Pedro’s canonization live on CCTN

Cebu’s Catholic TV station will broadcast live the Oct. 21 canonization of Blessed Pedro Calungsod in Rome.

It will be “the only Filipino media allowed to broadcast the canonization mass in real time,” said Nonito “Dodong” Limchua, owner of the Cebu Catholic Television Network (CCTN) yesterday in a briefing on media preprations for the sainthood rites.

He said other Philippine netowrks and local media outlets can hook up the live broadcast for free.

The public can also watch the proceedings in St. Peter’s Square by tuning in to the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) cable chanel said Chua,.

Yesterday was the first of a series of briefings on media coverage guidelines given by the Cebu Archdicoese to ensure the solemn, sacred nature of the religious event is preserved, including the Nov. 20 national thanksgiving Mass at the South Road Properties in Cebu City where almost one million people are expected.

Print and broadcast media practitioners were concerned that a 200-meter setback announced for the press was too far for their cameras.

The committee on venue headed by Fr. Raul Gallego and communication committee chairman Msgr. Trinidad Silva said videographers, photographers, and field reporters are allowed to move around the  27-hectare SRP site except for a restricted area near the templete where VIPs and President Benigno Aquino III will stay.

A location visit to the SRP is scheduled on Sept. 7.

Gallego showed the site development plan with two proposed media platforms located  200 meters from the templete. Each platform is 3×6 meters wide and eight feet high.

“This is what the committee has prepared. But since we received feedback during our last press conference that 200 meters is very far, we called for this meeting to hear what you have to say since we are not experts in your field,” said Msgr. Silva.

An ABS-CBN television representative said the platform was too small since the standard broadcast platform size is 4×8 meters.

The committee said the 3×6 meters platform will provided but media outlets that want a bigger one can bring their own.

For media accreditation, outlets that want to cover the Nov. 30 Mass must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) to  Msgr. Silva no later than Aug. 21.  Outlets must  specify technical requirements and personnel who access to the site, including vehicles for the issuance of car passes.  Media outlets are told to provide for their own power source.