"Wow, what a job!" - Papa Dan

June 13 2014

By MARY LOUISE LIGUNAS
 

He started in radio more than a decade ago but even until today, Papa Dan finds it surreal how he scored his dream job a lot sooner than he first thought.

Because of the multi-faceted nature of his job, there is no hour too long or a day that’s boring.

Papa Dan’s passion and energy are seen in the way he deals with listeners every night in Wanted Sweetheart on Barangay LS 97.1.

Of all the things he deals with every day, three top Papa Dan’s list.

The music
The unitive power of music impresses Papa Dan. Because being a DJ requires him to be on the loop with music trends, he is challenged to keep up. “Music keeps you young. That’s the best part,” he declared.

The listeners
Being a DJ is like having a huge barkada. “We get calls and we get to call the listeners, too, so it’s very personal,” he said.

He compared having a radio with having a friend. People who are driving, commuting, working or hanging out with a radio on hand instantly have a friend. “Companion kasi ‘yung radyo so pag naririnig nila, lalo na pag mag-isa (sila), feel nila may kasama sila. (Parang) barkada nila kami,” he added.

The artists
One of the most unforgettable experiences that Papa Dan could vividly recall in his 12 years of working for radio was when he met Mandy Moore. “I got to see her, talk to her, ask her a couple of questions. When I first talked to her on the phone, I cried on air,” he confessed.

He also enjoys interacting with his favorite OPM artists. “’Yung mga idol mong artists, lalo na ‘yung mga OPM musicians na dati, pinapakinggan mo lang, ngayon you’re friends with them.”

These are the moments when he tells himself: “Wow, what a job! It doesn’t feel like a job.”