Manila Temple Lights Up to Usher In 2023 Christmas Season

On November 23, 2023, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints illuminated the Manila Philippines Temple grounds with thousands of lights, officially marking the start of the Christmas season in Temple Drive, Quezon City.

Despite the rainy weather, many Filipino Saints patiently waited for the Annual Temple Lighting Ceremony, where Elder Carlos G. Revillo, Jr., Second Counselor to the Philippines Area Presidency, led the countdown to turn on the festive lights at the Manila Philippines Temple grounds.

Members, celebrities and influencers, friends from various interfaith communities, and civic community leaders came together, including actress and influencer Xia Vigor, Nigerian Embassy Officials Mr. Adeshina Edward Oloje and Mrs. Adetayo Omowumi Oloje, Rev. Fr. Ric Marpa, former Supreme Court Associate Justice Jose Reyes Jr., and his wife Ofelia Reyes.

Also invited were Atty. Tom de Castro from the Quezon City LGU; Kgd. Janine King, Kgd. Chelsea Antonio, Kgd Beia Jorge, and Kgd. Ann Poa from Brgy. Ugong Norte; Ven. Miao Jing Shih from the International Buddhist Progress Society, Fr. Carlos Reyes of the Fatima Parish Church, and Rev. Fr. Richard James Babao, Assistant Minister of the Ministry on Ecumenical and Inter-Faith Affairs, among others.

A joint 60-member choir of full-time missionaries from the Philippines Quezon City Mission and seminarians from the Holy Apostle Senior Seminary (HASS) serenaded guests with Christmas carols throughout the event, showing a great example of interfaith unity and cooperation.

In his message, Elder Yoon Hwan Choi, First Counselor to the Philippines Area Presidency, shared the 2023 Light the World theme: Let Your Light Shine. Elder Steven R. Bangerter, the Philippines Area President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, presided over the ceremony, joining Elder Choi, Elder Revillo, and their wives throughout the event.

“This theme is about inspiring and helping people hold up the Light of Christ in their unique ways,” Elder Choi said.

“Together, we can again bring this light to all through charity, service and love,” he added.

For over three decades, the Church of Jesus Christ has observed the lighting of the Manila Philippines Temple grounds as an annual tradition. The Christmas lights are turned on from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM every day, including Sundays and Mondays, until the end of the year.

The Church encourages members and their families and friends to visit the Manila Philippines Temple on Temple Drive, Greenmeadows Subdivision, Quezon City, not only to see the lights and grounds but, most importantly, to feel the sacred spirit of the House of the Lord.

“Each Christmas, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrates the birth and life of Jesus Christ by inviting all to Light the World,” Elder Choi explained.

“Jesus wants everyone to know him because of the transforming power of that knowledge and the indescribable joy it brings into our lives. But the influence of the gospel is to extend beyond each individual. It is to be a light that dispels the darkness from the lives of those around us,” he emphasized.