Faithful and True: Pioneers in the Philippines (Visayas)

Full-time missionaries began working in the Philippines in 1961. When the Manila Philippines Temple was dedicated in 1984, 23 years later, the Church had grown from a handful of Filipino members to more than 75,000 Latter-day Saints, 15 stakes, and numerous districts, wards, and branches. Today the growth of the Church continues at a rapid pace, with the number of Filipino members exceeding 800,000. On 28 April 2021, the Church will celebrate 60 years in the Philippines.

Missionary Work Begins in the Visayas

In 1961, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was formally recognized by the Philippine Government. From 1961 to 1966 the Philippine Islands was one of three Zones of the Church's Southern Far East Mission, headquartered in Hong Kong. During this time all missionary work in the Philippines was concentrated on the large island of Luzon, around the city of Manila, which is the largest population center of the Philippines.

The 'preliminary work' of expansion to the southern Philippine Islands started in August or September of 1966 when Elder Gordon B. Hinckley, perhaps in anticipation of the Philippines becoming a separate mission from the Southern Far East Mission, sent two missionaries, Elders Paul Wright and Tom Pierce from Manila, south to Cebu City. They were to test this area for potential missionary labors and return in six weeks. Following a very favorable and positive report to Elder Hinckley, Cebu City was opened for proselyting efforts, and four missionaries, Elders Paul Wright, Tom Pierce, Don Asay, and Richard Thorson were sent to Cebu to open missionary labors.

Ruben and Angelica San Gabriel

Ruben and Angelica San Gabriel were among the earliest Filipinos to join the Church in the Visayas. Before meeting the missionaries, the San Gabriels are devoted Catholic family, going to Catholic mass at 4:30 am every Sunday, religiously participated in most if not all the other activities of a devotee. This was their routine until one evening in June of 1974.

Jose Antonio, one of Ruben and Angelica's 7 children, recounted the experience. 

"I was with my father in front of the house and we were talking. It was about 6 in the evening and the sun when the sun had just set and there was a community power black-out. Suddenly, we saw what appeared to be two tall men in white clothes with a necktie approaching us. My father instructed me to get inside the house as he hurriedly closed the gate.

The only recollection I have of that evening was hurriedly getting inside the house only to see seconds later my father opening the gate and inviting the missionaries to come in. I went back to extend my hand to the missionaries who were more than eager to shake my hands. As soon as my dad and the missionaries stepped inside the terrace, the electric power came back."

His father, Ruben, shared his impression from that unforgettable evening. 

“When I saw the Americans, I knew that they were Mormon missionaries. I knew they would try to convince me to switch to another religion. Right away, I pushed my son Antonio to get inside the house and hurriedly closed the gate.  As I was in the act of walking towards the house, I felt like my chest was burning and heavy. I clung into the metal bar beside the driver seat of our jeepney anticipating that perhaps I was going to have a heart attack and collapse but I did not.

At that very moment when I thought I was going to faint, I heard a voice, asking me why I'm running away. I replied that I was trying to avoid the missionaries because I know they would try to convince me to join a religion I do not desire. The voice once again asked me if I was afraid of the missionaries. I answered no. Then the voice finally said, "If you are not afraid of them, invite them in". I went back to opened the gate and invited the missionaries in."

As soon as he did, Ruben said that two things happened - the burning, heavy feeling in his chest left as soon as he obeyed the voice and opened the gate to let the missionaries in. "What is even more amazing and symbolic was as soon as they stepped inside our terrace, the electric power was restored and our house was filled with light", he said.

But even with this remarkable encounter with the missionaries, the path to conversion was not easy for the San Gabriel family. Because of severe persecution from their extended family, they were forced to attend both the Catholic mass and the sacrament service at Church.

Ruben eventually had to make a choice. He knew that he joined the one true church, but his affinity for the other made it difficult to stay. “I struggled over the thought that I took it upon myself to bring my entire family to another religion. At that time, I was not 100% sure which one to keep and which one to let go of. One thing I was sure, I could not keep on going to two churches at the same time. I love the catholic church and the historical affinity I had with it but I believe that it was not the true church. It did not teach the truth. On the other hand, I joined this new religion because of what I have felt and received and believed to be the true one", he recalls.

"Under this severe strain and agony, one day, while reading the Book of Mormon and pondering its teachings, I knelt down and pray and pour out the intents of my soul to God. It was in that instant, that I realized I was like in a vision or a dream. I could not tell where I was but clearly, I could see a man standing there. Behind him are two roads that split into two opposite directions, one to the right and the other to the left of where he stood".

"As I got closer, I recognized that it was the Lord Jesus Christ. I was excited but nervous at the same time. I asked him, 'Lord, am I getting closer to you or farther away from you?' The Lord did not respond except to motion to me to come to him closer and I found myself getting closer and closer to him. At this point, the vision ended and I found myself kneeling before a bedside clasping a Book of Mormon in my hands. Right then and there, I knew that my decision to bring my family to baptism and joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the right decision".

Ruben San Gabriel became the first branch president in the newly organized branch in Kalibo, Aklan in December of 1974 and eventually became the first district president of the area. His entire family was sealed on 28 September 1984.