Empowering Lives Through Faith and Education: The Mission University Philippines Story

The Philippines, a nation of over 7,500 islands and a population exceeding 106 million, is a land of deep religious faith and significant need. While heavily influenced by Western culture and boasting the fifth-largest English-speaking population globally, the country faces challenges, particularly for its at-risk youth and impoverished families. Mission University Philippines and other organizations are working to address these challenges through education, vocational training, disaster relief, and spiritual development.

A Legacy of Service: Salesian Missions in the Philippines

Since 1950, Salesian Missions has been a crucial lifeline for vulnerable populations in the Philippines. Their work encompasses a wide range of activities, all aimed at uplifting the lives of those most in need. These activities include:

Assisting at-risk youth
Supporting impoverished families
Providing disaster relief

Humanitarian agencies have highlighted the dangers faced by disadvantaged children in the Philippines, with at least 1.2 million children between 5 and 15 out of school. Supported by funding from Salesian Missions, Salesian missionaries have consistently been at the forefront of disaster relief and reconstruction efforts.

Disaster Relief and Reconstruction: A Testament to Resilience

The Salesian Missions' response to Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in 2013 exemplifies their commitment to the Philippines. The typhoon affected 11.5 million people, displacing nearly 1 million and leaving over half a million homeless. Salesian Missions supported programs that assisted 200,000 families in the aftermath.

Because Salesian missionaries were already working with vulnerable children and families through schools, youth centers, and community programs, they were immediately on the front lines of relief efforts. Salesian buildings in Cebu were designated as Official Help Centers, and efforts began immediately after the typhoon struck. Students, teachers, staff, and volunteers worked together to collect, prepare, and pack relief goods. They distributed 25,000 emergency kits in cooperation with the National Crisis Management Unit in the Philippines.

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Logistics, a significant challenge in disaster relief, were also aided by Salesian missionaries. One year after Typhoon Haiyan, they had completed community rehabilitation and rebuilding projects, thanks to the Don Bosco Adopt and Rebuild a Community Project (Don Bosco ARC). This project replaced destroyed homes with structures designed to withstand future weather events, completing nearly 150 homes in 2014 and benefiting 2,700 families across four islands. They also built nearly 500 temporary shelters in Eastern Samar, Aklan, and Bantayan Island, with 417 completed and others under construction.

Education and Vocational Training: Building a Brighter Future

Salesian missionaries prioritize technical and vocational training in their educational programs throughout the Philippines. The Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati City, in partnership with Porsche AG and PGA Cars since 2008, exemplifies this commitment. Porsche collaborates with the institute to provide underprivileged young adults with the skills needed to find employment in its service centers.

The program includes a 10-month basic training course with theoretical and practical components at the Don Bosco Technical Institute, where Porsche has established a dedicated training facility. Twice a year, the institute selects its top 35 students for a nine-month training program with Porsche specialists, using official Porsche vehicles and specialized tools. The curriculum is continuously updated to reflect the latest innovations and technology.

Agriculture education is another key focus. The Don Bosco Agro-Mechanical Technology Center in Banquerohan, Legazpi City, established in 2000, includes an Agricultural Technology Center and a demonstration farm. The technology center educates 170 rural youth annually, while the farm helps over 2,000 graduates start their own livelihoods.

Don Bosco Technical and Vocational Training Centers in the southern Philippines have also implemented blended learning environments for students and teachers during the 2020-2021 school year. Funding from Salesian Missions enabled the setup of eight recording rooms in each Don Bosco center for digital learning material production. Trainees received a package including a flash drive, printed modules, face masks, a face shield, a rent-to-own tablet, and a food and accommodation subsidy for boarder-trainees during face-to-face classes.

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The Don Bosco Technical College (Don Bosco Cebu) is empowering the next generation of STEM students through the "Realizing 21st Century Learning in Don Bosco Cebu" project. This project, running until October 2026, involves constructing and equipping a new science and technology building on the campus. The project will also create a youth-focused learning hub at the SciTech Center to support marginalized students in fostering creative scientific ideas, featuring learning laboratories and a multipurpose hall for science fairs and discussions with scientists.

Reintegrating Youth: The Magone Home Aftercare Program

The Magone Home Aftercare Program, started in 2010 by Salesian missionaries in Cebu, focuses on reintegrating youth who have been in conflict with the law back into the community. The program is staffed by a team of professionals, including social workers, psychologists, teachers, and house-parents.

Each year, the team oversees 20 youth living at the center and another 20 living within the community. To date, the program has worked with 129 youth whose offenses include murder, rape, theft, and robbery, with 73 successfully reintegrated into society. Of this group, 37 are employed, 45 are living with their families, and 24 are living independently. In 2019, Salesian Missions provided funding to support critical staff positions within the program.

Addressing the Needs of Street Children: The Tuloy Foundation and Laura Vicuña Foundation

The Tuloy Foundation, founded in 1993, provides a home for at-risk youth, removing them from lives of begging, theft, drugs, and prostitution. Children must be at least 9 years old to enter the Foundation’s school program, which begins in first grade and continues through technical training. The Foundation provides food, clothing, shelter, health care, recreation, education, and skills training. Older youth pursue technical training in automotive, electrical, welding, woodworking, and other technologies.

The Laura Vicuña Foundation, managed by the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco in Manila, was founded in 1990 and provides healing and recovery for sexually abused, exploited, and trafficked youth. There are an estimated 1.5 million street children in the Philippines, with 75,000 in Manila. In 2012, the Laura Vicuña Foundation received the Impact Award from the Stars Foundation in London for its child protection clinic on wheels and conferences focusing on a socially responsible sugar industry. The Salesian Sisters used the $100,000 prize to build a larger facility for sexually abused girls. The Foundation also offers technical education to empower youth with the skills needed to find stable employment.

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Holistic Development: Sports, Health, and Clean Water Initiatives

Salesian missionaries incorporate sports programs into their educational activities. The Madridejos Football Club of Cebu Province recently extended its programs to Bantayan Island and donated soccer balls to Salesian students. The soccer program is part of the rehabilitation and rebuilding assistance provided since Super Typhoon Haiyan. These programs teach leadership and teamwork skills.

In partnership with Schneider Electric, Salesian missionaries have established a Green Electrician’s Laboratory at the Don Bosco Technical-Vocational Education and Training Center in Mandaluyong City. This program teaches unskilled and underprivileged youth electrical skills, providing high-end tools and equipment and an upgraded curriculum. The curriculum includes sustainable energy management, house and building wiring, electrical safety, troubleshooting, solar energy installations, and entrepreneurship, as well as life skills such as English, computer basics, and soft skills.

Salesian missionaries from Don Bosco TVET in Tondo, Manila, hosted a medical clinic that provided free medical care to over 500 people. The clinic offered wellness exams, pediatric exams, dental and eye care, x-rays, and electrocardiograms, along with medicine and education on proper hand washing and dental care.

The Salesian Missions’ “Clean Water Initiative” provides clean, safe water to poor youth and families attending the Mary Help of Christians parish in Mindanao. The parish cares for over 1,400 Catholic families in five villages, with 24 chapels dispersed in the area. The project involved installing a water pump, pump house, water tanks, and pipelines, improving the water system for residents.

In 2020, the Salesian St. John Bosco Parish in Murcia, Negros Occidental, gained access to clean water through a project funded by Salesian Missions, serving over 15,000 people accessing the Salesian Youth Center, kindergarten, parish office, and rectory.

Agricultural Initiatives: Promoting Sustainability and Combating Child Labor

In Ginatilan, Cebu, Salesian missionaries launched an organic cocoa plantation on 500 square meters of land, accommodating 200 cocoa plants. The project aims to counter child labor and harsh labor conditions in the cocoa industry by training agricultural technicians to manage the nursery.

Theological Education and Ministry Training: Strengthening the Church

Several institutions in the Philippines are dedicated to theological education and ministry training, aiming to strengthen the church and equip leaders for effective service.

Southeast Asia Theological Schools (SEATS): With a mission to develop functional leaders and churches through contextualized, practical theological education, SEATS operates as a Centre for Applied Theology in Asia. It serves churches affiliated with the Baptist Conference of the Philippines and has grown into a global network. SEATS offers a pathway for ministerial education from foundational training to doctoral studies.
Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary (PBTS): Located in Baguio City, PBTS is tied to the Southern Baptist denomination. It boasts a diverse student body and offers instruction in English. The seminary has a strong program for Master in Christian Music (MCM) and offers training in missions, theology, ministerial leadership, Christian education, Biblical languages, Biblical studies, and English as a Second Language (ESL). PBTS is accredited by ATESEA.
Asia Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary (ABGTS): Based on the campus of PBTS in Baguio City, ABGTS is a consortium of Baptist schools in Southeast Asia. It offers degrees such as ThM, ThD, D.Miss, DRE, and D.Min. The seminary requires a year of residential training followed by supervised practical training and a thesis or dissertation.
Faith Bible College (FBC): Located in Norfolk, Virginia, FBC focuses on “non-traditional students” and offers certificates, Associates, and Bachelors degrees in Theology. It is accredited by the Association of Biblical Higher Education.
Bukal Life Care and Counseling Center: Located on the campus of PBTS, Bukal Life Care provides training in Clinical Pastoral Education/Training (CPE/T). The program follows a community-based approach, emphasizing therapy and case studies, with trainees gaining experience in hospital, jail, and parish settings.

Short-Term Missions and Community Engagement

Organizations like Mission Philippines redefine how children connect with Jesus, offering year-round vacation bible school and providing food, medical care, clothing, and other critical support services. They maintain the highest level of integrity and respect for the privacy of donors.

ABWE's Long-Term Impact

The Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE) has a rich history in the Philippines since its arrival in 1927. Through partnerships with Filipino pastors and church leaders, more than 1,500 churches have been started. ABWE also helped establish the Doane Baptist Bible Seminary in Iloilo City and the Baptist Bible Seminary and Institute near Manila. Medical outreach has been an important tool for evangelism, leading to many churches being planted and lives being saved. Potential ministry opportunities include theological education, university campus evangelism, and the need for elementary and high school teachers.

Diverse Ministries Addressing Specific Needs

Various ministries address specific needs within the Philippines:

Doane Rest: Provides rest and encouragement for Filipino pastors, missionaries, and other Christian workers.
Obed's House: Teaches English and homeschools children in General Santos City.
Aklan Baptist Hospital: Meets the medical and spiritual needs of the people of Caticlan, Aklan.
Asia & the Pacific Ministry Fund: Supports national partners and missionaries in the Asia and Pacific regions.
Bethel Baptist Hospital: Provides hope and healing to those living in Bukidnon, Philippines.
Hope Alive: Supports women on their motherhood journey and provides a safe haven for abused mothers.
Leyte Baptist Seminary (LBS): One of the seminaries under the auspices of the Association of Fundamental Baptist Churches in the Philippines (AFBCP).
Partners International Ministries (PIM): Connects the global church for God’s glory, seeking to build the Church where the Gospel is not known.

Evangelical Mission College: A Beacon of Faith-Based Education

Evangelical Mission College (EMC) is a faith-based higher education institution in Davao Region, known for its commitment to academic excellence, character formation, and community service. EMC provides accessible and values-based education to students in Davao and its neighboring provinces, catering to senior high school students, college undergraduates, working learners, and those seeking vocational training.

The college offers undergraduate and senior high school programs, integrating faith-based principles into its curriculum. Students participate in devotionals, prayer meetings, and community service projects. EMC is known for its affordable tuition compared to larger private universities.

Academic Programs

Evangelical Mission College offers a selection of undergraduate and senior high school programs designed to equip students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. The college typically offers education-related programs such as Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEEd) and Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSEd), as well as business programs like Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA). In some cases, it may also offer programs in theology, religious education, or ministry.

Senior High School Tracks and Technical-Vocational Courses

Evangelical Mission College usually provides Senior High School programs with Academic tracks such as Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) and Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM). Some Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL) strands may also be available for students who want to develop employable skills immediately after SHS. Many faith-based colleges in the region, including Evangelical Mission College, collaborate with TESDA or offer skills-based programs aligned with industry needs. These may include short-term training or certificate courses in areas such as office work, caregiving, hospitality, or entrepreneurship.

Campus Environment and Facilities

The environment at Evangelical Mission College is deeply rooted in Christian values. Key facilities support academic and extracurricular activities. The campus culture promotes integrity and service alongside academic learning.

Admission Requirements and Process

For new college applicants, common requirements include a completed application form, Form 138 or Senior High School report card, a PSA birth certificate, a certificate of good moral character, and recent ID photos. Some programs may require an entrance examination or an interview.

Tuition Fees and Financial Assistance

Evangelical Mission College is generally known for its affordable tuition compared to larger private universities. However, exact tuition and miscellaneous fees can vary by program, year level, and term. The college typically offers several forms of financial support, such as academic scholarships for high-performing students, discounts for siblings, and possible ministry or church-related grants. For some technical-vocational programs, there may be TESDA-related subsidies when available. Many students pay on installment plans.

Student Life and Extracurricular Activities

Student life at Evangelical Mission College is shaped by its Christian identity and community-oriented approach. Learners can participate in chapel services, prayer meetings, ministry activities, outreach programs, student organizations, and campus events.

Support for Working Students

Many faith-based colleges in the region, including Evangelical Mission College, are familiar with the needs of working students. Class schedules may include daytime and, in some cases, late-afternoon or early-evening subjects, depending on the program. Flexible payment options, understanding faculty, and a supportive environment can help working students balance their responsibilities.

Career Paths for Graduates

Graduates of Evangelical Mission College pursue careers aligned with their courses. Education graduates often become teachers, tutors, or learning facilitators. Business graduates may work in offices, sales, marketing, or start their own small businesses. Those who completed theology or ministry-related programs may serve in churches, missions, or nonprofit organizations.

Choosing Evangelical Mission College

Evangelical Mission College appeals to students seeking an education that blends academic training with Christian principles, providing values-based learning, personalized attention, affordable education, and community engagement.

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