He dreamt of bringing people of Palawan closer to each
other… by sharing common
traditions, interest and exchange of information on events and news between
towns.
1965…the realization of Ray Oliver’s dream… It was the year Palawan Broadcasting
Corporation was
established. The articles of incorporation was even in Teddy Q. Pena’s
handwriting being the corporate Secretary and one of the ten original
incorporators with
Ray Oliver, Emilio Decolongon, Art Carlos,Buddy Mendoza, Agustin Go,Gus Gonzales,
Roger Davis,Felix Rafols,Jr. and
Jess Dator. Putting up a radio station in Puerto Princesa
then was not a business decision.
It was an emotional one… For how do you sell the area as an advertising market
when
its population was only 20,000 and not even half had access to the 6PM-6AM
electricity of Tinio
Electric Plant at that time. A transistor radio then was already
Ramon "Ray Oliver"
Decolongon
an investment
to ordinary fisher folks. Palawan at that time was only the remote province not
service by any local radio
station. It was dependent for news manly from Manila
or neighboring Visayan radio stations. Ray was determined to
provide communications to link the
towns of Palawan. Ray must have foreseen the progress of Puerto Princesa and
the
whole province of Palawan….. However, one year later to the day DYPR got the official
NTC permit to go on commercial
broadcast, Ray Oliver perished in a plane crash. Ray’s father, Mr.
Emilio Decolongon was made President He along with
the other stockholders persuaded Ms. Lulu Ilustre to continue from where Ray left off. Then Martial Law was declared by
Pres. Ferdinand Marcos in Sept. 1972. The station along with all other networks nationwide closed down by military through
the
provincial commander. although it did not say closed too long.
Ms. Ilustre pleaded
the case of DYPR to the Media Committee of
Marcos’Martial Law Regime headed by the late Primitivo Mijares. She
emphasized that Palawan is being deprived of the
only communications
service. At that time, the “PANAWAGAN” on DYPR was
equivalent to a
telegram or a long distance call. The Panawagans were
generally in a
nature of emergency. It could be asking for blood for a patient
in the
Hospital; a call to
parents to some students asking to be sent tuition
money or some other crisis
situation. It was a free service of DYPR
which endeared the station to the people. Soon after, DYPR
reopened
and went back to its previous role in
the community as crime deterrent.
The expression then
was “baka-Ma-DYPR ka”. The entry of DYPR
into
the social horizon of Palawan altered the community
processes. The
people became more informed of issues
that could affect their lives.
They became more politically aware.
DYPR
became a household word in Palawan. Many considered the station as their
last resort. When everything
else fails
they go to DYPR. They bring their problems, expressed their fears,
hopes and dreams. Drivers would drop off items in
their vehicles at DYPR to call
for owners claim. In the news, there
was minimum restraint. The editorial policy is simple.
Reports have to be
accurate and objective and could only be subjected to the scrutiny and powerful
test of reason.
DYPR as a mirror of
community could not grow faster than the local economy. nonetheless, it moved Forward…
In 1978, DYPR-AM
power increased from 1 to 5 kW POWER 20 WATT TV Ch. 7 1981, DYPR-FM radio service started.
Palawan Broadcasting
Corporation established in 1986 a low power 20 watt TV Ch. 7 In 1989, Increase
of DYPR AM to
10KW with Harris Transmitter Channel 7 TV,
Increased its power to 100 watts in 1991.
And in 1995, The
Palawan Broadcasting Corpopration franchise (R.S 8060) passed by Congress
jointly authored by
Congressman Alfredo Abueg, Jr and Dave Ponce Deleon. FM station maybe
vigorous but definitely, beneficial as the
advertising money both local and
national advertising is now
taking quantum leaps. And so Palawan
Broadcasting
Corporation continues to grow as business concern in the service of Palawenos and as a Ramon Oliveros Decolongon
legacy…
