Brigada Group

Brigada Group is a Filipino conglomerate whose businesses include mass media, radio and television broadcasting, newspaper publishing, distribution, and consumer products. Its media operations are conducted principally through Brigada Mass Media Corporation, which operates Brigada News Philippines, Brigada News FM, and Brigada TV. The group is headquartered in General Santos and maintains offices in Davao and Cagayan de Oro, giving it a strong operating base in Mindanao while also extending its broadcast presence across Luzon and the Visayas. The organization was founded by Elmer Catulpos, a former Bombo Radyo General Santos anchor and independent news publisher. Its early identity was closely associated with Brigada News Philippines, a newspaper operation serving Mindanao through editions in General Santos, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro. At its reported peak, the newspaper had a combined daily circulation of approximately 21,000 copies and was positioned as a regional news outlet. Circulation ended on October 18, 2023, according to the cited reference material, but the wider group continued operating broadcast and other businesses. Broadcasting became the group's most extensive media activity. Brigada News FM developed into a nationwide news-formatted FM network through station acquisitions, operating agreements, and expansion into cities and municipalities throughout the Philippines. A major stage in this development was the acquisition and full takeover of Baycomms Broadcasting Corporation and associated stations, which helped create the network's national footprint. The network subsequently operated more than 50 owned and operated FM stations, although some frequencies and facilities were owned by other licensees or operated through airtime-lease arrangements. Its broadcast structure includes centers in Manila, Cebu, and General Santos. The group also operates television activities under the Brigada TV name and has pursued digital broadcasting through Brigada DigiTV, a digital set-top box introduced in February 2024 and reported as initially available in General Santos and nearby areas. These activities extend Brigada's presence beyond radio and newspaper publishing into free-to-air, cable, and digital television distribution. A separate commercial pillar developed through Brigada Healthline Marketing, established in April 2007 as a distributor of health products promoted through the group's newspapers and radio programs. The health-related portfolio has included herbal food supplements, medicines, cosmetics, and engine-care products. Brigada's media properties therefore serve not only as editorial and entertainment outlets but also as direct marketing and sales channels for products distributed by affiliated Healthline businesses. The broadcaster has historically allowed a broad range of radio advertising, subject to restrictions involving competing pharmaceutical products and applicable broadcast disclaimers. In 2025, Brigada News FM introduced the tagline "Delightful Philippines" across its FM stations and released a music video featuring Music Travel Love. The initiative linked the network's national broadcast identity with local tourism and sustainable employment in communities hosting its stations. Overall, Brigada Group is best understood as a regional-origin Philippine media and consumer-products group that expanded from Mindanao publishing into a multi-platform broadcasting network and associated distribution businesses.

Brigada Group developed from a Mindanao-based news and broadcasting venture founded by Elmer Catulpos, who had worked as an anchor at Bombo Radyo General Santos and later became an independent news publisher. The group's early public identity was associated with Brigada News Philippines, a newspaper serving Mindanao through editions in General Santos, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro. The operation reported a combined daily circulation of about 21,000 copies and sought to cover a broad portion of the region. The newspaper later ceased circulation on October 18, 2023. The group diversified beyond publishing by establishing Brigada Healthline Marketing in April 2007. The business distributed health-related products that were promoted through the newspaper and the group's block-time radio programming. Its product interests came to include herbal food supplements, medicines, cosmetics, and engine-care products. This created an integrated relationship between the group's media inventory and its consumer-products distribution activities. Radio became the central engine of Brigada's later growth. Brigada News FM expanded through the acquisition and complete takeover of Baycomms Broadcasting Corporation and associated stations. By February 2013, the network had reached 25 cities and municipalities. The network subsequently expanded beyond its original Mindanao base and became a national news-formatted FM operation with more than 50 owned and operated stations reported in the reference material. Not every station used the same ownership structure: some frequencies were owned by other broadcasting companies, while others were acquired from separate operators or carried through airtime leases. In April 2014, Brigada inaugurated its national office in Makati. Its former Batangas operation was repositioned as Brigada News FM National, and the network later described Manila, Cebu, and General Santos as its three broadcast centers. The group continued adjusting its station portfolio, including changes involving the Manila frequency and the movement of Brigada News FM Batangas to Mareco-owned 105.1 in July 2023. Such arrangements illustrate the importance of licensing, frequency ownership, acquisitions, and airtime agreements in the group's national expansion. Brigada also developed television and digital distribution activities. Under Brigada TV, the group has been associated with analog free television, digital free television, and cable television. In February 2024, it launched Brigada DigiTV, a digital set-top box initially available in General Santos and nearby areas. This move extended the group from radio-centered broadcasting into equipment-supported digital television access. On March 31, 2025, Brigada News FM launched the "Delightful Philippines" tagline across its FM stations. The campaign used a music video featuring Music Travel Love and connected the network with local tourism and sustainable employment in station-host communities. The initiative presented Brigada as a nationwide platform with a local-community orientation. Across its history, the group has therefore combined regional journalism, commercial broadcasting, direct product marketing, and distribution rather than operating as a conventional single-medium media company.

1. 2025Delightful Philippines campaign introduced

   Brigada News FM adopted the "Delightful Philippines" tagline and released a tourism-oriented music video.

   Source
2. 2024Brigada DigiTV launched

   The group introduced a digital television set-top box for initial distribution in General Santos and nearby areas.

   Source
3. 2023Newspaper circulation ends

   Brigada News Philippines reportedly stopped newspaper circulation on October 18, 2023.

   Source
4. 2014National office opens in Makati

   Brigada opened its national FM office in Makati and reorganized its Batangas operation as Brigada News FM National.

   Source
5. 2013Brigada News FM reaches 25 municipalities and cities

   Expansion through the Baycomms Broadcasting Corporation takeover helped Brigada News FM build a broader Philippine station network.

   Source
6. 2007Brigada Healthline Marketing established

   Brigada established Brigada Healthline Marketing as a distributor of health products promoted through its newspaper and radio programming.

   Source

A Philippine regional-media and consumer-products group with a strong Mindanao base, national radio ambitions, and an integrated model connecting broadcasting, news, product promotion, and distribution.

• Brigada News PhilippinesNewspaper publishing

  A Mindanao-focused newspaper operation with editions in General Santos, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro. It was reported to have reached a combined daily circulation of approximately 21,000 copies before stopping circulation on October 18, 2023.

• Brigada News FMFM radio network

  A Philippine news-formatted FM network that expanded from a Mindanao base through acquisitions, station takeovers, and airtime arrangements. The network has been reported to operate more than 50 owned and operated stations across the country, with broadcast centers in Manila, Cebu, and General Santos.

• Brigada TVTelevision broadcasting

  The group's television activity, associated with analog free television, digital free television, and cable distribution. Specific channel lineups and coverage are not established by the supplied reference material.

• Brigada DigiTVDigital television equipment2024

  A Brigada digital television set-top box introduced in February 2024. The supplied reference material identifies General Santos and surrounding areas as its initial availability market.

• Brigada Healthline productsHealth and consumer products2007

  A portfolio distributed through Brigada Healthline businesses and promoted through affiliated media. The cited categories include herbal food supplements, medicines, cosmetics, and engine-care products.

• 2025Delightful Philippines

  Philippines

  Brigada News FM launched a new network tagline and a music video featuring Music Travel Love. The campaign connected local station communities with Philippine tourism and sustainable job creation.

  Outcome. The tagline was introduced across the FM station network; a longer-term commercial or audience outcome was not provided.

  Source

• 2025Adoption of the Delightful Philippines identityStrategy

  Brigada News FM sought to reinforce a nationwide identity while emphasizing the local communities where its stations operate.

  What changed. The network introduced the "Delightful Philippines" tagline and released a promotional music video featuring Music Travel Love.

  Aftermath. The initiative promoted local tourism and sustainable employment; no quantified business result was provided.

  Source
• 2024Launch of Brigada DigiTVProduct launch

  The group was extending its media activities from radio and television programming into digital television access.

  What changed. Brigada introduced a branded digital set-top box, initially offering it in General Santos and surrounding areas.

  Aftermath. The supplied material does not report national rollout figures or commercial results.

  Source
• 2013Takeover of Baycomms Broadcasting CorporationM&A

  Brigada News FM was seeking to extend its presence beyond its initial regional base and build a larger national broadcast network.

  What changed. The group acquired and fully took over Baycomms Broadcasting Corporation, its operated stations, and other smaller radio networks.

  Aftermath. The network reached 25 cities and municipalities by February 2013 and later grew to more than 50 owned and operated FM stations.

  Source

• 2025Brigada News FM launches "Delightful Philippines" identity

  The FM network introduced the "Delightful Philippines" tagline and a Music Travel Love music video promoting local tourism and sustainable job creation in communities hosting Brigada stations.

  Campaign
  Source
• 2024Brigada DigiTV introduced

  Brigada introduced its own digital television set-top box, initially making it available in General Santos and surrounding areas.

  Product launch
  Source
• 2023Brigada News Philippines ends newspaper circulation

  The group's newspaper operation reportedly stopped circulation on October 18, 2023, while the broader Brigada media and consumer-products businesses continued.

  Other
  Source
• 2014Brigada News FM national office inaugurated

  The network inaugurated its national office in Makati and reorganized its Batangas operation as Brigada News FM National, strengthening the network's national broadcast structure.

  Other
  Source
• 2013Brigada News FM expands through Baycomms takeover

  Brigada News FM expanded into 25 Philippine cities and municipalities after the subsequent acquisition and full takeover of Baycomms Broadcasting Corporation, its stations, and smaller radio networks.

  M&A
  Source

1. Brigada Group