Filipino Missionary Priest Appointed New General Manager of Radio Veritas Asia

Quezon City, August 18, 2025 – In a significant development for Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a Filipino Divine Word Missionary priest has been named its new General Manager.

Fr. Felmar Castrodes Fiel, SVD, was appointed on 5 August 2025 through a letter jointly signed by José F. Cardinal Advíncula, Archbishop of Manila and Chairman of PREIC, and Bishop Marcelino Antonio Malabanan Maralit, Bishop of San Pablo and Chairman of the FABC Office of Social Communication. He succeeds Fr. Victor F. Sadaya, CMF, who has served in the role since 2016.

Born on 13 March 1981 in San Pedro, Kiblawan, Davao del Sur, Fr. Felmar distinguished himself early as a consistent academic achiever. He completed a Master of Arts in Theology (Magna Cum Laude) at the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay, and later earned a Master of Science in Development Communication from the University of the Philippines, Los Baños.

Ordained in 2008, Fr. Felmar has since undertaken diverse pastoral assignments, ranging from island parishes in Zamboanga Sibugay to media apostolates in Cebu. His leadership experience includes serving as Assistant General Manager (2014–2020) and later General Manager (2020–2025) of the Word Broadcasting Corporation, an SVD-run Catholic radio network committed to spreading the Gospel.

Known for his creativity in community building, Fr. Felmar spearheaded initiatives such as organising the world’s longest sticky rice cake (biko) in Mabuhay, Zamboanga Sibugay, which united Muslims, Christians, and Subanen communities in a symbolic act of peace and friendship.

Alongside his pastoral and managerial work, he has built a strong reputation as a communicator. Maintaining a dynamic presence through blogs, YouTube, and social media, he has also taught broadcasting, journalism, and development communication at the University of San Carlos and Holy Name University. Widely sought as a speaker and retreat facilitator, his talks address themes including liturgy, pastoral ministry, and responsible social media use.

Fr. Felmar’s contributions have been recognised with several accolades, among them the Excellence in Vocation Promotion Award (2012), the Best Blog Award at the 2017 Catholic Mass Media Awards, and the Inspiring Religious Leader in Media Award from the 2023 International Golden Globe Achievers Awards.

He is set to officially assume office at Radio Veritas Asia on 1 September 2025.

Established in 1969 through the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), RVA began as a shortwave radio station broadcasting the Gospel and Church programmes in multiple Asian languages, often reaching regions where the Church could not openly operate. Today, based in Quezon City, the network has evolved into a digital media service with websites, mobile apps, and social media platforms, producing content for the Asian Church.

Carrying forward its mission of evangelisation, interreligious dialogue, and the promotion of justice, peace, and human development, Radio Veritas Asia continues to serve as the “Voice of Asian Christianity.”

Source: Radio Veritas Asia

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