Lunch at Johnny Rockets in The Philippines 8-30-10

We had lunch at Johnny Rockets just like the one in Del Mar California. And just like in California the employees dance to an old tune and have some fun. They had the place Rocking.

August 30, 2010 Fun Day

Interesting Plant Species One of the guests at the Aquarium who paid for the chance to go in.

A Sting Ray

Today is a Philippine Holiday but for what I don't know. they have many. We had lunch at Johnny Rockets with Elder and Sister Ayres and then we went to the Manila Aquarium. It was interesting for the Philippines. We have seen many aquariums in our life time bu this one depicted fish that were found in the Pacific in around Asia. It was interesting with different plant species also.

August 29, 2010

Yesterday the 28th, we drove to Angeles north of here to inspect an apartment that was broken into two weeks ago. The apartment was nice but not in a very secure location. Two sisters occupied the apartment when it was broken into. Money and cameras were stolen and there was an attempted assault. The sisters are OK but were removed from the Apartment. The American Sister was too traumatized and she went back to the United States. She will probably finish her mission in the United States as she was having some asthma problems here with the humidity anyway. She had only been on her mission for about five months. They only had been in the apartment for 10 days before the break-in occurred. Rather sad. It could have been a better outcome if a few items were noticed first.

Today we went to our newly assigned branch in Morong. It is about an hour away and not as stressful a drive as Sapang Palay. We met in a very nice building with air conditioning and pews. It is nice there. The members are always friendly and faithful.

I found that the spirit there is the same as anywhere else. Very strong. The organization of the branch and district with leadership is very strong and it is touching to see how the church takes hold here. The talks given were well prepared and thought out and those that talked did so with dignity and with grace. Even though half of what is spoken is in another language we understood the concepts. It is a great experience to see the church in another country operates the same way.

Sunday school was the same way. Even though the class is spoken in mostly Tagalog with some English we understood the lesson. It was lesson 34 from Hosea. We could contribute when called upon.

Since it is the fifth Sunday, the third hour is with Relief Society and Priesthood combination with the branch President giving the branch the message. It was about time. Time to attend the meetings and about time management. It was a great presentation and well received.

After the meeting we asked the Sister Missionaries if we could inspect their apartment for security reasons. The apartment never had an issue with intruders. There is a large concrete area that is gated in front of their apartment and locked and their apartment had good locks on it also. The bathroom leaves something to be desired as the toilet looks like a child could use it. The American Sister is about 6 foot and I think the comode must be a challenge for her. There is no enclosed shower so I was looking at with some concern. It could be a little better constructed and I am going to ask the Mission President what can be done about this. Otherwise the street where they live seems to be ok. All of our findings will be reported.

Tomorrow is a non-working holiday and we don't know what we will see. We look forward to a little time off to see some historical sights around here.

August 21, 2010 this past week

This past week the outsource guard agency started on Monday. We have six guards from an agency called Vallum which should help us with our scheduling. It is an experiment to see if this works out and lifts a burden when our full time employee staff have to take sick time or leave for other purposes.

Also, in order to better secure our office from thefts like the ones that have happened a month or so ago, we are having the entire office rekeyed

August 21, 2010 Sonya's Garden day trip

I have posted some pictures from Al's Face Book Page from a day trip to Sonya's Garden in Southern Luzon. We went with another Senior Missionary Couple and enjoyed the beautiful country side and exquisite flowers. Truly amazing the beauty.

Sonya's Garden

Sonya's Garden

August 14, 2010 More pictures of the Graduation

Rescue of victim over a building as if it had collapsed
First Aid on traffic victim with broken legs

Outdoor rescue from a traffic accident

Lowering a vicim from a building on a backboard . Victim has a collar on his neck.

CPR skills

Here are pictures that reflect demonstrations of the training that the LDS Seagull Search and Rescue organization did training military personnel.

August 14, 2010- Attended Graduation of the first batch of army Search and Rescue

Today we were priviliged to witness the first graduation of some military men who went thru a Search and Rescue class taught by a LDS organization of search and rescue named LDS Seagull International, Inc. This organization is headed by one of our own Officers in Charge Peter Negrito who's passion is search and rescue. Several of our officers are apart of this great organization. Our area President, President Edwards through the help of Welfare Department of the Church awarded the organization with rescue equipment which included three rubber boats with motors and backboards and various other equipment needed. Scuba equipment, ropes, ties and equipment to repel. We were invited just a couple of days ago and little did we know that we would also be guests that sat up front with the Colonel from one of the armed forces of the Philippines, Colonel Algapito CS Nagrampa Jr. All of the men that graduated were extremely kind to us and wanted their pictures with us etc. The Press was there and asked Elder Burningham some questions regarding his feelings on the need of the Rescue organization and for their part in training some of the armed forces for the benefit of rescuing people in times of Natural Disasters.

This brought back memories to me of when Al was in the service as a counter intelligent officer serving in Viet Nam. It did to Al also as he talked with many of the men regarding their ribbons and patches. Many were paratroops trained which is what Al was trained to do. Al is scuba trained and he was interested in how many were trained in this.

I am told that our pictures will be in the local newpaper. This was quite an experience. The place this function took place was called La Mesa Dam. It is beautiful and green and the dam is amazingly large. The surrounding area is part of a rain forest. Little did we know that it even existed here.

The American Ambassador to the Philippines

August 11th, 2010, I went with two other sisters, one an ex-pat wife of the volunteer attorney, Sister Wright and Sister Durfey of Public Affairs to a meeting function of the American Women's Club of the Philippines. The featured speaker was Harry Thomas Jr., the American Ambassador to the Philippines. He is an African American Man who is kind, generous and caring. Not to mention he is a very educated intelligent man. He spoke about a major concern here in the Philippines which is "Human Trafficking". Non-employment here in the Philippines is high, thus human trafficking is a problem. He told of the volunteer organizations that are helping the Philippines here to raise the education and establish reasonable and worthwhile jobs here so Human Trafficking would not be an option. He spoke of the forthcoming of 140,000 volunteers arriving next week from various organizations. He is not aware of the Church's presence here and would like to meet the Area President which I think I will get things going on this. Ambassador Thomas is new to his position here so I am thinking he hasn't got around to what the church does here. I am going to be proactive on this.

Ambassador Thomas said that the problem of Human Trafficking is so syndicated that fewer than 8 arrests have been made on this problem. Foreign men are coming here and marrying Filipino women and then putting their financial assets in their wives names so that they cannot be proven for any money earned in Human Trafficking. Tragic.

August 7th 2010 Cabanatuan Camp visit

These are pictures from the Cabanatuan Memorial POW camp. We were here in August of 2010 with Elder and Sister Ayres.  Books were read regarding the Great Raid that took place here and it is noted that it is the greatest rescue raid in the history of the US.  A movie was made about it called The Great Raid.  Good information

Cabanatuan POW Camp

Cabanatuan POW Camp

August 3rd, 2010, Security to be improved.

Due to circumstances involving areas of theft, a plan for improvement in the building regarding change of schedules for maintenance crews, changing keys, purchase of a new DVR device in the guardhouse and hiring more guards through an outsource agency here is underway. We hope that that the upgrade of all the aforesaid will create a more secure feeling here at the Manila Philippines Area Office (MPAO). Some tenseness has been felt about some areas of the office.

I am attaching a video showing what "One" view of one camera looks like in front of our area office. Notice the many cars that go by the guard house at 7:30 am. I am told this morning that before a tunnel was built that went under the street from the office to the Temple there were many accidents of vehicles and pedestrians hit trying to cross the street to get to the temple. Other cameras will be able to be monitored at the same time of other areas of the Manila Complex. This is a great help. About 6 weeks the DVR player had malfunctioned and a part was ordered from Korea to repair it. It just didn't come and we were without surveillance. Elder B just put his foot down and said..."Purchase a new one" The existing DVR is old technology and a part will not be found for it. So between Facilities Management and Purchasing, the budget was brought forth for a new DVR to be placed in the guardhouse. I (Sister B) will also be able to monitor the cameras from my laptop in my office. Awesome. Things never get done very quickly unless we push for it. Which is what we will do.