Why reopen the Catholic radio station?

“It is better to light just one little candle than to stumble in the dark.”

Fact 1: There are 1.7 million (and growing) inhabitants in the Archdiocese of Davao (Marilog, Samal, Malabog, Downtown area).

Catholic Population: 1.4 million
Number of priests (incardinated) presently working here: 76

Say, let us make a ratio on the estimates. It is 18,000 people: 1 priest. Though, Catholic prelates refute SWS survey showing ‘declining’ church attendance, there must also be a grain of truth to another study that says: Only 15 in every 100 Catholics go to Church every Sunday. Another estimate, this is only 14,000 faithful of 1.4 million population.

Though the debate is not yet over and facts not yet finalized, until one goes to all parishes and take the average, these numerical figures at hand reveal that: Our priests need support in bringing in people of the same faith back to the Mother Church. Our Archdiocese needs more vocations not just to priesthood, but to service, as well.

So, lights on please!

Fact 2: Candy Crush Saga game has dramatically engaged millions of people in a time shorter than when TV, radio, and print reached our households.

Before there was tri-media (radio, TV, print), but with the internet superhighway (new media), changes occur on the way we think, behave and respond.

We bereaved over the death of Jam Sebastian, because that means the end of “Jamich” fever. We got our senses involved via JamichTV.

We begin to size up our beauties by the “Likes” that we get from our Facebook accounts.

We produce videos, post pictures, and promote events and sometimes, risk our office hours and class sessions as we do them in between.

We helped move the Youtube history as we placed Psy’s Gangnam Style to a record-breaking 2 billion views.

Catholic newspaper subscribers (via Davao Catholic Herald): 3,500
Facebook Page Likes (via DC Herald FB account): 2,500

Six thousand (6,000) is less than 1% of 1.4 million. One thing, our Media Apostolate needs back-up. There abound untapped talents.

Fact 3: In 2014 alone, 25,000 children in Davao were baptized to Catholicism. Religion, when taught by parents at an early age could make them embrace responsibilities towards the Church where he/she belongs.

Back in 2008, DXGN FM closed down due to many factors, including lack of community support from the Catholic constituents. Others responded that should they have been informed, they should have supported. It is our responsibility to help our Church and to feed each other’s souls.

Kids in Islam are required to learn their religion through their catechism classes. Islam is a political religion, ours is not. But we thank the 2,228 school and GKK catechists. They teach our kids matters relevant to our faith. Yet, look at the number of these “heralds of good news”, compared to the over-all population. Turn on the lights, please!

Numbers are powerful. They influence decisions. This might be your first time to see these numerical figures. But these were used before the decision was made to reopen the radio station.

We need to inform each other.

No one should be left behind, especially the Poor.

We only have one life to live, one candle to light, and same Jesus to share.

Spreading the Good News is not the work only of the priests, staff of the media apostolate, or the Catechists, but of all baptized Christians, as well. Anyhow, shake their hands today. They are doing good in their ministry.

When all candles come and ignite the cause of bringing more souls to Jesus, the world will be brighter.

It is better to light just one little candle than to stumble in the dark. But it is best not to stumble in the dark because somebody has lit the light for one to see.

Let our Catholic radio be a medium for us to see clearly our faith. Let the conviction be embraced by all.

Thank you to these people and organizations who lit their candles

Alexian Brothers Health and Wellness: 10,000.00
Alexian Brothers Inc.: 10,000.00
Bro. Daniel Mc Cornick, CFA: 132,600.00
Eden Mountain Resort, Inc.: 5,000.00
Highland Banana Corporation: 5,000.00
JFM Development Corp.: 5,000.00
Lamiako Corp.: 15,000.00
M. Montemayor: 1,500.00
ONB/Consunji: 500,000.00
Aboitiz Power Corporation/Antonio Moraza: 2,000,000.00