By Mark Vincent A. Durano and Shayne Elizabeth T. Flores

Conveying how radio broadcasting continues to thrive, radio station 105.9 True FM visited Far Eastern University (FEU) through ‘Tune In, Horns Up: True FM University Tour’ held at the University Conference Center yesterday, November 19.

In an interview with FEU Advocate, True FM personality and FEU alum Atom Yango highlighted the tour’s goal to encourage students to embrace radio despite the misconception that it’s ‘dead.’

“The university tour aims to reach out ‘yung mga different universities and schools on spreading the advocacy of the importance of radio… So ang campaign nito is not only for the station but also to emphasize or to involve the students to embrace the radio despite [thinking] that radio is dead, but it is not,” he said.

According to True FM radio host DJ Chacha, radio remains relevant due to the prevalence of meek Filipino masses who have minimal exposure to digitalization.

“Dito sa Pilipinas kung saan most of the people are masa, kakaunti pa lang din ang lugar na may internet… Hindi lang sa panahon na gusto mong makinig sa musika, [pero] sa panahon ng kalamidad, sa panahon ng delubyo, ang number one pa rin na source of information ay radyo. ‘Yung mga hindi nari-reach ng TV, hindi nari-reach ng social media, hanggang sa kaibituran at kalaliman ng dagat, may radyo,” she claimed.

Rather than dying, the broadcasters insisted that radio is simply transforming and evolving, citing the current trend of listening to podcasts as evidence.

“Radio can still be part of our daily lives and will [not die] as far as digital media is concerned,” Yango reiterated.

Additionally, veteran broadcaster and True FM anchor Ted Failon backed the convenience of radio, especially in times of calamities.

“Ngayon, may bagyo—Pepito. Sa mga probinsya na nawalan ng kuryente, nawalan ng internet, saan sila [kukuha ng balita?] (Now, there is Typhoon Pepito. Where will those in the provinces who lost electricity and internet get news?),” he stated.

The broadcaster also mentioned that the misconception of a dying radio has always been present even before the emergence of the internet in the Philippines.

Failon regarded radio as the most practical, cheapest, and fastest mode of information dissemination throughout the years.

“Ang pinakapraktikal, pinakamura, at pinakamabilis sa ano mang panahon ay radyo pa rin sa Pilipinas (Radio is the most practical, cheapest, and fastest at any time in the Philippines). It will always be radio dahil wala kang halos gastos. Transistor, baterya, mag-o-operate ka na (because it almost costs nothing. It can operate with just a transistor and battery),” he said.

Meanwhile, MediaQuest Spokesperson Charles Lejano emphasized the importance of their campaign ‘THINKaMuna’ in promoting media and information literacy (MIL) in the Philippines.

THINKaMuna is MediaQuest’s corporate sustainability advocacy to elevate discourse in the country regarding social media, including the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence and combat against disinformation and misinformation.

Lejano cited the latest study of GWI which states that the average Filipino uses the internet for an average of eight hours and 52 minutes every day.

“The widespread internet access in the Philippines—this is a prime example bakit napakahalaga and kailangan natin ng MIL (why MIL is important and needed),” he said.

Additionally, the spokesperson urged users to “hinay-hinay, isip-isip, and galaw-galaw” for responsible internet usage.

“Pause and take a moment to reflect bago ang lahat… Analyze information critically. Ang gagawin mo ngayon, maghahanap ka ng (Now, find a) verified source… Act responsibly based on informed decisions by encouraging others to do the same,” Lejano added.

Furthermore, the FEU alum encouraged aspiring Tamaraw broadcasters to immerse themselves in the media by honing their “sense of opinioness” and “reading the news every day.”

The True FM University Tour marked its sixth leg in FEU which started last year at the University of the East.

(Photo by Justine Jaerigg/FEU Advocate)