After years of anticipation, the BYU–Pathway Worldwide Global Education Center (GEC) in Cebu City officially opened its doors today, Saturday, February 8, 2025, providing potential students in the region with a unique, campus-style environment to support their online education.
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| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
The center, the first of its kind in the Philippines, serves as a hub for students enrolled in BYU–Pathway Worldwide, an online higher education institution sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The GEC offers hands-on training, career preparation resources, interview practice rooms, remote workstations, English language classes, and collaborative study spaces. To inform locals about the project and its goals, BYU–Pathway hosted an open house event at the Cebu Temple Complex, attended by enrolled students, their parents, government officials, media representatives, and interested youth and young single adults.
Cebu City Mayor Hon. Raymond Alvin N. Garcia, along with government officials, business leaders, and community representatives, joined the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony. Elder Carlos G. Revillo Jr., Philippines Area President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Brian Ashton, President of BYU–Pathway Worldwide; President Bruce Kusch of Ensign College; Jonee Briones, International Manager for BYU–Pathway Worldwide; and Jairus Perez, Manager of GEC Cebu, welcomed the guests and shared insights on the initiative.
More than 700 students, parents, and guests also attended the open house, touring the facility and learning about the educational tools available. The GEC, currently housed at the Lahug Stake meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints within the Cebu Philippines Temple Complex, features nearly 100 computers, high-speed internet, and industry-standard technical equipment, ensuring students have the resources needed to succeed.
Apart from the technical equipment, the GEC also offers its facilities as a safe and inspiring “gathering space” for young adults where they can be encouraged to meet and mingle and foster friendships and relationships.
“The educational program offerings by BYU–Pathway and the Global Education Center are open to all, to everyone — not just members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but also to friends of the Church,” Elder Revillo said.
"The love of our Savior, Jesus Christ, is upon our beloved country, the Philippines. We continue to see His hand in extending the promised blessings of education through the BYU–Pathway Worldwide program," he added.
Media representatives from over 30 organizations participated in a panel discussion with Elder Revillo and BYU–Pathway Worldwide officials. Discussions included student enrollment projections, future collaborations with industries to enhance graduate employment opportunities, and plans to build a larger facility to accommodate more students.
To learn more about enrolling, available online programs, tuition costs, and scholarship opportunities, visit byupathway.edu.
About BYU-Pathway Worldwide
BYU-Pathway Worldwide is an online institution of higher learning sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. BYU-Pathway Worldwide’s mission is to develop disciples of Jesus Christ who are leaders in their homes, the Church, and their communities. In 2024 alone, BYU-Pathway served nearly 75,000 students in more than 180 countries.