Page 53 - The Flame

91.5 Energy FM where he said he tried hard and Mr. Fu admits that he makes it a point not much more, but radio is my passion,” he said.
gave his best as a DJ. He was unaware that his to overuse his prize catchphrase “me’ganon” in “TV is my element. Radio is my passion. It is more
stint as a DJ will serve as his ticket to fame. the company of his friends because they might interactive and accessible; you get people’s reac-
“It was my career, I left RPN to become a consider it stale by now, but his name, Mr. Fu, tion almost immediately.”
full-time DJ,” he said. “People from noontime TV has completely been embedded up until today. According to Mr. Fu a DJ should possess at
shows like Eat Bulaga spotted me and then after “I was hosting a public service program that least five qualities that would make him last in
a month or even less, I was on TV.” always asked me to “follow-up” the concerns of the radio industry—character, content, clarity,
the people,” he said. “Since I looked Chinese, I connection, and creativity.
Student leader decided to use Mr. Fu (follow-up) instead.” “I give advice and criticisms in a constructive
As a college student, Mr. Fu ran as president Mr. Fu recalled the first time he found out manner,” he said. “That is how I started. That is
of the Arts and Letters Student Council (ABSC) that “Fu” in Chinese meant luck; he felt it suited my character. There should also be content, what
under the political party Dekada. him perfectly. From then on, from station to sta- you say should mean something.”
“No CA student has been elected as student tion, he brought that screen name with him. Being the down-to-earth guy Mr. Fu is, he
council president that time,” he said, adding that “Even my friends call me Fu,” he said, ex- said he does not need to pretend to look intelli-
he immediately took the challenge. “My friends pressing how fewer people were calling him by gent on air for a DJ does not need to be too deep,
urged me to run, and then I did, and won.” his real name, Jeffrey. “When people call me Jef- he said.
Having missed some classes for the council, frey, I forget it is me they are calling.” “I wanted to tell stories in a casual, conversa-
he liked to think of it as a priority. In his high “I am a happy person, very positive about tional manner,” he said. “That is important. That
school days, he was also student council presi- everything,
dent at St. Lourdes School. including “With my Thomasian workmates, all of us were
Although he never thought of entering poli- life in gen-
tics after graduation, Mr. Fu saw a big part of eral,” he willing to work immediately after graduation.
himself being a student leader. said, add-
“By nature, I lead people. That is what I want ing that We were willing to learn and to take any task
to do,” he said. “I do not believe that I have to be the trick is without second thoughts,”
a politician in order to serve. You can be of ser- to always
vice to others in your own simple way,” he said. think posi- - Radio Disc Jockey Jeffrey Espiritu a.k.a. “Mr. Fu”
tively. “I
Artlets rearing put aside stress and try to avoid watching nega- is the peg and listeners should be able to relate
He recalled the time he used to have produc- tive news.” to you. You should speak well, even if you speak
tion classes and how much he enjoyed and used He added that he does not force himself to quickly. You have to be understood.”
them to show off his extraordinary hosting skills. work when he does not feel well—physically or “I hope ten years from now I will still have
“I did not care even if my female classmates emotionally—explaining that it will be unfair to the same voice,” he said. “I might have a husky
were the cameramen,” he quipped. “I just had to the listeners. Aside from that, he added that he voice by then, but my radio career will still be my
be the talent, even if they had to carry the equip- does not want the audience to get involved with priority.”
ment. In class projects, I was always the on-cam whatever he is experiencing. As long as he can
talent.” project he is happy on-air, he will do it. Being a Thomasian
As for professors, he had a few favorites. “Bawal maging malungkot si Mr. Fu,” he Mr. Fu said that most of his family members
Among them were ABS-CBN Corporate Com- said, narrating how he still went to work even af- including his mother, aunts, and cousins were
munication Head Ramon “Bong” Osorio, CA pro- ter his father died. “Sabi ko kulang nalang ilagay Thomasians, so it was no surprise he ended up in
fessor; EJ Lopez, Economics professor and then nila sa kontrata, kapag naging malungkot si Mr. the same University.
adviser of the student council; and Faye Martel- Fu, walang bayad.” “I took the exam late,” he said, adding that he
Abugan, CA professor who helped him land a job He knew that keeping a positive attitude barely made it in the last batch of UST entrance
after graduating. despite sadness would make his father happy. test takers. “I was already planning to apply for a
He also mentioned that he never got in the According to him, comedians do not complain job in McDo in case I did not get in!”
cum laude list for having an average of 1.78 when because it is the profession they chose. When asked what the best thing about being
the list requires 1.75. During their graduation, “I am the same on and off cam,” he said. “But a Thomasian is, he answered that it is their value
Mr. Fu said it was Osorio who acknowledged that I am quiet when I am by myself. I am aware I can system.
he was the first CA student who became presi- be a bit exaggerated on television, but it is for “With my Thomasian workmates, all of us
dent of the ABSC. my job. It is just a part of me executing things were willing to work immediately after gradua-
“Kapag sinabi nilang CA, ang naiisip agad, creatively.” tion,” he said. “We were willing to learn and to
bakla, bobo, puro showbiz lang ang alam,” he take any task without second thoughts.”
said. Being a CA student, he wanted to prove Passion for radio Futhermore, he said that the best part of be-
that they also have smart students as well. “Be- Mr. Fu prioritizes his radio job despite having ing a Thomasian Artlets student is liberalism at
ing president of the student council meant a lot different TV offers in various stations. Even now its best, something which he knows he also has
to me.” that he is seen on TV, all his tapings and other the knack for.
He said that one college memory he would commitments should not affect his radio show, “Artlets students are said to be well-round-
never forget was having Professor Arsenio Sa- he said. ed,” he said, mentioning that the reporting pro-
landanan as panelist during his thesis defense. “Taping should be after lunch. If it is in the fession is not the profession for those who want
“I almost thought I would not graduate. I al- morning, I have to reschedule it—make it a Sat- to become wealthy.
most failed thesis!” he said. “I had to revise my urday or Sunday or else I will not go,” he said. “If you want to get rich, do not be a re-
thesis many times, but I realized I also learned “My radio career will always be my priority be- porter,” he said. “Of course there are reporters
something from that experience.” cause I owe the radio industry so much.” and broadcasters who have ‘leveled-up’ like Ar-
He remarked that while it was an honor to “I was a DJ for only a month and they found nold Clavio, Mel Tiangco, but that is a different
be the first CA student to become president of out I existed,” he said. “Unlike in TV where I story. It takes time to reach the point they have
the council, it was not as important as graduat- worked for seven years, I never made a name for reached now.”
ing. He did not want to reach the point where he myself.” “Of course, the job of a DJ will be set apart.
would be the first council president who would He added that he would someday want to A DJ is like crazy person alone in the booth,” he
not graduate on time. help other aspiring DJs to get a career in the ra- continued. “One should learn to talk to the audi-
dio industry. ence and never alienate them. It is the DJ’s job to
Mr. Follow-up “My TV talent fee might pay all my bills and make sure they are part of everything.” F
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