George Gray signs off from the airwaves
It’s a permanent sign off from the airwaves for radio personality Joseph “Jojo” Concon Ligan, 56 years old, who succumbed to a lingering illness at 4:15 in the afternoon on Monday, May 23, at the Ramiro Community Hospital.

Known on air as George Gray, he died practically with his boots on as he was still hosting his programs over 102.3 KISS FM, the day before he passed away. With his deep booming voice, he brings back the music of yester years in “Good Morning, Yesterday” and the half-hour “Beatles Special.” Also on Sundays, it’s a smooth and easy listening time with his popular shows, Kiss Back and Good Night Kiss, where he speaks gently in Tagalog as he lulls listeners to sleep.

Evidently, his passion for his work is beyond question. In an earlier interview he revealed: “In my age when I have all kinds of aches, my job energizes me. Maka lingkod na gani ko sa announcer’s booth mabuhi akong dugo.”

His love affair with the microphone spans for decades already. He was still a first year high school student when he went on-board for a program that played songs and aired dedications and entertainment news. Against his parents’ wishes to work while he’s still young, Jojo became an apprentice and later, a full-pledged announcer in two local AM Radio stations in Bohol.

After he finished college, he went to Manila and was among the pioneers in dubbing work for some foreign-produced shows. Soon after, he found himself deep into the entertainment world as Press Relations Officer handling the bookings of OPM singer Anthony Castelo.

As he realized the need for a stable career, he went to work abroad in a consulting firm based in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he stayed for 15 years. For some time he thought that was the end of his love affair with the microphone. However, a kabayan from Cortes also working in Saudi went looking for him and requested that he host a sports event there. In due time, he became a sought-after sports commentator in the Middle East.

In 2004, Joseph Ligan was back in his home province and rekindled his love affair with the radio.
Aside from being a DJ or disc jockey at KISS 102.3 FM, George Gray also pitched in for the morning news over DYRD AM, hosted the “BQ Mall Midday Report” and anchored public affair shows, live broadcasts, as well as the daily radio program of the Tagbilaran City Government called “Nagkahiusang Tagbilaran.” He’s been with the Bohol Chronicle Radio Corporation for the past eleven years. (Sonieta D. Labasan)