Asia-Pacific Division headquarters in Silang, Cavite Philippines will soon have a new feature in front of it in the form of a 4-storey building which will house SSD’s Center of Influence for health education, community services, and other activities. Other church services that will also relocate to this new building are GCAS, Sunplus, Media Center, IT, and the AWR Center for Digital Evangelism. The building will feature a convention place that can accomodate 600 people, 50 units of guestrooms, vegetarian cafeteria, and ample parking space for building occupants and guests. Commercial spaces will also be rented out to Adventist enterpreneurs.
This much awaited Center of Influence had been a dream since the Division office moved to the Philippines from Singapore in the late 90’s. Officers and staff alike had expressed their longing for a building where Adventist lifestyle, products, and services are showcased. On November 5, 2018, the SSD officers and staff were joined by the union administrators who were in the headquarters for the yearend meetings in the groundbreaking ceremony that signified the start of construction.
Guest speaker Pastor Violeto Bocala, president of SSD when it was moved to the Philippines, and responsible for the purchase of the property reminded everyone “Let this edifice here be a center of influence.” He enjoined the whole SSD compound and the people who will be occupying the new building to be seen by the people who will come, that they “will see the difference, and they will say ‘Blessed be the name of the Lord.’” In 2020 when this building is completed this very well may become SSD’s new facade, but above all, this will become the church’s center of influence to the communities around Cavite.
Below are some of the highlights of this memorable event:
Welsie Dela Cruz, SSD Communication Department