When the Davao Philippines Temple opened its doors to the public for two weeks last month, four TV sets helped welcome tens of thousands of visitors through its open house. When the event concluded, local Church leaders made a quiet decision: the sets would stay in the community, just not in the temple.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated the four TV units to Ma-a Central Elementary School in Davao City on April 13, 2026, in a simple turnover ceremony held on the school campus. The school sits adjacent to the Davao Philippines Temple grounds on Ma-a Road, making it a natural recipient of the goodwill that followed one of the most significant religious events in Mindanao in recent memory.
The donation was formally received by Dr. Ami Lyne Rose Yurong, Principal III of Ma-a Central Elementary School, who described the contribution as timely and meaningful. She noted that the television sets will support the school's audio-visual instruction and enhance classroom learning experiences for its students.
From Open House to Schoolhouse
The TV sets were originally purchased by the Church for use during the Davao Philippines Temple Public Open House, which ran from March 26 to April 10, 2026. The two-week event drew visitors of all faiths from across Mindanao and beyond, offering the public a rare and final opportunity to tour the interior of a Latter-day Saint temple before its formal dedication on May 3, 2026.
Following the successful conclusion of the open house, local Church leaders decided that the equipment could serve a greater purpose just steps away from the temple grounds.
William Hernaez, overall coordinator of the Davao Philippines Temple Open House Committee, explained that the donation reflects the Church's desire to extend the spirit and benefits of the open house to the broader community. "The television units were originally purchased for use during the public open house," he said. "After the event, Church leaders decided to donate the units to Ma-a Elementary School, which is located adjacent to the temple grounds."
Facilitating the turnover were members of the Open House Committee: Hernaez as overall coordinator; Elmer Salonga, executive secretary; Junicel Perez, chair of the Physical Facilities Subcommittee; and Donna Pareja, chair of the Communications Subcommittee. They were joined by Fernando Pareja, first counselor in the Davao Philippines Stake Presidency and temple recorder.
Extending Christlike Service
The donation is the latest expression of the Church's longstanding commitment to community service in Davao City, where it has supported education, infrastructure, and humanitarian initiatives alongside its growing congregation of Latter-day Saints.
Fernando Pareja, first counselor in the Davao Philippines Stake Presidency and temple recorder, offered the spirit behind the gesture in simple terms.
"The Church's donation to the school reflects the love and generosity of Jesus Christ, who taught us to care for others selflessly," he said. "Through this act of service, we follow His example by sharing blessings and supporting those in need. We do these good works not for recognition, but to glorify God and spread His compassion in our community."
For the students of Ma-a Central Elementary School, the gift arrives at a practical moment. Dr. Yurong expressed her sincere appreciation, noting that the television sets will directly support classroom instruction and audio-visual learning resources that make a measurable difference in the daily educational experience of her students.
The Davao Philippines Temple, now awaiting its formal dedication, will serve Latter-day Saints throughout Mindanao. It is the fifth operating temple in the Philippines and the first on the island of Mindanao, a milestone that, in its final days as a public space, left something behind for the neighborhood that watched it rise.
The Davao Philippines Temple will be dedicated on May 3, 2026, by Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.