An animated feature on the life of St. John Baptist De La Salle created by animation students and faculty of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) will be aired exclusively by EWTN Global Catholic Network in all its affiliated channels and stations worldwide.
This was agreed upon during the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between officials of DLS-CSB and EWTN recently.
Frere De La Salle: Patron Saint of Teachers is a 46-minute film produced by DLS-CSB’s ToonBro Animation Studio in celebration of the centennial of Lasallian presence in the Philippines. It details the life and legacy of St. De La Salle, who pioneered teaching in the vernacular rather than Latin to make education inclusive.
DLS-CSB President Br. Dennis Magbanua, FSC, said “Frere De La Salle was made to inform the Catholic community in the Philippines on the life of St. De La Salle.
This opportunity given to us by EWTN is special, because our work is to spread the good news of the Lord and the beauty of our life, because this is God’s gift to us. We look forward to this great collaboration for we believe that this will not be the last, because our students and faculty will make more products that are for spreading the Lord’s good news.”
EWTN Asia Pacific Regional Manager Edwin Lopez said the network is privileged with the collaboration. By screening Frere over its affiliate channels and stations in Asia, millions of viewers will be able to enjoy and learn from the life of St. De La Salle.
“We’re reaching out to 260 million homes with 13 satellites,” Lopez said. “Three satellites are under my region: Asia-Pacific, Australia and New Zealand. In the Philippines alone, your production would be carried by more than 900 cable TV affiliates. Cignal TV, who is also our affiliate, already reaches out to one million homes. We’re also reaching out to Indonesia; we have partnered with the largest paid TV network, the Lippo Group. So, this means that even your “Frere” would reach out to East Timor, Myanmar, and Vietnam.”
The MOA was signed by DLS-CSB Vice President for Lasallian Mission and Student Life Carmelita Lazatin and EWTN’s Lopez. Witnesses during the ceremony were Br. Magbanua, Movie and Television Review Classification Board Chairperson Eugenio “Toto” Villareal, Ronald Yabut,and Patrick Manlapaz of EWTN.