MOR Philippines

MOR was launched on July 14, 2001 in Cagayan de Oro City. The network's brand name was coined by Malvern Esparcia (Bernie Bitokbitok), which, aside from its meaning as My Only Radio, is meant to be a shorter designation to the province of Misamis Oriental, where Cagayan de Oro is based. It saw a rebrand of ABS-CBN's provincial FM stations, particularly in some long-time ones which were formerly branded as the ProStar network and ABS-CBN Radio prior to the relaunch. Numerous format changes occurred among its stations with similar program titles applied across provincial areas on July 15, 2001. MOR wasn't launched in Manila since its inception until it made a major change in mid-2013, when the company finally relaunched long-time independent station DWRR-FM (101.9 MHz) as the network's flagship station and effectively made MOR a truly national brand.

In a press conference held at the ABS-CBN Compound on June 1, 2018, coinciding the Manila station's ratings leadership and its announcement of this year's Pinoy Music Awards set on July 21, the Manila Radio and Regional divisions have agreed to relaunch MOR as MOR Philippines. Under its relaunched brand, the network will connect Manila and its provincial stations with unified program brands and strong music choices; thus, the new tagline "One Vibe, One Sound."[1] The MOR Philippines relaunch will be by phases which began on August 11.

On June 1, 2019, MOR stations in Manila, Cebu, and Baguio expanded its video streaming platform as exclusive channels to cable TV subscription service Sky Cable in their respective cities.

Shutdown

On May 5, 2020, due to the cease and desist order issued by the National Telecommunications Commission, all MOR stations have suspended their broadcasting activities, together with all ABS-CBN, S+A, and Radyo Patrol stations across the country after its legislative franchise expired.[2]

On July 15, 2020, ABS-CBN announced the painful pronouncement to its employees that the company would go into retrenchment on August 31, laying-off much of its employees after its new franchise was denied by the House of Representatives. The following day in an episode of Failon Ngayon sa TeleRadyo, DJ Chacha, anchor of Dear MOR and formerly Heartbeats confirmed that MOR Philippines would fold on the said retrenchment date.[3][4]

Instead of August 31, MOR Philippines signed-off in the evening on August 28, 2020, the day also ended together with ABS-CBN Regional's 12 local TV Patrol and 10 local morning shows.[5][6][7][8][9]

The former logo of MOR from 2001 to 2007.

The former logo of MOR as a regional radio network from 2007 to July 2013.

Logo used by MOR as a national network from July 2013 to January 2014.

Logo used by MOR as a national network from 2014 to 2017.

Logo of MOR from July 24, 2018 to August 28, 2020.

Despite its unified branding, programming among stations remained to be handled separately between Manila and Regional stations. The network's Manila station is jointly managed by ABS-CBN's Manila Radio division, along with AM flagship station DZMM Radyo Patrol 630, and the Star Creatives group; MOR Regional's programming, meanwhile, is supplied under management of the company's Regional Network Group division.

MOR Philippines began its presence on August 11, 2018 with the launching of MOR Regional's weekend programs Dyis is It and MOR Presents, which began its Manila debut on the next day. Other adjustments are underway to unify MOR's branding across all its stations with plans to create more national programs for the network.

MOR Philippines also aired Pantawid ng Pag-ibig: At Home Together Concert on March 22, 2020. The concert was aimed to help the people who were in need because of the Enhanced Community Quarantine.

The distinction of programming among Manila and regional stations ceased with the shutdown of MOR as a radio entity and its subsequent return as a new media entity (see below).

• Dear MOR (Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao editions - its Manila edition, the former flagship, has been renamed as Dear MOR Presents: Dear Popoy. Also, MOR Manila page is forced to carry regional editions of Dear MOR on its page aside from Dear Popoy as part of consolidated programming)
• MORe sa Umaga (Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao; no Manila edition like before but is forced to carry regional editions on its page as part of consolidated programming)
• Onsehan Na! (formerly Ready Get MORe: Level Up! of MOR Manila)
• SLR: Sex, Love and Relationships (the only surviving show of MOR Manila completely carried over to the new MOR Philippines)
• Hello KaMORekada (Timeslot for Luzon: 9pm - 10pm, Visayas: 8pm - 9pm and Mindanao: 7pm - 8pm, broadcasting at Facebook of regional MOR stations and carried over by the MOR Manila Facebook page as well as part of consolidation)

• Chinapaps (formerly China Heart, MOR Manila, off-air head/ manager of the MOR Philippines Digital Team)
• Popoy (MOR Manila)
• Onse (Onse Tolentino, MOR Manila)
• Chico Martin (Mark Jimel Gales, MOR Manila)
• Bong Bastic (MOR Baguio)
• Juan Romantiko (MOR Baguio)
• Boy Agta (MOR Naga)
• Natalie De Coco (MOR Dagupan)
• Jacky G (MOR Cebu)
• James Spider Kaka (MOR Cebu)
• Daddy Sarge (MOR Iloilo)
• Uncle Mac (MOR Tacloban)
• Bernie Bitokbitok (Malvern Esparcia, MOR Cagayan De Oro)
• David Bang (Dennis Ba-ang, MOR Cagayan De Oro)
• Maria Feelingera (MOR Cagayan De Oro)
• Bettina Gwapa (MOR Gensan)
• Kokoy Martin (MOR Davao)

Note:

• ^ 1. Relay from MOR 103.1 Baguio.
• ^ 2. Inactive since 2017 due to location.

Prior to MOR's nationalization, its theme music was recorded entirely by various local artists in English.

On July 8, 2013, together with the rebranding of MOR as a national brand, the theme was given a refresh and its music video was launched on ASAP 18, also performed by various artists. The current version of the refreshed jingle was recorded in both Filipino and English by Toni Gonzaga-Soriano, Vice Ganda, and Daniel Padilla; and was adopted by all MOR stations. Portions of the jingle contain elements from DWRR-FM's first For Life jingle for its first verse with altered lyrics and the pre-2013 MOR jingle era. The jingle was used until August 7, 2016, in favor of a romance-themed version recorded by Bailey May and Ylona Garcia. The 2nd version was used extensively on the Manila station from the day after, while provincial stations only adopted it on an occasional basis, as the ABS-CBN Regional group received its own set of jingles produced by Dennis Ba-ang (popularly known on-air as David Bang from MOR Cagayan De Oro). The management, however, reverted its primary jingle to the original 2013 version by June 4, 2017; with the newer rendition being used only as an alternate until it was retired weeks later.

On July 21, 2018, with the upcoming relaunch as MOR Philippines, a new network jingle was introduced during its Pinoy Music Awards, combining the 2013 jingle with David Bang's MOR regional stingers. Its new jingle was launched at noon of September 24, 2018. Toni, Vice, and Daniel were reintroduced to sing the revamped jingle. Two sub-versions were recorded in the 2018 refresh. One version omits the "For Life" phrase used by the Manila station to allow usage for MOR Regional stations where its respective cities provide a distinct local slogan among stations.

• ABS-CBN
• List of ABS-CBN Corporation channels and stations
• List of radio stations in the Philippines

• Official website