Elder Kearon Brings Hope and Comfort to Survivors of Twin Typhoons in Cebu, Philippines 

Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Jennifer, visited Cebu on November 21, 2025, where they met with more than 100 members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Liloan Stake Center. Those in attendance had experienced different forms of loss and suffering during the onslaught of Typhoon Tino and Super Typhoon Uwan. 

Elder and Sister Kearon were joined by Philippines Area President Carlos G. Revillo Jr. and his wife, Marie.  

At the devotional, the Church leaders first received a status report from Stake President Rodolfo Torralba Jr. on the current conditions in Cebu. He recounted the damage caused not only by the twin typhoons but also by a deadly 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck the province a few months earlier. 

“I bring you the profound love of President Dallin H. Oaks, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,” Elder Kearon said. “Our hearts have ached with you. We pray that you are receiving the help that will allow you to continue taking steps forward.” 

Church Provides Emergency Aid 

In response to the recent disasters, the Church has provided emergency assistance to families in Cebu. Relief items have included food, drinking water, hygiene supplies, kitchen kits and water filtration buckets. The Church also installed water filtration systems in the Liloan Stake Center and other meetinghouses in the hardest-hit communities to ensure access to clean, potable water for members and neighbors. 

Local Latter-day Saints, many of whom experienced damage to their own homes, joined community-wide cleanup efforts to remove mud and debris left by flooding. Full-time missionaries also assisted families as they returned to their homes. 

“You have experienced storms and earthquakes,” Elder Kearon said, “but you have shown remarkable spiritual grace and resilience.” 

Ministering to the Grieving 

Following the devotional, Elder and Sister Kearon met privately with Sister Jamella Andagan, a member whose family lost their seven-year-old daughter, Jabesh, during the severe flooding. 

Before departing, Elder Kearon greeted many survivors individually, offering words of comfort and encouragement. 

“Elder Kearon’s visit was truly uplifting and inspiring. After the typhoons, many were down and discouraged. His visit reminded us of the Savior’s love,” President Torralba said. “His words and his love brought hope and comfort to us all.” 

Ongoing Support in the Philippines 

Because of its geographic location in the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines experiences frequent natural disasters, including typhoons, earthquakes, flooding and volcanic activity. The Church continues to support local communities by providing emergency aid, promoting self-reliance and helping families prepare for future emergencies.