Destined to be a DJ

Tom’s interest in music and broadcasting started way before his RX days began. As early as grade school, he was already experimenting with a turntable. “I would play with the turntable, scratch the vinyl a little bit. I would do that at home,” he said. “Good thing my dad didn’t complain about me making noise!” 

On the broadcasting side, Tom became interested in high school when he became more exposed to radio. “We would also visit radio stations to see how things are happening, how DJs would do it. And I guess that’s how the passion started.” This must have sparked something in Tom, because he started to record his own mixtapes, pretending he was a DJ and dedicating songs to his friends! “Before I became a DJ, I would even copy them! I would record acting like a DJ! And send the mixtape to that girl who I wanna dedicate that song to,” he recalled. “And even to my friends, I’d tell them, ‘Oh, I greeted you guys on air!’ I would run my own radio show using these recorders way back.” Tom remembered how awesome it felt to hear the radio DJs mention his name on air, or to call the station himself and make a shoutout, so he wanted to spread that same joy to his friends! 

FM Radio’s Favorite Love Doctor

Eventually, Tom joined a student DJ program while he was in college, which paved the way for his start on RX – and he was just nineteen at the time! “I was given a tip ‘Ooh there’s gonna be an opening in RX, you wanna try it out?’ So I tried it out. Luckily I got in!” Since Tom was already trained to board, he started on the Monster pretty much right away, starting with a one hour shift, and ultimately boarding for longer shifts. “Eventually I got in, became part of the team, and the story went on! It’s fun!” 

Most RX listeners remember Tom as Doctor Love, running the Love Clinic show for several years. You could always count on Doctor Love to give some great advice when it came to relationship advice and playing the most heart wrenching songs late at night! “I became the representative of my generation, or I became the ‘kuya’ of people who have love problems,” Tom said. “We pioneered the thing where they could call in and share their love problems.” 

Tom experienced the evolution of technology first-hand on the Love Clinic; from listeners sending in their letters via mail (as in, yes, snail mail) and hotline calls, it slowly transitioned to email, then suddenly, via DM on Facebook and Twitter! But no matter the era and means of receiving Love Clinic letters, Tom went along with all of it and gave his very best relationship advice until the last day of Doctor Love! 

Wearing multiple hats

Aside from his reputation as the love doctor, Tom’s also known for his fire mixes on Remix Fridays with DJ McCoy, and his entertaining banter with MJ on the Wild and Wicked Snacc. Plus he’s well known for his work outside the Monster, too: he’s an Eat Bulaga voiceover, and used to DJ at nightclubs around the Metro, too! “I’m very thankful that I got in here. It opened a lot of doors for me. And a lot of great opportunities.”

So, how does Tom juggle his multiple roles on RX’s programs, plus his outside gigs? “I wasn’t noticing that I was juggling it,” he said. “I was just doing my thing! Because I was just enjoying it!” Tom says that hosting different shows really trained him to become a radio personality, and that effort has been recognized multiple times. He’s a two-time winner of the KBP Golden Dove Award for Best Music Radio Jock, once for Best Public Service Radio Program Host, plus multiple awards for the Love Clinic program! “It’s a great experience becoming a Monster jock! And becoming part of Team Monster for several years.” 

Evolving as the years go by

With all the changes brought about by the evolution of technology and how it’s affected radio, Tom has always embraced these and taken them as opportunities to improve his DJ game! In fact, even this pandemic became an exciting learning experience. “I was excited to check out things that I could use, things that I should add to my setup, to my equipment at home so I’d be able to do an awesome broadcast at home,” he said. “So, it’s great how technology has evolved and allows us to do our thing, share our music, entertain people in different ways possible.” 

Along with the evolution of radio comes the evolution of audiences, too! Tom takes pride in the fact that he’s been a voice for different generations of Monster listeners. “We’re still evolving, adjusting to new technologies, to the times, with new audience members,” Tom said. “With the successors of those cool titos and titas who are now having their pamangkins or their kids listen to the Monster!” 

Tom’s message for the listeners who have supported RX throughout time: “Thank you so much, Monsters, for the love and support for years and years of listening to the Monster. And for telling it to everyone else as well! We’ll be with you wherever technology is gonna take us! And we’re also gonna be with you to help you go through this trying time, like the pandemic we’re going through.” 

Be sure to catch Tom on the Wild and Wicked Snacc and Remix Fridays! Check out his jock profile here.