Healing Bodies and
Winning Souls to Christ
SINCE 1956
Art for Good News' Sake 3
A fund-raiser for the IPAPHOD Transformation Project of the Good News Clinic & Hospital
ISAIAH 52:7
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news and proclaim salvation.
Cradled in the arms of the breathtaking Banaue Rice Terraces, one of UNESCO’s world heritage sites, is the Good News Clinic and Hospital (GNCH). Located in the Cordillera Mountains, North of Luzon, Philippines, this 6 decade medical facility is the lone hospital in the municipality of Banaue catering to the medical needs of the Ifugaos and neighboring tribes.
Managed by a Philippine board of Trustees, GNCH is equipped with surgical and obstetric facilities, plus radiology and laboratory services. Medical care at GNCH averaged 28 out-patients and 15 in-patients daily last 2024. Despite being the only hospital in the town of Banaue, due to inadequate staffing & equipment, patients are forced to go to the nearest hospital 50 minutes away.
Starting in the COVID years of 2020-2021, very few patients trickled in. Many, driven by the fear of contracting the virus, stayed ill in their homes. This resulted in massive revenue losses. Also as a small hospital, it is unable to afford recruiting and retaining key hospital staff for it to qualify as a first-level hospital–a classification which will merit more government reimbursement and support. Thus, GNCH is in need of support to continue its mission to heal bodies and win souls to Christ.
MISSION & VISION
Ministering to the whole man: Body, Soul and Spirit
Our Vision: Be the best holistic Health Care Provider in Ifugao (Luke 10.9)
Our Mission: Provide health care services encompassing body & spirit (Psalm 147:3)
Our Uniqueness: We seek to show by deed as by word the blessing of the gospel promise by helping people with medical and spiritual needs in the name of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 9:35-36)
Our Core Values: Being Christ-centered, we follow the acronym C.H.R.I.S.T.
Competence
Holism
Respect
Integrity
Service
Teamwork
HISTORY
Over 65 Years of Ministry
Founded in 1956 by Dr. James Irvine, a USAFFE medical corps veteran missionary, GNCH was part of the Far East Gospel Crusade (FEGC). FEGC was nationalized in the early 70s and GNCH was registered as a non-stock, non-profit religious mission hospital. Aside from Dr. Irvine, several other missionary doctors served at the clinic: Dr. James Irvine (from 1956 – 1965, 1980 – 1988), Dr. Eleazar Sarmiento (1964 – 1968), Dr. William McCurry (1964 – 1970), Dr. Joel Ruiz (1969 – 1980) and his son Dr. Joash Ruiz (2022-2024).
Surgeon Dr. Antonio “Tony” Ligot and wife Sylvia have been serving in the hospital since 1988. After the husband-&-wife team retired in 2021, Dr. Tony and Sylvia continue to work closely with the Board and help out as advisors.
STEWARDSHIP
Board of Trustees
The heterogeneous blend of gifts, skills, and expertise makes this dedicated Board of Trustees a unique group of decision-makers. Their experiences range from best practices in the fields of medicine, hospital administration, and communications, to pastoral care, counseling, law, finance and the arts.
Governing Members
- Veteran Broadcaster and Corporate Communications Practitioner
- Greenhills Christian Fellowship (GCF) Elder and Emmaus Road Counselor
Trustee since 2023
- Corporate Senior Executive for Pharma Companies (Retired)
- Greenhills Christian Fellowship (GCF) Elder
Trustee since 1992
- Seasoned Civil and Litigation Lawyer
- Professor and Incumbent Associate Dean of Jose Rizal University Law School
Trustee since 2011
- Developmental Pediatrician and Advocate for Neurodiverse Children
- GCF Operation Compassion Medical Missions Team Co-Founder
Trustee since 2023
- United Coconut ChemIcals, Inc. General Manager (Retired)
- GCF International Christian School Board Chairman and GCF Elder
Former GNCH Board Chairman
- Nephrologist, Department of Adult Nephrology, National Kidney and Transplant Institute
- Doctor of Ministry and Conservative Baptist Seminary Asia Professor
- Ministry Lead Elder of GCF Couples Ministry and GCF Pastor (Retired)
Corporate Members
- Doctor of Dental Medicine
- Board of Directors Child Evangelism Fellowship-NCR and GCF Deaconess
- Artist and Advocate of Social Causes, Philippine Arts and Heritage
- Greenhills Christian Fellowship (GCF) Deaconess
- ENT- Head & Neck Surgeon and FAA Medical Examiner
- Private and Instrument Pilot and Flying Z LLC President
- Philippines and Global Medical/Surgical Missions Organizer
STAFF
Our People, Our Backbone
Twenty-two administrative, medical and ancillary staff personnel gather together everyday to study God’s Word and pray for the patients, their families and the day’s work. Caring for them does not stop at attending to their medical needs. The staff take turns singing to the patients and their companions, reading the Bible to them and praying for them.
Jovita S. Diagan
FORMER GNCH STAFF
I worked at Good News Clinic and Hospital for 26 years as a Nurse Aide. I retired at 60 years old in 2006. As a Nurse Aide, I helped the nurses and assisted Dr. Ligot in the emergency room. As I worked with Dr. Ligot and the nurses, I learned many things. God is good! I grew in my spiritual life. The Lord gave me the patience, joy and peace to serve Him. To God be the glory, great things He has done!”
Tessie Bulligan
WIFE OF FORMER PATIENT
In October 1974, my husband Luis was sick. After performing Baki (our native way of healing people) and still not getting well, we brought Luis to Good News Clinic for medication. During his one-week confinement, the chaplain Pastor Tony Cumaddap went to every patient’s room to share God’s Word of salvation. By God’s grace, Luis accepted Jesus as his Savior.
Hearing God’s Word was very irritating to me at that time. After being discharged, Luis went to church services every Sunday at Banaue Evangelical Church.
As time passed and by God’s grace and mercy, my mind was opened to the gospel that on October 6, 1976, I repented of my sins and accepted Jesus into my heart. After 2 years, the first evangelistic meeting was conducted in our house and many were saved through the preaching of Pastor Jessie Alisbo, one of the former chaplains of the Good News Clinic and Hospital. Since then, Bible classes were held in the houses of families who were saved.
In 1992, we started our Sunday fellowship in one of the believers’ houses. The Lord touched many hearts to help construct a church building the following year. Ibayong Vibrant Evangelical Church, now celebrating 24 years of God’s goodness, is a product of the GNCH’s ministry of winning souls to Jesus. Glory to the Lord!”
WAYS TO SERVE
Minister with Us
At present, the Department of Health has classified the Good News Clinic and Hospital as a Primary Health Care (Infirmary) simply because it is unable to meet professional clinical staff requirements for a Level 1 hospital. GNCH lacks workers both in their professional and ancillary staff. It has constantly been in dire need of doctors, especially a surgeon.
If you are interested to help out for short or long-term medical missions work, please contact:
Good News Clinic and Hospital
Banaue, Ifugao 3601
Mobile Nos.: (Office/ER) +639100948505 / +639759165249
Email: gnchbanaue@gmail.com
Dr. Carol Abayao
Mobile: +639087727664
Email: goodnewscarol25@gmail.com
Dr. Marie Lim
Mobile: +639178994693
Email: marranzlim@gmail.com
GIVE
Transformation Project
The IPAPHOD Transformation Project—from the Ifugao word meaning “to set things right, to make things good, to fix, to improve, to reset to standard”—represents GNCH’s holistic vision for renewal. This proposal outlines GNCH’s path to restore, rebuild, retool, renew, and reaffirm its mission for generations to come.
- Restore our Hospital by helping us meet health standards with modern equipment and renovated facilities.
- Rebuild our Foundations Literally. Reinforce our retaining stonewalls to protect against landslides.
- Retool the Next Generation of doctors, nurses, and non-medical personnel through training and scholarships.
- Renew our System with energy-efficient processes that lower costs and care for God’s creation.
- Reaffirm our Message “Healing Bodies and Winning Souls to Christ”
GNCH DONOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Under the IPAPHOD Project, two vital pillars—Retool the Next Generation and Renew our Systems—call for ongoing investment in staff welfare, training, and operational systems. These areas are less visible than buildings and equipment, but they are the lifeblood of GNCH’s ministry.
To meet these needs, GNCH is launching the Donor Development Project, a challenge to our friends and supporters to become regular donors who will sustain the hospital’s daily operations and long-term growth.
For foreign (tax-deductible) donations, please make checks payable to:
D.M. Stearns Missionary Fund
and memo check for: Good News Clinic and Hospital, Inc. #216
and send to: P.O. Box 1578 North Wales, PA 19454
For Philippine donations, please make check payable to / deposit / fund transfer to:
Good News Clinic and Hospital, Inc.
Philippine National Bank (PNB) – Araneta Center Branch
Acct. No. 1276 7000 3442
RESOURCES
ANNUAL REPORTS
Click to view or download our past Annual Reports to learn more about the work we do, and the stewardship of our resources.
GNCH Brochure
Download GNCH brochure and help us spread the good news of God’s Work in Banaue.
CONTACT US
Good News Clinic and Hospital
Banaue, Ifugao, Philippines 3601