Mission guide
Philippines General Santos Mission
The Philippines General Santos Mission serves in a sunny southern city known for tuna, settlement history, and growing Church roots.
- Tagalog
- Cebuano
Philippines General Santos Mission shirts
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Philippines General Santos Mission T-Shirt
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Philippines General Santos Mission Heart Map Shirt
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Philippines General Santos Mission Flag Map Shirt
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Choose size & color →I Glory in My Jesus, in the language of this mission
2 Nephi 33:6 as it reads in the Book of Mormon for each language spoken here.
Weak Things Become Strong, in the language of this mission
"I make weak things become strong" (Ether 12:27) as it reads in the Book of Mormon for each language spoken here.
About the mission
Tagalog and Cebuano are spoken in the area. English is also widely used in the Philippines.
At a glance
- Country
- Philippines
- Main city
- General Santos, 722,059 people (2024 census)
- Time zone
- Philippine Standard Time (UTC+8)
- Climate
- Tropical wet and dry, with relatively low rainfall and a typhoon-free climate
- Church in the Philippines
- 882,461 members, 131 stakes, 1,324 congregations, 26 missions
- Local nickname
- Tuna Capital of the Philippines
A short history of the area
The area later became Buayan, was renamed General Santos in 1954, and became a city in 1968. Today, General Santos is the southernmost city in the Philippines and the largest producer of sashimi-grade tuna in the country.
The Church here
- 1940s and 1950sA few Filipinos joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- 1961Missionary work began in earnest in the Philippines after the country was dedicated and opened for missionary work.
- March 9, 1969The General Santos Group was organized by full-time missionaries in a guest house of the Citrus Development Corporation.
- April 29, 1969General Santos was opened for missionary work.
- June 13, 1969Antonio Ines Teofilo was baptized at Mateo's Springs, becoming the first person baptized in General Santos.
- 1973The first stake in the Philippines was organized.
- 1984The first temple in the Philippines was dedicated.
Temples nearby
Davao Philippines Temple
Dedicated May 3, 2026 · About 75 miles from General Santos
The Book of Mormon here
Missionaries in this mission share the Book of Mormon in these languages. Tap a cover to read it free.
Cover art is an illustration. Links open the free edition on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Before you go
Phrases to learn
- Maayong buntagGood morning
- Kumusta ka?How are you?
- SalamatThank you
- PalihugPlease
Foods to try
- Sashimi-grade tuna (fresh tuna prepared for raw dishes)
- Fish and seafood (major products of the city's fishing industry)
- Corn (an important agricultural product of the area)
- Pineapple (one of the region's agricultural products)
Fun facts
- General Santos is the southernmost city in the Philippines and the most populous city in the Soccsksargen region.
- The city has the second-largest daily total catch of fish in the Philippines, after Navotas.
- The Makar Wharf can accommodate up to nine ships at the same time.
Just got the call?
Turn the opening into a game: family and friends guess where the missionary is going before the reveal.