Our 12th Anniversary!

1996 was a landmark year for me, a crucial turning point in my life. It was the year my father died, the most important person in my life. My state of mind at the time, was that the world as I knew it…was over.

During the wake, our Program Director, Louie D, approached me during a lull, and broached the idea of me and Delle working together as an official tandem, once I get back to work. I said yes immediately, without really thinking about it because work was the last thing on my mind at a time like that. While Delle, I found out later, was already mulling her resignation; she was ready to move on to better things.

So we were both like, “yeah, whatever”, since we had nothing to lose.  The weekend after my Dad’s funeral, Delle and I sat down at RX and brainstormed for an hour and came up with the first version of the Morning Rush.  We hardly put any thought in it, we barely whizzed by the portions, deciding on “Good Morning, Manila!”, “The Morning Chat”, and “The Wake-up Call”.  The Monday after that, July 8, 1996, we did our first ever episode of the Morning Rush with Chico and Delamar.  Little did we know that this little “moment” in time would lead us on a journey both perilous and joyous, 12 years and counting.

After a dozen years, we like where we are.  We’ve gone from “the new kids on the block”, to “the next big thing”, to “the team to beat”, to “fallen from grace”, to “the has-beens”, to “the comeback kids”, to whatever it is people have decided we now are.   We’ve gone through being DJ’s, to making a CD, to starring in our own TV show, to being newspaper columnists, to superstar bloggers (Oh wait, that’s just me…hehehe…peace Delle!) and now…even being teachers.  We’ve gone from RX…to KC…and back.  We’ve gone from being strict professional partners, to being the closest of best friends.  We’ve gone through singlehood, flings, relationships, break-ups, and back.  We’ve had listeners who became our personal friends, while some of them became each other’s lifelong friends, some have gotten married to each other, some already have kids who are starting to listen to us as well, and some have even passed away.  We’ve made as many friends as we’ve made enemies in the industry.

I can’t even begin to look back at the 12 years that we’ve been through.  If I mention one thing, five others spring to mind.  I may not be the richest guy, or the best looking guy, or the sexiest beast, but what I have been the past 12 years, is blessed.  The good times were really good, and the bad times taught me a LOT.  If I were a donut and purpose was custard, I’d be a fat custard-filled donut!  I’m just happy that I know what I’m here for.  We love doing what we do on radio, and as long as there are people who enjoy their mornings with us, we’d be absolutely HONORED to keep doing what we’ve been doing for 12 years.  Thanks to you guys, we hardly felt the time pass…

P.S. The picture above was circa late 90’s, so please be kind and don’t judge me too harshly…