Our Cultural Heritage - Jubilee Practices

"Kinabuhi, Gugma ug Hudyaka"

This was the theme of the jubilee celebration held last May 14, 2011 at the San Jose Recolletos gym in Basak Pardo Cebu. Looking back, here are some pictures of the youth and single adults' preparation who participated in that woderful and memorable night.

The youth learned their dance from a choreographer of the Camp Lapulapu National High School. There was a core group who practiced at the school for two Saturdays.

This core group in turn shared the dance steps to other youth in their respective wards..

See them as they learn the steps- quite serious eh?

Single Adults listen to the director's instructions

A scene for the cultural presentation- a makeshift boat for the fishermen to ride on

;
They listen as Annie gave her instructions

Siloy-
A native visayan song about celebrating life

Dean giving his instructions to the dancers

Inday paghinay hinay- A song about being careful on love- The girls seem to take the song personally.. :)

Single Adults share their ideas to Annie

Annie explaining the flow of the show

The Single Adults waiting for their turn and a model pose from Divyne...hehe!

Cebu City Stake Youth of Zion

"We will stand strong for what is true and we would do what He would do.
We'll be a friend to those alone, we'll choose the Lord's way as our own.
And we will live what we believe, extend a hand to those in need.
We'll be a light to those around us...
We will seek the Lord..."

National Day of Service

One of the aim of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to render service to both members and non-members of the church. Members are so eager to give a "helping hand" to those who need it because they do believe that "when they are in the service of their fellow beings, they are only in the service of God."

In celebration of the Church's 5oth year here in the Philippines, the Church organized the "National Day of Service." In this program, each ward in the whole country had identified a certain place that they would render service with.

The Cebu City Stake did the same too. On the morning of April 23, 2011, all the five wards (Apas, Mabolo, Ward 1, Ward 5, and Talamban Ward) rendered services in their respective areas.

Apas and Mabolo Wards were assigned at the Camp Lapu-lapu National High School. They painted the railings outside the school and did some painting jobs inside the campus as well. There were more or less forty in attendance in the Apas Ward, composed of both young and old.



The youth at work...



A young woman with her leaders.



Youth of noble birthright...



They find joy in serving others...



Service on the go!



Work, work, work!


Members of Apas Ward @ Camp Lapu-lapu National High School after the service.



The members of the Ward 1 and Ward 5 rendered their service at Lahug National High School. They cleaned the school campus and painted the classrooms. They were all so excited to work. Seeing them in the picture below, one can tell that they are so prepared...




The members of Ward 1 and Ward 5 @ Lahug Elementary School.



Getting ready to serve...



During the orientation and briefing before the service.



Youth and YSA doing their jobs very well.



A young women leader giving instructions to the youth and YSA.



After the service... They still look very happy regardless of the heat of the sun and the tiredness.


"The life of a man consists not in seeing visions and in dreaming dreams, but in active charity and in willing service."
by Henry Wordsworth Longfellow

History of the Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) in the Philippines

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was first introduced to Filipinos through the latter-day servicemen who served during the Spanish-American War and World War II. Since then, church meetings were held and the servicemen stayed in the Philippines even after the war. Clark Air Force Base in Pampanga became home to these servicemen.

On August 21, 1955, President Joseph Fielding Smith dedicated the Philippines for missionary work. Although problems arose which hindered the full time missionaries to be sent in the Philippines, after six years, the church was finally registered legally.

President Gordon B. Hinckley (then Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) rededicated the Philippines on 28 April 1961 for the preaching of the gospel. The service was held at the American War Memorial Cemetery located in the outskirts of Manila.

Amidst the rising sun and rows of grave markers, President Hinckley invoked the blessings upon “the people of this land, that they shall be friendly and hospitable, and kind, and gracious to those who shall come here, and that many yea Lord, we pray that there shall be many thousands who shall receive this message and be blessed thereby….We pray that there shall be many men, faithful, good, virtuous, true men who shall join the church."

Indeed, the prayer of President Hinckley was fulfilled, the church has grown so fast...

And now, the church has reached its 50th year here in the Philippines.


***Source: "History of the Church in the Philippines" (http://www.lds.org.ph/page.php?page_id=18)

We Believe 2011 LDS Video and Lyrics

A very beautiful song that would uplift the youth and leaders.

We Believe (LDS Youth Mutual 2011)

Does the journey seem long?

We can still be strong

We can make it, we can find what's true

When truth's understood

We believe the promises the Lord makes are true

We believe he'll deliver us from all we go through

We believe and we seek everything lovely and pure

We believe and we hope and we will endure.

All doubt has come to an end

Cause God is speaking again

He loves us, he sent us here

The truth is so clear

We believe in prophets sent down to the earth

We believe God's filling the world with his word

We believe that his power's been given to men

We believe and we know his gospel again

Most of all we know the scripture are true

The son of God came down to rescue me and you

believing is the start to feeling his love in our hearts.

We believe in change unto life through his name

We believe in following him all our days

We believe and have faith that he will change us with in

We believe and we know that and we seek him.