The dedication and inauguration of Adventist College Palawan (ACP) was held on August 2–3, 2025, celebrating 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 (PNP), town officials and officers from mission fields, and representatives from sister colleges, universities, and other institutions. Former faculty, staff, and alumni of the former Palawan Adventist Academy (PAA) 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 (NPUC) formally approved the upgrade of PAA to Adventist College Palawan (ACP). This was followed by the groundbreaking in April 2023. In February 2025, the International Board of Education (IBE) conducted a formal evaluation for the proposed College. Yet, the vision itself dated much further back to 1967, when PAA first opened its doors with just 109 students.
Over the years, the school steadily grew. Today, its enrollment stands at 439, with 55 students expected to comprise the first batch of college-level enrollees. On May 27-30, 2025, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) conducted a rigorous evaluation of ACP’s curriculum, faculty credentials, facilities, existing policies and institutional readiness. CHED is a Philippine government body responsible for overseeing and regulating higher education institutions and post-secondary programs nationwide.
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 in August with three initial courses: Bachelor of Arts in Theology, Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (BECEd), and Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW). The campus spans 56 hectares in Tacras, Narra, in the southern part of Palawan, bearing witness to God’s faithfulness and the commitment of His people.
Messages of Mission and Leadership
During the Saturday worship, Pastor Gerardo Cajobe, president of the Adventist church in the Southern Luzon Philippines region (SLPUM), reminded the congregation of the higher calling of Adventist education: “The reason our institutions exist is simple—to bring people to God. No more. No less.”
He 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. Pastor Felixian Felicitas, field secretary of the Adventist church in the Southern Asia-Pacific (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.”
Reflecting on how God referred to Moses as “My servant,” Felicitas stressed that such a title flows from a deep personal relationship with God. He concluded, “Leaders are important to God. That’s why the responsibilities we carry must be treated with utmost faithfulness and care. But while leaders come and go, God’s work will continue. The Church is triumphant—not because of us—but because of God.”
During the inauguration ceremony, Dr. Mary Jane Zabat, newly elected SSD Education director reflected on the biblical account of building the tabernacle as God’s dwelling place. 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.”
Honoring Contributions and Fostering Inclusivity
ACP also honored Edward and Ruth MacKenzie of Walla Walla, Washington, for their pivotal role in making the college a reality. Unable to attend due to advanced age, the MacKenzies received personal thanks from Dr. Eliezer Barrientos, interim ACP president and current president of the Adventist church in Palawan (PAM), 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% of the province’s population being Muslim, Dr. Barrientos warmly expressed ACP’s wholehearted welcome to all who wish to study there, emphasizing that ACP is not exclusive but 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. Dr. Kris Hanley Dalan of CHED regional office expressed its acclamations to 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. These included the swift approval of the name change from Palawan Adventist Academy (PAA) to Adventist College Palawan (ACP)—a process completed in less than a month. She also noted DepEd’s approval of additional senior high school curricular offerings, allowing the institution to expand its academic reach. In addition, she highlighted DepEd’s role in facilitating the permits of all Adventist elementary schools under mission supervision, enabling them to offer basic education, in her words, without “pag-aalinlangan” or hesitation.
However, she didn’t hold back in presenting a clear challenge to the institution: “For the elementary department, let us increase our student population. We should move away from multi-grade education—this is no longer fitting for a college-based institution like ACP.”
She called on parents and town officials to help recruit more students and fill every classroom with learners and challenged the secondary department to be more creative and responsive, by offering more specialized tracks aligned with DepEd programs. “Ensure that the senior high school offerings are aligned with the college programs,” she said. “Our junior high school graduates must have clear pathways into college—ACP must be ready to receive them.”
Atrero also called for greater investment in 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
To meet the needs of its growing student population and expanding academic programs, ACP has undertaken major developments. 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 boys and girls, 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. The joy on campus was matched by the sense of mission that filled the air. ACP now stands not only as a new institution of higher learning, but a living testimony of what God can do through concerted efforts and missional giving.
With its doors now open to students from all walks of life, ACP begins a new chapter—one where young men and women will be trained, not only for professional excellence, but for a life of service to God and humanity. The story of ACP is far from over; in many ways, it has only just begun.
The original article was published in the Southern Luzon Philippine Union Mission website.