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Layon, Josue Arranguez (1924–2014)

By Victoria G. Lauron

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Victoria G. Lauron

First Published: November 28, 2021

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Josue Arranguez Layon was a pastor, soul-winner, church planter, builder, and church administrator. He is also known as a passionate protector of the church community from offshoots and heretical teachings.

Early Life

Josue Arranguez Layon was born on July 24, 1924, in Daan Bantayan, Cebu, Philippines, to Simplicio Martinez Layon and Vicenta Tumakay Arranguez.1 Josue, the second to last in the family, had eight other siblings, namely: Simprosa, Antonio, Dominga, Teofilo,2 Etellana, Ruben, Benjamin, (Josue) and Esther.3 Josue Layon belonged to an affluent family who owned vast land and ran a fishing industry with 15 families working under their management.4

Simplicio and Vicenta were devoted Roman Catholics. In 1916, two missionary couples, the Fatteberts and the Stewarts, arrived in Cebu and conducted missionary activities in their community.5 In 1917, Simprosa, their eldest child, was converted to the Seventh-day Adventist faith.6 She was persecuted by her father who burned her dress so she could not go to church on Saturday. Despite this ill treatment, Simprosa remained committed to her faith.

Before the outbreak of World War II, the Layon family transferred their residence to the nearby province of Masbate in the town of Placer. It was there that Josue’s parents and the whole family were converted to the Seventh-day Adventist Church.7

Education and Marriage

Seventh-day Adventist Church Christian education was introduced to the elder Layon after the family was converted. Having the financial resources to support a church school, he led out in the construction of a building for the church school at Villa, Placer, and Masbate, and paid the teacher’s salary at the same time.8 Josue was enrolled in that church school until he finished his elementary education. On September 3, 1935, he was baptized by Pastor Remegio B. Cahilig.9

Josue then attended East Visayan Academy located at Bulacao, Talisay, Cebu City, Philippines, for his high-school education.10 During the outbreak of the World War II, Josue was 16 years old. When the American soldiers were on Philippine soil, his cousin Luis Rosas, a member of the U.S. Navy, asked Josue to serve as an errand boy with him in the American Soldiers camp.11

When the war ended, Josue decided to go back to school. It was during that time in 1949, the Philippine Union Junior College, an extension of Philippine Union College temporarily located at Manticao, Misamis Oriental, was established to provide education for the Adventist youth of Southern Philippines. Josue went to Philippine Union Junior College in Manticao, Misamis Oriental and enrolled in the Bible Instructor course, which he finished in March 1951. Furthermore, he aimed to take up AB Theology, so he proceeded to Philippine Union College (now the Adventist University of the Philippines or AUP) located at Baesa, Caloocan, Manila, and enrolled in the course. He finished his Bachelor of Arts major in Philosophy with a minor in History in March 1953.12

After Josue graduated from college in 1953, the Layon family migrated from Visayan Island (Masbate in particular) to the Mindanao Island, particularly in Maraga-a, Kiblawan, Davao del Sur.13 In Maraga-a, Josue’s parents purchased a homestead and an additional bigger tract of property. During that time, the family farm produced a huge harvest of corn, which encouraged Josue to help his parents sell corn products. He increased this business by buying corn from other farmers as well as selling it to them.

During his buy-and-sell business, he met Fe Gighi Rondina in Padada, Davao del Sur, who was working in the Mayor’s Office of Padada Municipality.14 A short period of acquaintance continued on to a proposal of marriage. Josue and Fe were married on June 4, 1956, at the Padada Seventh-day Adventist Church with Pastor Diego C. Sabrine as the officiating minister. Two prominent people in town were the wedding sponsors–Mayor Gregorio Matas and Josephine Sarabia, professor and owner of Southeastern Colleges in Padada, Davao del Sur.15

Fe was born on June 28, 1933, at Bantayan, Cebu, and was baptized on May 1, 1946. Their marriage was blessed with six children, namely: Josue Jr., Emmeline, Imelda, the twins- Visminda and Misolet, and Marvin.16

Ministry

Josue’s first call to denominational work was as a mission school teacher among the natives in the hinterland of Talaingod, Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte for two school years from June 1956 to July 1958.17 During that time, the mission school was still under the supervision of the Southern Mindanao Mission (SMM), whose territory comprised the Davao and Cotabato provinces. Its headquarters was still at the corner of Mapa-Mabini Sts., in Davao City.

Later, as the original Southern Mindanao Mission had tremendously increased in church membership, closer supervision of churches was imperative. Leaders decided to divide the mission in December 1965, which marked the formation of the Davao Mission (DM) while Southern Mindanao Mission (SMM) moved to General Santos City as its headquarters.18

Reaching the mission school was not easy. Travel was quite difficult since a person had to ride on a raft going down the river until it reached the river bank that pointed the way to the mission school. Then you had to hike further to reach it.19

One bitter experience he had in his life was when he lost his firstborn child, Josue Jr., who was born on June 6, 1957. The child was not able to survive an intestinal disorder secondary to severe dehydration, and he died on December 27, 1957.20

In August 1958, Josue was called as an evangelist in Northern Mindanao Mission (later named Northern Mindanao Conference and presently called North Central Mindanao Conference or NCMC) with headquarters at Cagayan de Oro City. His older brother, Pastor Teofilo A. Layon, was the president of Northern Mindanao Mission at that time.21

Five months later, he was called to work in East Visayan Mission (EVM) at Tacloban City from January 1, 1959, to December 1963. In Tacloban City, two of his daughters were born–Emmeline on March 7, 1961, and Imelda on November 3, 1962.

From January 1964 to December 1967, he served as district leader in Western Mindanao Mission (now Western Mindanao Conference or WMC) at Ozamis City, Misamis Occidental.22 Three of his daughters were born there. The twins Visminda and Misolet arrived on March 14, 1964, and then Marvin on August 10, 1965.23

Layon was ordained into the ministry on March 20, 1966. He was then assigned to work from January 1, 1968 – 1979 in Davao Mission. The first four years - from January 1, 1968 to November 1971 - he was a district leader; from December 1, 1971 to July 1974 he served as department head for the Sabbath School and Personal Ministry; on July 9, 1974, he was elected president of Davao Mission.

He served as president from July 9, 1974, to December 31, 1979, a total of five years and six months.24 His leadership as president had led to great accomplishments since he was a builder. He led out in the construction of the two-story administration building of Southern Mindanao Academy, now South Philippine Adventist College (SPAC) that is located at Camanchiles, Matanao, Davao del Sur. The multi-purpose auditorium was also constructed. He sought funds for the repair and improvement of the boys’ and girls’ dormitories.25

He conducted major evangelistic efforts. A number of new churches were planted. As a result, 18 organized churches were added, and church membership reached 20,804 during his term.26 Most importantly, Layon with his partner minister, Pastor Levi B. Tabo, who was the Sabbath School and Personal Ministry Director of Davao Mission, visited the churches day and night to make sure apostasy would never prevail in Davao Mission.27

As a leader, he was strong in principle, but was a kind, loving, thoughtful, and generous father to his workers. When workers ran short of food supply, he would offer to share his own because he did not want workers’ children to suffer from hunger.28

Layon’s leadership is not only known in the Davao Mission territory alone, but in the Davao City community as well. Often the then-Davao City Mayor Luis Santos frequented Pastor Layon’s office to confer with him about some activities of the city that needed the support of Davao Mission. Layon gladly accepted the invitation to join the parade of “Araw ng Davao” and “Kadayawan’’ festivals if it would not fall on a Saturday. The participation of Davao Mission in the Non-Smoking program of the city, started during his term and continues up to the present time.29

In January 1980, he was elected president of Northeastern Mindanao Mission (NeMM) with its headquarters at Ginggona Subdivision, Butuan City.30 The place was not spacious, so he thought of looking for a wider lot to construct a new office building. Later he found an ideal place just along the National Highway going to Butuan City proper. With the approval from the higher organization, the property in Baan was purchased. The new office building of Northeastern Mindanao Mission was constructed. It now stands as a memorial of Layon’s leadership in NeMM.

His term of service in NeMM ended in December 1987. He had served that mission for eight years.31

During the early part of the second quarter of 1980 on April 17 to 26, he was sent to the General Conference Session in Dallas, Texas, U.S.A., as delegate together with his wife.32 He retired in January 1988 after serving the denomination for more than 31 years.33

Later Life

After his retirement, he returned to his residence in Davao City. Though retired, he continued to serve the denomination in different ministerial functions. He was still active in the ministry, especially in the local church where he was a member.

He lived 26 years more after his retirement in January 1988. He died on September 14, 2014, at his residence at Davao City at the age of 90 years and two months.34

Contribution

Josue Arranguez Layon is remembered as a strong yet compassionate leader. He was concerned with the work and the welfare of the church workers and the brethren under his care. His devotion and dedication to the ministry was quite evident. He was a soul-winner, a church planter, and a great protector of the flock. He was a builder of church infrastructures like schools and mission office buildings. He initiated numerous church building projects. He was also a man who made impact not only in the denomination, but in the community as well. He was respected and consulted regarding religious, health, and civic matters by the mayor of his city.

Sources

Annual Statistical Report of Davao Mission, December 31, 1979.

de Angel, R. B. “Do Mission Schools Pay?” Far Eastern Division Outlook, September 1957.

“Delegates to the 1980 Session.” ARH, April 17, 1980.

Lauron, Victoria G., and Remwil R. Tornalejo. “Teofilo Arranguez Layon,” Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia, 2020.

Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia. Second revised edition. Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald, 1996. S.v. “Fattebert, Ulysses Charles.”

Worker’s Record of Josue Arranguez Layon, South Philippine Union Conference Archives.

Notes

  1. Worker’s Record of Josue Arranguez Layon, South Philippine Union Conference Archives.↩

  2. Teofilo Arranguez Layon is one of the pioneer Adventist church administrators who served in the Visayas and Mindanao Mission fields. See Victoria G. Lauron and Remwil R. Tornalejo, “Teofilo Arranguez Layon,” Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia, 2020.↩

  3. Emmeline, eldest daughter of Josue Arranguez Layon, interview by author, July 2017, Davao City.↩

  4. Ibid.↩

  5. Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia, 2nd Rev. Ed (1996), s.v. “Fattebert, Ulysses Charles.”↩

  6. Edwin Villarin, a relative of Josue Arranguez Layon,  interview by author, July 2017, Davao, City.↩

  7. Emmeline, eldest daughter of Josue Arranguez Layon, interview by author, July 2017, Davao City.↩

  8. Ibid.↩

  9. Worker’s Record.↩

  10. Ibid.↩

  11. Emmeline, eldest daughter of Josue Arranguez Layon, interview by author, July 2017, Davao City.↩

  12. Worker’s Record.↩

  13. Emmeline, eldest daughter of Josue Arranguez Layon, interview by author, July 2017, Davao City.↩

  14. Ibid.↩

  15. Worker’s Record.↩

  16. Ibid.↩

  17. Ibid. R. B. de Angel, “Do Mission Schools Pay?” Far Eastern Division Outlook, September 1957, 6, 7.↩

  18. Personal knowledge of the author as the administrative secretary at Davao Mission (1969-2002). She served in the same capacity when Josue A. Layon was president of Davao Mission.↩

  19. de Angel, “Do Mission Schools Pay?”↩

  20. Emmeline, eldest daughter of Josue Arranguez Layon, interview by author, July 2017, Davao City.↩

  21. Ibid. See also Worker’s Record.↩

  22. Ibid.↩

  23. Emmeline, eldest daughter of Josue Arranguez Layon, interview by author, July 2017, Davao City.↩

  24. Worker’s Record.↩

  25. Personal knowledge of the author↩

  26. Annual Statistical Report of Davao Mission, December 31, 1979. Davao Mission Archives.↩

  27. Personal knowledge of the author.↩

  28. Ibid.↩

  29. Ibid.↩

  30. Worker’s Record.↩

  31. Ibid.↩

  32. “Delegates to the 1980 Session,” ARH, April 17, 1980, 13.↩

  33. Worker’s Record.↩

  34. Personal knowledge of the author.↩

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Lauron, Victoria G. "Layon, Josue Arranguez (1924–2014)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. November 28, 2021. Accessed July 04, 2025. https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=2CJR.

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Lauron, Victoria G. "Layon, Josue Arranguez (1924–2014)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. November 28, 2021. Date of access July 04, 2025, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=2CJR.

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Lauron, Victoria G. (2021, November 28). Layon, Josue Arranguez (1924–2014). Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. Retrieved July 04, 2025, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=2CJR.

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