Tuesday, May 08, 2007 Ledesma: The men and woman behind the microphone By Jun Ledesma Sunbursts
SINCE the advent of cable TV, I hardly had the time to listen to radio. Noontime however, especially when I'm in the office fighting ennui and sleep, I listen to funny man Estong Caballes "Huego Todo" of DXAB.
Estong can really perk me up. He tickles the ribs at the same time delivers scathing commentary on issues and intrigues of the day. He takes them from north to south and from east to west. Estong is incisive. He has created and developed his own broadcast genre which makes him a unique personality in the broadcast industry.
Everyday is an interesting day of satirical commentary by Estong. At this time when election campaign has shifted to high gear, Caballes can sift through the black propaganda that comes from various sources. One of this is his piece on published reports about the junking issue in Davao del Norte. He finds it incredible that a candidate, obviously referring to Gelacio Gementiza, can spread an intrigue, which has all the makings of a black propaganda, that Dolfo del Rosario will be junked in Tadeco.
Estong finds it unimaginable that some people can have the courage to disperse intrigues even if they knew that this can have a telling effect on the delicate health condition of the venerable Don Antonio Floirendo. Like everybody else in and those out of Tadeco looking in, knew where the heart of Don Floirendo is in this election.
Whatever are the odds, the old man who wield the decisive resolution in business and political conflict has ruled with finality that Dolfo will be the candidate they will support. Of course not everybody will be pleased with this, among them Gementiza, but in the language of Estong Caballes, "that is the way with Tadeco."
The biting commentary of Estong reveals his knowledge of the political and business alliance of Floirendo and his brother-in-law Dolfo del Rosario who, Estong pointed out, is quite intimate to, and is almost like a son of the, graying Don Antonio Floirendo.
Estong painstakingly tried to shield the harmony of the family from the intrigues of politics. When touches on the subject the radio anchorman ceases to be a funny man. He stops tickling his listeners’ ribs but proceeds to address his message to the hearts of their listeners. His tone changes into a sober mood. Despite the serious timbre his commentary is far from being soporific as he keeps his listeners glued to their radio sets.
Stephen Manangan, the lead anchor of DXAB, also makes waves but his time slot does not allow me enough luxury to listen at my own sweet time. Baby Castillo of another station, I think DXGO, has improved a lot from her days of just being an ace field reporter and co-anchor person to having a program of her own. I too like Jun Guttierez hard-hitting commentary in Radio Ukay. The other from Radio Ukay is King Quimpan. Although the two do not come in tandem as they have their respective program, there is no need to change dial as they duo are doing very well in their political assessment.
DXRD which now packs a 10 KW power can now be easily scanned in your radio sets. Nerio Guimte, who admits is no longer young, obviously reads local and national papers as he has grasps of the issues of the day. His erstwhile buddy in DXRD, Al Genoguin, is now the top gun in DXRR. DXRD is the commercial radio of Pastor Quiboloy's Sonshine network. At the INC is Manny Cabrera one of the few remaining gems in the local broadcast industry who speaks flawless English and Pilipino.
They are the torch bearers of the broadcast industry. At this time and age when internet, TV, cable networks and newspapers are all affordable as they are available and within the touch of your fingertips, these anchor persons can make and unmake politicians. They are well-informed and have the keen sense and sensibilities to perceive who among the candidates are telling the truth, lies or are dispersing black propaganda. So beware.
