Mission guide
Philippines Urdaneta Mission
A simple guide to the Philippines Urdaneta Mission, its city, languages, church history, and temple connection.
- Tagalog
- Cebuano
Philippines Urdaneta Mission shirts
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Philippines Urdaneta Mission T-Shirt
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Philippines Urdaneta Mission Heart Map Shirt
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Philippines Urdaneta 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 the main languages listed for the mission. Missionaries may also encounter English in the Philippines.
At a glance
- Country
- Philippines
- Main city
- Urdaneta, Pangasinan
- Languages
- Tagalog and Cebuano
- Time zone
- Philippine Standard Time (UTC+8)
- Church in the Philippines
- 882,461 members, 131 stakes, 1,324 congregations, 26 missions, 192 FamilySearch centers
A short history of the area
Andrés de Urdaneta was a Basque Spanish explorer and Augustinian missionary. In 1565, he reached Cebu and helped establish a Christian mission in the Philippines. He is also remembered for discovering a favorable route across the Pacific from the Philippines to Mexico.
The Church here
- 1940s–1950sA few Filipinos joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- 1961Missionary work began in earnest in the Philippines.
- 1967The Philippines was organized into its own mission.
- 1973The first stake in the Philippines was organized.
- 1984The country's first temple was dedicated.
- 1990sChurch membership in the Philippines grew to more than a quarter of a million members.
- 2010President Thomas S. Monson announced the construction of a temple in Urdaneta City.
- 2019The Urdaneta Philippines Temple groundbreaking and site dedication took place on January 16.
- 2024President Dallin H. Oaks dedicated the Urdaneta Philippines Temple on April 28.
Temples nearby
Urdaneta Philippines Temple
Dedicated April 28, 2024 · Near Urdaneta
Santiago Philippines Temple
Announced · About 80 miles from Urdaneta
San Jose del Monte Philippines Temple
Announced · About 85 miles from Urdaneta
Manila Philippines Temple
Dedicated September 25, 1984 · About 100 miles from Urdaneta
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
- Magandang umagaGood morning, Tagalog
- Maayong buntagGood morning, Cebuano
- SalamatThank you
- PalihugPlease, Cebuano
Foods to try
- Chicken adobo (chicken cooked in a savory vinegar and soy sauce mixture)
- Sinigang (a sour soup often made with meat, seafood, and vegetables)
- Lechon (roasted pig served for celebrations)
- Pancit (noodles cooked with meat, seafood, or vegetables)
Fun facts
- The name Urdaneta is of Basque origin.
- Urdaneta is also the name of a station on Line 1 of the Guadalajara light rail system in Mexico.
- USS Urdaneta, a U.S. Navy gunboat, was built in 1883.
Just got the call?
Turn the opening into a game: family and friends guess where the missionary is going before the reveal.