Oblates of Mary Immaculate > About Us > The Mission Today

Notre Dame Press
(Oblate Printing Press in Cotabato City)

The Mindanao Cross

"The Little paper with a big cause"

DXMS AM & DXOL FM Radio Stations

in Cotabato City

Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation (NDBC)

- DXND AM & DXDM FM: Kidapawan City

- DXGN FM: Koronadal City

Sulu Tawi-Tawi Broadcasting Foundation (STBF)

Jolo, Sulu and Bongao, Tawi-Tawi

As a locus of evangelization and in the context of pluralism, the Oblate Media Ministry focuses on the promotion of LIFE and Peace.

To strengthen the role of evangelization in Mass Media
To promote culture of life and culture of peace, IRD, JPIC and OMI imperatives
Collaborative efforts among Oblates media entities and ministries of the OMI and the local Church
Establish and strengthen networking and collaborative efforts among Oblate Media Institutions and other institutions, agencies, NGOs, POs

Long before Vatican II came out with the Decree on Special Communications in the mid-60's, the Oblates in the Philippines were already involved in the Mass Media Ministry .It began before the war when the Oblates accepted the offer of the Philippine Bishops to take over the publication of the Philippine Commonwealth, a national Catholic weekly. Fr. Joseph Boyd was its editor until its closure at the onset of World War II and even after the war when its publication was revived.

In the tradition of the Oblate missionary spirit of "leaving nothing undared to evangelize the poor", the famous triangle of Schools, Press and Radio, three necessary vehicles for evangelization, was no doubt among the prospective apostolates of the Oblates soon after the Province was established.

After the war, Fr. Gerard Mongeau's (then Oblate Superior) dream of publishing a Catholic paper in Cotabato became a reality when a printing press capable of printing a two-page spread at a time was donated to him. The nipa-thatched, one- storey building constructed to house this press came to be known as the Notre Dame Press.

The objective was actually to help in the Oblate Ministry by putting up a Catholic newspaper for Cotabato while also serving the Print Ministry of the Oblates. This objective was soon fulfilled when the first issue of The Mindanao Cross rolled off the press on February 6, 1948.

Through the years, however, the development of Cotabato and the region, in general, brought with it the need for a responsive printing industry that would cater to the printing needs of the local government, the business sector, the schools and the Oblates too. Thus the Notre Dame Press diversified its operation to include commercial printing jobs from the public.

With its expansion and the acquisition of modern machines and the introduction of high-quality printing services, it has become the leading printing press in the Cotabato Area.

The management has exerted efforts to improve customer service, collection schemes, quality control as well as boost the morale of its employees.

Inasmuch as the Mindanao Cross and the Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation (Broadcast Media) are managed by the Oblates, both have been consolidated to form the Oblate Media.

In 1985, the Oblates acquired DXMS from the Archdiocese of Cotabato giving way to what is known as the Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation’s competitive strength: regional networking. The radio stations DXMS, DXND and DXDM institutionalized simulcasting hook-ups and sharing resources. The NDBC also multiplied its influence and presence by entering into tie-ups with other stations in two other cities.

As NDBC grew, so did the audience's demand to offer more to them. The Oblates became aware that the FM programs are also good vehicles to put the Good News across. Thus in 1987, DXOL-FM was born in Cotabato City. This station has been consistently topping broadcast industry surveys in Cotabato City. The importance of putting up a youth-oriented FM station was also seen. Hence in 1993, the Oblates are now able to bring back through the NDBC their service to the then empire province of Cotabato (now composed of five provinces).

With the five radio stations, the NDBC hopes to bring effectively the Good News to the people of the province of Mindanao.

During the 1990 Oblate Congress at which the Mass Media Ministry was given focus, the following statement was made: "We realize this call in our service to the local Church by awakening the power of faith amongst the people... and the promotion of human and Christian communities of Justice, Truth, Love and Peace..."

[The call pertains to the Oblate Ministry of preaching and witnessing... the Good News of total salvation of all people with preference for the poor and the most abandoned…]

Media was recognized as a powerful means for evangelization and an effective tool for the propagation of human and Christian values.

Efforts in recent years have been directed to the improvement in systems, quality of audio and adjustments in programming. NDBC's highly advanced communication equipment contributes to its present stature - able to do a quality simulcast for its three stations. Its facilities coupled with radio equipment loaded in mobile vans and hand-held radios facilitate efficient coverages even in remote areas.

In the Sulu and Tawi-Tawi area: As a result of his happy experience with the role of broadcast media in evangelization, one of the first priorities of Bishop George Dion of the Vicariate of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi was to open a radio station in Jolo, Sulu. To carry out his plans, he formed the Sulu - Tawi-Tawi Broadcasting Foundation under which were established two radio stations: one catering to the Tausugs and the other to the Samals. Both stations have Muslim personnel and both can reach Sabah, Malaysia where many Filipinos work.

A small TV station has been opened in Jolo, the first TV station in the Oblate Philippine Mission and is affiliated with GMA 7, a major network in the Philippines. The three stations provide a forum for an exchange of ideas to foster inter-religious and inter-community collaboration. Aside from the Oblates engaged in institutional media, a few others have involved themselves as individuals in the Mass Media Ministry in their individual capacity.