THE ‘SWEET VOICE OF SALVATION’

DYVS Marks 45th Year

Radio station DYVS, the “Sweet of Salvation” held “Dugo Mo, Type Ko” on September 7, a bloodletting
activity at City Mall Mandalagan starting at 9 a.m.

The bloodletting event is among the highlight of the National Blood Donors Month observance and,
more significantly, of the celebration of the 45th anniversary of the Bacolod City-based radio station.

Also lined up as anniversary month activities are the free basketball clinic at Barangay Estefania on
Saturday, Sept. 14, and the “Wise-up: Making Wise Decisions in Life and in Work” Seminar at Trinity
Christian Church on Lacson Street on Sept. 21.

The basketball clinic was conducted from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Barangay Estefania Gym by Coach Mark
‘Tata’ Belangel and his TJ7 Basketball Skills and Training Center and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Philippines. It was attended to boys and girls aged 8-18.

The Sept. 21 seminar, held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., featured Manila-based speaker Maloi Salumbides, a
book author and Protips host.

1233 DYVS also partnered with the Association of Christian Schools International – Negros Island, for the
holding of the Campus Journalism Seminar-Workshop for Student Editors and Advisers of high and grade
school publications. The training was held at Bacolod Christian College of Negros on Sept. 13 and 14.

The Bacolod station celebrated its anniversary on Sept. 29, the date when it started its broadcast in
Bacolod City 45 years ago.

FEBC & ITS MISSION

It is one of the 12 radio stations of Far East Broadcasting Company (Philippines) Inc. operation in the
country today.

FEBC is a religious non-stock, non-profit broadcasting network engaged in the proliferation of the Gospel
of Jesus Christ through radio and other similar outlets. It was established in 1948. FEBC Phils. belongs to
an international family covering large parts of Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

FEBC, which is located at Christian Radio City in Pasig, and its stations, including DYVS, have been
operating solely through the support of donors – individuals, churches and partner organizations.

The FEBC stations in the country, along with DYVS, are located in Metro Manila (DZAS and DZFE),
Santiago City in Isabela (DZMR), Legaspi City (DWAY), Quezon, Palawan (DZRK), Cebu City (DYFR),
Tacloban City (DYFE), Davao City (DXFE), Koronadal in South Cotabato (DXKI), Zamboanga City (DXAS)
and DXJL (Cagayan de Oro City).

These stations use 29 languages and dialects in its broadcasting activities.

FEBC and its stations, using new media technologies, can also be heard online, extending their broadcast
services to reach new audiences in the country and abroad.

GUIMARAS BEGINNINGS

Counting its operations when it started operations in Buenavista, Guimaras, the station is entering its
50th year of service.

Previously known as DYGS, it started operations in 1970 on campus of Good Shepherd Fold Academy,
whose founder, the late Philip Irabon, was instrumental in the setting up of the station.

Ralph Tanumtanum served as the officer-in- charge with Pastor Leovy Trinidad and wife Zeny succeeding
him.

After four years of the radio ministry in Guimaras which encountered constant power problem and oil
crisis as well as dwindling financial support that eventually led to the FEBC management’s decision to
relocate the station to Bacolod City, where commercial power is readily available and the economic
soundness in the community providing a better financial stability for the radio ministry.

TRANSFER TO BACOLOD
On May 5, 1974, DYVS shut down its operation in Guimaras. The shipment of the equipment to Bacolod
was completed the following month.

A 500 sq.m. lot was then purchased in Barangay Pahanocoy for the construction of the station’s studio
building, which was inaugurated on Sept. 29, 1974. DYVS then aired its first broadcast through its 1-kw
transmitter.

Designated as manager was Romy Niere who resigned in 1979.

With the resignation of Niere, a steering committee took over the management of the station until 1980
when FEBC Managing Director Rev. Fred Magbanua installed Roem Agustin, who was then president of
West Negros College, and his wife, Jovina, to lead DYVS.

In 1984, Ernanie Castillo served as officer-in-charge when the Agustin couple went to the United States
for a fund-raising campaign to strengthen the facilities of the station, particularly on the dream of FEBC
to increase the station’s power to 5kw as well as improve other facilities.

That dream was realized before Agustin left to pursue another ministry early in 1985.

Reuel Navarro then served as temporary station manager until Amor Alba was named in October 1985
as the next DYVS executive until 1995.

She was succeeded by Edna Agustin, who stayed with the station until February 1997.

TURN OF CENTURY

A management committee then took over until October 2000 when DYVS welcomed its next station
manager, Ralph Belzunce.

Under his term, plans to boost the capacity to 10k and the tower and station relocation started on the
planning table.

Belzunce’s leadership extended to the community media as he was elected chairman of the Kapisanan
ng Mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas.

A MILESTONE

When Mary Grace Visitacion was installed as the station manager in 2014, she was faced with the
challenging state of the station, particularly its 40-year-old building and the deteriorated 200-foot
tower.

The roof leaked that during rainy days, the staff had to use their umbrellas at work.

The booth and recording rooms were already hazardous to volunteers as the audio panels were already
rotting. The fiber of the insulation system in the recording room was timeworn that it triggered allergies
on users.

In the same year, the 200-foot tower was dismantled and replaced by a temporary antenna, weakening
the broadcast strength of the station.

Consequently, the management, staff and supporters prayed for a new location of the transmitter.

The Lord answered our prayers as it was in October 2017 that FEBC purchased a 1-ha. lot, which is
strategically located in Taloc, Bago City, they said. Hopefully, it will be completed this month after
construction started a year ago.

NEW LOCATION

It was also during that time when the offices and the studio were transferred to the heart of the city,
with the initial broadcast made on June 6, 2016.

The new home of the station is at the Ground Floor of Smile Building at San Sebastian-Verbena Streets in
Barangay 30 where state-of-the art facilities and equipment are now being used.

The old tower has been replaced by a temporary antenna.

Today, as the station faces renewed challenges, it is looking forward to widen its reach and influence in
people’s lives.

The Lord is faithful, He taught us to wait upon Him, and by His grace, it renewed our minds, our
strength, our faith, the management and staff of the station said, adding: “He gave us donors and
ministry partners who supported DYVS both in prayers and in practical ways. All glory belongs to Him!”

Summing up, Manager Visitacion, in her anniversary message, said, “It is amazing how the Lord has
brought us to where we are now.