Name and Address
The Central Philippine Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (CPUC), located at 112 Gorordo Avenue, Kamputhaw, Cebu City, Philippines, is part of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (GC), a world church organization. All purposes, policies, and procedures of this union conference are aligned with the working policies and procedures of SSD and GC, ensuring harmony with the overall organization.
1953
In 1953, on May 4th, CPUC was initially established as the South Philippine Union Mission of Seventh-day Adventists and was officially registered at the Securities and Exchange Commission. Cebu City served as its headquarters with Pastor Gil de Guzman as the first elected president of the new union territory from 1951to 1954. From 1955 to 1963, Pastor Victoriano M. Montalban served as the second president, followed by Pastor Eugenio A. Capobres, who served as the third president from 1964 to 1965.
1965
In 1965, after twelve (12) years, there was a necessity to create another union field in Mindanao. On January 28, 1965, the union office in Cebu City transitioned into the Central Philippine Union Mission, with its office situated at Gorordo Avenue, Cebu City. Simultaneously, the South Philippine Union Mission was established in Mindanao, with a new office at Masterson Avenue, Upper Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City.
Central Philippine Union Mission comprised four missions: Central Visayan Mission, East Visayan Mission, West Visayan Mission, and Negros Mission; three high schools; 285 churches; and 28,869 church members.
During its establishment in 1965, Pastor Eugenio Capobres continued as the president until 1971. Pastor Florencio M. Arrogante then served as the fourth president from 1972 to 1973. Subsequently, in 1974 Pastor Leodegario E. Montaña served as the fifth president until 1979. In 1980, Pastor Dionisio M. Niere served as the sixth president until 1987, followed by Pastor Violeto F. Bocala as the seventh president elected in 1988 and serving only that same year. Finally, Pastor Hector V. Gayares served as the eighth president from 1988 to 1996.
1996 – present
In 1966, the Central Philippine Union Mission attained conference status in May, under the leadership of its ninth president, Pastor Alberto Gulfan until 2003. Pastor Jimuel M. Toledanes then served as the tenth president from 2003-2006, followed by Pastor Agapito J, Catane as the eleventh president from 2006-2021. Lastly, Pastor Joer M. Barlizo was elected as twelfth president from 2022 up to the present.