I am often asked to report for work on a Saturday and, like everyone on this planet, I’m always never happy to do so. But on this one time last July 8 – and a rainy one at that – I woke up cheerfully and made my way to Ortigas Center to meet up with some friends from the Rushers ML (Mailing List). We were going to a live broadcast of The Morning Rush, an early morning radio show that has captured the imagination of thousands of listeners since 1996. The hosts – Chico and Delamar – were having a 15th anniversary bash at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf shop along Emerald Avenue (hey, that’s the street name I’m used to) for its loyal fans and I wasn’t going to miss it.
Starstruck with Chico and Del
Chico and Del are arguably the best FM DJs of Philippine radio and downright the nicest duo on air (and off). Monitoring the remote broadcast from my car radio, C&D (as their loyalists call them) sounded overwhelmed by the listeners who flocked to the coffee shop to celebrate their milestone. The noise they made in response to the jokes, especially the “appearance” of C&D “offspring” Jacky Tiyanak, reverberated over the airwaves. And when my friends and I got to the area, the place was simply teeming with people. So how does one argue with their success?
I’d think the world of show business, which already embraces radio jocks such as C&D, is a fickle one: popular today, a footnote tomorrow. But C&D apparently are cut from a different cloth. The crowd who came to their shindig was a mixture of diehard followers, the ones who began tuning in in their formative years, and those who caught on as they began making a name for themselves, followed suit, and never let go. There were even those who came with their children, siblings, significant others, and even their parents. While C&D’s may be playing music for the present generation, their voices, their personality, their character, cut across ages.
It was by accident that I stumbled upon these two. I actually can’t recall the details, but when I started listening to them, I was hooked. This was one witty tandem, almost irreverent, and definitely with a good head on their respective shoulders. They actually made talk radio more worthwhile listening to than the music they put out over the airwaves. In 2004, I put forward this crazy idea to make them resource speakers in a plenary session for the League of Corporate Foundations’ Corporate Social Responsibility Week. The whole Expo was about creating a better future for the Filipino children and youth, and for their session, how media takes responsibility to help mak that happen. Since I was the chair of the Communications team at the time and that Plenary Session was our department, I bravely went up to Strata to introduce myself to them, and asked if they would accept an invitation from a total stranger to speak to a few hundred people at the PICC. OK so I wasn’t a TOTAL stranger as I had been joining their Top Ten every so often. But C&D didn’t know me from Adam, and it was a genuine relief (and indescribable thrill) that they said YES. The Plenary Session turned out to be a huge success because of them (and partly because of Ces Drilon and Nestor Torre, who were also part of the panel). And I turned out to be a loyalist.
With C&D and fellow Rushers at the RX studio...
Also because of C&D, my network of friends grew significantly, as I got linked to other Rushers (followers of the show; in the 60s and 70s, this would be described as groupies), first through an email list, and eventually, through meeting them in EBs and other small gatherings. They’ve become genuine friends, all thanks to C&D. On rare occasions, we would drop by the studio to say “hi” before we headed off to a game of bowling and they would gamely pose for pictures with us after the show. One special time was when we all got together for lunch and Chico and Del made their way to Makati to actually join us! Popular and successful as they were, they remain unbelievably friendly and accommodating. These two are genuinely good people, and they richly deserve the love and affection that their listeners give to them.
...and having lunch at A Venetto in Glorietta
So thank you Chico and Delamar, for The Morning Rush, for the Top Ten, for the News at 17. Your insanity is actually keeping all of us sane each and everyday, as listening to and laughing along with you prevents us from minding the traffic, from choking that S.O.B. who drives like a maniac, from fretting about work and whatever concerns there are for the rest of the day. And thank you for the friends I’ve made – Joey, April, Rodel, Aiz, Lee, Louise, Mark, Apa, Shane, Michelle, and everyone else – because of you.
Happy 15th anniversary guys! Keep on doing what you do ‘cause there ain’t nobody better.
p.s. special love goes to Del, my eternal crush, for remembering who I am. I’ve actually earned a small measure of fame from my fellow Rushers when, during the Tea Party at CBTL, she called me out from the crowd, “Hey, Adobong Sitaw is here! He’s at the back!” Simply awesome!
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