On October 25, 2025, thirty-three catechumens from the parish of St. Seraphim of Sarov in the village of Lavig, Luzon, received the sacrament of Holy Baptism in the waters of the Pacific Ocean. The ceremony was performed by priests of the Manila Deanery of the Philippine–Vietnamese Diocese — Rev. David Grubbs and Hieromonk John (Gondayao).

Following the baptisms, a Divine Liturgy was celebrated, during which the newly baptized received Holy Communion for the first time. After the service, parishioners and guests gathered for a festive meal, where the priests addressed the new members of the community with words of spiritual encouragement about living a Christian life.

The Orthodox community in Lavig now numbers around one hundred believers, most of them children. Despite limited material means, the parish continues to grow both spiritually and communally.

This is not the first large-scale baptism to take place in Lavig. In 2021, a local man named Athanasius reportedly experienced miraculous healing immediately after receiving baptism, an event that deeply moved the residents and inspired many to embrace the Orthodox faith. Due to the pandemic, the next mass baptism took place only in March 2023, when thirty-one people were baptized in the ocean by Hieromonk Alexy (Lapshin), Dean of the Manila District, and Rev. Augustine Ponferrada of the Iveron Parish in Manila.

Since then, regular services have been held in Lavig, supported by the diocesan Department of Charity and Social Ministry led by Rev. David Grubbs. According to the Telegram channel of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia, the first Divine Liturgy in the newly formed parish was celebrated in May 2023. Since that time, the parish has hosted regular worship services, charity events, and humanitarian aid distributions.

Clergy and volunteers of the Philippine–Vietnamese Diocese have made repeated pastoral visits to the community in 2023 and 2024, celebrating liturgies, parish feast days, and offering meals for those in need.

Although the parish of St. Seraphim of Sarov remains among the poorest in the Manila Deanery, it stands out for its spiritual vibrancy and the devotion of its faithful. A key role in supporting the community is played by the FMI Family Charitable Foundation, directed by Rev. David Grubbs, which provides assistance to families, children, and those in need.