Church Holds Small-scale Groundbreaking for Alabang Philippines Temple

GREATER MANILA AREA — The Philippine Area Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held a small-scale groundbreaking ceremony for the Alabang Philippines Temple. The ceremony was originally scheduled on May 2, 2020, and was supposedly presided by Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles but due to the local restrictions imposed by the Philippine government, the Philippine Area presidency was asked to preside instead.

A small-group of Church leaders together with government leaders gathered at the temple site on Thursday, June 4, 2020. The ceremony was presided by Elder Evans A. Schmutz and was accompanied by his wife, Cindy; first counselor, Elder Taniela B. Wakolo, and his wife, Anita; and second counselor, Elder Steven R. Bangerter, and his wife, Susann.

The service was held a few days after the quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila were eased, allowing religious gatherings to a limited number of people.

Once finished, the temple will be a two-story building with a tall, tapering spire over the main entrance. The Church also plans for the construction of a patron housing facility behind the temple. It will be the fourth temple in the Philippines and the second temple built outside of the United States in the same metropolitan area as another operating temple. The temple will serve more than 750,000 latter-day saints in the country.