Magandang hapon (good afternoon!)

Magandang hapon (good afternoon!):

With 2 months gone, we continue our mission in Manila.   The last few weeks, we have had the pleasure of visiting

1.      The original old Spanish fort, Fort Santiago, built first by the original Spaniards to withstand attacks from foreign invaders, later used by the Japanese conquerors during WWII to incarcerate prisoners.

2.      The Manila Cathedral, the first Spanish cathedral built in the 14^th century, destroyed by fire, hail, earthquake, and war several times to the present.  Typical of most old large European cathedrals.    

3.       St. Augustin, an ornate, elaborate church displaying the gold, silver, art, ceremony and decadence resulting from the great apostasy.

4.      The Spanish home-compound of the ruling classes during the 17^th 18^th and 19^th centuries—the art, furniture, culture, life-style of the Spanish conquerors of the Philippines.

5.      The home and place of martyrdom of Rizal, the Philippines national hero. 

6.      The Bataan Peninsula, the place of the famous death march of the American and Philippine prisoners taken during the first part of WWII when the Japanese conquered the land. 

7.       The Island of Corregidor.  Our words cannot sufficiently describe the tragic emotional history of the suffering and sacrifices which occurred on this tiny island and Bataan during WWII.  As Alma said, “…have you sufficiently retained in remembrance the captivity of your fathers? …have ye sufficiently retained in remembrance that he has delivered their souls from hell?”  An incredible and humbling experience!   

We wish you all happiness, health, and humor.  Always with love,       

 GTT & DST