power to keep the radio playing, even if only for a short while. Once they were completely drained, it was time to buy a new set. There was always a sense of excitement when fresh batteries made the radio come alive at full volume. Equally memorable was the struggle of trying to catch every word as the batteries weakened and the sound slowly faded away.

In 1991, a powerful typhoon struck our town. Because our house was made only of nipa, bamboo, and wood, we evacuated to the concrete house of a relative nearby. While the fierce winds howled outside, my uncle kept his transistor radio on. I remember hearing a radio announcer effortlessly answering a caller's question. My uncle told me it was Ernie Baron, who was known as the "Walking Encyclopedia" because he could answer almost any trivia question in the blink of an eye. I instantly admired him.

I searched for the radio's tuner and committed the station's frequency to memory. I later learned it was DZMM, with its memorable tagline, "Ang himpilan ng malayang mamamayan." From that moment on, the twelve-year-old boy in me was never the same.

The following evening, I tuned our transistor radio to DZMM. The signal was usually weak during the early evening but became much clearer as the night grew deeper. From 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., I listened to the melodious voice of Gel Santos-Relos on her programs Punto por Punto and Relos Reports. It was my first time hearing a female broadcast journalist deliver the news in Filipino with such grace and authority. I still remember the goosebumps I felt. Her voice was gentle yet commanding. From then on, I became one of her loyal listeners.

Every night, I would fall asleep with the transistor radio beside my pillow. When I woke up before dawn, I would hear the familiar voices of Gani Oro and the Radyo Patrol reporters on Gising Pilipinas, the morning news program, until the signal gradually faded as the sun rose.

In 1994, the Manila Broadcasting Company launched its One Nation, One Station campaign, making DZRH's signal accessible throughout the country, twenty-four hours a day. Through DZRH, I discovered veteran journalists such as Joe Taruc and Deo Macalma. I also became captivated by its drama programs, especially Matud Nila and Tiya Dely, among many others. I divided my listening time between DZMM and DZRH, enjoying the best that both stations had to offer.

Looking back, I can confidently say that listening to these seasoned and credible broadcasters profoundly influenced the person I have become. It was through them that I developed my communication skills, which later helped me become a campus journalist in both high school and college. Those years of listening also prepared me to become a host and master of ceremonies at countless community events in the years that followed.

More importantly, radio taught me lessons that went beyond communication. It nurtured in me a deep respect for truth, a commitment to public service, and the belief that words, when spoken with integrity, competence, and compassion, have the power to inform, inspire, and transform lives.

Pagalang

When I was in elementary school, politeness and courtesy were two important character traits that our parents and teachers instilled in us. So, I grew up with greetings on my mind and lips as my default response every time I met people at any time of the day. It became second nature to me. Once, I had a visitor from Manila, and she observed that I greeted the people I saw along the way to our house. She commented that I could be a good politician because of the way I smiled and greeted almost everyone.

It is so saddening today that the basics of courtesy and politeness are no longer the norm. They have become a rarity. Sometimes, I am the one who greets young people first whenever I pass by them. It seems that many of them are so absorbed in playing on their cellphones that they do not care at all to notice anyone, especially adults, around them. Cursing and vulgar expressions have become common. Some parents do not bother correcting these children at all.

No doubt, these children's exposure to a culture of hate is the culprit. This culture pervades social media, and young people are its prey. So, what will happen to these children and the succeeding generations if they grow up in such a culture of hate? And what does the future hold for our communities?

I join the call of more than 20 countries to ban or restrict social media use by children. These countries include, among others, Australia, China, Malaysia, Brazil, and many more. Parents should also be educated on the wise use of social media and other information platforms. Schools should also pay attention to developing proper values among learners, especially the Filipino value of pakikipagkapwa-tao.

Some would say it is better to have a dirty mouth yet have compassion for others than to utter pure words while one's actions speak the opposite. For me, there is no better substitute than a pure mind, lips, heart, and hands—all in harmony and aligned with one another.

The Joy of Volunteering

I talked about Volunteerism, Climate, and Disaster Resilience before young people during the Provincial Learning Camp of the Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP) – Northern Samar, held on July 11, 2026, here in my hometown of Lavezares.

I started my talk by asking the participants, “Para kanino ka bumabangon?” I took this question from a coffee commercial. I wanted them to think and ponder what keeps them going every day. Some participants answered that they get up every day for their families; others said for their dreams, while some said for their jowas. The last answer drew giggles from the room.

I assured them that all their answers were correct because they all came from their hearts. I told them that whatever or whoever they wake up for should contribute to the development of their whole personality. A well-developed person bears the fruits of genuine and wholehearted service to the family and the community. In the highest and most ideal sense of the word, service should be rendered voluntarily, without expecting anything in return.

Volunteering is a noble act of charity that no amount of material compensation can match. It is an act of self-giving so that others in need may have something more. Volunteering is priceless because what is being given is one's most valuable resource—time—which the volunteer willingly chooses to devote to others instead of spending it on activities that provide only personal pleasure.

Notwithstanding the fact that volunteering is not a glamorous endeavor and offers no material reward, the joy and fulfillment of giving, coupled with the thought that one has contributed to addressing societal and environmental problems, uplift the spirit and inspire one to strive for greater heights.

Volunteering for climate action and disaster resilience is a worthwhile endeavor. Regardless of one's age, whether young or old, everyone can make a difference because caring for the Earth is everybody's responsibility. There are many simple ways to contribute, such as participating in waste segregation campaigns, joining tree-growing activities, and serving as a member of a rescue or relief operations team, among many others.

Such voluntary acts may not provide monetary rewards, but they undoubtedly give a sense of purpose, keep one grounded, and bring a beautiful and genuine smile that comes from a fulfilled heart.