Radio saves lives

Only days after Super Typhoon Haiyan struck in Leyte, a First Response Team from the Far East Broadcasting  Co. Manila constructed a low-power FM station under a tent of tarps atop Tacloban’s nearly destroyed city hall building. The station provided critical information on where people could obtain food and water, where to locate missing persons, and messages of hope.

It isn’t easy applying for an FM radio license. But, in recognition of the First Response Team’s valuable service to the devastated community, the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) invited FEBC to apply for one. After four years of prayer and development of partnerships, 97.5 DYFE-FM Unang Tugon ng Pamayanan or The First Response of the Community, was dedicated on May 22, 2018.

The operation of the station is a joint project of Guidelines International Ministries, FEBC, Center for Community Transformation (CCT), and Catjoy Holdings.

The station is broadcasting from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through  Sunday. Its programming includes bible teaching by local pastors, business, agriculture and livelihood features, and programs for women and seniors produced by the community. 

“This is a wonderful story of the Body of Christ coming together in a time of great need and God providing an opportunity to move forward in healing and future growth,” Bonnie Sala, Guidelines president, said.

Present at the station dedication were internationally known Guidelines International Ministries founders Dr. Harold and Darlene Sala, Luisa Collopuy, Guidelines director of media, Steven Ma, director of marketing, and FEBC Philippines president Dan Andrew Cura, who said, “Just as we provided critical information in the city’s time of disaster, we need to continue rehabilitation. The community knows that DYFE will always be here as Unang Tugon ng Pamayanan.”

The Tacloban station is the second community radio partnership of Guidelines and FEBC. DZRK-FM 106.3 Palawan was opened in 2014. This Guidelines Legacy Community Radio Project was established for FEBC to bring Christian radio to the “deaf spots” of the Philippines by putting up community-based radio stations and equipping partners on the ground to provide Bible-based people-oriented programming.

Guidelines’ ministry  focuses on transforming lives with the message of Jesus.

Luisa Collopuy said  people around the world experience hardships in life, and live without hope. But with radio programming, “We know that the teachings of Jesus can impact people wherever they are, so we intentionally create our devotionals to be universally applicable to everyone.”

Guidelines broadcast devotionals in Indonesia, reaching 261 million spread out over 922 inhabited islands. One of its faithful listeners is Hadi, a factory owner on the island of Java who felt so down and out, until he listened to a timely episode of Guidelines for Living titled “When You Feel Like Giving Up.” This gave him encouragement, and found strength and comfort from the Holy Spirit.               

Guidelines partnered with FEBC to build four radio stations in Kyrgyzstan. There was a lot of resistance and many obstacles in a predominantly Islam country, said Luisa Collopuy. Today, Radio OK reaches 2.5 million people. Guidelines hopes to build three more stations “which would enable us to cover 100 percent of the population with the truth and love of God. It’s an ambitious goal, but our god is a big God. . . It’s not just about the numbers. We want people to be genuinely transformed by the saving power of Jesus.”

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It’s Father’s Day on June 17. Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila sings its ode to the occasion by offering a Special Treat to the Man of the House June 15-17 at the Spiral restaurant.  What makes those three days so special is that Sofitel’s culinary artisans will present enhanced  selections featuring their fathers’ very own favorite recipes. 

Japanese master chef Masaaki Ishigawa will showcase his dad’s beer-flavored chicken karaage, which they both enjoyed, chased with their favorite beer. The crispy karaage is marinated in salt, pepper, rice wine and soy sauce.

For Thai master artisan, chef Dennis Macaranas, he will create a flavorful interpretation of Bangkok-style beef tenderloin, his father’s favorite dish. When he became a chef, he recreated the dish with a twist, adding five aromatic Thai spices.

 Spiral’s Indian master chef Halim Alik Khan will showcase his Sikandari Raan or Roast Lamb with flavorful spices and Biryani rice. His father,  also a culinary artisan, taught him how to marinate a lamb leg overnight in 10 to 12 Indian spices and slow-cook it  a day before it is baked in the oven.

Dragon Bali Lettuce, a dish perfect for children as it features seafood balls wrapped in lettuce, will be presented by Chinese master chef Michael Tai. Michael’s father would make him eat vegetables when he was a young boy, disguising it with his favorite seafood incorporated in the dish.

French master chef Julien Cosse honors his dad with Steak a Chaval. His dad would spend sleepless nights as he was with the newspaper print industry and he would enjoy the protein-rich steak dish to tide him over the wee hours of the morning.

From Korea, culinary artisan chef Lorvic Gesite will be showcasing the colorful Bossam, boiled pork belly enhanced with Korean spices and bean paste, and enjoyed with Soju. 

From the Philippines, master chef Bryan Ortigosa’s presentation will be Sinuglaw, a version of Ceviche with a twist.  His dad used to take him to the wet market to buy fish and had one part grilled and one part fresh, and enjoyed it like sushi. The combination of the two is known as sinuglaw from the words sinugba (grilled) and kinilaw (eaten raw).

Pastry artisan chef Rolando Macatangay will share the same sweet tooth of his father with the decadent Chocolate Mudslide Cake infused with Bourbon.

Celebrating dads will receive a special gift from Uniqlo and the best-dressed fathers will receive a special prize from Peter Thomas Roth, Jack Nicklaus, Champion and Savile Row on Father’s Day  Brunch  on June 17. One of Spiral’s dining fathers may get a chance to win an American Tourister luggage and vouchers for a weekend drive with the MINI One or MINI Countryman.

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I  received  a lot of inquiries about the contact number of Jhun Asaldo (not Ansaldo as I mistakenly wrote in last Tuesday’s column). Orphaned at 5, he struggled, with a brother’s help, to finish his basic education, held odd jobs, teamed up with a friend to found Ikon Compo Traders, then with another friend, started Star Safe Marketing.  In 1998, Jhun founded  his own small business called  Asaldo Marketing, which deals in  LPG anti-leaking safety device and gas range repair services and restorations. Jhun’s cp is 0917-1792129.

Email: [email protected].