News Briefs
Diocesan Press Service. April 7, 1965 [XXXI-9]
FILIPINO RADIO STATION OPENS
Radio station DZCH, the second in a proposed Philippine National Council of Churches Network of 3 stations, began broadcasting for the first time on Feb. 28, 1965. The Christian radio station in Manila joins its sister station DYSR, Dumagete City, Philippines, which was established 15 years ago.
The daily four hour schedule of programs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. will give the newly formed National Council of Churches in the Philippines, whose chairman is the Most Rev. Isabello do los Reyes, Supreme Bishop of the Philippine Independent Church, another voice. The programs of station DZCH will seek to become a source of Christian nurture and wholesome entertainment for those inside and outside of the Church and will not rely on commercial advertising for support. The first station, DYSR, has already earned a reputation for important news reporting and commentary, a wide variety of public service and community development projects and highest quality cultural programs.
One listener to the first test broadcasts of DZCH remarked, "If the fine music heard over your test broadcast is a preview of your regular programs, then it would be something wonderful to look forward to."
Leaders of many churches in the NCC participated in the opening ceremonies of the radio station. Dr. Bernard M. Luben, executive director of RAVEMCCO (Radio, Visual Education and Mass Communications Committee) brought greeting from the Division of Overseas Ministries of the NCC in the U.S.A. This project has been aided by contributions for 11 major denominations in the U.S.A. and Canada through RAVEMCCO.
PANAMA PRIEST DIES AT 101
At the age of 101, the Von. E.J. Cooper, former Archdeacon of Colon and retired rector emeritus of Christ Church By-The-Sea in Colon, died recently in Guatemala. He would have been 102 April 16.
A native of Bath, England, where he was born in 1863, Father Cooper became a naturalized American citizen and came to the Isthmus of Panama during the construction of the Panama Canal, to be one of the first American clergymen to serve that area.
He was chaplain with the Isthmian Canal Commission and a confidant of Colonel Goethals and knew Colonel Gorgas. Since his retirement he had been living in Guatemala.