The administration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints within the Philippines Area is overseen by an area president and two counselors, who are members of the Quorum of the Seventy and live in their assigned areas. These leaders serve in their positions under the direction of the First Presidency.
The current Area Presidency:
Elder Taniela B. Wakolo (Area President)
Elder Steven r. Bangerter (First Counselor)
ElderYoon Hwan Choi (Second Counselor)
Yoon Hwan Choi
Elder Yoon Hwan Choi was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 4, 2009. At the time of his call, he had been serving as a member of the Eighth Quorum of the Seventy in the Asia North Area. From 2009 to 2011 he served as a member of the Asia North Area Presidency. From 2011 to 2013 he served as an Assistant Executive Director in the Temple Department and a member of the Boundary and Leadership Change Committee. He served as president of the Washington Seattle Mission (2013–2015) and President of the Asia North Area. He currently serves as Second Counselor in the Philippines Area.
Elder Choi received a bachelor’s degree in business information management from Brigham Young University–Hawaii in 1988. In 1989, he received a master’s degree in business information systems and education from Utah State University. He has been an instructor at Brigham Young University–Hawaii and Utah State University; manager of sales, administration, marketing, and customer support at Data General Korea; director of CDC and MBS Venture Capital Company; and the regional manager for temporal affairs for the Church in Korea.
Since joining the Church in 1973, Elder Choi has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Busan Korea and Seoul Korea missions, counselor in a bishopric, bishop, high councilor, stake mission president, counselor in a mission presidency, counselor in a stake presidency, stake president, and Area Seventy.
Yoon Hwan Choi was born in Seoul, Korea, on May 18, 1957. He married Bon Kyung Koo in September 1982. They are the parents of three children.
Steven R. Bangerter
Elder Steven R. Bangerter was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on March 31, 2018, at age 56. At the time of his call, he had been serving as a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy in the Utah South Area. Elder Bangerter is currently serving as First Counselor in the Philippines Area Presidency. Previously, he served as assistant to the North America West and North America Northwest Area Presidencies.
Elder Bangerter received a bachelor of arts degree in religious studies from Arizona State University in 1989. In 1993, he received a juris doctor degree from the Western State University College of Law. He practiced law with Cooksey, Toolen, Gage, Duffy & Woog from 1993 to 2003. From 2004 to 2018 he served as managing partner for Bangerter Frazier & Graff, PC. His legal career has focused on representing churches and other faith-based organizations.
Elder Bangerter has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Canada Vancouver Mission, ward Young Men president, elders quorum president, high councilor, bishop, counselor in a stake presidency, stake president and Area Seventy.
Steven R. Bangerter was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on July 29, 1961. He married Susann Alexis Hughes in 1983. They are the parents of six children.
Taniela B. Wakolo
Elder Taniela B. Wakolo was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 1, 2017. At the time of his call, he had been serving as president of the Arkansas Little Rock Mission. He is currently serving as a member of the Philippines Area Presidency.
Elder Wakolo studied management and public administration at the University of the South Pacific. In 2007 he received a master’s degree in management from the University of Sunshine Coast. Most recently, he was the service center manager at the Church’s Fiji Service Center.
Since joining the Church in 1994, Elder Wakolo has served in numerous callings, including seminary and institute teacher, branch president, high councilor, bishop’s counselor, stake president’s counselor, stake president, president of the Arkansas Little Rock Mission, and Area Seventy.
Taniela Biu Wakolo was born in Lomaloma, Lau, Fiji, on June 25, 1967. He married Anita Herberta Moimoi in August 1987. They are the parents of two children.