Manila, Christmas and Danasan

November 21, 2013 we're off to Manila for training in preparation Self Reliance initiative which will happen in March2014. This is the same program that has been introduced in parts of Africa, Central America. Mexico and I believe Spain. This was a group from Davoa that were here for a temple trip. Children like to do the same things where ever they are. A lot of people island hop so security was not very tight.

Little boy in the airport

The Manila Temple



After a buffet supper at Barbara's Restaurant we were entertained  by Filipino culture--singing and dancing.





Very busy city. This is the view as we leave Manila



A lot of  American missionaries here so we  celebrated American Thanksgiving at the "The Ranch"--turkey and mashed potatoes. Elder Wieland on the left, then the Sommerfeldts and the Schmutz. We also had another potluck supper at the patron house with 

the temple missionaries.



This is the Chinese Cemetery that we came across on one of our walks. Some of the crypts are locked and quite well protected but many are not. Squatters (about 400)  live in among the tombs quite comfortably and of course, there is always a basketball hoop.



They have animals too.



Nativity in front of the Cebu temple

This Christmas tree is made out of flip flops

Some of the nine missionaries that we took out for supper. The American missionaries had burgers, fries and root beer floats. The Filipino missionaries had mango shakes, rice and adobo.  

This was a missionary supper at the Quest Hotel --lovely meal. There was sushi, beef Wellington and everything else that you can think of. 

We all had new shirts for our training and Christmas meeting at the SRC. All the offices were represented -- Ilo Ilo, Bacolad, and Tacloban. Brother Erwin and Sister Mildred said that people are still living or at least sleeping at the church a month after the typhoon. There is a lot of stealing, rape and crime. The garbage is huge and the odor has been very bad. But, people are resilient and they carry on and rebuild. They help each other and work together. Brother Erwin teaches grade 5. He said that their school was damaged and has no roof but school goes on. He told the students to bring an umbrella to school. The newspaper reported that one man was able to save his baby by putting him in a fridge.

The Cebu City Mission does a lunch for missionaries.

This sister is from India

Then we had our ward supper. Yup, this is it--a whole pig (lechon). We took some other potluck items to go with it . They asked us to bring sweets so we took Kelloggs rice krispy treats which were very popular and gone before supper was served. There was a lot of singing and entertainment. We all moved outside because it was too hot inside.

Brother Pastidio is a businessman. He and his son build apartments and he says that he is "kind of a jack of all trades."

December 23,20 some of the temple missionaries and we went to Bonita Girls School. These girls are from abusive situations and can not live at home. The home is run by catholic nuns. There are 100 girls, some other staff and their children. It is fairly isolated but the children do attend regular school down in the valley.

The beautiful decoration is handmade from recyclables ---paper, plastic bottles etc.

This man was weaving little rice baskets. This is a common way to buy rice.

The entertainment was great. They sing and play musical instruments. The nuns said that they consider music to be a valuable part of their rehabilitation.

Sister Freestone had made dolls for the younger children and they loved them. Each child received a gift bag, as did the workers children.

Basketballs were very popular.

This picture included most of the group. Father Simon in the black shirt wanted to come. He is from California and was here doing some relief work. He says that he can raise money but "the Mormons are the only ones that can supply the manpower."

Sister Schmutz had a breakfast for all the missionaries Christmas morning. There are so many missionaries they had to do it n two shifts. Then after there was an impromptu program. Later in the day we had a potluck supper with the Mathers and the Wielands who live in our building.

December 30 and 31 were a holiday. Some of the temple missionaries, the Family History couple and us from the Self Reliance Center (18 all together) went to the

Danasan Eco Adventure Park. This was a 2.5 hour trip into the mountains. We loaded all of us, and our luggage and then the driver would say "a couple more people". Then we would stop for six more passengers. So, in the end it was a little tight.

Our accommodation was quite comfortable. and the area beautiful. When I woke up there were no motorcycles roaring by, no cars honking, no dogs barking, and no roosters crowing

 Everything is green and I didn't know coleus grew wild and bloomed.

People are quite religious so there were all the Catholic statues of Christ.

Our first trek was to the waterfall. This is vehicle number one. When it couldn't go any farther--

We were transferred to army vehicle number two.

When it couldn't go any farther we changed to the tractor.

 

The walk was not hard, just wet and slippery. The stairs were just made out of sticks.

I thought of rappelling but changed my mind. I think that the tour guide just wanted to get us back safely.

This is a cocoa tree. They don't grow very big but have little nodules that grow out of the bark. These little nodules grow quite large and the seeds inside are used to make cocoa.

 This is our nurse on the left and our guide. The nurse took his training in Cebu so he could speak some English but the other staff  did not.

Just so you know I did go 4-wheeling, horseback riding and down the zip line. As you notice the "horses" were just little ponies -- Elder Mather's feet almost touched the ground, our helmets didn't exactly fit. My guide indicated that I should hold on to the saddle horn and he would guide the horse. But it was all fun.

My very favorite part was the walk Elder Wieland and I took into the little community of Danasan. I can never resist the children  and the more pictures that I took the more that they wanted me to take.

There was a nice covered basketball court.

Three generations. People are always friendly, smiling and happy.

These little girls are playing a game with elastic bands.

This fellow was very proud of his sow and week old piglets.

I just had to buy something at the sari sari. I don't know how the people sustain themselves. The next picture shows the corn growing on the mountainside and there are mango, papaya and jack fruit.  

Another hair raising trip down the mountain and we were back in Cebu. Their roads are narrow, and windy, but the drivers are very experienced.