Future Wish
Daniel Razon, behind the country’s first-ever FM-on-wheels, promises to continue delivering the coolest musical experience here and abroad
Daniel Razon, behind the country’s first-ever FM-on-wheels, promises to continue delivering the coolest musical experience here and abroad
Listen, people, if you come across a rolling blue and orange bus, with loud speakers and manned by a crew including a DJ and singers, chances are you’ve just seen the Wish 107.5 Bus.
Given its success, you probably know that by now. But for those wondering what direction it would take in 2018, Daniel Razon, president and CEO of Breakthrough and Milestones Productions International Incorporated (BMPI)-UNTV, won’t keep you guessing.
“We’re going to have a Wish Bus sa Hollywood. Actually tinatapos pa namin i-customize ’yung bus but baka by next year, ma-i-launch na siya,” he said. “We’re also looking to have our Wish Bus in Europe but siguro after nang mailabas ’yung sa Hollywood. Pina-finalize na lang namin ’yung integration ng mga equipment na gagamitin. So let’s see.”
Maybe a Wish Plane, too, someone joked. Without missing a heartbeat, Daniel said it’s possible.
But back to the bus, Daniel said it has already toured other Philippine regions as Cebu and Bicol.
“Hopefully in the coming months, mas marami pa kaming mapuntahan,” said the veteran broadcaster.
A big musical showdown might happen in the country soon. He hopes to convince a lot of recording artists to be part it.
Sooner than that, the third Wish 107.5 Music Awards (WMA) night will happen on Jan. 15 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
According to a release, the Wish Music Awards will pay tribute to local composers, bands, singers and artists who collectively contributed to the massive support gained by Original Pilipino Music (OPM) from the public lately.
The 2018 WMA will also give thanks to the OPM legends while letting upcoming Pinoy musicians step up their games and showcase their own brand of musicality.
For the WMA 2018, Wish announces that the major awards categories include Best WISHclusive Performance, WISH Original Song of The Year, and WISH Artist of the Year.
Other awards to be given are: WISH Promising Artist, WISHclusive Elite Circle Award, WISH Reactors’ Choice Award, and the WISH Music Icon.
Wish will choose the winners through a voting process, which comprises of online votes (15%) and the judge’s votes (85%). Fans can cast their votes by going to the WMA website, using their Facebook and Twitter accounts. Wish will only allow an account to make one vote per category per day. Online voting will end on Jan. 15, 12 noon. Cash donations of R100,000 each will be given to the 18 chosen charities of the major award winners.
Platform on wheels
Wish 107.5 Bus is primarily and plainly there for Pinoy singers to showcase their talents.
“We know for a fact na may mga (singing) competitions diyan but ang sa amin is more on helping the artists na… ang dami kasing magagaling na Filipino singers eh… na nakikita natin sila nage-excel sa abroad,” he explained. “Ang point ko du’n is bakit sila nauunang i-recognize abroad. Dapat dito muna sa atin and the bus serves as a platform for that.”
Another purpose of the Wish 107.5 Bus is to unite artists regardless of their network or recording company affiliation.
And, really, they are not out to compete with other FM stations. The broadcaster said they just want to grant people’s wishes and entertain listeners.
“What we want to do is to help those who are in the music industry,” he said. “I was thinking how can we showcase ’yung Filipino talent na mapag-kaisa din natin lahat (ng singers). By opening our station sa lahat, we want to incorporate the element of helping other people. That’s why we name it Wish because we grant wishes.”
Then there’s the matter of giving commuters a “cooler” when they are stuck in traffic (relate much?). “Ang pinanggalingan po ng (konsepto nito) ay ’yung aming pagnanasa na mas makarating sila (singers), mas maparinig sila directly. Another thing, gusto namin maalis ’yung bwisit na inaabot ng mga kababayan natin sa traffic so we wanted to have the bus du’n sa gitna ng traffic at para naman mabawasan ’yung konsomisyon nila,” Daniel said to that effect.
The guest artists’ performance on the bus are uploaded to the official Wish 107.5 YouTube channel. As of this writing, among those most-watched videos are by Morissette, Bugoy Drilon and KZ Tandingan.
Sister in faith?
It was early this year when Daniel lent a helping hand to the multi-awarded Nora Aunor, who is said to have undergone a series of treatments and therapy sessions to recover her golden voice allegedly damaged from a botched operation.
How is she now? Daniel disclosed Nora is recuperating.
“Medyo nagpapalakas pa siya so we’re still hoping na maibalik na ang kaniyang boses,” he divulged.
As to rumors that Nora had “changed religion” and “joined their congregation” after supposedly receiving help from Daniel’s church, the latter has this to say.
“Even before, tinutulungan na namin si Ate Guy. I was able to meet Ate Guy, at nasabi niya nga ’yung predicaments niya sa akin. Eto lang po ang gusto kong sabihin, kahit po hindi kayo (miyembro) sa aming church or what, we’re always open to help,” he said. “Hindi kailangan na member kayo ng religious organization (namin) for us to help you out. We keep doing that and we want to pursue ’yung ganu’ng paniniwala na ang pag-gawa ng kabutihan is not limited du’n sa mga kasama mo lang sa community, but it should be extended sa mga taong talagang nangangailangan.”