Lommasson Alliance Bible College

Geographical Location

The College is located in the Municipality of Lapuyan, in the southern section of the Province of Zamboanga del Sur. It is about a two-hour ride going to the city of Pagadian. The Municipality is bounded on the east by the Municipality of San Miguel, north by the Municipality of Kumalarang and south-southwest by the waters of Dumanquilas Bay and has an aggregated area of 17,325 hectares of land of which the Poblacion accounted for 1,843.6897 hectares or 11 percent of the total land area.

Accreditation

The Lommasson Alliance Bible College is one of the nine theological schools of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Churches of the Philippines (CAMACOP), Inc. The School has attracted students from various cultures in the country and has been instrumental in producing Christian leaders, pastors, educators, and church planters. LABC is accredited by the Philippine Association of Bible and Theological Schools (PABATS).

Brief History

The present LABC started as the Tribal Bible School (TBS). Its vision was to train and equip Subanen workers in spreading the gospel. At first, class sessions were held in a church in Maruing in 1967. There were only few students then, and naturally only few teachers were needed. Sacrifice and perseverance marked the lives of the pioneering teachers and students of the College. From Maruing, the College was temporarily transferred to the Lapuyan Alliance Tabernacle in 1969. Still there were no classrooms available, but only a vacant church building, which was at that time more than enough to accommodate a handful of students. The realization of an ideal Bible school was not yet perceivable during those early years, since TBS was still in the stages of building. The churches who welcomed TBS played very important roles in helping the School grow and thrive showing the wonders of what teamwork can accomplish.

The College continued under the same setting until it finally found a place where it could settle itself independently as a school in 1971. TBS during that time became known as Lommasson Memorial Bible School (LMBS) in memory of the late Rev. & Mrs. Samuel Lommasson, the first missionary couple who was responsible for converting many of the Subanens to Christianity. The chosen school site was beside the Lapuyan River and several plots of fishponds. These natural resources provided the occupants of the College with food, which was available if they were ready to help themselves. The maxim that, “God helps those who help themselves” clearly illustrated the lives of the teachers and students of the College. School buildings started to rise within the vicinity. Dormitories for men and ladies as well as faculty cottages were added to the physical realization of an ideal college. With the availability of enough space, volleyball and basketball courts were made. The students during those times really had their first taste of campus life, a privilege that was deprived from them when the College was only temporarily based in some churches. Within the campus setting, both students and teachers had the luxury of interacting informally among themselves. The learning that was solely limited to the classroom was made available in a real-life setting.

However, the LMBS school site lacked a good source of water. The nearest source of drinkable water was not readily accessible. So once again the site was transferred to what is now LABC. What was inadequate in LMBS was abundant in LABC. Water seemed to come out almost from anywhere. Such an event proves that God sees the needs of His people and He is eveready to supply them if they only put their trust in Him. The start of LABC, just like any other school, was difficult. The former students and teachers had to be accommodated in whatever was made available at the time. Sacrifice was once more evident in the lives of the students and faculty. With God’s help, however, it was not long before foreign aids were sent to finance buildings and cottages.

Admistrative Personnel and Faculty Members:

Rev. Manuel A. Labadia - President
Prof. Ahmid Bualan - Dean, Academic Affairs
Ms. Evelyn Labadia - Dean, Student Affairs
Ms. Evangeline Andagao - Registrar
Ms. Vecia Tabayag - Treasurer/Business Manager
Rev. Hosea Manda - Chaplain/Faculty
Rev. Roberto Tumbale - Faculty
Prof. Allan Zulueta - Faculty Member
Ptr. Rhamie Paculio - Faculty Member
Ms. Debbie Paculio - Pre-School Teacher
Ms. Nina Delasas - Library Assistant/Part Time Teacher
Mr. Jay Lozada - Student Teacher
Mr. Neto Coluban - Clerk
Mr. Archie Lagare - Student Teacher