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Broadcasting Pioneer Dzrh Turns 69 By Susan Isorena-arcega

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years ago, at exactly 6 in the morning, announcer Hal Bowie took his seat before a microphone in a little studio at the top of the Heacock Building in Escolta, and bid his unseen audience good morning. Thus was born the fourth commercial radio station to operate in Manila. In just a few years, with the entire Philippine archipelago caught in the maelstrom of the Second World War, the fledgling station – which took the call sign KZRH – would buck the challenge of history and remain as the only surviving radio station in the country.

Its auspicious beginnings as the mouthpiece of one of the largest department stores in the Pacific must have laid the groundwork for the stations commercial viability all these years a major factor in the survival of the so-called stepchild of media arts.

New as it was, KZRH management led by Bertrand Silen was not just armed with the technical know-how in radio operations, but likewise had fundamental marketing knowledge down pat. They knew what radio listeners liked and disliked.

Musical variety shows, comedy skits, and short newscasts were the order of the day. Jazz and ballads became standard fare. Together with American wit, the English language spread. KZRH found itself as an advertising medium, with sponsors like Purico underwriting specific shows which carried their names. Apart from 15-minute blocktime sold to advertisers, commercial spots mixing announcements with music were also produced. KZRH found itself amidst lucrative times.

Then came the grim shadow of war. The Japanese Imperial Army took over the sophisticated equipment, which eventually got blown sky-high by the Americans. And while Silens staff considered the best in the Far East found themselves either in Bataan, at the internment camps of Santo Tomas and Los Banos, within the guerilla movement, or simply felled by enemy bullets, plans for the rebirth of KZRH upon liberation were kept alive.

Upon being released, Silen sought help from the National Broadcasting Company in New York to secure new transmitters, and with the Elizalde family financing the new operations at the Insular Life Building on Plaza Cervantes, KZRH was back on the air under the auspices of Manila Broadcasting Company on July 1, 1946 just in time to cover the inauguration of the new Republic.

Soon after, the International Telecommunications Union adjusted the call letters of Philippine radio, and all allusions to the western United States through the letter K were removed. Until today, all radio stations in the Philippines begin with the letter D.

What followed in the next three decades is now collectively known as the golden years of Philippine radio. Programming flourished and a new breed of radio personalities became cultural icons. As the recording industry grew, the live orchestras of yore soon gave way to music on vinyl. Cover versions and Disc Jockeys came into being. Radio dramas hit an unprecedented boom, eventually translating to the celluloid screen.

Lina Flors immortal Gulong ng Palad, which debuted in 1949, led a slew of soap operas that filled the airlanes in the mornings and afternoons. Because they had the housewives and sometimes the rest of the domestic mnage as captive audiences, these dramatic serials were strongly supported by major advertisers whose sales messages got very close attention through each saga. Radio dramas picked up on domestic relations, but also featured action, adventure, horror, and even murder-mysteries. Appealing to the imagination as well as to real-life need, DZRH secretaries fondly remember some callers even insisting on speaking to Ginang Hukom herself.

Indeed, DZRH easily adopted the habit of setting trends and institutionalizing them. Sportscasting dean Willie Hernandez, the networks comptroller in the mid-fifties, lent his voice to sports coverages and in so doing, made legendary Filipino basketeers like Carlos Loyzaga, Francisco Rabat, and Luis Lorenzo household names.

The feisty commentator Rafael Yabut, also had his sterling years with DZRH. Starting out as the station electrician, he rose through the ranks to become the stations PR man. Loyal fans kept glued to their radios when he hosted the game show Ruleta Musikal. On the top-rating Tayoy Mag-aliw, Yabut dwelt on government and politics, family values, trivia, and entertainment.

But it is easily Dely Mapayo who has been – up to this day – the most widely known personality behind the microphone at DZRH. Her easy chatter, contagious laughter, and sparkling wit won her sponsors and hosts of listeners through her careers work. From the PMC-backed Tugtugin Natin to Himig Panghapunan in vintage years, and eventually the starkly simple Tiya Dely, which DZRH still airs today, the lady and the station have remained synonymous for over 50 years. Radio quiz shows also emanated from the DZRH studios. In Spell-to-Win, household appliances were at stake for someone who could spell words like bouillabaise. On Best of the Band, popular crooner Bimbo Danao tried to stump the audience with his original game format a-la name that tune. And on Palmolives Knowledge Unlimited, even listeners contributed questions such as what war took place in 1812?

The Vicks Variety show opened doors for a new program format that addressed Tagalog-speaking audiences with pop-concert presentation of Philippine music. Singer Jimmie Navarro who won the DZRH radio popularity poll, replaced Mystery Singer Cecil Lloyd and teamed up with Priscilla in performing a new romantic duet every week. While listeners wrote to request old favorites, new compositions were also introduced to the public.

Letter-sending, has indeed, contributed greatly to the way DZRH developed over the years. Ira Davis, who produced the long-running programs of Philippine Manufacturing Company, patiently read through thousands of letters that came in every week. The notes were routed to management and gave them firsthand information on what sort of radio entertainment even commercial copy that listeners preferred. And the advertisers took note of those market preferences.

In later years, DZRH received more immediate feedback — through the telephone, through pocket pagers, through mobile technology, and today, through cyberspace. But the formula remains the same: innovate…improve…listen…keep the pulse. And decades hence, the station which survived the horrors of war is also surviving the competition. DZRH as the flagship station of Manila Broadcasting Company is proud to be the purveyor of news as it should be delivered, adhering to the highest standards of broadcasting excellence in the country. It continues to be a witness to Philippine history as it unfolds, and yet remains faithful to the mandate of fair and responsible journalism. In 1986 it was the only station that aired nationwide a detailed account of the ouster of President Ferdinand Marcos. Three years later, DZRH reporters found themselves risking life and limb to keep the public abreast of the attempted coup detat, and manifesting its spirit of compassion to wounded rebel soldiers.

DZRH today boasts of veteran radioman Joe Taruc anchoring the DZRH team in defining the public affairs program genre from the Pinoy perspective. Despite the seeming erosion of the morning news by the telemagazines, Taruc remains confident that nothing beats the immediacy of radio.

DZRH News Director Andy Vital, on the other hand, has taken new media by the horns for the stations benefit. Internet radio and live chats are used to maximize the stations accessibility to audiences both here and abroad. He has also encouraged popular DZRH announcers like Ruth Abao and Rey Sibayan to maintain individual blogs. And with his iconic colleague Lakay Deo Macalma seemingly attuned to the secret lives of public figures and celebrities alike, vigilance in good governance through reports from his bubwits is still in keeping with the stations mien for popular entertainment. But perhaps it is in the field of public service where DZRH has truly earned its merits. Through Operation Tulong – the stations socio-civic arm first launched in 1978 — corporate social responsibility and anonymous Samaritans work hand in hand. Armed with their credo of Serbisyong Bayan, DZRH responds to the needs of the ordinary man-on-the-street with the same compassion and determination it devotes to massive disaster-relief operations, through networking support from advertisers, NGOs, and government agencies.

On its 69th anniversary, DZRH will conduct a medical-dental mission in cooperation with the Philippine Medical Association, Gat. Andres Bonifacio Medical Center, the Department of Health, the Philippine Air Force, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, PAGCOR, and other generous donors. DZRH has also invited the Optometrists Association of the Philippines to provide free eye examinations, with MBC donating 500 free eyeglasses. Teaming up with Islands Exhibit Link, the station will likewise hold a two-day Job Fair, with more than 40 participating companies and recruitment firms providing domestic and international work opportunities. DZRH has also invited the Public Attorneys office, Batas Barangay, and their network of lawyers to provide free legal assistance. And for those availing of these public service offerings, DZRH is also serving free porridge (lugaw) as a gesture of unity with the masses who have supported them all these years.

Over a decade ago, the station embarked on a One Nation, One Station initiative, expanding its coverage to an unprecedented 97% of the Philippine archipelago. To date, DZRH is the only station in the country that is on the air nationwide 24/7 on stereo-quality, simulcast via satellite to relay stations in key provincial cities. Through all these, DZRH and the top brass at Manila Broadcasting Company have remained fully cognizant of their target listeners and have used this to master their programming thrust. They have convinced advertisers to support their efforts at activation and integration in reaching mass audiences. DZRH taps into the consciousness of the Pinoy, takes inherent socio-cultural phenomena like fiestas, raffles, and machismo sports. . . and actively makes them tick. At the same time, through creative thinking by the staff and high-quality execution by their announcers, DZRH has translated traditional broadcasting techniques like talk-radio and soap operas into productive and impacting forms of integration or product placement that have become increasingly more efficient in moving brands across a complex media landscape.

But it is the way DZRH announcers today relate to their listeners that truly spells the difference. It is a legacy handed down through generations of broadcasters who knew their audiences. It is foresight brought about by the changing of the times. It is a style acquired through personal interaction with the man-on-the-street. And it is a mantle of leadership, new experiences, and empathy toward mankind brought about by having made it through 69 years.
Congratulations, DZRH kaunaunahan sa Pilipinas!

Telecom Jobs Have Many Opportunities That Beckon The Right Professional

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We are living in a world of wired and wireless gadgets, and to some extent have become slaves to them. Whether it is the cable television, the internet or the mobile phone, none of us can claim to be unaffected by any one of these gadgets and are required to spend valuable time and effort in operating any one of them for our needs.

Yes, there are huge advantages that have accrued due to the presence of these gadgets and it is thanks to them that we can communicate, be entertained, exchange pictures, shop, and even earn, online. All these gadgets work on technology spawned by the telecommunication revolution that has swept most developed and developing countries and the result is that there is a wide demand for telecom jobs in these countries.

Most companies in the telecommunication industry are looking for people who are qualified and can handle the hardware, as well as software, part of the job. Telecom engineers are required in great numbers to maintain and run the sophisticated equipment that is necessary for telecommunication, video communication, and internet services and many others.

The cell phone revolution has meant that countries are experiencing great demand for this gadget and services with more and more subscribers getting connected on a monthly basis. All of them require customer service support and that is reflected in the number of contact centres being set up, with a huge number of employees being recruited to answer calls and provide guidance to customers.

Besides customer service, sales and accountant jobs are also in demand at these telecom organisations, and anybody with the right qualifications or experience, can get the job of their choice and aptitude. It is a fact that due to the industry suddenly growing so rapidly, there is a shortage of trained professionals and it is not too difficult for the right professional to land jobs of their liking.

Telecom jobs are available not only in one’s own country but also in other developed countries, and it is quite convenient to apply for them using the internet. The best thing about the process of selection is that candidates can be interviewed through video conferencing and need not travel all the way for an interview.

The world indeed is shrinking and distances are losing their significance thanks to technology improving by leaps and bounds. The internet has enabled people to work from home and earn money. Flexible working hours have become possible due to the facility of laptops and the fact that people can stay in touch over the phone. That has not only opened up opportunities for working people but also for homemakers who can now attend to family (as well as work) as per their convenience and requirement.

Just a word of caution though. Along with opportunities, there are also threats due to some of the jobs shrinking. It is therefore necessary to be on the right side of the industry to survive for a long time.

Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill with Sprint

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Together with Verizon and AT&T, Sprint is one of the leading carriers in the telecommunication market and offers select discounts through financial and corporate partnerships. As a customer of this cell phone provider, you can take advantage of online tools or customer service telephone representatives to save money on your monthly cell phone bill – a really big problem of any cell phone users. And now let’s discover some interesting programs that help you to save with Sprint. 1. Credit Union To be a member of a credit union is the easiest way to lower your cell phone bill with Sprint. By using your check card, check, or bank statement to prove your membership in the credit union, you can enjoy a 10-15% discount on your cell phone bill. In addition, customers can also get activation fees waived during hardware upgrades after their credit union membership discount is attached to their wireless account. 2. Corporate Discounts This is a program applied to both new and existing customers. To take part in this program, you must be employed by certain employers. What you must do is sign up online using your work email address, wait for confirmation of the email, and then you will start receiving the discount within two to three billing cycles through Sprint’s Employee Value Program.Ifyou are an employee of a qualifying company but have no work email address, you can also use your employee badge. Just go to a Sprint store and show proof of employment to a representative in order to qualify for the discount. Specifically, if you work for The New York Times or EDS, you could receive an 18% or 26% discount, respectively, on your monthly service from Sprint. 3. Referral Offer Getting a referral offer from a Sprint employee is another way to save money with Sprint. Join Sprint’s Everything Plus Referral Program and you can save money on regularly priced Sprint plans. For example, you’d pay only $129.99 per month for a two-line, 1,500-minute Everything Data Plan (which includes unlimited data, text messaging, and mobile service). However, the program requires that you have a Sprint employee’s email address and the last three digits of his or her employee ID number. 4. Online Tools The last way to save money on Sprint cell phone bills is by using online tools. Sprint Plan Optimizer is one specific example. Just login at Sprint.com, then go to the “My Account” link. Here you can see a summary of billed charges and an option to select “Analyze My Plan.” You can also go to http://coupon4share.com. With this plan optimizer, you can determine whether or not you have the right plan for the amount of minutes, data, and text messaging you use. After the above information, do you see that saving money with Sprint is not a complicated task? In addition, you can save even more when buying new cell phones at Sprint thanks to fantastic deals and promotions. Why not try the above ways to save money right now?

Relevance of International cell phones for the globetrotters

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Nowadays, people can easily travel to any part of the world with a reliable pocket sized international cell phone in their hands that helps them to make calls the minute they arrive on the international airport. People require different handset for using in a foreign country as the same handset that you have been using in your own country might not function in places that follow the different network frequencies. Therefore it is a known fact that you will not be able to use your phone in a foreign country if it follows different set of frequency signals for network coverage.

Now people can easily travel to any part of the world without bothering about their connectivity needs Owing to the cost-effectiveness and easily availability of international cell phone rental services provided by the leading international telecom companies like Rebelphone. These companies have substantially improved the international telephony services and made it really easy for the globe trotters. These companies provide appropriate solution that would not only resolve your connectivity needs, but also help you to save money.

Whether you are travelling to Japan, UK, Australia, Italy, Canada, India or any other country, you can easily find an appropriate solution for all your international telecommunication needs. Besides offering unlocked GSM mobile phones on rent, these companies also provide international cell phone plans that make it further simpler for the travelers. These plans include country specific international SIM cards that come with affordable tariff plans. The international cell phone plans for calling are available in both prepaid and postpaid options. The travelers can easily choose one according to their requirements. These global SIM cards offer several advantaged to the users and help them save loads of money spent over telephone calls.

Most of the international cell phone companies offer their services at very reasonable prices. The services offered by these companies are very reliable and you can easily rely on their latest gadgets with the assurance that it will work in the foreign destinations. It is one of the cheapest ways to fulfill your mobile phone requirements while touring foreign countries. The international cell phone rental services help the users to save a lot of money. Rather than buying a new phone for the specific period of travel, travelers can easily rent an international cellular phone to make calls during their visit. The international cellular phones provided on rent by most of the telecom companies are full of hi-tech features that enable them to perform several important functions over the instrument. They can easily make calls, receive calls, send SMS, receive SMS, send & receive MMS, retrieve voice mails and access other advanced facilities over the phone. Improved International cell phones and related services have definitely made it easier for the travelers to fulfill their entire global telecom requirements. Do not forget to obtain these services before leaving the country.

Donald Trump – Why Acn

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Donald Trump and ACN have a contact in place that gives ACN the privilege of mr. Trump’s endorsement of their business. There is no doubt that Trump is getting paid a substantial amount of money to endorse ACN, but on the other hand its a fair assumption to make that he would not be endorsing ACN if the company was not a great company.

However, Donald Trump has no intention of joining ACN even though it’s a good business opportunity. If it really is that great how come he has not signed up as a distributor yet? Of course because he already has a lot of business going on and he has leverage already with all the different enterprises he owns and the many real estate buildings. Network marketing is in my opinion best place to be for the little man. If you don’t have billions to invest like Donald Trump or just millions to invest, this is a fantastic place to be and you can start leveraging as the rich does it for a onetime fee of just 499 dollars.

Donald Trump endorses ACN, the financial aspect of the business, because thats what ACN is – a business. Make no mistake about it. ACN is in business to make money, and apparently they are very good at that. Not once have ACN changed the compensation plan for something worse for the distributors and they have never borrowed any money or joined up with venture capital funds. Donald Trump had one of his best financial supervisors and one of his fantastic lawyers to look into ACN. What he found I cannot tell you, because I don’t know, but he claims to have said: “I want a piece of that company”, when he saw the report. Again Donald Trump thinks like a millionaire and has no intention of joining ACN.

The point is that ACN makes money, but still the vast majority of the distributors don’t. Not due to lack of effort or because they don’t have a big enough reason why. Simply because ACN, like most network marketing companies, teaches old school traditional marketing techniques; talk to friends and family, home meetings, 3-way calling and what have you. These techniques have a 97% statistical proven failure rate in the network marketing industry. Donald Trump endorses ACN as a company and the balance sheet, not the marketing techniques they teach their distributors. They do not work for the majority of the distributors, in fact in the network marketing industry it only works for 3-5 %.