The richness of Bikol, according to Joe O

ONE MAJOR reason why RMN-DWNX maintains its industry-leading position among the local radio stations here is its continuing effort to innovate.

For instance, when people needed a reliable fount of info during the typhoon season, it brought in Mike Padua, both as a resident expert for most of the week and later as a music buff during weekends (through his program Quiet Storm).

Its newest segment in the morning program being anchored by Joe Osabal is a personal favorite, one which I always try to follow for sentimental and educational reasons. It features Jose Fernando "Joe" Obias, a respected journalist-historian, explaining the different shades of meaning behind Bikol words both old and new. Joe Obias happens to be my editor at Vox Bikol, where I worked as proofreader towards the end of my college days in the late 80's. It was the time when the dinosaur-like lead-based letterpresses are gasping their last breath, kicked on the butt by the superior offset technology that would send them to oblivion.

A recent edition I still recall is how Joe explained the Bikol alternatives for Kris Aquino's demand for some space from James Yap. (You of course already know the latest developments; come to think of it, Kris Aquino's life is the country's runaway reality TV-cum-telenovela, putting Pinoy Big Brother and Asian Treasures to shame!) There are many ways of saying it in Bikol, he said, depending on the kind of space required. All I remembered, because it was the most familiar, and also because the rest was drowned off by office chatter, was "oltan," which captures the concept of physical space.

This goes on to show the richness of our language on the one hand, and just how shallow our everyday use and appreciation of it on the other. I only wish NX can tape Joe's segment and replay it very early in the morning -- say around 6 am -- so parents and their children can still catch what they missed the day before while having breakfast and preparing for school.

By the way. Joe Osabal's daily radio program -- NX Brigada -- is one of the programs you can follow via audiostreaming webcast through the Naga City website. Just click on the appropriate link.