To many work-weary Boholanos world-wide, the news was equivalent to Man landing on the Moon.

On July 8, 2007, Bohol broadcasting history was rewritten with the launching of the website of our allied pioneer radio Station DYRD - enabling Boholanos in any part of the world to hear Bohol news and opinion instantly. At the time it happens, when it happens.

This technological breakthrough (in partnership with Auza.Net) is not just "E.T, Phone Home" but "Click the Web, Be in Bohol." This landmark event in radio made DYRD to be the first local radio station to open Bohol to the world through the magic of audio transmission.

The Russians could have landed in Pluto for all Boholanos cared. But this access of events authentically homegrown into one's bedroom, sala or office abroad through the computer was to them the Real Deal, the Thrilling One.

On the day the Bohol Chronicle announced on its separate website about Station DYRD's worldwide beam, listeners flooded the radio website with excited postings.

In tell Aviv, Israel, Gerry Guidaben (who works for the Philippine Embassy there) monitored the live proceedings hatched at the newly-opened Prawn Farm at the Island City Mall in the presence of top provincial and city officialdom, bankers and big businessmen.

On the other side of the globe, Jojo Ofamen, a housing development investor in Bohol, lost sleep listening at the world-wide launch at the wee hours of the morning in his residence in Stockton, Texas in the USA.

Thousands in Manila were in a unified voice of praise and awe as echoed through the felicitations aired by Bernie Calibo and Joseph Ranola representing the Bohol Association of Metro Manila Inc. (BAMMI).

Indeed clicking the website was like us as children opening our Christmas gift at the break of dawn on Christmas Day. And indeed for the Bohol Radio Corporation, broadcasting is the best gift to our listeners after 46 years in the business since 1961.

We were as excited recording the tremendous feedback within 24 hours as evidenced by the unprecedented "hits" on the DYRD website. The top ten fans came from Canada, Philippines, Austria, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Israel, France, Germany, Italy and New Zealand.

In the next three days, Boholanos listened in with gleeful faces reporting out of Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore Switzerland, Japan, Bermuda, United Arab Emirartes and Belgium.

Tell us, how global can we get, Virginia?

Boholanos enjoying dinner in the area of New York and New Jersey had their best dessert in years: hearing live the inimitable voice of anchorman Fred Araneta with the Seven O'Clock News which together with the popular "Inyong Alagad" and "Tagbilaran By Nite" remain the most logged-in programs. And so on.

Bohol officialdom led by Gov. Erico Aumentado praised the great technology leap accorded by the Station DYRD website saying that this was the best updates - a daily 18-hour broadcast of Bohol events - compared to just a weekly one.

The new broadcast stride has placed Governance in a "wider clear glass" where more people now hear the public pronouncements of officials and discussion of issues than it had ever been. The attending officialdom was equally challenged by the task and vowed to render even better public service.

Meantime, the Sanguniang Panlungsod of Tagbilaran City approved a resolution en masse commending and congratulating the Bohol Chronicle Radio Corporation through its President and General Manager Peter P. Dejaresco for this newfangled way of teaching a wider base of Boholanos and thereby according a more democratic and participatory governance.

It is almost unbelievable for Station DYRD - a small town radio station in 1961 - to grow from the Beatles" "She Loves You yeah yeah yeah" and "Love Love Me do" to be heard and responded today simultaneously even in the world's major cities like New York and London.

This giant attempt of Station DYRD to keep pace with modern technology is just part of the deep commitment to public service that our departed patriarch Jun Dejaresco had inculcated in our young minds some decades ago.

Truth to tell, the Dejaresco sons Ely, Bingo, Bobong (Tony) and Peter, had all been at one or the other newscasters and disk jockeys of the old Station DYRD.

As we bask in the glory of this momentous undertaking, Station DYRD also remembers with gratitude all those past announcers, technicians, reporters, librarians and runners who contributed their share in making the institution achieve beyond the expectation of the Founder. It will be too long to mention all of them but they know who they are.

For the smile it brings to those who yearn for live news of home abroad. For the democratic space it affords by linking news and opinions to a wider base of Boholanos.
A toast to radio Station DYRD! Mabuhay!

For Comments: email to bingo_dejaresco@boholchronicle.com Or editor@boholchronicle.com