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Right within the range of Mount Tagubud—also known as Mount Pandadagsaan or White Peak, the highest mountain in the province of Davao de Oro—stands the Pagsilaan Seventh-day Adventist Church, a symbol of hope in Pagsilaan, Andap, New Bataan, Davao de Oro. Celebrating its 2nd Founding Anniversary on the first Sabbath of August 2025, it gathers believers from all walks of life to highlight God’s faithfulness and power.
Pastor Danielo Palomares, President of the Southeastern Philippine Union Mission, together with his spouse, Ma’am Jill A. Palomares, Children’s Ministries Director and Ministerial Spouses Association (MSA) President, led the celebration filled with thanksgiving and inspiring testimonies from people who found transformation through God’s love and guidance.
The 1000 Missionary Movement, through the leadership of Pastor Demetrio Taotao Jr., SePUM 1000MM Associate Director, initially conducted community visitations, applying friendship evangelism as a tool to reach residents—many of whom were relocated to the site after the devastation of Typhoon Pablo, also known as Typhoon Bopha, a powerful Category 5 super typhoon that struck the area on December 4, 2012.
They offered basic health care, wellness education, and medical support to the community. Treatments included homemade herbal and fruit juices, massage therapy, and hygiene and wellness programs aimed at reducing preventable illnesses and promoting healthier lifestyles.
“I was a paralyzed former government employee when a missionary came to me with natural juices and massage therapy, which gradually improved my condition. Eventually, I joined a Bible study group and was baptized,” shared Head Church Elder Efren Polinar.
Elder Eduardo Hingpit also shared, “Once shackled by alcohol and gambling, I lived a life far from peace. But everything changed when the Holy Spirit led me—step by step—into a gathering of God-fearing believers. Through several divine encounters with the missionaries, my heart was awakened. I now stand as the first convert in this place, a living witness to the transforming power of grace.”
The community experienced a renewed interest in Scripture through small group and personal studies, as young missionaries conducted Sabbath School programs, Vacation Bible Schools, and youth discipleship initiatives. Week after week, conversions took place, especially after a non-believer offered the Yes-Go Inland Resort as the missionaries’ home. It later became a pre-training center for aspiring young missionaries from the SePUM territory before their formal training in Silang, Cavite.
“I arrived at Pagsilaan as a sick son of a minister of a large Protestant denomination, believing Adventism was a cult. A friend told me about the missionaries, and I came here hopeless because of diabetes caused by excessive soft drink consumption. I lost my appetite and suffered from insomnia, dropping from 72 to 41 kilograms,” testified missionary Robert Mahidlawon. “The missionaries gave me vegetarian meals and ‘four seasons’ juice—a concoction of boiled camote leaves and other fruits with honey. After regular Bible reading and exercise, I began sleeping soundly in my bamboo room. I regained health, understood Adventism, submitted for baptism, and became a missionary. When I became sick again on the mission field, I returned to Pagsilaan to serve God in the church and Yes-Go training center. My family told me, ‘Don’t leave that place. God has led you to a place of healing and spiritual growth.’ Yes, my battle with diabetes brought me to the truth.”
The gathering was attended by brethren from nearby churches in Batinao, Camanlangan, Magsaysay, New Bataan, Nursery, Panag, Aspardos, and San Roque under the care of Pastor Julius Leonado, also a 1000MM alumnus of Batch 32. Supportive visitors also came from Kaputian Adventist Church in the Island Garden City of Samal, Sabbath Keepers Riders Ministry of Tugbok District in Davao City, and newly baptized members from the missionary-led evangelistic meetings at New Loon, Asuncion, Davao Oriental.
Church Treasurer Ma’am Rosilyn Salupan, a DepEd teacher, shared, “I initially had no idea about Adventists until the work of the missionaries impressed me and saw Christ’s kindness in their ministry. That’s why I gladly joined the Adventist church.”
The music, provided by local singers and the Light Remnant Singers of Compostela Center Adventist Church, offered a soothing message—especially during the morning services and baptism of eight precious souls in the afternoon.
“We should ever remember that the object of medical missionary work is to point sin-sick men and women to the Man of Calvary... Let the workers keep Christ, the Great Physician, constantly before those to whom disease of body and soul has brought discouragement. Encourage them to place themselves in the care of Him who gave His life to make it possible for them to have life eternal. Talk of His love. Tell of His power to save.” Ministry of Health and Healing, p. 73.4
