South Philippine Adventist College

About SPAC

administrators

president

vice president for academic affairs

vice president for student services

vice president for finance

school Emblems

Philosophy

SPAC believes in Jesus Christ, the Exemplar of holistic excellence.

Mission

SPAC is committed to:

Preparing a people for God’s Kingdom by integrating the distinct Seventh-day Adventist faith into the academic learning rooted on the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Commissioning students to live a meaningful and productive life of service for church and society.

Vision

A leading provider of transformative Christian Education with a Seventh-day Adventist distinction in the service of God, Church, and Country (pro Deo ecclesia et patria)

Core Values:

Spiritually attuned
We believe that above all other pursuits in life we are to seek God first and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33). He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, and the ultimate reality in our lives (Rev. 1:8).
Physically fit
We believe in the blessings of the health message, and we are committed to teach it so that God’s purpose for our lives can be fulfilled.
Academically competent
We believe that our students should be academically competent, and equipped with all the needed knowledge, skills, habits, and attitudes to be able to make a meaningful contribution to the cause of God, church, and country.
Committed to service
We believe in God who is excellent in all things, and we are committed to follow the life He led while he was on earth and to become humble partakers of His nature (2 Pet. 1:4).

Goals &Objectives

Spiritual Excellence
1. Live a Christ-like life based on an in-depth knowledge and understanding of Scriptures.
2. Nurture a spiritual atmosphere in all activities and programs.
3. Uphold the standards of the Church and strongly support witnessing endeavors.
Academic Excellence
1. Prepare students to become Creative and Critical thinkers, Service-driven Citizens, Effective Communicators, Transformative Christian Witnesses, Reflective Life-long learners.
2. Systematically evaluate and update the curricula to be abreast with the current trends and demands in the profession and industry
3. Utilize the best instructional materials, methods, facilities, equipment, and learning atmosphere to ensure quality education.
4. Attract, develop, and retain competent and committed faculty and staff who grow professionally and personally in the course of their work, who are enabled and motivated to support the institution’s vision and mission, and who are effective in transmitting both their discipline and values.
5. Promote and create a culture of research and publication among faculty and students following ethical protocols to generate innovative ideas to solve problems and make decisions to answer current and emerging needs and opportunities of the church and society.
6. Expand and strengthen relationship with the alumni, other local and international educational institutions, government and non-government agencies, denominational institutions, and the industry.
Social and Environmental Sustainability Excellence
1. Treat all people with dignity and honor.
2. Be involved in community service and exhibit compassion and caring toward the less privileged.
3. Support national development goals and value the Filipino heritage.
4. Develop right attitude through exercising leadership skills in the communities to serve, protect and enhance environment and initiate activities and research toward sustainable development.
Physical Excellence
1. Practice a healthful lifestyle as emphasized in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy.
2. Uphold the dignity of manual labor by joyfully engaging in productive work.
Management Excellence
1. Sustain trust and confidence of the stakeholders by establishing an efficient and effective regular communication and upholding transparency and accountability in all transactions.
2. Expand the pool of leaders o ensure smooth and seamless transition.
3. Expand the internal and external sources of funding of the college programs and employ effective and efficient management of financial resources.
4. Ensure organizational stability by being steadfast on the philosophy, vision, mission and core values of the institution and by staying true to the Seventh-day Adventist educational blueprint.

Graduate Attributes

Creative and Critical thinker

Asks pertinent questions, reflecting a heightened consciousness and curiosity which will generate and use innovative ideas to solve problems and make decisions to answer current and emerging needs and opportunities of the church and society
Perceives and describes the world in a correct and creative way through constructive application of knowledge, ideas, and beliefs aligned with the Seventh- day Adventist principles and teachings.

Service-driven Citizen

Exhibits Christian leadership skills to contribute positively to the accomplishment of team goals through collaborative processes in a peaceful, tolerant, compassionate, and non-discriminatory way.
Contributes to society by performing civic duties, obeying the law, and respecting authorities.
Nurtures right relationship with God, self, others, and the environment and serves with compassion, respect, and integrity.

Effective Communicator

Communicates effectively and confidently ideas and feelings in a clear, organized manner in both written and oral communication to convey meaningful information to church and society
Listens actively to the intent and spirit of others’ words and responds rationally and assertively but not arrogantly, respecting others’ opinions.
Demonstrates appreciation and application of ethical and moral standards of effective communication.

Transformative Christian Witness

Mingles with people from all walks of life, seeing every person a crowning act of God’s creation
Shows personal care and concern in meeting the need of others
Leads an exemplary Christian life, practicing a well-balanced, healthy lifestyle and manifesting sound discernment of what is right and wrong.

Reflective Lifelong Learner

Values all forms of learning and updates abilities, knowledge, skills, and qualifications towards a more refined professional.
Reflects on the significance of God and develops awareness of the spiritual nature and religious meaning of life.

history

South Philippine Adventist College ( SPAC ) is situated sixty-eight kilometers south of Davao City at Barangay Camanchiles, Matanao, Davao del Sur. The college fronts the national highway that connects the progressive cities of Davao and Cotabato.

The college campus occupies approximately 2.5 hectares of the 19.9 hectares of the former Southern Mindanao Academy land. Large portion of the campus were used as mango trees plantation. Gardening and banana plantation were also part of the income-generating activities at the school along the creek and property boundaries.

There are now new buildings constructed in addition to the main buildings ( administration, classrooms, cafeteria, faculty houses and dormitories) built by the pioneers. Structural image of the school has been enhanced so that more students will benefit the quality Christian education the college offers.

SPAC began its operation in Digos, Davao del Sur in 1950 as an elementary school. The school became a Junior Academy in 1952 with 236 students enrolled. The over crowded condition necessitated a larger area. About 20 hectares of land has been purchased through the effort of the late Mr. Ruperto Sumicad Sr., at Bario Camanchiles, Matanao, Davao del Sur at a cost of seven thousand pesos and another one thousand pesos from Southern Mindanao Mission ( now Davao Mission ). The Far Eastern Division ( now SSD ) allocated P40,000.00 and additional P20,000.00 from South Philippine Union Mission ( now SPUC ) for the construction of the school building.

The academy transferred to its present site in school year 1958-1959 bearing the name Southern Mindanao Academy. The complete high school course ( first year to fourth year levels ) was recognized by the then Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports ( now Department of Education ) in 1959.

The first principal was Pastor Jose M. Atil. In 1975, Pastor Rogelio G. Aguadera became the principal and it was during his term that the school received accreditation from the Association of Christian Schools and Colleges-Accrediting Agency ( now ACSCU-AAI ) with five-year accreditation status.

In the summer of 1993 during the Secondary Teacher’s Convention in Mountain View College, the principal, Mr. Jimmy F. Faderogaya with Dr. Milton Thorman, Associate Educational Director of Far-Eastern Division now Southern Asia-Pacific Division ( SSD ) discussed with Elder Paterno Diaz, President, South Philippine Union Mission now South Philippine Union Conference ( SPUC ) the possibility of converting Southern Mindanao Academy into a College. God find the way through these persons as the planned second Adventist College in Mindanao finally pushed through.

Dr. Shozo Tabuchi, the then Director of Education of SSD came to the school as Commencement Speaker and laid down the requirements for the opening of the college with Pastor Vicente S. Paypa, Davao Mission ( DM ) President and Mr. Alberto D. Alojado, Treasurer of Southern Mindanao Academy, of which the latter was delegated to bring the urgent required papers to Bacolod City during the meeting.

Elder Paterno M. Diaz requested Dr. Jonathan C. Catolico, the then SPUC Education Director to organize a team that will evaluate the possibility of opening a college. The created evaluation team is headed by Dr. Gerundio U. Ellacer ( Chairman ) with Dr. Remelito A. Tabingo, Abraham O. Neri, Epifanio N. Ciron, and SS Genierra as members with Jonathan C. Catolico as Ex-officio member.

In November 4, 1993, the evaluation team recommended Southern Mindanao Academy to the SPUM Executive Committee to be the second Adventist College in Mindanao over the two other academies that sought same college status.

Dr. Jonathan C. Catolico processed the application papers for the SSD while Jimmy F. Faderogaya made his valuable efforts in processing the application papers for the Commission on Higher Education ( CHED ) and the Security and Exchange Commission ( SEC ). The General Conference ( GC ) of the Seventh-day Adventist through its representative headed by Dr. Agripino Segovia, GC Associate Education Director, with Dr. Eager and Dr. Oliver Kho came to the campus and proclaimed SPAC as the second Adventist College in Mindanao.

It was also during this time that SPAC received the CHED permit to operate. The award was brought to the campus by its key personnel headed by Dr. Minerva Fabros, Engr. Louis Perez, Mrs. Relina Dela Peña, Mrs. Zenaida Turtogo, and Mr. Feliciano Tamondong under the supervision of Dr. Glory Magdale and Dr. Eloisa Paderanga and the late Mrs. Severina Villarin.

With the General Conference ( GC ) approval, CHED permit to operate and the SEC certificate granted together at same time, South Philippine Adventist College was so blessed. It was an awesome occasion attended by the GC, SSD, CHED, SPUC, DM personnel and the whole college populace witnessing the remarkable moment of God’s leading for this dear academic institution. Elder Paterno M. Diaz and Elder Vicente S. Paypa ( Chairmen of SPUC and DM respectively ) accepted the challenge and committed to support SPAC for its development.

Those who served the College as presidents are: Dr. Jonathan C. Catolico, the first president while serving as SPUC Education Director at same time ( 1994-1996 ); Dr. Jimmy F. Faderogaya ( 1996-1997 ); Dr. Ildefonso F. Faigmani ( 1997-2004 ); Dr. Chliejvferwyn C. Catolico ( 2004-2006 ); Dr. Benonie P. Llanto ( 2006-2008 ); Dr. Chliejvferwyn C. Catolico ( 2008-2011 ); Dr. Arceli H. Rosario ( 2011-2012 ); Dr. Yolando A. Queruela ( 2012-2014 ); and Dr. Chliejvferwyn C. Catolico (2014 to the present).