From time to time, the airlanes of iloilo explode with verbal pyrotechnics as radio stations spend useless time attacking each other and claiming supremacy in the survey ratings. This happens when survey organizations release their reports about the listenership shares of each radio station and comes out with their numerical ranking, from top to bottom. It’s unfortunate that these stations chose to slug it out over the airlanes, throwing insults and invectives at one another, as if this will change the results.
Over the years, a rivalry between two stations has emerged: Bombo Radyo of the Florete group of companies versus Aksyon Radyo of the Manila Broadcasting Co. The rest of the playing field — RMN 774 and DYSI Super Radyo — always come out in the distant bottom. It is clear the competition for listenership has narrowed to just Bombo and Aksyon Radyo.
The survey results consistently show Bombo Radyo to be number one. There is no more dispute about that. But a careful study of the results would show that Aksyon Radyo is giving Bombo a good fight. That Bombo Radyo would always emerge number one can be attributed to one major factor that is absent to the other radio stations. This is the fact that Bombo Radyo Iloilo is the flagship station of the entire network. Iloilo is the home base, and understandably, the network management will always protect its turf. This translates to more resources for promotional activities that never fails to tilt the balance when the surveys are conducted.
There was a time when Bombo Radyo was the run-away winner in almost every survey. Year after year, the results painted a picture of Bombo Radyo versus the rest of the field. I remember a period when Bombo Radyo would achieve a 15% audience share, while the next competitor would get only 1.8%. This was the era of the unquestioned supremacy of Bombo Radyo. When you talked of radio, you inevitably talked about Bombo Radyo. This is where the station drew its slogan, “Basta radyo, Bombo!”
This supremacy was eroded as the years went by. True, Bombo is still number one, but a far number one from the 80s and 90s. Aksyon Radyo has crept forward, slowly intruding into the traditional audience base of Bombo, and earning for itself the right to be called a worthy contender for the title.
Why has this happened?
Radio stations perform depending on the talents, ability, and more importantly, drive, of the people in each organization. Technical equipment is a factor, but in this modern age, the playing field is almost even on this score. Hence, the individuals working as anchormen, field reporters, news writers and technicians spell he big difference between success and failure. The better the people working for the organization, the better its chances to capture a bigger audience share.
In the case of Bombo Radyo, the rapid turn-over of its people in the last decade has prevented the station from sustaining its supremacy. The voices you hear over Bombo Radyo today are different from those you’ve been used to hearing five years ago, and even more different than those 10 years ago.? That’s because every so often, the men and women of Bombo either go out to join other stations, or totally quit media work for politics. Bombo Radyo has proven to be an excellent breeding ground for politicians.
This is turning out to be the achilles heel of Bombo Radyo. Its broadcasters don’t stay long enough to build a solid and loyal listener base to sustain the continued supremacy of Bombo Radyo. Only Rodel Fullon can be counted as the voice that has endured more than two decades of broadcasting. The rest are neophytes who began their careers five to seven years ago. In the dialect, they are “pilit na ginpahinog.”
On the other hand, Aksyon Radyo is mostly staffed by former Bombo broadcasters who composed the first wave of mass resignations about 10 years ago. They are led by station manager John Paul Tia, assistant manager Josil Banias and Joel Tormon. Most of the other broadcasters had worked with other media outfits for quite a while. In short, Aksyon has a line-up of veterans.
Among local radio anchormen, John Paul Tia stands out as having the sharpest mind. A poet in his college days, John Paul began his media career as a reporter for Panay News. This exposure to writing has provided him with an ability to dissect the issues down to the marrow. In the evening public affairs battleground, John Paul is the hands-down winner. Roger Gencianeo and Novie Guazo are amateurs from an inter-barangay league trying to clash with James Yap.
In the evening public affairs arena, there’s another sharp mind who has yet to achieve wide recognition. That’s Meloy Sustituido of DYSI Super Radyo. The guy knows how to probe deep into an issue, examine its every aspect, and present a crystal-clear analysis. The only problem with DYSI is that its frequency occupies the extreme right of the radio dial at 1323 kHz. Many people may have not yet discovered that frequency.
But what makes John Paul drew a bigger audience is his ability to draw clashing views and opinions to every issue. This allows him to make a more balanced presentation. It gives his broadcasts more depth. He doesn’t just rams his opinions down the throat of his listeners. He isn’t quick to condemn, perhaps aware that his primary role is a crystallizer of issues, not a hangman.
The news gathering network of Aksyon Radyo has also emerged as more effective than Bombo. There have been numerous instances when Aksyon beat Bombo to the scoops. Speed in the delivery of the news is vital to radio stations, and Aksyon apparently has built a network of informants that feeds its news center with tips on breaking news stories.
How about RMN? Well, the survey results show that after nearly three years, it hasn’t gone up a notch in the rankings. The arrogance of Rhod Tecson and Novie Guazo has diverted their focus from the real issues. Instead of delivering the goods — timely news and quality commentaries — Tecson and Guazo spend more time telling their shrinking audiences how handsome they are. Their egos have dominated their program content and they neglected to exercise their true vocation as journalists.
DYSI Super Radyo’s Jonathan Cabillon also makes sober, deep and insightful analysis of issues. But then again, his station struggles with a technical problem of being on the extreme right of the radio dial. The station’s production director, Eric John Pamplona, is also a veteran of Bombo Radyo, and brings an objective view to the station’s news reporting.
This is how I look at the playing field among radio stations in Iloilo. I’m sure there will be broadcasters who will not like what I wrote, but this is an honest-to-goodness assessment from an older, wiser man.
24 Comments
September 7, 2008 at 12:54 pm
except for those who are very good and intelligent, some broadcasters lack credibility and mental aptitude to tackle their issues in a manner that will enlighten the listeners.
they cannot even figure out proper use of comparatives, they are prone to using “pinaka latest”. pinaka na, latest pa. it should either be latest or pinaka-ulihi to be precise.
radiomen should not take their listeners for granted. for one, reporting and standing for social issues is not enough. they should educate whenever they speak before the microphone or handsets.
September 7, 2008 at 9:41 pm
you’re right. perhaps economics is a major factor why radio doesn’t attract enough individuals with keen intellect and sharp minds. the salary scale is much too low. it’s not enough to make a decent living. as a result, it’s very rare to see radio broadcasters who possess the mental aptitude to do a good job.
but one doesn’t have to be a ph.d. degree holder to be a good broadcaster. it’s really a matter of outlook. as i pointed out in the article about rino arcones, he wasn’t even a college degree holder. what’s more important is a strong desire to learn. and learning requires reading.
today’s generation of broadcasters, and journalists for that matter, are fortunate to have vast resources for learning at their disposal. the internet is virtually one huge library. there’s hardly any subject that cannot be found on the internet. all that’s needed is a disciplined effort to dig into this gold lode of knowledge.
aside from the knowledge base, there are also countless websites of professional media organizations where the broadcaster can surf to study the reporting styles of outstanding anchors and reporters. to be a good broadcaster, you need models. the internet allows you to watch and listen to the great icons of media.
finally, a good broadcster must be a good listener. this allows him or her to absorb the answers of subjects, and ask good questions. the real test of a broadcaster lies in the ability to ask probing and sharp questions. the questions must thrust deep like a samurai sword, directly at the core of the issue, as to waste little time for trivial matters. every minute of airtime is valuable. none of it must be wasted for unnecessary words or remarks.
again, i must add the value of a contemplative character. blogging now offers journalists a great opportunity to pause every once in a while and examine the issues of the day in a reflective mode. this offers an opportunity to sift through the chaff and find the grain. and the act of writing instills a disciplined approach to the craft, because the blogger gains a better perspective, and can even generate a feedback system to his own ideas from readers in blogosphere.
September 8, 2008 at 3:20 am
the problem with radio broadcasters is that they lack a sense of professionalism. they are not adequately oriented about the big responsibility they carry in giving out information through the airwaves. they are reckless and they don’t bother to double check their facts before reporting. they don’t care about the damage to the reputations of individuals in making inaccurate reports.
this is the big challenge for local radio stations. we need broadcasters who trained to become responsible media persons. they have to have a solid grounding on media ethics. not every body and anybody who can speak before a microphone can become a broadcaster.
September 8, 2008 at 4:07 am
another thing i noticed in today’s radiomen is there propensity to overdo criticisms or humor in their program.
while the media is considered society’s watchdog, flagrant language and invectives are a taboo when making commentaries. bad language is bad taste. it betrays the shallowness of a commentator, his ignorance of the basic issue. to curse is like throwing sand in the wind which blinds everybody. instead of educating us, some radiomen fill us with angst and distrust in the system. we are tired of listening to commentators, who for lack of anything good to say or sheer ignorance, would resort to buyayaw and linampagak nga sugilanon.
while humor may be good, too much could be ear piercing and mind-numbing. tani, inanay lang nga pag dala. instead of listening to a program where most one can hear are shrill laughter of some ignorant commentators, mamati na lang ko music.
say mo rod, novie and jun capulot?
September 8, 2008 at 1:44 pm
if only we measure the success of the anti-corruption crusade by the fierceness of the language used by radio commentators during the last two decades, then this country should have totally eliminated this social cancer by this time.
but the result is just the opposite. instead of decreasing, corruption has spread its ugly tentacles. worse, big-time corruption by the likes of boboy syjuco and joc-joc bolante have gone unabated. this could be an indication that this brand of “watchdog” journalism is not doing an effective job.
this is something that the media should re-examine. has this brand of fiery commentaries succeeded in sending corrupt officials to jail? the answer is clearly in the negative.
there’s a message in this trend. perhaps the barrage of “exposes” have only succeeded in cultivating a feeling of helplessness in the minds of the people. the public is simply overwhelmed that this has produced a feeling of “calm surrender” to the problem.
maybe it’s time radio shifted its focus to intelligent discussion of the issues and awaken the public to the possibilities for iloilo. fiery commentaries may sound great, but in the end, it doesn’t really galvanize the public to positive action.
this is food for thought for our radio broadcasters. at least for those who have the brains to comprehend the true state of broadcasting in iloilo.
September 8, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Quraninshallah wrote: “we are tired of listening to commentators, who for lack of anything good to say or sheer ignorance, would resort to buyayaw and linampagak nga sugilanon.”
This is very true. There are a number of broadcasters who, because of plain laziness, talk before the microphone totally unprepared. No research. No interviews. No new information to convey to listeners. Instead, they spend precious minutes just pounding on targets with insults and invectives. It is now becoming claarer that this kind of journalism is being rejected by Ilonggo listeners. Otherwise, Rhod Tecson and Novie Guazo would have been propelled to number one by this time.
There’s a saying in management that when things go bad, it’s time to go back to the basics. Radio broadcasters have to rediscover the basic purposes of their profession. What kind of news and information are relevant to listeners? What is the content that would built a loyal audience base? Are reporters adhering to the basic rules of accuracy, objectivity and fairness? Do anchormen encourage a free-wheeling exchange of views?
It would be a big mistake for broadcasters to regard their listeners as unintelligent, stupid and plain ignorant. Even the so-called “masa” are more knowledgeable now than they were 20 or 30 years ago. There is a growing thirst for relevant knowledge and information. Radio has a great potential to satisfy that thirst.
On this point, anchormen should not feel they have a license to bombard listeners with their often uneducated opinions. Rather they should seek to draw all colors of the rainbow into the public discussion so that listeners can weigh the merits of each idea or argument, and then draw their own conclusions.
Shaping public opinion is not about peddling one anchorman’s opinions for everybody to embrace; it is about giving the public an opportunity to ponder upon the issues and make up their own minds about it.
September 9, 2008 at 1:25 am
yes, kulang gid ang professionalism among most radio broadcasters. may yara dira nga driver lang ka patrol nila, ginahimo na reporter. there is not enough training and competency building among radio stations. i remember during the time of rino arcones, one of my cousins who used to work in bombo told me that the station regularly conducted in-house seminars to sharpen the reporting skills of its staff. the quality of the reporting nowadays doesn’t seem to indicate that this kind of training is still being done.
wala ako nagahikay sa kaalam sang aton mga radio reporters, but i think emphasis should be givne to professional development. dira kontani masulod ang kapisanan ng mga brodkasters ng pilipinas. pero that organization exists only on paper. even the concept of self-policing para matapna ang binuyayaway kag mahigko nga mga sugilanon wala man nagatabo.
ang kalaw-ay pa kay ang chairman sang kbp, si ronel sorbito, station manager sang rmn 774. pero sa iya mismo ugsaran dira lapnagon ang mahigko nga klase sang broadcsting. kon indi siya makasaway sa iya mga tawo, paano ang kbp makapatuman sang ginatawag nga broadcasting ethics?
September 9, 2008 at 9:23 pm
unfortunately, the kbp, as pointed out by “diskartidor”, is a total failure. it has become more of a social club that organizes sports competitions and civic activities for radio networks. perhaps the problem is that it lacks the power to impose discipline among its members. this is aggravated by the seeming indifference of the national telecommunications commission (ntc) to enforce regulations. this is supposed to be the government watch dog that would make sure the airlanes are not made a dumping ground for filthy and vulgar language.
anyway, i think this blog has started to perform the role of independent ombudsman to check on the abuses of local broadcasters. i can see that rhod tecson and novie guazo are regular visitors to the blog. at the very least, they are made aware of their wrongdoings and exposed to a growing audience of intelligent ilonggos who want to see a cleansing of the radio airwaves.
in my own way, i can tickle the conscience of the top level management of local radio stations to give attention to the issue of abusive behavior by broadcasters. for instance, roger gencianeo of bombo radyo is now forced to watch his own behavior, because his bosses at bombo radyo are aware of his connection with florenz hibionada, rhod tecson and novie guazo. he cannot freely carry out the propaganda activities dictated by hibionada, because the entire bombo organization is closely watching his every utterance.
it’s also funny, because i can see that i have stirred a hornet’s nest with this blog. it hit where it hurts, as could be judged from the angry reactions from rhod tecson and novie guazo. two nights ago, “novs77″, their blogosphere nom-de-guerre, bombarded this blog with SEVEN, yes, seven, lengthy comments that are consistently filthy and vulgar — belonging exclusively to the gutters — to express their anger and frustration that they are not allowed to join the discussion board. my answer to them is simple: you still can join the thread, provided you adhere to the rules of the game. stick to the issues, no use of foul and vulgar language, and behave with decency and decorum.
truth really hurts, and truth is coming out to expose the real personalities of rhod tecson and novie guazo.
September 10, 2008 at 1:44 am
reading this thread makes me regret not pursuing journalism or broadcast communication. but on the second thought, i’m also wondering if i’ll make a difference if i did try the field. wud my passion to probe for more and find answers to questions make me a good journalist or broadcaster? or was my passion enough to make me last in the field?
i remember john paul when he was still in Bombo. I had admired him for tackling issues coherently and passionately. he may not be rino arcones, but by being himself made him standout in my ears. his skill was underrated by some, but for me, he left a mark. not that i’m pulling his leg. i guess.. there was one point when i had wanted to be just like him. he was a role-model.
Yes, a role-model. I personally believe that to be a role-model matters a lot to becoming a good broadcaster. Airwaves is a very public medium wherein people from all ages cud listen. So it matters a lot to students aspiring to go to college. Not only just for the knowledge and information they can acquire from listening on the radio, but also for inspiration. Not all high school graduates know what they want from life. I, myself, needed guidance during my time. And they are the future of our generation. If they are inspired and guided properly — won’t our society be lucky?
My point is, our broadcasters now lack that sensetivity to its listeners. Gone is that stimulating discussion on air about informative topics where listeners could get more ideas and information. Gone are those broadcasters who desires to share with their listeners their passion for knowledge, for truth, and for justice. I noticed from my own little barrio that radio listeners now opt for “dinamak nga suginalon” because they thought it is the trend. I mean, they watch a tv show that exposes halfnaked dancers and booty-dancing. And guess what happens to the community? kids at age 8-15 sexually assaulting their peers, or rape of under-age teens by aged men (sometimes their own family), and even murders. And I’m not blaming the radio for this. I think, I am more campaigning for our media to take a more active role in providing communites, especially rural area (where internet is not very accessible yet) with quality reporting. Also sensetivity to it’s listener’s age. For instance, the case of discussing a rape scenario. Do we have to listen to the gory and morbid details of it? Or even the anatomical specifics of the victim? How about discussing non-stop about a politician coveting a neighbor’s wife? It’s but as if this is the most important news happening in the province. Do we really have to listen to crap like this? It’s not even near educational. Why not focus more on how to solve the crime? Did the police acted right away?
Field reporters, now adays, a lot of times fail to deliver a quality report because the anchorperson slated on the program do not expect them to dig into the pertinent matter. They just tend to cover the news by scratching the surface and beautify the scenario with gory or catchy adjectives. It’s like delivering an expose by googling it online. Gone is that old-school way of research — old clippings, library reference books, related reading materials and thorough investigation.
And this is not even about the salary. If you love your job, the pay is not even that important. I always believe that to deserve a higher salary you have to work your ass off to get it. You can not just demand it. You have to deserve it. And to deserve it — you have to aim high… and be good at what you’re tasked into and love what you are doing. Otherwise, what is the purpose of doing it?
September 10, 2008 at 2:15 am
“while the media is considered society’s watchdog, flagrant language and invectives are a taboo when making commentaries. bad language is bad taste. it betrays the shallowness of a commentator, his ignorance of the basic issue.”
This reminds me of that issue during the Beijing Olympics when pictures of Spanish Men Basketball Team showed up online and resulted so much hoopla about the players trying to make their eyes look chinese(y) or “pirut kun sa ilonggo pa”. The players were branded insulting and racist for what they have done. At first I was like “what the hell?” and later realized how sensetive people are from other countires outside of Philippines, especially the westerners. They do not allow a child hear an “f” word. They do not allow them to watch anything bloody or sleazy. Kids are not allowed to watch anything with guns or blades. Some parents don’t even let kids watch a dinosaur eating a dinosaur, except in cartoons. “Nigger” word is not allowed, even if u try say it in a slang way “niggah”, it is still being racist.
But in our country and in our province, with broadcasters continuing to enjoy using bad languages on air, we let them. Sadly, some listeners even enjoy it thinking it’s the passion talking, especially the unenlightened ones: the poor, the vulnerable, the hero-worshippers. Is our society way way lax? Is our broadcasting system way way too polluted to not care anymore?
Whose responsibility is it?
September 12, 2008 at 12:52 am
mshilario wrote: “Not only just for the knowledge and information they can acquire from listening on the radio, but also for inspiration.”
people need to be shown the possibilities. as mshilario said, radio is the most public, most accessible medium, and it is through radio that uplifting messages can be disseminated to a wide audience. that’s why aside from public affairs issues, radio should devote more time to a broader range of topics. business and education should be on top of the list. same is true with sports.
the problem with radio networks is a preoccupation with ratings. hence, all their programming is directed towards stirring controversial issues to attract as wide an audience as possible. there should be balance in the programming.
network management must keep in mind that radio is a big responsibility. the medium wields tremendous power. how that power is exercised will determine whether radio will fulfill its purpose or not.
there’s a movement called “go negosyo” in which the country’s most successful entrepreneurs are recognized and given publicity to serve as models to the youth. radio should get involved in propagating the concept of entrepreneurship.
radio should also be in the frontfront of developing the people’s ability to think and decide for themselves. for this purpose, there should be regular programs that follow the format of “debate” in bbc, and the talk shows of anc. even manila radio networks endeavor to give a balanced presentation of issues by getting clashing ideas and opinions to be aired.
September 12, 2008 at 3:11 am
this is a nice blog. very insightful and interesting. gives me valuable knowledge about the workings of radio stations. i am an avid radio listener. from the moment i wake up at 5 a.m. until i go to sleep at 11 p.m., i almost always keep tuned to local radio stations.
my favorite commentator is john paul tia of aksyon radyo. malayo katama sa iya si roger gencianeo sang bombo. i also listen to meloy sustituido sang dysi. novie guazo? wala pulos gid. puro lang dayaw sa self niya. he doesn’ help his listeners understand the issues.
dira sa rmn, maayo man pamatian si kasamang bert nadera. nagadulot man ang iya mga tira. kag indi kutaw-kutaw. sa bombo, i also like nowell relatos. pormal nga bata. indi yampak-yampak. kag makita mo nga nagatuon.
nami man si kapusong jonathan sang dysi. balanse ang iya presentation. si rhod tecson iya tikal lang nga tikal. wala pulos ang iya program. kon sa tingog, nami. pero hangin lang pirmi naga guwa sa iya baba.
September 12, 2008 at 8:46 am
“si rhod tecson iya tikal lang nga tikal. wala pulos ang iya program. kon sa tingog, nami. pero hangin lang pirmi naga guwa sa iya baba.”
there’s nothing more i can add…
September 12, 2008 at 8:51 am
mshilario asked this question: “Is our broadcasting system way way too polluted to not care anymore?”
i certainly hope this is not the case. as i keep emphasizing, radio as a medium is still the most powerful in terms of reach. television is making inroads even in rural areas, but radio has the advantage of portability. this means even the farmer tilling his field can listen to radio broadcasts while working.
September 13, 2008 at 12:46 am
a mediaman texted me to correct the spelling of bert ladera’s last name. it’s not nadera as written by “anthony08xxy”.
I also heard about the sharp wit of bert ladera. he maintains a posture totally independent from rhod and novie. in other words, he has not been infected with the virus called “media corruption’
September 13, 2008 at 9:26 pm
kanugon nga wala magpadayon si mshilario sa pagka media. tani na-improve ang quality of radio people. in all honesty, i find most of the broadcasters to be “mango”. abaw, when they prnounce words in english, kalahuya! tani stick na lang sila sa ilonggo dialect…. kag indi sila sagad pa-alam alam nga wala man unod utok nila….
September 14, 2008 at 1:17 am
diskartidor, my voice is not broadcasting material and my english is not print quality. i remember an NUJP friend told me once that i always tend to beat around the bush. since then, i gave up that passion. she, on the other hand, possesses a sharp-reasoning, straight-to-the-point,objectivity and other qualities one would look for any journalist. she is highly-opinionated. above all, she’s never afraid to take up anything, danger or no danger. when she decided not to pursue journalism, i was saddened. what a loss for the field, i told myself.
I think, what i’m trying to say is that, this is why i said journalists should be inspiring. Coz despite the fact that i gave up journalism, i still try my best to write or speak like that friend of mine expects me to be. At the back of my mind, she’s always there to critique me, to tell me that I always have to show my best. That I should never be afraid to speak my thoughts or fight for what I think is the right thing.
Sometimes, we tend to keep our thoughts to ourselves coz we’re afraid it’s not a popular belief or a popular idea. I was very inferior back then. It is only in this blogsite that I found that fairness and encouragement to speak out.
Maybe, that’s what listeners need, too, from our broadcasters. That encouragement to share an opinion. That, not only their opinion matters, but also that of the listener’s. Just what Mr. Mejorada wrote about Rino Arcones.. when he called upon other journalists for some bottle of beers and talk about issues and exchange opinions.
That way… all bases are being covered, and other voices being recognized.
September 14, 2008 at 6:20 am
Not all broadcasters today are incompetent, there are several who are still upholding the profession. Bombo Radyo, Aksyon Radyo and Super Radyo are on the right track, it’s only RMN that sometimes would prefer to do outrageous behavior just to catch the people’s attention.
Bombo has undergone an overhaul with several young, vibrant and very competent reporters and anchors now handling primetime programs yet it still counts on the tutelage of its trusted veterans, in other words Bombo is a mixed bag, a good mix of the young and the old. Aksyon on the other hand boasts a pool of seasoned men. Super Radyo, which was a non-factor then, is currently having a re-programming, that would put them into contention here in Iloilo. RMN actually has the potential to oust Bombo from the number one spot but because of the maturity of the listeners here in Iloilo, they end up running after Aksyon Radyo.
Going back however to the meat of this write-up, indeed there is a clear rivalry between Bombo and Aksyon. It’s actually a contest between the experienced personnel of Aksyon and the young guns of Bombo. Just like everything in this world, there would always be pros and cons. Experience is good because seasoned journalists could always bank on well, their experience. On the other hand, youth is also good because along with it are fresh insights and the idealsim that this industry needs to be at par with the demands of he society. The basic principle behind news organizations is to deliver news(the freshest, the most interesting, most timely) and if it’s not news your delivering people would rather choose TV and the internet. It’s the rivalry that fuels these stations to deliver the freshest and the most interesting news the soonest time possible. Promos, dramas and personality shows are just added twists to expand the listenership. This rivalry is what this industry needs to survive the onslaught of modern technology. It brings out the best of each station. Kung wala kompetensya, wala man improvement kay gasalig na lang.
As a young broadcaster, I find it reassuring that because of this friendly rivalry among the stations here in Iloilo I’m certain that the future will be brighter for this industry.
September 14, 2008 at 8:19 am
yes, rmn has the potential to ease out bombo and aksyon from the leadership positions. but it has not utilized its pool of talent in the right way. rhod and novie used to dominate the most coveted time slots — morning and evening public affairs. it cannot be denied that over the years at bombo, they managed to build a strong following. the logical thing to happen was for them to swing that audience over to rmn.
however, rhod and novie allowed themselves to be blinded by their emotions — hatred for florete and governor tupas and boy mejorada. instead of building from where they left off, they wasted their toehold on the leadership positions by blasting away at individuals for personal reasons, totally unrelated to the burning issues of the day.
pride and arrogance are what defeated rhod and novie. they could not accept their ouster as prime-time anchormen of bombo radyo. they thought they ruled the world, but now, they were literally thrown off the castle walls. their sense of self-worth were devastated. how could this have happened to them? they were the superstars. in their minds, bombo would not afford to lose their services. the unthinkable — to their minds, at least — had happened.
had rhod and novie possessed even just a little humility, they should have accepted defeat quickly and worked hard to bounce back. they should have licked their wounds quietly and wage a battle motivated by self-righteous vengeance. they forgot to learn from the principle in success that those who reach the top stumble and fall every once in a while, and what separates them from the losers is their ability to get right back on their feet and keep pursuing their goal.
rhod and novie cried and cried over spilled milk. this is all the fault of governor tupas and boy mejorada. florete is a bad person because he terminated their services. they behaved like spoiled brats who lost their favorite toys.
this is a lesson for young broadcasters and journalists. never entertain the idea that you are infallible. treat failure as an opportunity to strive harder, not as a provocation for personal vendetta.
September 16, 2008 at 9:02 am
I don’t dispute Ilonggo Reporter’s assertion that “Not all broadcasters today are incompetent, there are several who are still upholding the profession.”
In fact, the premise of my dissertation is that there are many broadcasters in Iloilo who possess deep knowledge and ability to make us proud. Unfortunately, the numbers of the good broadcasters pale in comparison to the incompetent ones. Just listen to any broadcast and you will shudder at the sloppy manner of reporting, lack of basic knowleddge about the job and plain laziness.
I’m not even saying that these radio stations should employ only masscom graduates. The best radio broadcasters didn’t earn a single credit in media-related college courses. Again, Rino Arcones is the best example. What we should be seeing is more time and effort spent on improving basic skills and broadening the knowledge base of each broadcaster.
The learning challenge isn’t too difficult. All they need to do is get access to the internet. It’s a huge library of knowledge and learning. The only thing that’s needed is investment in time and effort.
October 1, 2008 at 11:16 am
i just want to add that what’s crucial behind the talents is the kind of leadership & management that harness them and mold them to be what they can be. i believe bombo radyo’s hands on management has everything to do with how its broadcasters are molded (no matter how bitter the pill is), that when they leave and join other networks, they behave differently. rico arcones, jenil demorito, john paul tia and their league were nobody, until they were trained, coached, reprimanded, corrected and honed to achieve the highest potential they can reach. in short, they were good, but they were best as students of the trade. aksyon radyo gave a semblance of a fight with bombo because, you’re right, they got the veterans of bombo. but it wont sustain, because at the end of the day, its the constant training, meticulous coaching of management and vigilance of its leadership that dictates the pace of the game. unless aksyon can train, sustain and learn, airwave bombo’s leadership will stay, at least for the next 5. or so years.
September 6, 2009 at 4:05 pm
wheeee!
September 15, 2009 at 11:59 am
Novie and Rod think too highly of themselves. Walang kakwenta kwentang mga tao. They know how to twist stories. Pasensiahan na lang ngayon, because listeners are more intelligent. I’ve heard Novie wants to run for city councilor. Ilonggos, please beware!!!
September 15, 2009 at 9:08 pm
hi,
what ever they say i really 100% i like bomboo radio phils.even FM station.eversince i like the way they delivered the news.when i have my vacation im still listening thier radio programs.to the staff of bomboo radio pls.continue deliver the accurate news to your millions listeners.in my your still number one.any way i keep monitor through enternet..
keep up the good work and keep fight the truth.god will always there to guide you all.
thanks.regards…