SIGNIS Asia Assembly Day 3 Highlights: Living Stories, Prophetic Voices, and the Power of Trust

Day 3 of the ongoing SIGNIS Asia Assembly, being held in Manila from October 21 to 25, opened with a deeply engaging panel session titled “Human Library: A Dialogue with Living Stories.”

The panel featured Emmanuel Pangamban (former Program Director for Radio Maria Philippines), Suman Ghale (Asia Pacific Coordinator for the International Movement of Catholic Students), Monica Munei (educator from Myanmar), Gonne Milanes (Digital Media Associate for the Communication and PR Department of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation), and Florence Alexis (Executive Director of Fondacio), with Fr. Felmar Fiel, SVD, General Manager of Radio Veritas Asia, serving as moderator.

This unique session offered participants an inspirational, human-centered encounter. Each panelist was introduced as a “human book,” sharing powerful personal stories of hope, faith, and resilience. Participants, invited to be “readers,” entered into meaningful dialogue with these “living stories,” gaining deeper empathy and insight into the lived realities of young communicators across Asia.

Through this experience, attendees reflected on the emotional truths that make storytelling authentic, transformative, and rooted in the Gospel’s call to compassion and understanding.

The Prophetic Voice—Crafting a Horizon of Hope

In the afternoon, the assembly continued with Session 5, titled “The Prophetic Voice: Crafting a Horizon of Hope in a Fractured World.” The keynote speaker, Dr. I. Arul Aram from ICAT College of Design and Media, India, provided both theological and strategic insights for media practitioners.

Dr. Aram introduced the concept of “Media for a Horizon of Hope,” urging Catholic communicators to be prophetic voices in today’s fragmented world. He highlighted the importance of solution-focused storytelling that inspires credibility, nurtures hope, and serves humanity in fidelity to the Gospel.

Workshop: Building Authentic Communication through TRUST

The day’s final session was a workshop facilitated by Ms. Pie Mabanta-Fenomeno, President of SIGNIS Philippines.
Her session, “Building Authentic Communication through TRUST,” introduced participants to a practical framework for faith-based communication built on five key principles:

T – Testimonial
R – Relational
U – Universal
S – Service
T – Transparent

The workshop provided concrete strategies for cultivating genuine engagement and authentic community, especially in a digital landscape where speed and virality often overshadow meaningful connection.

The session concluded with collaborative planning among participants from various SIGNIS Asia desks, Radio, TV and Film, Media Education, Journalism, and Digital Media, to design content projects inspired by the day’s themes of hope, trust, and prophetic communication.

Celebrating Asian Unity

The day ended on a joyful note with a cultural fellowship night, where delegates wore their national costumes and celebrated Asia’s vibrant diversity. The lively gathering reflected the spirit of communion, creativity, and collaboration that continues to define SIGNIS Asia’s mission, to be communicators of hope in an ever-changing world.