ACDMA 2026: Asian Digital Communicators’ Mt. Tabor
by Clyde Ericson Nolasco In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a mountain to pray. There, Jesus was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appeared, a cloud hovered over them, and the voice of the Father said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
Overwhelmed by the glory before them, Peter proposed pitching three tents, seemingly expressing his desire to stay on the mountain and never leave.
Peter was us on the last day of ACDMA. We did not want to leave. We did not want to leave Radio Veritas Asia — the place where, for a few days, Asian digital communicators experienced a beautiful sense of encounter, communion, and mission.
ENCOUNTER
On September 10 to 13, digital communicators from across Asia and beyond gathered for the first–ever Asian Catholic Digital Missionary Assembly 2026 held at Radio Veritas Asia in Quezon City.
With the theme, “Influencers to Witnesses: Synodal Way for Digital Mission in Asia,” Catholic communicators, content creators, and influencers spent four days sharing experiences, learning from one another, and reflecting on what it means to be witnesses of Christ in the digital space. Organized by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences – Office of Social Communications (FABC-OSC) and Radio Veritas Asia, in partnership with the Vatican Dicastery for Communication through the Fully Present Network, the assembly sought to “amplify the diverse digital voice of the Asian Church and transform digital influence into a powerful, synodal witness for Christ in Asia.”
Coming to the first day wearing our traditional clothes, the diversity among us was immediately evident. From the very beginning, we knew that we were different from one another coming from different cultures, and countries. Yet, before anything else, we were brought to the altar of the Lord, to the Eucharist. There, we were reminded that though we are indeed different, we are but one Body of Christ. In our encounter with Jesus, the Bread of Life, we were reminded that beneath our differences, we are one Church in Asia.
COMMUNION
Peter was stunned by the vision of the transfigured Jesus. It must have seemed surreal. In some ways, that was the ACDMA experience for us. The entire gathering was already overwhelming, but to be in the same room and listen to people who have inspired us in the field of digital communication felt almost surreal.
A special shoutout goes to our emcees, Mr. Benz Caasi of Hallow App and our very own editor-in-chief Ms. Margaux Salcedo, for their excellent work in keeping the ACDMA engaging and lively throughout the four days.
During the Mass at the Chapel of Three Saints, Fr. Felmar Fiel of Radio Veritas Asia welcomed us with a reminder that our digital presence should ultimately point people to Christ. In a video message, our beloved Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle challenged us to let Jesus be our greatest influencer. His message echoed and reinforced Fr. Fiel’s reminder of the centrality of Jesus in our digital mission.
Bishop Junie Maralit, Bishop of San Pablo and Chairman of the FABC Office of Social Communication, emphasized the importance of building a community of digital missionaries who work together and share in the mission. Our CBCP President, Archbishop Gilbert Garcera, in his homily, spoke of “whispering Jesus” through our digital presence by listening, building bridges, and bringing truth and hope.
The event was made even more special by the presence of notable personalities in the field of digital mission. Fr. Columba Jordan, an Irish Franciscan friar known for his Little by Little video podcast, reminded us that authentic witness begins by allowing the Word to transform us first. He encouraged digital missionaries to allow God to work through their gifts and personalities. Dr. Nataša Govekar, Director of the Theological-Pastoral Department of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, challenged us to approach digital mission through a synodal way journeying together and looking beyond numbers, likes, and followers.
In “Understanding Asian Realities,” Dr. Anna Jihyun You, a South Korean journalist, citing examples from her country, highlighted the need to balance our digital activities with authentic human connection. Her sharing posed a challenge for us to remain connected beyond the screens.
Indeed, there were a lot of insights and points worth remembering. It was as if we were being recharged and prepared for the mission ahead. But just as the disciples had to come down from the mountain, we too had to leave our own “Mt. Tabor” and return to the digital world where the mission awaited us.
MISSION
And then came the mission: to go down the mountain and do what we are called to do.
The assembly also hopes to gather digital communicators to serve as the Church’s “40 pairs of eyes” and “40 pairs of windows” during World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul. Fr. John Mi Shen presented RVA’s vision of bringing forty digital missionaries to Seoul as “40 pairs of eyes,” not simply to cover the major events, but to encounter and share the stories of young people and communities that might otherwise remain unseen. Also, they would also become “40 pairs of windows,” allowing the Church in Asia to see and encounter one another through their stories.
However, Fr. Mi Shen, Program Director of Radio Veritas Asia and Executive Secretary of the FABC Office of Social Communication, reminded us that the mission begins here and now, without waiting for WYD Seoul. The mission is to be digital missionaries who listen, accompany, and share the Gospel through our lives.
The ACDMA closed with Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David celebrating the Eucharist. His words perfectly captured our call to be not merely influencers but witnesses of Christ:
“The digital world is not merely a collection of tools that we use. It has become a culture, a place where people meet, suffer, hope, and search for God. Do not go into that world merely as content creators, but go there as missionaries who listen before reacting, judging, or waiting for their turn to speak.”
Like the apostles, it is now time to go down the mountain and live out the mission. The experience may be over, but the mission continues — to be witnesses of Christ, online and offline.
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