Voicing out a dream

Instead of touring the big cities, Henry Canoy opted for a quieter place to spend his time in the United States. He asked to be brought to the mountains where he would get the inspiration to further a force he believed would strongly impact on Filipino society.

“It was in Colorado where I came upon a local radio station which aired farm prices, market and road conditions, weather warnings, and personal messages,” Canoy said. “That’s when I realized how strong radio is as a medium in affecting the lives of people. And so I became more determined to strengthen what I had started back home.”

He was talking about dxCC, his flagship radio station, which would soon expand to Radio Mindanao Network (RMN).

It was “the realization of my dream,” Canoy said.

From its humble beginnings of having a coconut tree as its makeshift antenna, RMN, established in 1952 in Cagayan de Oro, has truly become an esteemed media entity providing the public with entertainment and education. At present, RMN operates 50 AM and FM radio and television stations.

In 1978, RMN’s major expansion program was launched. It entailed not only the upgrading of its technical facilities but also entering into tie-up arrangements with smaller networks, an effort that would soon give birth to a new name for the stations under the RMN umbrella – Radio Mindanao Network Inc. and Associates.

RMN also began broadcasting in three major dialects: Filipino, Cebuano and Ilonggo, with its subsidiaries mushrooming in provinces like Cebu and Bacolod.

“We were the first in Philippine radio history to initiate national newscasts via microwave,” added Canoy, underlining how RMN, which was also the only network to expand out of a provincial area into Metro Manila, having entered a tri-media organization with the Philippine Herald and Channel 13, has helped revolutionize the industry.

Seven years after its major expansion, RMN reoriented its FM programming, catering to a younger pop music audience. This was in line with the network’s philosophy of positioning to be No. 1 in listenership ratings.

RMN consequently ventured into television with TV-8, its first TV station, and was then granted a permit to operate a UHF television station in Metro Manila.

“There might be a lot of things that have happened in all our years, but the quest for excellence in broadcasting continues,” Canoy noted.

This Friday, Canoy will be recognized by presidential consultant for entrepreneurship Jose Concepcion III and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Council chair Presidential Management Staff chief Cerge Remonde as Most Inspiring Northern Mindanao Entrepreneur, an award given by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship as part of the Go Negosyo sa Cagayan de Oro.

The awarding will be held at the Atrium in the Limketkai Center in Cagayan de Oro City.

Go Negosyo sa Cagayan de Oro is part of PCE’s latest campaign, the Go Negosyo Caravan, which aims to bring Go Negosyo forums and expositions to key cities in the country. The Caravan has already visited Cebu, Bacolod, Baguio, Manila, and Pampanga.

Go Negosyo sa Cagayan de Oro is presented by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship in partnership with the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Major partners include Pagcor, Globe, Hyundai, San Miguel Corp., Del Monte, Splash Corp., STEAG State Power Inc., Limketkai Sons Inc., Unilever, PLDT, Smart, RFM Corp., Concepcion Durables Inc. and Entrepreneurs School of Asia. Media partners include The Philippine STAR, The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Sunstar CDO, ANC, GMA Network Inc., RPN9, NBN4, Aspac-Law, Creativoices Productions, and Full Circle Communications.