Monday, February 28: Left Loma Linda at 3:30 pm. Got to LAX at 5:30. Pastor Jody Dickhaut was already there, having arrived at 4:00 p.m.
Got our luggage checked through fine. The flight on Philippine Airlines was wonderful. Seventeen hours with a refuel in Honolulu at 2:00 a.m.
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Wednesday, March 2: Crossed the date line en route so missed Tuesday. Arrived at 7:00 a.m. The folk at the Union office were there to meet us (Elder Max Delos Reyes – vice president) and pastor Levi Payoyo from the Mountain Provinces Mission (president).
Since it is the Philippine Centennial Celebration week, the Union Mission office is a beehive of activity. Henny (assistant to Pastor Nephtali Manez) has been sooo helpful. A sweet, dynamic lady.
Two guest rooms at the Union Office were waiting for us. Simple but with air conditioning and a shower. What else can you ask for? Unpacked and got settled. Then, we were invited to do a few songs for Pastor Rolly Artiga’s meetings at the Manila Center SDA Church. |
 Monday, March 7: Got up at 6:00 a.m. to take the tour of Corregidor Island. If one ever needed to be reminded of the price of freedom, then a trip to this “Alamo of the Pacific” would be in order! It is a 26-mile boat ride from Manila harbor. An entire journal could be written about how this island fell to the Japanese, but then was re-captured by the US and Filipino forces in 1945. In fulfillment of his words, “I SHALL RETURN,” General Douglas MacArthur stands as one of the tallest of heroes in this country where the price of freedom was costly. More than 1 and a half million Filipinos died during the war in the Pacific, World War II. It is the story of two countries that have their blood mixed on the battlefields. It is no wonder that the Filipinos still have such a high regard for the US. In fact, while on the island, a Filipino lady came up to Judy in the restroom, and with tears in her eyes said, “Thank you for what the Americans did for our country!”
If one ever travels to the Philippines, don’t miss this memorial.
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