YES, I have crossed over.
This long-time column of mine is having a radio counterpart called Pasada Mindanao.
Pasada Mindanao officially went on air at Radyo Natin CDO 106.3 FM on January 24, 2022. It is a consumer and commuter issues-oriented radio program.
The project took a long time to commence. We have been in talks with my friend Ricky Rivera, a strategic communications expert to have this kind of program for some time already. Actually, he and broadcaster Raul Virtudazo already have a program Pasada 558 aired every Saturday at RMN dxZL in Manila.
The project came to life after I had met Ronald Rufin, owner of the Radyo Natin franchise in Cagayan de Oro from the Manila Broadcasting Company, through a common friend Vince Villafuerte.
And then off we go.
Pasada Mindanao goes on air at Radyo Natin CDO 106.3 every 10-11 am, Monday to Friday. Vince is my local co-host, while Ricky Rivera and Raul Virtudazo do the co-hosting from Manila. Vince is my local 'sparring partner.'
The program is also on Facebook Live at https://www.facebook.com/bencypasada/. This is the Fastlanes page I have maintained for so long already, but renamed Pasada. It is also streamed on Facebook Live at https://www.facebook.com/RadyoNatinCDO
It is a sad reality that newspapers are on a sunset. Online news portals are taking over. But I have thought, learning a new medium would be better. And thus, the cross over.
Actually, I have been on the air for some time already. But these engagements are short-term, project-based. From late 2018 to June 2019, I was co-host of the late Omar Labuntog in a radio commentary program at Magnum which aired from 11-12 noon every Sunday. I also co-host with long-time friend Stan Salcedo every Saturday a radio program at Way Kurat 105.5 FM in Balingasag and also streamed on Facebook Live at https://www.facebook.com/kaabag1misor1cdo.
This Pasada Mindanao radio program however is not your run-of-the-mill radio show. We intend to sustain it for the long haul. Ricky and I thought that consumer and commuter issues are too important, it needs a media platform.
We survived the first five days of airing since we broke air on January 24. There were some loose ends, but we are sure to get better in subsequent broadcasts.
