The Songs We Kept Requesting on Philippine Radio in the 1980s

One song that has always stayed with me is "Heaven Knows" by Rick Price. Its heartfelt lyrics and emotional melody have a special place in my memories. Although the song came out in the early 1990s, it reminds me of the kind of romantic music that made listening to the radio such a memorable experience.

Back in the 1980s, radio was a big part of our everyday lives. We listened to our favorite stations, waited for the DJs to play the songs we loved, and sometimes recorded them on cassette tapes. For many of us, requesting a song was more than just asking to hear music. It was a way of expressing our feelings and sharing memories with others.

There is no official chart of the most requested songs on 1980s Philippine radio that I can confidently point to. So this isn't a ranking. Instead, this is a collection of songs that many listeners remember, songs we kept requesting, recording off the radio, dedicating to someone special, and singing long after the music stopped.

These songs were more than just music. They were part of our everyday lives.

How You Requested a Song Back Then

In the 1980s, requesting a song wasn't as simple as typing a title into a search box. If you wanted to hear a particular song on the radio, you had a few options.

Call the Radio Station

You picked up the telephone, dialed the station's number, and hoped someone would answer. Sometimes you got a busy signal. You tried again and again.

If you finally got through, you gave the DJ your name, the song you wanted to hear, and perhaps a dedication to someone special.

Write a Letter or a Request Card

Some listeners took the time to write letters. They sent their favorite songs and dedications through the mail. It could take days before the letter reached the station, and even longer before the DJ read it on the air.

Wait by the Radio

This was probably the most familiar experience. You tuned in to your favorite station and waited patiently.

Sometimes you heard the song you wanted. Sometimes you didn't. But the waiting itself became part of the experience.

And if you had a cassette recorder, you were ready.

There was a certain excitement in hearing the DJ announce your requested song. You felt a little special, knowing that your request had made it onto the air.

Dedications: Why People Asked for Songs

A song request was rarely just about the music. Most of the time, it was a message.

You could dedicate a song to a crush you were too shy to approach, a girlfriend who was upset with you, a boyfriend you missed, a classmate you secretly admired, or a friend who had moved away.

Sometimes, the dedication said what you couldn't say in person.

Radio programs built around stories, letters, and dedications became an important part of the listening experience. Magic 89.9's Love Notes, which began in the late 1980s, would become especially memorable for listeners who connected radio with personal stories and relationships.

For many of us, a dedication was a way of saying, "I'm thinking of you," without having to say those words directly.

And when a familiar love song came on the air, it could bring back memories of someone special, even if that person was no longer part of our lives.

The Kinds of Songs That Got Requested

Looking back, I think many of us requested songs based on how we felt at the time. Some songs were for romance, some were for dancing, and others reminded us of home.

1. Slow Love Songs

Slow love songs were the heart of many radio requests.

These were the songs you dedicated to someone special, played after a breakup, or listened to when you were alone and thinking about someone.

The music seemed to slow everything down. The lyrics felt personal, even when the song was written by someone thousands of miles away.

Air Supply, Lionel Richie, Foreigner, REO Speedwagon, and other artists became familiar names among fans of romantic ballads.

There was something special about hearing a slow love song late at night. The DJ's voice, the quiet surroundings, and the music all seemed to come together.

2. Songs from the Dance Floor and Top 40

Not every request was about romance.

Upbeat songs were just as important, especially when friends gathered, parties were being planned, or listeners wanted something energetic.

Songs by Madonna, Michael Jackson, Wham!, The Police, and other popular artists brought a different kind of excitement to the radio.

These were the songs you wanted to hear immediately when you tuned in. You didn't want to wait another hour.

3. OPM That Everybody Knew

Original Pilipino Music had a special place in the hearts of Filipino radio listeners.

The songs were familiar in a different way. They spoke about love, heartbreak, family, and everyday experiences that felt close to home.

Artists such as Rey Valera, APO Hiking Society, Sharon Cuneta, Martin Nievera, Kuh Ledesma, Joey Albert, and Gary Valenciano helped shape the Filipino music scene during the decade.

Some OPM love songs that listeners may remember from the 1980s include:

• "A Long, Long Time Ago" – Joey Albert
• "Tell Me" – Joey Albert
• "Till I Met You" – Joey Albert
• "Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas" – Sharon Cuneta
• "Maging Sino Ka Man" – Rey Valera

These songs remind us that radio requests weren't limited to international hits. Filipino songs were just as meaningful, sometimes even more so, because the lyrics spoke our language and reflected our own experiences.

Songs from the Decade That Filipinos Remember

When I think of the love songs that became part of the radio experience, several international hits immediately come to mind.

The following songs are well-known releases from the 1980s. This isn't an official Philippine radio request chart. Rather, these are songs that many listeners may recognize and associate with the decade.

For me, three songs from this list have a particularly special place in my memories.

"Right Here Waiting" – Richard Marx (1989)

This song has always been special to me because of its message of love and longing. It reminds me of how music could express the feelings we sometimes found difficult to say out loud, especially when someone we loved was far away.

Its emotional melody and lyrics make it one of those songs that never seem to grow old.

"Can't Fight This Feeling" – REO Speedwagon (1984)

There's something unforgettable about this song. Its melody and lyrics capture the feeling of falling in love and finally admitting what is in your heart.

It is one of those songs that brings back memories of youthful romance and emotions that felt so real at the time.

Whenever I hear it, I am reminded of how powerful a song can be when it connects with your own feelings.

"Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You" – Glenn Medeiros (1987)

This is one of the most romantic songs I remember.

Its beautiful melody and sincere message about lasting love make it timeless. Whenever I hear it, I am reminded of the kind of love that stays in your heart, no matter how much time passes.

It is the kind of song you could dedicate to someone special and let the lyrics speak for you.

One song I also remember fondly is "Heaven Knows" by Rick Price. Although it was released in 1992, it belongs to the same tradition of heartfelt love songs that many of us continued to enjoy after the 1980s.

The Rest of the Ritual: Recording It

If the DJ finally played your requested song, there was another challenge: recording it.

Many of us had cassette recorders ready. Some used portable cassette players, while others connected a recorder to the radio.

You pressed the record button and hoped for the best.

Sometimes the DJ talked over the introduction. Sometimes you missed the first few seconds because you weren't ready. Other times, the song ended just as the DJ started speaking again.

But we kept those recordings.

The cassette tapes became personal collections of memories. They contained songs we loved, dedications we wanted to remember, and sometimes the voices of DJs we listened to every day.

Even the imperfections became part of the experience.

Today, when I think about those old recordings, I realize that they weren't simply tapes filled with music. They were little pieces of our lives.

What Changed

Today, finding a song takes only a few seconds. We can search for almost any title, play it whenever we want, and listen to it as many times as we like.

That's convenient, and I appreciate it.

But there was something different about requesting a song on the radio. You had to wait. You had to hope. And when the song finally played, you knew that other people might be listening to the same music at that very moment.

Perhaps someone across town was also waiting for that song.

Perhaps the DJ was reading a dedication from another listener who felt the same way you did.

Radio made music feel shared.

I think that's what many of us miss. Not just the songs themselves, but the experience of waiting for them, hearing them unexpectedly, and knowing that they were part of a moment we couldn't simply repeat whenever we wanted.

The Memories That Stay With Us

What I miss most about those days is hanging out with old friends while listening to the radio. It was always a part of my younger years, a time filled with laughter, friendship, and songs that became the soundtrack of our lives.

Those moments may be long gone, but whenever I hear those familiar songs again, it feels like I'm back in those happy days.

Maybe that's the magic of radio — it keeps our memories and friendships alive through music.

The songs may be old, but the feelings they bring back are still very much alive.

Your Turn

What song did you request on Philippine radio in the 1980s?

Was it a love song, an OPM favorite, or an international hit?

Did you ever hear your name read by a DJ? Did you record the song on a cassette? Was there someone special you dedicated it to?

I'd love to hear your story.

Write to support@jeepradio.com with the song title, artist, radio station, and any memory you would like to share.

With your permission, I'll collect the most frequently mentioned songs and memories for a follow-up article.

Because sometimes, the songs we remember most aren't necessarily the biggest hits.

They're the songs we asked for.

They're the songs we waited for.

And they're the songs we kept.