Veteran broadcaster Dr. Love, whose real name is Bro. Jun Banaag, has retired at the age of 75 following a hospitalization for pneumonia and a diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which he attributed to years of smoking.
Health diagnosis forces retirement
Banaag was hospitalized last month with pneumonia, during which doctors diagnosed him with COPD. He said the disease was the result of his long-term smoking habit. The condition has left him with a weakened voice, partly due to nebulizer treatments he received at the hospital.
“The doctor said it would take some time. It will be quite a while before I get back to how I used to be. And I didn’t want the program to suffer because I would have difficulty speaking for a long time,” he told PEP.ph. “In fact, even now, my voice hasn’t fully recovered because of the nebulizer treatments. My voice is still weak.”
End of an era on 105.9 True FM
His long-running radio program, Dr. Love, on 105.9 True FM aired its final episode on June 30, 2026. The station’s management invited him to bid farewell to listeners in person, but he declined, fearing he might “break down” emotionally. Instead, he said goodbye through a phone patch interview with DJ Popoy.
“It wasn’t easy to make this decision. I have been in the industry for about 57 or 58 years,” Banaag said. “Dr. Love is celebrating its 28th year this year, and it hasn’t been easy for me. My whole family, including my children, sat down to talk. My children in the United Arab Emirates, along with everyone else here, told me, ‘You have had a successful career. I think it’s about time you rest. I think it’s about time you make time for yourself as well and enjoy life in the years you have ahead of you.’”
Emotional farewell to listeners
Banaag admitted that letting go of the program was difficult. “It’s not easy to let go of a program. It’s not easy to leave behind the listeners,” he said. He expressed gratitude to his loyal audience for their support over nearly three decades.
