Chapter 28
We Started “Hour of Discovery” Radio Ministry Again. February 1988
My involvement in radio ministry doing spiritual upliftment, social, economic and political advocacy broadcasts was built on simple faith. If God wants me to do a certain kind of work, He will provide the way and means so that the work can be started. He will guide and provided the need until it was finished. These were my simple experiences in life and in my ministry.
The Lord helped me with the Radio Program, “People to People’s Program” aired over Radio DYRI-Iloilo in 1968. It was a daily socio-political commentary, aired at 12:30-1:00 PM. every day, Monday to Saturday. We were on the air for more than a year and a half.
Then, in 1974, we started “Hour of Discovery” , a religious radio broadcast, aired every Wednesday morning at 5:00-5:30 AM every Wedneday over DYVS in Bacolod City. After 6 months, we transferred to DYHB. We considered the power of the station and it’s popularity among the general public. I think, I got some experiences that will helped in a new radio ministry.
On February 1988, after prayers, seeking the Lord;s guidance, we started “Hour of Discovery” at Station DYRP, in Iloilo City.
Rev. Penuelito Sacapano, was Officer-in-Charge of the Office of General Secretary. Mrs. Angelica Padernilla was CPBC President. I have been out of the Convention works for more than a year.
When we started “Hour of Discovery”, we have money enough to pay 3 months broadcast time. We were given 4:30 -5:00 PM every Wednesday. My wife, Hesther and my friend, Frank Carilimdiliman, who’s ecumenical perspectives was strong, were with me facing each other in the radio station, on our maiden broadcast.
I told Hesther and Frank. “We’re venturing into a broadcast ministry. This is a hard task. It is a venture of faith. If God opens the way, ‘Hour of Discovery ‘ will continue for a year and more. If it’s not His will, we must be ready to stop in 3 months time.” Then, I gave my message. It was my first message “On the Air “ nearly 6 years after I left Maao Central Evangelical Church, where “Hour of Discovery” was started.
It was a simple message. It carried our dreams. It was sustained by a strong faith. A belief, that with God’s leading, our dreams, faith and hope will never fail. “ Hour of Discovery” was launched on the air that Wednesday afternoon. And it went On the Air for nearly 25 years, moving to DYFM Bombo Radio when DYRP decided to close their broadcast business.
When I ventured in ministry at CPBC’s Urban Industrial Mission, I learned one skills that helped me in my in the ministry, It’s the knowledge and skills on writing “Project Proposals” and “Feasibility Studies”. Rev. Edwin Lopez, brought us to NCCP, with 5 CPBC staff to participate in Project Proposal Writing seminar held by NCCP.
It was attended by some 40 participants from different NCCP members churches. Writing Project Proposals and Feasibility Studies were hard jobs. It’s only me, who learned the skills and art, from among us 5 Baptists who participated in that seminar.
Project Proposals and Feasibility Studies, has the power to reach local, national and international agencies, entrepreneurs and businessmen for possible linkages, partnership and joint ventures. Important projects that cannot be done alone, can be made together – whether in evangelizations, education, development works, cooperatives, broadcasting, organic farming, printing and publishing and even in the revolutionary struggles. Knowledge and skills of Project Proposals and Feasibility Studies will be needed.
Organizations and Associations with at least 3 years registration and legal personalities, potential Board of Directors, credibility, good program and good Tract Records can access for technical, management and financial resources, within and outside the country. Many national and international organizations had technical resources and money in their hands.
They were continuously looking for possible partners in depressed communities for a joint venture. The communit organizations will provide leadership, the process for implementations, the persons leading the project, the target groups and management capability. The Funding partners will provide the funds.
Before we started “Hour of Discovery” broadcast, we tried to develop a wide group of possible listeners. We wrote letters to churches and pastors of the Convention Baptists who were our friends. We wrote simple letters, telling them of our broadcast dates and time. We shared with them our dream for a broadcast ministry.
We wrote letters to members of PANELFU, a labor union we knew with 350 chapters in villages and towns in Panay. We told them of our broadcast dates and time. It was a direct advertizing and promotion work we made. Militant students, we knew and have relations, were asked to tell their friends of our broadcast date and time.
The first 6 months of our broadcast ministry were supported by friends, local church leaders and other partners in local communities. We succeeded to go on broadcasting not only 3 months but now on our 6th month. God was with us!
Then, on our 7th month, we decided to transfer ”Hour of Discovery” to DYFM-Bombo Radio. By that time, Bombo Radio was the Number One radio station in Iloilo City in terms of listener. According to surveys, Bombo Radio has 37% listeners preference in Iloilo City, with some 7 radio stations, both AM and FM stations.
DYFM-Bombo Radio gave us a 15-minute radio time, on Sundays at 2:00 PM. We continued to work and build relationship and partnership. We partnered with Rev. Greg Tingson, an Internationally known Evangelists, residing in Manila and Kabankalan, Negros Occidental for a joint broadcast venture. We managed the project and promotions together.
I asked him to pay the monthly broadcast time. He will speak on the 3nd and 4th Sundays. I will speak on the 1st, 3rd Sundays, and on the 5th Sundays. Rev. Greg Tingson, sent a Check for every month’s broadcast. This arrangement continued for more than a year.
We proposed a joint venture with the National Council Churches in the Philippines (NCCP). And Mrs. Prima Formelleza responded and assisted us several months. Rev. Lolita Daiz, spoke once a month, for several months with Hour of Discovery. Some groups came in for a joint broadcast ministry.
Some churches in Panay also sent some amount for “Hour of Discovery”. Some friends in the churches, the labor union and farmers association also assisted. We were able, little by little to strengthen our broadcast ministry.
When Rev. Olof Lindstrom visited us in Iloilo, I invited him to speak at “Hour of Discovery” program. He asked me to write a simple Project Proposal to Farsta Centrum Kyrkan. He carried the Project Proposal when he returned to Sweden. He gave it to Farsta Central Church.
In about 3 months, Farsta Centrum Kyrkan, sent me a letter, saying, they will support our broadcast ministry for 3 years. We decided to broadcast in three radio stations – DYFM-Bombo and DYRI, in Iloilo City and DYVR in Roxas City.
After three years of broadcast ministry, Farsta Central Church, renewed their support for another 3 years. With right management, we were able to broadcast for 4 years. We were On the Air, with Farsta Central Church for 7 years. We expanded our broadcast ministry to Bukidnon and General Santos City.
We also started broadcast with GMA Iloilo City at 4:30 on Sunday mornings. Former Governor and Senator Rafael Palmares, was leading the Catholic broadcast with reflections and prayer at 4:00 AM on Sundays. I arrived early, and listened to his broadcast. We sometimes have conversations and sharing. He often stay with us at the station and listened also to our broadcast.
It was great to have some little time with a former Governor of Iloilo and Senator of the Philippines. Rafael Palmares, now a preacher in radio, who in his time, played a big role in the political life of our country. Now, he played another important role in the church life, by leading reflections and prayers for Catholics every Sunday at 4:00 AM.
Some of our topics where for strengthening of the faith of our people, regardless of the church membership. Most deals with social, ethical and political issues. It deals on needs for opening the minds of our people, seeing clearly the issues on Human Dignity and Human Rights.
We were able to write some of these reflections in a pamphlets, for pastors and leaders of churches. Some of the reflections we shared were:
1.The Apple Tree and the Spade - a Reflection by Rev. Birgit Karlson, General Secretary, Baptist Union of Sweden.
2. Human Rights: Dialogue Between the Farmers and Military held at the Provincial Hall of Iloilo – By Pastor Rudy Bernal
3. Celebacy and the Married Priests – By Pastor Rudy Bernal
4. Selling Women’s Flesh: Last Way Some Women do to Live -By Ms. Lucy Francisco, Officer of Gabriela Women’s Party, Iloilo
5. Sisterhood is Powerful! – By Rev. Liza Lamis, Coordinator, Women’s Program of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP).
6. The Love Road –By Rev. Olof Lindstrom, Secretary for Information & International Relations of the Baptist Union of Sweden.
7. The Baptist Youth & the Politics of Change - By Pastor Rudy Bernal
8. A God who Cries! – Rev. Gunnel Andreasson, Swedish Baptist Union, Secretary for Asia and Eastern Europe.
9. Never Remain In the Temple –Pastor Leo Claridad, Faculty Member, North Negros Baptist Bible College.
10. The Storm of Galilee – Rev. La Verne Mercado, General Secretary, NCCP, Manila.
Part of the series The Ministry Years (chapter 28 of 48)
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