Kabayan (radio program)

Kabayan (Kapangyarihan ng Mamamayan, Balita at Talakayan) premiered in late 1986 on DZMM-AM with Noli de Castro, coinciding with his move from late-afternoons to early mornings after DZMM Balita (renamed Radyo Patrol Balita). The program focuses on issues relating to the political and social situation in the Philippines. Its efforts resulted to the show becoming DZMM's top-rating radio program.

In February 2001, it had to end its run in order to allow de Castro to run for the Senate. Replacement programs and eventually Todo Balita took over the timeslot.

On July 12, 2010, Kabayan returned to DZMM with de Castro as its current host, replacing Todo Balita.[1] On January 10, 2011, Kabayan was moved to the 6:00 a.m. time slot, combining it with Radyo Patrol Balita: Alas Siyete, wherein de Castro joined Ted Failon as the co-anchor of the newscast.[2] In January 2020, the program updated its OBB and title card on DZMM TeleRadyo, in preparation for the 10th anniversary celebration of the program's return to air.

From March 18, 2020 to May 1, 2020, Kabayan and Radyo Patrol Balita Alas-Siyete were simulcast on ABS-CBN from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., temporarily replacing Umagang Kay Ganda as provisional programming, due to the coronavirus pandemic. The program was also simulcast alongside Radyo Patrol Balita: Alas Siyete (later TeleBalita and currently TeleRadyo Balita) from June 15, 2020 to September 18, 2020 on Kapamilya Channel.

On September 21, 2020, Kabayan began airing at its new timeslot at 8:00 am, limiting it back to a runtime of one hour, to make way for the return of Gising Pilipinas at 6:00 am.[3] The move temporarily ended its simulcast on Kapamilya Channel before resuming again on October 26.

Kabayan is a commentary program where de Castro tackles the latest issues.

Among the notable features of the program is its signature closing song, What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong and Kenny G.

The ending song was temporarily shelved in January 2019 and replaced by random old songs chosen by de Castro. However, it was reverted into the original song after a while.

Since May 8, 2020, the song was replaced again by Kapamilya Forever (and later Tinig ng mga Nawalan and Ikaw ang Liwanag at Ligaya), in support of ABS-CBN and DZMM when both stations were closed due to a cease and desist order issued by the NTC.

From 2011 to 2020, the program used to be combined with Radyo Patrol Balita: Alas Siyete (later rebranded as TeleBalita) from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. with Ted Failon, who was later replaced by Ricky Rosales and then Joyce Balancio after leaving the network on August 31, 2020.[4]

On some occasions when de Castro would not appear on his program due to special assignments and other days off, an alternate anchorman host the program. The Radyo Patrol Balita: Alas Siyete/TeleBalita portion would be anchored by Joyce Balancio and the alternate anchorman. Among his former relievers were the late Lito Villarosa, Ted Failon, and Gerry Baja - with Villarosa being the most notable due to his vocal resemblance with de Castro; this lasted until 1993 when his role as lead reliever was taken over by Ted Failon.

• Finalist of 2012 New York Festival (NYF) for World's Best radio Programs