FROM THE LISTENERS’ PERSPECTIVE: APPRECIATING RMN (RADYO MO NATION WIDE) FOR ITS HUGE HELP TO THE PEOPLE IN BALUT ISLAND

FROM THE LISTENERS’ PERSPECTIVE: APPRECIATING RMN (RADYO MO NATION WIDE)  FOR ITS HUGE HELP TO THE PEOPLE IN BALUT ISLAND

by : Jessemar J. Wao 

Radio is one of the most influential mediums of mass media especially to the people from the mountainous areas or any other remote places all over the country . I am from Balut Island, one of the farthest island of Davao del Sur Region XI in Southern Mindanao.  A placid place like the shooting area of the The Jurrasic Park movie where too many wonderful spots and a virgin forest. People living in this area are mostly native people  like the Blaans, Manobo, Sangil, Marure an Indonesian settlers, and the Bisayan  people.  Simple  yet a very nice place for meditation because of less noise pollution and even environmental pollution because no trucks and cars and no  huge bars and concert halls purely  small forms of entertainment  like videoke karaoke, and the radio. People have only known information because of the news heard from the radio

DOMINANCE OF RADIO ENTERTAINMENT IN BALUT ISLAND: MEMORIES OF THE PAST

I could still remember my wonderful younger days. It was in 1992 or 1993? Don’t have the exact year what I have just remembered was the time when my mind ask for an entertainment portion, I mean that was the time when I wanted to be entertained, a music or whatever . I mean my awakening moment. I could still remember that day when my mother bought a transistor radio and tuned in a very entertaining station. That was 1 :00 clock in the after while on our lunch time  and we never knew the name of the station yet what catches our attention was the title of the program it was “KINI ANG AKUNG SULIRAN” a medical, legal and social and spiritual program where it ended in a just a span of thirty minutes however you would appreciate all the things said by the counselor.

My  mother  was very happy because she used to listen a wonderful words of counseling from a doctor also a lawyer Dr.Lourdes Libres Rosaroso, outspoken , frank , candid yet worth remembering pieces of advice. That was  the start  of our daily routine which is listening a radio program.  There was a funny moment when I committed mistakes from my grade 2 teacher. I cut my half day class because I was so obsessed with the radio drama the “NIÑO ANG BATANG GAMHANAN” and the program  “HANDUMANAN SA USA KA AWIT”  these programs almost ruin my number two rank in my class  when I was in elementary because every dramas head over radio station are very entertaining. Every time we go to our farm doing our copra farming my mama and papa would always bring extra battery for the whole day because they don’t want to miss very single program of the radio.  My mama and papa had stick only to one frequency and that was the DXMD, and they used to call it RADYO AGONG? Yah RADYO AGONG.  Wherever they go, they used to carry a transistor radio just to listen every single program especially entertainment and the news. Sometimes when out of budget for the battery they even sell kamoteng kahoy  just to have a battery and save their cravings to the program or if there is no other way, they would get the battery and dry it to the son , they used to put it the huge rocks directly from the heat of the son so it would charge.  Yah, I remember the funny programs characterized by Golyat and Tiban, they have so many dramas that time. But for me  I idolized the  heavy drama which Nestor Homicillo and Francis ? forgot the family name  and the lady Prescilla Raganas all there dramas. Sometimes I’ve noticed a teary eyes from my mother after listening  the radio program of DXMD.  The dominance of DMND RADYO AGONG  now RMN in Balut Island perhaps at the severe level until now.

THE PERSONAL HELP OF RMN TO ME

When I was in  college RMN played a vital role to me, their PSA’s Public Service Announcement or simply the PANAWAGAN. I could still remember when I was doing my theses. Two days before the schedule of the  thesis defense and I don’t have anymore budget , no more allowance. I could not contact my mother and my aunt for there was no cellphone nor email in our place yet what solved my problem was when I  went to RMN and made a PANAWAGAN to my parents and my aunt to send money for my allowances. I just don’t feel sometimes the result because all  of the people would have the chance to hear my PANAWAGAN yet I just  don’t mind them.  The first time I enter to the RMN office I was welcome warmly I  mean they were all so welcoming , the worker reporters and also their manager sir Al JOSOL, also their reporters like Ina Daven, Bong Gonzales, and sir Emir Bariquit way back in 2005. I am so thankful right now that because of RMN people in our place would have the chance to hear and know what is happening to the world. Wars, chaos from the other country or even the local events all of them are always been heard from DXMD.

BATAS NG BAYAN AND DOK ANO BA ‘TO : BRYAN OÑATE’S HELPFUL LEGAL & MEDICAL PROGRAM WITH LAWYERS ANDDOCTORS   A GREAT HELP IN COUNSELING THE PEOPLE VIA  AIRWAVES

I honestly and really appreciate this program. Our place  ( Balut Island) the people there  are so hungry for legal advice and also medical programs.  There are so many people listened to this program every Sunday for they are  hunger for legal counseling. Most of them were victims of  corruptions  from the local officials and even civil conflicts like land disputes and property ownership. Because of Mr. Oñate’s program people in our place have slowly enlightened including me. I used to send questions related to my problems with our property. Medical advise also have helped the people in our place . Through RMN’s program about  sickness and illnesses they  were able to consult the doctor  via airwaves. What a wonderful program.

Lastly one thing that I wanted them to have  or to do with the program is the education and a program for the youth. Wherein the young minds would have a participation because as of now I have noticed that problems  with the youth have dominated the social dilemmas. I hope the RMN would have this kind of program and another is that they should  present issues in a deep sense. I mean  giving an opinion to the people in clever way. Why not engage their reporters to schooling I mean leveling them up. It really reflects on the way you present the issues.  Well over all and generally I salute the Radyo Mo Nationwide stations especially here in General  Santos City. This is to validate only on the result of the AC Nielsen Survey that RMN remains the number one. Congratulations.