For over 5 decades, Ben Aniceto has had a long and distinguished career in Philippine broadcasting. With his baritone voice and endearing personality, Ben quickly rose from a radio announcer in DZPI/ DZRH (known as one of the Golden Voices of Philippine Radio) to top executive of ABS-CBN. In between, Ben worked in advertising, public relations, marketing and sales, newspaper, recoding company and as broadcast media strategist for three Philippines presidential candidates.
A native of Tondo, Manila, Ben graduated from Torres High School and took up two years of Fine Arts in UST and another 2 years of Speech and Drama in Ateneo de Manila. Even while in high school and college, Ben was usually chosen to emcee school events and programs. He became a radio talent and commercial announcer, voicing for the top brands in the market like Kodak, Colgate-Palmolive and Coca-Cola.
In the 1950’s, before television entered the entertainment scene, the best radio announcers enjoyed the status of super stars. Ben was a super star, rising rapidly through the ranks in the industry. He became the Operations Manager for Radio Philippines Network, Program Director for radio and TV for ABS-CBN, Station Manager for Channel 2 and Channel 13, Executive Vice President and GM for Blackgold Records and GM/VP for ABS-CBN.
During the Martial Law years, Ben immigrated to California and there became one of the leading voices of the opposition, led by Ninoy Aquino. In LA, he hosted and directed two TV shows, Grand Chevrolet Hour (Channel 52) and Atin Ito (Channel 18). He also hosted a radio program Hello, Philippines (KMAX) and was the editor and bureau chief of Philippine News. Ben bought LA airtime over Channel 52 and showed several Philippine TV shows such as Martin After Dark, Maricel Soriano Drama series, and Chicks to Chicks.
"Though I have lived in the States for over 30 years now, pabalik-balik din ako sa Pilipinas. After Marcos left the country, I worked for a while as GM for ABS-CBN, upon the invitation of Geny Lopez. Among those I brought into ABS then were Loren Legarda, Korina Sanchez, Angelo Castro Jr, Mel Tiangco and Che-Che Lazaro," recalled Ben, who also became a propagandist and PR man for Senator Raul Roco and Senator Jovito Salonga.
It was his friend Billy Lacaba who first broached him the idea of writing Stay Tuned. In 1995, Billy asked Ben what radio was like in the ‘50s. When Ben drifted into relating interesting anecdotes about the past, Billy suggested he come out with a book on radio. Ben merely shrugged off the idea. Then in 2001, while attending a grand reunion of former MBC announcers and drama talents, he learned that many of his friends had already died. Ben had to agree with a comment given, "isa-isa nang nawawala ang mga kasamahan natin." During the reunion, he gave a talk about his reminiscences of the past, which became such a big hit with the attendees who asked him for copies of his piece. Several suggested he expand his narrative into a book.
After a few days, Ben drew up a list of possible subject matters that could make up the chapters of a book. "As I began scribbling the rough structure, I was amazed at its potential richness. The chapters appear to be substantial topics," said Ben. "It might yet prove to be a worthy handbook on communications. A virtual radiography," he thought.
A friend actually called it "encyclopedic".
" I just thought somebody has to do it. So I did it," said Ben Aniceto when asked what made him decide to write the book, Stay Tuned The Golden Years of Philippine Radio. "Not very much has been written about the history of radio in the Philippines. There were small pamphlets written; that’s it," Ben explained. Fortunately for the Philippines, Ben wrote his very informational and comprehensive book, which is now being used as a textbook in the University of the Philippines and St. Paul’s College. Stay Tuned traces the history of Philippine Radio from its beginnings, through its Golden Years from the 1920’s to the 1960’s, and its suppression during Martial Law. 
