LAST WEEKEND, we were in Pampanga to visit the Auxiliary Bishop of San Fernando, Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, D.D., in his commercial-free Gospel show, ?Men in Light.?

In producing a religious show, he says, ?We?re competing in a different way. How do you build an audience? It?s out there waiting for you. We produced the show in video and audio formats. We distribute it to friendly cable channels who give us free airtime. Our condition: We?ll give you the show for free if you give us free airtime?and they have to show it without commercials!?

Every show is a labor of love by volunteers. How did the program begin? The bishop recalls, ?Marilou Diaz-Abaya trained our seminarians. I told her we wanted to penetrate cable TV via a talk show. I asked her, Can you teach us how to produce one??

Knowledgeable

?She replied, ?I?d be willing to direct it for free?on two conditions: Feed me Kapampangan food! Second, feed me the Word of God. I?m knowledgeable about a lot of things but not the Bible. I?ve been looking for someone who would mentor me in the Scriptures. I heard from your brother (columnist Randy David) that your specialty is the Scriptures. Can you mentor me???

So, the duo made the deal of their lives. ?Men in Light? is now on its 25th season, aired in over 40 cable channels here and abroad!

Back in Manila, we met up with our friend, Chi Datu-Bocobo, to discuss her hosting stints with ?Family Rosary Crusade? (Sundays, Studio 23, 7-8 a.m.) and ?Family Matters? (Saturdays, TV5, 6-7 a.m.).

She tells us, ?At one point in my life, I told the Lord that I wanted to serve Him more using the gifts He gave me. Soon after I prayed, I was called into this ministry.?

?Family Rosary Crusade? is a worldwide effort to promote praying the rosary, while ?Family Matters? encourages family values by featuring the lives of those who serve God.

What satisfaction does she get from doing the shows? ?The fulfillment is from knowing that this is God?s work. In my own, little way, I?m able to make a difference in the lives of the people who watch them. Of course, it would be nicer to get a better time slot, so that we can reach more people.?

Answered prayers

Recently, Boots Anson-Roa produced and launched the religious documentary, ?Into the Light: A Personal Journey of Faith, Healing and Answered Prayers with Saint Pio,? under NUT?s direction, and it took her traveling around Europe.

The trip to San Giovanni, she shares, is a ?realization of the faithful?s deep devotion to Padre Pio. Napakalawak pala ng paniniwala sa kanya. He healed a lot of devotees!?

Two weeks before her flight to Europe, she had a hysterectomy. The documentary became an act of ?penance? for her as she endured pain, the cold weather and the physical demands of an out-of-the-country shoot. Her goal, she says, is ?to help propagate the devotion to Padre Pio.?

For a copy of ?Into the Light,? e-mail boots_pete@yahoo.com, or call Tutti of Prime Foundation at 929-9571.