MANILA, Philippines - Time was when disc jockeys were merely relegated inside the cramped radio booth and audiences were simply content with listening to the DJ’s soothing voice. But that was so long ago. These days, DJs are still the popular figures they are because of radio, but they also enjoy a high profile in social media, TV or live events, displaying not just their voices, but even their faces and personalities.
That is why the radio jocks of Monster RX 93.1 make such a major impact on their listeners’ lives. The Monster recently announced its exclusive partnership with Curve Entertainment for the talent management and development of select members of the station’s Air Staff.
As most everyone knows, Monster RX 93.1 is the leading upscale-audience pop radio station in Manila, easily accessible for online streaming worldwide. Through the years, Monster RX 93.1 has been a record winner of 11 Best FM Radio Station awards from the prestigious KBP Golden Dove Awards on top of the station’s many accolades.
At the 25th KBP Golden Dove Awards held last May 16, The Monster was once again proclaimed Best FM Radio Station – Metro Manila. Its sister station, Monster Radio BT 105.9 Cebu, won the award for Best FM Radio Station – Provincial.
Curve Entertainment, meanwhile, is made up of some of the most respected names in Philippine music, record and concert industries. Curve was the choice of The Monster to be its in-house talent management agency in an effort to develop the skills and expand the opportunities of its premier DJ talents.
Leading the Monster Curve personalities is Rico Robles. He is the host of RX 93.1’s daily morning program, All Out (Mondays to Fridays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with Karla) and the multi-awarded The Concert Series (Mondays, 7 to 8 p.m.). This year, Rico won the Golden Dove Award for Best Music Radio Jock. He won TV fame as the celebrity radio DJ housemate in the 2006 Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition on ABS-CBN. Aside from his talents as a radio DJ, TV celebrity, online influencer, audio producer and host, Rico is also a registered nurse.
Tom Alvarez is popularly known as Doctor Love in the Catholic Mass Media Award-winning program, The Love Clinic (Tuesdays, 10 to 11 p.m.), which gives responsible advice for lovesick listeners. Tom also anchors The Late Night Clinic (Mondays to Thursdays, weekends, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.). He has three Golden Dove awards to his name — two for Best Music Radio Jock and one for Best Public Service Radio Program Host. Aside from being a top radio DJ, Tom is also in demand as a voice-over talent (Eat Bulaga!) and as a racing events host.
Hazel Aguilon was taking up Communication Arts at De La Salle University and a TV courtside reporter when she joined Monster RX 93.1 as a Radio One Student Jock. She is the host of the daily evening program Wild And Wicked (Mondays to Fridays, 7 to 8 p.m., with Cara) and Heard On Thursdays (10 to 11 p.m., with Rafael Reyes). Hazel was a finalist in the Best Radio Variety Program Host category in this year’s KBP Golden Dove Awards.
Rica Garcia is the newest member of RX 93.1’s hit morning show, The Morning Rush, with Chico and Gino. She just graduated from The Monster’s Radio 1 Student Jock program and is a proud alumna of UP Los Baños, with a degree in Development Communication. Rica hosts a make-up tutorial channel, My Lip Story, on YouTube.
JC Tevez is undoubtedly a looker, appearing in several TV and online commercials and TV series. No wonder, he is tagged as “The Jock Next Door.” Born in Alaska, JC spent a good number of years in Tokyo, Japan before settling back in the USA, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication from the University of California in San Diego. JC now hosts the daily afternoon program, Good Vibes (Mondays to Fridays, 1 to 4 p.m.), with fellow Curve talent Alven Villavicencio. JC is also a VJ for Myx music channel.
Lexy Angeles co-hosts The Monster’s primetime evening program, The Daily Survey, with Jay (Mondays to Fridays, 4 to 7 p.m.). She is another proud alumna of the Radio 1 Student Jock program. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Arts at De La Salle University Manila.
Jay Diaz had a promising career in marketing when he won the Search for the Next RX DJ in 2013. He always had a creative side though and was contributor for hip Rogue and Statement magazines. Jay also loves cooking, manages his family’s Bahay restaurant in Mandaluyong and holds a Masters in Business Administration from the Singapore Management University.
Julia Winternitz hosts the liveliest after hours program on radio, The Morning After (Sundays to Thursdays, 2 to 6 a.m.). A Radio 1 alumna from the University of Asia and the Pacific, Julia won the Search for the Next Monster Jock (2017).
DJ McCoy Navales studied Aircraft Technology at PATTS College of Aeronautics before fully giving in to his love for club disc jockeying, which started out as a hobby when he was still in his teens. Aside from his regular DJ show on The Monster, Remix Fridays (Fridays, 11 p.m. to 3 a.m.), McCoy’s enthralling music spins can be heard in the top bars in town and in major events.