Initially, the students coming to MSU are: (1) the second fifty of the National Science Development Board (NSDB) scholars since the first fifty is assigned to the University of the Philippines, (2) the full and partial scholars who passed the MSU Scholarship Exam given to the upper 20% of the graduating class from both public and private high schools in the MINSUPALA region, (3) the National Integration (NI) scholars which are given to Muslims and other cultural minorities, (4) the State Scholars who obtained the scholarship by passing an exam given by the government, (5) the College Bound Program (CBP) scholars whose scholarship is obtained by passing a summer course offered to graduated high school Muslims and other cultural minorities, (6) the “Dependents” of the faculty members and staff working in the university.

From the above list, we could see that thorough screening has been done before a student can enter MSU. The different scholarships obtained by the students show that the students are mentally equipped to go through the rigors of the university life.

                        B. Background Information About the SDAs and Events that   

                             Engulfed MSU Leading to the MSU-SDA Church Formation

It must be said that there is NO MSU-SDA Church before 1970. But there were already SDAs working in the university since its opening in 1961. But these people have not bonded together to form a church.

The formation of the MSU-SDA Church is made possible by the efforts made by the pioneers of the MSU-SDA Church. The pioneers were the SDA students who came to MSU before 1970 and those who came in the early parts of the 70’s.

In the academic year (AY) 1968-1969, Georgia Solijon, from Manila, an NSDB scholar started her Bio Pre Med course at MSU and she attended Sabbath Services at the Nery’s Studio in downtown Marawi if not at the house of the Quirante’s at Camp Keithly, Marawi City.

In 1969-1970, Johnny Postrero, a full scholar from Malangas Zamboanga del Sur started his BS Chemistry course.

In 1971-1972, several SDA students attended MSU. These are: Joandel Solijon (BS Zoo), Sammy Batiancila (Political Science), Guillermo Semorlan (BS Fisheries), Letty Asumen (BS Forestry), Patria Pana and Gloria Caballero (Community Development). It is during this year that the Dagbusans, SDA faculty members, opened their cottage to  the SDAs so that they would  have a place where to hold  Sabbaths Services. The gathering and the Sabbath Services held at the Dagbusan’s place might have provided the seed in the creation and establishment of the MSU-SDA Church.

In 1972-1973, Edwin Pueblos (BS Chem Engineering) and Bethuel Ortaleza (AB Philosophy) joined the SDA group in MSU. But in  September 11, 1972 President Marcos declared Martial Law. A month after that, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) staged an uprising that over run the MSU campus. To be able to gain control of the lone radio station in Marawi City, MSU was taken by the rebels. Radio station DXSO was based in MSU. To gain control of the radio station was also the reason why the government forces rescued DXSO and MSU back. The event was scary.  The war that rages in the Marawi City and MSU brought more fears to the constituents of MSU and the environs of Marawi City. The uprising sent some scholars scampering away from the university. It is sad to note that when the University opened again in January 1973, the Dagbusans transferred to Jolo Sulu , thus the gathering at the faculty cottage ceased.

The Uprising in October 1972 results to having MSU to enforce mass promotion and subsequent long vacation to give time to the government forces to quell the uprising.  Military forces occupied the University campus.

Because of this long vacation, two of the students from Palawan (Maria Vi Pe  and Calixto Inao) decided to stay and spend their vacation  at the Solijon’s place in Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental. With them were other students Sonia Cubero (from Cagayan de Oro City), Rocaya Macmod (a Maranao, a Muslim from Marawi City). These were the very first students who received Bibles studies handled by Delfina Solijon (Mommie). Take note that Sonia was the roommate of Georgia, Maria Vi Pe was the roommate of Joandel, Rocaya Macmod was the roommate of Patria Pana, while Calixto Inao was the “kababayan” of Maria Vi Pe.  The Good News was easily planted by Mommie Solijon to the hearts and minds of these MSU students due to the friendship established by the Solijon children with their roommates and friends.

The Baptism of Calixto Inao, Maria Vi Pe, Sonia Cubero and Rocaya Macmod in May of 1972 provided the MSU-SDA church with people to help in the dissemination of the Good News. Both Sonia Cubero and  Maria Vi Pe are gifted with words. They are also good in music and in drama. Rocaya Macmod is good in cooking, in sewing, in “mothering” those who needed attention. Calixto Inao with his talents in playing the guitar provided the necessary accompanist in the sundown, sunrise and other services of the church. That baptism also marked the first Muslim convert of the MSU-SDA church. Rocaya was a Muslim.

The baptism of Adriano Salvador (Guillermo Semorlan’s friend) and Romeo Milan ( Johnny Postrero’s friend and batch-mate), a few months after May 1972, was brought about by the bible studies conducted by Mommie Solijon when Romy and Adriano stayed at Lagonglong for a vacation. Romy Milan’s Baptism is also attributed to the bible studies conducted by George Solijon when Romy stayed in Manila for a vacation. According to Judith Joy Gamponia, Romy Milan’s method in doing bible studies was so patterned after Mommie Solijon’s methodology.

During the Holy Week Summer Camp at the Solijon’s place in Lagonglong in  April 1973, seven more souls were converted to the SDA faith.  They were Sunnie Noel, Noel Manico, Alfonso Catolin, Fely Pornea, Aleja Plaza, Memong, and yours truly (Linda Vilma Ole).  Their baptism was the result of the week long doctrinal bible studies conducted by George Solijon. But the seed of friendship and the seed of the Good News were already planted by the members of the MSU-SDA Church long before   the Holy Week Summer Camp. It is best to mention that the Sarona sisters, Sarah and Rebecca, were good at their work of simply inviting people to attend the Sunrise, Sundown, Midweek, Vesper and Sabbath Services. They were always around to invite, wait and cater to the needs of the friends they invited.

III.                    The Witnessing Procedure

The witnessing procedure done by the early members of the MSU-SDA Church and emulated by the first converts became the reason why bible studies and subsequent baptisms occur a few months after April 1973 and continues on until the early 80’s.  An example, in 1973, the invitee of Sarah and Rebecca Sarona, received the bible studies from Romy Milan and Johnny Postrero. The friendship established and the methodology of conducting bible study facilitated the conversion process.  

The utilization the talents and skills found among the members of the church made services vibrant. Example: In 1972, Al Inao was the in-charge of the music department. He was joined by Johnny Postrero, Edwin Pueblos, Sosthenes Postrero, Hermes Herbolingo, Lemuel Lecciones, Maria Vi Pe, Patria Pana, Sonia Cubero, Linda Vilma Ole and the rest of the singers who can be asked to sing or perform during sunrise or  sundown services, Sabbath School, AY service, Midweek, Vesper,  and the Divine Services.

The utilization of new talents found among the member of the church made the bible studies more invigorating. For example: No one would believe that a small boy Hermes Herbolingo who came to the university in 1973-1974 became instrumental in the conversion of Ham Migrinio and Cyril Balmadres.

The nurturing of the talents found within the church and supporting these talents to join university-wide competition made the church more popular. For example: the singing voice of Linda Vilma Ole and Diana Jean Go, the guitar skills  of Sosthenes Postrero and Lemuel Lecciones, the beautiful song emanating from the flute of Dodong Pelisco, made them won in the talent shows conducted by the University. The honor was not solely attributed to the talent but to the MSU-SDA church that nurtured these talents.

The nurturing of members with leadership potentials resulted to the emergence of leaders not only within the church but to the student body as a whole in the university. Fenando del Rosario was the best example of this. He joined the MSU-SDA Church in 1973. He became a member of the Student Supreme Government during the closing years of his stay in MSU.

The use of new methods of witnessing as applied by Vigilanda Solijon in the dormitories and cottages brought more souls to Christ. She was the one who initiated in conducting bible studies at the Dormitory living rooms. Bible studies in masse results to conversion and baptism in masse.

The brother-sister relationship, big sis-small sis, big bro-small bro, in short, the buddy system was encouraged among each members to care for those who were new in faith helped in the bringing more souls to Christ.

The establishment of Medical Outreach and Community outreach with the help of outside supporters exposed the MSU-SDA Church members to the rigors of the medical profession and to the current state of affairs in the rural areas and in the hinterlands. Examples of these were the medical outreach and community services initiated by the MOVE. Another example is the formation of the Signet Singing group to be the entertaining arm of the Medical Outreach headed by Pastor and Doctor Donton at Tamparan, Lanao del Sur in 1977-1981.

IV.                Conclusion

It is beautiful to reminisce the past. For this reason a reunion of the MSU-SDA was done in Hoyanjog Islet in Surigao during the Holy Week (March 19-22, 2008). In this reunion, the fourth Muslim convert of the MSU-SDA Church in 1973-1974, Pastor Badrudin Magarang graced the occasion. During the reunion Pastor Nelson Paulo, a convert to the MSU-SDA church after 1981-1982, baptized four souls. Both Pastor Paulo and Pastor Magarang took theology classes at Mountain View College in Bukidnon. Pastor Paulo did it after he graduated with a Math course in MSU while Pastor Badrudin has to do it after his baptism at MSU because of persecution from his own family.

Another reunion, a convention is to be held in Missouri on July 8-13 at Concordia, Missouri, USA.

We have taken a look at the past and I hope that the gesture would make us take a good stock of courage to be able to move towards the future. I believe that we can derive inspiration of the things done in the past that made us closer to the Lord and to each other.