Philippines Central Conference

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.
Disaster Relief
Philippine Coast Guard personnel evacuate residents in the Bicol region on Oct. 24 after floodwaters rose quickly due to heavy rains brought by Tropical Storm Trami (called Kristine in the Philippines). United Methodists are among those rallying to help survivors in the wake of Trami and several other tropical storms that battered the region. Photo courtesy of the Ako Bicol Online TV Facebook page.

Church responds as typhoons batter Philippines

Filipino United Methodists are rallying to help survivors of a series of tropical storms that have caused massive flooding, washing out roads and destroying homes and crops.

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