MAKING THE BIBLE KNOWN

Senior na po tayo!

When a person turns 60, we often say, “Ang dami mo na sigurong pinagdaanan!”
So what does it mean when an organization like the Philippine Bible Society (PBS) turns 60?

PBS has gone through many years of learning, growing, and following God’s lead. But even before 1966, the formal Bible Society work in the Philippines had already begun. It started in 1899, became the Philippine Agency of the American Bible Society (ABS) in 1919, and was later known as the Philippine Bible House (PBH). In 1952, the nationalization of the Bible movement began. The PBH Advisory Council was formed and took steps for PBH to attain full autonomy. Their efforts were successful, leading to the appointment of Rev. Angel Taglucop in 1957 as the General Secretary of PBH—and the first-ever Filipino General Secretary of the Bible Society. Then, in 1966, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) officially incorporated, registered, and recognized the Philippine Bible Society.

Since then, PBS has been helping people gain access to and understand God’s Word. It has grown not just in the number of Bibles distributed, but also in leadership, teamwork, and its relationships with churches and communities.

60th AMM Highlights

Worship Service

On April 26, 2025, PBS held its 60th Annual Membership Meeting (AMM) at the 14th floor of the PBS Ministry Tower in Manila. This year’s meeting followed the theme from National Bible Month 2025: “God’s Word: Source of H.O.P.E.” (Harmony, Obedience, Peace, Empowerment)

Bishop Noel Pantoja gave a short message based on the theme, encouraging everyone:

“As we celebrate 60 years of the Philippine Bible Society, let us renew our commitment to share the hope found in Scripture. Together, we can be instruments of change—fostering harmony, encouraging obedience, spreading peace, and empowering others through the life-giving message of God’s Word.”

During the AMM, members also showed their support for one of PBS’s programs—the Adopt-a-Church Program (AACP)—through their financial help. This program has stood by the mission of “churches helping other churches” where donors and ministry partners are connected to recipient churches and parishes to provide them with Bibles and discipleship materials. In addition, the program has also engaged in discipleship training to equip the recipients to make full use of these resources.

To learn more or to donate, visit: AACP – Philippine Bible Society.

Business Meeting

The business part of the meeting began shortly after the worship service.

PBS General Secretary, Mrs. Perry Cartera, presented the 2024 Ministry Report through a video, highlighting what PBS accomplished during the past year. This included updates on Bible distribution, translation work, digital projects, and other ways PBS continues to serve the Filipino people.

In carrying out their duties to the organization, members approved the actions of the 2024 Board of Trustees.They also voted for seven new members of the Board, with the online voting platform making it possible for PBS members from different locations to participate.

PBS also gave thanks and prayed for the retiring board members, honoring their years of service in the Bible ministry.

A Look at the PBS Board

Every year, the AMM is held to report ministry accomplishments, approve decisions, and elect new leaders for PBS. Since 1983, the Board of Trustees has included representatives from the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC), the Roman Catholic Church (RCC), and independent churches. This is a reflection of the Bible Society’s value for interconfessional relationships and unity among different churches.

Today, the PBS Board is made up of 18 members—five in the Executive Committee and thirteen trustees. Each member serves a three-year term and can be re-elected for one more term. After taking a break for one term, they can again be eligible for nomination.

To view the current PBS Board of Trustees and learn more about the ministry of the Philippine Bible Society, visit: https://bible.org.ph/pbs/.