Jimmy B on his career choices

Becoming a priest was all that Jimmy Blancia ever thought about while growing up.

“I should have been a pari [priest]. But instead, I became padre de pamilya,” quipped Blancia, who is more popularly known as DJ Jimmy B. of Magic 100.3FM.

Blancia, 38, was born in the town of Bula in Camarines Sur province in the Philippines and was raised in Naga City.

According to Blancia, he went as far as enrolling in a minor seminary in his hometown. “I was enrolled there for a year then I eventually left and continued my studies at the University of Nueva Caceres in Naga.”

Blancia, who took up political science in college, said it was his father, a retired Philippine Constabulary officer, who advised him that he should consider taking up a “radio course.”

“I was in third year high school when he retired and told me, ‘Son, you should take up a course in radio,’” he said.

Little did Blancia realize that his father was referring to the field of general radio communications operation, not broadcasting or being a DJ.

“So when he first heard me on the radio, he was really surprised and asked me what I was doing,” Blancia chuckled.

Blancia began his career in broadcasting back in the Philippines, when he was just a sophomore in college.

“I had a friend who worked as a reporter at an AM radio station, DWMP, which was owned by then governor Luis Villafuerte,” he recalled.

Blancia said his reporter friend, who was also studying at the University of Nueva Caceres, encouraged him to work at the radio station while in college.

“He saw my potential and asked me to try and become a working student,” he told Saipan Tribune. “He introduced me to the station manager, Gil Basmayor, Jr.”

Blancia got on board as a volunteer reporter in Basmayor’s morning show and received an allowance every 15th and 30th of the month.

“My first beat was the Naga Police Station. I would wake up at 5am, go to the police station to check police blotters,” he recalled.

When the radio station shut down, Blancia transferred to DWRN where he met production director Joel Buena and station manager Celso Baguio.

“My assignment was to cover the Army Press Corps and the PNP Provincial Command. I worked there for one and a half years and received a monthly compensation of P2,500,” he disclosed.

According to Blancia, he worked at another radio station in Naga city, DWNW, before flying out to Saipan in 1997.

Blancia said his older brother was already working as a salesman on island before he got here to work as a merchandiser at Yun’s Corp. “I worked for them for six months,” he said.

It was in 2000 when Blancia started working for KWAW Magic 100.3FM, the radio station established in October 1999 and located on the ground floor of the then Nauru Building (now Marianas Business Plaza) in Susupe.

“I was one of the first two DJs of the station, along with Rolly Mamuntag,” he said. “My initial time slot was from 8pm to midnight.”

Blancia recalled how challenging their operation began, when they would get requested songs only through fax since they didn’t have a landline yet.

“It was difficult then. Good thing we’ve upgraded our music software and recording system now,” he said.

These days, radio listeners can hear Blancia from 6pm to 10pm hosting Metro Manila news, Greetings and Requests, Payong Kapatid, and Public Service.

Blancia disclosed that most of his listeners who have yet to meet him think that he is a big guy. “They think that way because of my voice.”

Blancia believes that being a DJ is more than just being on air. “As I go along, I’ve learned that I have the ability to help others. That’s what my mission is all about, to serve others by being a radio personality.”

According to Blancia, his 11-year-old son has already expressed an interest in the field of broadcasting. “He really likes it. I would bring him to the studio and he has shown a lot of potential in his voice recordings,” he said.

Blancia advised that broadcasting is a profession that should come from the heart. “Just like me, I never thought I’d be in this field. You don’t need to be a graduate of broadcasting communication or related field. You should just put your heart into it and you can never go wrong.”