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Pangca, Fernando Gomera (1928–2008)

By Ingrid Idyll M. Tornalejo

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Ingrid Idyll M. Tornalejo is a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLS) Graduate of the Adventist University of the Philippines. She is currently a second-year student at the Adventist University of the Philippines, College of Medicine.

First Published: January 18, 2021

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Fernando Gomera Pangca was an Adventist missionary, teacher, and administrator from the Philippines.

Early Life, Education and Marriage

Fernando Gomera Pangca was born on May 30, 1928, in Cagayan de Oro City in the northern part of Mindanao, Philippines.1 His father was a farmer. Both of his parents, Santiago D. Pangca and Sarapia M. Gomera, were Seventh-day Adventists.2

During his early years, Pangca studied at the church school in town, Cagayan de Oro Church School, for four years.3 His last two years of elementary education were acquired at Initao Seventh-day Adventist Elementary School.4 After elementary school, Pangca proceeded to high school at East Visayan Academy, Cebu, City, where he studied for a year. He transferred to Mindanao Mission Academy where he graduated three years later.5 On December 23, 1941, in Initao, Misamis Oriental, Pangca was baptized by Pastor A. Somoso.6

Pangca enrolled at Philippine Junior College for one summer before he transferred to Mountain View College he continued his studies for a year and half. He finally graduated from Philippine Union College for a year7 an elementary teaching certification in 1956.8

On April 1, 1957, Fernando Pangca married Alice Alejandrino, a Seventh-day Adventist teacher born in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro.9 They were blessed with four children: Genesis, Allenette, Mina Joy, and their legally adopted child Ruby Amafe.10

Ministry

Fernando Pangca began his ministry in the field at a very early age. After finishing high school, he volunteered to be a missionary teacher for the non-Christian tribes of Decayo, Zamboanga. 11At first, the mission committee was hesitant to send him due to his lack of teaching preparation and youth. However, no one else volunteered to be sent to the tribespeople of Decayo because of the unfortunate plight of the previous teachers sent there.12 Hence, the mission was obliged to send him. To make up for his lack of teaching preparation, Pangca took a few teaching courses that summer before reporting to the Decayo mission field in time for the start of school.13 He brought with him his carpentry tools, medicines, and teaching and barbering equipment. Upon reaching the place, Pangca opened the school. Enrollment overwhelmed the school, and he had to ask the parents to help him in the construction of a new building in order to accommodate all the pupils.14 Another challenge was his students’ lack of names. He had to give names to many of the pupils. Not only was he their teacher, but he also became their minister. Soon after classes have started, Pangca organized a baptismal class of sixteen members who attended every often.15 When his candidates were ready for baptism, he requested that the mission headquarters send a pastor who could baptize the candidates.16 Pangca served as a mission school teacher for the tribespeople of Decayo from June 1, 1950, to March 30, 1951.17 He served Mindanao Mission for another year as a church school teacher from June 1, 1951, to March 30, 1952.18

From June 1956 to March 1958, Pangca served as a principal and teacher in the Central Luzon Mission.19 After serving in Luzon for two years, he was called back to Mindanao to serve as the educational director for the Western Mindanao Mission beginning June 1, 1958.20 He served the Western Mindanao Mission until 1962. In 1963, he became the educational director of the East Visayan Mission in where he served until 1965.21 In that same year, Pangca was also ordained in the ministry.22

He was then called to continue his service as an education director for the Central Visayan Mission from 1966 to 1971.23 In the same mission, Pangca also served as Sabbath School and lay activities secretary for a year.

Pangca became dean of the men’s dormitory at Mountain View College in 1974.24 Two years later, he was called to become the president of the Northeastern Mindanao Mission where he served from 1976 to 1979.25 From 1980 until 1984, Pangca served as president of the Western Mindanao Mission.26

Pangca was called to be the church pastor of Davao Mission in January 1985.27 He served the mission as a church pastor for two years, and served another year in its trust services department and as a field secretary.28

Later Life

In June 1988, Pangca a stroke he experienced in June 1988 and took medical leave.29 In January 1989, he permanently retired from the ministry.30 He passed away at the age of 80 on October 30, 2008.31

Contribution

Fernando Gomera Pangca served the Lord in various capacities in six different mission territories in the Philippines. He started his ministry at a young age with very little experience, but his willingness to serve the Lord and to learn made him successful in the ministry. He has served as a teacher, principal, education director, dean of men, secretary, president, and church pastor.32

Sources

Fernando G. Pangca. Far Eastern Division Retirement Fund Application. Southern-Asia Pacific Division Archives.

Fernando G. Pangca Worker’s Record. Southern-Asia Pacific Division Archives.

Obregon, J. R. “Among the Tribespeople of Mindanao.” ARH, June 28, 1951.

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

Notes

  1. Fernando G. Pangca Worker’s Record, Southern-Asia Pacific Division Archives.↩

  2. Ibid.↩

  3. Ibid.↩

  4. Ibid.↩

  5. Ibid.↩

  6. Ibid.↩

  7. Ibid.↩

  8. Ibid.↩

  9. Ibid.↩

  10. Ibid.↩

  11. J. R. Obregon, “Among the Tribespeople of Mindanao,” ARH, June 28, 1951, 18.↩

  12. Ibid.↩

  13. Ibid.↩

  14. Ibid.↩

  15. Ibid.↩

  16. Ibid.↩

  17. Fernando G. Pangca, Worker’s Record.↩

  18. Ibid.↩

  19. Ibid. Cf. “South-Central Luzon Mission,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1958), 100.↩

  20. Fernando G. Pangca, Far Eastern Division Retirement Fund Application, Southern- Asia Pacific Division Archives.↩

  21. Ibid.↩

  22. Ibid.↩

  23. Ibid.↩

  24. Ibid.↩

  25. Ibid.↩

  26. Ibid.↩

  27. Ibid.↩

  28. Ibid.↩

  29. Fernando G. Pangca, Far Eastern Division Retirement Fund Application.↩

  30. Ibid.; Cf. Worker’s Record.↩

  31. Far Eastern Division Retirement Fund Application.↩

  32. Far Eastern Division Worker’s Record.↩

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Tornalejo, Ingrid Idyll M. "Pangca, Fernando Gomera (1928–2008)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. January 18, 2021. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=ECLU.

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Tornalejo, Ingrid Idyll M. "Pangca, Fernando Gomera (1928–2008)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. January 18, 2021. Date of access December 13, 2024, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=ECLU.

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Tornalejo, Ingrid Idyll M. (2021, January 18). Pangca, Fernando Gomera (1928–2008). Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. Retrieved December 13, 2024, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=ECLU.

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