Before Dino Valentino became a certified radio jock, he worked as a nurse. (Nag-alaga ng may sakit noon, nag-alaga ng listener ngayon?!)
“I really tried to be part of the medical industry. For awhile, I even studied to become a paramedic at sumampa rin ako sa ambulansya. But I just realized my passion and inclination late. Mahal ko pa rin naman propesyon ko na inaral for four years, pero may radio na talaga sa kin,” Dino explained. (Need daw po ng dj sa ambulansya!)
DJ Dino Valentino
Dino’s love for radio was planted in his childhood years. (Ay, nu’ng bata pa si Sabel!)
“Bata pa lang ako, radio na talaga main source of entertainment ko. I listened to the likes of Mo Twister and King DJ Logan, habang nagre-review ako. Then I tried to call them on air and I super enjoyed the feeling, du’n nag-start inclination ko sa radio. Bibig talaga ako na naging tao,” Dino recalled. (Ay, sana bibig ka na lang! Chos!)
His first radio job was with Wow FM, with the air name Piolo Askal. But after three years, he quit and pursued a career in the corporate world. “I felt that I needed to pursue something that will be stable dahil hindi na’ko bumabata, gusto ko na rin ng sarili kong pamilya.” (Pero ’di naman po siya buntis, kaya nag-quit!)
Last December, he found himself back on air via 91.5 Win Radio. (Umarte lang konti tapos babalik din pala!)
“Hindi ko pala kayang tiisin. Apply ulit! I remember one of my radio mentors told me na if you enter the radio industry and then decide to leave, the radio bug will bite you until you can’t say no to the itch. So radio na talaga!” Dino said. (May kati-kati sa radyo?!)
Dino takes the 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. slot on the weekday show “Afternoon Delight.”
“It is for people who are at work and it’s their last stretch before they end their shift. It’s also for people who are on the road and kinda tired from the hustle of the city kasi hapon na. My job is to lift their energy and help them make it to the last stretch.” (May lifting?! May stretching?!)
The University of the East Memorial Medical Center alumnus has this to say to aspiring radio talents.
“Pursue it no matter what. Kahit hindi ka graduate ng communication or broadcasting course. The road will not be easy. Learn as much as you can. Listen to radio greats tapos apply lang nang apply sa mga radio station kahit abutin ka pa ng probinsya!” (Pwes, I will not make it easy for you. Chos, push!)
(MR. FU hosts on 91.5 Win Radio, 9 a.m.-12 nn., Mondays to Fridays and 9 p.m. to midnight, Saturdays. Twitter/IG: @mrfu_mayganon. FB: Mr. Fu The Star DJ. Youtube: WTFu. Book: Juice ko FU)