CATAINGAN, Masbate — Church leaders, members, elected government officials from the barangay to provincial levels, Department of Education heads, and communicators from across Masbate gathered at the Cataingan Seventh-day Adventist Church on Oct. 24 for the Masbate-wide Public Affairs and Religious Liberty (PARL) & Media Engagement Forum.
The full-day gathering also brought together church administrators, legal professionals, and communication leaders to equip local congregations with strategies for religious freedom advocacy, legal compliance, and church media work.
The program was also broadcast live through Hope Channel Cebu and the Placer Media Center, two recognized media centers in Masbate.
Noe T. Gullimas, legal liaison for the Central Visayan Conference (CVC), explored the foundational principles of religious liberty by highlighting the steadfast integrity of the biblical patriarch Joseph. Tracing Joseph’s journey from enslavement in Potiphar’s house to his unjust imprisonment, Gullimas framed his life as a strategic blueprint for modern Public Affairs and Religious Liberty.
He challenged the misconception that government service is unsuitable for Adventists, emphasizing that believers can effectively engage in secular civic platforms without compromising their faith. Just as God taught Joseph excellence in Potiphar’s house—a standard he maintained even behind bars—Gullimas noted that faithful servants today are called to demonstrate exceptional character in the public square.
“The change in circumstances does not change God’s presence,” Gullimas said, reminding attendees that divine guidance remained constant for Joseph, regardless of where he was placed.
Dr. Leandro Joshua L. Casinillo shifted the forum’s focus to the digital frontier, highlighting the strategic need for online evangelism. He pointed out that the digital space is now the primary public square—”where the people are.” To illustrate the potential for wide-scale coverage, Casinillo cited a 2023 survey showing 116.5 million social media connections across the country, challenging delegates to utilize this online landscape to advance the church’s mission.
During the Hour of Worship, Pastor Edgar V. Bojos, communication director and Adventist-laymen’s Services and Industries (ASI) – PARL coordinator for the CVC, delivered the message. He delved into the tragic downfall of Pontius Pilate, tracing his descent from a highly respected Roman governor in Jerusalem to a disgraced exile who ultimately died by suicide. Bojos emphasized that after Pilate’s defining encounter with Jesus—where he denied Christ freedom despite a direct warning from his wife—his life was irrevocably altered, ending in disgrace.
He outlined four critical failures that sealed the governor’s fate: failing to use his power, authority, and influence for good; failing to hold to his personal convictions; failing to make a firm decision; and failing to defend the truth.
“If you can’t hold on to your conviction, don’t think of joining politics,” Bojos warned, using Pilate’s refusal to stand for right principles as a cautionary tale for modern leaders.
Concluding his message, he called forward the government officials and education leaders in attendance for a special dedicatory prayer. He prayed that God would grant them the courage to say “no” to anything that compromises their faith, empowering them to remain a steadfast light in a darkened world.
The event continued into the afternoon with breakout and plenary sessions focused on specialized training in church communications, digital engagement, and public advocacy, facilitated jointly by the keynote speakers.
After the afternoon breakout sessions on church communications and public advocacy, delegates returned to their districts equipped with practical strategies to navigate church-state relations and expand their digital ministries across the province.
By Lyn Lucero, East Central Philippine Union Conference Communications