Seventh-day Adventist leaders, guests, and other stakeholders participated in the dedication and inauguration of Adventist College Palawan (ACP) in the Philippines on August 2-3. They celebrated a long-awaited breakthrough in Adventist education 58 years after the elementary school was first established.
The ceremony gathered representatives from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Education (DepEd), Philippine National Police, barangay—or town—officials and officers from mission fields, and representatives from sister colleges, universities, and other institutions. Former faculty, staff, and alumni were also present, overjoyed to witness the transformation from academy to college realized.
From Academy to College
ACP’s journey was decades in the making. The dream of becoming a college took a decisive turn in January 2023, when the former North Philippine Union Conference (now Northern Luzon Philippine Union Mission) formally approved the upgrade of Palawan Adventist Academy (PAA) to ACP. This was followed by the groundbreaking ceremony in April 2023. In February 2025 the International Board of Education conducted a formal evaluation for the proposed institution. Yet the vision itself dated much further back—to 1967, when PAA first opened its doors with just 109 students.
During the years the school steadily grew. Today its enrollment stands at 439, with 78 students expected to comprise the first batch of college-level enrollees. On May 27-30 Philippines’ CHED conducted a rigorous evaluation of ACP’s curriculum, faculty credentials, facilities, existing policies, and institutional readiness. At the end of the process, CHED recognized ACP’s readiness to meet the standards of higher education, affirming its capacity to deliver quality faith-based academic programs.
ACP is set to open with three initial courses: Bachelor of Arts in Theology, Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, and Bachelor of Science in Social Work . The campus spans 56 hectares (138 acres) in Tacras, Narra, in the southern part of Palawan.
Messages of Mission and Leadership
During the Sabbath worship, Gerardo Cajobe, president of the Southern Luzon Philippine Union Mission, reminded the congregation of the higher calling of Adventist education. “The reason our institutions exist is simple—to bring people to God,” he said.
Cajobe emphasized that ACP’s progress is a clear display of God’s hand moving through His people. “God acts—He moves to fulfill His purposes through leaders and educators who dared to dream, through donors and workers who gave selflessly, and through members who believed even when all they had was a burden. God cares—He sustains what He begins. And God plans—He educates for eternity.”
In the afternoon the program continued with the installation of the board of trustees, administrators, faculty, and staff. Felixian Felicitas, field secretary of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD), spoke on the essence of servant leadership, stating, “Leadership in the Bible is servanthood.” He cautioned against the perils of leadership—position, power, prestige, and perks—and encouraged leaders to remain humble and mission-focused. He also reminded against excessive self-focus, saying, “We are servants, not owners. Leaders are not indispensable. God can raise someone else. Positions do not last forever. We will either retire or expire. That’s why we must train the next generation of leaders.”
During the inauguration ceremony Mary Jane Zabat, newly elected SSD Education director, reflected on the account of building the tabernacle. She urged that ACP’s development must always follow God’s blueprint.“The inauguration is a recognition of God’s acceptance and abiding presence. God wants to dwell in ACP at all times,” she said.
Honoring Contributions and Fostering Inclusivity
ACP also honored Edward and Ruth MacKenzie from Walla Walla, Washington, United States, for their pivotal role in making the college a reality. Unable to attend because of advanced age, the Mackenzies received personal thanks from Eliezer Barrientos, interim ACP president and Palawan Mission president, who visited them in the U.S. Their generous contribution was recognized by naming the Mackenzie Educational Center in their honor.
In a recorded video message the MacKenzies expressed amazement at how “it came together so quickly” and prayed that God would continue to bless the institution, its faculty, and its students—hoping that graduates will one day be part of the team that advances the mission of the church.
The gathering also acknowledged the presence of Muslim friends who have long supported the academy. With about 10 percent of the province’s population being Muslim, Barrientos warmly expressed ACP’s wholehearted welcome to all who wish to study there, emphasizing that ACP embraces everyone who seeks quality education in a climate of respect and mutual understanding.
Government Partnership and Challenge
Government support was evident through the presence of CHED and DepEd officials. Kris Hanley Dalan from the regional CHED regional office congratulated ACP and formally announced its initial academic offerings.
Meanwhile, Daisy Anne Atrero, senior education program specialist of DepEd Palawan, shared the agency’s key contributions to the Adventist schools across the province. She congratulated Adventist leaders for the school achievements, at the same time highlighting a challenge to the institution. “For the elementary department, let us increase our student population. We should move away from multigrade education—this is no longer fitting for a college-based institution like ACP.”
Atrero also called for greater investment in Seventh-day Adventist elementary schools across Palawan. She said, “I believe graduates from these schools will be the first to enroll at ACP.” She closed with an appeal to the board: “Please build more classrooms and deploy more teachers to our small elementary schools.”
Campus Expansion and Infrastructure
ACP has undertaken major developments to meet the needs of its growing student population and expanding academic programs. These include the construction of 16 new classrooms, the renovation of the cafeteria, the addition of two duplex housing units for faculty and staff, a new auditorium and library, and the completion of the Educational Center, which houses the offices and additional classrooms.
The expansion, however, does not end there. Ongoing and planned projects include dormitories for men and women, a gymnasium, a campus church, concrete roadways, a clinic, and a food factory. In keeping with its vision for continuous growth, ACP also plans to introduce two new degree programs each year, further solidifying its role as a center for Adventist higher education in the region.
During the celebration sister institutions and Adventist offices brought their financial gifts to support the college’s mission. The Adventist Hospital Palawan (AHP) likewise pledged to sponsor three students—one for each of the initial programs.
“What began as a dream decades ago has now been fulfilled,” church leaders said. “ACP now stands not only as a new institution of higher learning but also as a living testimony of what God can do through concerted efforts and sacrificial giving.”
The original version of this story was posted on the Southern Luzon Philippine Union Mission news site.
