The Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) headquarters in Silang, Cavite, Philippines, will soon feature a new four-level addition housing SSD’s Center of Influence for health education, community services, and other activities. Other church entities that will also relocate to this new building arethe General Conference Auditing Services (GCAS), Sunplus, Media Center, Information Technology, and the Adventist World Radio (AWR) Center for Digital Evangelism. The building will feature a convention center that can accomodate 600 people, 50 guestrooms, vegetarian cafeteria, and ample parking space for building occupants and guests. Commercial spaces will also be rented out to Adventist enterpreneurs. 

This much awaited Center of Influence had been a dream since the Division office moved to the Philippines from Singapore in the late 90’s. Officers and staff alike expressed their longing for a building where Adventist lifestyle, products, and services are showcased. On November 5, 2018,SSD officers and staff were joined by Union administrators, present at the headquarters for year-end meetings, for the groundbreaking ceremony that signified the start of construction.  

Guest speaker Violeto Bocala, former president of the SSD and responsible for the purchase of the property, reminded everyone: “Let this edifice here be a Center of Influence.”  In his charge to workers at the SSD compound and those who will occupy the new building, he noted that people will be looking at them. He prayed that they would “see the difference, and they will say ‘Blessed be the name of the Lord.’” 

When the project is completed in 2020, this very well may become SSD’s new façade, but above all, it will become the Church’s Center of Influence to the communities around Cavite.