Radyo Katipunan 87.9 FM declared amongst the world’s best at the Spirit of College Radio Awards 2025

Ateneo de Manila’s campus-community station is the lone Asian winner—and now a three-time global honoree

Radyo Katipunan 87.9 FM, the campus-community radio station managed by Jesuit Communications (JesCom), has once again been recognized internationally after being named one of the ten recipients of the Spirit of College Radio Awards 2025.

This annual recognition, given by the organizers of World College Radio Day (WCRD), honors campus stations that demonstrate exceptional dedication, innovation, and community impact. This year’s theme was “Tune In to the People.”

Among the hundreds of radio stations that participated worldwide, Radyo Katipunan stood out as the only Asian station in the 2025 roster of winners.

A rare three-time winner on the global stage

This milestone marks the third time #OneBigFM has received the award thus cementing its place among the most consistently recognized college radio stations in the world. It was previously awarded in 2020 and 2023. Radyo Katipunan first received the award when it first participated in WCRD in 2020.  Five years later, it continues to embody the spirit of college radio: creative, community-rooted, and driven by a mission much larger than itself.

Powered by the passion and commitment of the RKada
At the heart of this achievement is the RKada, Radyo Katipunan’s dedicated corps of student volunteers who bring the station to life each day—on-air, online, and behind the scenes.

For this year’s WCRD global marathon and award-winning initiatives, the team was led by Teo Ricaforte, former RK Digital Media Coordinator and RKada’s program manager.

Working alongside him were:

• Martin Arriola – Head of Talent Management

• Gel Estorpe – Head of Internal Relations

• Toni Ofina – Head of External Relations

• Sam Marasigan – Head of Marketing

• Zak Capinding – Head of Technicals 

Martin, Gel, and Toni also hosted Radyo Katipunan’s contribution to the 24-hour global broadcast—a multimedia day of reflection, conversation, and music that earned praise from WCRD organizers for celebrating “radio’s power to connect and empower.”

A mission that continues to grow

The award follows Radyo Katipunan’s active participation in World College Radio Day 2025, where it co-represented the Philippines in the global marathon broadcast.  For RK Station Manager Justin Pontino, this year’s involvement perfectly aligned with the station’s anniversary theme, “S7REAMING BEYOND,” a call to expand the station’s mission of education, engagement, and evangelization across new frontiers—beyond the Loyola Heights campus and across borders.

Since its founding in 2018, Radyo Katipunan has become a vital platform for formation and dialogue. Its programming—ranging from Keep the Faith: Daily Mass with the Jesuits to student-led talk shows, cultural programs, and university partnerships—reflects its commitment to serving both the Ateneo community and the broader public.

As JesCom Executive Director Fr Emmanuel “Nono” Alfonso SJ has long affirmed, Radyo Katipunan continues to embody JesCom’s mission: using media to form conscience, encourage dialogue, and promote truth, compassion, and faith.

A win for the community

This latest honor celebrates not only the excellence of Radyo Katipunan but also the dedication of the students, staff, faculty, collaborators, and avid listeners who help sustain its mission.

Through their work, Radyo Katipunan continues to be a station truly “with and for others”—amplifying meaningful conversations, telling stories of hope and service, and bringing the Ateneo spirit down from the hill and onto the global stage.

AMDG