Ang Dating Daan

Ang Dating Daan (English: The Old Path, Portuguese: O Caminho Antigo, Spanish: El Camino Antiguo) is a religious radio and television program in the Philippines produced by the Members of the Church of God International. It is primarily hosted by Eli Soriano that began in the last quarter of 1980. It has been recognized as one of the longest-running religious television programs in the Philippines.[1] The name of the program is based on Jeremiah 6:16 of the Bible.

Ang Dating Daan Central Office and Church (Sampaloc, Apalit, Pampanga.
Facade, gate and the ADD Grand Convention Center.
Ang Dating Daan
(English: The Old Path)
(Portuguese: O Caminho Antigo)
(Spanish: El Camino Antiguo)
(Italian: Il Sentiero Antico)
GenreReligious broadcasting
StarringEliseo Soriano, Daniel Razon
various contributors
Opening themeRhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (variation 18) by Sergei Rachmaninoff
Country of originPhilippines
Original languages
  • Filipino
  • English
  • Standard Chinese (selected episodes)
  • Portuguese
  • Spanish
Production
ProducerMembers Church of God International
Camera setupmulticamera setup
Running time2 hours
Release
Original networkIBC (1983–1986)
RJTV (1994–1998)
RPN (1992–1998)
PTV (1999–2000, 2003, 2013)
SBN (1998–2004)
UNTV (2004–present)
Picture format480i
Original release1980 (1980) –
present
External links
Website

While mainly broadcasting in Filipino, some English language elements were added for foreign viewers, including "Truth in Focus", "Biblically Speaking", "How Authentic the Bible is", and "Bible Guide". It also features the use of multi-lingual and multi-dialectic translations of the Bible. Selected episodes of the program can also be viewed on the Internet through the Members Church of God International websites and on YouTube. There were episodes available in DVD format.

In Portugal and Brazil, it is currently broadcast as O Caminho Antigo[2] which is a direct translation for The Old Path which the same name is being broadcast in North America including English-speaking countries. In Latin America including Spain, it is currently broadcast as El Camino Antiguo which is also a direct translation of the English name. In Italy, it is also being broadcast as Il Sentiero Antico which is also a direct translation of the Filipino name.

Ang Dating Daan is now airing in 73 countries worldwide including the United States as ("The Old Path"), Brazil, Portugal (as "O Caminho Antigo"), Spain, Latin America (as "El Camino Antiguo"), India, Japan, South Africa, Saipan.[3][4]

Background
See also: Broadcast ministry of Members Church of God International

Pre-Broadcast
Main article: Eli Soriano

Bro. Eli Soriano was baptized on April 7, 1964 at the age of 17. He expressed desire to become a church worker and soon attended ministerial classes under Bro. Nicolas Perez. In 1970s, Soriano began conducting nightly pulong (gathering) from town-to-town preaching in the province of Pampanga and later realized that his lifetime is not enough to reach the entire Philippines. In the year 1972, Perez handed Soriano the only Church Minister title.

Radio Broadcast

The Ang Dating Daan program started in October 1980 on radio station DWWA 1206 kHz, and was also broadcast on DWAR, DZME, DZMB, DWAD, DZRD, and DZXQ (which is now known as Radyo La Verdad). In 1999, the radio program started to broadcast with different radio stations in the Philippines including DZRH, RMN and 100 Radyo Natin FM Stations and local radio stations across the country. The program is now in its new home UNTV-Radio La Verdad 1350 since late 2011.

Television Broadcast

In 1983, the program started on television broadcast as a 30-minute block timer on IBC with a shoe-string budget. Then later the program runs for one hour due to limited funds. In 1997, the program moved to RJTV Channel 29 (now RJ DigiTV), government-owned PTV-4 and later in SBN 21. The program currently airs live via satellite through the facilities of UHF Channel UNTV since 2004 and it became the program's permanent home through multi-year contract.

Other broadcast technology like satellite (through GlobeCast, MEASAT-3a, etc.), cable television (such as Sky Cable, Destiny Cable, etc.) were also added to further reach more including direct-to-home satellite (such as Cignal and Sky Direct) broadcast and digital TV broadcast. Some of the episodes of the TV program were distributed for free using DVD format.

Print media is also used to propagate the Ang Dating Daan program through Magandang Balita newspaper that is being distributed in Metro Manila. Online media is also used in the propagation like blogging through Controversy Extraordinary where Soriano is the author of the blog. His latest publication of Walking the Old Path: 12 Biblical Lessons on Faith, Hope, and Love from the Life of Bro. Eli is now available on Google Books.

Internet Broadcast

In the year 1999, the program launched its own website on the Internet. It opens a new venue to connect people across the planet. It was in the year 2000 when the program started its video live streaming through the Internet, hence, the video streaming technology was born.

Social Media Broadcast

The program also began to take advantage of technology using social media platforms in the late 2005. Social Media platforms like Facebook in its official Facebook page started in December 2008, Twitter in its official Twitter account started in October 2010 and later Instagram in its official Instagram account started in July 2015 were being used to propagate the program including YouTube which was launched its YouTube channel since December 2005. Latest addition to the platform is the Spotify podcast of the program which is launched in October 2019.

Live video feed is simulcasted to social media platforms including Bible Exposition and Bible Study. On June 1, 2020, the program introduced for the first time to the public the Ang Dating Daan Live Mass Indoctrination through social media platforms as the world including the Philippines prepare for the new normal.

Mobile Application

In September 2018, the Members Church of God International launched Ang Dating Daan mobile application on Google Play Store. The app features questions and answers about the Bible. It uses Filipino, English, Spanish and Portuguese languages. It is also available on Apple Store.

Podcast

In 2020, the program can now also be heard in its new platform - podcast entitled The Unheard Truth featuring Bro. Eli Soriano, hosted by Uly Villamin. The Unheard Truth can be downloaded thru Apple App Store or Google Play.

Doctrines
Main article: Members Church of God International § Beliefs and fundamental doctrines

The Members of the Church of God International denies several doctrines such as the Trinity[5] and salvation by grace alone. The program frequently criticizes other denominations for their doctrines, practices and what it says are false teachings, including the Catholic Church, some Christian denominations, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-day Adventist Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and especially the Iglesia ni Cristo, (Church of Christ), a Philippine-based religion.

Awards

Gawad Amerika Awards in November 2006 awarded "Most Informative Religious Program of the Year" to Ang Dating Daan for its North American broadcast.[6][7]

Anniversary

On its 35th anniversary, Ang Dating Daan held a special anniversary presentation last October 12, 2015 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum featuring the ADD Chorale. In line with the theme "Truth. Charity. Praise.", the ADD Chorale serenaded special guests mainly persons with disabilities (PWDs) with the best songs of praises and thanksgiving to the Almighty God for all the success of Ang Dating Daan. It was aired live via satellite and over the internet exclusively in over 1,360 monitoring centers of Ang Dating Daan centers worldwide. It also marked the official attempt of MCGI to break the Guinness world record for the "Largest Gospel Choir in a Single Location."[8] Under the supervision of Guinness official adjudicator and independent auditing firm Punongbayan & Araullo Grant Thorton, the Guinness world record was awarded to MCGI with a total of 8,688 choristers from the ADD Chorale beating the previous record held by the Philippine religious group Iglesia ni Cristo with 4,745 participants during their 100th centennial anniversary at the Philippine Arena.

Suspension of broadcasting rights

On August 16, 2004, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) preventively suspended the showing of the Ang Dating Daan program for 20 days due to slander and use of offensive and obscene language by its televangelist host Eliseo Soriano, as a means of disciplinary action.[9]

On September 27, 2004, the MTRCB extended the suspension to three months. Soriano challenged the action in court, arguing that the suspension imposed by the MTRCB constituted prior restraint on the media and that his language during the show's August 10, 2004 broadcast was not obscene and offensive. The court dismissed his case in favor of MTRCB.[10]

In June 2005, Soriano filed a motion by recommendation of the Commission on Human Rights, saying the MTRCB violated the "right to information, communication and religion" of every Filipino.[11] On April 29, 2009, The Supreme Court upheld the suspension imposed by the MTRCB, ruling that Soriano's statements can be treated as obscene and cannot be considered as protected speech.[12]

Soriano filed a motion seeking the reversal of its April 2009 decision. The Supreme Court denied Soriano's motion and affirmed the decision with finality in 2010 by an 11–4 vote, noting that "it is a sanction that the MTRCB may validly impose under its charter without running afoul of the free speech clause." The high court reminded Soriano that his program, being aired on television, is accessible to children of all ages and therefore not appropriate for a program with a "G" or for general audience rating due to his use of vulgar language and invectives.[9][13]

Program segments

See also

References
  1. Quita, Ma. Therese (December 6, 2016). "Longest-running Religious Program Ang Dating Daan Celebrates 36th Anniversary with Special Worldwide Bible Exposition". EliSoriano.com. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  2. "MCGI's TV Verdade expands reach to more than 10 cities in Brazil". 28 September 2016. Archived from the original on 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2016-12-20.
  3. Saipan Tribune - Members Church of God International Worldwide Bible Exposition Archived 2011-07-15 at the Wayback Machine
  4. "MCGI reaches India". Archived from the original on 2010-09-03. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-12-06. Retrieved 2006-11-04.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. Aguirre, Roland (July 2008). The Gawad Amerika Awards. 60 (7): 20–21.CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link)
  7. The Old Path Awarded as Most Informative Archived October 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  8. Swatman, Rachel (October 14, 2015). "Listen to the largest gospel choir's record-breaking performance in the Philippines". Guinness World Record. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  9. "SC upholds suspension of ‘Ang Dating Daan’" Archived 2010-03-22 at the Wayback Machine, Inquirer.net, March 16, 2010
  10. "SC upholds “Ang Dating Daan” suspension" Archived 2010-06-26 at the Wayback Machine, Manila Bulletin, March 16, 2010
  11. "CHR pasok kay Bro. Eli", Pilipino Star Ngayon, May 27, 2005
  12. "SC upholds suspension on ‘Ang Dating Daan’" Archived 2010-06-13 at the Wayback Machine, Inquirer.net, April 30, 2009
  13. "High court upholds MTRCB's suspension of 'Ang Dating Daan'" Archived 2010-10-21 at the Wayback Machine, GMA News, April 30, 2009
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.