The new manager of DYVS

SHARE THIS STORY
TWEET IT
Email

Radio station DYVS in Bacolod City has a new manager – Pastor Chester Nemrod Adrias Elias, a native of Binalbagan, Negros Occidental.  The new station manager, who was appointed effective Aug. 1, succeeds Mary Grace Visitacion, who held the position for seven years until her retirement. DYVS is one of the 12 AM and FM stations of the Far East Broadcasting Company.  On Sept. 28, it will mark its 47th anniversary of radio ministry in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, and other parts of Western Visayas and the country. DYVS is located at Smile Building at Verbena Street in Bacolod City.

Elias, 38, is married to Irene Joy. The couple has a daughter, Xara Eirene. He is a mass communication graduate of Silliman University and has a Bachelor of Theology degree from the Baptist Bible Seminary and Institute in Taytay, Rizal. He also started law studies at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos.

Pursuing his interest in the field of Communication, he worked for two years as advertising designer at the Global Designs Inc. in Makati City.

Pastor Elias founded in 2015 the Agape Integrated Ministries.  He continues to serve the ministries.  He is also co-proprietor of the Violin Village Handmade Stringed Instruments and Casacuerda Musical Instruments Trading.

The new DYVS manager, Chester Nemrod Adrias Elias; at right, with wife Irene Joy, and daughter, Xara Eirene.

Pastor Elias has deep interest in music.  He plays the violin, piano, flute, guitar, and drums.  He is also a cycling enthusiast.

The following is our Q & A with the new station manager.

What led you to get interested in radio broadcasting?

I’ve always been captivated by the airwaves as a powerful instrument in advocating socio-cultural transformation. I’ve witnessed how people’s behavior, values, principles and perspectives in life were shaped by the “typical” content aired over the radio and so I’ve thought that the principles of faith have yet to unleash its transformational potential when integrated into addressing the issues of society. Radio, so far, can be a perfect channel.

Prior to your appointment as SM, what were your radio-related experiences?

I’ve been hosting “Oras Na, Pilipinas!” since 2017, an hour-and-half daily program which addresses public issues in a comprehensive and optimistic perspective.

What does your station manager’s job mean to you?

Being a station manager means a privilege to lead, not merely to manage or govern, but primarily, to give direction, inspire, influence and create life-changing impact on people. First, it means an opportunity to empower the staff and somehow equip them to maximize their giftedness. Then, it means to lead the team to be in the frontlines of the battle for truth.

Being a station manager means accountability. Having been entrusted with such a position comes the greater duty saturate the society with the message of truth. It means what people believe, may it be half-truth, fake news, unverified and exaggerated information, becomes a load on our shoulders, having known that we, actually, were given the power to shape that.

What are the major challenges that you consider in your new position?

What makes me sleepless at night is the thought that while knowledge increases, people are becoming more vulnerable to false information. The more troubling reality is that the peddling of fake news is being further fuelled by the naivete of the religious sector, the church, where people are trained to believe without questioning. DYVS, being the closest to this sector of society carries the burden of addressing the rampancy of falsehood by its commitment to only convey the truth in the spirit of love to the already-confused listening public.

Indeed, the most challenging job is how to hold the station to stand its ground even if it means going against the popular beliefs of society.

DYVS is a partner of the Dep-Ed Division of Negros Occidental in its Alternative Learning System program.

What do you plan to do/are you doing to meet these challenges?

We have currently partnered with several government agencies such as the Bacolod City Police Office, Department of Education, and PhilHealth, among others, to strengthen the integrity and reliability of the content of our programs.

We are producing new programs that do not only address the spiritual needs of the public but those that engage the public’s view on real issues and programs that do not only convey information but those that aim to shape positive responses and optimistic attitude to the social, political, economic, and health issues of the country among others.

What programs and innovations are you implementing to further strengthen the DYVS ministry?

We introduced more socially relevant programs that addresses public concerns right from the source. “Kadampig Mo!” is a daily 30-minute program hosted by government personnel and experts representing the various social sectors. For example, the Tuesday episode is hosted by PLt. Col. Maria Liberty Indiape of BCPO and Wednesday episode is hosted by Prof. Lila Arro of DepEd Division of Bacolod.

Recently, we have renewed our MOA with DepEd to continue providing 2-hour- airtime per day for “Radyo Eskwela,” DepEd Bacolod’s Radio Based Instruction program under the Blended Learning System. DYVS “Radyo Eskwela” is the only RBI program nationwide that is supplemented with simultaneous interactive live online stream through social media channels.

“Oras Na, Pilipinas,” an hour-and-half daily program is a in-depth analysis of current issues founded on comprehensive research which aims to convey a multi-perspective view of current issues, backstories, history, projections, and public opinion, where listeners are allowed to interact live through text or online comments on livestreamed video.

Since 2017, we’ve integrated simultaneous multi-platform livestream with our programs and we are continuously improving our online presence. Aside from social media platforms such as Facebook, we can also be heard through our mobile app “FEBC PH Stream” which can be downloaded for free from Android Store. We’ve started using virtual studios in 2018 and we are continually modernizing our technology while upgrading our skills to keep our online presence afloat with the rapidly changing times.

What message or words would you like to share with?

The ministry of DYVS is not just a mere professional undertaking. We exist because we have a purpose to fulfil in the greater plan of God. My aspiration for the staff is for us to be unified by the one passion and intimately embrace into our personal lives our calling to convey the strong voice of truth to the world. To our partners and supporters, may they realize that they are actually partakers of this privilege to serve God and people by indirectly becoming the mouthpiece of His message. To the Christian organizations and churches, may we be reminded that God empowered His people not to shine the light inside the four corners of our churches but as we grow and being equipped in our churches, may we become the beacon of this light into the world.

Hence, we challenge the churches to take part in the ministry of DYVS. We need gifted and empowered individuals who are willing to be in the frontlines of the ministry – not only givers, but also speakers, musicians, composers, writers, professionals, and anyone committed. God can use you to impact the world through DYVS. — AVDC