About

If you ask Roy Bato what his first job was, the answer is not simple. On the same day, he was accepted into two jobs. In the afternoon, he was confirmed as a radio DJ at a broadcast station. That same evening, he was unexpectedly hired as a bar DJ when the resident DJ suddenly quit.

Roy Bato started his journey in broadcasting as a trainee. At the station, he would make coffee for senior DJs and run errands while learning the craft. His break came when his demo tape was approved in Manila by veteran broadcaster Tina Monzon-Palma, opening the door for him to go on air.

His first regular broadcast was on May 1, 1996, at DXET 106.7 FM in Davao City. He was assigned to the graveyard shift from 9:00 PM to 12:00 midnight. Because transportation was difficult late at night, Roy would arrive at the station hours early. While waiting for his shift, he would review the news and practice reading scripts. His dedication paid off when he became the only DJ at the station trusted to deliver both live and recorded hourly English news updates.

From radio DJ and newscaster, Roy expanded his role into television reporting. The station he worked for also operated a TV division, and he eventually became a field reporter for DXET TV Channel 2. One day, when the station manager faced an emergency, Roy was asked to deliver the hourly television news bulletin. What began as an unexpected assignment became another step in his broadcasting career.

Always curious and eager to learn, Roy asked the station manager if he could also train as a cameraman. On one occasion when a reporter was absent, he found himself acting as both cameraman and reporter—asking fellow journalists to hold the microphone while he operated the camera. During that event, he even managed to ask a question to then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who would later become President of the Philippines.

At one point, Roy Bato’s daily routine reflected his passion for the craft. He would host a morning radio program from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM, then go out as a field reporter. By 2:00 PM, he would return to the newsroom to write stories. While waiting for corrections from the station manager, he would prepare for television by doing his own makeup before taping three evening news bulletins. After recording the news, he would still check and finalize the station’s music playlist for the following day.

During this time, Roy met veteran journalist Gil Abarico, who allowed him to apprentice as a journalist. Alongside his work in radio and television, Roy also learned the fundamentals of public relations and media relations, gaining valuable experience in the broader communications field.

After gaining experience in television, radio, and print media, Roy partnered with fellow media practitioners to establish their own newspaper and help manage a radio station in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur. During this period, he told one of his partners that he wanted to pursue bigger opportunities in the national media scene.

Determined to grow professionally, Roy moved to Manila to try his luck in the country’s major media networks. His first attempt was with ABC 5 (now TV5), but he was rejected because he struggled with Tagalog news delivery, having been trained primarily in English broadcasting. After applying to several media organizations without success, he briefly worked in a call center out of curiosity.

While searching for work, Roy came across a classified advertisement in the Manila Bulletin for a writing position. During the interview, the employer noticed the names listed in Roy’s references and asked if he truly knew them. Roy confidently replied yes and even offered to call one of them on the spot.

That moment changed his life.

The interviewer revealed that he had been searching for the person Roy listed in his references for years—a friend who had helped him during difficult times in Manila. That interviewer turned out to be Johnny Dayang, a respected journalist and political public relations strategist. Roy was soon invited to stay with him and was later appointed Executive Assistant to the President of the Publishers Association of the Philippines (PAPI). At the time, PAPI had around 1,000 member newspapers, and Roy was placed at the center of a vast national media network.

A month later, Roy was introduced to Ambassador Antonio Cabangon-Chua, founder of the ALC Group of Companies, which owns media institutions such as DWIZ, Home Radio, ALIW Channel 23, and BusinessMirror. This connection expanded Roy’s exposure from print media to national broadcasting but was trained in Public Relations for Government clients.

Around 2001, Roy recognized the emerging potential of online media. Without formal training, he taught himself website development and coding at night. His first projects included developing websites for the Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA), the Central Luzon Media Association (CLMA) under his mentor Abel Pablo, and the Publishers Association of the Philippines (PAPI).

During his time with PAPI, Roy also introduced modern digital publishing tools to community newspapers, including early versions of Adobe InDesign, helping local publishers transition toward more modern production methods.

In 2004, Roy left PAPI and started his own technology and public relations business using seed capital provided by his then-girlfriend—now his wife. In 2011, he formally incorporated IBS Worldwide Corp, an SEC-registered company engaged in technology development, broadcasting, digital media, and strategic communications.

Today, Roy Bato leads IBS Media Group, a network of mainstream and digital media platforms. Under the organization, the IBS Digital PR Group provides strategic communication and public relations services that have contributed to the successful campaigns of two Philippine Presidents, eight Senators, and numerous national and local candidates.

Roy also continues to support community broadcasting and media development. He currently serves as the Founding Chairman of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) CALABARZON Chapter, heads Public Relations and Communications for the Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA), assists more than 45 community radio stations, and manages a network of over 10 million combined social media audiences.

His work continues to focus on understanding how communication, media ecosystems, and digital platforms shape public perception in the modern information age.

You may find Roy Bato online by visiting www.RoyBato.com.

You can also connect with him on social media—just search for Roy Bato on Facebook, Instagram, X, or other platforms.