Davao’s media of social communications

Life is here in Davao City.

So many references can be read to back up this claim. Davao City has a lot to offer, that is. Say, the real-time monitoring of the city’s security, local beaches and pools, destinations like the Philippine Eagle Center, and a lot more. Davao City is typhoon-free with the best potable water in the world. It has a strong local government in the midst of at least 11 major indigenous tribes. All these reasons would make migrant settlers and visitors decide to consider the city their home away from home.

Yet, aside from these well-known reasons in making the city alive and tourist-friendly, the local church is also doing its best to communicate the best practices from its parishes and Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) to about 1.7 million residents, of which 1.4 are Catholics in the past 65 years.

Using the media of social communications, the Archdiocese of Davao actively responds to Inter Mirifica’s challenge: “It would be shameful if by their inactivity Catholics allowed the word of God to be silenced or obstructed by the technical difficulties which these media present and by their admittedly enormous cost” (Inter Mirifica 17).

In 1954, the Prelature of Davao headed by the PME fathers, opened its doors to the entry and distribution to parishes of ‘The Sentinel”, a national catholic newspaper, which eventually became an inspiration in coming up with its own version, ‘The Davao Sentinel.’ Working with limited resources, the Daughters of St. Paul in 1973 gave birth to the social communications office of the local church in Davao – Bishop Thibault Media Center (BTMC). The Martial Law in the 1970s never became a way to stop its goal being the mouthpiece and the center of evangelization and information.

In 1988, with the leadership of the late Archbishop Antonio L. Mabutas, the diocesan priests started to take over the media management of not just the newspaper, but the Catholic radio, as well. The opening of DXGN, the Good News Radio of the Archdiocese of Davao allowed the Word of God and church announcements to be heard even in the outskirts.

Despite the difficulties in managing the media entities that led to their multiple closures, the hearts to evangelize among the clergy, religious, laity, and supporters from other denominations moved Msgr. Fernando R. Capalla to retrieve DXGN from the renting Notre Dame Broadcasting Center (NDBC) in 1996.

With the installation of the fourth archbishop of Davao, Msgr. Romulo G. Valles, the existence of a Catholic newspaper, radio and online accounts have been made more accessible and helpful in enhancing the spiritual life of each Davaoeño, Catholic or not.

After the downpour, now the rainbow.

The presence of the Davao Catholic Herald newspaper, DXGN 89.9 Spirit FM-Davao and all its online accounts on Facebook, Twitter and websites are eminent reasons beyond comparison bearing the city’s slogan – Life is Here. And more cheers for the next years.

Welcome to more of the city’s best!