The University joined the Seventh-day Adventist community in celebrating the inauguration of Adventist College Palawan (ACP), its newly recognized sister institution under the Southern Luzon Philippine Union Mission and within the Southern Asia-Pacific Division territory. Representing the University, Dr. Gracel Ann Saban, vice president for academics, attended the Thanksgiving Celebration and Inauguration Weekend at Adventist College Palawan (formerly Palawan Adventist Academy) in Tacras, Narra, Palawan, held on August 2–3, 2025.

The ceremony marked a significant milestone for Adventist education in the region, affirming its mission to provide Christ-centered learning that develops students for service to God and humanity.

“We feel like sister institutions in the Seventh-day Adventist educational system, the second largest in the world. It feels like we’re celebrating the birth of a baby. And when a baby is born, it’s a time of celebration, a time of prayer, a time of hopes and dreams. We are just so excited to witness the birth of Adventist College Palawan—a beacon of light educating lives for service,” Dr. Saban shared.

“This is a message of the Lord’s faithfulness in your life, for your unwavering work, your resilient faith, and your synergistic efforts in fulfilling this vision. It is our prayer that ACP will be a haven of L.I.F.E.—L for Love, I for Integrity, F for Faith, and E for Excellence. ACP will be a beacon of light, educating lives for service not only in this world but in the world to come. We are preparing our young people not only for work in this life, but for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ,” she concluded.

Dr. Eliezer Barrientos, founding president of Adventist College Palawan, encouraged all stakeholders to support the institution’s mission: “Help build ACP, friends. This is about the future of our young people—their calling, their light. We are building something that will outlast us, something that will shape generations to come. So we humbly pray: Please, God, guide our steps, bless our efforts, and sustain this mission—for Your glory and for every student You will bring to Adventist College Palawan.”

A highlight of the event was the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Signing Ceremony between AUP and ACP, formalizing academic cooperation and collaborative efforts toward fulfilling their shared missional purpose as sister Adventist higher education institutions.

The celebration concluded with prayers of dedication, pledging that ACP will stand as a beacon of faith, knowledge, and service in Palawan, continuing the mission of Adventist education for generations to come.