Radio DJ-food vlogger finds his dream job, ideal life in PH

JC Tevez —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Popular disc jockey and food vlogger JC Tevez left California three years ago, to pursue his dream job in the Philippines, firm in his decision to live here—for good.

“I started working in high school,” JC, who hosts a show on Monster Radio RX 93.1 six times a week, told the Inquirer. “In the US, the culture of working early is encouraged. My first job was at a tutoring center, getting materials for students. I worked at a retail store, a movie theater … and my last job was as an admin at a law firm, where I learned that I was not meant to be in a corporate job.”

The twentysomething JC, whose family is from Pampanga, packed his bags in 2015. “I sold everything I owned and moved to the Philippines. And I am here to stay. I love this country, and have always wanted to live here. I used to vacation here, and I’d always feel sad when I had to leave. I made it a goal that one day, I would buy a one-way ticket.”

As a DJ, he’s gotten insights into contemporary trends: “Musical tastes are so diverse that it sometimes feels impossible to define what exactly the ‘current state of music’ is. That being said, I have seen that a lot of people my age seem to develop a deeper appreciation for less mainstream music. Also, K-pop is a force to reckon with, specifically the boy band BTS.”

But, does he feel that he helps shape tastes, in a way? “Definitely,” said JC, who hosted a number of shows for local music channel Myx. “Songs get put on our playlist that I’ve never even heard of until I give them a play. I appreciate new songs and artists.”

On Instagram, where he has over 18,300 followers, he regularly uploads his “A J in the Life” videos. He also posts about body image and weight issues, something that fans have been “extremely supportive” of.

“I’ve always been an advocate for body positivity and helping people with their self-esteem—and I can reach people looking for inspiration,” he elaborated.

JC, who counts Martin Nievera, Willie Revillame and Edu Manzano among his “personality influences,” has a new podcast, “The Halo-Halo Show,” where he and fellow RX radio jock Rica Garcia talk about a free-flowing mix of topics, like porn and pop culture, without fear of being fined—or fired. The censorship-free discussions stream weekly on Spotify and iTunes.

“We started a podcast because we think it is the future,” he explained. “Rica and I talk for a living, so we figured, why not make something that people would love, [that can] kill 40 to 60 minutes [of listeners’ time] in traffic. It’s a platform for us to entertain. We can be ourselves, we can curse and be more bastos (laughs).”