The second week I was in Quezon City, I was invited to go to the American Bazaar in downtown Manila. The bazaar is like a huge indoor market, similar to the farmer's markets we have back home. One of the 'hot items' that are sold, are these handmade purses, wallets, jewelry and accessories from recycled juice packs. I know a few of the sister missionaries had a hand bag and they are really quite remarkable.
I found out that there is an organization called the KILUS Foundation which was organized in 1997 as a volunteer group of housewives and mothers. It is based in Barangay Ugong in Pasig City which was tasked to implement the Clean and Green projects. When after becoming successful, it endeavored to provide livelihood to the women who had helped clean and green that area (Barangay). The KILUS Foundation's bags made from recycled doy juice packs and were featured in various media outlets. This lead to orders from international buyers and in 2001, KILUS Foundation became a Multi-Purpose Cooperative jointly owned by all its members. The bags were later formally introduced to the international market. They currently deliver products to 18 countries worldwide.
Earlier this year, the factory where these women worked daily, burned down. As a result of the fire, they relocated to a small enclosure in between two buildings on a tiny street. There is no air conditioning, just fans to keep the air cooler where the ladies were sewing. The fans mostly circulate the hot humid air which makes it a bit more bearable for these ladies. The conditions are not at all what you would think as they worked literally outside and no front door to keep the place secure. There is only a metal gate that they locked up at night. The owner of the house next to the makeshift factory, do the best they can to secure the premises to make sure nobody climbed the gate to steal any of their sewing machines, merchandise and products.
When the Welfare Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints found out about it, they provided sewing machines for the foundation so they could continue to work and sew. Last week I went with Sister Wendy Kaneen and her husband Karl, to find their new location so she could purchase a couple of bags for her grandchildren.
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| Front of the Store |
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| Sewing Room |
They also cut tiny pieces to make earrings and necklaces and all sorts of accessories.
We were told by one of the workers, that there are many women working out of their homes, sewing, weaving and braiding the materials to make their products. The KILUS foundation is non profit and their aim is to mold their members into individuals who care for and love God, themselves, their families, their co-workers, the environment as well as the Foundation. This is their family's means of livelihood and it contributes to the preservation of the environment. Most of the members are housewives and mothers. They feel proud of the work made with their own hands, while at the same time taking care for Mother Nature and providing basic needs for their families. It was humbling to hear a single mother speak with pride at having provided her children with something as basic as a clean toilet, which most people take for granted.
WHAT DO THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS DO ON A HOLIDAY? FAMILY HISTORY AND TEMPLE WORK.... THAT'S WHAT
Last Tuesday was a National Holiday here in the Philippines but because the temple was open, so was the Family History Center. And this was what I walked into at 7:00 in the morning.
I was told we would be busy, but I couldn't believe how many people were there, that early in the morning to gather family names to take to the temple. All of the computers, including mine, were taken. It was heartwarming to see the dedication of these members of the Church. The Distribution Center next door was also packed that you could hardly get in the door. The members travel from all of the surrounding provinces to come to the Temple on their days off. Most of them are up and on their way to the temple by 3:00 in the morning to be there when it opens at 6:00 a.m. Their mode of travel are mostly by Jeepney or bus. If there are families with small children, the parents take turns going in to do an endowment, while the other is in the Family History Center working on their family trees or indexing. One brother was there at 7:00 in the morning and was given a time to return for the endowment for 2:00 in the afternoon.
In total, one of our local family history missionaries, who is also a temple ordinance coordinator told me on that one day, there were:
10 weddings
23 New patron endowments
225 Sisters to do initiatory (limited to 2 possibly 3 names per sister)
800 Endowments (that is 30 patrons per room - 4 rooms)
It had been previously announced 2 temples to be built here in the Philippines, and just last conference, they announced a third temple, making a total of 5 temples in the Philippines.
My supervisor said, "If you think it is busy now, wait until Christmas when is gets really busy."
"Family history ... is a vital part of the work of salvation and exaltation. You have been prepared for this day and to build up the kingdom of God. You are here upon the earth now to assist in this glorious work." Elder David A. Bednar
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