New frequency, new challenge for True FM team

The move to a new frequency is undoubtedly a new challenge for the team of True FM, which recently left its old home, 92.3 and transferred to the new one, 105.9, occupying the far right end frequency on the FM band.

“The move is part of a bigger plan for us to grow bigger in the years to come,” explained True FM operations manager Cherry Bayle. “We are not just on radio anymore, but TV, podcast and through digital. It’s a multi-platform strategy now. It’s embodying.

“That’s a business decision for a bigger expansion plan, so we need to fund it to grow bigger in the years to come. We need to deliver real news, real stories and true service. Totoo, tunay, tapat.”

“The wonderful thing about the transfer is that the whole team remains intact,” Cherry beamed. “The whole True FM family is here. Nobody left. All of us are still here. We’re all in it together. So if there are certain concerns, nothing becomes a problem as far as everybody is concerned. That’s what we’re praying for.”

True FM, in so short a time, has become a successful brand. Thanks to the warm response of the audience, the listeners. “To grow that brand, we need to branch out into a network,” said Cherry.

With provincial stations in Cebu, Tacloban, Ormoc and Cagayan de Oro, True FM signed on last Nov. 4 with the new early morning newscast, “Good Morning, Bayan,” anchored by Ruth Cabal. It was the maiden show on the newly-transferred station.

The radio brand of Nation Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), True FM is a subsidiary of Media Quest Holdings, which owns TV5.

The key personalities in True FM include educator Maricel Halili, veteran news anchor and correspondent Laila Chikadora (Jessica Asis), CMMA (Catholic Mass Media Award) Hall of Famer as best advice program host Brother Jun Banaag or popularly known as Dr. Love.

There are also matchmaker every Sunday Anna Ramsey, the bridge to the listener’s problems in the government agencies Cheryl Cosim and sandalan ng mga puso Kuya Poy and Arnold Rei, with Ted Failon, DJ Chacha (Czarina Balba Guevarra), Cristy Fermin, Senator Raffy Tulfo and Lourd de Veyra.

True FM will be seen on 105.9 Channel 19 on Cignal TV. The True FM anchors and hosts cannot be any prouder. “Hindi kami nabawasan,” boasted Cherry. “Nadagdagan pa nga. We welcome Ruth Cabal.

“On radio, our main concern will always be the sound. How loud, how strong our signal will be. We moved to a different location and that is one of the things we have to consider. We are taking care of that.

“That’s not really a problem, but we have to take care of our sound. Our location is different now. We have to make certain adjustments along the way. The transmitter is still in Antipolo, but different site.”

Transitioning to her new home, Cheryl is excited to bring her show, “Sagot Kita,” with True FM. “When we have a new home, we want to fix it and arrange it,” she said. “We are all excited about it.

“Sagot Kita” has many segments. “On Mondays, we do legal advice, Tuesdays, we do public service,” informed Cheryl. “We get guests from different public agencies. Last Wednesday, we started ‘Sagot Kita, Aplikante Serye,’ since it’s the mid-term elections.

“We feature senatorial aspirants. Ben Tulfo was our first guest. We had him on one-on-one. There are many coverage that we can do.

“On Thursdays, we have health. On Fridays, to end the week right, we have spiritual health. We invite a pastor. Or someone like director Olive Lamasan, who shared her spiritual journey.”

Laila Chikadora (Jessica Asis) only had happy memories which they carried to their new home. “From the start, even from Radyo 5, which recently marked its 14th anniversary, malaking bahagi talaga ‘yung iniwan naming tahanan,” said Laila.

“This is more exciting. Panibagong libro na ito, 105.9 FM. Mas malaki na ang playground mo. Hindi lang basta radio. We are seen on TV, we have podcast, YouTube Channel and social media platforms that the audience can watch out for.

“With regards to my show, ‘ShoutOut,’ watch out for it, every Friday, we also have pasabog. Kababalaghan. Not just stories that can jolt. We have a different formula on the mysteries.

“On TV, we will have guests, the OPM (Original Pilipino Music) bands who can do live sessions and a whole lot more. We will do more interaction with different bands and artists. It’s nice to have someone on the set whom you can talk to.

“At the same time, you engage the audience to phone in their questions. So from time to time, we read the question on air. Tuloy tuloy pa rin ang games, prizes. Most of all, high energy and good vibes to all those who are in tune.”

Laila attested she is different when it comes to delivering the news when she’s on board or just sitting down on radio. Her work was apparently augmented. Aside from her 8 to 9:30 p.m. time slot, she has a daily afternoon show, mini-game that goes from 5:15 to 5:30 p.m.

“When you do the news, that’s serious,” Laila said. “When you’re sitting down, that’s not work for me. It’s my way of unwinding. Like a student, I have a vacant period in between. So I rest.”

Dr. Love is one of the most in-demand anchors on radio. “There were lots of ideas that were brought in,” said the veteran host. “In my program, we regularly inject a lot of segments. We added a segment from ‘Face to Face.’”

“The purpose of that is to make the listeners more aware about what’s happening around. Let’s face it, those who are listening to Dr. Love, mga Maritess at chismosa. Ang sarap kasing pakinggan ang buhay ng iba, lalo na ang may away. That’s very typical.”

“On the regular space, I have the songs that I play, inspiring and spiritual. I also have the songs of Diomedes Matural, Ric Manrique, Sylvia La Torre. We feature OPM. We also have (young blind singer) Fatima Soriano, who helps us in giving reflections.”

When he sits down on his radio show, Dr. Love cannot be a hypocrite. “I become a father, kuya and lolo to my listeners,” he said. “If I sugarcoat what I want to say, I don’t help the listener. I tell them the truth. There are times in our lives when we need the real talk. Kailangan magising ka at masaktan ka.”

Not surprisingly, even celebrities approach Dr. Love for advice. There were two male artists and a singer who came to him, but they did not go on air. They asked for a solution after the story of their lives was presented.

Veteran actress Gina Pareño (real name Geraldine Acthley) became his friend after the latter sought advice from Dr. Love. She admitted that she ended up in the slammer after she took drugs. But she went through rehabilitation.