The Bayugan Adventist Learning Center, one of the Adventist primary schools run by the Southeastern Caraga Mission, was evaluated by the Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA). Dr. Perlyn P. Panes, the Education Director of the Southeastern Philippine Union Mission, oversaw this assessment as part of a larger effort to guarantee excellence in Adventist Christian education. The visit’s objectives were to evaluate the school’s compliance with Adventist teaching standards and strengthen the school’s commitment to Christian principles.
Dr. Panes emphasized during the assessment how crucial Christian education is in forming students’ moral and spiritual development. The evaluation team was presented by Pastor Jesreel Mercader, the education director of Southeastern Caraga Mission, who was joined by evaluators from other missions’ education directors. Those in attendance included Sir June Clyde Murillo from South Central Mindanao Mission (ScMM), Ma’am Cherry Hodge from Davao Mission (DM), Pastor William Galagnara from Southern Mindanao Mission (SMM), and Sir Crisolito Cabrera from Northern Davao Mission (NDM).
This comprehensive review is part of the ongoing effort to uphold the principles and standards of Adventist education, ensuring that the institution remains committed to providing quality Christian education in the region.
Sir Abelardo Fabiala, principal of Bayugan Adventist Learning Center, shared insights on the school’s preparation for the evaluation.
“We focused on the thirteen criterions for the evaluation, gi-prepare ang mga papers and documents… gipakita usab nato ang mga kabaghoan, improvements ug gituman nato ang mga suggestion nila (AAA evaluators) adtong miaging AAA evaluation,” Fabiala said. (We focused on the thirteen criteria for the evaluation, prepared the papers and documents… We also showed the school’s innovations and improvements, and we fulfilled the suggestions from them (AAA evaluators) in the last year’s evaluation.)
He further encouraged parents to consider sending their children to Adventist schools.
“Ang Adventist Education unique gayud kay ang mga bata adunay harmonious development sa spiritual, social, physical, mental aspects hinungdan nga di lang sila mu excel sa academic pero sa religious activities usab. Alang sa atong mga ginikanan, let us patronize our school, ato jud suportahan ang atong tulonghaan pinaagi sa pag enrol sa atong mga kabataan, tungod kay ni patronize gani ang mga dili Adventist, kita pa kaha nga mga Adventist.” (Adventist Education is unique because the children have a harmonious development of spiritual, social, physical, and mental aspects, which is why they not only excel in academics but also in religious activities. For our parents, let us patronize our school; let us support our school by enrolling our children, because even non-adventist parents send their children to our school; we should also do the same.)
The AAA’s responsibility to guarantee consistency and quality in all 6,897 church-run primary and elementary schools worldwide included this evaluation. To uphold the criteria established by the General Conference education department, 118 colleges and universities worldwide, as well as 2,793 Adventist academies or high schools, go through frequent evaluations. (Source: Wikipedia, November 2023)
The harmonious development of the physical, mental, and spiritual faculties is what Ellen G. White stressed in her writings when she said, “True education means more than pursuing a certain course of study. It has to do with the whole being and with the whole period of existence possible to man” (Education, p. 13). It remains the guiding principle of Adventist education’s global mission.
