‘Thank you and Shalom,’ Dr. Love

MANILA, Philippines - Through the years, there have been a couple of radio and TV counselors who have carved a name for themselves. Who could forget the late Tiya Dely whose style of counseling is ahead of her time? Then there was the late Helen Vela who sounded more like Charo Santos-Concio reading the letters sent to Maalaala Mo Kaya, and psychiatrists Agnes Bueno and Margie Holmes, whose advise sounded more of a Kinsey report.

In the male department, Eddie Ilarde and Kuya Cesar enjoyed a big following as well as Joe D’Mango who catered to the teen crowd.

Fast-forward to 2015 and we have DZMM Teleradyo’s Bro. Jun Banaag, O.P., also known as Dr. Love. Among the avid listeners of his program, Dr. Love Radio Show, whom he regularly acknowledges are Armida Siguion-Reyna, Dulce, Dr. Jessica Dee, Dr. Elmer Punzalan, pilgrim organizer Pepito Reyes, entertainment writers Pilar Mateo and Bong de Leon.

Dr. Love’s program has been airing for the past 17 years, a track record hard to beat. The most valued recognition Bro. Jun has received is the Hall of Famer from Catholic Mass Media Awards. The program also has a wide viewership abroad, many thanks to The Filipino Channel (TFC).

Bro. Jun’s radio counseling started at Radio Veritas in a program called Sex Education. Two years later, ABS-CBN secured his services for the second generation of DZMM. He brought along the counseling program with some additions like playing old songs and OPM hits.

Bro. Jun is very vocal but not proud in admitting that he was a sinner before the eyes of God and men during his younger years. Already a married man with five children, he fell in love with a beautiful woman and they fled to the US to start a new family. A decade after, he sought forgiveness and returned to his original and legal family. Bro. Jun never looked at another woman since then.

His approach to counseling is a mix of humor, candidness and no beating around the bush. He would not hesitate to call some listeners a fool (tanga) if necessary to bring them back to their senses. He always stresses the importance of having a family and deep faith in the Almighty.

The O.P. after his name stands for Order of Preachers, a title conferred on him by the Dominicans. It is a title for a layman who vowed to spread the word of God through lecturing, counseling and doing services for the church.

A big no-no is entertaining political issues and problems needing legal or medical solutions. Concerns that involve money are also nixed.

Dr. Love also has been standing firm on his views against same-sex marriage. 

Dr. Love describes himself as “isang hamak, aba at hampaslupang manggagawa ng Panginoon.”

Two years ago, the publishing arm of ABS-CBN planned to come up with a book on a compilation of his advices. After two meetings, no new developments surfaced.

Well, why not come up with Dr. Love the Movie featuring the most interesting problems called in by his listeners?

Like many others, I am hooked on Bro. Jun’s two-hour program which lasts until 1 a.m.

But who really is Dr. Love?

He is the cab drivers’ companion through the night and the lingering voice telling every querida “na hiwalayan mo siya.”