Visayan Nazarene Bible College is an institution owned and operated by the Church of the Nazarene – Philippines, Inc. authorized and recognized as U – level (undergraduate level) Nazarene institution by the International Board of Education (IBOE) , Church of the Nazarene.
1962 was the year the vision to establish VNBC was partly realized when through the leadership of Rev. and Mrs. Roy Copelin a 700 square meter property with an existing huge house structure in Iloilo City was purchased to house the College. It was, however, in 1964 when the leadership of Rev. and Mrs. Stanley Wilson. In 1975 the administration and classroom building was erected. Below is a trace of the VNBC curriculum development:
1964 – Christian Leader’s Certificate
1967 – Five-year Bachelor of Theology Degree
1975 – First Batch of Graduates
1976 – Christian Worker’s Diploma (A 4-year diploma qualifying Graduates
for Ordination but not for graduate level Seminary.
1980 – First Batch of Graduates
1986 – Associate in Biblical Studies (replacing 4-year Diploma
1990 – First Batch of Graduates
1987 – Bachelor of Religious Education
1991 – First Batch of Graduates
1992 – Bachelor of Religious Education major in Pre-School Education/Administration
1992 – Pre-School Laboratory was formally opened
1993 – Two major tracks for BRE:(1) Pre-School Education / Administration and (2) Christian Education / Administration in the Local Church
1995 – First Batch of Graduates for both majors
1995 – Application for permit with CHED for the two degree programs was
processed. BTH and BRE were then changed to ABTH (Bachelor of
Arts in Theology major in Pastoral Ministries and ABRE, Bachelor of
Arts in Religious Education major in Pre-School Education / Administration.
Graduates of these degree programs are qualified for the Teacher’s
Licensing requirements by the Philippine Regulatory Commission.
1997-99 – Permit granted and renewed.
Nov. 6, 2000 – FULL RECOGNITION for the two degree programs was granted
by the Commission on Higher Education
1998 – Elementary School Laboratory (preparing for the ABRE: Elementary
Education / Administration degree program was opened. DECS permit
was processed in 1997.
It was in 1984 when the Board of Directors of VNBC decided to transfer the college to Cebu
City, a more central location for Visayas and Mindanao regions of the country. A 1.1 hectare
property located near the famous Montebello hotel in Cebu City was purchased. In 1985 the
college was formally transferred to the new location using the Central Visayas District
facilities for its first year of operation. From 1987 to the present, VNBC had been blessed
with five permanent and three semi-permanent buildings all of which had been results of
much prayer and dependence on God’s provision.
In its 37 years this February, 2001 VNBC has graduated a total of one hundred sixty seven
(167) for its Theology degree, nineteen (19) for its Religious Education degree, ten (10) for
its Associate degree programs, thirty seven (37) Christian workers Diploma and fifty (50)
Christian Leadership Certificate. Majority of these graduates are active in either pastoral
or teaching ministry all over the country and abroad.
Many changes and improvements have been faced by the College under the God – inspired
leadership and dedication of the following:
Rev. and Mrs. Roy Copelin (Erna) – 1962 – 64
Rev. and Mrs. Stanley Wilson (Flora) – 1964 – 68 ; 71 – 74 ; 76 – 79
Dr. and Mrs. Wilfredo Manaois (Lourdes) – 1974 – 75
Rev. and Mrs. Denny Owens (Betty) – 1979 – 80
Rev. and Mrs. Florencio Angeles (Evelyn) – 1980 – 82
Rev. and Mrs. Alvin Orchard (Betty) – 1982 – 84 ; 1986 – 87
Dr. Julie Macainan – Detalo, 1st term – 1984 – 85
Rev. and Mrs. Roy Copelin (Erna) – 1985 – 86
Dr. Julie Macainan – Detalo – 1987 – 2011
Rev. Inocensio “Jun” Cabantug Jr. – 2012-present
