For Filipinos who miss hearing Don Manolo Favis’ voice as he comments on societal issues and more, the Philippine radio legend has a new program, Ito Ang Inyong Lingkod, Don Manolo (This Is Your Servant, Don Manolo), on Radyo La Verdad 1350.
Don Manolo’s witty and insightful remarks can be heard from Monday to Friday at 11 a.m. on the AM band. And thanks to social media, the broadcaster, who is known as one of the Philippines’ golden voices on radio, can also now be seen via Facebook Live.
Some fans were quick to spot the veteran broadcaster’s new home and timeslot as the show livestreamed on UNTV Radyo La Verdad’s Facebook page. Don Manolo was previously heard on DZBB late at night.
“Don Manolo, we missed you. I only used to hear you on your program before with Bro. Eli Soriano. We are now listening from San Fernando, La Union,” said Facebook user Toto Fabros.
Meanwhile, another user by the name of Brix Bartolome commented: “I kept turning the radio dial at 11 p.m. looking for you… You belong to this network Don M… I wish that you also took with you, Andoy.”
A Veteran Broadcaster’s New Home
“You asked me why I like this station? It is because this station rescues people. When you say they rescue, they help and save people; delivering news is just a second priority. They also do public services and they do not discriminate,” shared Don Manolo, referring to UNTV News and Rescue.
The veteran broadcaster added that in road accidents, for example, while other reporters are preoccupied in being the first to report the news, UNTV reporters are at the same scene helping the victims first. Hence, the news bureau’s tagline: Help now. Report later.
“When you help others, God will bless you, too,” remarked Don Manolo.
Don Manolo also commended UNTV CEO, Kuya Daniel Razon, and the network’s primary supporter, Bro. Eli Soriano, for their many humanitarian initiatives.
“Dis Is Manolo and His GENIUS Family”
In one of his show’s episodes, Don Manolo recounted the times when he and Bro. Eli were together in his show in the 80s.
“Bro. Eli is a linguist now,” Don Manolo said on the show. “Way back then, we only spoke Tagalog. We laughed at each other when we tried to speak in English.”
Don Manolo met Bro. Eli when he invited The Old Path preacher to become one of the regular panelists in “Dis is Manolo and his GENIUS Family.” (GENIUS stood for God’s Eternal News in Universal Salvation.)
The panel included pastors from different denominations who went to the show as resource persons to answer questions about life according to the beliefs of the churches they represented.
“We used to eat spring rolls back then. We would buy ingredients in Balintawak, then he would cook it and serve it to our colleagues in the Genius Family. I saw that he really liked feeding people,” said Don Manolo.
For consecutive years, Bro. Eli was the winner of “The Most Outstanding Minister” in the program, being the only resource person who gave answers based on the Bible.
“I asked him one day, ‘Do you still have money? Because I heard that you borrowed money just so you can feed these people.’ But Bro. Eli said, ‘Because that is what the Bible said: Feed the hungry,” he added.
One of the Philippines’ Golden Voices
Don Manolo Favis has been in the industry for more than 45 years. He was cited as one of the Legends of Philippine Radio during the UN World Radio Day 2019 Celebration at the Senate Pecson Hall on February 6, 2019.
In 2016, he was one of the radio personalities honored with a star in German Moreno’s Walk of Fame Philippines. He was also acknowledged as an Outstanding Rotarian by the Rotary Club of Marikina.
The veteran radio broadcaster marked his inaugural broadcast last September 21 with his trademark insightful views about life laced with candidness — and his high-pitched laughter.
Written By: Beth Pilares
