I HAD the privilege of writing about one of the programs I was very much a part of both behind the scenes and on camera (or in front of the microphone on radio) — “Compañero y Compañera” — for the Cultural Center of the Philippines Encyclopedia. Let me share with you this piece, in honor of the memory of Compañero Rene Cayetano, my co-proponent of this program when it debuted on June 24, 1994. The late Senator passed away ten years later — on June 24, 2004.
Compañero y Compañera was a talk/public service radio program produced by ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation’s AM Radio Station DZMM from June,1994 to May,1998. Hosted by Gel Santos Relos and the late Senator Atty. Rene Cayetano, the program educated the listening public about the laws of the Philippines, and their applicability in different real-life problem situations faced by ordinary folks in the country.
The program started when Cayetano guested in Relos’ nightly primetime drive time (6:30 – 8pm, Mondays to Fridays) public affairs program Relos Reports on June 24, 1994, bantering with Relos about legal issues surrounding hot news of the week, particularly the Metro Manila Film Festival fiasco. This guesting also paved the way for had been one of the biggest legacy of Cayetano — giving free legal advice to listeners hungry for information and guidance.
This public service became a big hit that Cayetano’s guesting became a regular weekly segment of Relos Reports, earning its own title, Compañero y Compañera. Relos anointed Atty. Rene Cayetano as the “Compañerong Bayan,” a term of endearment Cayetano had always been remembered by.
On the other hand, While Relos was not a lawyer, Cayetano would refer to Relos as “Compañera” [partner], even if she was not a lawyer. Cayetano would always explain that they, along with the listening public, were all “partners” in the mission to learn and understand the laws of the land.
The format of Compañero y Compañera was simple: Listeners called in, Relos interviewed them about their problematic situation, Cayetano asked further questions to clarify legal issues, and then gave his legal advice — with the caveat that such general advice was just a legal perspective based on the limited information shared by the callers.
Listeners were encouraged to consult a trusted attorney to be better guided in the next steps to take to solve their problems.
Cayetano’s on-air legal advice/ perspective was based on his on the spot consultation with a battery of junior lawyers, from the law firm PECABAR (Ponce-Enrile, Cayetano, Bautista, Reyes Law Firm), of which Cayetano was among the senior partners.
These attorneys went to the studio with Cayetano, and also helped him respond to all letters sent to the program by listeners seeking legal advice. This public service had been given by Cayetano and the PECABAR lawyers “pro bono.”
As the segment gained popularity, Compañero y Compañera became a major daily component of Relos Reports. Every Monday, Cayetano joined Relos in the radio studio from 7-8pm, to personally talk to and advise people who called in.
Tuesdays to Fridays, Relos would read three letters sent by listeners via mail, with with the program signature music ‘Bilitis’ playing on the background. Cayetano would then give his legal advice via phone patch, from his office, a hotel lobby, the gym, or even from out of the country.
The phenomenal success of Compañero y Compañera could be attributed to the program’s mission to “humanize” the law, to help ordinary people increase their level of awareness, understanding, and appreciation of their rights and obligations, as responsible citizens of the country.
This was achieved by the collaboration of Cayetano and Relos, in the way they executed each broadcast. They treated each caller with respect and compassion, as they tried to make sense of the problem situation for the better understanding of their radio listeners in general.
Cayetano masterfully explained the law in layman’s terms, while Relos shared the human interest and psychological angle to the discussion.
In 1995, “Compañero y Compañera, The Drama” was launched, aired Mondays to Fridays during the last 30 minutes of the program. Letters received by the program were presented in drama format — produced, directed and narrated by Relos.
The pre-recorded drama was capped by the usual banter of Relos and Cayetano, featuring Cayetano’s legal advice.
Compañero y Compañera, The Drama won the “KBP Golden Dove Awards for Best Radio Drama” in 1995 for an episode written and directed by Relos. Another award was given by the KBP to the program in 1997.
In 1997, Compañero y Compañera on television was launched, with both Relos and Cayetano as proponents and hosts. It was a multi-format television program produced by ABS-CBN, under the production supervision of Arlene de Castro with Oscar Yema as executive producer.
In the first season, the show’s format was more of a magazine type, starting off with a 20- minute dramatization of a case/problem situation. Cayetano then would explain the laws applicable in the said case/problem situation.
In the second half of the one-hour program, Cayetano and Relos would present the public service portion of the show. Like how it had successfully been executed on radio, Cayetano would give free legal advice to letters and emails sent in by viewers, with the help of his junior attorneys from the PECABAR (Ponce-Enrile, Cayetano, Bautista, Reyes Law Firm).
Toward the end of the first season, the program evolved to be more talk-interactive format with just a little reenactment. There was a panel of guests who interact with Cayetano and Relos in discussing the legal issue of the day. The most favorite topics for discussion were problems and situations involving family, criminal and cvil law.
There was also a live studio audience who could ask questions from Cayetano and get free legal advice. Emails and letters from viewers were also entertained during the public service portion of the show.
It was initially produced by and aired on ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation from 1997 to 1998. When Relos went on an educational and maternity leave, she was replaced by actress-comedienne Tessie Tomas.
Pursuant to the rules of ABS-CBN governing personalities that ran for public office, the show ran only up to the time Cayetano announced his candidacy for the Senate in 1998.
As the title “Compañero y Compañera” was trademarked under Cayetano’s name, the program was able to go back on the air after he was catapulted to the Senate when it moved to GMA Network in 1998. Co-hosting with Cayetano was singer-actress-news anchor Ali Sotto.
In 1999, Sotto was replaced by Angelique Lazo. The show transferred to Radio Philippines Network in 2000, where Cayetano hosted the program with actress Nanette Medved, until it ended in 2001.
With Cayetano in the Senate, Relos reverted back to Relos Reports. It retained the same format, and worked with radio anchor Daniel Razon [now head of UNTV public service television station], Atty. Francis Pangilinan [who eventually ran and served as Senator as well], Atty. Danilo Concepcion [who is now the Dean of the UP College of Law], as well as with other volunteers from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the the Psychological Association of the Philippines.
In 2001, Compañera Gel Santos Relos relocated to the United States, where she now anchors Balitang America — the daily newscast of ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel.
Compañero Atty. Rene Cayetano succumbed to liver cancer on June 24, 2004.
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
