In the early 80’s, the mushrooming of Catholic Radio Stations all throughout the Philippines became a phenomenon. Realizing the great help of the use of airwaves as medium for evangelization, Bishop Edmundo Abaya applied to Philippine Congress the granting of a franchise to operate radio and television network. His application became a law with the franchise awarded to the Diocese of Laoag in 1986. Plans for the radio station became the main menu at priest’s meetings at all levels. Fr. Jacinto A Jose was given the task of preparing the feasibility study of the project while Fr. Rock Bonoan, who was the Oeconomus then, was tasked to exert all efforts for the resources needed.

As soon as Fr. Jack had submitted the required documents and Fr. Rock had provided for the equipments and building of the radio studio. DZEA was born with its initial broadcast on April 11, 1991. Fr. Jack became the first station manager with sacrificing staff consisting of skilled technicians and daring broadcasters. Fr. Rock, together with his brother Fr. Tito on the other hand, was given tasks to support the station manager especially in the programming and the involvement of the clergy in its program. The priests were very eager to go on the air and were willing to sacrifice not just their talents but also their time and treasure realizing the affectivity of this medium of bringing the Good News to every household even in far – flung areas.

The eagerness in putting up a radio station was not as quite in maintaining it. Soon, the eagerness waned and involvement has been curbed gradually by the difficulties that the radio station owned, managed and operated by the Diocese of Laoag, has undergone.

Fr. Rock took over the management of the station contacting here and there friends and benefactors just to remedy the ailing situation of the station. Bishop Abaya was always behind him. The time came when all when all Catholic radio stations all over the country desired to form network and thus resulted to the birth of the Catholic Media Network. Meanwhile, the CBCP has re-activated the Episcopal Commission on Mass Media and Social Communications, in keeping with the Vatican II declarations in “Inter Marifica”. The veteran Jesuit Fr. James Reuter became executive secretary of the commission and formed the Philippine federation of Catholic Broadcasters, whose composition is almost the same with CMN.

For sometime, the CMN has become the marketing arm of all radio stations in the country. However, marketing was not as fine as in the beginning. National advertisers withdrew patronage of the network, one after the other. All CMN stations left the backlog. Advertisers, being capitalists and profit – oriented, opt to ask the services of the networks who could gain more popularity and share in the weakness of Filipinos. CMN cannot compromise the truth and its evangelistic mission with rumored broadcast putting weight on manipulative politics, sex, violence and sho0wbiz blitz. This common media practice in the Philippines is the very reason why the Church has come up an alternative radio station that tend to rectify a situation where media practitioners think that what is commonly practices is the right thing in the profession.

During the interregnum of Msgr. Rodolfo Nicolas, he appointed Fr. Noel Ian G. Rabago to manage the ailing radio station. When Bishop Ernesto Salgado arrived to hid new see, the problem of the station became the first taste of headache and anxiety. Optimistic as he is, he knows DZEA will survive through thick and thin On the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the station on April 11, 2001, from the management of the staff to the listeners, the following words were words of consolation and hope, “If DZEA is God’s work, and He will never allow it to close down.”

Re-owning is the key for the clergy to be once again involves in the radio apostolate. Recently, the station experienced the care of the clergy through their monthly pledges and participation in the different programs. They lay were also involved through the participation of volunteers correspondents from the parishes and programs sponsored by the Religious Organizations and Movements of the Diocese. With these development, Bishop Salgado promise to prioritize DZEA in the mission appeals he plans to pursue in the near future.