Related stories:
Cebu temple open house concludes, area readies for upcoming dedication activities
Former missionaries return to Cebu
Thousands tour Cebu City Philippines Temple during open house
Cebu City Philippines Temple: 'It was a long wait'
The Cebu City Philippines Temple is the first in the Visayas islands group, and the second in the country.
A public open house was held from Friday, May 21, through Saturday, June 5, excluding Sundays.
The temple is located on Gorordo Avenue in Lahug. President Thomas S. Monson is scheduled to dedicate the temple on Sunday, June 13.
The Cebu City Philippines Temple is the 133rd temple of the Church worldwide and the second in the Philippines. The Manila Philippines Temple was completed and dedicated on Sept. 25-27, 1984, by President Gordon B. Hinckley in nine sessions.
The Cebu temple will serve more than 200,000 members in Visayas and Mindanao.
The First Presidency announced plans to construct the temple in Cebu on April 18, 2006. Elder Dallin H. Oaks and Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve, presided and officiated at a ceremony to formally break ground for the temple on Nov. 14, 2007. Elder Oaks lived in and presided over the Church in the Philippines from August of 2002 through 2004.
The temple's exterior is faced with Mountain Grey granite from China. Interior stone is from Italy and Greece. The spire rises 140 feet and is crowned with a gilded statue of the angel Moroni.
The interior features Sapele Mahogany from Africa. Several native flowers are used in patterns of fabric and the decorative art painting. The most widely featured motif is the pearl, harvested throughout the Philippines and reflective of scriptural references to pearls and their symbolic value. Two large paintings were commissioned for the temple by Filipino artist Adler Llagas. Most of the furniture was produced locally from Philippine Mahogany.
