Going live on the Internet

I was born and raised in Pilar, Camotes, where the only regular and very affordable form of entertainment is a transistor radio. Growing up, my spare time was spent listening to radio dramas and newscasts of various AM stations. It was my love for radio that gave me the idea to pursue a media career. I remember in high school, I would lock myself up in my bedroom and pretend to be a field reporter delivering the breaking news. Back then, I’d always make the conscious effort to modulate my voice because in my mind, your ability is measured by how you sound on air. For me, you can be the master of the basics of reporting, but if you don’t have the voice, people won’t listen to you. That was how I thought how one can have a career in radio broadcasting then.

At 16 years old, I became a volunteer reporter for Bantay Radyo, where I reported anything newsworthy that occurred in our town. Believe me, I saved my baon money just to be able to make a call to the station and have my news recorded for broadcast later. After all, all I was after was hearing my voice on air. I really found it exciting.

During my freshman year as a Mass Communications student at the University of San Jose-Recoletos, I was already so eager to enroll in the subject, “Introduction to Broadcasting”—even if it was only offered for sophomores. The reason for my eagerness was the actual work at the campus radio station as requisite of the subject.

When I finally did, I volunteered to be a newscaster because I felt disc jockeying wasn’t my cup of tea. But I envied my classmate who was the DJ on duty during the timeslot where I’d be newscaster because he got a very well-modulated voice. He was not that good-looking, but I was a fan of his because he sounded so good to the ears. I thought then, unless you’re on TV, who cares about the looks?

Until last week when dyLA 909khz, where I have been doing my entertainment radio show for more than two years now, finally went live via the Internet. If in my teenage years, I made a conscious effort to modulate my voice to make it suitable for radio, now, because OkRyan is an entertainment show, I’m just being natural on air. Yet because dyLA goes live via www.stickam.com/dyla909_cebu, I have now another obsession: to look presentable before the cameras.

Gosh, modern technology has given me another burden. Of course, it does not mean I have to be all made up before I go onboard but I think it’s my responsibility to at least look pleasing to the viewers. The thing is, I sweat so easily so most of the time my face is oily. Now I need to put on loose powder every now and then.

Talk about radio going visual. Definitely, gone are the days where an anchorman can go on air in the early morning without even washing his face. On a serious note, I’m afraid that good looks, rather than real talent and ability, will be considered more for a radio job what with this recent development in radio broadcasting.

First-ever Mr. Cebu

A week after the first-ever search for Mr. Cebu, I would say I’m fine now after having been disappointed to the highest level when my bet and crowd favorite McBilly Wilford Sy failed to make it even in the Top 10.

Immediately after the announcement of the semi-finalists, I became restless and felt my energy being drained because I could not fathom what had just happened as to why McBilly as well as Joseph Hornido did not make the cut.

Eventually, it became clear to me that no pre-judging took place. Because if there was one, it was impossible that McBilly and Joseph’s beautiful minds never made an impact to merit slots in the semi-final round. Adding to my disappointment was the fact that McBilly won in the online voting, enough proof for him to make it to the Top 10, as it meant he has a following that rooted for him.

It really did not make any sense. What is the use of online voting if it won’t be given importance? There was this candidate in the Bb. Pilipinas pageant years ago, who in an interview said, that her priority was to win as texters’ choice to ensure a slot as semi-finalist.

If only Mr. Cebu followed the fast-track tradition of the Miss World pageant, McBilly and Joseph would have been able to share a piece of their mind with the audience, who I believed was disappointed as well at the Top 10. After the announcement of the semi-finalists, the excitement went down as the cheers, which got so wild before the announcement of the Top 10, evidently subsided.

Of course, it was still up to the judges as to who deserves to win. Although I still find it hard to imagine that McBilly or Joseph didn’t make the cut. For one, McBilly is witty. I was able to judge him during his first pageant, which he won, in Masbate last May. This IT summa cum laude candidate at AMA Computer College comes from a well-to-do family, but I saw how down-to-earth and easy-to-get-along-with he was when we were in Masbate. He is also respectful and friendly. As for Joseph, I’ve never met him, but judging from his answers to the questions thrown at him when we featured him in Banat Hugyaw (the entertainment section of Banat News, the sister publication of The FREEMAN), I could say he’s really got between his ears.

Anyway, the judging’s over and David Chai Tangalin, a pure Filipino who was born in Thailand, is now the first-ever Mr. Cebu. He is not that handsome but he gave the best answer to the final question that night. I also like his goal which is to encourage voluntary work among the youth. Simply put, it was David who was destined to be victorious that night, and not McBilly or Joseph. Definitely, God has other plans for my bets, and I’m now very excited to find out what. Yes, I’m fine now and have fully accepted the truth.

Congratulations to the BCB Production of Bong Cago Bantilan for mounting the Mr. Cebu pageant. There was a problem with the assignment of seats, but I hope it would not be overlooked next year. But because that was the first Mr. Cebu pageant, I understand that minor lapses can’t be prevented. By the way, thank you so much to Victor Cuenca for a great show! React@ [email protected]