Joey De Leon's Experience in Radio

And now, you would probably ask who the hell is Mang Damian. Well, ito lang ang masasabi namin ni Julie — Hell is alive with the sound of Mang Damian’s voice and his attacks. Ganito kasi ‘yan — When I was with ABS-CBN in the late ’60s and the early ’70s, a memorable part of my job then as a radio announcer for station DZAQ, which eventually became the Radyo Patrol station, was doing the Disclaimer Spiels for the hard-hitting, table-banging and fearless commentator of all commentators in the history of radio in the Philippines. He was the first and real Comentirador — Damian Soto.

During that period, Damian Soto had the “license to kill” and call his targets on air with labels like Ulol and Tarantado. I think he and his vocabulary were already colorful even before the advent of color television in the country.

By the way, Station Disclaimers are “Pilatic” messages from the management voiced before and after commentary programs; ‘Yung tipong “labas kami d’yan kahit anong mangyari.” I could still recall by heart the spiels:

“Ang susunod/katatapos ay isang bayad na palatuntunan. Ang lahat ng kuru-kuro at pala-palagay na inyong maririnig/narinig ay pawang sa tagapagsalita lamang at walang kinalaman ang himpilang ito.”

Government officials and heads of companies had high respect for Mang Damian, but the erring and notorious personalities were afraid of him. His being warrior-like was legendary because he challenged his foes to face him — or dared them to ambush and kill him. He would even give them his whereabouts. Matapang talaga.

From Tondo, where he owned about 50 calesas. He traveled to the Bohol Station in his stainless jeep with just his driver. I would later learn from someone in the studio that he was actually carrying a high-caliber automatic firearm under the seat of his jeep. Ano, bale? “Grease gun” pa nga yata. But I never had the chance to ask him about its veracity.

As fierce as he was fiery on the air, Mang Damian was always a Jekyll and Hyde case. He transforms into a sweet and gentle person when not on board. He would always use “opo” and “oho” whenever he talked to anybody — including me. Apo na n’ya ako, pero s’ya pa ang namumupo.

I also remember that once in a while, he would sheepishly and secretly slip a multi-folded 20-peso bill into my hand, which until now, I never knew what it was for. Teka, parang nakita ko na ‘to sa isang kandidato this year ah. Siguro pambili ko ng tinapay. Joke.

I would also like to believe that I was the first one in ABS-CBN to hear and learn about the possible declaration of Martial Law. This information came from Mang Damian.

One afternoon in September of 1972, Mang Damian entered our booth, arriving earlier than usual. He seemed tired and somewhat worried. I casually asked what was bothering him and he said, “Galing ako sa Malacañang… Nag-usap kami ni Ferdie sa kusina. Pinag-aayos ko silang dalawa ni Nanding (Lopez).”

“Ferdie? Si Mako?” I asked. Bilib na bilib ako. I quickly followed, “O bakit ho?”

He bowed and slowly shook his head and I will never forget his exact words — “Medyo magulo… Baka mag-deklara si Ferdie ng Lei Marcial.”

Before I could ask further, I noticed that it was already time for me to give the Disclaimer for his program.

A few days later, Martial Law was declared.

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