Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Sampu't Sari: Ramon "The Doctor" Zialcita ng LA105.9


"Each day, you wake up and get out of bed knowing that there is shit waiting for you outside.

Each day is a struggle, a battle and you must prepare for these battles, prepare for these wars. You have to be prepared.That is where the spirit of Pinoy Rock comes in.

It is for everybody, both men and women, who have the fighting spirit.You either fight to win or your throw up your hands and admit that you are fucked! In the end, it's all about delivering God's justice!"


Noong Dekada NoBenta, ang radyo ay biniyayaan ng sangkatutak na mga istasyong nakikiuso at nakikisabay sa pagsikat ng Pinoy Alternative Music. Hindi makakaila na dahil sa dami nila, marami rin ang hindi totoo - may mga pa-konyo, may mga pasikat, at may mga posero. Lahat ng mga peke ay nakikisabay lang sa daloy para sa "payola" o ang pagpapatugtog ng musika kapalit ng pera.

Ang totoo, ang isa sa mga nagpasimula ng "Pinoy music revolution" noong Nineties ay ang alamat na LA105.9 sa ilalim ng Bright Star Broadcasting Network Corporation. Naitatag noong 1992, nagpalit ito ng format mula "world music" papuntang "rock" mga huling buwan ng 1993. Simula noon ay kinilala sila bilang "Manila's Rock Authority" na naging tagapagtaguyod ng Pinoy Rock sa pamamagitan ng pagkilala at pagpapatugtog ng mga awitin mula sa mga nagsisimulang kombo. Walang salaping hinihintay na kapalit.

Sa kanilang istasyon unang narinig ang husay at talino ng mga grupo tulad ng Yano, Datu's Tribe, Wolfgang, The Youth, Razorback, Teeth, at marami pang iba. Sila rin ang naging tahanan ng mga underground bands tulad ng Philippine Violators, Wuds, Bad Omen, Dead Sperms, at Askals na noon ay may sarili nang mga tagapakinig. Malaki ang naging suporta ng LA105.9 sa mga orihinal na komposisyon ng mga musikerong Pinoy - dalawa sa patunay dito ay ang segment nitong "Alternative Filipino Hour" at ang lingguhang "Filipino Alternative Countdown". Walang ibang istasyon ng radyo ang nagpapatugtog ng musikang Pinoy ng mas marami kasya sa mga banyagang awitin. DWLA lang ang gumawa ng ganun!

Kapag naririnig o napag-uusapan ang alamat ng LA, hindi puwedeng hindi mabababanggit ang Chief Announcer at Production Director nitong si Sir RAMON "THE DOCTOR" ZIALCITA. Sa kanyang pamumuno, sinigurado niyang nabibigyan ng hustisya ang mga awiting ipinapatugtog at walang poserong disc jockey ang makakagamit ng mikropono ng istasyon.

Sa apat na dekada ng kanyang karera sa radyo, siya ay naging kabilang din sa mga malulufet na istasyon tulad ng Y101-Cebu, 99.5RT, at DZRJ-AM 810. Para sa akin, siya ang imahe ng tunay na Rock DJ. Kapag narinig mo ang kanyang istilo ay mararamdaman mo kaagad na hindi siya ang tipo na nagkukunwari o nagpapa-cute para lang magustuhan ng mga nakikinig. May sariling angas. May paninindigan.

Panalo ang kanyang galit laban sa mga hip-hoppers. Nakilala ang istasyon nila sa walang-kamatayang digmaan kontra sa mga nilalang na nagsusuot ng maluluwag na pantalon. Inaabangan namin ang pagbasa ni The Doctor sa mga beeper messages na ipinapadala ng mga punks at "metal" sa Easycall 246142. Walang Batang Nineties ang hindi nakasaksi sa asaran ng dalawang tribo - “Mga hip-hop, magtanim nalang kayo ng kamote…Mga hip-hop, mag-ingat kayo dahil aabangan namin kayo sa Megamall… Mga hip-hop, magtago nalang kayo sa saya ng nanay niyo.”.

Minsan ko nang nakaharap ng personal si Sir Ramon sa isang gig ng barakada kong si Norieva (na naging DJ din nila). Sa sobrang starstruck ay hindi ko man lang siya nayayang makainuman. Sayang at hindi ko nakahalubilo ang isa sa aking mga iniidolo. Pangarap ko ring maging Rock DJ pero natutulog ako nang magsabog si Bro ng talento. Kung gising man ako noon, malamang ay wala na akong masasalo dahil nakuha na ni The Doctor ang lahat ng iyon.

Buong dedikasyon ang kanyang ibinuhos para sa ikauunlad at ikatatagal ng LA. Nagbunga iyon ngunit hindi nagtagal nang magbago ng Management ang istasyon. Taong 1998 ay nagulat nalang kaming mga rockers nang marinig ang unti-unting pagbabago ng format nito papuntang electronic dance music. Kasabay ng pagbabagong iyon ay ang paglisan ni The Doctor paalis ng nakilalang Rock Authority.

Sa ngayon, siya ay isa sa mga DJ's ng  99.9 Country at isa sa mga entertainmet coordinators ng The Red Lion Pub & Inn sa Baguio City. Madalas pa rin siyang makitang nagho-host sa mga bigating gigs tulad ng "The Pulp Summer Slam", "Fete de la Musique", "Dutdutan", at "The Sunrise Festival". Bukod sa pagiging ring announcer sa URCC, record producer, newspaper and magazine columnist, isa rin siyang "in-demand" na voice-over sa mga corporate events at mga commercials sa teevee / at radyo.

Huwag na nating patagalin ang palabok, heto na ang kanyang kuwentong-karanasan:

1.What was the scene like during the 90’s? How will you compare it with today’s music scene?

The rock scene of the 1990s were filled with people who had a great passion for creating and playing music. They did their research on rock from the past and they were influenced by the rock legends so they carried the tradition with them to their generation. I hardly see that from today’s generation of rock musicians. Most of them don’t care about listening to rock from the past so they don’t have any idea where it came from so how can they appreciate the music they are creating today? Remember you are shaped by your influences and if you’ve got losers as influences you will have a very hard time overcoming that.

2. LA105.9 is undoubtedly an institution in the rock industry. What made it different from the other radio stations?

We patterned our programming with that of DZRJ-AM, The Rock of Manila – the legendary rock station…That station created the best rock jocks and supported Pinoy Rock music…We just continued where DZRJ-AM left off and took it forward with a rag-tag band of rock renegades! We were rebels on the air – dynamic, energetic, unpredictable, gung-ho and that’s what made us different. We had personality and that alone gives you iron-clad identity!

3. What is LA105.9's legacy?

The legacy of LA Rock was our 100% commitment in supporting Filipino Alternative Music from the roots to its branches because we believed in it! No record label instructed or forced us what to play! We were anti-payola and that runs in our blood.

4. What was your reaction when then senator Tito Sotto probed on “Alapaap” by The Eraserheads? What is your interpretation of Ely’s lyrics on that song?

Joder! Before he even probes other people’s music he should first probe on his recordings as a member of Tito Vic & Joey. Do you think those songs did anything for nation building? I was not really into the Eraserheads, man so I’d rather not comment on Ely Buendia’s lyrics.

5. During the 90's, there was this “war” between the hip-hoppers and the rockers. How did LA105.9 become a major catalyst and ignited this feud?

The feud has always been there, man. In the 1970s there was “Death Before Disco.” It just evolved into hip hop in the 1990s. We felt the pulse of the rock market – usually from the punks and we would air their grievances on what they felt was the worst creation the world saw.

6. Backmasking became controversial during the 90’s. What can you say about those religious (daw) groups who believed that were “hidden satanic messages”in popular songs like “Pare Ko” and “Banal na Aso, Santong Kabayo”?

All those pricks can piss in hell with Satan for they do not know what they’re preachin'!

7. Tell us your experience on the “LA105.9: The Album”. What was your favorite song from it? Whose idea is it to include fillers and commercial spoofs?

I had a great time with The Ghost and DJ Carlos in the recording of the album. I was excited as we were creating Philippine radio history. Other stations would release their own albums of songs they aired or made famous but this was the first to include DJs and commercials… I was so stoned and drunk majority of the time. We had around 3-4 sessions but I stayed on with fellow record producer Ed Formoso for the editing. I also co-produced all the songs and commercials – which went into the album. Tough question to answer but my favorite song in the album is “Sindikato” by Signum. It was Ed Formoso’s idea to record the commercials but the group including our news team and select rock musicians to execute it.




8. What is the most memorable rock event that you hosted on?

That is a very hard question to answer, man. From all the rock events I saw action in since 1985 I would have to narrow it down to “Ugat: Best of Pinoy Folk Rock.” It was an honor to host a reunion show featuring the finest Pinoy Rockers from the 1970s where it all began…It was like I was transported back to the past to a generation when I was still a kid. I couldn’t believe I was locking horns with Lolita Carbon, Florante, Banyuhay ni Heber, Sampaguita and Juan dela Cruz – Pepe Smith, Mike Hanopol and Wally Gonzalez all in one show! It was always a dream of introducing JDLC in a concert. They are the Godfathers of Pinoy Rock! And I finally nailed it at the Big Dome.

9. How do you see the future of the local rock music scene now that LA105.9 and NU107.5 have signed off?

Despite the loss of both rock stations other radio stations will still carry it in their playlists! I still go over the air for 99.9 Country in Baguio to continue what we stood and fought for! Pinoy Rock will go on! We’ll roll up our sleeves and take it to the streets- to the arenas- to the concert stages- straight to the people, cono! This I guarantee Pinoy Rock listeners and fans. We wouldn’t be there and where we are if they hadn’t brought us there. That wasn’t me. That wasn’t you. It was them and they deserve the best! Pinoy Rock will likewise transfer to the internet and make it accessible to blare to the rest of the world that we are still alone, still alive and still fuckin’ unbroken!!

10. Message to all the 90’s kids:

Listen and learn until the end. You need to be ready to listen to people who can teach you something and think about whether the criticism is justified otherwise you’d never improve yourself. Hail & kill!


SIR, MARAMING SALAMAT AT RAKENROL! \m/



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