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Temple Site
Standing on a hilltop that overlooks the Marikina Valley, the Manila Philippines Temple anchors a complex of Church buildings including a temple annex, a patron housing facility, a missionary training center, and area offices. The beautiful grounds, open to the public, are filled with majestic palm trees and lush, colorful vegetation.
On April 1, 1981, the LDS Church announced that a temple would be built in the Philippines. The groundbreaking and site dedication for the temple were on August 25, 1982. In January 1981, the LDS Church had purchased land in Quezon City, in the Metro Manila area. The site was partly chosen because of its accessibility to members throughout the temple district.
On September 25, 1984, Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Manila Philippines Temple. The temple has four ordinance rooms and three sealing rooms and has a total floor area of 26,683 square feet (2,478.9 m2). As of 2018, with approximately 750,000 church members in the Philippines, the temple also serves members in Micronesia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, India, and part of Burma. As of September 2018, in addition to this temple, there is another operating temple in Cebu City, one under construction in Urdaneta, and two others announced - one in Cagayan de Oro and a second in the greater Manila area.
Temple History
The Manila Philippines Temple was the first temple built in the Philippines and the second built in Asia. The street where the Manila Philippines Temple is located was renamed to Temple Drive during the temple's construction.
A typhoon approached Manila the day before the groundbreaking of the Manila Philippines Temple, creating concern that would event would have to be postponed. At a mission conference that evening, a missionary prayed for the weather to cooperate so that the groundbreaking could continue. The typhoon changed direction that night, and the groundbreaking proceeded as planned. The days prior to the dedication of the Manila Philippines Temples saw several natural disasters in the Philippines including two typhoons, the eruption of Mayon volcano on Bicol Peninsula, and an earthquake in northern Luzon. The temple remained unaffected.
Nearly 27,000 toured the interior of the Manila Philippines Temple during its 13-day open house held prior to its dedication. The Manila Philippines Temple was dedicated in nine sessions by President Gordon B. Hinckley, Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
Temple District
he Manila Philippines Temple serves members from 79 stakes and 33 districts headquartered in Luzon, Micronesia, and Guam:
Luzon Island
- Agoo Philippines Stake
- Aguilar Philippines District
- Alaminos Philippines District
- Alicia Philippines Stake
- Angeles Philippines Stake
- Antipolo Philippines Stake
- Aparri Philippines District
- Bacoor Philippines Stake
- Baguio Philippines Stake
- Balanga Philippines Stake
- Balayan Philippines District
- Baler Philippines District
- Baliwag Philippines Stake
- Ballesteros Philippines Stake
- Bambang Philippines District
- Bangued Philippines District
- Bangui Philippines District
- Batac Philippines Stake
- Batangas Philippines Stake
- Bauang Philippines District
- Bayambang Philippines Stake
- Bongabon Philippines District
- Bulan Philippines District
- Burgos Philippines District
- Cabanatuan Philippines Stake
- Cabuyao Philippines Stake
- Calasiao Philippines Stake
- Caloocan Philippines Stake
- Camarin Philippines Stake
- Camiling Philippines District
- Candon Philippines Stake
- Catanduanes Philippines District
- Cauayan Philippines District
- Cavite Philippines Stake
- Daet Philippines Stake
- Dagupan Philippines Stake
- Dasmarinas Philippines Stake
- Fairview Philippines Stake
- Gapan Philippines Stake
- Goa Philippines Stake
- Gonzaga Philippines District
- Guimba Philippines District
- Iba Philippines Stake
- Ilagan Philippines Stake
- Iriga Philippines Stake
- Laoag Philippines Stake
- Las Piñas Philippines Stake
- Legazpi Philippines Stake
- Ligao Philippines District
- Lingayen Philippines Stake
- Lipa Philippines Stake
- Lopez Philippines Stake
- Lubao Philippines Stake
- Lucena Philippines Stake
- Mabalacat Philippines Stake
- Makati Philippines East Stake
- Makati Philippines Stake
- Malolos Philippines Stake
- Mandaluyong Philippines Stake
- Mangaldan Philippines Stake
- Manila Philippines Stake
- Marikina Philippines Stake
- Mindoro Oriental Philippines District
- Montalban Philippines Stake
- Morong Rizal Philippines Stake
- Naga Philippines Stake
- Naic Philippines Stake
- Narra Philippines District
- Novaliches Philippines Stake
- Olongapo Philippines Stake
- Orion Philippines Stake
- Pamplona Philippines District
- Paniqui Philippines Stake
- Paranaque Philippines Stake
- Pasay Philippines Stake
- Pasig Philippines Stake
- Puerto Princesa Philippines Stake
- Quezon City Philippines South Stake
- Quezon City Philippines Stake
- Quezon Philippines Palawan District
- Rosales Philippines Stake
- Roxas Philippines Isabela District
- San Antonio Philippines Stake
- San Fernando La Union Philippines Stake
- San Gabriel Philippines Stake
- San Jose del Monte Philippines North Stake
- San Jose del Monte Philippines Stake
- San Jose Mindoro Philippines Occidental District
- San Jose Nueva Ecija Philippines Stake
- San Pablo Philippines Stake
- Santa Cruz Laguna Philippines Stake
- Santa Cruz Marinduque Philippines District
- Santa Cruz Zambales Philippines District
- Santa Ignacia Philippines Stake
- Santiago Philippines North Stake
- Santiago Philippines Stake
- Siniloan Philippines District
- Solano Philippines District
- Sorsogon Philippines District
- Tabaco Philippines District
- Taguig Philippines Stake
- Tarlac Philippines Stake
- Taytay Philippines Stake
- Tuguegarao Philippines North Stake
- Tuguegarao Philippines South Stake
- Urdaneta Philippines Stake
- Valenzuela Philippines Stake
- Vigan Philippines District
Micronesia
- Kosrae Micronesia District
- Namoneas Chuuk District
- Panasang Pohnpei Stake
Guam
Temple Presidents
Notable presidents of the Manila Philippines Temple include:
- Victorino A. Babida 2019–
- Carlos C. Revillo Sr. 2017–2019
- Modesto M. Amistad 2014–2017
- Reynaldo L. Cuyong 2011–2014
- Moises M. Mabunga Jr. 2009–2011
- Earl M. Monson 2006–2009
- Ray W. Nelson 2003–2006
- Robert J. Tingey 2000–2003
- Augusto A. Lim 1996–2000 (who served as the first general authority called from the Philippines)
- Myron L. Francom 1993–1996
- F. Briton McConkie 1990–1993
- Floyd H. Hogan 1987–1990
- W. Garth Andrus 1984–1987
See Also
- LDS Church in the Philippines
- Philippines List of Stakes of the Church
- Mormon Temples List
- Manila Temple - ChurchofJesusChristTemples.com - Photo Gallery / Temple District
- Manila Temple - LDS.org - Operating Schedule
- Manila Temple - 7 Fun Facts - TheMoroniChannel.com
- Manila Temple - YouTube Video Tour
- Bombs, Bullets & Rockets - How the Manila Temple escaped Rebel Occupation - In early December 1989, a rebel force attempted to overthrow Philippine President Corazon Aquino. The rebels, mostly consisting of members of the nation’s army and marine corps, were eventually pushed back by government forces. (TheThirdHour.com)
References
Manila Philippines Temple
The Manila Philippines Temple is the 29th operating temple of the Church and is the first temple built in the Philippines (1984). Standing on a hilltop that overlooks the Marikina Valley, the Manila Philippines Temple anchors a complex of Church buildings including a temple annex, a patron housing facility, a missionary training center, and area offices. The beautiful grounds, open to the public, are filled with majestic palm trees and lush, colorful vegetation.
