I started Confessions of a Partyphile on October 2008. At
face value, Confessions of a Partyphile seemed like any other radio show. It
had a host, music was played, and there were assigned segments and topics for
the night. But in many ways, Confessions of a Partyphile was the first of its
kind.
It was the first locally-produced radio talk show that
played purely party music; it was the first radio show that promoted partying
as a way of life, and it was the first locally-produced radio show to have
regular events.
When I started this radio show, it came as a surprise.
Mostly because I was very new to the industry, and the opportunity to be given
a chance to start a special show was reserved for more seasoned of DJs. I do
not know what Miss Joey, our station manager, saw in me at that time, but I am
most grateful that she gave me this platform to promote what I believe in.
When Confessions of a Partyphile started, people thought it
was controversial. To be promoting drinking and partying in mass media was
something that did not sit well with everybody. However, the true reason why I
started Confessions of a Partyphile, the newspaper column—blog—and radio show
four years ago, was to educate young partyphiles on the Dos and Donts of
partying. The truth is, the party scene, or PARTYLANDIA as I call it, can
change you. A young partyphile could see some bad behaviour and feel like it is
appreciated in the party scene and mimic it. I put it upon myself to be the
voice of reason, telling these partyphiles that you can have fun without throwing
away your values.
Thus, aside from talking about good alcohol, how to cure a
hangover, or how to dress for a party; I also talked about party etiquette, and
setting limitations. Contrary to popular belief, this was not a show that
capitalized on gimmicks, hoopla, and controversy. I just said what I thought
people needed to hear; to know; and to feel.
So, I think it is only fitting that I end the show on its
fourth year. In a sense, you, my dear listener, have graduated from Partyphile
College. In many ways, I have given everything I know about the partyphile
lifestyle, there isn’t much more to be exhausted from the unfortunately very
limited brain space I have for useful information. So I think that I have
achieved what I have set out to do. I have imparted my knowledge, I have
entertained, I have informed, and I have become part of many people’s lives.
You, my dear listener, have let me into your life. You had
made me part of your Wednesday habit. Whether you listen to me by accident or whether
you tune in religiously, the fact that you have shared with me an on-going
conversation about the partyphile lifestyle is a lot to be thankful for.
I am leaving the show to move on to other things, but I
would like you to know that you have made this booth my home. And no matter
where life takes me, it will always ring true, that there is no place like
home. There is no place like Mix FM. There is no place like Confessions of a
Partyphile.
I’d like to thank Ms Joey for all the understanding and the
opportunity to do what I want and need to do and for allowing me to grow under
her mentorship. For making all the ads for my events, for the friendship, all
the tips, and gossip, and the moments we shared by your office door. More
importantly, Ms Joey always told me about things to look out for, and people to
stay away from, because she is genuinely concerned about how I do inside and
outside the booth.
I thank Jack Savage for being like an older brother to
everyone in the station and for giving me the best party songs in Davao and for
allowing me to debut the freshest party songs, other radio shows haven’t even
heard of. I know it must have been added work for him to actually look for
songs to fill my show with, but it was all worth it in the end. People always
tell me that I play great music on my show, but I take no credit for it. It is
all Jack Savage’s work.
To Sonny B who had always made me feel like I could be good
at DJing; that I was doing something right. His opinion meant much to me, and
the fact that his opinion of me was always positive lets me know that somebody
who is an industry institution sees something in the work that I do.
To all my co-DJs past and present, thank you very much. To
Alexy and Lee: who would have thought I would last four years as a DJ? To Gab
who has grown soo much as a Dj and as a person. To Raven and Trip who are doing
soo well compared to when they started out. I remember during their earlier
days as DJs, we would be teaching them the rules and the guidelines, and
sometimes they’ve stuck by it and sometimes they’ve bent all the rules; but
they’ve really grown to be wonderful radio jocks. To Miss Steph who is always
cool and is like the sensible but jolly older sister I never had. To Sir George
Booke whose timeslot I took over; thank you for trusting me with Wednesday
evenings. To all my partners past, Chris Chase, Wacky, and Steve Midnight, for
all the friendship and putting up with my weirdness and endless farting inside
the booth. To Ate Mae and Ate Mai and Kuya Armald and Kuya Ruel, I’m sure
you’re going to miss me and my kakulitan but not as much as I’m going to miss
all your help and the friendship you were so willing to give me. The truth is,
there are many other companies that have better salaries or benefits than mix
fm, but for me Mix FM is more than just a company I work for. Mix FM is a
family, it is a second home, it is a place where I found friends that will last
me a lifetime.
To all the people from bastis brew who are as much part of
the mix fm family as we are theirs, thank you very much. Thank you to all my
sponsors, to everyone who goes to my parties, to edge davao, to marco polo
davao, to dj gary, dj torch, and most especially to you my dear listeners for
making the last four years a truly truly magical time in my life.
Not everyone is given the chance to live their dreams; you
made it possible for me. And for that, I am forever grateful.
