On November 23, 2024, the Philippine Bible Society (PBS) commemorated 125 years of God’s faithfulness to the Bible ministry in the Philippines with the theme “No Boundaries.”

The PBS General Secretary, Mrs. Victoria Esperanza Z. Cartera, shared her heartfelt reflections during the event: “The Philippine Bible Society has gone through several storms, earthquakes, floods, fires, the ugliness of war, economic crises, a pandemic, and changes in leadership, both in the ministry and in the nation. But all of these have not been able to stop the mission of translating the Word of God into different languages and distributing it to Filipinos everywhere.”

She continued,  “…Throughout my 36 years at PBS, I have witnessed how God used the Bible Society to change the lives of thousands and thousands of people—including myself. Every person who has been, and who is, a part of this ministry was chosen by God. Our service in the Bible ministry is not an accident. It is a great honour and privilege to be enabled to serve God through the Philippine Bible Society.”

The chosen Scripture for the celebration, Romans 8:39a, encapsulated the spirit of the occasion:
 “…there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (GNT)

Milestone Celebration

The 125th anniversary celebration program featured meaningful activities:

●       The dedication of the PBS Bible Museum, highlighting “How the Bible Came to Us.”

●       A Bible Parade presenting some published translations of the Bible from the three major islands of the Philippines–carried by PBS staff and representatives from PBS’s partner translation agencies.

●       An opening message from PBS President and Chairman Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno (Ret.).

●       Video greetings from UBS Secretary General Rev. Dirk Gevers, CEO of the British and Foreign Bible Society Mr. Paul Williams, and a written message from American Bible Society President and CEO Dr. Jennifer Holloran.

Rev. Gevers encouraged PBS to remain steadfast, referencing 2 Timothy: “As you have carried forward what was handed to you by your predecessors, you too are laying a foundation for those who will follow you into the years ahead. Truly, this is a testimony to the truth of what the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, when he made that affirmation, ‘…the Word of God is not in chains.’ The Word of God cannot be bound. But the Word of God is living and active, ever seeking–to bring to people the redemptive love of God.”

To appreciate the former and current PBS leaders who God entrusted with the work of the ministry, including Board Presidents, Members, and General Secretaries, tokens of appreciation were given for their dedication and service.

Other highlights of the event included performances by a choir, the Archstar Percussion marching band, and the Rizal Technological University’s Kultura Rizalia Troupe. The program also featured a message from guest speaker Rev. Dr. Stephen Tan and a cake-cutting ceremony.

The Philippine Bible Society (PBS) also unveiled a “Memory Lane,” showcasing the organization’s rich history. Additionally, it released a commemorative Bible “Ang Biblia” containing the Tagalog 1903 New Testament and the Tagalog 1905 Old Testament, marking the first complete Bible translation in a Philippine language. This special edition was made available to donors to support PBS’s Filipino Sign Language (FSL) Bible translation project.

As PBS celebrates its milestones and adapts to the needs of the present, it remains committed in its mission to bring the Bible to every Filipino. While it once relied solely on colporteurs and Bible women to distribute physical copies of the Scriptures, PBS now extends its reach through online stores and the BibliApp Pilipinas, a digital Bible application accessible to Filipinos everywhere. Furthermore, in addition to existing Bible translations available for the blind and hearing, PBS is working on the FSL Bible translation to serve the Deaf community.

Indeed, there are no boundaries to the Word of God because, by God’s grace, PBS will continue to work with its partner churches and organizations to distribute the Bible and transcend geographical, media, and sense boundaries. The Bible is truly for everyone.

To God be the glory!