Ramon Jacinto

Ramon Pereyra Jacinto (born June 3, 1945) is a Filipino musician, radio jockey, TV host and entrepreneur. He is more commonly referred to as RJ Jacinto. He is the founder and chairman of Philippines' rock-and-roll radio station DZRJ, and the Rajah Broadcasting Network. Since 1963, this network has grown to a nationwide chain of radio stations (10 stations) and a UHF TV station. He is also the Chairman of Jacinto Color Steel, Inc. and the founder of RJ Guitars.

Professional and Business Career

Jacinto attended the Ateneo de Manila University and graduated with honors in Economics.^[1] To further his studies, he took up law at the University of Sto. Tomas while working for his father's steel company, Iligan Integrated Steel Mills, Inc.

At the age of 15, became an entrepreneur founding the first multi-track recording company in Asia.^[2]

At the age of 17, Jacinto and his friends established his radio station in his parent's backyard. The establishment of the radio station with the call letters dzRJ, would eventually become the legendary and at the same time, influential rock and roll station in the country.

At 19, RJ worked at the country's largest Steel Mill (IISMI) as VP Purchasing then as SVP Operations.^[3]

AUpon returning from exile from Martial Law, Jacinto came back with a string of businesses and helped establish the following:^[4]

• UHF Television ^[5]
• Home TV Shopping
• Non-collateral Consumer Finance ^[6]
• American Style Bargain Stores like Price Club, Save-A-Lot & Cotsco

He also owned Ventures Bank, which he sold and is now known as AMA Bank,^[7]

Through his show “RJ Sunday Jam”, he is claimed to be first to establish Teleradyo - a simulcast of radio on TV which was the model for ABS-CBN's DZMM TeleRadyo, the No.1 radio station in the Philippines.^[8]

In 2008, RJ was appointed President and CEO of Philcomsat Holdings Corporation. He is also a Director and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Philcomsat (Philippine Communications Satellite Corporation), the telecommunications company in the Philippines. ^[9]

Radio and television

While manning his own radio station, Jacinto was also the Senior Vice-President for Purchasing of their family business, with 2,500 employees reporting to him. During the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos, the Jacinto family's assets were forcibly seized and placed under military control and executives of the company were jailed with no charges filed. The sequestered assets included Jacinto's two radio stations. At that time, Jacinto was in the United States and opted to stay there in exile for 14 years to save himself from being jailed. During his exile, Jacinto recorded songs together with other Filipinos and secretly sent them to the Philippines for airplay. The songs "Muli" and "Don't Let Go" became hits but the composers and singers were not named in order to avoid military sanctions.

DZRJ in the EDSA Revolution

On March 5, 1986, Juan Ponce Enrile, who was then the Defense Minister, returned the radio stations and some of their family's steel mills to the Jacintos. DZRJ was finally transferred from military administration on June 1986 and Jacinto began to make DZRJ, the leader in retro wave by playing music from the '50s, '60s and '70s.

Bistro RJ

On July 25, 1986, Jacinto set up Bistro RJ, a rock and roll music lounge and restaurant which became famous ^[10] for those who were into singing and dancing. At the time, live bands traveled abroad to make a living and the night circuit in Manila depended on piano bars and discos. Jacinto decided to hire live bands to provide financial opportunities as well as to revive the night life in the Philippines through live music.

Bistro RJ renamed as The RJ Bar in 1991 in Arnaiz Ave. (formerly Pasay Rd.), but it was moved to Mandarin Oriental Manila Hotel in 1997, then it was moved again to Buendia Ave., and later in 2008 RJ Bar was renamed back to Bistro RJ again for a bigger venue. It was then moved to Dusit Hotel Manila. It became the home of rock and roll in the country, featuring live bands 7 days a week.^[10]

RJ Guitars

Jacinto developed an interest in music and he was particularly inclined to the guitar. RJ Guitars Store was launched in 1988 in Glorietta Mall (formerly Quad Mall), Makati City. While performing in his bistro, Jacinto felt exasperated about switching between a Fender Jazzmaster and a Gibson Les Paul. He decided to approach Rudy Discipulo to make a guitar versatile enough to produce all the sounds he needed. Impressed by Discipulo's workmanship, Jacinto embarked on putting up a guitar manufacturing business. At present, there are 20 RJ Guitar Centers in the Philippines, providing RJ Guitar models, and other musical instruments as well as distributing Taylor Guitars and other brands from abroad.^[11]

RJ Academy of Music

The RJ Academy of music was started in 1994 as RJ Guitar Center became the licensee of the Music Institute of Los Angeles, California.

Presidential Adviser

In June 23, 1998, Jacinto was awarded Presidential Citation in recognition of the distinguished and exemplary service he rendered to the Philippines as Presidential Consultant of President Fidel V. Ramos from March 22, 1995 to March 1, 1998.^[12]

On July 14, 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Jacinto as the Presidential Adviser on Economic Affairs and Information Technology Communications with the rank of Undersecretary.^[13] During the 2016 presidential campaign of Duterte, Jacinto was among the celebrities who were actively supporting him. He created a jingle for Duterte during the campaign period.^[14]

Discography