Eric Francis GalangFor Eric Francis Galang, digital lead for MOR Entertainment (MORe), the journey to the first podcast on Spotify started with a demo tape, back when cassettes were still a thing.

While still in college taking up communication arts at the University of Santo Tomas, Galang served as a student deejay for about two months at GMA 7’s FM station, Campus Radio 97.1. He was also part of a rock band, which made him want to join NU 107. He was in fact waiting for the rock station’s next vacancy. But his sister, who was with ABS-CBN International, convinced him to submit a demo tape to ABS-CBN’s FM station, WRR 101.9, which was looking for “a young radio DJ” at the time.

He was a college junior when he joined WRR and became part of a team of seven deejays who rotated on board to broadcast on a daily basis. As a rock music artist, he experienced a “culture shock” of sorts adjusting to the music of WRR which, at that time, was playing “All the hits, all the time!” Nonetheless, he stuck with it.

Second home

Galang recalls: “As the months and years went by, I felt like I was not working anymore. It felt more like it was just playing your favorite game and getting paid for it. The station felt like my second home, sometimes literally. Workmates were no longer just colleagues but family.”

His journey as a deejay continued for the most part of the next 20 years, even as he assumed the role of associate producer for digital on a concurrent basis beginning 2010. Galang treasures the feedback he received from FM radio patrons, as well as learning what it took for a profession to endure.

“I got to feel how it was like to be loved by the listeners. Theirs was the genuine kind, almost unconditional. It made me feel happier to just know that I was able to make people smile and forget their cares on a daily basis. It was also during those times when I learned that hard work, dedication and loyalty always went hand in hand,” he says.

Leading the charge

In 2016, he was appointed as digital content producer and formally “retired” from radio broadcasting duties in 2018 to concentrate on “leading the charge of the MOR Digital team.” Going past the loss of ABS-CBN’s franchise, the work-from-home setup has really challenged him due to the thousand and one details that go into producing content for MOR audiences. “I just keep in mind that as long as there is an active network connection, our work can be done,” he says.

The pivot to digital was crucial to MOR, proving it has grown with its listeners, and even gaining new audiences with its newfound accessibility. Used to working with a lean team from the get-go, Galang is proud of the MOR team that has done so much more with so much less, particularly in the last two years.

He says: “Despite the challenge of not having a broadcast that can generate big revenues, we strive hard every day to pitch in our share in trying to keep the business afloat. I would like to believe that is business excellence… I used to follow a very simple rule whenever I did my board works back then. It was to just do better than how I did the day before. Now, I also promote that mantra of sorts to my subordinates and all our talents.”

Further innovations

Galang looks forward to further innovations with MOR Digital. “I have always believed in ‘entertaining and educating’ at the same time. I am confident that I can get to do more of that while doing our digital programs and content on MORe.”

He encourages all LopezLink readers to reach out to more people through MOR Digital by helping generate podcasts that can teach, inspire and bring out the best in audiences, young and old alike. His message: “All of us have stories to share, may they be good or bad. Let’s turn those into stories that more people can get lessons from. Send them to us and we’ll do the rest.” (Story/Photos by: Carla Paras-Sison)