Love radio

Aside from the perpetually happy crustaceans who never cease to lift my spirits, arguably the best company while enduring traffic jams in the city is one's trusty radio.

My choice of stations- DZMM and RJ 100.3- often elicit not a few comments from those who hitch a ride with me, from classmates to workmates to brothers and sisters in the community. They always kid me that they feel like they were in a taxi, since the only persons they've known to listen to the AM band are drivers of public utility vehicles.

So why do I?

First, I want to stay informed- be it regarding traffic updates or issues in the world of politics or be the first to hear about a showbiz scoop.

Second, while most people prefer the FM stations which play the more contemporary songs, let's just say i find solace in songs played by RJ 100.3. With a variety of songs which include hits the Beatles to Engelbert to the Carpenters to the occasional Eric Benet and Maroon 5 sans the crass, grating commentaries of the newer breed of DJs, they really do air less talk and more music. It's an acquired taste from my father; we used to listen to RJ ALL THE TIME, especially during the Sundays he went with me to ROTC in Diliman. More than the music, listening to RJ somehow brings him back into the car with me.

--==+==--

I was tuned in to DZMM last week when Korina Sanchez began to practice reading a piece she intended to read the following day using the voice of Lola Ising, one of the characters she assumes- alongside Ted Failon’s Lolo Roger- when they stage a bit of radio play cum political satire. But the piece she was reading piqued my interest because of it contained practical, contemporary, and logical statements in the form of advices from a learned person talking to a younger brood. Here it goes:

TAGUBILIN AT HABILIN
Text by Jose F. Lacaba

Mabuhay ka, kaibigan!

Iyan ang una't huli kong
Tagubilin at habilin: Mabuhay ka!

Sa edad kong ito, marami akong maibibigay na payo.
Mayaman ako sa payo.

Maghugas ka ng kamay bago kumain.
Maghugas ka ng kamay pagkatapos kumain.
Pero huwag kang maghuhugas ng kamay para lang makaiwas sa sisi.
Huwag kang maghuhugas ng kamay kung may inaapi
Na kaya mong tulungan.

Paupuin sa bus ang matatanda at ang mga may kalong na sanggol.
Magpasalamat sa nagmamagandang-loob.
Matuto sa karanasan ng matatanda
Pero huwag magpatali sa kaisipang makaluma.

Huwag piliting matulog kung ayaw kang dalawin ng antok.
Huwag pag-aksayahan ng panahon ang walang utang na loob.
Huwag makipagtalo sa bobo at baka ka mapagkamalang bobo.
Huwag bubulong-bulong sa mga panahong kailangang sumigaw.

Huwag kang manalig sa bulung-bulungan.
Huwag kang papatay-patay sa ilalim ng pabitin.
Huwag kang tutulog-tulog sa pansitan.

Umawit ka kung nag-iisa sa banyo.
Umawit ka sa piling ng barkada.
Umawit ka kung nalulungkot.
Umawit ka kung masaya.

Ingat lang.

Huwag kang aawit ng "My Way" sa videoke bar at baka ka mabaril.
Huwag kang magsindi ng sigarilyo sa gasolinahan.
Dahan-dahan sa matatarik na landas.
Dahan-dahan sa malulubak na daan.

Higit sa lahat, inuulit ko: Mabuhay ka!

Maraming bagay sa mundo na nakakadismaya.
Mabuhay ka.
Maraming problema ang mundo na wala na yatang lunas.
Mabuhay ka.

Sa hirap ng panahon, sa harap ng kabiguan,
Kung minsan ay gusto mo nang mamatay.
Gusto mong maglaslas ng pulso kung sawi sa pag-ibig.
Gusto mong uminom ng lason kung wala nang makain.
Gusto mong magbigti kung napakabigat ng mga pasanin.
Gusto mong pasabugin ang bungo mo kung maraming gumugulo sa utak.

Huwag kang patatalo. Huwag kang susuko.

Narinig mo ang sinasabi ng awitin:
"Gising at magbangon sa pagkagupiling,
Sa pagkakatulog na lubhang mahimbing."
Gumising ka kung hinaharana ka ng pag-ibig.
Bumangon ka kung nananawagan ang kapuspalad.

Ang sabi ng iba: "Ang matapang ay walang-takot lumaban."
Ang sabi ko naman: Ang tunay na matapang ay lumalaban
Kahit natatakot.

Lumaban ka kung inginungodngod ang nguso mo sa putik.
Bumalikwas ka kung tinatapak-tapakan ka.
Buong-tapang mong ipaglaban ang iyong mga prinsipyo
Kahit hindi ka sigurado na agad-agad kang mananalo.

Mabuhay ka, kaibigan.
Mabuhay ka.

--==+==--

Driving home over the past few months, Virginia, the DJ on the 9pm-12mn slot over at RJ 100.3, would play this particularly haunting love song. I would catch the entire song, but I would miss the part where she’d mention the title of the song and its singer- either because I have to go down from the car already or I have switched on too late. I got lucky last week though. I finally found out the song and its singer. Please don’t ask me to sing it, but I’ll share the lyrics to you instead.

FOR YOU
John Denver

Just to look in your eyes again
Just to lay in your arms
Just to be the first one always there for you
Just to live in your laughter
Just to sing in your heart
Just to be everyone of your dreams come true

Just to sit by your windows
Just to touch in the night
Just to offer a prayer each day for you
Just to long for your kisses
Just to dream of your sighs
Just to know that I'd give my life for you.

For you all the rest of my life
For you all the best of my life
For you alone, only for you.

Just to wake up each morning
Just to you by my side
Just to know that you're never really far away
Just a reason for living
Just to say I adore
Just to know that you're here in my heart to stay.

For you all the rest of my life
For you all the best of my life
For you alone, only for you.

Just the words of a love song
Just the beat of my heart
Just the pledge of my life, my love for you.

--==+==--

Thanks, Mom and Pop, for all the tagubilin and habilin for me. Nakikinig man ako or hindi hehe