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In the ‘70s comedy show Super Laugh-in, Kuya Cesar, in his “slow reporting” voice annotates a basketball game. Long after the match has been concluded, Kuya Cesar is shown still making comments, until the last scene where the cleaners literally sweep Kuya Cesar off the court, while he continues on with his annotation.
I laughed hard as I imagined Kuya Cesar in that scene. Jun Nucum, Kuya Cesar’s eldest son, fondly reminisces the first stint his father had on TV. Those were the Todas years and the image that I had of Kuya Cesar as comedian.
“Did he really talk that slow?” I asked. “Only when there’s a fee,” Jun teased. For decades, Kuya Cesar has been known for his slow (very slow) and monotonous delivery.
Kuya Cesar started his broadcasting career in the ’60s in radio. He possessed a distinctive voice and auditioned in dzRM, and landed the job. People from his hometown Candaba, Pampanga did not believe the 23-year-old dyaryo bote and balut vendor.
But Kuya Cesar persisted and succeeded in the career that Sheila Nucum, Kuya Cesar’s wife, calls his passion, that is playing old songs and giving bits of advice with “The Voice.” He collected records, stacks and sacks of records that his wife Sheila sometimes could not comprehend.
“Sometimes I think he loved his work more than me,” Mrs. Nucum says.
He loved his work immensely that it broke him when ABS-CBN was closed down during martial law. Not only did he lose a job, he had no means to support his six children. From being a broadcaster, Kuya Cesar took a job as a construction worker. Jun admires his father for this, “I want to be a good family man like him.” He was always willing to help, always sensitive to the needs of his family.
“He spoiled me,” Mrs. Nucum adds.
At a young age, Kuya Cesar supported his siblings. Ester
He was everybody’s Kuya, as host Winnie Cordero would say. She knew Kuya Cesar from her college days in UST, being with classmates Arnie Nucum, Kuya’s son. “Even then he’d give us advice regarding hard work. When I became part of dzMM, he was one of my mentors. He gave me a lengthy reminder about patience and hardwork. Most importantly, mahalin ko daw ang trabahong ito para mahalin din ako ng mga tagapakinig.
“Maging tapat at totoo dahil alam ng nakikinig kung nanloloko ka lang. Kuya siya ng lahat. Parang tatay ko rin siya sa industriya ng broadcasting.“
Vice President Noli de Castro also gives credit to Kuya Cesar for helping him out in the industry when he was a rookie reporter. “I have to recognize the help he extended to me. He was one of those who taught me the ins and outs of the industry. What to do and what not to do. Kuyang kuya talaga ang turing ko sa kanya at kapatid ang tingin niya sa akin. A man with a good heart. Always ready to give everyone a great laugh with his canny quips and jokes. Maraming salamat, Kuya Cesar sa pagkakaibigan at magagandang alaala. Your voice and your famous style of slow reporting would surely be missed.”
The hundreds of text messages that flooded dzMM when listeners learned of Kuya Cesar’s death is a testament to how much his listeners love him. Here are some of them:
Good sad morning. Kuya Cesar, we will miss you kasi di na po kta listen lalo na po pag binanggit n “umulan sana ng pera — yung dollar ha” condolence po. From Hitman
Tama po ba narinig k? Patay n Kuya Cesar? I lost a midnite companion. Who will play d old songs I love. Condolence! Cyril of Las Piñas.
Kuyang, tnx 4 ol da advices dat u gve 2 us. Sa gnda ng boses mo tngal na lahat ng pgod ko. Sana hapi ka ksama ng Dios. Edith Beri of Antipolo City.
Kuya Cesar n maituturing na my pnkmlking name blang announcer sa plpinas, listener din nea aq. Napaiyak aq kc naalala q father q. Jaye of San Pablo Macala.
Napaiyak po talaga ako. Nakalulungkot po ang Sunday kung wala na ang Kuya Cesar sa ere. From Cely.
Sad ako tlga. Kilala ko c koyang b4 martial law pa. Kawalan ang mabait at humble na taong yan. Last frontiersman na cya. Fe Ramirez of Quezon City
Kuya Cesar not only I love u r also my frnd. Bel Almeniana of Malate.
Nagre-request lng po ako ng isa s mga pagborito ni Kuya Cesar n kanta ung My Way. Garry of Quezon City.
Nakikiramay ulit. Hindi k po msb na good morning kc dahil k koyang Cesar. Taus puso akong naki2ramay sa pamilya ng aking cabalen na c koyang. From Renz
Sori mwa. Pls pray 4 d soul of kuyang, he will be missed, his voice dat we hear and d songs dat he plays on the radio. Thank u very much, kuyang. From CH.
“Sana umulan ng pera… yung dollar ha,” Kuya Cesar used to say whenever he would end his program. He touched many lives, kaya naman umuulan ng pagmamahal para sa iyo, Kuya Cesar!
(E-mail me at [email protected].)
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