Eliseo Fernando "Bro. Eli" Soriano (born April 4, 1947) is a Filipino televangelist. He is the current Presiding Minister of the Philippines-based Christian organization Members Church of God International, colloquially known through its radio and television program Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path, Portuguese: O Caminho Antigo, Spanish: El Camino Antiguo). His radio and television program is considered the longest-running religious program in the Philippines.
Soriano is known for his signature method of "Bible Expositions". This live event adopts the symposium format where guests and visitors get the chance to ask Soriano with their questions personally or by live video streaming.[1] In some occasions, he "exposes" the doctrinal errors of various other religious groups. An incident when he used a defamatory word in his television show[2] consequently led to a three-month suspension of the program in a case that went to the Supreme Court of the Philippines.[3]
Biography
Soriano was born to Triunfo Soriano and Catalina Fernando in Pasay City and is the seventh of eight children. He grew up in Pampanga. He started school at the age of eight.[4]
Soriano was supposed to receive the highest honors of the school, but he dropped out three months before graduation due to an alleged religious debate between Soriano and the school administrator.[5] On April 7, 1964, three days after his 17th birthday, Eliseo was baptised in Seneguelasan, Bacoor, Cavite, and became an official member of the Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Suhay ng Katotohanan (Church of God in Christ Jesus, Pillar and Support of the Truth in English) founded by Nicolas Perez[citation needed] where his parents were also members.
Appointed as Minister
In 1969, Nicolas Antiporda Perez, who was then the church's presiding minister, bestowed upon Soriano the title minister making him the only minister in the Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Suhay ng Katotohanan at that time. Rumors were circulating that Soriano is going to be Perez's successor.[5] However, after the death of Nicolas Perez in 1975, Levita Gugulan was appointed as temporary Presiding General Secretary of the group. Soriano initially accepted the appointment of Gugulan but subsequently denounced her leadership stating that women should not be leaders of the church according to the Bible.[6]
The Schism
In 1976, Soriano and his allies left Gugulan's sect. In 1977, Soriano registered a new group, called Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Saligan ng Katotohanan(Church of God in Christ Jesus, Pillar and Ground of Truth in English), which was later changed to Mga Kaanib sa Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Saligan ng Katotohanan sa Bansang Pilipinas, Inc. ("Members of the Church of God in Christ Jesus, Pillar and Ground of Truth, Philippines, Inc." in English).[7]
Because of the similarity between the name used by Gugulan's group and Soriano's group, the former filed a suit, which was resolved by the Supreme Court of the Philippines in 2001 in favor of Gugulan's group and Soriano's group was ordered to change their church's name.[8] In 2004 Soriano's group changed their church's name as Members of the Church of God International.
Golden Age of Ang Dating Daan
Before starting his flagship TV program, Soriano would preach in different towns and municipalities in the Philippines.[5] In 1980, Soriano started the Ang Dating Daan radio program, which became a television program in 1983. In 1983, Soriano was invited as a panelist in GMA-7's multi-religious program, "Dis [This] is Manolo and His Genius Family". He, along with other representatives of religious groups, would debate and defend their beliefs in the show. Soriano won and was awarded "Most Outstanding Gospel Minister of the Year 1983".[5] Soon, Soriano would receive multiple awards from different charity orgranizations, notably as "Bayani ng Lahing Kayumanggi (Hero of the Brown Race)".
Being invited to talk shows
In January 20, 1999, Soriano was invited [9] to be the guest in Korina Sanchez's talkshow "Balitang K" (K News). There Soriano admitted that the Ang Dating Doon program, which is a parody of his Ang Dating Daan show, actually helped raise the popularity of the said religious program. The terms "Alien" (parody of Amen), and "Raise the Roof" (parody of Praise the Lord!) also became popular among televiewers during those years.
In February 4, 1999, Soriano was featured [9] in the GMA-7 talkshow program Extra-Extra which is then hosted by Paolo Bediones and Karen Davila. A similar interview occurred in March 29 of the same year.
Current Status
He is currently on exile [10] due to the various death threats he received during his controversial years. He used this opportunity to preach in other countries.
Currently, Ang Dating Daan airs in 73 countries worldwide including United States, Brazil, Uruguay, Portugal (as "O Caminho Antigo"), Spain (as "El Camino Antiguo"), India, South Africa,Saipan.[11]
In his TV show Itanong mo kay Soriano (Ask Soriano) he invites people to ask him any bible-related question.
Charitable works
Soriano, through the help of his nephew Daniel Razon, has been spearheading many projects for the indigent. These include free medical and dental check-ups, a free Bus Ride and a free Transient Home for homeless people.[12] Soriano and Razon created a free college scholarship program at the La Verdad Christian College in Metro Manila which will provide scholarships to deserving youth.[13]
On May 17, 2010, Soriano appeared (through a live video patch) in a concert conceptualized by Daniel Razon and was titled Protest Broadcast 3. The concert aims to help the families of the victims of the Maguindanao Massacre. The victims’ representatives received the net proceeds of the concert. The media workers’ orphaned children would also be granted scholarships. During his appearance, Soriano harshly criticized Former Philippine President Arroyo, whom he blamed for his legal troubles.[10]
On August 1, 2010, Soriano-Razon's free college program would receive further financial support from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) through a basketball game to be played by the PBA. The game, titled "Hoopsters Meet The Legends: Kahit Isang Araw Lang" is scheduled for the Cuneta Astrodome. The teams involved are the "PBA legends", Hoopsters (led by Razon) and the KAPI team. All the net proceeds will be given to support the free college program of Soriano and Razon.[14]
Soriano and Razon are also involved with the donation and launch of two Mobile Schools (dubbed Dunong Gulong Project [15][16]) equipped with learning tools suited for the ALS (Alternative Learning System) of Philippine Education. The project was initially conceptualized during a talk between Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro and Razon in the latter's television program "Good Morning Kuya".
On November 27, 2010 Education Secretary Luistro signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Daniel Razon at the ADD Convention Center regarding the Dunong Gulong launch.[17][18] The twoDunong Gulong mobile school buses were launched at the SM Mall of Asia on November 28, 2010.[19] "And words became action". This is how Luistro described the project. He is impressed because of the support given by public service channel UNTV and the benevolent group, the Ang Dating Daan headed by Soriano, to anti-illiteracy campaign of the Philippines.
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