Gathering of the veteran broadcast warriors

The holiday season saw family reunions for many clans, and what better time indeed than the most festive of seasons, when the tables are laden with the best that each family’s hearth and kitchen can offer and everyone comes home, whether from faraway lands crossing continents or from just a city away to break bread in the most delicious way with family.

A friend from way, way back, Naldie Castro who built a name in radio a few decades ago and who now also lives in the south came to the house for coffee one late morning just before Christmas, and that short visit was enough to rekindle old memories of the glory days of radio for both of us. When you realize that in the year just coming to an end you’ve been burning the candles from both ends, these respites, brief as they are, can lift the spirits and unburden the soul.

Over a few chuckles and oft-repeated anecdotes of juvenile transgressions, past flames too numerous to recount, egomania and goofy adventures, Naldie came up with the idea of a small reunion in January. Why not indeed, when the crazy schedule of the holiday season settles down and before one buckles down seriously to work again?

We found that tracking down old friends who have settled into oblivion and are now out of circulation was no mean task, but Naldie tried anyway through the good old social network. Naldie, by the way, is brother to Angelo Castro Jr. of The World Tonight fame, and if you see Tina Monzon-Palma by her lonesome on this telecast, it’s because Angelo is not in the pink of health these days. We in the broadcast world continue to pray for his recovery. His wife June Keithley, I hear, is also not in the best of health. We join their only child Diego in praying and hoping for the best for his parents.

Anyway, Naldie came up with a shortlist, those he could track, of around a dozen old souls in the broadcast field, including Werner Garmsen who was with us in TV sales at the old ABS-CBN, Channel 2, one of the elite group of necktie-wearing, briefcase-toting young men who scoured the Makati, Quezon City and even Binondo areas, touring all the advertising agencies daily. This old friend (we called him the German Shepherd, his father being a German national, a former Luftwaffer even and his mother a genuine Tausug) was a big hunk of a man, hairy and able-bodied and a cowboy through and through. The reunion was set for Jan. 13 and tracers for all were sent out. Imagine my shock when Naldie texted me that Werner passed away on Dec. 28, of complications due to diabetes. This old warrior turned to golf in his retirement age and literally just took it easy for several years, heading to the fairways almost daily. Our most sincere condolences to his widow.

Of the 12 who agreed to come, only six actually made it, a small reunion indeed. Bobby Guanzon and Mario Garcia came early because they had previous engagements but honored the scheduled reunion anyway. Thanks guys. I worked with Bobby at the ABS CBN Manila Stock Market radio coverage in the late 60s, a job that took its toll on my throat because of the non-stop three-hour coverage that we had to do daily. Bobby eventually became a congressman, but is now happily back in radio.

Mario Garcia, on the other hand, started with ABS-CBN Radio Patrol, a familiar voice on the reportorial scene. Before that he worked with top radio stations and was also a rated TV host. He also distinguished himself as a board member of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, but once in broadcast, one never really learns to let go. Like Bobby, Mario is once again back in radio.

My good friend Orly Mercado came early too and was among the last to leave. He always heeds calls for reunions with his radio/TV friends and is a fountainhead of old anecdotes about everyone in radio. He started out as a working student at the old Stewart-run RBS Channel 7, founded the station’s employees’ union, moved to ABS CBN because of his rift with Madame Loreto Stewart over the new union, started Radyo Patrol and became its voice. He certainly had a distinguished career at ABS CBN, but as Orly says, he didn’t want to be “just a voice”. He labored for his college degree, earned his Master’s Degree and PhD, eventually became a Senator, Secretary of Defense and appointed Philippine Ambassador to China but didn’t serve. He now has a lucrative practice in the international lecture circuit.

Raffy Marcelo was always one of the boys, a familiar voice in ABS CBN Action & Sports Radio, DZYL, was for a long time a TV newscaster for GMA 7. Raffy, famous for his one-line hilarious punches, is now retired, one of the few who did not return to active radio, but certainly one of the more fulfilled and rested ones now. Retirement has not dulled his sense of humor.

Benny Rivera came, and I was more than happy to see him. Benny of course was a top notch executive producer at ABS CBN, and among the most memorable and long-staying TV shows he helmed was Buhay Artista. Benny migrated to the United States after Martial Law was declared but is now back in the country for good.

Naldie, of course, came and stayed the night, nursing his wine glass together with Orly. The young generation may not be familiar with him, but he was one of the top-rated DJs in his time, having worked in most if not all of the top-rated radio stations then. Actually, he did make a comeback, as one of the DJs in DZRJ. This guy also made sure he wasn’t just a booming voice—he researched tirelessly and fed his loyal listeners with data and trivia about the era, the song and the singer. A succession of strokes, one of which kept him in the dark literally, robbing him of his memory for six long years, has sidelined him, but he is slowly returning to the mainstream and is now a member of the board of directors for IBC 13. One of the wackiest guys on radio then, he was our resident rubble-rouser and head womanizer and made sure he held on to the nebulous reputation for a long time.

We missed Pepe Pimentel, Nando “Snooky” Singson, Ernie “Sako” Pambuan and Dado Roa all of whom had to cancel at the last minute. Guys, you can’t cancel out at the next reunion, ok? To all our radio and TV friends from way back when, do get in touch with me or Naldie so we can count you in on the next reunion.

Mabuhay!!! Be proud to be a Filipino.

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