The secret of Tiya Dely’s staying power

She is not only a familiar voice over radio but also a confidant, friend, and an authority in giving both advice and knowledge to millions of listeners. In doing so, her name has become synonymous to public service.

Fidela Mendoza Magpayo, more popularly known as AM radio’s warmhearted, soft-spoken counselor Tiya Dely of DZRH’s Ito Ang Inyong Lingkod Tiya Dely and Kasaysayan Sa Mga Liham Kay Tiya Dely, celebrated her 80th birthday last Oct. 29. And with a career spanning 60 years, Tiya Dely is considered one of broadcasting industry’s most respected and credible personalities.

Tiya Dely’s long and outstanding career on radio dates back from the late 1930s when, as a college student, she would tag along with radio talent-sister Lulu Magpayo to her shows with then broadcast celebrities Coco Trinidad and Lina Flor.

"When Lulu got married, I somewhat took over her job. Since then, I haven’t taken my hands off the mic. I love my job so much that I don’t even consider it a job," Tiya Dely fondly shares.

Tiya Dely started as a singer-actress for KZRF’s musical variety show featuring Atang dela Rama and Gerry Brandy and his romancers before World War II. She has also worked with The Andoy Balunbalunan and Dely Atayatayan Group and then later on with the Frankie Gomez Group over KZRF and KZIB. Soon, she worked as a singer-announcer at PIAM, the only radio station airing during the Japanese regime.

In 1946, she moved to DZRH, the flagship AM station of Manila Broadcasting Compa—ny’s (MBC) as a singer-announcer with the Luz Mat Castro Group and became among the very first talents of soap operas Ilaw ng Tahanan and the original Gulong ng Palad series under director/actress Rosa Mia.

In 1953, Tiya Dely became the announcer for DZRH programs such as Tugtugin Natin, Reyna ng Vicks and Dely Magpayo Show Extravaganza. Soon, she was given a break by then DZRH program director Rey Oliver via the program Dorothy Dicks’ (a US columnist/counselor) inspired advice and counseling program Kasaysayan Sa Mga Liham Kay Tiya Dely.

Radio wasn’t the only field where Tiya Dely excelled in but she also invaded both theater and film, having been the lead stage actress of the Manila Grand Opera House plays, such as Nasaan Ka Irog with Angel Esmeralda and Magkaibigang Putik with Pugo and Togo.

Later in 1957, Tiya Dely moved to DZXL as announcer-producer of the drama programs Tiya Dely, Ang Tangi Kong Pag-ibig, Kaputol ng Lumipas, Bakas ng Kinabukasan, Buhay and the musical Serenatang Kumbi—dahan. She also did Dely News and Dely Balita and appeared on TV via Hamon Sa Kampeon, Tiya Dely Drama on TV, and Tiya Dely Talk Show on TV for Channel 3 until Martial Law in 1972.

During Martial Law, Tiya Dely worked with different radio stations from 1977 until 1986 when she returned to DZRH to handle three daily programs – Kasaysayan sa mga liham kay Tiya Dely, 12:30 to 1 p.m., Ang Tangi Kong Pag-ibig, 1 to 1:30 p.m.; and the public service program Ito Ang Inyong Lingkod Tiya Dely, 7 to 8 p.m.

"When I was just starting with Kasay—sayan Sa Mga Liham, I didn’t know a thing about counseling although I’ve heard of similar programs already airing in the States, maging sa newspapers meron nang nagbibigay ng payo. So I asked Rey Oliver kung ano ang gagawin ko. He told me to just give my own honest opinion about a problem and that was what I did. At hindi ko akalain na tatagal ang programa ko hanggang ngayon," Tiya Dely shares of her letter-reading program which was adjudged Best Counseling Program by the prestigious Catholic Mass Media Awards in 1994.

"If I’m not familiar with a topic or if it needs professional advice, halimbawa tungkol sa medicine, tumatakbo ako sa doktor para humingi ng tulong," says Tiya Dely who was named Best Female Announcer in 1994 by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) Golden Dove Awards.

Throughout her broadcast career, Tiya Dely’s work never interfered with her marriage and family. Married to the late Philippine Constabulary Colonel Leony Reyes, a Bulakeño, Tiya Dely has three children (two of whom have already passed away) and two grandkids.

As Tiya Dely marks her 80th birthday, she only has the fondest memories to speak of her 60 long and fruitful years in the business. She shows neither a trace of boredom or apathy to her longtime job. This is evident in the way she works with people both from the radio industry and her home station DZRH and how she treats her job not as any kind of profession but her "life."

And so those who want to know the secret to Tiya Dely’s staying power in the business, it’s really quite simple: love your job and your job will love you back.