Spotlighting Ryan and his wife Tess

Meet a member of our Security Staff Ryan Apduhan and his wife Tess. Ryan is our receptionist here at the MPAO and is one of the Security Officers as well. His post is to take care of the incoming visitors to the Lobby and direct them to their respective appointments in the office. He also coordinates all the officers and their posts. On Friday, Ryan's wife was attending the temple and dropped by for a visit. We had not met her before but she is absolutely lovely as you can see. Ryan is also a Bishop, yes at 31 he is a Bishop. He served his mission in South Salt Lake Area and speaks English very very well. A Graduate of an IT school here in Manila, he utilizes his talents in his job using the computer with all types of presentations for us. Others in this office rely on his skills as well.

He has been an invaluable help to the Area Office here.

Attended the American - Philippine Memorial at the Cemetery

Posting of the colors for both the United States and the Philippines
Family with banner honoring the Fallen Soldiers

Me with a LDS Filipino Eagle Scout

Two of the Filippino WWII Veterens. They were all too willing to let me take a picture.

Memorial Day visit to the American Philippine Cemetery

Rows of crosses on graves of the Soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Thank you men and may your ultimate reward be the highest.

Inscription on the wall of the Memorial

Medal of Honor Recipient. I left tribute kiss on the marker

A Moving Visit to the American and Philippine Cemetery Honoring the Valient Soldiers of WWII

Engraved names of MIA soldiers both American and Philippine. There were some small bronze stars next to names where the remains had been recovered and are no longer MIA. In gold engravings are the names of those who have received a Gold Medal of Honor.

Rows of crosses at the American Soldiers at the American Philippine Cemetery

Soldier remembered with a flowered wreath

Marker over a soldier of Jewish Faith

Elder looking at a wall map of some of the battle strategies used in WWII in the Asia Pacific. He was quite emotional.

Start Taking pictures and they all show up

These are kids who have traveled by bus and stayed in Temple Patron Housing to do baptisms for the dead.

Elder and kids. They love to have their picture taken. We took a couple of pictures with a few kids and then they all show up along with their leaders.

Elder and Aaronic Priesthood boys who have just come from the temple doing baptisms for the dead.

More boys show up to have their picture taken

I managed to get their names. From left to right, Raffy, Jasper and Nephi.

Pictures of the Open House

Each of these pictures have captions from the newspaper here locally and credits the photographer

Editorial in the Newspaper for the Cebu Temple

This is the editorial that was put in the local paper by the wife of an employee that works in the Church Perpetual Education department in our building.

THURSDAY MAY 27, 2010 PHILIPPINES

CEBU PHILIPPINES TEMPLE
Beauty and bliss
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has recently completed the Cebu City Philippines Temple, establishing a new landmark in the Queen City of the South.
Located on a hill on Gorordo Avenue, Lahug, the temple will be open to the public until June 5.
Considered by members of the Church as the most sacred place—the "House of the Lord"—it is where sacred ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ are performed. It is different from a meetinghouse where members of the Church gather for the weekly Sunday services.
"To members of the Church, temples are literally Houses of the Lord. They are dedicated to the Lord that is why we take special care to use the finest materials fitting for an edifice that will be called as such. In temples, we perform sacred ordinances that cannot be performed in any other place. There, we also have the opportunity to be taught the true meaning of life and make covenants with God," said Michael John U. Teh, second counselor in the Philippines Area presidency.
The Cebu temple was completed after more than two years of construction. It will be the 133rd temple of the Church throughout the world and the second in the country. The first one, built in 1984, is located along Temple Drive, White Plains in Quezon City.
Because it is esteemed highly by Church members, only the finest materials and craftsmanship were used in its construction. It stands 140 feet and is capped with a gilded statue of angel Moroni, a prophet in the Book of Mormon. The exterior of the temple is a stone fascia imported from China. Interior stone is from Italy and Greece. The interior is adorned with decorative paintings, gold leaf detail, and original murals that reflect the local culture and landscape. It also features beautifully grained sapele mahogany from Africa. Two large paintings, on each side of the grand staircase, were commissioned for the temple by Filipino artist Adler Llagas. Most of the furniture was also produced locally from Philippine mahogany.
The 4.7-hectare temple complex include patron housing, a meetinghouse, a temple president’s residence, a mission president’s residence and a mission office. The temple itself has an area of 2,746 square meters.
Inside the temple, various rooms for ordinances are shown such as the baptistry, the sealing room and celestial room.
So far, thousands have visited the temple complex since it was opened to the public on May 21. It will be dedicated by the Thomas S. Monson, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on June 13. It will be preceded by a cultural celebration on June 12. After the dedication, only members of the Church who meet the worthiness requirement would be allowed to enter the temple.
The tour, which is being offered now to the public, consists of a 12-minute video presentation on the history of temple-building, followed by a 30-minute walk through the temple. Parking is available at the site.
"We want the public to be able to see all of the rooms inside the temple. We also take the time to explain to them the ordinance that is performed there. We help them to understand that what we do there is sacred and not a secret. Once a temple is dedicated to the Lord, they will not have the opportunity to enter. We want them to be able to do so before then," said Teh.
The Cebu temple will serve around 200,000 members living in the Visayas and Mindanao.
There are approximately 650,000 members throughout the country.
"Those who enter the temple can find the peaceful serenity the Savior promised His followers in the New Testament: ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you (John 14:27)," says a brochure on the Cebu temple distributed at the open house. - Minnie Advincula

Wednesday May 26, 2010 service of Dignardino Espi

The family of Dignardino Espi
Fellow Officers that served with Dignardino Espi

Today was a rather sad day. We were invited to come and represent the Security Department along with some officers to attend an internment service for Dignardino Espi who was employed here at the area office as an officer in the security department. He retired in 2007 and was noted by his peers as an exemplary officer and church member. The youth in his ward knew him as a friend and a teacher. Complications of diabetes gave Brother Espi many days of discomfort before succumbing to the disease with the exception of Sunday where he had renewed energy to come to church and teach the youth. Brother Espi was loved by all. Elder Burningham and I did not know him but we learned how others felt about him and we did not even need to know Tagalog. Both Elder and I were very touched by the service.

We first met at the funeral home where there was one last viewing before we proceeded to the cemetery for his burial. The Bishop of his ward explained to the gathering at the cemetery about how The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints had a dedicatory prayer before the casket was lowered into the ground. This was for the benefit of those who were not members of the church. Brother Espi has five grown children. Two of them are currently serving missions for the church.. One in Hong Kong and another on an island in the Philippines. Two of his children are married with a child each of their own. The youngest came from Hawaii where he works for the Church college of Hawaii as an accountant. He is engaged to be married before the end of the year. The dedicatory prayer was given by this youngest son and he did very well in spite of emotion. I conversed with him about his father and he said that his father had all of his affairs in order and was looking forward to preaching the gospel in the spirit world. His dear wife told me that he was prepared in all ways to continue on to his next life. She will miss him but has the faith to move mountains and is doing very well.

After the prayer the Bishop asked all Melchizedek holders to come encircle the casket and place the temple clothing correctly before closing the casket. Elder was asked to come also and help the fellow officers before they closed the casket. It was very touching. Elder came away with tears in his eyes and I couldn't help drying some off of my cheeks also.

It was a spiritual experience to know and understand the love and respect these people have for each other. We also were touched by their testimonies...we certainly felt it very strong.

The weather? Well warm and humid. About 95 degrees and about 75% humidity. We all had our fans going. The family passed out fruit juice which was appreciated by all.

I have posted pictures of his family in front of the casket and the officers he worked with while here at the MPAO

The weekend. May 24th, 2010

Pretty much this past weekend was to stay close to the apartment to get our washing machine fixed. Our landlady had made the arrangements but had given the company my old phone number. We figured it out on Saturday that that might be the case so our landlady updated them with the new phone number. They called and as a special effort made arrangements to come on Sunday before noon. But it was after noon too late to attend a Sacrament meeting in the area so we just vegged and did some other pertinent things pertaining to the dedication.

Other missionaries have asked us if we have seen this or that and how beautiful it is and we just haven't traveled much yet..We will need to for security. I hope we get to soon as the temple dedication is over. We have really been driving a hard line on security. I helped with some of it at the apartment but then had to take a taxi to do my Saturday chores while Elder waited for the Washing Machine technician....I already told you about that. Missed church altogether...well, we will make up for it soon I am sure.

Yes...I was brave enough to take a taxi by myself to a mall where I got a hair cut and did some marketing. Elder found a place a week ago that is Korean run and he liked his haircut so I decided to try it. The Korean's do a good job but as all stylist around here they cut too short for my taste and the common complaint of all the Sister Missionaries here. I even brought pictures of my haircut from the United States that my hairdresser took from the back and side and front for a visual. It was cut correctly just too short. Which means I can go about three months with this haircut. Saves money I guess and I am cooler in this heat. Cost of a haircut is p500 or $10. Then I did my shopping at a grocery store there at the same mall, had them box it up for me and an employee of the store took me out to the street and hailed a taxi which took me back where Elder came to the Lobby and helped me with the groceries. Piece of cake. Good Missionary thing anyway to be so brave as my missionary badge opens up a lot of conversations about the church. My taxi driver was so distracted by the conversation that I had to remind him of a green light. We both laughed about that and the driver apologized. We just laughed.

Now we are back at it....doing what we can. Looks like we are leaving for Cebu the 6th and staying until the 14th or after as we need to update the policy and procedure manual for that complex. I am sure we will go to a session while we are there. The staff for the temple workers are about in place with about 10 Senior Temple Missionary couples coming to occupy the apartments on the top floor of the Temple Patron Housing. That is like a mini hotel and it will be managed by a Senior Missionary couple. It is quite an operation.

The weather is dry and we are hoping for rain. Hopefully it comes soon and cool things off. We see a few clouds around...doing a rain dance.

May 20th, 2010. Month of Optimism

We have a Church printed calendar here at my desk and it says Optimism as the Month's motto with pictures of flowers on the front. I would say that every day should have Optimism as the word of the day. There isn't something that doesn't come up that requires a positive attitude along with diligence.

We are working on some changes around the Manila Temple that have long been neglected. The guardhouses are in need of upgrades. Wiring in one of the guardhouses needs to be organized by Facilities Management and has been requested. The bicycles for roving officers are in poor disrepair. The proposed budget for security is way too low. We weren't the sheriffs' in town when that was suggested. So we are rather pushing things through one thing at a time.

Elder and I are going to make a formal request for a Golf Cart for our Security Officers rather than bicycles that are in continual poor repair. Officers are to be able to respond quickly for emergencies and not show up hot and sweaty from running and too tired and out of breath. Not to mention that they will be protected from wet weather when roving the temple grounds. The rains haven't started yet but we are told that rains are heavy and amazing to see. We will see what we can do to bring up the standard and work equipment for our guards. To us it is completely perplexing as to why things are in the state they are in. Somewhat appalled actually but thats why we are here. We are going to go over some items with our security people from Salt Lake in a couple of weeks. The Officers are actually quite excited that we are looking into this. These good brethren, members of the church are very smart and deserve respect that we don't think they are getting. Security is everywhere in this country and are considered a job that is considered the lowest job a man can have here in the Philippines. Security guards are at the supermarkets, malls, subdivisions, banks, you name it. Our men are college grads in criminology, security architecture, former soldiers, to mention a few educational backgrounds...great guys. Not to mention they are good priesthood holders and have temple recommends. It is our quest to bring up the moral in our guys. In this country, guards are high school gradutates and officers are college grads.

We want our men to be respected and proud of their work. They are church paid and better paid than other security companies in this country so they should have better equipment to work with.
Stay tuned. The new Sheriff is in town.

One of our officers, Alex Villalon.

This Officer is at his post at the Guard House at the gate of the Manila Philippines Area Office. He is one bright guy and I was getting his opinions on some changes for the guard house to make their job more effective. Been busy today to see if I could get the Internet reconnected there at the guard house and a filter on the network. I may be seeing some changes just for the Internet. Alex ran in a marathon this past Saturday also. He has a degree in Security Architecture and design. Little did I know until I spoke with him today.

Our room with the view.

This is one of the views from our window. You can see the river in the distance. The direction that it faces is west. Manila is a very busy city with many buildings and high rises.

This shot is straight out the window more directly west. The river view is closer than the other picture above. We are on the 23rd floor of a 40 story high rise. Our building has five stories below the ground for parking.

My cooking day - Saturday

Saturdays are usually catching up days which means grocery shopping and maybe window shopping and lunch. I would love to see the country but its quite a ways to see beautiful country side. There will be a time however when we will be doing that. I prepared Julia Childs Boeuf Bourguignon last night to see what the hype was about since I saw the movie Julie/Julia several times. And it was indeed...YUM. Amazing flavor and texture. It is time consuming and I wouldn't do it too often but it is indeed a very delicious recipe. Also borrowed a Kitchen Aid mixer from another Senior Missonary couple. Substantial machine compared to a hand mixer which I destroyed. I demand alot from my kitchen equipment. Made some bread using the Kitchen Aid Mixer. Well as Julia puts it. Bon Appetit.

Mission not impossible.

Our quest still is gearing up for the dedication. Communicating with Salt Lake on specific matters regarding accommodations, communications and other Security items. Also coordinating with Manila Temple Engineers on revisions of security duties at the Manila Temple. Making some needed changes and training. Well we are busy but I would like to see more of this country at some time or another. There are four weeks left until dedication and then we may need to stay in Cebu a little longer for some defining of duties at the Cebu temple. We are busy but we know we can do it. It is not a mission of impossibilities. The motto is JUST DO IT!!!! Well of course.

Family Home Evening Pot Luck at the Ayres Apartment May 10th

It was Election Day May 10th and we as senior missionaries are advised to be prudent in our comings and goings. The Elections can prove to be dangerous so some went to work today and some didn't. At the end of the day those who live in our apartment complex got together for a pot luck dinner at the apartment of Elder and Sister Ayres. It was quite good. One of our Senior guys did some magic tricks for us. Pretty good also.

Mother's day dinner Sunday Evening at Elder and Sister Ayres

After a long day traveling to church in the provinces we enjoyed a most delicious dinner at Elder and Sister Eyres. YUM!!!! We so thank them for having us over to their apartment.

Birthday Umbrella on Mother's Day

Here I am with my terrific umbrella that employs and deploys with a push of a button on Mother's Day in Sapang Palay. Pretty in Pink.

Mothers Day in the Philippines

It is interesting to me that "Mother's Day" is a day that has ancient history even back to the Greek God culture. Many countries celebrate Mother's Day on the same day as the USA and some celebrate it in December (Spain) or another day in May....at any rate...Mothers are honored. I will always remember my mother as making sure I went to Church meetings and Seminary and knowing she always had a testimony of the Gospel. I attribute her teachings and example to my even being here on a mission with my husband. She always wanted to go thru the temple...which she has some 14 years ago or so. Because of her desire, I received my endowments even if she couldn't at the time. Elder and I have raised our family in the Gospel for which I am so grateful to have been able to do so. I am so grateful that my family has embraced the Gospel in their lives and are now nurturing their families in the Gospel. My sons and son in law all returned missionaries. What joy!!! And my mother helped me see how important that is and I "Did not doubt her". And my testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true and real and I learned it for myself.

A few weeks back I attended a temple session with a few of our guards who transferred to Cebu to work there. I entertained them with a meal afterwards with our Supervisor Jess giving them counsel upon their new Officer in Charge jobs. Telling them of integrity and privilege to serve as well as being employed. I thought it was wonderful and told Jess so. The guys (brethren if you will) loved what I had provided for dinner. Many said they hadn't had the cold cuts (delicatessen) style for some years. Jess said to me and I quote, "You are like a mother to us Sister Burningham" I told him I was just being a hostess but he protested that I am their mother. I was not expecting that nor did I try to do that at all, but found that I have grown very fond of our guards very quickly. It is more than a corporate managing type work that we are doing here. Its caring and teaching the guards (brethren, men). As missionaries we are blessed with a very special spirit of love and teaching. But to be honest, I felt a little uncomfortable doing that as I am a guest in their country....I don't want to intrude. I feel like the LDS Filipinos are so knowledgeable in the Gospel and as much dedicated in their callings and serving as anyone I have known throughout my life as an American in the United States. So what am I doing here? Yet the Filipino saints and nonmembers alike look to us and as one sister in the Sapong Palay branch told me....."Teach us Sister."

While in Cebu I asked one of our Officer In Charge Guards how he felt about American Senior Missionaries in their country. His name is Edwyn and is about the age of one of my oldest sons. Edwyn told me that because of their history from WWII where the Japanese had taken over much of their country and were so brutal and cruel to the Filipino people and that the American soldiers had rescued them, taught them about democracy and then giving them their Independence after having been a commonwealth of the US.....that they love the Americans. They love the American Senior Missionaries. The people know that they still have issues with government and have a long way to go, but they love what the missionaries have done here. I felt humbled by his comments. And yes....now I do feel like a mother to our guards. I love them as my sons.

Talk about the "Field is White and already to harvest" . The President of the outsource Security Agency, Centurion is Michele, a second generation owner of the company. She is so impressed with the technology for the Temple structure and the security put in place for its protection against intruders. She told me how grateful she was that the LDS Church has done that and it is helping the Philippines in their desire to come up to speed. Michele said and I quote..."We know we are behind in many things and are so anxious to advance in technology." I took her around the inside of the temple and described some of the paintings to her. I could see she understood all that I was saying. I explained the Temple Baptismal Font and that it is used for baptism by immersion as Christ was baptized and that we baptize those who have passed on by proxy (for and in behalf of) and have not had the opportunity to be baptized. She reiterated those exact words back to me and told me how wonderful that is to have baptism for those who have "not had the opportunity to hear the gospel and be baptized" Those were her words not mine. I know it will be just a matter of time and she will embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and be baptized. When she said goodbye, she told Elder Burningham that she felt so privileged to have such a wonderful personal guide to the temple. I could feel that she felt the spirit testifying to her of the truth. I felt a special spirit also...a wonderful new exciting experience none other than I have felt before.

I hope to get pictures today and post them. Hope all moms out there have a great Mother's Day. It is a divine calling.
Sister B

Saturday May 8, my birthday in the Philippines

This is one of the malls we went to. There are so many here and they are huge. This pictures shows how clean they are and quite organized. Very plush. I believe this one is SM Mall. We visited three malls looking for the right umbrella. It was at SM Mall that I found the right one. One that automatically goes up and down with a push of a button.

This is ShangriLa Mall. We had lunch here. There are six floors at this mall.

This Mall has six stories. SM Mall.

So Mall hopping is what we did for my birthday. Watching a movie and dinner later.

Posting a comment.

Readers if you want to make a comment please log into your google account. You can do that once you access the blogsite. This allows you to leave a comment. If you don't have an account it is easy to create one with no cost or consequences to you. Thanks.....Sister Burningham

Mormons prepare boxes of Vests for the cleanup project after the Elections

The Philippine Elections are being held Monday May 10th and notably a very big occasion. Posters are just plastered everywhere and on everything. They are on the fences, buildings, jeepneys and trikes. It is quite a mess to clean up so the church has organized all the wards, branches and stakes to help with the cleanup. It shows the community that the LDS church is community minded and willing to help. The Public Affairs missionaries, Elder and Sister Durfey are watching over this project today in the basement of the office where we usually park, however for today the garage is being used to pack up the Vests that say Mormon Helping Hands to wear when members are out taking down the old election posters and cleaning things up. Each ward will get a certain number vests in two different sizes for their volunteers. I (Sister Burningham) helped sort out the packing labels with the Durfeys so that the vests can be packed and then put into boxes to send out to the local meeting houses for distribution. The cleanup project will be held on Tuesday May 11th.
Sister Durfey and the Bishop and his wife from Tapong Ward help the youth sort out sizes of vests to distribute to the Meeting Houses in the Manila area and surrounding provinces.

Bishop's wife is instructing the youth on what to do.

Sister Durfey agreed to model one of the vests for me even though she said "I am not supposed to wear this." I told her I would take the fall for her. It is only for the picture.

One of the youth modeling the back of the vest for me.

May 6th, 2010 Making it happen

Further last important details to be addressed were sent to us via email from Salt Lake. Who stays where, airport transportation, cell phones, ground transportation and of course, what to wear, for me that is. No one has to give me directives on that. Hiring of an agency, hiring of a guard...all in a days work. And lots more to do. Thanks to all those following along. Please leave a comment so I know who reads this blog.
Sister Burningham

Today Sunday in Quezon City, outskirts of Manila

Because we returned from Cebu late last night we decided to attend church locally and not in the provinces. This is a Stake Center in Quezon City. Lower floor is the Employment Resource Center. It is really a nice building. Today very little Tagalog was spoken. We recognized many church employees that come to this ward. It was a pleasant change.

Looking down the hall at the Stake Center today. The floors are all tile.

Elder Burningham and Augustin (Lot) Revilla

Our Security Supervisor Lot for the Cebu Temple Complex is being counseled by Elder Burningham on some specifics for the Cebu Temple property. The complex itself is 11 1/2 acres which requires some training both on the property and in the patron house where all the security camera monitors are. Just outside the wall surrounding the complex is squater housing that could cause some concerns if we have intruders from that side of the fence. I just had to snap this pictures of Al and Lot.

Our experiences on the 29th of April

April 29th was the day that officially the temple was declared finished and ready for occupancy. There are a few minor finishes to be made but for the best part of the building it is finished. It was turned over to the Church and so was security. Our staff is now in place with the exception of one Officer in Charge and that spot will be filled soon.

On the 30th a Open House for the construction workers and their families came to view the temple. The church welcomed them with some refreshments and films with an overview of the church. We invited the president of our outsourse security that we hired for 6 guards. Her name is Michele and she showed great interest in the church as I showed her around the temple patron housing and inside the temple. Many of the police officers were really interested in the pictures so I was able to do some missionary explanations and found it was SO well received. Some even moved to tears. It was wonderful!!!!

Pictures of Cebu

Elder Burningham is conducting an interview via the Vidyo Technology

with a prospective Officer in Guard that is needed in Cebu.

This is food set up for the open house for the contractors and construction workers and their families who worked on the temple. Most are not members of the church so as a special day to honor them Area Presidency held an open house for them exclusively. I looked over the table and found an interesting treat that is a rolled waffle with cheese in the middle. I was asking about it at the table and told them I would like to try it. A young Filipino girl about 9 or 10 years old and speaks English very well told me flat out that "You'll Regret it". She does not like this waffle with cheese in it. I tried it and it wasn't all that bad. Funny though the way she said it. She was dead serious and looked right at me..."You'll regret it".

We invited the officers of the police department to come to this open house and see the mechanics of the temple and also to have a special tour inside the temple. They have been asked to help patrol the temple and help with traffic flow. The officers were very impressed and snapped pictures where they could.


Above is the Generator system to the temple that works well. We were in a meeting with the contractor, the engineer, temple presidency and others when the hand over of the temple was handed over to the church. We were there because the security was handed over to us. The Cebu security staff is in place with the exception of one guard that we are interviewing for. During this meeting the lights flickered and the question was posed..."What happens when there is a power outage?" The contractor said, "Well you have just witnessed it...the natural power has been out for an hour and a half and we have been running on our own generator. We are now on the regular city power now." You can see they are made by Catapillar.

Above is the water filtering system. Huge.