~Featured Missionary and Country of the Week - Kevin and Lolita Vacca/Philippine Islands

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Kevin and Lolita Vacca
Region(s): Pacific
Field(s): Philippines

Website: click here to visit

Bio: As a U.S. Marine sergeant, Kevin Vacca and his wife, Lolita, were saved in 1982. Within two years they felt called to foreign missions. He eventually left the military to work in the aerospace industry. Because of his job, they were able to serve as AIMers in Germany, Japan, and Taiwan. The Vaccas were appointed to Taiwan in 1994. While attending language school, they organized five international works in five cities. Their appointment was changed to the Philippines in May 1999. In September 2000 they were asked to pastor a Trinitarian church after being invited to preach by the church elders. Shortly thereafter, 33 members were rebaptized in Jesus’ name. The church is now a UPC congregation with 200 in attendance. Vacca serves as advisor to Region 2, is a member of the executive board, and serves on three district boards.

The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. In 1935 the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. Manuel QUEZON was elected president and was tasked with preparing the country for independence after a 10-year transition. In 1942 the islands fell under Japanese occupation during World War II, and US forces and Filipinos fought together during 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the Republic of the Philippines attained its independence. A 20-year rule by Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986, when a "people power" movement in Manila ("EDSA 1") forced him into exile and installed Corazon AQUINO as president. Her presidency was hampered by several coup attempts that prevented a return to full political stability and economic development. Fidel RAMOS was elected president in 1992. His administration was marked by increased stability and by progress on economic reforms. In 1992, the US closed its last military bases on the islands. Joseph ESTRADA was elected president in 1998. He was succeeded by his vice-president, Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in January 2001 after ESTRADA's stormy impeachment trial on corruption charges broke down and another "people power" movement ("EDSA 2") demanded his resignation. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was elected to a six-year term as president in May 2004. Her presidency was marred by several corruption allegations but the Philippine economy was one of the few to avoid contraction following the 2008 global financial crisis, expanding each year of her administration. Benigno AQUINO III was elected to a six-year term as president in May 2010. The Philippine Government faces threats from several groups on the US Government's Foreign Terrorist Organization list. Manila has waged a decades-long struggle against ethnic Moro insurgencies in the southern Philippines, which has led to a peace accord with the Moro National Liberation Front and on-again/off-again peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The decades-long Maoist-inspired New Peoples' Army insurgency also operates through much of the country.

Philippines

Republic of the Philippines/Republika ng Pilipinas
Area Coordinator: Richard A. Denny
Superintendent/President: Alfredo Bodagas
Population: 86300000
Area: 115,830 sq. mi.
Capital: Manila
Languages: Filipino (based on Tagalog), English, regional languages
Religions: Roman Catholic, 83%; Protestant, 9%; Islam, 5%; Buddhist and others, 3%

The Philippine Islands are an archipelago of over 7,000 islands lying about 500 miles off the southeast coast of Asia. The northernmost island is 65 miles from Taiwan while the southernmost island is 40 miles from Borneo. The overall land area is comparable to Arizona’s. A former Spanish and United States colony, the Philippines has many affinities with the Western world including Spain and Latin America due to three centuries of Spanish colonial rule. Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion, and Filipino and English are the official languages. Since its founding in 1957 by Elmer Buckmiller and Arthur Dillon, the UPC of the Philippines has grown to 225,000 constituents, 1,690 licensed ministers, and 4,100 churches and preaching points. The Philippine church operates four Bible schools, one of which is directed by a national leader.

Location:

Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam

Geographic coordinates:  13 00 N, 122 00 E
Map references:  Southeast Asia
Area:  total: 300,000 sq km
Country comparison to the world: 72
Land: 298,170 sq km
Water: 1,830 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Arizona

Population: - 99,900,177 (July 2010 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 12
Age structure:
     -0-14 years: 35.2% (male 17,606,352/female 16,911,376)
     -15-64 years: 60.6% (male 29,679,327/female 29,737,919)
     -65 years and over: 4.1% (male 1,744,248/female 2,297,381) (2010 est.)

The Vacca family live on the Island of Cebu and Pastor a church in the city of Bogo along with their other responsibilities.