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Born out of faith and a shared pursuit of professional success, the Association of Adventist Reviewees in Cebu, held a special meeting at the Cebu City SDA Church with Pastor Violeto Bocala, a retired president of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division.

This meeting sought the intercessory prayer and dedication of an anointed minister, at the same time, to draw strength and encouragement from one another as they made a petition to God for the success of their upcoming Civil Engineering Board Examination.

With over 30 AARC members ready to take the exam on November 18-19, the gathering defined the organization's commitment to supporting its members through each one's presence and prayers.

Founded in 2015, AARC brings together young adults from across the Philippines pursuing licensure in various fields, including engineering, medicine, law, business, and education. Many members first connected at the Cebu City SDA Church, building strong relationships through shared faith and academic pursuits.

Inspired by their shared experiences, seven pioneering members of this group, including current AARC adviser Engr. Aldrin Namit, initiated a Prayer and Fasting Circle (PFC). This spiritual support network provided encouragement, guidance, and collective prayer, alleviating fears and burdens while aiming for success.

As members passed their exams and secured employment, they felt compelled to continue the ministry. Pioneers Engr. Shepard Ectin, Engr. Marie Keith Eta Muaña, Engr. Namit and Engr. Jerome Alterado spearheaded the effort, guiding and advising new reviewers year after year. The small PFC evolved into the AARC family, supported by the Cebu City Seventh-day Adventist Church. Today, AARC remains committed to its faith-driven mission.

During the special meeting, Pastor Bocala emphasized that diligent preparation combined with divine guidance ensures success. He also encouraged the reviewers to trust in God's providence, focusing on prayed-for-wisdom rather than unstudied material.

"Don't worry about forgetting what you didn't study, but instead pray with what you studied," he said, assuring that success isn't solely determined by hours of study or intellectual ability but by how much we rest our case in God's hands.

Pastor Bocala's afternoon devotional with the AARC was concluded with intercessory prayer for divine intervention, wisdom, and success for the 118 Civil Engineering Licensure examinees, among which 35 were non-Adventists.

On Dec. 5, 2024, AARC celebrated a significant achievement in the December 2024 Civil Engineering Board Exam. With the PRC announcing a national passing rate of 37%, AARC members exceeded expectations, achieving a 56.8% passing rate. Out of 118 AARC members who took the exam, 68 emerged victorious.

Remarkably, Francis Charles Lauta from the University of Cebu, one of the AARC invited non-Adventist takers, topped the civil engineering exam.

The Association of Adventist Reviewees in Cebu's (AARC) noteworthy success testifies to God's faithfulness. Empowered by faith and wisdom, AARC prayerfully commits to continue the care group ministry of reviewees until Jesus comes.

Each of them drew inspiration from Jeremiah 29:11, which says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Pastor Eliezer "Joer" Barlizo Jr., Central Philippine Union Conference president, expressed his joy at the group's success, stating, "Congratulations, new engineers! May your achievement inspire others to entrust their journeys to God, and may your devotion to Him shine brightly as you guide future examinees."

By Lea Jane Salud, Cebu City SDA Church