Who is Rick Stryker?

The first thing that comes out when you google "Rick Stryker" is like a pornstar. Oh! My Lord! I never knew that name is related to a porn star named "Jeff". No wonder when gays ask me what was my airname in radio way back they would often crack up.

It was the early 90's and I was still struggling on my way to make it to the broadcast industry. I always like comic books and when the oppurtunity came. I really wanted to be a superhero.

I was one of the members of Batch Four or Five (could'nt rememeber it anymore) of the Student Dj's of Campus Aircheck in 1994. I'm with Tom Garcia now Tom Alvarez of Monster Radio of RX93.1, Reggie Valdez of 101.9 For Life (formerly WRR 101.9), Raffy Ruiz of (Yes-FM! before)they are probably more, probably the best batch ever.

I applied at Eagle Broadcasting and made it, I had to have an airname that would reflect my personality. Most of the deejays had the initials R.S., like Raymond Stone and Richard Steele.
So I came up with Rick for the "R" and the next element that came close to stone and steel, that will forge with the team.

Recalling one of the comics from Image Comics, there was this cyborg hero name Stryker. He was first before the Capcom hero or villian (not quite sure) with the same name as well who dresses like a policeman on patrol.

Hence, Rick Stryker was born.

It felt good it had a nice ring to it. Back then deejays would have this mysterious aura that the voice alone was the complete personality. Until now, they are mostly personalities that really know how to smooth talk. And then again some kin of some celebrity name or foreign half breeds meaning they were born elsewhere or had a mom or dad whose a foreigner. Or just really look good that's it and a funny accent not from here.

They would have to request for a copy of our photo on a song mag, radio websites didnt exist back then, so they would have to satisfy their curiosity by swinging by the station to see how we look like.

I was a celebrity in some way, at the end of the day. You made someone happy in your very own little way by hearing their song on air. Back then it was pretty expensive to buy a CD it was 450 pesos and a cassette was like 150 pesos.

And a college or highschool student would scrimp their way to purchase a copy of that album. After my shift I can revert back to just being the ordinary me, ride the public transport and just go home rent some VHS tapes and relax.

Im just an ordinary dude that time trying to play everybody's song with 50,000 watts behind it heard almost the whole NCR region. It was total bliss, sometimes I would even play straight from the package with its plastic cover rip it. And yeah say it to myself you heard it first here.

Especially if it was like an Eraserheads song or Rivermaya and True Faith. I was really rooting for all the OPM (Original Pilipino Music) bands and Artist to make it big. A little bit of being nationalistic and some local pride and I can boast to anyone that we are world class. Baby.

So the next time you come across my name on the internet and you search it.
It should come out as a radio dj/presenter, host, vo talent, coliseum barker.
And probably more... continue to evolve.

And a return to radio remains to be seen. Some people dont know talent when they hear one.

DM 95.5 disc jockey 1995-2002

Strike Anywhere

What happens to a radio dj,when he loses his J-O-B? Yeah, that's right. You heard me job. Or better yet his life or world. It's like a fish out of water, a day without sunshine. How can I forget that day? It keeps playing sometimes in my head. An endless flashback. The year was 2002, a lot of radio stations were either closing or reformatting like 89DMZ now Wave 89.1 . Even Superman met his match with Doomsday and Charles Barkley retired from the NBA.

We are talking about super heroes here getting killed in action or just losing his powers. My life is not a comic book... And sometimes faith has decided to end it. Man, I was just getting started. I was just getting the breaks I need.

We were given the boot, the pink slip. We did'nt even had the chance to say goodbye at least. No farewell or bye-bye song that I used to play before I go. Ouch, pretty harsh aint it. All the love, the loyalty, the life I gave for that radio station. DM 955.

All the hits that we made... All the songs played ...
Good things come to an end they say...

I wonder if they still remember me? Rick Stryker

Well, life goes on. A lot of different jobs came by... I tried being a customer service associate or plainly a call center agent. A freelance voiceover announcer for corporate events. A host for mall shows and bar tours. A resident dj at Ratsky's Morato and Malate.

And I got stuck in being a venue announcer or a coliseum barker for almost all the leagues.
I started with the NBL, then a short stint with the PBA, and the PBL , during the off season the NCAA and sometimes the UAAP.

I always wanted to be a basketball player but it's pretty close. he-he. ;P