Five Days Left: Bacolod Philippines Temple Open House Closes May 2 

How the open house unfolded

The temple's public opening followed a carefully sequenced week of events. On April 13, the Church hosted a media day, welcoming journalists and media professionals from across the Visayas, including representatives from Bacolod, Iloilo, and Tacloban,  for a press conference and guided tour. The event was hosted by Elder K. Brett Nattress, a General Authority Seventy assigned to the Temple Department, and Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong, First Counselor in the Philippines Area Presidency, together with his wife Sister Carol Wong.

Elder Nattress expressed gratitude for the media's attendance and said the opportunity would help more people understand the blessings of the temple beyond its architectural beauty. In his remarks, he spoke of the centrality of Jesus Christ to the temple's purpose, noting how the Savior himself visited the temple repeatedly during the week before His crucifixion.

Special guests who have visited

Among the notable visitors who toured the temple during the invited guest period were Governor Eugenio Jose "Bong" Lacson of Negros Occidental and Talisay City Mayor Rowena Lizares. Their visits reflected the warmth and civic interest the temple has generated since construction began. The presence of provincial and city government leadership signals a recognition of the temple's significance not just to Latter-day Saints on Negros Island, but to the broader community that has watched it rise along the Bacolod Airport Access Road.

Interfaith leaders and community representatives were also among those who accepted the Church's invitation to tour the temple before the public open house began, continuing the Church's longstanding tradition of building bridges with neighbors of all backgrounds during open house events.

Open house details - final week

Remaining Dates: April 27 (Monday) - May 2, 2026 (Saturday)

Hours: 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Location: Corner of Bacolod Airport Access Road and Buri Road, Barangay Bata, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental

Admission: Free. No reservations required.

Tour Duration: Approximately 45 minutes, guiding walking tour. Wheelchair accessible. 

More info: Bacolod Philippines Temple Open House

About the temple

The Bacolod Philippines Temple stands 36.1 meters tall, built with a structural steel-braced frame. Exterior and interior patterns draw inspiration from Filipino barong shirt designs, with colors from local flora, like the bird of paradise and native lilies. Art glass throughout the building includes green, magenta, and blue tones. Crema Marfil stone is used in the flooring, along with 100% nylon-tufted rugs and Bentley carpet in custom colors and patterns.

The single-story structure spans approximately 2,480 square meters and stands on a 12.3-acre site. In addition to the main temple, an ancillary building of approximately 1,672 square meters houses patron accommodations, an arrival center, and a distribution center. Inside are a baptistry, instruction rooms, and sealing rooms — spaces dedicated to the sacred ordinances of the faith.

The temple was first announced by President Russell M. Nelson during the October 2019 General Conference, and a groundbreaking ceremony was held on December 11, 2021, presided over by Elder Taniela B. Wakolo. When dedicated, it will become the sixth operating temple in the Philippines and the second in the Visayas region, following the Cebu Philippines Temple dedicated in 2010. The temple's first president and matron will be Gregorio Horlador Lagaña and Maria Luisa Arnaiz Nain Lagaña.

An invitation to the public

The Church extends a warm and open invitation to everyone, regardless of faith, background, or belief,  to come and visit before Saturday. The tour is a walking tour lasting about 45 minutes. Following the tour, representatives of the Church will be available to answer any questions.

The open house provides a unique and rare opportunity for neighbors, friends, and community members of all backgrounds to walk through the interior of a Latter-day Saint temple. This experience will not be available again once the building is dedicated. Once dedicated on May 31, the temple will be reserved exclusively for Church members who hold a current temple recommend, and its doors will not reopen to the public.

After the open house: Dedication

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will preside at the temple's dedication on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., with a rebroadcast at 2:00 p.m. The dedicatory session will be broadcast to all Church units in the temple district.

The Bacolod Philippines Temple will be the third temple dedicated in the Philippines in 2026, following the Alabang Philippines Temple (January 18) and the Davao Philippines Temple (May 3).

Bacolod City has been called "The City of Smiles," and for the thousands of Latter-day Saints on Negros Island who have waited years, and in some cases decades, for a temple of their own, there is much to smile about. For their neighbors who have not yet seen the inside of this building, the invitation is simple: come before this Saturday.