April 28th Jubilee Dinner at the Shangri-La Makati Hotel

With our guest Deputy Security attache from the American Embassy Daniel Child and guest

 President and Sister Taylor of the MTC, Elder and Sister Burningham

 Singer at the Jubilee

Sister Justiniano, President Howard of the Manila Temple and honored first Bishop and Counselor of the Philippines in its beginning stages.

More about our adventure of the Jubilee dinner. We decided to take a taxi from our apartment to the Shangri-La Hotel but Taxi's from the apartment were slow in coming.  So we walked across the street to the mall and hailed a taxi.  The taxi driver was a bit concerned that we would be upset if he took another route other than EDSA which would have been the quickest way but it was blocked up for miles and miles.  He needed to go by C-5 which is a little longer and would cost us more by taxi.  We told him to go ahead and not to worry.  He spoke to us in English which he felt was not adequate but really, he did very well.  He got us to the hotel in 15 minutes which was very impressive.  We had a nice conversation while getting there.  I am posting a few more pictures of the event.

April 28th Jubliee Dinner with VIP Guests at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati

 Dinner set up in ballroom at the Shangri-La Hotel

 Ballroom where dinner was held at the Shangri-La Hotel

 Gorgeous chandelier in the ballroom where Jubilee Dinner was held in the Shangri-La Hotel

 Displays of Man's Search for Happiness

 Church displays of beliefs

 Church displays on the Temple

Special Guest from left to right, Counselors to the Area Presidency and guests from the office.

 Displays of the Church's beliefs

 Elder and Sister Bird in their Filipine attire

 Elder and Sister Goss in their Filipine attire

Elder and Sister Goss and Elder and Sister Bird of Public Affairs who worked with Sister Leni Pelibello towards this wonderful evening for 50th Jubliee Dinner with VIP Guests  at Shangri-La Hotel Makati

On the evening of April 28th the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints celebrated their 50th Jubiliee Dinner at the Shangri-La Hotel with guests from the country, senators, former Philippine Presidents, former missionaries from 50 years ago and even the first convert baptism.  It was a wonderful beautiful affair and we felt privileged to be there with our guest, Daniel Childs, a deputy security attache to the American Embassy and his guest Selena who is a native Filipino.  The dinner was excellent to say the least and the program was just wonderful.  Displays in the foyer outside of the ballroom were very professional and spiritual.  I hope all that reads this blog enjoys the pictures posted here now and in the next few days for the cultural celebration and conference held Saturday the 30th and Sunday May 1st.

Our 43rd Anniversary April 26th, 2011

I was surprised this evening by my husband walking in the door with a bouquet of flowers for our anniversary.  He is wonderful to remember. Thanks to my hubby.

This Week is Holy Week. April 21st thru the 24th

The entire nation observes what is known as Holy Week.  Just before Easter there are a few days that are observed with no businesses open.  And traffic out to the provinces very heavy.  Businesses, grocery stores, malls, and gas stations are closed so there is not much we can do.  The office is closed on Thursday the 21st which is Holy Thursday and Friday is Good Friday.  Saturday is Black Saturday and Easter on Sunday.  Interesting enough after Good Friday, then Saturday and Sunday all businesses are open.  We stayed in our apartment on Thursday with only a visit to the gym here in our building to walk on the treadmill and walk around the pool.  Friday we called our friends Elder and Sister Christensen to see if we could come over to go to lunch with them at Johnny Rockets.  They had to go check to see if the restaurant was really open.  It was the only restaurant open.  We  then hopped in our car and drove there and found a parking place close to the Christensen's tower and then met them for lunch.  We enjoyed a nice visit wth them for several hours.  Weather was warm but tolerable.  Eastwood City is where the Christensen's live and it is connected to a pretty nice mall and eating establishments.  We like it there and wished we had rented an apartment there.  Most of the missionaries are here in the Pioneer Towers but they don't have to.  Just seems popular I guess. Today Black Saturday we went to S&R since they are open today and found the new missionary couple, The Bird's there.  They have been here only one week.  Nice couple and we spent most of the day with them showing them around other places that their partners in crime, (The Goss's....both couples are working in Public Affairs) hadn't shown them.  We had a real nice time with them. A trip to a mall close by called Market Market proved a good shopping trip for Sister Bird as she needed some shoes for the Jubiliee VIP reception and a light sweater for the office. Together we then headed to the ShangriLa Plaza for lunch at The Wham Burger place. One of our favorites hamburger place and  Elder and Sister Bird seemed to like it alot.  From there it was the Wet Market and then back to our respective apartments.  Tomorrow is Easter and we will join them at a LDS Chapel close by.  It may be just too much traffic to travel to our Branch one hour away tomorrow.  I will be wondering how all the members are at the Morong Branch on Easter.

Elder Burningham on his birthday

Thought I would post this picture of Elder Burningham on his birthday working away. Notice the Temple through the window.

Sorry I haven't written.

To my faithful readers, sorry I haven't written in a week or so.  Missions are not always seeing fun places or people.  Some events are stressful and need not be written in the first place.  Not for public publishing anyway.  Good thing is that our Golf Cart will be delivered next week and that is for the roving of the Temple Complex as it is expanding.  Also for the expediting responses to emergencies.  That is a good thing.  Also the IT Server is on order and specifications are being defined.  We had a new security officer start last week and he will be attending a security class here next Tuesday the 26th.  A new officer in Cebu will start today the 20th and another officer will be starting his training class here soon.  Both complexes here in Manila and Cebu have good officers that have been responding to immediate issues and we as Security Managers are very very proud of our staff. 

The MTC has more missionaries than they can handle so the overflow has gone to the MRC Missionary Recovery Center for their night accommodations. Our staff has been shuttling them back and forth morning and evening from the MRC. When the MTC expansion is completed there will no longer be an overflow.  All Missionaries will be accommodated in two large buildings nearing completion by August 1st.  We probably won't be here for that but will probably see the CCTV cameras in place and DVR set ups and proximity card readers in place.  Elder Burningham has worked tirelessly on those implementations.

That is it for today.  More coming when the Jubilee has taken place.  I will take lots of pictures of this, the VIP Reception and the Golf Cart....The coming attractions. :)

Oh and a Happy Birthday to Elder Burningham.  He is 68 today.

April 9th and 10th viewing of General Conference by way of recorded DVD at Mission Home

Sister Boehme wife of the medical advisor in the Mission Home Kitchen.

 Good thing the Mission Home has plenty of room

 April 10th Conference Buffet Lunch, I made the cole slaw in large metal bowl

 Setting up lunch with Sister Jones

 Sister Christensen at the lunch table with us.

 Viewing conference on Sunday

Lunch buffet April 10th

 Baked Potato Bar for Saturday Conference lunch

 Viewing conference at the Mission Home

 Great Birthday Cake for our April Birthday Celebrants

Since Salt Lake Conference is live when we are asleep, we as Senior Missionaries view the conference on a recorded DVD at the Mission Home the next weekend.  We get together and have lunch together.  On April 9th, we had a potato bar and salad. And we also celebrated April Birthday Celebrants with Cake and Blue Bunny Ice Cream (we bought that at S&R and brought it).  Sunday we had a full buffet with good food prepared by all of us. We have a very good time together with conference with lunch.

The bus ride home from Baguio

The comforts of home - water closet - CR or Porta Potty

 Seating behind us

 Seating ahead of us

 Elder napping...so comfortable

We even have a bus attendant that served us water and snack

Our trip to Baguio was by invitation by a vendor who is bidding on the CCTV Cameras for the area complex.  He wanted us to see an installation at the City Hall and how it worked.  He offered to bring us back but the drive is quite far and we wouldn't get home until 1 am. So we decided to stay the night and see a few things there before going back.  Mode of transportation was the Victory Deluxe Liner  It was worth the ride and we felt safe and comfortable. We didn't have to fight the traffic or stress.  It is not likely that we would be able to visit there again.

More about Manor Camp John Hay in Baguio

Sitting area on back end of hotel property

 The grounds had a special tribute section for two respected great leaders that believed in Freedom of Men in their country.  They gave tribute with this statue of Abraham Lincoln

 Manuel L. Quezon President of the Commonwealth who preserved the Philippine Republic. A tribute to his leadership

Tribute Marker

 Mango smoothies are a must here.  So good, don't know what we will do without them when we return to the United states.

 Beautiful flowers and butterflys around the landscape.

 Fountain and art work display just outside the restaurant

 A gazebo for weddings

 This is looking out from the Hotel property towards a pine tree view

 On the side of the property is a reception area for banquets and parties. It is oriental in nature.

By recommendation and that the hotel is church approved hotel property we stayed in the Manor Camp John Hay hotel while in Baguio on business.  It has beautiful grounds and nice facilities.  The food is prepared nicely and tasted very good.