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WRITING WITH THE HEART: ESMAQUEL CALLS CHURCH COMMUNICATORS TO SEE, LISTEN, FEEL, AND SHARE EXPERIENCES

Aug. 12, 2026 11:29 AM

QUIAPO, Manila — Writing for the Church is more than putting words on paper. It is an invitation to see, listen, feel, and share the experiences of people, especially those whose stories may otherwise remain unheard.

This was among the key messages shared by journalist and writer Paterno R. Esmaquel II during the Art of Writing: Article Writing Orientation & Workshop held on August 8, 2026, at the 4th floor Pope Benedict Building of Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno.

Seeing the Story Through the Heart

Speaking about the role of media, Esmaquel described communicators as the “eyes, ears, and hands” of people who are not present at the events being covered.

Through media, communicators “let the people experience what you experience,” he said, encouraging writers to tell stories in ways that allow readers to enter into the experiences of others.

For Esmaquel, good storytelling begins with discernment. Rather than trying to sound overly intellectual, writers are encouraged to pay attention to what moves them. He described emotions as a kind of barometer for finding a story.

“Where your heart jumps, that is most likely the story.”

He related this to the Filipino expression lukso ng dugo—the instinctive spark of interest that tells us what deserves our attention.

Esmaquel also discussed the “philosophy of meron,” a concept associated with Filipino Jesuit philosopher Fr. Roque Ferriols, which emphasizes recognizing and acknowledging what and who is present before us.

“Dumilat ka,” Esmaquel urged. Open your eyes.

For writers, he said, this means not overlooking the people and situations before them, but recognizing them, listening to their stories, and discovering meaning in ordinary encounters.

He further encouraged participants to “activate innocent eyes”—to look at familiar things as though they were seeing them for the first time.

Writers, he said, should remain curious and observant, recognizing that there is always something to discover: “laging meron.”

This childlike way of seeing allows communicators to notice details, experiences, and human stories that others may have stopped seeing.

Proclaiming the Good News in the Digital Age

The discussion on storytelling was complemented by Jheng Prado’s presentation, “Proclaiming the Good News in the Digital Age,” which focused on the responsibility of Church communicators in sharing the life and mission of the Church.

Prado reminded participants that facts come first. Writers must uphold truth and accuracy in every article they produce.

She also explained how pastoral news writing differs from secular media, emphasizing the importance of communicating not only the details of an event but also its spiritual dimension and the experiences of the faithful.

In this way, communication becomes part of the Church’s mission of evangelization by highlighting human transformation, Church teachings, and the messages of clergy and lay leaders.

Writing, therefore, becomes more than documentation. It becomes a means of showing how Church activities, programs, and services affect the community and contribute to the broader mission of the Church.

Keeping the Human Perspective in the Age of AI

Prado also addressed the growing use of artificial intelligence in communication.

She noted that AI can assist communicators in gathering and organizing information and in editing content. However, it must not replace the human, faith, and pastoral perspectives essential to Church communication.

The responsibility to understand the Church’s mission and communicate its message, she emphasized, remains with the human communicator.

The reminder echoes Esmaquel’s emphasis on the importance of human discernment in writing. While technology may help process information, the communicator must ultimately exercise judgment to ensure that the message is truthful, meaningful, and faithful to the mission of the Church.

 

Forming Communicators for Mission

The workshop is part of the initiatives of the Quiapo Church Social Communications Ministry aimed at promoting wider evangelization by equipping members of the Church community with the skills and formation needed to communicate the Gospel effectively.

More initiatives are also being prepared for the servers, with the goal of helping them become more equipped, effective, and skilled in their respective crafts and ministries. These workshops seek not merely to develop technical abilities, but to form servants who can use their talents in meaningful service to the Church and its mission.

Ultimately, Church communication is more than reporting what happened. It is about making visible the realities, struggles, joys, and stories that make up the life of the Church.

For those entrusted with this ministry, writing calls for more than technical skill. It requires the willingness to see with attention, listen with compassion, report with truth, discern with faith, and communicate in service of the Church’s mission.

 

 

-Tyrone Dungca – Quiapo Church Article Writer | Pilgrims Ministry | HDN Basilica