A coup of sorts is taking place in this city’s vibrant broadcast industry when the main anchor of a top rated radio program from a rival radio station was “pirated” to handle another equally highly-rated public affairs format from a competing radio station. Boy Guingguing of “Cuentas Claras” fame, Station DYTR’s flagship public affairs program, caught his legions of followers in his former home studio when he accepted the offer to handle as “top banana” of the famous radio program of the same format over Station DYRD. Like the parable of the missing “prodigal son”, Guingguing is back in DYRD’s fold as anchor of Inyong Alagad after 26 years of wandering to a rival station to start the genesis of Cuentas Claras. In six years, Guingguing managed to make Cuentas Claras into a sought after radio program in a neck-and neck fight in the ratings game with Inyong Alagad. The program Cuentas Claras was built around him as the main anchor.

In the fierce completion of the two programs, Inyong Alagad proved the winner in a survey conducted by the Holy Name University Research Center. Now the radio show is in another foot with Guingguing handling Inyong Alagad as top anchor. He is backstopped no less by equally competent broadcasters whose impressive credentials are nothing to sneeze at-- the likes of the venerable Fred Araneta, irrepressible Chito Visarra and diminutive Jerry Pabe. Whether the new anchor will leave up to its pompous billing with all the hype surrounding his new program assignment at Inyong Alagad, is the big question confronting him. With too much expectations heaped on him, he has to remain as sharp as ever or else he will end up a big flop. Considered as one of most durable anchors hereabouts, Guingguing’s return to his original station was a reprise of his early foray in radio 26 years ago at DYRD where he practically cut his teeth in broadcast journalism. It was the same old familiar anchor who steered Inyong Alagad into a national nominee as the Best Public Service Program of the Year in the late 80’s. Asked to comment of his new radio duty over Station DYRD, the never-say-die anchor has this to say: handling a radio program of the same format is already ingrained in our system adding it’s the same ball game altogether though in another level playing field.