THE VISAYAN RADIO PROGRAM

A new Filipino ethnic radio program was added to the growing list of Hawaii 's ethnic programming with the start of the Visayan Hour radio show. A project of the Congress of Visayan Organizations (COVO, the statewide umbrella of Visayan organizations), the new program airs every Wednesday, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. , over Radio Station KNDI 1270 AM. It is the only Visayan radio program in the entire state.

The Visayan Hour, aka "Ang Bodyong," combines news tidbits from the Visayan community in Hawaii with Visayan songs and music. It also features the different member organizations of the COVO umbrella as well as interviews with local Visayan personalities and guests from the Philippines . The word "bodyong" refers to a conch shell which has traditionally been used as an instrument to call the attention of villagers to a meeting or to make an important announcement. As a radio program, therefore, "Ang Bodyong" is a means of communicating with the Visayan community, of bringing them together on the air, of enabling them to celebrate and enjoy their culture in language, music and song, and of informing them about important news and activities in the Visayan community.

The Visayan radio program, however, is not meant for Visayans only. According to Jun Colmenares, past president of COVO and initiator of the project, the radio show was also put up for the purpose of sharing the Visayan culture with the larger community. It is hoped that such exposure would lead to a greater awareness of who and what the Visayans are, and to an understanding of the great diversity that exists within Filipino society and culture.

The program started on August 8, 2001 , and is now in its fifth year. Aside from featuring Cebuano, Ilonggo, Boholano and Chavacano songs, it provides information about COVO activities and events in the Filipino community in Hawaii , as well as news from the Visayan and Mindanao regions in the Philippines . Since its inception, it has invited leaders from several member organizations such as Balaan Catalina Society, Kahirup Ilonggo of Hawaii , Cebu-Hawaii Friendship Society, Samar-Leyte Association, Dabawenyos Association of Hawaii , and Mindanaoans of Hawaii . It has also interviewed local and visiting personalities such as Dr. Danelo Canete, Hernando Tan of Local 5, Prof. Rudy Rodil of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, Dr. Carlo Panelo of the Philippine Department of Health, and Engr. Antonio Amiscaray of the City of Manila.

The program is anchored by Eddie Morre (past president of the Dabawenyos Association of Hawaiil), Abun Saramosing (president of the Cebuano Association of Hawaii ), and Jun Colmenares (past president and current COVO executive vice president). Listeners are welcome to call in to request for Visayan song dedications or to ask questions about COVO, its member organizations, and the Visayan community in general.