From Newsman to a Man of God

A popular radio announcer and TV personality discovers his true calling in the aftermath of an ominous threat to his life.

By Anissa Vicente Rivera

The death threat came in the mail.

Until then, Paul Lacanilao was living a blessed life in the Philippines. He was a successful television newsman, the first anchor to lead an all-Tagalog newscast. He and his wife Josefina were raising three sons. lacanilao was even following his passion, serving as pastor in a church planted in Tondo, Manila’s poorest district.

The death threat came from from a renegade Communist group who didn’t like the pro-government stance Lacanilao’s station took.

“I tried getting in touch with them but they told me I was number 12 in a long hit list and there was nothing I could do,” he said.

So Lacanilao did what he always did at a crossroad: turn to God.

“My heart was heavy when I left but I do believe it was God’s doing, “he said. “His program is better than mine.”

The family immigrated to America in 1984 and Lacanilao, 58, took a full-time job as pastor for the First Filipino Baptist Church in Los Angeles. The church opened its La Puente offshoot in 1988.

Lacanilao helped build the new church, called Cornerstone International Christian Church, from a 30-member congregation to one with more than 400 members. The church established five offshoot churches around Los Angeles in five years, including a Hispanic branch in La Puente. A sixth church will open in Cerritos next year.

“What I want for us is to spread out and seek more souls in different areas,” lacanilao said. “That’s why we’ll never be a big church. I want to know everyone, to give them a call and visit them, greet them on their birthdays and anniversaries. Jesus knows his sheep. I want to know the people too.”

Church-building is nothing new to the former newsman. His father was a minister too.

“He was a bookkeeper making a very good living when he discovered his calling,” Lacanilao said. “He left his work and served the Lord without a salary, depending on God’s promise that He will provide. He lived by faith.”

Lacanilao remembers accompanying his father on jaunts where he would sing and recite Scripture verses. But he didn’t think he wanted to become a minister.

“I wanted to be a doctor,” Lacanilao said. “But I realized being a doctor of souls instead of the physical condition is more special because it’s closer to the heart of God.”

Lacanilao had to convince his mother who worried about her high school-age son’s financial future.

“My mom said, ‘Anak, that’s enough. We already have two pastors in the family (my dad and my older brother),’”, he said.

That’s when television came in.

“I was 16 when this American heard me at an oratorical contest and asked me if I wanted to be an announcer,” he said. “I needed the money to go to (Bible) college so I said yes.”

Lacanilao worked as a radio announcer and TV anchor while finishing his bachelor’s degree in theology from Far East Bible Institute and Seminary. He also attended advertising and management classes at Ateneo University.

Lacanilao kept up his sacred and celluloid double life until 1972, when President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law and plunged the Philippines into a dictatorship. Lacanilao could only find work in a pro-government TV station.

The Communist death threat set his life on the American stage.

“I’m grateful to the Lord for the ministry he’s given me. I’m happy with these people,” he said. “Everyday I’m humbled recognizing without the Lord we won’t experience these wonderful, spiritual blessings. I know he has something more in store for us if we remain faithful.”

Q & A

For Paul Lacanilao,58, it has always been a matter of reporting the news and preaching the Good News.

Lacanilao was a prominent broadcaster in his native Philippines and a pastor to the poor when Communist death threats prompted him and his family to immigrate to the United States in 1984. Today he is pastor of Cornerstone International Christian Church in La Puente.

The church started with about 30 members in 1988 and now counts more than 400. Some drive from as far away as Torrance and Riverside.

“A church that is alive is worth the drive,” Lacanilao said.

Born in: Sampaloc, manila, Philippines

Raised in: Karuhatan, Valenzuela, a Philippine province

Lives in: Huntington Park, California

Family: Married to Josefina Ilagan Lacanilao for 37 years; three sons and one granddaughter. His sons are named Matthew, Mark and John. “Don’t look for Luke anymore, he’s not coming,” Lacanilao jokes.

Education: Graduated from Far Eastern University and Far East Bible Institute and Seminary with a bachelor’s degree in theology. Completed management and advertising courses at the Jesuit university Ateneo de manila.

On the ministry: My father was a pastor. I saw him build and grow churches. As a little boy I would go with him and sing and recite Scripture verses.

What do you love most about your wife?: She’s a humble woman who loves the Lord and loves the ministry.

Hobbies: We don’t have too many hobbies. I like to relax my mind, go see my friends, do chores around the house and just walk around. I also do speaking engagements.

Can you cook?: Oh yes, sinigang na isda (a tangy Philippine soup with tamarind or guava broth, vegetables and fish). I like healthy foods.

Last book read: “Be on Fire,” about how you don’t lose sight of where you are and keep the fire burning.

On Y2K: No worries but be prepared. If you belong to God he takes care of the future. I don’t think anything drastic will happen. God has handled the last 1900 years, he will handle the 2000.

Definition of success: Seeing that your work is affecting people positively. When you preach about love, holiness, praying, witnessing and you see what you preach Sunday after Sunday being lived by the people, that’s what I call success.

Who do you admire?: Billy Graham because he’s so humble.

Final thoughts: I can’t imagine how God would allow me all those privileges. he is so grateful. He is everything.

Cornerstone International Christian Church is at 1130 California Ave., La Puente. For more information, call (626)-918-1941.