In a week-long celebration of God’s goodness, mercy, and grace, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Brgy. Amaga, Sigma, Capiz, Philippines, commemorated its 100th anniversary on the Sabbath of March 29, 2025. The anniversary celebration was attended by church leaders, members, visitors, and former pastors who had served the congregation.
Representing the West Visayan Conference leadership and serving as the invited speaker, Pastor Reynaldo Portugalete, director of Health and Family Ministries, delivered a powerful message reflecting on the goodness of God since the beginning of time.
“It is by the grace of God and the faithfulness of the pioneering members that Amaga Seventh-day Adventist Church has reached a hundred years!” exclaimed Pastor Portugalete, who encouraged the congregation to remain faithful. He brought his whole family—his wife Razel and their daughter, Reizl Bae—as a commitment to setting an example for Christian families to unite in the service of the King.
The centennial celebration kicked off on March 23, 2025, with a bloodletting activity in partnership with the Adventist Rescue Motorized Group (ARMG) Capiz Chapter and Adventist Community Services (ACS).
This was followed by a motorcade that started from the Parian SDA Church and ended at the Amaga SDA Church by traversing the planned route via the plaza of the municipality of Sigma, Capiz.
Subsequently, a revival and reformation lecture series led by Pastor Jemar Rondina, Central Capiz 1 district leader, commenced and continued every night.
“One of our focuses in this centennial celebration is on health; that is why we have bloodletting activity to start our program, and our nightly meetings emphasized not just on being faithful to God but also in being a faithful steward by properly taking care of our physical body,” Pastor Rondina said.
Actively participated by the congregation, the revival and reformation lecture series culminated with a foot washing and communion service on Friday evening, officiated by Pastor Cenon Paculanang — enabling the participants to be well-prepared in body and spirit as they welcome the Sabbath Day of Rest.
The morning Sabbath celebration showcased musical talents and inspiring testimonies from brethren coming from the Adventist Churches of Sibunag, Pasubaon, and Parian.
Noteworthy were the experiences shared by the oldest members, who reminisced about their unforgettable encounters during the early days of the Amaga SDA Church.
After a hearty potluck luncheon, the afternoon program resumed with more video greetings from former district leaders and the Central Philippine Union Conference leadership through its president, Pastor Eliezer “Joer” Barlizo, Jr..
Leah Valencia-Tugade, a registered nutritionist- dietitian, gave a remarkable lecture, “Nourish to Flourish: Bound to be a Centennialist.” It was a popular topic that attracted many church members to inquire about their personal cases during an open forum. Mrs. Valencia-Tugade traveled from Dapdap, Aklan, to give the presentation.
Answering all their queries, the health-enthusiast speaker made timely remarks that only when we are in a good and healthy condition can we optimize the service that we can render to the Most High.
As a pioneering seventh-day Adventist church in the province of Capiz, Amaga SDA Church became instrumental in the establishment of three more churches, namely, Sibunag SDA Church, Pasubaon SDA Church, and Parian SDA Church — a true testament of how the Lord can use one faithful church to bring the gospel to those unreached.
Formally organized on March 25, 1925, the church history identified Pastor Rolando Aguirre as its first lay worker and Elder Benito Asis as its first church leader.
Moreover, baptized on March 18, 1925, the 17 pioneering church members are the following: Benito Asis, Valeriano Asis, Esther Arroyo, Ambrosio Arroyo, Leonora Francisco, Enrique Arroyo, Luciana Arroyo, Aquilino Esico, Mericed Esico, Maria Parnaso, Ezekiel Marcelino, Crispin Marcelino, Constancio dela Cruz, Procopio Arroyo, Fernanda Arroyo, Quirico dela Cruz, and Felix Esico.
Elder Diomenes Acevedo, on behalf of Elders Wenefredo Francisco and Charlie Francisco, the current leader of the Amaga SDA Church, expressed his gratitude and praise to God and to everyone who participated in the success of the centennial celebration.
Finally, in light of the celebration’s theme, “A Century of Faith, Awaiting His Coming: Celebrating the Past, Embracing the Future,” Pastor Portugalete spoke about “A Century of God’s Goodness.”
He quoted the pen of inspiration: “God must be ever in our thoughts.”
It means we must hold converse with Him while we walk by the way and while our hands are engaged in labor. In all life’s purposes and pursuits, we must ask, “What will the Lord have me do? How shall I please Him? Who has given His life a ransom for me?
Thus, may we walk with God, as did Enoch of old; and ours may be the testimony which he received, that he pleased God (Our High Calling page 61).”
Geric Von De la Cruz & Alisha Joy De la Cruz, West Visayan Conference
The article’s original version was published on the official Facebook page of the West Visayan Conference.