Ramon Jacinto

Ramón Pereyra Jacinto (born June 3, 1945), best known by his initials RJ , is a Filipino businessman, musician and radio TV personality. He is the incumbent Undersecretary for Operations of the Department of Information and Communications Technology.[1][2] He is also the founder and chairman of Philippine rock-and-roll radio station DZRJ and the Rajah Broadcasting Network.

Ramon "RJ" Jacinto
Undersecretary of Information and Communications Technology for Operations
Assumed office
May 26, 2020
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
Preceded byEliseo Rio Jr.
Presidential Adviser on Economic Affairs and Information Technology Communications
In office
July 14, 2016 – May 25, 2020
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
Personal details
Born
Ramón Pereyra Jacinto

(1945-06-03) June 3, 1945
Pasay, Manila, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Spouse(s)Frannie Aguinaldo
ChildrenNadine Jacinto
Beatriz Jacinto
Nicole Jacinto
RJ Jacinto II
OccupationSinger, songwriter, producer, businessman

Education

Jacinto attended the Ateneo de Manila University and graduated with honors in Economics.[3] 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.

Career

Jacinto became an entrepreneur at the age of 15, founding the first multi-track recording company in Asia.[4] 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.

By the age of 19, Jacinto began working at his family's Iligan Integrated Steel Mills, Inc. (IISMI), the Philippines' largest steel mill, as VP Purchasing and later as SVP Operations.[5]

During the Martial law period under 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.

On March 5, 1986, Juan Ponce Enrile, who was then the Defense Minister, returned the radio stations and some of the Jacinto family's steel mills back 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.

Upon returning from exile from Martial Law, Jacinto established a string of businesses:[6]

  • UHF Television [7]
  • Home TV Shopping
  • Non-collateral Consumer Finance [8]
  • American Style Bargain Stores like Price Club (now occupied by S&R Shopping), Save-A-Lot & Cotsco

He also owned Ventures Rural Bank, which he later sold and is now known as AMA Bank.[9]

Through his show RJ Sunday Jam, he is claimed to be the first to establish "teleradyo" - a simulcast of radio on TV which was the model for ABS-CBN's DZMM TeleRadyo, the #1 AM radio station in the country.[10]

Bistro RJ, RJ Bar and RJ Bistro

On July 25, 1986, Jacinto set up Bistro RJ, a rock and roll music lounge and restaurant located at Arnaiz Avenue, Makati, Metro Manila which became popular[11] 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 was renamed RJ Bar in 1991. It relocated to the Mandarin Oriental Manila Hotel in 1997 and later to Gil Puyat Avenue and subsequently Jupiter Street, all in Makati, Metro Manila.

In 2008, RJ Bar was renamed RJ Bistro and relocated to the Dusit Thani Hotel Manila in Makati, Metro Manila.[11]

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 the legendary Filipino luthier 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.[12]

In 2017, he established RJ Bacchus Japanese Guitar Factory, in partnership with Japanese guitar manufacturer Deviser. The 1,150 square meter factory located in Dasmariñas, Cavite.[13][14]

RJ Academy of Music

The RJ Academy of Music began in 1994 when RJ Guitar Center became the licensee of the Music Institute of Los Angeles, California.

Presidential appointments

Served as Vice Chairman for the Presidential Committee on Flagship Programs and Projects under former President Fidel V. Ramos from March 22, 1995 to March 1, 1998.[15]

Since 2008, Jacinto is President and CEO of Philcomsat Holdings Corporation, a subsidiary of Philippine Communications Satellite Corporation (PHILCOMSAT). He is also Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Executive Committee of PHILCOMSAT.[16]

On July 14, 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Jacinto as Presidential Adviser on Economic Affairs and Information Technology Communications with the rank of Undersecretary.[17] During the 2016 presidential campaign of Duterte, Jacinto was among the celebrities who were actively supporting him. He created a campaign jingle for Duterte during his 2016 presidential campaign.[18]

On May 22, 2020, Jacinto was appointed Undersecretary for Operations of the Department of Information and Communications Technology.[19][20]

Presidential citation

In June 23, 1998, Jacinto was awarded a 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.[15]

Personal life

Jacinto is married to Frannie Osorio Aguinaldo.[21] He was previously married to María Lourdes “Marilou" Tuason Arroyo.[22]

Discography
Main article: Ramon Jacinto discography

RJ & the Riots
  • 1963: The Teenage Touch of RJ & the Riots
  • 1964: RJ & the Riots

Solo albums
  • 1987: RJ, Back from Exile
  • 1990: The Guitarman
  • 1991: Giliw
  • 1992: The Guitarman II
  • 2014: Fine as Wine Instrumentals
  • 2015: RJ Orig
  • 2016: Swinging the Kundiman
  • 2016: Romancing RJ
  • 2017: Songs I Grew Up With
  • 2019: Kundiman Ni Guitarman

Extended plays
  • 1992: Compact Series

Live albums
  • 1992: Live Adventures of RJ Vol. 1

Christmas albums

Collaborative albums

Compilations and other albums
  • 1991: RJ Best of Original Hits
  • 1999: The Ultimate RJ Bistro Collection Vol. 1
  • 2000: The Ultimate RJ Bistro Collection Vol. 2
  • 2005: The Very Best of RJ
  • 2005: Rock & Roll Classics
  • 2006: Muli

Collaborations
  • 1994: Quantum Hit Series Vol. 1 (RJ Productions, formerly Quantum Music Corporation)
  • 1994: Quantum Hit Series Vol. 2 (RJ Productions, formerly Quantum Music Corporation)
  • 1996: Quantum Hit Series Vol. 4 (RJ Productions, formerly Quantum Music Corporation)

References
  1. Ranada, Pia (May 26, 2020). "RJ Jancinto replaces Eliseo Rio in DICT". Rappler. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  2. Kabiling, Genalyn (May 26, 2020). "'RJ' Jacinto is new DICT undersecretary". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  3. "Duterte appoints RJ Jacinto, five others".
  4. "RJ Jacinto Full Biography".
  5. "RJ Jacinto aims to strike the right note in roofing sector".
  6. "Pasukin ang tahanan ni Mr.Roick and Roll".
  7. "RJ Jacinto at 70 its about getting the groove".
  8. "Microfinance clients up 191% - BSP Report".
  9. "AMA Bank The Company". Archived from the original on July 13, 2016.
  10. "Ramon RJ Jacinto musician and entrepreneur". Archived from the original on March 5, 2016.
  11. "This bistro has been rockin' for 27 years".
  12. "RJ Jacinto designs the 'holy grail' of guitars". The Philippine Star. July 6, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  13. "RJ Guitar's 'Broadcaster' out to rock the music world". Philippine Daily Inquirer. December 17, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  14. "RJ's magic bus to Cavite". The Philippine Star. December 9, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  16. "Philcomsat owners agree on unified board of directors".
  17. Alvarez, Kathrina Charmaine (July 14, 2016). "Duterte appoints musician RJ Jacinto as adviser on ICT, economy". GMA News. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  18. Kabiling, Genalyn (July 14, 2016). "Duterte appoints Ramon Jacinto as presidential adviser". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  19. Ranada, Pia (May 26, 2020). "RJ Jancinto replaces Eliseo Rio in DICT". Rappler. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  20. Kabiling, Genalyn (May 26, 2020). "'RJ' Jacinto is new DICT undersecretary". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  21. Chua, Paolo (July 25, 2017). "'It' Girls of Manila Through the Years". Town & Country Philippines. Townandcountry.ph. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  22. Sabangan, Annie Ruth (April 24, 2009). "4th Arroyo in the House: A landed elite who will represent the marginalized". GMA News. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
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