This is the second part of a series of musings the author had during the long and boring days of being sidelined by a mild case of chicken pox. This set of entries is a product of his boredom and search for some useful things to do during his chicken pox ordeal, like listening to AM radio.
During my stay in my "coop" in those chicken pox days, the one thing that kept me company in those boring days was my small portable radio.
Unfortunately, having a PC is not enough to be entertained during these boring sick bay days... I don't have a rich collection of anime to watch, and I'm not in the mood to repeat watching those I've finished. I play games, but I easily get tired playing. I don't even have a TV - I may have watched TV Patrol World, Bandila, Game KNB, and Kapamilya Deal or No Deal and the like to kill the time.
That's why my portable radio has kept me company during those days, keeping my ear and mind alive and alert by listening to AM radio.
I may be "too young" listening to AM radio (they say, pangmatanda lang 'yan), but I can safely say that in these times when we need access to news and information, AM station is still the better alternative over FM. I have listened to AM radio since my Grade 5 days when the transistor radio was still uso, and the household was more into AM radio than FM (and even TV) then for music and information, especially during the hey days of Kuya Cesar, noli de Castro, Mel and Jay, and Ernie Baron. We even rely on AM radio during those important times such as incoming typhoons. Kinalakihan ko na 'yun, kumbaga.
During those days I kept myself up to date with the latest news by listening to the regular newscasts. While FM radio stations occasionally dish out serious news (such as my personal favorite News You Need to Know by Patti and Gabriel of JAM 88.3), most newscasts on those high end FM stations focus on Hollywood news and other nonsensical things such as Paris Hilton. The pangmasa stations just give the snippets every hour or so, but still without depth. Nothing beats actual 30-minute newscasts on AM radio, especially if the newscasters deliver the news clearly and effectively, such as those in DZMM or DZXL (though I prefer the DZMM newscasts better...). Also, since I don't have a TV, I just listened to TV Patrol World and Bandila via their usual simulcast on DZMM.
One thing that FM radio lack which I love to listen the most are the commentary shows. Well, Love Radio, Energy FM, and the other bakya radio stations try - but fail, miserably - to present the issues to the listeners, but nothing beats the REAL news and commentary shows on AM radio such as Dos por Dos, Tambalang Failon at Sanchez, and Pasada 630 on DZMM. I may be sick but I didn't get sick from the intelligent and no-holds-barred comments of the anchors regarding issues.
Another thing that fascinates me in AM radio is the repertoire of unique shows that gives information and entertainment to the listeners like me. For example, Some programs may give "entertainment value" to those serious serious such as DZMM's Talakan: Talakayan at Kantiyawan, where the issues are presented ala showbiz news. Another one is the Dr. Love Radio Show by Jun Banaag, a counselling and spirituality show where Bro. Jun gives advice prangkahan style. Another show worth mentioning is Usapang de Kampanilya, a legal consultation show where I learned so much because of the range of legal problems the listeners present, from birth certificate issues to land titles. Other programs I have listened to range from late night love shows, sports, youth-oriented talk, science and technology, oldies-but-goodies and memories, and even health and beauty and wellness.
Finally, only AM stations give you full coverage of Senate and Congress hearings that give some kind of entertainment value to everyone. The coverage of the DOJ Bribery Scandal Congressional Inquiry was the highlight of my "listening career" during the week. It might be too bad for me for not seeing the hearing, but listening to the congressmen and the resource persons during the hearing was enough for me to be "entertained". Well, almost everyone knows what we've learned during the two-day hearing (January 6 and 7): the questionable dismissal of the DOJ prosecutors of the case of the so-called Alabang Boys (not related to Andrew E's song) because of technicalities kuno; the alleged bribery allegation of the PDEA against those prosecutors (which turned out to be just a form of "psywar"); the controversial release order draft made by Atty. Verano for DOJ Sec. Raul Gonzales and USec. Blancaflor's involvement to that; the highlighted Brudette family feud; and the supposed most admired person of the hearing named Maj. Marcelino of the PDEA, who almost had a shouting match with the elderly Gonzales.
Well, I may be sick and can't go out of my "coop", but enjoying listening to the radio relaxes me a bit and lets me pass those boring hours by....
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