Friday, October 19, 2012

"This is our last goodbye.."

Hey all! It's a Friday and usually, you'd know what that means, but today is when it ends.

As I'm sure you all have heard, 99.5 is going through another change and this will happen pretty soon so everything about "RT" will have to go--naturally, this includes its countdown, the RT30.

I didn't know today was going to be the last episode of the countdown so I accepted an event out of town with the plans of simply recording the show. Then on Wednesday, I received the news that I would have to say goodbye to you all. It took a while before the news could sink in, but it did and as I wrote the script like I had done every week for the past 4 years, I became very emotional and I ended up writing an intro to the show that was probably a little too heartfelt. I meant to record it, but I didn't want to start the last episode of the countdown on a somber note. The countdown has always been fun and spontaneous and I wanted it to stay that way "til the very end" (sounds like I'm writing a eulogy!!). So in lieu of what I originally wrote, you will hear an introduction that's no different from all the other episodes you know and (hopefully) love.

Now, I still want you all to get to read the introduction I meant for you all to hear so here it is:



"Hey everybody. My name is Inka and if this is your first time to tune in to the show, well, you’re a little late. You missed an entire generation, an entire active lifetime’s worth of the best hits of what we’ve always called “the now”. You missed my dad, Jeremiah Junior, giving you hit after hit after hit since the 80s all the way until the early 2000s, you missed the fall of 99.5rt to stations like HitFM and Campus Radio, and you missed its rising from the ashes just 4 years ago to return as the station that gives you the best music on the planet. If this is your first time to tune in to the RT30 Countdown, then you missed me taking over the show, making mistakes on air, talking to international and local artists--you missed the longest-running countdown on Philippine Radio.


I remember when I was first told by my bosses that I would be taking over the show my dad had hosted for years. Big show. They said that I would be starting the countdown next week--just 7 days to come up with all the sound effects, the counters, the opening sequence, all the bells and whistles, plus the vibe of the whole program--basically everything. Since the show name was changed from the RT40 to the RT30, my dad and I had to start from scratch. We spent many sleepless nights in the studio, recording, mixing, editing, then re-doing everything because we both tend to be perfectionists. He was helping me, mentoring me, preparing me to take over another baby of his--his countdown. Because my dad handled the show for so long, it was already a part of my life. Now that I had to tally, research, and write the entire show myself, it became an even bigger part of my life. Never did I think that its lifespan under my watch would be so short, but just like the last-minute way it landed on my lap, it’s just-as-quickly slipping away from my grasp. I wasn’t given much time to prepare for its parting and so the only RT30 specials you will experience today would be this little anecdote, and, of course, all of you listening. You’re all tuned in with a purpose shared by god-knows-how-many people--this is very special. 


And so, to end the show, I’d just like to say thank you. To all the students, interns, and OJTs that were assigned to the countdown: each of you has contributed a building block to the legacy of the countdown--whether it has your name on it or not, you put it there so thank you. To all the local and international artists who became a part of the show (whether actively or passively), you each contributed a splash of color to brighten up the program; thank you for your beautiful music. To the listeners tuned in: you breathe life into the show. You’re the reason why the show came to be in the first place. For being there every time we aired, I thank you.

To the show I grew up with and ended up inheriting: thank you for giving me a well of spectacular experiences, valuable life lessons, for giving me something to look forward to every week for the past 4 years, and for growing up with me for the past 20. My dad and I are going to miss you.
"



THE RT30 COUNTDOWN
FRIDAYS, 3-6PM
On the station that plays you the best music on the planet
99.5RT

9 comments:

forg/jecoup said...

This is sad. :(

Thank you for everything Inka and Jeremiah Junior

Rico said...

so sorry to hear this.. i just hope this will open new doors for you and maybe a new gig similar to what you do but RTcountdown will be dearly missed for it has kept me company in many ways, in different phases of my life, in different moods and emotions. Its like losing a part of me really plus i love how you and your dad run the show. Nothing to worry because it was 4 years of perfect work even with the flaws.. it makes it very human. Good luck to you and stay cool please ^^

Aibreán Alegria said...

I'm going to miss RT30. Fridays will never be the same :(

Anonymous said...

99.5 RT will be missed. Along with Jam 88.3, one of the few stations still playing good music.

iam84 said...

countdowns sure makes an entire week of music's not only as a rating factor or a choice of the week making it a music of the month until it becomes-the music of the year. A lot on the 90s such as MRS(Most Requested Song), top 20 @ 12, Most Wanted(MTV) MYX CHARTLIST. And that of your program ms. Inka. These countdowns really make the week's course. Agree? to cheer up you folks there. Hope the reformat will be as cool as Rt. \m/

iam84 said...

high respects to RT jocks for the music, entertainment and fun!

iam84 said...

like a friend of mine once told me: it will never be a goodbye or sayonara... But as see you around! The ills being said after a class... Or an acquiantance..

KaZuHiRo said...

Will 99.5 be a MASA Station again? That would suck big time!

Matt Quiros said...

Jeremiah Junior is your dad?! Jesus, back in 2004 when I was fourteen I'd listen to his morning show with Lexi Locklear and BB Fred! And I feel even worse that I only found this out now, two years after RT's second shutdown.