Kaye Dacer: There’s life after DZMM

MANILA, Philippines - Three months after she bowed out from the public eye as co-anchor of DZMM’s defunct Aksyon Ngayon (with Julius Babao), Kaye Dacer has remained part of the industry. But this time, she’s behind the camera — at least, for now.

The Aksyon Lady (a tag she earned after helping listeners with their problems, government-related or not) is running her own broadcast network called 8Trimedia Pro, Inc. Like a David facing industry Goliaths, her four-year-old company, housed in the fourth floor of Seneca Plaza Building in Quezon City, is slowly proving that it’s an upstart with a lot of promise.

Familiar faces and voices like Rey Langit, Angelo Almonte, Gani Oro, Neil Ocampo, Joey Falcon and others have regular programs in the company’s broadcast arm , DZRJ 810 AM Radio.

“I give anchors free rein in their show. If a friend is involved in a controversy, I talk to the anchors. But it’s still their call,” Kaye explains why she thinks big names in radio flocked to her start-up station.

She didn’t offer fat paychecks. But they still went on board. 

Kaye sees a divine purpose in what she describes as an “overwhelming” turn of events.

After all, public service is her network’s reason for being.

“It’s not business at once around here. I don’t tell the anchors that they have to rate, or else they’re out. It’s the people who will uplift us. I want the network to be loved. Hence, the slogan Himpilan ng Bawat Pilipino (Station of Every Fillipino).”

So, she’s extending her almost 20-year tradition of public service on radio to DZRH. She put up the Akyson Lady Center to address Juan dela Cruz’s concerns. Open daily, morning to evening, the Center sees Kaye talking to anyone who seeks help.

Kaye, with extensive connections in government and private sectors, can easily tap her contacts to ease things up a bit for the needy.

Unlike other stations with tight security, anyone can just press the elevator button that says fourth floor, and unburden himself or herself to the lady boss or her staff.

“Ours is not a gated place where your every move is scrutinized, and people are suspicious of you,” Kaye beams.

Do you smell politics? Kaye denies it.

Her former Aksyon Ngayon co-anchor, one-time Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, asked Kaye to run as his vice mayor, but Kaye said no, thank you. There were other offers to run for public office in her native Batangas and in Pasay, but Kaye thinks politics isn’t her calling.

Broadcasting and public service is. So, Kaye is raring to resume her career as a radio anchor — if ABS-CBN, DZMM’s mother company — will let her.

Under a contract she signed as DZMM talent, Kaye is banned from anchoring another show for a year after leaving ABS-CBN (she resigned Dec. 2, 2016).

“I don’t know if I signed a contract in 2016. The contract is always late. All I have is my 2015 contract,” says Kaye.

She plans to visit the Kapamilya network to ask if she’s still covered by the ban. But she hopes the Lopez-owned station will allow her to anchor a radio show again, this time in DZRJ.

“I’m confused. No one told me I can’t appear on TV or go on board on radio when I resigned from ABS,” Kaye admits.

That’s why she hopes to resume her career as public service show host so people can see her again doing what they’ve been accustomed to seeing her do.

“Public service must go on. But it will only be effective if people see me every day. This way, they will sense the sincerity in my voice and see it on my face.”

Kaye isn’t alone in seeking a go-signal. The mother seeking justice for her son, the man on the street looking for a lost loved one and others like them are waiting as well.