As part of the updating of FSP sisters who are directly working in radio, Sr. Amelyne Paglinawan, FSP and Sr. Lina Salazar, FSP attended a 5-day Radio Training organized by Signis Asia Radio Desk on November 5-9, 2018.
The workshop themed “Supporting the Development of Catholic and Community Radio” was held at the Communication Foundation for Asia (CFA) in Sta. Mesa, Manila.
Thirty one participants from nine Signis Asia member countries, namely: Bangladesh, Cambodia, East Timor, India, Indonesia, Korea, Myanmar, Philippines and Sri Lanka joined this year’s radio workshop.
Bernard Factor Canaberal, President of Signis Philippines warmly welcomed the delegates. By way of introduction Bernard posed the challenge to Catholic radio communicators how to maximize the use of this medium in these digital times, considering the religious, political and social issues that we are confronted with.
Fr. Filoteo Pelingon, MSC, President of Communication Foundation for Asia, challenged the participants that in preparing content for radio broadcast, stories of hope should take precedence. He added that as Catholic radio communicators our message or content should appeal to the heart and should stir prophetic imagination among our audience.
The activities included talks, sharing of success stories in radio development, brainstorming and planning for radio shows and actual production of radio programs both for traditional radio and internet broadcast. The delegates also had a day of tour to visit community radios and exposure to local culture. We also had an audience with his eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, D.D. where he shared briefly about the Synod on the youth that he attended in Rome. He said, the youth of today detests being told to follow rules, to do this and that. Rather, they need our accompaniment. This, we also need to consider in preparing audio content if we are to minister to the youth as our audience.
The culminating Mass was officiated by Bishop Mylo Vergara, DD, head of CBCP – Episcopal Commission on Social Communication. In his homily, he said that radio should be life-giving; it should uplift the spirit of the people and lead them to pray, and to a better relationship with Jesus. This is a call and a challenge to all the participants in the Signis Asia Radio workshop.
Bernard Factor Caňaberal, President of Signis Philippines as overall facilitator, spearheaded the gathering of Signis Asia Radio desk. He was assisted by Fr. Jojo Buenafe, Treasurer of Signis Philippines, Seungwal Francis Kim of Korea, treasurer of Signis Asia and Bernadetta Widiandajani, secretary of Signis Asia.
I feel truly grateful, blessed and enriched to have participated in this Signis Asian Radio workshop, for it did not only equip me with fresh knowledge and skills how to improve the content of our radio productions, but it was also a good venue to build connections and friendship to Catholic radio communicators for sharing of programs and future collaboration… all for God’s greater glory. Sr. Lines, fsp