Covid-19 is not all bad news. Believe it or not, the ongoing pandemic has also changed some lives—not for the worse but for the better. This is the case of Nash Joaquino, a 24-year-old news anchor at Magik FM’s Dipolog City radio station.
Joaquino, now more popularly known as Kuya Nash, was a night-shift security guard at the radio station until a life-changing situation struck him in March 2020, during the time the country started imposing community quarantine protocols.
One morning, the radio station’s morning news anchor Mike ‘Tito Mike’ Reyes informed the station manager that he would subject himself into indefinite isolation to protect himself from the virus spread. The announcement left show producer and station co-owner Marivic Arnas in a panic.
Tito Mike
Out of any other viable options that time, Arnas had the idea of making Kuya Nash pinch-hit for Tito Mike. She noted that Kuya Nash had been known for his sense of humor. It was the Magic FM Dipolog’s biggest risk yet. The security guard underwent some test recordings which showcased his ‘it factor’ for reading the news and giving some irreverent commentary.
“With Kuya Nash, we had a newscaster who understood the news how ordinary people understood it, who spoke like our audience, and wasn’t afraid to be candid,” said executive and co-producer Victoria Billones. She emphasized that Kuya Nash’s lack of formal training turned out to be his strength.
That changed Kuya Nash’s life and gave a breath of fresh air to Flash Patrol, the morning radio show where is now a regular newsreader and commentator. He lightens seemingly serious hot issues for the day.
Kuya Nash entered Flash Patrol as an amateur, but according to Billones, listeners have been sending overwhelming volumes of positive feedback, mostly praising the former security guard for remaining himself despite his new role. “In a way, we’re giving the news back to ordinary people. Kuya Nash has shown that it is possible,” Billones said.
Flash Patrol broadcasts Monday to Thursday mornings on Magic FM stations in Vigan, Laoag, Tacloban, Dipolog, Mandalupa, Lucena, and Tuguegarao. It can also be accessed as a podcast on Spotify and other podcast apps.
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