The Morning Rush 15th Anniversary (July 8, 2011)

(poster courtesy of Oscar Dela Hopia)

I’ll be posting the pictures of the this morning’s EB by next week. I just wanted to talk about lasting 15 years in this fascinating, sometimes harsh, mostly exhilarating radio industry. I’ve actually been in the business for 21 years, but the last 15 were hands-down the most memorable. When Louie D. approached me during my father’s wake in 1996, and asked me what I thought of the idea of doing a full show with Delle, not as DJ-newscaster, but as full-on co-hosts, I never thought it would go this far. My beloved father had just died, so the news of co-hosting a show with a newscaster did not shake my world one bit. Little did I know that shake it will. In fact I still feel the tremors up to this very moment.

Do the 15 years feel like an eternity? Actually, no. It only seems yesterday when we first guested on “Ms. D”. We thought it was an episode on FM jocks in general. When we found out that it was an episode devoted solely to us, we were like, “WHY?!?” And just this morning, we were shown so much love, in fact so much that to a degree we question if we really deserve it, and I am overwhelmed with helplessness because I don’t think I can come up with words to fully express just how thankful we are to everyone who’s supported us, who painstakingly wake up every morning and send entries to the Top Ten (yes, even to the lame topics), who flock to our events when we need them (like today despite the torrential rains), who fiercely run to our defense like pit bulls and soccer moms when haters hate on us…you get the point. Earlier, a guy approached us just to say that we literally saved him during the most difficult time in his life. That listening to the show help him through what he thought was an unsalvageable situation. He said helping him laugh through his problems not only helped him out of that emotional abyss, but to even triumph against all odds, eventually graduating Magna Cum Laude. It was definitely a moment for us. Because sappiness aside, the same goes for us. When I was under fierce attack by rivals, when my sister died, whenever I went through crises and depressions, during those days, the odds seemed insurmountable. But it was the daily trudge to work, even if it were against our will, forced to put up a brave front, and eventually laughing as we went along, those baby steps helped me get through some of my darkest days.

I apologize if I’m waxing nostalgic today, but I shamelessly indulge because 15 years is such a personal landmark for us, not just professionally, but also personally. And our relationships with the show and our listeners have gone beyond work; you have collectively become intrinsic parts of our lives. I don’t care if you get sick of hearing us repeatedly thanking all of you who have contributed to the 15 years we’ve logged in as hosts of The Morning Rush. Whether you’ve become a personal friend, or a regular participant on air, or an occasional listener, you all have a part in this mosaic we call our radio career. We literally wouldn’t be here if not for you guys. The driving force that keeps us going, that keeps us enforcing stringent standards on ourselves, is the idea that we owe it to you, our listeners, to give you a good show. Literally, nahihiya kami sa sarili namin pag pangit yung show. During low days, we feel like we let you down. That’s why we’re so hard on ourselves sometimes. But it’s this same insistent energy that keeps us going after all these years.

I guess what they say is true: Life is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. And with you guys fueling our stride, hopefully the race is far from over. God-willing, 15 years won’t be the finish line; we’d like to think it’s the start of our second wind. Again, no better words have been invented, so this will have to suffice: from the very bottom of our bursting-at-the-seams hearts…THANK YOU.

mWahUGzzKtNxxbYE!!!