(This writer was privileged to go along in one of the pastoral trips to Bukidnon, in Mindanao Island, and would like to share an observer’s account of the travel.)

Congregations in the Bukidnon province were happy to be visited again by Mr. Edmond Macaraeg, pastor in the Mindanao region, together with his son Richard, and two other men from the Davao City congregation. This occurred on June 10 to 12, after an almost five-month suspension of visits due to the series of 10 weekly Good News Public Bible Lectures he conducted in Davao City from February 4 to April 8, and in addition, also the United Youth Camp held from May 14 to 21, of which he was the camp director.

As was anticipated and based on previous visiting experiences to the area, the two-wheel drive church vehicle will find it difficult to reach some brethren living in the mountainous areas of Bukidnon, especially during rainy days. Thankfully, Mr. Joel Asiñero, a newly-baptized member of the Davao City congregation, proffered his help in using his four-wheel drive (4x4) pick-up vehicle to load all the video equipment and cabinet, and to bring them to the remote areas they will be visiting, thus forming a convoy in this travel.

Sabbath Service in Maramag

The first destination was Maramag, Bukidnon. Arriving shortly before 10 a.m. of June 10, Saturday (after about three hours travel from Davao City). They were warmly welcomed by eager brethren from the Kiara, Litig, and Maramag congregations who came together for combined Sabbath services. An encouraging and enlightening sermon about why Christians are compared to the salt of the earth and the lights of the world was delivered by Mr. Macaraeg. Brethren from farther congregations brought their pack lunch. The lunch break served as fellowship time for most brethren while Mr. Macaraeg found it an appropriate time to meet and discuss things with the local leaders of each congregation.

The afternoon session resumed at 2 p.m. where young and old alike paid attention to a video presentation projected on-screen entitled “Unlocking the Mystery of Life.” The video in CD format (provided by Senior Pastor for Asia, David Baker) presented scientific findings defying the Theory of Evolution, as well as testimonies of some scientists who were mystified by evidences of intelligent design and that of the DNA. This caused honest researchers and scientists to believe in an ultimate Super-Intelligent, Powerful Creator and Designer, rather than the unproven speculations of Darwinism. Mr. Macaraeg translated the narration into the local dialect (Cebuano) to cater to those who do not understand English well. Everyone was spiritually rejuvenated as they bade good-byes at the end of the Sabbath day.

Battery-Powered Video Units

The next agenda that afternoon was to visit some brethren numbering about 35 in Litig, a small community in Barangay Musuan, Municipality of Maramag, in the province of Bukidnon. Then, after sunset, the schedule was to install a colored TV set with a DVD player, powered by a car battery coupled to a power inverter unit, in the house of one of the brethren in that area. Being a poor community, there is no electric power there.

Talking about these battery-powered video units, the latest recipient was the Bagaobawan congregation, located about 30 kilometers in the mountains west of Valencia City. This area is so remote with very difficult roads to reach it. But the first area provided with such battery-powered video unit was the remote congregation settled in the mountains of Upper Lahi, Magnaga, Pantukan municipality in the province of Compostela Valley.

The remoteness and the difficult roads going to these areas, the very limited means of transportation, coupled with the relatively expensive cost, plus the absence of electric service are some of the contributory factors leading to the decision to provide such congregations with those video units.

Many of our brethren as so poor that they cannot afford the prevailing transportation rates in order to regularly attend Sabbath assemblies outside of their communities. Not only that, but in some particular areas, there is no available transportation in their communities leading to the highway. In the case of Litig and Pantukan for example, the brethren (including children) walk several kilometers just to get a ride, with the hope that they have money to pay the fares at such times when there is a combined service in the area.

As a direct solution to these problems, coupled with the lack of qualified ministerial manpower, Mr. Macaraeg thought of bringing the Sabbath service messages to them instead, by riding onto modern technology. In areas where there is regular electric power, it is a matter of providing them standard video equipment if no one has such. But in areas with no electricity, battery-powered units are provided. Using these facilities, the pastoral office in Davao City sends out regularly DVD-recorded sermons which they can readily play every Sabbath, on Holy Days, and even to review messages at will.

Trip to Litig

Mr. Macaraeg and company proceeded to visit the Litig brethren after the Sabbath Bible study session in the afternoon, together with two other local leaders: Mr. Manuel Valdez of the Kiara congregation and Mr. Osias Eturalde of the Maramag congregation, plus a few other brethren who also wished to visit. Along the way, knowing about the rough roads further ahead, they parked the two-wheel-drive church van on a vacant lot in front of a cottage, then proceeded to their destination on board the 4x4 pick-up vehicle of Mr. Asiñero and also the off-road vehicle of Mr. Valdez.

The group reached the area just before dark. Racing with diminishing daylight, they immediately unloaded the facilities. Excited brethren as well as curious neighbors observed how Mr. Macaraeg—assisted by Mr. Manuel Dormentes (a church member and seasoned carpenter who made the lockable cabinet) and Richard Macaraeg (for the technical aspects)—installed the facilities, illuminated by only two flashlights and a kerosene lamp. After almost an hour of work, when the system finally began working, even more people clustered when they heard a sample video sermon displayed in the colored TV screen. It seemed hard to believe that such technology would be possible in the middle of an electricity-deprived remote community!

The brethren were thankful for being taken cared of and assisted by the church especially in their spiritual needs. After giving instructions to the ones in charge, Mr. Macaraeg and his companions left for their next destination.

Trip to Kiara

That night, they traveled another 40-plus kilometers through rain to spend the night in the house of Pablo and Nadie Rico, one of the couple leaders in the Kiara congregation.

June 11, Sunday, right after breakfast with the Rico family, Mr. Macaraeg and company proceeded to Kiara proper, as requested, to anoint and pray over Nestorio Gargar—the 76-year-old father-in-law of Manuel Valdez and father of his wife Betty—who then recently suffered back pains. (The doctor prescribed for him lots of medicines which actually worsened his condition and even destroyed his kidneys. After bringing him to two different hospitals, he died seven days later due to several medical complications.)

Trip to Banisilan

After other counseling visits in Kiara by Mr. Macaraeg, the group proceeded to Banisilan, a municipality in North Cotabato province (adjacent to Bukidnon). Members in the area live in Malinao and Wadya, and this time we met in Wadya.

A significant note in this visit was to learn the details of a family who met a vehicular accident on their way to attend a funeral of a relative in another province. While other passengers had relatively minor injuries, Demy James, the eight-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Demy Salvo (Shirly, the mother of the boy, is a member), suffered a crushed right arm. He had to undergo several orthopedic surgeries to put back the shattered bones. Mr. Macaraeg was not able to see the child during that visit because of the remoteness and the difficult roads to that place plus the lack of time. (The 4x4 pick-up vehicle was left in Maramag at that time.) Please continue to pray for the complete recovery of the child.

Trip to Bagaobawan

Hoping to get there before nightfall, the next itinerary for that Sunday was to go to Bagaobawan, located in one of the remote mountain settlements of Valencia, Bukidnon. Part of the purpose of the trip was to install a battery-operated video unit, which would enable the small congregation there to be fed God’s words every Sabbath by way of video sermons, in spite of their remoteness and the difficult roads to that place.

On board the 4x4 pick-up vehicle (which was previously parked in Maramag loaded with the remaining video equipment), the traveling party arrived about 6 p.m. after about three hours of bumpy uphill climb. While Mr. Macaraeg and his son Richard installed the video unit in the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Simplicio Cambare, some of those in the party helped the hosts prepare dinner. A Bible study supposed to be conducted that night was postponed for the next morning because it was quite late when dinner was finished, and since there was no electricity, there was no adequate light to properly read the Bible.

June 12, Monday, after being served a nice breakfast, everyone got ready for the expected visitors and neighbors who expressed interest to attend. More than half a dozen people—mostly with SDA or Protestant background—in addition to the Cambare clan came to attend the Bible study which started at about 9 a.m. The topics requested were mostly about the Sabbath and Holy Days. While some just kept silent, others expressed their astonishment on their new-found discovery of truth by way of comments and questions. Mr. Macaraeg left no question unanswered. All were thoroughly expounded, quoting even some relevant historical accounts, but most of all from the very words of God.
Having counseled with her before breakfast that morning, Mr. Macaraeg baptized Miss Sally Lou Cambare after the mid-day break and prior to the continuation of the Bible study. Sally Lou is the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Simplicio Cambare. She has also recently obtained an elementary education degree and has passed the Teacher’s Board exams.

Other visits

By about 4 p.m. that Monday, the visiting party began to travel back down the mountain roads. They made a couple of short visits in Guinoyuran, Valencia, Bukidnon before heading for Maramag. From there, another visit was made in the municipality of Quezon, Bukidnon to visit with the local church leader there, Mr. Felipe Arceo and his family. Mr. Arceo’s wife Florentina is still recovering from a stroke, while one of their sons, Jimmy, has kidney failure and has been going through dialysis for about a year now. They also need our help and prayers.

As is the usual case during such trips, Mr. Macaraeg and company arrived home in Davao near midnight. The success and safety of those who were in this trip was all attributed to the Almighty who commissioned His Church to continue the work of spreading the Gospel and preparing a people for the Kingdom of God. Your help in prayers are continually appreciated for more blessings and laborers for His great work.

Editor’s Note: Reuel Campos is currently an intern in the Philippine National Office in Davao; he also helps serve the brethren in Tacloban City, Philippines