WOMAN Talk, my dream radio talk show, finally aired on Oct. 15, 2020 at 98.3 Home Radio General Santos. I am so grateful! I have been wanting to have my own show – one I conceptualize myself integrating my interests, advocacy, and passions. I get to pick my own music repertoire, my guests, and flesh out my creativity including my groove in the show. Yes, groove!
If not of this COVID-19 pandemic, I wouldn’t have been able to push the talk show into reality. There’s always a positive side to a crisis. This one is!
I am very appreciative of my kids for the full support, my Bible Study group for the prayers, my women prayer group, my close friends of all ages – yes all ages!, my colleagues in the power industry, fishing industry, my first cousins on the Calope-Lungay side including my Sales sisters, and with special mention to my sponsors whose support helped me mount the show. Thank you very much.
Returning to radio brought back memories of my college days when I worked as radio disc jockey in a local radio station in my birth city of Tagbilaran. Seems like I’m coming full circle, huh!
So far, we have guested congresswoman Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles of the 1st District of South Cotabato and General Santos City; lawyer and city councilor Franklin M. Gacal Jr.; and woman executive Rosanna Bernadette B. Contreras.
Engaging our brilliant guests in meaningful conversations sharpened, educated, and enlightened me about the important aspects of their work with a glimpse of their captivating personal lives.
It’s always good to get to know people and their backgrounds, motivations, aspirations, and principles. It’s inspiring. I hope that our listeners are sharpened, informed, and enlightened as well.
Congresswoman Shirlyn served as vice mayor of General Santos City from 2010-2019. As vice mayor, she successfully transformed the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) of General Santos City into one of the most competitive and open city legislatures in the Philippines.
Moreover, she led the GenSan SP into becoming a double Most Outstanding Sangguniang Panlungsod for Highly Urbanized Cities in Region XII and a two-time runner-up for Most Outstanding Sanggunian for Highly Urbanized Cities nationwide.
She works as vice chairperson of the House Committees on Women and Gender Equality, People’s Participation, and the East ASEAN Growth Area, and as member of 24 other equally significant congressional committees.
Meanwhile, our second guest appearing on Oct. 17, 2020 was incumbent councilor Franklin “Jeng” Gacal. Popularly acknowledged as a fiscalizer in the SP, he first served as city legislator in 1988 when he was only 27 years old. He’s now on his 7th term at the SP.
Our guest on October 20, 2020 is currently the executive director of the SOCSKSARGEN Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc., Rosanna Bernadette B. Contreras.
Osh or Osang as she is fondly called, takes charge of federation advocacy work and participation in national and international consultations and fora.
She sits in the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission meetings as a regular member of the Philippine Delegation. Moreover, she also plays an active role in various national and regional organizations and partnerships to push the fisheries and aquaculture industry.
Yesterday, October 22, 2020, our guest was sports advocate and businessman Jay Ruiz Omila. Jay believes in championing sports among young people to build strong character and self-discipline. His Omila Sports Academy has trained the youth of General Santos City, South Cotabato, and Sarangani since 2010.
And tomorrow, our guest is a lady doctor – Dr. Naat B. Montemayor. She’s a practicing Internist/Pulmonologist in General Santos City; an active member of the Philippine Medical Association or PMA; and an equally active member of the Philippine College of Physicians and Philippine College of Chest Physicians. It will be another exciting conversation tomorrow!
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Food for Thought
An Ode to Fearless Women
By Nikita Gill
Defined by no man, you are your own story,
Blazing through the world, turning his story into herstory.
And when they dare to tell you about
All the things you cannot be,
You smile and tell them,
I am both war and woman and you cannot stop me.
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Writer can be reached at belindabelsales@gmail.com. Twitter @ShilohRuthie./PN
