TALISAY CITY, Cebu — Publishing directors and administrators from missions and conferences across the East Central Philippine Union Conference (ECPUC) gathered Tuesday, Feb. 24, for the Union Publishing Ministries Advisory at the LMS-COI Building in Bulacao.
The advisory featured keynote guests Pastor Bryan Edgar Tolentino, Spirit of Prophecy and Adventist Heritage director for the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD), and Pastor Rey Cabañero, SSD publishing director. Administrators from the Philippine Publishing House and other invited leaders also attended the session, which focused on 2026 strategic planning and ministry improvements.
The gathering opened with a devotional by Tolentino, who highlighted the historical weight of publishing ministries. He recounted the “Great Disappointment” and how it drove early believers to a deeper study of Scripture.
Tolentino detailed Ellen White’s visions and the subsequent publication of her first manuscripts, noting that the work began with a small group of dedicated Bible students. He traced the ministry’s growth from those humble beginnings to the millions of copies in circulation today. “God inspires people like William Miller but allows them to err,” Tolentino said. “It is through error that they find the need to go back and study the Scripture more deeply.”
Following the spiritual emphasis, the meeting transitioned to a comprehensive review of progress reports, goals, and objectives. Key agenda items included strategies for evangelism through the missionary book “Word of Hope,” with a focus on its distribution and available subsidies.
The leaders also coordinated planning for upcoming events, such as the ECPUC-wide simultaneous evangelistic meetings scheduled for Sept. 27–Oct. 3, 2026, and the SSD-wide Publishing Summit.
Furthermore, the advisory centered on literature evangelists (LEs), with a deep dive into performance metrics and the roles of Area Publishing Ministries Leaders.
The delegation also outlined travel incentives and rewards for 2026, including the Bible Story Incentives, the Robert Caldwell, Spirit of Prophecy LE Missional Trip, as well as the Abraham La Rue Missional Trip.
Discussions further touched on scholarship grants, LE’s service records, expressions of condolences, and more.
But towards the end of the meeting, Cabanero announced that the Central Philippine Union Conference (CPUC) led in sales in 2025, and in several previous years.
“Our prayer is that, despite the bifurcation, ECPUC will still be No. 1 in sales,” Cabanero said after warmly congratulating the leaders.
The advisory concluded with expressions of gratitude for each participant’s enthusiasm and continued commitment to advancing printed ministries.
Lyn Lucero / ECPUC Communication Department