An X-ray machine previously used to assist ecclesiastical missionaries at the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Metro Manila was officially turned over to Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium (Tala Hospital) in North Caloocan during a ceremony held on March 20, 2025.
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This donation is part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ ongoing commitment to serving those in need, following Jesus Christ's teachings and example.
During the turnover event, President Marcos Alido of the San Jose Del Monte Stake (diocese) highlighted the Church’s shared purpose with medical institutions: “Just as a hospital treats physical conditions, the Church supports the spiritual needs of individuals.”
Dr. Maryll Abaño, Chief of Medical Professional Staff II at Tala Hospital, expressed gratitude for the donated equipment. “This X-ray machine will significantly benefit our community and stakeholders. We share a common vision to help and serve, especially those less fortunate. Rest assured, we will use this equipment for the welfare of the community,” she said.
With Tala Hospital’s recent expansion to more than 2,000 beds, the X-ray machine is expected to help meet the increased demand in the Radiology Department. The hospital also hosts a radiology fellowship program, conducting around 2,800 monthly scans.
A similar X-ray machine, including features, delivery, and installation, could cost a public hospital between PHP 12.7 and PHP 14.1 million (USD 225,000 – USD 250,000) — a significant expense for many local hospitals. After serving the MTC for several years and following updates to missionary medical protocols, the equipment’s donation marks an important contribution to Tala Hospital’s growth and capacity to serve patients.
Missionary Training Centers are centers devoted to training missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It provides language instruction and preparation for new missionaries for three to six weeks, depending on the complexity of the language they are learning. The Philippines MTC in Manila prepares more than 4,000 missionaries to serve worldwide each year.
Following the messages at the turnover, Tala Hospital staff—including doctors and nurses—offered a musical performance, after which the ceremonial ribbon-cutting formally marked the acceptance of the X-ray machine.
This initiative is part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ continuing humanitarian efforts in the Philippines. In 2024, the Church supported almost PHP 600 million (10 million USD) in humanitarian projects, with Latter-day Saints providing countless volunteer hours to these efforts.
Globally, the Church has donated approximately 1.45 billion USD (82 billion PHP) in humanitarian aid through 3,836 projects, benefiting communities and individuals around the world. To learn more about the Church’s humanitarian initiatives, visit https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/serve/caring?lang=eng.