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Montalban, Victoriano Montefalcon (1909–1989)

By Remwil R. Tornalejo, and Dwight Mark M. Tornalejo

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Remwil R. Tornalejo is an associate professor in the Historical-Theological department of the International Institute of Advanced Studies Seminary (AIIAS). Tornalejo has a B.A. in theology from Mountain View College, Valencia, Philippines, and M.P.S., M.Div., and M.Th. degrees from AIIAS. He had served as a pastor, Literature Ministry Seminary dean and instructor at the South Philippine Union Conference. He had served as chair of the theology department of the South Philippine Adventist College. Tornalejo completed his D.Theol. from Theological Union (ATESEA). He is married to Marilou Manatad. They have four children.

Dwight Mark M. Tornalejo was a fourth year medical technology student at the time of writing.

 

First Published: November 13, 2020

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Victoriano Montefalcon Montalban was an Adventist pastor, writer, and church administrator from the Philippines.

Early Life

Victoriano Montefalcon Montalban was born in Nagcarlan, Laguna, Philippines, on March 23, 1909, to Adventist parents, Graciano Montalban and Eladia Montefalcon.1 He was baptized at the age of 10 in September 1919 in Nagcarlan, Laguna, by Pastor Breitigam.2 He was among the local Filipino Adventist pioneers who became prominent church leaders. He is also one of the few Filipino church administrators to serve at the General Conference headquarters.3

Education and Marriage

Montalban finished his elementary education at Nagcarlan Elementary School, Laguna. He attended Philippine Junior College for two years before transferring to Laguna High School for another two years. He attended Manila Union College for one year4 and then studied at Philippine Union College (PUC) for two years. He earned an ACS degree from PUC in 1934. On July 28, 1928, Montalban married Fely Montano, who was born in Nagcarlan Laguna on August 12, 1907. They had two sons the eldest, Rudolfo Montalban, was born on April 19, 1929.5

Ministry

From 1932 until 1934, Montalban did manual labor and security guard duties at Philippine Union College.6 He worked as a magazine colporteur in the Central Luzon Mission from 1927 to 1928. From April 1934 to March 1935, he taught at West Visayan Academy and also served as bookkeeper. He was the school’s treasurer from April 1935 to June 1938.7 In July 1938, he moved back to the Central Luzon Mission to work as a secretary- treasurer until February 1946. He then returned to the West Visayan Mission as director from March 1946 to March 1951. From West Visayan Mission, he was called to be a secretary-treasurer of the South Philippine Union Mission from April 1951 to November 1955.8 While serving as secretary-treasurer, he also functioned as one of the assistant auditors of the SPUM.9 He was the first secretary and treasurer of South Philippine Union Mission while Gil de Guzman served as the first president.10 It should be noted that at the time SPUM, which was based in Cebu, oversaw the Adventist work in both Visayas and Mindanao. In December 1955, Montalban was called to become the president of the SPUM. He was the second president of the SPUM, serving until 1963.11

When the SPUM was reorganized in 1964, another union was created out of a portion of its territory. Named the Central Philippine Union Mission (CPUM), it was based in Cebu, the original SPUM headquarters. The other union retained the name the South Philippine Union Mission, but its headquarters were located at Davao, Mindanao.12 After the reorganization, Montalban continued to serve as president of the SPUM, now comprised of Mindanao.13 Thus Montalban was recognized as the first president of the newly created SPUM in Mindanao.14 During this period, the Adventist Church in the South Philippine Union Mission grew rapidly.15 Towards the end of 1968, Montalban was succeeded by his secretary treasurer, Meliton Claveria.16 In 1968, Montalban moved to East Avenue, Northwest in Washington, District of Columbia, to serve as one of the field secretaries of the General Conference.17 He was re-elected to the same office during the 1970 General Conference session.18 He served in that position until his retirement in late 1975. His function as one of the field secretaries of the General Conference took him to many countries. Wherever he went, he was recognized to be a fiery speaker although a quiet and unassuming person.19 In spite of Montalban’s hectic schedule, he made it a point to return to his home country to conduct revival meetings.20

Later Life

Montalban retired from active denominational service in 1975 at the age of 66. He had served the church for forty-two years. After his retirement at the end of 1975, Montalban held credentials from the General Conference until the end of his life.21 From 1976, he makes his home at Lockney Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland.22 Victoriano Montefalcon Montalban died on March 1, 1989, at Takoma Park, Maryland.23

Legacy

Montalban was a visionary leader and church administrator. His humility and dedication to the ministry served as a model for leaders who followed in his footsteps. He started in the ministry as a literature evangelist and served in various capacities in several mission fields in the Philippines. He held key administrative positions in many church institutions in the Philippines and was eventually called to serve in the General Conference headquarters. His lengthy years of denominational service were a testimony of his dedication, hard work, and commitment to the ministry.

Sources

Adams, E. M. “The President's Report.” Far Eastern Division Outlook, June 1951.

“Former Union Mission President Conducting Revivals in Philippines.” Far Eastern Division Outlook, June 1973.

Middle East Division Annual Committee Meeting. October 30, 1969. Accessed July 14, 2020. https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Minutes/MED/MED19691001.pdf.

Montalban, V. M. “Introducing a New Union.” Far Eastern Division Outlook, April 1964.

Reyes, Herman L. Breaking Through. Quezon City, Philippines: Kaunlaran Trading and Printing Company, 1981.

Rudd, Fay. “Inspiration and Dedication at Harrogate.” British Advent Messenger, June 30, 1972.

Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook. Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1936-1990.

Victoriano Montefalcon Montalban Personal Worker’s Record. South Philippine Union Conference Archives.

“Welcome to Southern Asia.” Southern Asia Tidings, October 1970.

Notes

  1. Victoriano Montefalcon Montalban Personal Worker Record, South Philippine Union Conference Archives.↩

  2. Ibid.↩

  3. Ibid.↩

  4. Ibid.↩

  5. Victoriano Montefalcon Montalban Personal Worker Record, South Philippine Union Conference Archives. See also “Welcome to Southern Asia,” Southern Asia Tidings, October 1970, 5.↩

  6. Ibid.↩

  7. See “West Visayan Academy,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1936), 275.↩

  8. Victoriano Montefalcon Montalban Personal Worker Record, South Philippine Union Conference Archives.↩

  9. E. M. Adams “The President's Report” Far Eastern Division Outlook, June 1951, 3.↩

  10. Herman L. Reyes, Breaking Through (Quezon City, Philippines: Kaunlaran Trading and Printing Company, 1981), 182.↩

  11. Ibid.; Victoriano Montefalcon Montalban Personal Worker Record, South Philippine Union Conference Archives.↩

  12. V. M. Montalban, “Introducing a New Union,” Far Eastern Division Outlook, April 1964, 14.↩

  13. See Reyes, Breaking Through, 182.↩

  14. Montalban, “Introducing a New Union,” Far Eastern Division Outlook, April 1964, 14.↩

  15. Ibid.↩

  16. Reyes, Breaking Through, 182.↩

  17. “General Conference,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1970), 13. “General Conference,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association,1974), 13. See also “Welcome to Southern Asia,” Southern Asia Tidings, October 1970, 5.↩

  18. “Former Union Mission President Conducting Revivals in Philippines,” Far Eastern Division Outlook, June 1973, 4.↩

  19. Fay Rudd, “Inspiration and Dedication at Harrogate,” British Advent Messenger, June 30, 1972, 1-2. See also Middle East Division Annual Committee Meeting, October 30, 1969, 1701, accessed July 14, 2020, https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Minutes/MED/MED19691001.pdf.↩

  20. “Former Union Mission President Conducting Revivals in Philippines,” Far Eastern Division Outlook, June 1973, 4.↩

  21. “Persons Holding Credentials from the General Conference,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1976), 28; “Persons Holding Credentials from the General Conference,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1989), 30.↩

  22. “Directory of Workers,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1976), 684.↩

  23. “Necrology,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association,1990, 551.↩

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Tornalejo, Remwil R., Dwight Mark M. Tornalejo. "Montalban, Victoriano Montefalcon (1909–1989)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. November 13, 2020. Accessed April 22, 2025. https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=BAUU.

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Tornalejo, Remwil R., Dwight Mark M. Tornalejo. "Montalban, Victoriano Montefalcon (1909–1989)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. November 13, 2020. Date of access April 22, 2025, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=BAUU.

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Tornalejo, Remwil R., Dwight Mark M. Tornalejo (2020, November 13). Montalban, Victoriano Montefalcon (1909–1989). Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. Retrieved April 22, 2025, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=BAUU.

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