At Radyo5’s 92.3 TRUE FM grand launch on March 11, radio host DJ Chacha was asked about her recent award and her thoughts on being dubbed the “Queen of FM.”
She shared what her experience has been like so far, after leaving ABS-CBN and joining Radyo5 with fellow DJ Laila Chikadora.
And is there a feud between her and DJ Laila?
When asked, “Anong masasabi mo?” after DJ Chacha won an award for the show Ted Failon and DJ Chacha, said she isn’t sure where exactly the title came from.
“Actually, hindi ko po alam saan nanggaling yung Queen of FM, diba? Pero i-claim ko na rin po kase kasama ko si Manong Ted (Failon).”
She explained radio hosting is definitely at her core.
“Core ko naman po talaga yung radio kase I started with radio right after graduation. Taong radyo na po talaga ako.”
She considers herself a radio personality staying in the business until she grows old.
“If there’s one thing na gusto kong paulit ulit na gawin, hanggang sa pagtanda ko, kung mabibigyan pa rin ng chance, it’s really radio.”
Both DJs Laila Chikadora and Chacha started on ABS-CBN’S MOR station.
In 2010, Laila left MOR to join the Kapatid Network (Radyo5) and DJ Chacha took over her spot at ABS-CBN. Years later, when ABS-CBN had to retrench its employees during the pandemic, DJ Chacha then became a Kapatid and joined Radyo5.
DJ Chacha insisted there is no competition between them as Laila is one of her mentors.
“Si Laila Chikadora po, nakasama ko siya sa MOR before. So, para sa mga nangi-isyu sa amin kung may competition or kung ano man. Wala po!”
She credited Laila for allowing her to build a good relationship with Ted Failon when she took over Laila’s ABS-CBN’s DZMM showbiz news segment.
“Isa po si Laila sa mentors ko noon sa MOR. And I can say na isa po si Laila sa dahilan kung bakit nagkaroon ako ng mas malalim na relationship with Manong Ted…kase nung time na nawala si Laila noon sa ABS-CBN DZMM, naghanap sina Kabayan (Noli de Castro) at Manong Ted ng ipapalit para sa showbiz news na spot po ni Ms. Laila.“
She said many doors opened since then.
“Ang dami pong doors na nag open talaga sa akin nung nawala si Mareng Laila doon sa MOR at ABS-CBN.” She added she wouldn’t even be around if it weren’t because of DJ Laila.
“Di ko po magagawa lahat yun at di rin po siguro ako nandito ngayon. Isa rin po si Laila doon kung bakit ang dami talagang pinto ang nagbukas.”
She’s not only thankful for all that DJ Laila has taught her while they were hosting together at MOR, but also for what Laila continues to teach her at Radyo5.
“Thankful po ako sa lahat ng mga naituro niya sa akin nung magkatrabaho pa kami sa MOR…at sa lahat pa rin ng itinuturo niya sa akin hanggang ngayon nandito na ako sa Radyo Singko.
“So yun, wala pong issue! Wala pong ganun. Si Laila po ang original Queen of FM,” she said and the crown has simply been passed down to her.
”Ipinasa lang po talaga niya sa akin ang korona!”
What does DJ Laila Chickadora have to say?
DJ Laila teases, “Kita mo, diba? Siya na nagsabi noon ah!” She recalled DJ Chacha would arrive early on set and got to spend time with her sharing her knowledge.
“Si Chacha talaga kase, maaga siya lagi dumadating sa ABS pa kami hanggang 3 o’clock kase ako ng hapon pero maaga siya dumadating. So, madalas inaabutan niya ako and then yun… I shared with her my knowledge kase importante yun.”
She felt that it’s important to pass down skills and life lessons as we grow older.
“Hindi naman tayo habangbuhay na bata, diba? Importante na ipinapasa natin sa iba yung karunungan, yung life lessons…kase sino pa ba yung susunod sa mga yapak niyo? Eh di ba yung mga baguhan din?”
Towards the end of her stint at ABS-CBN, she remembered she saw DJ Chacha’s major potential.
“So, nung paalis na ako ng ABS, talagang nag-flashback tayo noh? Nakita ko yung potential na ‘Ah! Ito pag alis ko, sigurado aariba ‘to. So, ipinaman ko sa kanya. ‘O, Chacha ganito.’ Ayun! And now, ayan na siya! O, diba?”
Laila went to say, “So, I’m also happy for Chacha. Naniniwala ako na may kanya kanya kase talaga tayong destiny. Just because I left ABS doesn’t mean na hindi naman ako umariba rin sa nilipatan ko.”
She continued to reflect back on the time News 5 just began and what she’s learned. “I’m very thankful to Radyo Singko kase this year, 13 years na ako dito! Diba? I’ve handed a lot of time slots and halos ilan buwan lang pagkatapos itinayo yung News 5, it was a new playground for me pero marami akong natutunan.”
She concluded the interview by saying “So yan! We love each other!”
Tune into DJ Laila Chikadora’s Good Vibes with Stanley Chi on weekdays at 6:30 PM. DJ Chacha goes on air at 6 AM with Ted Failon as they tackle current events and speak to newsmakers and headliners themselves.
