A Filipino Pioneer’s Recollection

 By Ma. Teresa C. Pangilinan

“A pioneer is described as one who goes before, preparing the way for others. He is a leader, first in his field in discovery and invention. He will be followed by settlers and developers who expand and exploit his discoveries.” (President N. Eldon Tanner, Ensign, 1976 July)

Many Filipino pioneers were nurtured and prepared by the Lord. One of them is President Ruben Lacanienta, who hails from Cebu.  

At the age of 81 he still have vivid memories of the events that transpired in the 1900s, when Mormon soldiers from Utah arrived in the Philippines during the world war. The soldiers would often share the gospel and gather for sacrament meetings but were not able to baptize Filipinos that time.  He said that a Filipino Saint from Hawaii asked permission from the Church authorities to teach and baptize his relative in his hometown in Ilocos.  Church meetings were held in Leyte, Manila, Clark Field in Pampanga and Cavite which were led by LDS servicemen in 1945 until the end of the war.

His family lived in Makati where they met the missionaries in 1963. He said that he was receptive to the invitation to listen to the discussions but almost refused to be taught when he found out that the Book of Mormon contained stories of war. “I told the missionaries that I am a guerilla of the World War and I want no more wars.”  However, the missionaries were not deterred by his apprehension.  The Elders was prompted to discuss the war in heaven written in the Bible, which convinced him of the truthfulness of the Church. His family was among first Filipinos who were baptized on Sister Maxine Grimm’s famous swimming pool. “I also learned that families can be together forever which is the reason why we worked out our sealing at the Oakland Temple in 1967.”

In the 1970’s President Lacanienta was called as District President and sent the first two Filipino Missionaries (Elder Lino Brocka and Elder Emil Antonio) who were assigned in Hawaii.

They also started building chapels. Members involved themselves in the construction. They also recognized the assistance of labor missionaries from Manila, Subic, San Fernando Pampanga and Cavite. “Buendia Chapel was the last chapel built by labor missionaries.”

The Church’s growth continued until President Spencer W. Kimball announced in 1981 that the temple will be built soon. Filipino Saints persevered and complied with the financial requirements. “We urged them to consecrate and make offerings for the construction of the temple and they complied earnestly,” President Lacanienta said.

He testified that during ground breaking and dedication of the Manila Philippines Temple miracles happened. He remembered that there was a typhoon the day of the ground breaking but after the closing prayer the weather improved.  During the open house and dedication in 1984 a solar corona (the red-orange images superposed on the central disk in the above two figures are corresponding X-ray images) was seen right on top of Moroni.  “We called those miracles, a testimony of nature of the truthfulness of the Church,” President Lacanienta added.

Members were so uplifted and filled with immeasurable joy and spirit as they came to open the temple the same day after the dedication. Marriages, sealings and sessions were performed. Tremendous growth is happening in the country as observed by President Lacanienta. “I see the vibrancy of the fourth and fifth generation of members which has resulted to the growth of the church from a handful to more than 600,000.”

President Lacanienta is currently involved in Enterprise Mentors International (EMI), which provides business and employment trainings for return missionaries.

“I can tell you that there is no other true Church on the earth today…all we have here is true, Jesus Christ lives and we belong to a living Church,” he testified.