Ladia, Isaias Castañeda (1919–1994)

Isaias Castañeda Ladia was an Adventist missionary and administrator from the Philippines.

Early Life

Isaias Castañeda Ladia was born on March 1, 1919, in Claveria, Cagayan, to Felix Ladia and Mamerta Castañeda, both members of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP). His father was a farmer and his mother a housekeeper.¹ In 1935, at the age of 16 years, Ladia was converted to the Adventist faith and baptized by Pastor Wiedemann in Ballesteros, Cagayan, in (Northern Luzon).² Ladia was the fourth of twelve children. His siblings were Isabel, Carmen, Adelaida, Leonida, Moises, Josefina (all deceased), Guillerma, Benjamin, Leonard, Rebecca, and Lolita.³

Education and Marriage

Ladia attended Claveria Elementary School for four years and spent another three years at Claveria Intermediate School. He attended high school at Claveria Institute for four years.⁴ In 1946, after completing high school, Ladia enrolled at Philippine Union College (PUC, now Adventist University of the Philippines, AUP), where he studied to become a Bible instructor and took a minor in history. He earned his bachelor’s degree from PUC in 1949 and earned his credentials as a Bible Instructor the following year.⁵

Ladia married Victorina Inovejas on May 7, 1950. Born on November 2, 1920, in Pamplona, Cagayan, she was a Seventh-day Adventist who was baptized on July 24, 1937. She completed only the first year of college, but eventually earned an elementary teacher certificate in 1949 while working as a housewife.⁶ The Ladias had only one child, a daughter named Isarina Mae born on March 19, 1955, at Baguio City.⁷

Ministry

Ladia was engaged in several occupations before he entered denominational work. During his teenage years, he worked full time as a timber man in the forestry business from March 1936 until March 1938. He also worked as a full-time carpenter from April 1938 until March 1939. From June to December of 1939, he served as a medic in the Philippine Army. He also served as a medic under the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) from December 1941 until the end of 1946, achieving the rank of sergeant first class.⁸

During the heights of World War II in 1942, Ladia was captured in the jungle of Bataan by the invading Japanese Army. In April of 1942, Ladia, along with 75,000 other Filipino and American prisoners of war, was forced to march about 65 miles from Mariviles, Bataan, to Capas, Tarlac. Infamously known as the Bataan Death March, about 18,000 prisoners died due to exhaustion and other causes on the way to the prison camps.⁹ Ladia survived the death march and after the war returned to his native place in Cagayan where he served the Adventist Church.

Beginning in December 1939, Ladia worked as a literature evangelist, even while he was in the army, he also worked as a literature evangelist.¹⁰ It was only during the war years of 1942 to 1946 that he worked full time for the army.¹¹ After the war, Ladia also served as a teacher at Aning, Tumawini, Isabela, working under F. B. de la Cruz, educational department secretary of the Northern Luzon Mission, from June 1946 to March 1947.¹²

In May of 1950, Ladia became a licensed missionary and served as an assistant to the publishing secretary in the Northern Luzon Mission. He was granted his credential as a missionary in March 1951. A year later, in June 1952, he was issued a ministerial license.¹³ Laida was ordained on February 18, 1956, during the second biennial session of the North Philippine Union Mission (NPUM) held in the gymnasium of PUC. The service was led by F. A. Mote, then president of the Far Eastern Division.¹⁴

Ladia was elected publishing secretary of the NPUM in July 1955, but assumed the position in 1956 and served until March 1957.¹⁵ In January 1959, he was called to serve as publishing department secretary of the Southern Mindanao Mission (SMM), where he remained until December 1959. Ladia visited Mountain View College on February 1, 1959—along with pastors C. L. Finney, division publishing secretary, A. N. Santiago from the South Philippine Union Mission, and J. A. Corpus from the Northern Mindanao Mission—for a six-day student colporteur seminar where sixty-seven youth attended. This gathering was a success due to the joint participation of mission presidents, faculty, and students.¹⁶

As a colporteur, Ladia inspired many through his experiences. W. L. Pascoe, then treasurer of the Far Eastern Division, reporting of his visit to the Philippines, wrote about Ladia’s experience as a literature evangelist. According to Pascoe, Ladia, along with two other literature evangelists, hiked to the mountains of Northern Luzon to deliver 400 pesos worth of books. Along the way, they had to cross a river to reach the village. They loaded all of their books on the raft. Unfortunately, while they were on the raft the books slid and plunged into the river when the raft began to tilt. The three literature evangelists frantically jumped into the river in hopes of retrieving the books that began to sink. Along with the books, their hearts sank; however, they fervently prayed and God answered. Unbelievably, the books floated, and they quickly took the books to shore to dry. To their surprise, as they unwrapped each one none of the books were damaged. They praised God as they continued to make their deliveries. ¹⁷

Ladia was called to serve as district pastor in the SMM from January 1961 to December 1971 and tasked to take care of the Ilocano speaking congregations in the mission territory.¹⁸ He was known to be a tireless worker. He used multiple methods in reaching out to the people in his area. In 1968, while Ladia was serving in Kabacan, Cotabato, Philippines, he developed a friendship with brother Andrew Kaeding and his wife from Nebraska. The Kaedings wanted to be more involved in their church’s missionary work. Because of their desire to help in the ministry, they sent religious literature donated by the brethren of the Lincoln Northside church to Ladia in the Philippines to be used for evangelism. “Colorful pictures, devices, aids, Sabbath school papers, books, and all types of materials” were sent by the Kaedings.¹⁹ The book, Your Bible and You,²⁰ was greatly appreciated by the recipients who shared this with their church—especially the young people.²¹ As a result of the Kaiding’s commitment to sending literature for many years, numerous converts were brought into the church.²²

Upon picking another shipment from the post office one day, the postmaster asked Ladia about the packages he regularly received. Ladia opened one of the packages and showed the postmaster the Bibles. The postmaster asked if he could purchase one. Ladia told him that the books were not for sale, but he delivered a Bible to the postmaster’s home that same evening. The postmaster was delighted and gladly accepted the Bible. He even said that he would read it every day. Along with the Bible, the postmaster also read Signs and Listen magazines. ²³

Ladia fulfilled his calling without fear or hesitation. One of his assignments was in South Cotabato, a Muslim community. He was gladly welcomed in the community. One time he and a team of evangelists conducted an evangelistic meeting in the area of Milbuk, Palimbang, South Cotabato. Conflict arose between the Christians and the Muslims in attendance, hence a boundary had to be set to separate the two parties. In between meetings, shootings were reported nearby, but the evangelistic meetings were conducted by the leaders despite the danger that surrounding them. Their steadfast courage was rewarded when on March 31, 1974, twenty-three people, five of whom were Muslims, decided to be baptized. Of the five Muslims, two were children of an imam. This imam, along with his wife and other children, was also converted and planned to be baptized as well. In addition to this evangelistic effort, Ladia and his team planned an intensive follow-up program for those who had accepted the faith. Church growth also necessitated the construction of a new church building.²⁴

Two months before he turned 53 years old, Ladia was elected as president of the Southern Mindanao Mission in General Santos City. He served as president from January 1972 until December 1973.²⁵ After his term as president of the SMM, Ladia served as district pastor based in Bagontaas and covering the areas of Bukidnon and Gingoog City in the Northern Mindanao Mission from 1974 until 1977.²⁶

Later Life

After thirty-eight years of denominational service, Ladia retired in 1977.²⁷ In retirement he resided in Bagong Barrio, Caloocan, Metro Manila Philippines, until 1980. In 1980, he migrated to the United States and lived in Redlands, California, with his youngest sibling, Lolita Ladia Santos, until 1982. During these years, he worked with Quiet Hour Ministries. In 1982, he moved to Alhambra, California, and bought a house in this area the following year. He worked part time as a security guard until 1985. Ladia passed away on March 6, 1994, five days after his 75^th birthday, due to cirrhosis of the liver.²⁸

Legacy

Ladia was passionate about literature evangelism. He led student groups for many summers doing canvassing work. These summer canvassing sessions gave young people opportunities for evangelism as well as income to finance their schooling. Juan Afenir reported that in 1955, about thirty-nine colporteur evangelists garnered PHP 39,407.01 in seven months by selling literature, a PHP 4,910.84 increase under Ladia’s leadership. ^{29 30}

Ladia believed that literature was important in attracting the attention of children to Sabbath School. He constantly requested used literature to be shared and sent to them in Salaman, Cotabato, Philippines. Lewis F. Stark, Jr., then Sabbath School superintendent at Waterloo, Iowa, reported that they sent 91 Primary Treasures, 121 Little Friends, and 62 Youth’s Instructors.³¹ Ladia requested more literature, which the church in Waterloo, Iowa, also sent including Christian music records. ^32,33,34 Wherever he was assigned, Ladia continued to request literature in order to share the good news.³⁵ Ladia appeared among the Far Eastern Division’s “Men of the Century” for winning 118 people in 1969³⁶ 101 people in 1970.³⁷

Sources

Afenir, Juan. “Northern Luzon Mission, Philippine Islands.” ARH, September 29, 1955.

Afenir, Juan. “Report and Progress in the Northern Luzon Mission.” Far Eastern Division Outlook, December 1, 1955.

Baker, Sid. “Nebraska Missionary Endeavors Extend to the Philippines.” Central Union Reaper, March 1970.

“Bataan Death March.” History Channel. June 7, 2019. Accessed June 29, 2020. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march.

Brewin, Bob. “Honoring Bataan in Kuwait.” Nextgov.com. March 29, 2010. Accessed June 22, 2020. https://www.nextgov.com/cio-briefing/2010/03/honoring-bataan-in-kuwait/53125/.

Cristobal, J. D. “Ordination Service.” Far Eastern Division Outlook, April 1956.

Finney, C. L. “Publishing Progress.” Far Eastern Division Outlook, March 1956.

Ladia, I. C. “Moslem Converts.” Far Eastern Division Outlook, January 1974.

“Literature Requests.” ARH, October 5, 1961.

“Literature Requests.” ARH, November 30, 1961.

“Literature Requests.” ARH, February 3, 1977.

“Men of the Century.” The Ministry, June 1969.

“Men of the Century.” Far Eastern Division Outlook, August-September, 1970.

“Of Interest in Iowa.” Northern Union Outlook, December 11, 1962.

“Of Interest in Iowa.” Northern Union Outlook, April 1963.

Santiago, A. N. “MVC Students Join Literature Evangelists.” Far Eastern Division Outlook, April 1959.

Pascoe, W. L. “Angels at Work in the Philippines.” Australasian Record and Advent World Survey, September 24, 1956.

Isaias Castañeda Ladia Personal Employee Service Record. Southern Mindanao Mission Archives.

Reile, H. C. “Want to Win a Soul? Here’s How!” Central Union Reaper, April 27, 1971.

Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook. Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1947, 1958.

Notes

1. Isaias Castañeda Ladia Personal Employee Service Record, Southern Mindanao Mission Archives.↩

2. Ibid.↩

3. Isarina Mae Ladia Ramos, daughter of Isaias Ladia, email to the author, July 15, 2020.↩

4. Isaias Castañeda Ladia Personal Employee Service Record, Southern Mindanao Mission Archives.↩

5. Ibid.↩

6. Isarina Mae Ladia Ramos, daughter of Isaias Ladia, message to the author, December 29, 2020.↩

7. Isaias Castañeda Ladia Personal Employee Service Record, Southern Mindanao Mission Archives.↩

8. Ibid.↩

9. Bob Brewin, “Honoring Bataan in Kuwait,” Nextgov.com, March 29, 2010, accessed June 22, 2020, https://www.nextgov.com/cio-briefing/2010/03/honoring-bataan-in-kuwait/53125/. See also “Bataan Death March,” History Channel, June 7, 2019, accessed June 29, 2020, https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bataan-death-march.↩

10. Isaias Castañeda Ladia Personal Employee Service Record, Southern Mindanao Mission Archives. See also Certification of Employment and Service signed by Rafael Umali, then publishing department secretary of Northern Luzon Mission of Seventh-day Adventists.↩

11. Isaias Castañeda Ladia Personal Employee Service Record, Southern Mindanao Mission Archives.↩

12. “Northern Luzon Mission,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, DC: Review and Herald Publishing Association,1947), 113; Isaias Castañeda Ladia Personal Employee Service Record, Southern Mindanao Mission Archives. See also Certification of Employment and Service signed by F.B. de la Cruz, then educational department secretary of Northern Luzon Mission of Seventh-day Adventists.↩

13. Isaias Castañeda Ladia Personal Employee Service Record, Southern Mindanao Mission Archives.↩

14. J. D. Cristobal, “Ordination Service,” Far Eastern Division Outlook, April 1956, 8.↩

15. C. L. Finney, “Publishing Progress,” Far Eastern Division Outlook, March 1956, 6; Isaias Castañeda Ladia Personal Employee Service Record, Southern Mindanao Mission Archives.↩

16. A. N. Santiago, “MVC Students Join Literature Evangelists,” Far Eastern Division Outlook, April 1959, 8.↩

17. W. L. Pascoe, “Angels at Work in the Philippines,” Australasian Record and Advent World Survey, September 24, 1956, 4.↩

18. Isaias Castañeda Ladia Personal Employee Service Record, Southern Mindanao Mission Archives; Isarina Mae Ladia Ramos, daughter of Isaias Ladia, message to the author, December 29, 2020.↩

19. Sid Baker, “Nebraska Missionary Endeavors Extend to the Philippines,” Central Union Reaper, March 1970, 8.↩

20. Arthur Stanley Maxwell, Your Bible and You; Priceless Treasures in the Holy Scriptures (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1959).↩

21. Sid Baker, “Nebraska Missionary Endeavors Extend to the Philippines,” Central Union Reaper, March 1970, 8.↩

22. H. C. Reile, “Want to Win a Soul? Here’s How!” Central Union Reaper, April 27, 1971, 5-6.↩

23. Ibid.↩

24. I. C. Ladia, “Moslem Converts,” Far Eastern Division Outlook, January 1974, 14.↩

25. Isaias Castañeda Ladia Personal Employee Service Record, Southern Mindanao Mission Archives↩

26. Isarina Mae Ladia Ramos, daughter of Isaias Ladia, message to the author, December 29, 2020.↩

27. Ibid.↩

28. Isarina Mae Ladia Ramos, daughter of Isaias Ladia, email to the author, July 15, 2020.↩

29. Juan Afenir, “Northern Luzon Mission, Philippine Islands,” ARH, September 29, 1955, 20.↩

30. Juan Afenir, “Report and Progress in the Northern Luzon Mission,” Far Eastern Division Outlook, December 1, 1955, 7.↩

31. “Of Interest in Iowa,” Northern Union Outlook, December 11, 1962, 6-7.↩

32. “Of Interest in Iowa,” Northern Union Outlook, April 1963, 6.↩

33. “Literature Requests,” ARH, October 5, 1961, 26.↩

34. “Literature Requests,” ARH, November 30, 1961, 22.↩

35. “Literature Requests,” ARH, February 3, 1977, 31.↩

36. “Men of the Century,” The Ministry, June 1969, 40.↩

37. “Men of the Century,” Far Eastern Division Outlook, August-September, 1970, 20.↩