The sweetest surprise ever

Success means a lot of things, among them fame, power, or wealth. It all depends on what goals we set for ourselves and how we want our future to be.

Never has my being “Juliana Palermo” meant this much to me until just a few days ago. I can compare my situation to a high school student who performs in front of the whole school in an auditorium while her parents are not around.

It’s so much different to perform in front of an audience knowing that the one who inspires you to excel is a part of the crowd, too.

It has always been my blind brother, some relatives occasionally arriving for a visit and me.

It’s not like coming home after a show and getting a pat on my back for a job well done, although I do try to let my brother know what I’ll be doing and what shows I’m included in, together with the airing time.

He obviously can’t relate to just listening to music and being told his ate is on TV dancing, or is cast in a soap.

After years of doing my best in my craft, it was this week when I really felt alive and appreciated by the one I love most and who inspires me in everything I do — my brother.

DZMM Teleradyo was launched a little over a year ago and has become part of my brother’s daily life. Radio is the best and fastest way to get updates on what’s going outside our doorsteps.

I remember applying as a radio show host when I was this confused 15-year-old still living in Davao City.

But since I was very young then, the radio station didn’t seem to take me very seriously.

I thought that maybe this type of job just wasn’t fit for me, though I’ve always had it at the back of my mind.

I still daydreamed and hoped that one day, I would  host a show on television or even on radio.

One of our favorites at home is Showbiz Mismo with Jobert Sucaldito and Cristy Fermin.

I never thought, even in my wildest dreams that DZMM will welcome me into their show. 

This was probably the most exciting radio/TV appearance for me because I knew Doods (my brother) would love it if I were part of his favorite show.

He has the TV on Teleradyo the whole day, switches back and forth from Wowowee to basketball games in the evening.

His radio, tuned in to DZMM, sits right beside him,  even when he surfs the TV channel. The radio is his life. He starts listening from five in the morning and memorizes every single program that airs throughout the day.

Being part of Showbiz Mismo even for a few days makes me feel like I’ve won some kind of award. It feels great to know Doods can relate to me and my work for the first time.

People at home tell me he claps every time we greet him on the show. Working with Jobert, Wendell Alvarez, Ambet Nabus and Boy Romero for the first time opened my eyes to a lot of things.

Not only was I hyped up every time I came in the studio, I was excited as well to make new friends in the radio industry.

I couldn’t stop sharing my thoughts about my brother and his love for DZMM. I brought Doods there last Wednesday and introduced him to some of the other radio announcers.

He absolutely loved it! On our way to the booth, we did a quick stop-over to take a peek inside the Wowowee studio and were able to watch one segment before proceeding to DZMM.

Luckily, Willie Revillame took some time to meet Doods and even give him a Wowowee jacket and CD. It was so wonderful to see the look on Doods’ face while he was shaking Willie’s hands.

Doods’ reaction was so funny, it was just priceless! I wish I had taken a shot of that.

He literally went blank and didn’t move while Willie was talking to him. But when they separated, Doods started singing and dancing to Willie’s songs while walking towards DZMM.

It seemed like the best day of his life! It was as if everything was going perfectly for him as he sat in the DZMM studio and listened to the program.

I can go on and on about this, but all I want to say is I’m very thankful to DZMM for welcoming me in their home. Being a part of my brother’s favorite program is the sweetest surprise, not to mention the wonderful people I was so honored to be with.

I would also like to thank Willie, on behalf of my brother, for making him one happy boy that day. More power to DZMM!