“March 4 2021—in our small apartment in Barangay Luna, Jaro, we envisioned our big hopes for Radyo Bandera as a digital media outlet in the province. At that time, we were only six in the team. This is how far we’ve come, now alongside hundreds of thousands of Ilonggos tuning in to Radyo Bandera Iloilo.”
Applause filled the room as Rey Espeja Umalay, one of the youngest and ingenious station managers of the network, recalls their humble beginnings in the first-year anniversary celebration of Radyo Bandera Iloilo 88.7 News-FM last July 5, 2022 at the Iloilo Convention Center.
With the theme, “Radyo Bandera Iloilo: Stronger than Before, Continues to Conquer the Airwaves by Serving the Ilonggo People with a Heart,” the said celebration was filled with grandeur and festivity, having dance performances from the Dinagyang warriors and dancers from Iloilo City National High School-Silak Cultural Dance Troop and live band performance of Radyo Bandera Iloilo’s anniversary song, “Bag-o nga Paglaum” from the Philippine National Police Region 6 Mandirigma and llonggo Artists.
The Radyo Bandera personnel also showcased their modern barong and filipiniana in their red-carpet entourage. The grand entrance was headed by their ever dynamic and excellent Chief Executive Officer and President of 5K Broadcasting Network Inc., Dr. Ramel Ytang Uy who is known for his generosity and genuine public service through “Serbisyong Bandera Para sa Masa” program under his RYU foundation.
“Today, we are celebrating the first anniversary of Radyo Bandera Sweet FM Iloilo and I’m positive that for the next five, ten, even twenty or more years, a festive celebration will be held in value to the efforts invested by my employees,” Uy said in his speech as he shared his vision for Radyo Bandera to the Local Government Units, private partners and government offices who attended the celebration.
Furthermore, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., congratulates the young station for its contribution as one of the trusted reliable source of news and information’s in Iloilo. Defensor also recognized the plan of the station to build more relay stations in the entire province in order to penetrate the areas where the signal is not available.
Last July 5 2021, Radyo Bandera Iloilo went on air for their test broadcast at Swan Rose Bldg. Commission Civil St., Jaro. This marked their official day of service later on.
Despite of being a newbie in the City of Love with already established and known giant networks, Radyo Bandera has thrived to perform their duties in order to deliver accurate, fast and up-to-date stories. With the dedication and grit of the men and women of Radyo Bandera Iloilo, the station reached millions of views in their Bandera Digital News online and accumulated massive online followers making it the leading FM Facebook page in Iloilo with more than 286,000 followers as of this writing.
Radyo Bandera also highlights in its success that with only less than a year of operation, they have secured the fourth spot in the latest KANTAR media survey, surpassing other established FM stations in the province.
“The success of Radyo Bandera Iloilo is the success of every Ilonggo who continues to patronize and listen to our station. One the secrets of our station is the new dimension and branding of delivering true and honest public service in which we give the people a platform to tell their stories on air and online, but most of all, by genuinely serving them with our hearts,” Umalay, station manager, tells Panay News.
In line with its first-year anniversary, Radyo Bandera Iloilo launched the “Sikad Mo, Kabuhi Ko” Fun-Ride activity for the 20 selected families identified among poorest of the poor. These families will officially be part of the Solid Radyo Bandera Supporters (SORABS) who will serve as the station’s partners in its Corporate Social Responsibility activities.
In the years to come, Radyo Bandera Iloilo aims to continue holding the banner of being the first News-FM in Iloilo and reach greater heights to win the hearts of every Ilonggo. With competence and perseverance, Radyo Bandera Sweet FM-Iloilo 88.7 will soon dominate the airwaves.
This is Radyo Bandera Sweet FM-Iloilo 88.7 “Ito and Radyo Ko!”
