Mini Get-Away - Cebu

The Manila Temple was closed for semi-annual maintenance this past week and next week.  When we knew of the closure, I got permission from the Area Presidency to go to Cebu to attend the Cebu Temple and tour a little bit.  I was met at the airport by Elder and Sister Jacob who took me on a tour of Mactan Island.  There were so many of these colorful faces along the road.  This is Lapu-Lapu.  Lapu-Lapu was a ruler of Mactan in Visayas in 1521.  He is regarded as the first Filipino hero because he was the first native to resist Imperial Spanish colonization.  He is best known for the Battle of Mactan that happened at dawn on April 27, 1521, where he and his soldiers defeated Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who was killed in the battle.

Yacht Club  

After we had a light brunch and mango shake at the Yacht Club we went to the Allegra Guitar Factory.  There we learned the various woods they use to make the guitars.  They also had a huge selection of ukuleles and cocoleles made from coconut shells.  

PHILIPPINE TAOIST TEMPLE 

After we went to the Philippine Taoist Temple.   The temple is in the center of worship for Taoism, the religion which follows the teachings of the ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao Zi.  Another ritual among the Taoist devotees, which is done during only two days a week (Wednesdays and Sundays), is climbing the 81 steps (representing the 81 chapters of Taoism scriptures) to light joss sticks and have their fortune read by the monks.

As we were there on a Monday, the worshipers did light the Joss sticks and pray.   They had to wash their hands to represent cleanliness, then light the Joss stick, kneel down by holding the Joss stick with both hands and pray for guidance to enlighten their problem or wish.  Then they held a pair of blessed wooden blocks, one in each hand, flat side down and ask their question.  They would gently drop the block on the floor and depending on how the blocks landed, they would have their answer. The blocks were flat on one side and round on the other and in the shape of a kidney.  Before they were allowed to ask their question, they had to request permission whether God is ready to accept enlightening their questions.  

It was very interesting to see how others worship and pray for answers to their questions.  We were not allowed to take pictures because of the sacredness of this ritual.  All very interesting indeed.  

VAN TOUR - SIRAO FLOWER GARDEN, TEMPLE OF LEAH AND TOPS LOOKOUT

The next day Sister Jacob and I took a van tour to the Sirao Flower Garden, Temple of Leah and Tops.  The Sirao Flower Garden was beautiful.  They had various sculptures throughout the garden.  

 

Looking down one little part of the Garden. There were so many
varieties of flowers and plants.  

We managed to climb up this little tree
and had a picture taken of us in the bird's nest.

My selfie with ... some golden praying guy. 

They are big on corn here in the Philippines.
They roast the cobs of corn on charcoal. 

After spending an hour or so in the flower garden, we went up further up the mountain to the Temple of Leah: A Tribute of Love  

The Temple of Leah is a Greek Mythology inspired edifice located in the hills of Busay Cebu City.  It is owned by Teodorico Adarna, owner of the famous Queensland in Cebu.  Teodorico built this colossal structure to express his undying love to his wife Leah Villa Albino-Ardana.  

There are rooms with literally hundreds of artifacts they collected from all over the world.  Unfortunately, the doors were locked and we weren't able to go inside to see, but we could see from the window openings.  The sad part, is they never put windows in this structure to protect the art pieces and artifacts and they were covered with dirt and dust from the winds and rains.  

 

TOPS LOOKOUT - CEBU

After we finished at the Temple of Leah, we went higher up the mountain to Tops Lookout. 

On the van drive to these locations, we had met these two ladies, Joy and Marlou who we had actually met the day before at the Taoist Temple.  We had the opportunity to talk to them about the work we do in FamilySearch and after we returned, we invited them to come to the Family History Center and also show them our Temple.  

 

DAY TWO - IN CEBU

Sister Jacob and I took the jeepney to Carbon Market, in fact we had to take a couple of jeepney rides there and home again.  This was the most fun. When you ride a jeepney, there might be up to 18 people packed in there, and the driver always knows who is on and who has paid.  It is an honor system.  The people in the back pass the money to the front and the driver will pass the change back to the passenger.  I had the opportunity to up near the driver and pass the money.  It was a blast.  

 

The first jeepney we rode in was
a bit smaller than the others. 

Notice the passenger seat is held together with packing tape. The
dashboard left something to be desired but was a good place to
keep the change container. The floor boards are covered what
looks like what you insulate pipes with.  At least you couldn't
see the road and your feet were somewhat protected.

Looking out the back door. 

This little girl took my heart and my eyes began to water.   She came on board and passed around tattered envelopes and sat on the back of the jeepney and played her little toy harmonica, sitting in those diesel fumes, trying to entertain the passengers to make a pesos to be able to eat.  I made sure I carried enough change in my pocket to put in her envelope.  She wasn't the first entertainer that day.  Earlier when we got on the first jeepney, there was a little girl, may be 10 years old, and her brother, about 14 years old.  She passed around tattered envelopes and her brother sat on the steps in the back and played his bongo drums, which he made by taping three different size tin cans together.  These kids should have been in school, but they are homeless.  Sister Jacob said it was the first time she has experienced these children on the jeepneys.  It was so sad and my heart hurt for these kids.  

CARBON MARKET

After a couple of jeepney rides we arrived at the outdoor Carbon Market.  This place is famous for fresh meat, fruit and vegetables.

 

 

It was so fun walking through the market.  That said the sidewalks are not smooth and they were pretty narrow on spots.  We visited the Jose R. Gullas Halad Music Museum as well as another museum and the Cross of Magellan. 

The Cross of Magellan

DAY THREE - FINAL DAY

After two days of touring around Cebu, I had the opportunity to go to the Family History Center with Elder and Sister Jacob.  That is one busy little Family History Center.  I also had the opportunity to attend the Cebu Temple Cebuano Session which was amazing.  Sisters Araza, Pasqual and Ibanez and I were in the session together.

At my happy place.  I love to attend the temple
and to temple work for my ancestors.  

Sister Pasqual loves taking selfies. I love these ladies.

David Villanueva is the Family History Manager
in Cebu.   

Group photo with the Cebu team.  These are amazing people
who work hard to help patrons find their ancestors and to
do their temple work.   

After a few days of exploring Cebu and the Family History Center, it was time to leave and return to Manila.  This was an amazing trip as I learned so much more and experienced a bit more of the culture.  Just as an aside, the ladies' carry ons were over weight because of all the fruit and vegetables they bought at Carbon Market.  We all had to check our luggage in.  It was a good chuckle.  I will leave you with this message from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.

"Just a few weeks ago, I felt impressed to speak on the difference between “remembering” and “recollecting” at the BYU–Idaho commencement. I remember being the age of those graduates—full of life and happiness for the future. There is so much value in remembering where we have come from.

The earliest meaning of “to remember” was “to remind.” That is, when you remembered something it was to remind you—to prompt you—to action. “Recollecting,” on the other hand, did not imply prompting or activity per se. In that sense, we could say it is a more passive word.

The scriptures list 554 references of the Lord or the prophets or others asking someone to “remember” something, hoping that will prompt a certain course of action. On the other hand, the scriptures contain a total of nine uses of the word “recall” or “recollect,” seven of those used by sinful characters in the scriptures or those afflicted with some kind of pain.

The meaning seems clear to me. Speaking of spiritual things, if it is good and worthy and eternal, we should remember it. If it is sinful or wrong or dark, we might “recollect” it only—and even that would only be for the purpose of helping ourselves or others to learn an important lesson and move on.

I charge you this day to remember, remember, remember. Remember to pray. Remember to serve. Remember to learn. Remember to tithe. Remember to teach. Remember to be clean, to be honest, and to forgive."