Mati Sends Forth Soccom for Evangelization

More than a hundred social communicators already were sent forth by the Diocese of Mati after they completed a two-day seminar workshop initiated by the Social Communication Ministry, optimistic that their being chosen signals the start of something better for the ministry.

Fr. Ritsche Gamaya, Station Manager of DXGN-FM, comprehensively imparted the topic on Understanding Catholic Media.

This was to impart to the participants the guidelines of the Church in pushing social communications, and what are the expected aftermath, and their impact to the Church and the people.

TCTV News Anchor Rocky Silverio gave the talk on Basic Journalism, DXHM News Anchor Neela Duallo gave the strategies on Effective News Sourcing and News Gathering, and Jake Bryan Villahermosa blurted out on the choice of making Digital Media as a positive tool to strengthen one’s faith.

Diocesan Social Communications Director Fr. Alfe Alimbon gave an in-depth explanation to the theme of the activity, “Social Communicators: Beloved…Gifted…and Empowered.

He reiterated that the participants should feel and consider themselves as such, gifted, beloved, and empowered to fulfill their new task, and that the biggest challenge lies in being catholic social communicator.

After the talks, the participants went to Brgy. Baogo for their exposure, where they were joined by the parish priest of San Salvador del Mundo Parish, Fr. Diomedes Lagroma, and Fr. Alimbon.

The participants, mostly millennials, had the chance to interview Fr. Diome, Fr. Alfe, basic ecclessial communities’ officials, on the endeavours of the church, on the plan to erect a quasi-parish in the barangay, among others.

When the session resumed, they immediately hurdled with work, made a news item from their interviews, and prepared themselves for a simultaneous TV and radio news production.

After dinner, the participants plunged into their rehearsal for the actual production the following day.

On the second day, Bp. Abel Apigo arrived just in time for the production, and was overwhelmed seeing them as news anchors and news reporters.

“I am so proud of you. I saw your confidence and your potentials. Thank you for heeding to the call and got the wonderful experience. We have a lot to do in spreading the faith, in spreading the truth. As it is, we are in this mission,” he said.

He challenged the new social communicators to be the agents of good news as expected of them.

The Social Communication Seminar and Workshop was held in two batches.

The first was held in October 20-21, 2019, for the second district in the Diocese, held at the Milagrosa Formation Center, City of Mati.

District 1 participants had their time on Nov. 16-17, 2019 at the San Salvador del Mundo Parish Conference Hall, Caraga, Davao Oriental.

The participants could barely contain their excitement in trying another venture that is something new, as they were also asked to re-echo on what transpired in the seminar workshop in going back to their respective parishes and schools.

Ms. Karen Jane Pernito, SocCom Diocesan Coordinator, facilitated the conduct of the activity. (Neela Duallo | Diocese of Mati)