Over 1,000 members of the Church and their friends flocked into the newest stake (diocese) center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 22 September 2018 for an Open House Exhibit.
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| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
The event kicked off with a short program followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Taguig City Mayor Ma. Laarni "Lani" L. Cayetano, Taguig Stake President Jaime Rivera and his wife Sister Rivera, and Philippine Area Seventy Elder Victorino A. Babida and his wife Sister Babida.
In his short remarks, Elder Babida, said, “The spire of this stake center is like a beacon that encourages everyone to come unto Christ, to worship together, and to strengthen each other.”
Other special guests who graced the open house exhibit were Hon. Rodil C. Marcelino, Taguig City Councilor; Hon. Marilyn F. Marcelino, Barangay Captain of Ususan; Dr. Joselito F. Mataac, Principal of Taguig Integrated School; Dr. Daisy L. Mataac, Education Program Supervisor of ALS DepEd Taguig-Pateros; Professor Teresita Talamisan, and former professor of De La Salle University. Congressman Arnel M. Cerafica, Representative of the Taguig City-Pateros First District also graced the event at a later time.
Church leaders prepared each room remarkedly, welcoming guests with a glimpse of the various auxiliary organizations of the Church, such as the Relief Society, Primary, Young Women, Young Men, and Priesthood organizations.
In each room, members, both young and old, introduced the various Church programs to the visitors, including Family History, Seminary, Institute, Sunday School, Welfare and Self-Reliance.
Mayor Cayetano showed delight during the tour, stating how impressed she was about the teachings of the Church, which do not only concern the spiritual welfare of families but also look after their temporal well-being. She was also impressed by how the Church programs benefit not only its members but also the communities where the Church is established.
In her speech, Mayor Cayetano expressed that her most favorite part of the tour was the presentation on the Primary Program, wherein teachers teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to young children. She also recounted a scripture passage found in Proverbs 22:6, expressing the importance of building a solid spiritual foundation in the lives of the children while they are young.
At the conclusion of the tour, guests were treated to a spectacular cultural performance by the Young Men, Young Women, and Primary organizations, which re-enacted some events recorded in the Book of Mormon and during the early days of the Church.
The completion of the Taguig Stake Center took place two years after its groundbreaking ceremony held on 17 September 2016. The four-story structure is 18,686 square feet with a lot size of 4,545 square meters. It features a chapel that seats approximately 300 people, a cultural hall with a capacity of 550 individuals, and an outdoor basketball court. It also consists of around 30 classrooms and five offices for ecclesiastical leaders. Moreover, it has a basement, ground floor, and second-floor parking areas with a total of 116 slots.
The Taguig Stake Center is the largest Church meetinghouse in the country with regards to building volume. It will benefit six wards (congregations), which include Bicutan Ward, Bonifacio 5th Ward, Signal 1 and 2 Wards, and Taguig 1 and 2 Wards with a total of about 3,200 members.
The Taguig Philippines Stake is under the leadership of Jaime N. Rivera Jr., President; Modesto C. Lacambra Jr., First Counselor; and Alejandro C. Cabrera; Second Counselor. The Stake Presidency hopes that the new meetinghouse will bring much joy not only to the members of the Church but to the people in the community, as they minister and invite all to come unto Christ through brotherly kindness and service.
Church leaders conduct meetinghouse or chapel open houses to help visitors and friends learn the importance of chapels, Sabbath day worship and Sunday services to Latter-day Saint members.
In the Philippines, the Church has 1,220 congregations and 939 meetinghouses operating nationwide.