Songs from Memory: Ben by Michael Johnson

Music is in my heart

Somewhere in time, in someplace called a "hanging city" I was born. I was born wee hours of the morning when the earth trembled.

Probably, the rattling ground was due to the mining force that took place on that day? Of course, this is only my supposition. I did not really gr0w up there as we lived everywhere like what most nomads do.

How did my love of music relate to this quaking place at the time I was born? I have no idea. Just kind of 'phlyarologism' I suppose. Again?

Well, once upon a time, I worked in a local radio in CebuCity as mentioned in one of my blogs. My connection in landing this job was a credit to my friend Cleo Maranga. Cleo had been the Theta Chapter President of the Dept of Pharmacy in Southwestern University. Prior to Pharmacy, she was a student in San Carlos University studying Law. Then there was a shifting sand, so she moved to SWU to pursue Pharmacy.

In those times, I was bit active in our student organization. I was third year and Cleo was in her last league. For some reason, she always trailed me along in every Theta Chapter's activity. Later, I became silently annoyed because my studies sometimes had been abandoned.

Anyway, Cleo surprisingly became an employee of DYRF. Our friendship continued even after she left the university. She took me to her workplace, showed me off to her colleagues, and every now and then, I would go to see her in the station when I had a time out from my studies.

In my last semester, I could not handle the pressures that everybody was putting on me. In demonstration of my rebellion, I did not take the final exam. It was my loss, but I still wanted to get out of the way that was too much for me to handle especially that there was nobody supporting and sympathetic to my cause.

In that same year, I heard of this Broadcasting Scholarship offered to interested parties. I applied and was accepted. Of all the applicants, I was the only one without any communication or journalism background. All the rests were either BS Communication and Journalism or BS Commerce students or even degree holders.

DYLA, the Labor Station, was instrumental for my study of a short Broadcasting Course under the auspices of Friedrich Eibbert Stiftung of Germany. DYRF took me during my Apprenticeship/Training Course, and eventually they absorbed me after I finished the course.

My first stint with the station was as a Field Reporter. I was responsible in gathering news materials and delivered them as stringers direct to the Anchor, (late) Greg (I forgot his family name), who later was to become my boss, being the News Director.

Later, my boss, Mr Nick Ampatin, gave me my first live On-the-
Air time slot on a Sunday which I gave a title "Karambola". It was of a smorgasbord informal and educational program integrated with playing music. Eventually, my boss gave me another program I handled in prime time of weeknights. I chose Filipino Classical program called "Laylay sa Payag".

My love of music took off until the station was finally owned by SVD - San Carlos University. Then I had Fr. Rod C Salazar, SVD, as my boss.

Love,

With Love,

Songs from Memory

Berthold Auerbach says that ...

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Ben by Michael Johnson

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