Broadcaster Ernie Baron dies of heart attack

Veteran radio and television broadcaster Ernie Baron died of a heart attack yesterday morning at his home in Muntinlupa. He was 65.

According to his daughter Shirley, Baron was dead on arrival at the Muntinlupa Medical Center, where he was rushed after he failed to answer when called for breakfast at past 9 a.m.

Baron’s attending physician Cesar Berroya said Baron may have died of "silent myocardial infarction."

Baron, tagged as the "Walking Encyclopedia of the Philippines" because of his wide knowledge of many subjects, hosted "Knowledge Power," a 30-minute educational show that aired 9 p.m. Monday to Friday on dzMM. The long-running show was a spin-off of Baron’s segment on TV called "Itanong Kay Ka Ernie."

Baron also hosted the radio educational program "Mga Gintong Kaalaman" in 1965 as a blocktime announcer. Told that many people regarded him as a genius, Baron downplayed the observation, saying that he was just a wide reader.

The Star Awards named Baron Best Educational TV Program Host in 1991. He was also a weather forecaster and inventor who discovered "Energy of Forms," or Ernyforms, which purportedly focus cosmic energy from outer space and are now called the "Baron Triangle." Another of his invention is the use of water as fuel for industries and transportation.

In the 1960s, before he became known for his radio educational program, Baron would experiment with balagtasan (declamation-style poetry) on radio, writing his own scripts.

He expanded his talents further by researching herbal medicine and the now-popular cleansing diet. He propagated what he learned through free seminars that helped the sick and the needy.

Baron was also known as a weatherman. He delivered weather reports on ABS-CBN’s "TV Patrol."

Last December, Baron took a leave from radio and TV to undergo eye surgery. He said the surgery had to be done as soon as possible, and that frequent reading took a toll on his eyes.

Baron’s body lies at the Divine Mercy Chapel in Muntinlupa City. — With Rhodina Villanueva