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A DOZEN YEARS. The phrase seems simple, but to a historian, just a footnote; to a young adult, the span from high school to a stable career. For me, the 4,380 days from 2013 to now feel like a lifetime—a complex, deeply personal journey. Each year part of a deliberate, sometimes chaotic, tapestry of words, stories, struggles, and unexpected joys.

For the 12th year, the Yuletide tradition of Timow’s Turf continues—predicting, analyzing, and sometimes critiquing how Filipinos experience television during the most festive time of the year. With the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) memo issued, this holiday season signals the end of nearly three-quarter century in analog broadcasting in Mega Manila—unless the DTTB (Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting) transition is unsurprisingly delayed…

Good day, respondents! As we approach the end of 2025, we’re once again gathering your valuable insights to help identify the 25 Filipino individuals and groups that truly shaped the news this year. I...

THIS MONDAY (December 1), Kapwa Ko, Mahal Ko (KKMK) — the longest-running public service television program in the country — marks its 50th anniversary. It is a milestone no other show of its kind has ever reached, a testament to five decades of compassion, community, and quiet heroism. But this golden celebration comes wrapped in grief. Just two weeks earlier, …

BEFORE THE PROPER, here's the context of this special blog post: Since the beginning of this year, the rumors about what’s happening to Play FM (DWRT-FM) 99.5 MHz have been spreading quite widely, especially after the passing of its station manager, CJ Rivera, last August 2024. I wasn’t able to tackle any of the developments -- especially for one obsessive listener from Bicolandia but he's not the chief requester of this blog post -- until the decision was finalized and confirmed.

TWO DECADES AGO, on November 11, 2005, a modest yet memorable channel quietly appeared on our screens. I was in Grade 6. It didn’t demand attention with teleseryes or gossip shows. Instead, it whispered, “Quality Television.” QTV-11, later simply as Q was a GMA Network sister channel that dared to be different in a world dominated by heavy drama, slapstick, and sensationalism.

WHEN A STATION known for laughter and love stories suddenly falls silent, it sends chills through the radio dial. That’s exactly what happened at 106.7 Energy FM, once a lively hub of talk, advice, and high-voltage personality. In mid-October, listeners noticed something was wrong—the voices were gone. The jingles still played, but the energy—the essence that made the station feel alive—had vanished into endless music and ads.

In the noisy jungle that is Philippine media, the loudest beasts—those roaring networks with decades of legacy and ego—often steal the spotlight. But if you tune your frequency a little finer, you’ll catch the hum of a quiet disruptor that’s been busy building something of its own: Prage Management Corporation (PMC), better known under its louder, glossier banner—the…

IN THE WHIRLWIND WORLD of Philippine television, where shows often vanish as quickly as they appear, only a handful manage to etch themselves into the nation’s cultural DNA. Bubble Gang isn’t just one of them—it’s in a league of its own. For three decades, it has made Filipinos laugh, taught us new lingo, and parodied every fad and phenomenon. Since its inception, the show has been a Friday late-night staple, a perfect cap to the work week that provided necessary satirical relief.

ALT: a black and white cat with the words my god what have i done behind it

WHILE EVERYONE'S eyes are on the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship—especially with Alas Pilipinas (as gracious host) fighting tooth and nail for national pride—and amid ongoing frustrations in national and international politics, I was left stumped. Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty to write about mass media. Since I published my blog post on Magic 89.9 last month—my most viewed article in nearly 12 years—requests have been pouring in nonstop.

TWO MONTHS after 99.5 FM rebranded as XFM Manila, the station is revealing its true form. In July, we noted its quiet, strategic entry into Metro Manila’s crowded airwaves. Back then, XFM was in “soft opening,” with a minimal schedule and listeners wondering what would fill the gaps. After 60 days of experimentation, a few talent shake-ups, and more show launches, XFM Manila now has a clearer identity.

NOTHING BEATS A JET—oh wait, scratch that. This isn’t a sponsored post. What we do have is something many Filipinos look forward to every year: the official list of holidays. Yesterday, Malacañang issued Proclamation No. 1006, laying out all the national public holidays for 2026. Perfect timing for those who hoard planners, calendars, or those limited-edition coffee chain diaries (yes, the ones you exchange after downing too many holiday frappes).

FOR YEARS, smooth jazz was more than a radio format in the Philippines—it was a cultural niche, a lifestyle, and a daily soundtrack that eased Metro Manila's traffic. But today, it seems to have lost its rhythm on the airwaves—and online. The recent closure of Crossover Radio Online, the digital successor of the legendary Crossover 105.1, marks the near extinction of the genre.

WHENEVER you hear the word “success” in the world of FM radio, which stations come to mind? Most would likely say Barangay LS 97.1 or Love Radio 90.7. And that makes sense—they’ve been leading the airwaves since MOR 101.9 was shut down five years ago in a politically driven shake-up (with its orchestrator now facing trial in The Hague). With MOR unlikely to return, LS and Love have pretty much cemented their dominance.

DJ Chacha and Erika Balagtas. The former has a lot of professionalism over the latter; when it comes to shock value, it's the opposite. Yet they both have experience on radio advice. DISCLAIMER: THE FOLLOWING BLOG POST IS RATED SPG. A common program in local radio stations is "love advice. For decades, such shows thrived as safe spaces: anonymous callers, soothing hosts, and an audience bound by heartbreak and healing.

Ah, Ghost Month. According to the Chinese lunar calendar, it's when starting big ventures, signing contracts, or making major decisions is seen as asking for trouble. Elders warn against moving houses, launching businesses, or even getting a haircut—lest your soul become itchy in the afterlife. Will she stay on for a few years or for a few months? And yet here we are, on a long weekend that overlaps with the start of Ghost Month, watching the state-owned…

MAGIC 89.9 has long been a staple in Metro Manila’s FM radio scene, featuring a mix of music, entertainment, and personality-driven shows. But last July, the station found itself embroiled in a controversy spilling over into social media and the broader entertainment press. Classified as B-tier in our July MoSS rankings—below S- and A-tier stations but still competitive—Magic 89.9 now faces challenges not just in ratings but also in reputation.

YouTube video by Timow P

After more than a year of deafening silence, the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) is finally set to hold the 37th Star Awards for Television. This event was supposed to honor the finest achievements in Philippine TV for the year 2023. This happened a few months after the 38th edition was held. The much-delayed awards night will take place on…

YouTube video by Timow P

METRO MANILA'S AIRWAVES are transforming as new broadcasters prioritize substance over style. Among them, 99.5 XFM Manila, part of a fast-growing national network led by Palawan entrepreneur Remelito Uy, stands out. The key question: can XFM carve a foothold in a market dominated by established news FM giants like Brigada News FM 105.1 and 105.9 True FM?

HELLO, EVERYONE. Today is a very difficult day for me. But I’ll try my best to digest and share what’s been happening—in the country and in my life—in the next 1,600 words or less.