ALICIA, Philippines — The La Hacienda Seventh-day Adventist Church dedicated a new children’s room on Friday, July 10, 2026, marking a milestone for the congregation after years of rebuilding from typhoon damage.
Pastor Jake Jabutay, the Eastern Bohol District pastor, officiated the ceremony. The new facility, fully air-conditioned, provides a space for children in the beginner, kindergarten and primary divisions for their Sabbath School class.
The project was initially delayed following Typhoon Odette, which left the church extensively damaged. Church leaders said the project was completed through the time and resources shared by some brethren, and through the sacrifices of congregation members.
The church, located in the municipality of Alicia, holds historical significance as the first Seventh-day Adventist congregation established in Bohol province.
Elder Abdias Casil, a senior member of the church, shared that the congregation served as a base for early mission work in the region. He recalled that in the church’s early years, believers would travel nearly 30 kilometers by bicycle from Guio-ang, Guindulman, to attend Sabbath services at the La Hacienda site.
The Adventist presence has since expanded across the province, which now includes 10 church districts. The municipality of Alicia alone has eight churches.
Following the dedication, church members held a fellowship meal with Pastor Jabutay and his wife, Emma, to mark the completion of the room and to honor the church’s history. Members expressed hope that the new facility would help establish a continued commitment to the church’s mission among the younger generation.
One church pioneer said, “May the story of La Hacienda Seventh-day Adventist Church remind us that God is always faithful. He blesses the work of those who trust in Him, and every sacrifice made for His cause bears fruit in His perfect time.”
By Genaro N. Tero | Eastern Bohol District
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