Philippines Radio

Top FM Radio Stations in Southern Luzon as of December 2025

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Moving beyond the heavy central pulse of Mega Manila, the airwaves of Southern Luzon—spanning the vibrant CALABARZON (Region 4-A) and the expansive MIMAROPA (Region 4-B)—offer a distinct blend of urban contemporary energy and local community connection.

As of late 2025, the region’s broadcasting landscape remains a vital lifeline for millions, balancing high-impact music programming with localized news and public service.

What You’ll Learn From This Article

  • Regional Powerhouses: A provincial breakdown of the top-tier FM stations that dominate provinces like Batangas, Cavite, and Quezon.
  • The “Masa” vs. “Class” Divide: How Southern Luzon listeners choose between national network affiliates and independent local voices.

Batangas: The Gateway of Southern Sound

Batangas remains a competitive hub where religious broadcasting meets contemporary “masa” (mass market) appeal. The Archdiocese of Lipa holds significant influence through its Catholic Media Network affiliates, while national news networks provide a localized spin for the province.

  • Brigada News FM Batangas (104.7 MHz): A top-tier choice for those seeking a mix of hard-hitting local news and mass-market contemporary MOR (Middle of the Road) music.
  • Spirit FM Batangas (99.1 MHz): Operated by the Archdiocese of Lipa, this station is highly popular for its blend of original Pilipino music (OPM) and religious content.
  • Radyo Totoo Batangas (95.9 MHz): Another religious powerhouse focusing on Roman Catholic broadcasting.
  • Animo! FM (106.1 MHz): Based at De La Salle Lipa, this station represents the thriving campus radio culture in the province, offering an English-language format.

Quezon Province: The Expansive Airwaves

With the largest share of stations in the Southern Tagalog region—housing approximately 30 FM stations—Quezon Province serves a wide variety of rural and coastal needs.

  • Love Radio Lucena (100.7 MHz): As a flagship affiliate of the MBC Media Group, this station is a consistent favorite for contemporary hits and entertaining on-air personalities.
  • Brigada News FM Lucena (92.7 MHz): Mirroring its success in Batangas, Brigada Lucena is a staple for local news and talk formats.
  • Spirit FM Gumaca (91.7 MHz) & Spirit FM Infanta (92.7 MHz): These stations serve as critical community hubs, particularly in more remote areas, providing essential public service announcements and moral guidance.
  • XFM Quezon (103.1 MHz): A rising favorite in Candelaria, offering a high-energy masa format that resonates with local commuters and households.

Palawan & MIMAROPA: Island Broadcasting

In the MIMAROPA region, radio remains the primary source for disaster alerts and community updates, with Puerto Princesa serving as the central broadcasting node.

  • Love Radio Palawan (98.3 MHz): A dominant force in Puerto Princesa, bringing the same high-energy MBC branding that listeners across the country recognize.
  • DWIZ News FM Palawan (94.3 MHz): Puerto Princesa’s go-to for serious news and talk, keeping the island connected to national developments.
  • RMN Palawan (103.9 MHz): Part of the massive Radio Mindanao Network, it remains a trusted source for credible journalism in the province.

The “Secret Weapon” of Southern Luzon Radio

Much like their peers in Southeast Asia, Southern Luzon radio producers rely on high-impact radio imaging FX to differentiate themselves from the hundreds of stations on the dial. Whether it’s a regional powerhouse in Laguna or a local independent in Cavite, the goal is the same: to sound “bigger” than the competition.

Many of these regional stations utilize “buyout” libraries—one-time purchases of high-end whooshes and stagers—allowing them to maintain a professional, world-class sound without the burden of a monthly subscription.

Read:

Why SEA Radio Stations Are Obsessed with Radio Imaging FX Libraries

Why SEA Radio Stations Are Obsessed with Radio Imaging FX Libraries

Here are the links to the official websites and online streaming pages for the Southern Luzon radio stations mentioned in the article:

Batangas Stations

Quezon Province Stations

Palawan & MIMAROPA Stations

✅ Fact Checks and Claims

Fact or ClaimVerification Status & Resource
Quezon Province has the most FM stations in Region 4-A.VERIFIED. Quezon accounts for 30 of the 54 FM stations in CALABARZON.
Love Radio Lucena is a top affiliate in the region.VERIFIED. It is a major national affiliate listed under MBC’s flagship network.
Brigada News FM has a strong presence in Southern Luzon.VERIFIED. It operates key stations in Batangas, Lucena, and Palawan.
DZRH remains the flagship AM station for national news.VERIFIED. DZRH is cited as a winner of the KBP Golden Dove Awards for best AM station.

Article Limitations

  • Survey Data Delay: While provincial station lists are updated as of late 2025, specific listenership percentages (ratings) often take months for agencies like Kantar to release publicly.
  • Digital Shift: The article focuses on traditional terrestrial FM broadcasting, though many of these stations now also stream via mobile apps and social media.

To substantiate these stations’ standing as top-tier broadcasters, below are links to official industry awards, such as the KBP Golden Dove Awards, and audience share data from measurement firms like Nielsen and Kantar Media.

While Mega Manila data is often the most publicly visible, regional provincial dominance is reflected in these specific “proof of evidence” milestones:

Industry Awards (KBP Golden Dove & Regional Accolades)

  • KBP Golden Dove Awards (2025): The 28th KBP Golden Dove Awards held in June 2025 honored DZRH as the Best AM Radio Station in Metro Manila, a status that extends to its Southern Luzon affiliates like those in Palawan and Lucena.
  • The Golden Laurel (Batangas Province Media Awards): Organized by Lyceum of the Philippines University–Batangas, these awards are a direct “proof of market” voted on by local students and employees. In 2024, national networks like GMA Integrated News (parent of many local news formats) were major winners, reflecting the region’s preference for established, high-quality news sources.
  • Spirit of College Radio Awards: In 2023, the Philippines’ radio quality was recognized globally when Radyo Katipunan became the sole Asian station honored by the College Radio Foundation, highlighting the high production standards expected in the region.

Audience Measurement & Ratings Data

  • Nielsen Radio Audience Measurement (RAM): Throughout 2025, Nielsen data consistently showed Barangay LS 97.1 and 90.7 Love Radio as the top two dominant FM stations in Mega Manila and neighboring Southern Luzon provinces. In March 2025, Barangay LS held a commanding 43.2% audience share, while Love Radio secured 18.5%, significantly outperforming the rest of the field.
  • Kantar Media Radio Studies: In late 2025, Kantar Media’s survey of over 420 households representing 22.48 million individuals confirmed DZRH as the #1 AM station, proving the enduring reach of the Manila Broadcasting Company’s (MBC) network across the CALABARZON and MIMAROPA regions.
  • Regional Dominance: Stations like Love Radio Lucena and Brigada News FM consistently rank as the primary choices in their respective provincial markets due to their high “masa” (mass market) appeal and recognized branding.

✅ Summary of Evidence Links

Station/NetworkProof of Rating / RecognitionLink to Evidence
DZRH (MBC)#1 AM Station (Kantar Sept 2025)Kantar Media Survey Proof
Love RadioTop 2 FM Dominance (Nielsen April 2025)Nielsen Rating Proof
Regional Stations2025 KBP Golden Dove AwardeesOfficial Winners List
Batangas RadioGolden Laurel Media AwardsLPU Batangas Awards Info

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