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Philippines Central Conference

Bishops
Bishop Benjamin A. Justo, who led the Baguio Area in the Philippines until 2008, is being remembered for his guidance, integrity and wit. He died March 28 at age 84. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Bishop Justo remembered as ‘pillar of faith’
Retired Bishop Benjamin A. Justo, who led the Baguio Area in the Philippines until 2008, died March 28 at age 84.
Human Rights
United Methodist deaconesses Norma Dollaga (right) and Rubylin Litao talk with Bienvenido and Estrella Nonay in Caloocan, Philippines. The Nonays’ son Bernardo was assassinated in 2018, one of thousands of extrajudicial killings carried out as part of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial "war on drugs." The deaconesses are founders of Rise Up for Life and for Rights, which unites family and friends of victims and advocates in demanding an end to the violence and punishment for those responsible. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

United Methodists react to Duterte arrest
Church leaders and justice advocates in the Philippines say the arrest of the former president is a step toward justice for the thousands who died during his war on drugs.
Mission and Ministry
Dan Krause (center), top executive of United Methodist Communications, leads the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the dedication of the new UMC TV Studios in the Philippines on Nov. 15 in Manila, Philippines. He is joined by (front row from left) Manila Area Bishop Ruby-Nell M. Estrella, Baguio Area Bishop Rodel M. Acdal, Davao Area Bishop Israel M. Painit, and Danny Mai, United Methodist Communications’ chief operating officer. Photo by Gladys P. Mangiduyos, UM News.

Church dedicates new TV studio in Philippines
The United Methodist TV studio will serve as a platform for producing training materials and content that can reach congregations in the country and beyond.
Bishops
Bishop Tracy S. Malone, president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops, addresses the Philippines Central Conference following the reelection of the region’s three bishops. The reelected bishops, standing from left, are Ruby-Nell M. Estrella, Israel M. Painit and Rodel M. Acdal. Seated with Malone is Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., president-elect of the council. Acdal, Estrella and Painit were reelected at the central conference’s Nov. 18-22 gathering in Cabanatuan City, Philippines. Photo by Gladys P. Mangiduyos, UM News.

Philippines reelects Acdal, Estrella, Painit
United Methodists in the Philippines have reelected three bishops and assigned them to continue in the episcopal areas that they had been leading.

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