Davao’s Catholic Radio Station: Channel of faith through tough times

June 13 is a very significant date for me. Aside from the fact that it is my patron saint’s feast day (St. Anthony de Padua), it is when I came back for our Catholic radio station’s reopening held last year at the San Pablo Parish. Journey with me in all the KNOT stories this month as I take you down memory lane of our only Catholic radio station, DXGN 89.9 Spirit FM.

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It was during Fr. Rogelio Antalan’s directorship in 1968 when the plan to open a Catholic radio station was thought of. In fact, he was sent to Manila to study broadcasting. Afterwards, the Bishop Thibault Media Center radio was materialized along with him as the director and the sisters of the Daughters of St. Paul.

Yet, the BTMC radio was confined only to recording songs and drama. Thus in 1985, the late Abp. Antonio Ll. Mabutas invited newscaster and ADDU mass communication professor Ms. Cecile Estardo to make a radio feasibility study. When completed, it was presented to the clergy and was sent to Germany’s “Misereor” for funding. Misereor is a Catholic Bishop’s Organization for Development Cooperation.

Helped by Msgr. Rodulfa who was then the Archdiocesan procurator, the funding was used as start-up capital. Ms. Estardo and Fr. Rodulfa facilitated the purchase of the 4,000 sq. m. lot for the transmitter in Shrine Hills, Matina, sets of equipment, and some albums for play on-air.

May 15, 1988, World Communications Day. The lay empowerment was such as the organization of Charismatic communities flourished here in the Archdiocese.

A lay, Ms. Estardo was appointed the first station manager. Together with her are the pioneering staff such as Lito Gualberto (Sales and Marketing), Lito Adana, Roger Lagrada, Oliver Durado (technicians), Jing Fernandez (librarian), Joey Dichoson, Alex Aquino, Raul “Bong” Roxas (Buddy Roy), Noel Amoroso, and Wilson Entrata.

Under her care, the station followed mixed programming (half religious, half commercial) where Filipino values were strongly emphasized through gospel-based and commercial songs. The station was composed of a DJs booth, technical booth, recording studio, and a library. She was succeeded by Fr. Aris Pesquera then Fr. Roger Duhaylungsod, current parish priest of San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish, Talomo.

Later on, the archdiocese subsidized the operations of the radio before it was closed due to lack in financial backing before 1990s arrived. The Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation (NDBC) then rented our studio. NDBC played OPM hits thus, using the tagline “DXGN: Pinoy Radio!” It was loved by the masses. In fact, it ranked top in radio surveys. However, fierce media competition, breakdown of radio equipment, and cost of operation became deciding factors for its second closure.

But the Holy Spirit is alive. After the installation of the 3rd archbishop of Davao, Fernando R. Capalla, DXGN was retrieved from NDBC in 1996. He instructed former volunteer, Mr. Noel Pinili to reopen and run the station and Mr. Celestino “Al” Baretto as the finance in-charge.

Mr. Baretto and Mr. Ding Diaz donated P 100,000 to help the radio operation. Then this new administration tried “religious programming” where the whole-day format of 18 hours mirrored “Christian Life” through songs, prayers, and news. The support of Catholics through its “Mission Prayer Partners” project sustained the operations. Succeeded by Mr. Reuben Baldoza, Jr., Mr. Pinili turned over the same format in 1997.

With the newest BTMC director, Msgr. Guillermo V. Afable (now the bishop of Digos), DXGN 89.9 remained to be the Good News Radio of the Archdiocese of Davao with a fresher tagline: “Making a Big Difference in Radio Broadcast Programming.” (To be continued)