Efren Soriano Manangkil

Efren Soriano Manangkil was born on October 14, 1956, in Guimba, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, to Martin and Trinidad Manangkil. He and his seven siblings--Conchita, Edgardo, Laila, Merly, Esper, Edwin, and Arnel moved from place to place as Martin cared for his fellow Christians as a District Minister for the Iglesia Ni Cristo.

God soon called Efren into the Holy Ministry as well; he was ordained on May 9, 1980, under the leadership of Brother Eraño G. Manalo.

Efren was Resident Minister of the Locale of United Parañaque I when he met Juliet Garcia, a soprano in the Choir. After a short courtship, they married on February 8, 1982, at the Chapel of the Iglesia Ni Cristo Central Office Complex.

Later that year, Efren’s ministry took him to the United States, where he and Juliet would go on to raise their two children, Irwin and Leidilyn.

Efren spent the rest of his life outside the Philippines, overseeing the congregations of Delano, Milwaukee, Chicago, Rome, St. Paul, Colorado Springs, San Antonio, Denver, Antioch, Concord, Anchorage, Seattle, Shoreline, East Vancouver, North Vancouver, Burnaby, Maple Ridge, Toronto Central, Delta, and Richmond.

Efren played basketball, bowled, and golfed; he took an interest in politics; he enjoyed watching action movies. He cherished his family and in recent years relished his time with his two grandchildren, Aurelia and Logan.

Most of all, Efren derived great meaning and fulfillment from his calling as a Minister of the Gospel. He lived to serve his brothers and sisters in the faith as an integral part of his paramount service to God.