Radiocracy

“Why the hell am I putting myself through all this stress?”

I constantly ask myself that question whenever I’m pushing myself and taking a risk. It’s not a bad thought to have. It’s a way to check and balance my work, keep myself driven (from dying, rather) and stay true to my original intentions. Last semester, Radiocracy, my thesis with Job, was one of those risks.

Almost a year has gone by since I first sent a DM via Twitter to him about the idea to  pioneer an Internet Radio program in Ateneo. Currently no campus radio station exists in school so I thought it would be cool to start and be part of something that could possibly be bigger than ourselves.

But that’s also what made it so scary, not to begin with, but to continue with some time  in the middle when it’s no longer just an idea but not exactly a reality either.

Plus, as ex-URock Dj’s and courtside reporters, talking is something Job and I enjoy doing. I’m planning to build a career on talking (broadcasting.) So, thesis was my excuse to revisit those Monday nights boarding in NU 107 which was always the high light of my week.

There are many ways to survive thesis. Every senior can give you their advice and insight. For me, I only have one:

As I said earlier, look at it as an excuse. An excuse to look like crap; to say no to a party/inuman you don’t feel like going to; to be anti social; to learn something new; to be an expert on a theory for future pretentious intellectual purposes; to meet (oggle) at Kirk Long; to ask Fr. Dacanay if he’s ever been in love before; to bitch and be in a bad mood; to cram 3 2-hour episodes in 2 school days; to push yourself; to be independent; to do or revisit something you love.

Thesis defense = excuse for comm majors to wear heels and dress up!

“Why the hell am i putting myself through all this stress?”

Well, for one thing thesis is required for graduation. So, if you’re going to be stressed out, you might as well stress out for all the excuses it’s worth, right?

Or for all the pictures its worth.

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Me: Job, what should we talk about today?

Job: I don’t know. I haven’t had the time to read or do anything interesting lately

Me: Me too. I just want to sleep. 

(Pause. We’re going on in 5 minutes.)

Both of us: Shit hahaha. How sad. 

In the Huddle with the Blue Eagles

Guests: Kirk Long, Kiefer Ravenna, Coach Sandy Arespacochaga

Me (to Kirk): Would you dye your hair blue if we make it to the finals?

Kirk:  I would

Me: How about you Kiefer?

Kiefer: Hahaha maybe if Coach Sandy does

(Remembering this interview from memory)

Dissecting the Discourse of student politics. 

Guests: Sanggu President Crew Capuyoc, The Assembly President Stefi Sales, Guidon Associate Editor Luther Aquino

What Would Fr. Dacanay Say: A Love and Relationship Forum

Job: Father, have you ever been in love?

Fr. Dacanay: Next question!

Role reversal. I get to ask the legendary Fr. Dacanay, infamous for his terror oral exams the questions!

(Mis)adventures with JTA and Student Interns

Guests: Arbie Baguios, Iya Joson, Lisha Bornilla

Pictured below: With Ms. Aisa and the ACOMM internet radio team! We couldn’t have done it without their help!

Job and Rica signing out :)

Cheers to 2010!

What I love about anticipating the new year is reminiscing about the one that just passed. It’s a unique kind of conclusion that you can only arrive at once you’re nearing the end of an experience. Each of those 365 days may be unique and separate on its own, but as a whole, it’s interesting to see that there’s actually a common thread you didn’t even realize that you were subconsciously spinning. It ties the year together in a simple knot, and maybe if it’s been a good year, with a lavish bow as well.

That’s what I’ve noticed after doing these end-of-the-year recaps for 3 years. 2008 was a series of life changing moments. 2009 was about meeting people who’ve impacted me greatly. Now, after compiling this year’s review, 2010′s recurrent theme was this: investing in myself, pursuing the things that I wanted to do, and truly starting not to give a f*ck about what anyone else thought.

Overall, it was a good year that pushed and pulled me in all kinds of unexpected directions. It broke through my apathetic facade that  for once I cried (a lot) – for the good times and the bad, for the hopes and the disappointments, for taking the risk and then falling, for the moments when life felt shitty and the friends and family who helped me flush that shit down the toilet afterwards.

I feel that 2010 was the year I truly came to be – with my friends, family, work and most importantly myself, that I expect 2011 to continue being anything and everything but less. Cheers to my 2010 ! Thank you to those who made it particularly intoxicating!

URocked My life V.2

My friend from Inquirer asked me to write about my URock experience for the paper. Unfortunately, it wasn’t able to to run, which apparently is how the industry works sometimes. I know I already wrote my tribute entry, but since I don’t want to waste words I thought I would post it here. It gives you more insight into the whole DJ-ing experience in general (including some of my more embarrassing moments) than what I previously said.

I miss these girls

URocked My Life

“Have you met my friend Rica? She’s a DJ on URock.” said a friend when she introduced me at a party. Luckily it was dark so they didn’t see me struggling giddily to keep my composure because admittedly, I secretly liked hearing that byline being said out loud.

University Rock or “URock” is a radio segment on NU 107 that runs from 9-11 every Monday night. It is exactly what the segment title suggests – an opportunity for university students to rock the airwaves.

The music is from unsigned college bands while the show is handled by students moonlighting as DJ’s in their sometimes not-so-spare-time. The show also hosts live interviews and performances from young entrepreneurs and guest bands.

Each season only lasts for a semester, meaning that a new group of jocks end up having to pry the headset and microphone away from the often unwilling hands of the previous batch. That’s just how much the URock experience is worth the effort to travel to the station late on a school night.

Cue shameless kilig!

Personally, my memories are rich with all kinds of “firsts” from epic encounters with famous rock stars to embarrassing statements said on air. Until this day, I’ll never forget popping my DJ cherry with Sponge Cola’s Yael Yuzon as one of my interviewees on the first show I hosted. My partner Lisane and I could hardly contain our shameless fangirldom.

Despite being a naturally talkative person, another first was discovering how easy it was to run out of things to say. Jittery nerves had a way of triggering temporary memory loss for conversation topics and sometimes hindered my ability to muster a witty comeback.

To ensure that I didn’t embarrass myself, I remember clutching dearly to a cheat sheet containing my mini spiels. After all, who wants their tongue twisting and turning in all the wrong places? As it is a live broadcast, on-air-fumbles  are one of the worst things that can happen to a DJ. At least that’s what I used to think.

Mico Halili, URock’s producer constantly reminds the jocks that it’s okay to make mistakes as long as you improve from them. Those are wise words coming from Lord Vader himself, a nickname bequeathed to him by our jock batch. As enlightening as his words were, it was advice that was sometimes difficult to swallow, most especially when your blunders were being broadcasted for everyone to hear.

I still remember how mortifying my first on-air blooper felt. Using the standard introduction spiel, I unconsciously said “I’m URock jock Rica from THE Ateneo.” I couldn’t believe my ears! This long-held joke about Atenistas probably earned me some unintentional snickers.

This demonstrated one important thing I learned though, that sometimes things don’t always go according to plan. Although a pain, experience is indeed the best teacher. As a DJ, that’s a lesson we not only have to learn but one we have to own, by way of witty comeback, savvy rhetoric and a good sense of humor.

We may have pre-set questions and conversation topics to help guide the show but spontaneity? You can’t plan that. It is this extemporaneous banter that is both the appeal and challenge of being a DJ. You live in the moment and make the most of it, both for the benefit of your listeners and your dignity.

In retrospect it’s amusing to remember some of the things my co-host and I have said live – intentional or not. During a college band interview with Mango Float we built most of our spiel on one very important question: what floats your mango? The answers of which were very entertaining.

But the most startling moment is still when Lisane once called me a “tranny” on-air, an inside joke that till this day I still can’t believe she disclosed to the public! My friends had a field day filling my Facebook wall with all sorts of hilarious but totally untrue posts.

Although I should probably not repeat that here, it doesn’t bother me because URock helped me learn the value of rolling with the punches. Verbal blunders and embarrassing statements are not the worst thing that can happen. Not being able to recover afterwards is.

After the initial boo-boos and newbie anxiety wore off, it was easy to forget that I was ever nervous to begin with. I was doing something that I loved – talking and sharing stories with the people around me.

As a communications major, dabbling in radio was a great way to learn outside the classroom. Luckily for me, my practical experience was magnified a thousand-fold thanks to a cool station run by a team of great people who play awesome music.  My time there quickly became as natural and comfortable as having a conversation with friends over a cup of coffee or a couple of beers, except with a bunch of eavesdroppers.

Prior to URock I never considered DJ-ing as a career. But now if I could be paid to talk for a living then I would never shut up. It’s all about heart. And that’s why despite its premature ending URock and NU 107 will continue to live on through the lives they rocked.

Thank you NU 107. URocked my life. Without a doubt it will be one of the coolest and luckiest things I could have ever done and a byline that I’ll always be proud to bear, whether it’s said out loud or not.

URock-ed my life

October 25, Monday, URock Finale

As a student, you don’t travel all the way to Ortigas on a Monday night to board from 9-11pm unless you love what you’re doing. Some, including myself, commute there, while others travel all the way from the south just to do their show.

Despite hectic school schedules and sleep demanding for our time, when the clock hits around 9PM, without fail you’ll hear one of the quirky and energetic voices of a URock Jock saying “This is University Rock on NU 107.”

I’ve been saying that spiel for months now but I’ve never asked myself: WHAT exactly is University Rock? Now that URock along with the NU 107 station itself is closing, I’d like to respond by answering WHO is NU 107 instead.

Without a doubt the past 20 or so years that NU has been nurturing and delivering the best of Philippine rock is an era worth remembering. Although it’s shorter in comparison, without a doubt the past couple of months or so that I’ve been a DJ at the station is a stint that is worth remembering.

Obviously, what brought the URock family together is the music, the passion and appreciation of everything and anything that awakens people’s souls. But it’s the people who we meet along the way that keeps it going, even after we pack the boxes and say our last goodbyes.

URock and NU107 will never run out of tomorrow’s because those tomorrow’s live within the lives of which it rocked.

Click to see my eternal gratitude!

Reese and Vica

I don’t pretend to be a music know-it-all because I’m not, especially when it comes to the underground indie music scene. But what I do know is that during all those nightly escapades to Saguijo or Route 196,  when I hear a good band, I get shivers down my skin. Now that I’m at URock I expect to get sick with hypothermia.

Reese & Vica is one such band. An acoustic duo from the blue and white school of Ateneo, they sound like Tegan and Sara if they were Filipino. We featured them at the station last week and it was awesome. Below is a youtube clip of them playing Walls at NU. Check out their facebook here.

Because playing music is not the only kind of playing we do at the station, click on to see pictures!