THE noontime live talk show for young people, “Estorya ta Bai!”, airing on weekdays 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Hope Channel South Philippines, celebrated its first year of sharing relevant topics, lessons, and counsels for the youth on July 19 to 23, 2021. This program is hosted by Pastor Eugene Dela Peña, director of 1000 Missionary Movement of the South Philippine Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, together with Pastor Jemsly Lantaya, director of the Youth Ministries Department in the same conference, and some young people who share their opinions and advice for their fellow youth. 
The program production team celebrated its first year milestone through a week-long anniversary special, where they invited their audience to join them live via Zoom.

Their viewers from different age groups and different time zones around the world enthusiastically joined the show and shared their most unforgettable moments and favorite topics in the program. Students, teachers, overseas Filipino workers, parents and even grandparents participated and expressed their gratitude for the show. “We are so happy [and grateful] to the Lord for this ministry,” says one viewer from Texas, USA. “The program inspired me and my workmates to create a Facebook page “God Are You There?” where we share Bible verses and messages to our friends,” one viewer stated, sharing how the program led them to start their own social media ministry. Another viewer highlights the episode “The Power of Youth” where he was inspired by how they reminded the young people to get involved and be empowered while we are living in the last days. 

Aside from the interactive daily episodes, the team also organized an outreach program with a drug awareness lecture given by Pastor Eugene himself, wherein they invited less fortunate people who are living under a city bridge to participate and receive the groceries they prepared. The activity ended with overflowing gratitude from the people they invited. “What you’re doing has a great importance, because it at least shows that they [the youth] are valued…  So we can share good information and lessons, specifically about their problem with the substance. We need to protect them, watch over them, educate, and make them aware in order to preserve the youth, who are the future of our country,” said one police officer who assisted the team in the activity. “I thank God for the groceries I received. I also thank God I was able to eat some snacks,” one recipient humbly stated. 

Estorya ta Bai!’s pilot episode was aired on July 13, 2020 with the topic, “Jealousy,” where they discussed the situations that cause it, how this affects our young people, and what’s the best way to deal with it, by getting guidance from biblical principles. The first episode was viewed by more than two thousand netizens on its first day. This youth program, which aired in the midst of the pandemic, has served as a channel of truth to many viewers who are coping with the drastic changes that the crisis brings. 

Now, after hundreds of episodes discussing various topics from spirituaity, such as partnership with God, perfecting the character, true conversion, fight of faith, to prevalent youth issues on mental health, depression, suicide, drug addiction, relationships, finding happiness, and many more, the program is set to face another year of bringing messages to the youth on air. 
The ministry will continue to encourage young people to seek good counsel for their lives, grow in their relationship with God and with their family, and also help parents deal with their children better as they hear the perspective and opinions of young people in this day and age. 
 

By Aubrey Virtudes