Adventists Host First Health Masterclass for Young Tribal Leaders

Seventh-day Adventists in the Southwestern Philippine Union Conference (SwPUC), through the Adventist-Muslim Relations (AMR) office, have organized their first-ever masterclass, tailored specifically for the Tausug minority group in the Sulu Islands. The initiative is driven by a passion to spread the message of hope through health ministries, regional leaders said.

Fifteen delegates joined the masterclass, interested in learning about what the training has to offer. Recognizing that the immense work requires collaboration, the masterclass sought to train young Tausug leaders from various organizations to partner in health initiatives, particularly in conducting medical missions.

Research indicates that most Muslims in the Philippines reside in Mindanao, Palawan, and the Sulu Archipelago, collectively known as the Bangsamoro region. This region is predominantly Muslim, with 91 percent of its 4.9 million inhabitants adhering to Islam. Additionally, some Muslims have migrated to other areas throughout the country.

This initiative encourages Adventist health practitioners to equip the community, especially young leaders, with knowledge and awareness about making healthier choices, church leaders revealed. These choices aim to improve lifestyles and promote overall community development.

The START NOW campaign presents eight essential health principles for wellness: sunlight, temperance, activity, rest, trust in Allah Glorified and Exalted, nutrition, oxygen, and water.

The masterclass featured Barbette Jane Baclay and April Winny Baclay as pilot speakers, who emphasized the importance of these health principles in preventing lifestyle diseases and their crucial role in building healthy communities.

“These guidelines serve as simple reminders that, when practiced consistently, can profoundly impact wholistic development,” organizers said. “By embracing these basic yet often overlooked principles, these leaders are empowered to advocate for health and drive transformation, united by a shared goal of wellness for the community.”

During the training, Percy Dave Arroyo, AMR Sulu coordinator, expressed his thoughts on building connections with a minority group through the value of health and wellness. “It is encouraging to see that these simple health principles, which we often neglect, are opening doors for us to conduct more health initiatives in this region,” Arroyo said. “We pray that we can reach more people here, not only to raise awareness but also to help them with their various health concerns.”

The SwPUC headquarters are in Cagayan de Oro City, in Northern Mindanao. The church region comprises two conferences and two missions, including the Zamboanga Peninsula Mission, which comprises, among other regions, the Sulu Islands. The Tausug, one of the largest of the Muslim ethnic groups of southwestern Philippines, live in that archipelago, mainly in the Jolo island cluster.

The original version of this story was posted on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division news site.