TED FAILON'S STORY

Mario Teodoro ‘Ted’ Failon Etong: Making a promdi’s dream bigger than reality


By Joel M. Sy Egco, Assignments Editor

HE was a battered young dreamer who frequently got a beating from an illiterate father who only aspired to see his son become one of the best auto mechanics in a sleepy little city down south. He stowed away to escape the wrath of an angry father, went to nearly a dozen schools and took on some of the oddest jobs before deciding to jump into the rat race in the big city.

“My life as a young adult was wayward. My father was a driver who didn’t know how to read and write. My mother was a market vendor. It was my older sister who watched over me. I learned to smoke in my first year in high school and eventually learned to drink alcohol. My father and I often argued because he wanted me to become a mechanic which I never really liked. He used to beat me up real hard so I had to leave the house in numerous occasions and escape,” recalled Mario Teodoro “Ted” Failon Etong, one of giant network ABS-CBN’s most successful radio and television anchors, about his ordeal in the hands of an unforgiving father.

Up until he became one of the most popular media personalities in the country, Ted carried this burden of having to disobey his old man in pursuit of his own small dream of becoming a broadcaster, armed only with nothing but his God-given gift: his voice.

“I never imagined that I would make it this big. My dream was only simple. To be heard on radio in our province. I never wanted anything else because hearing myself talk on air was enough for me. When I finally did, I used to record my own audio clip and listen to it at home.

To become a famous broadcaster was farthest from my mind. I never planned it,” said the 49-year-old Failon, who co-anchors TV Patrol and Radyo Patrol Balita: Alas Siyete with former Vice President Noli De Castro.

At present, he also hosts a weekday morning commentary program over dzMM entitled Tambalang Failon at Webb with Pinky Webb. This show is the successor of one of ABS CBN’s top raters, Tambalang Failon at Sanchez with Korina Sanchez, wife of politician and presidential timber Mar Roxas.

Rough sailing
As a high school junior, Ted was already working as a full-time hotel room boy in Tacloban City. He also worked as a waiter and a construction worker. He had to work and help his parents who, at that time, were struggling to make ends meet. At one point, he even became a tricycle driver to earn a decent living.

Ted grew up both in San Dionisio, Parañaque and Tacloban City, Leyte.
Ted’s father, Jose, who hails from the town of Jaro, worked as a jeepney driver plying the Baclaran-Divisoria route. His mother, Josefina, from Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur, was a market vendor in Parañaque.

According to Ted, he only managed to attend college with the help of his sister, Teresa. He took up AB Economics in Colegio de San Juan de Letran while working as a disc jockey (DJ) in a small joint along EDSA in Cubao, Quezon City.

Ted moved back to Tacloban again in 1980 and shifted courses from AB Economics to AB Mass Communications at the Divine Word University.

He continued working as a DJ at different local discos until he applied and was hired in 1982 at DYPL-AM, a local radio station, as a driver/reporter.

It was at this point that Ted officially started his career in radio broadcasting.

“Poverty is a common problem. For me it was even harder because I had to contend with a lot of emotional problems and stress. I used to think life was made very difficult for me because besides being poor, I had a father who was very mad at me,” Ted said.

“When I became a DJ, that was when I discovered that I have a talent. Prior to that, I took a lot of blue collar jobs. I learned how to mix gravel and cement at the construction site where I worked. Then, while working as a local DJ, I drove a tricylce to earn extra. I followed my dream to become an announcer. And when I got that small break in Tacloban City, I decided to try my luck in the big city,” he added.

Inspiration
According to him, he was inspired by the success of a fellow Leyteno, retired Channel 9 news anchor Gabby Aurillo who, for reasons still unclear to Ted, suddenly left the limelight.

“I sought help from him and after he did, he just went away. Suddenly, we lost track of him,” Ted said of his “idol.”

In 1983, Ted got married at 21 to Trinidad Arteche with whom he has two daughters—Katrina and Karishma Tedrina.

“We eloped and got married. Necessarily, I had to quit school. One day, I went home to see my father to tell him that finally I have a real job.

Still, he did not approve of it. My mother, on the other hand, ever loving as she was, was very happy,” Ted further recalled.

He had to quit school and work full-time as an announcer and production head in DYPL-AM. It was in 1987 that, at only 25 years old, Ted became the station manager of DYPL-AM.

In 1988, Ted tried his luck in Manila but it was not his time yet to make it big. While working at DYPL-AM, Ted met the owner of DWGV-FM, a local station in Angeles City, Pampanga, who convinced him to work as a program and production director for the station while he was looking for a job in Manila. Ted accepted the offer and relocated to Pampanga.

However, he kept going back to Manila to apply at different networks.
Faced with the challenges of an early marriage, a fledgling career and a resentful father, Ted saw his life was getting more complicated. Among all his heartaches, it was his father’s anguish that weighed heaviest.

“But I never lost hope. Slowly, I made a name for myself until eventually my father began to appreciate what I was doing. Time came when he would boast to everyone that I am his son. Wherever he went, he always announced that Ted Failon is his son. Maybe he finally realized that this stubborn son of his can be of good use anyway,” he guffawed.

Reconciliation
Ted finally mended his severed ties with his father when, prior to the latter’s death in 2000, he treated him to an all-expenses paid trip abroad and bought his father a truck.

“I really planned for that trip. I wanted us to be together. Just the two of us. It was only then that we were able to talk man to man. I
released all my angsts and frustrations. I told him how hard it was for me to live with such a heavy burden. After that, all went well. Our relationship as father and son became smooth. It was the happiest day of my life,” recounted the world-renowned broadcaster.

Famous and all that, Ted said he was never ashamed of having a “no read, no write” father, stressing that he will forever hold dearly the fact that despite his old man’s deficiencies, he managed to send all his kids to school. The third in a brood of four, Ted is glad that all of them graduated from college and became professionals.

“I will always be proud of my father. It was his hard work that placed us all where we are now. In that aspect, he excelled,” he pointed out.

College degree
While working, Ted realized the importance of having a college degree and so in 1994 he enrolled at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines where, in 1996, he finally got to graduate with a degree in Broadcast Communications. He also took up Law at the Arellano Law Foundation in Manila but his tight schedule and heavy workload did not permit him to continue on.

Earlier in May 1990, Ted applied at ABS-CBN News for the third time and was finally accepted as a desk editor. A few months later, Ted was given a break on dzMM where he became anchor of the 2-4 a.m. show, Gising Pilipinas! Opportunities both in radio and television kept pouring in and Ted soon became a regular anchor of DZMM. He co-hosted Bayan Ko, Sagot Ko and Bahay Kalinga, apart from hosting Mission Exposé and Wanted on TV Patrol.

Biggest break
Ted got his biggest break at his home network when he covered an incident where an entire coastal village was wiped out by a huge wave in his hometown in Leyte. Arriving in Manila to air his material, he was asked by the late Frank Evangelista and Rolly Cruz to fill in for Noli de Castro who failed to report for work that day.

For Ted, it was the start of a career in television. And at the same time his successful radio career continued. For ABS CBN retained his radio programs.

“The first time I was asked to do live TV reporting, I could’nt believe it,” he declared.

Ted introduced to the station the public service program, Aksyon Ngayon! where he and Korina Sanchez’s tandem started. Ted then became anchor of the would-be phenomenon TV program, Hoy! Gising together with Korina where their partnership would become wellknown and admired.

In 1995, Ted was appointed as Radio News Manager of dzMM. He also did Pulso Aksyon Balita—the late night news program that took over World Tonight and MIB: Mga Imbestigador ng Bayan.

Ted is public service personified. And because his programs have always been in the interest of the masses, different award-giving bodies have recognized his journalistic talent. His radio program, Aksyon Ngayon has received numerous awards including Best Radio Public Service Program by the Catholic Mass Media Awards. The unparalleled program Hoy! Gising received many accolades as well, such as those from Star Awards for Best Public Service Program. It was even recognized by Gawad CCP as “Isa sa pinakamahusay na programang pangtelebisyon . . . [one of the most excellent television programs].”

Ted himself has garnered numerous awards including Best Public Service Program Host for Hoy! Gising.

Congressman Failon
He ran for Congress for the First District of Leyte in 2001 as an independent candidate against an incumbent political giant whom he defeated. During that time Ted did radio once a week with Korina. He also became host of his own show for the ABS-CBN News Channel called Good News that received the Catholic Mass Media award for Best TV News Magazine Show in 2003. After serving for only one term, he realized that politics was not for him and so he returned to his real love—broadcasting.

Currently, Ted has programs both in radio and television. Just recently, Anak TV Seal named Ted as one of the 10 Most Admired Personalities in Television. He can be seen on TV every night in the primetime newscast program of ABS-CBN, TV Patrol World. On radio, he can be heard delivering the news at 7 a.m. for dzMM Radyo Patrol Balita, awarded by the KBP as Best Radio Newscast and Ted as Best Radio Newscaster.

At 8:30 in the morning, Ted is heard again alongside Korina in the multi-awarded commentary program of dzMM, Tambalang Failon at Sanchez where he delivers his signature sharp and witty commentaries. And because of his background in FM radio as a DJ, this top-rater is filled with new gimmicks, amusing segments and entertaining sound effects, music and all.

Tragedy
Ted’s life was again in shambles following the sudden and tragic death of his wife, Trinidad, in April 2009. Depression started to set in when besides his loss, he was even blamed by some people for the incident.

The police even considered him a suspect at one point until further investigations proved that he was innocent of all the allegations.

Asked how he managed to survive this tragedy, Ted replied: “I went back to my comfort zone and best friend—the microphone. Two months after the tragedy, I came back to the station and began airing again. That helped me recover. Doing what you love the most will help you survive such an ordeal.”

For young aspiring broadcast journalists and writers, Ted has this advice: “Read, read and read. Read everything, even the Bible. Read it over and over. The voice is just a tool. An instrument. What comes out of that voice is different. What you’re saying is much more important than how you say it.

“Keep on dreaming. Consider yourself lucky for having a talent. Always think ahead of the competition as you continue to pursue that little dream. Most importantly, if you have to give anything to your family then, by all means, give them what is due to make them happy. You will never know when life will be over until it is over. In this world, everything is borrowed,” he emphasized.

Promdi
Ted’s lifestory reflects his belief that there are no small dreams for a big dreamer. Armed with an inherent talent and the passion to learn and work and survive, he hurdled the greatest challenges of life.

Forever grateful with what God has given him—a golden voice—Ted dedicates all to the people by touching their hearts and widening their knowledge.

Ted continues to change people’s lives. He is simply a living proof that a promdi like him can do well in the big city given the right attitude and talent.

As to his lost love and broken heart, Ted has not yet fully recovered. But would he choose to love again in the near future?

“Only time will tell,” is the only answer that this great announcer can offer.

(The Manila Times wishes to thank Katrina Arteche Etong and the Failonians on Facebook for providing much of the details in this story—Ed)