Corregidor Island, Philippines

In a rare quiet weekend in January, Alan and I joined a group going out to Corregidor Island at the mouth of Manila Bay. This island was the last stand for the American and Philipino military after the Japanese attacked the Philippines during WWII. Then Pres. Quezon left from here to go in exile in America and Gen McArthur uttered his famous "I shall return" from here before leaving for Australia. (he did return and win back the Philippines). From Manila we took a ferry out to the island - about 26 nautical miles out. This is a large flooding Chinese restaurant docked next to the ferry boat.

On the ferry were a group of Filipino reinactors going out to camp for the weekend. The island is now a national park and monument.

This relief map is in one of the small museums. The island is very small - 5mls x 1 1/2 mls. It has a volcanic mountain in the center. The Spanish used it for a prion camp.

Our tour guide was an American living on the island doing research. His father was a WWII POW who was stationed on the island. This was the gun his father manned.

The mountain in the center has a very intricate tunnel system that had housing, a hospital and offices. From here MacArthur lead the war until his forced exit to Australia.

In side the main tunnel. There are tracks on the floor from the "train" used to move materials.

One of the many side tunnels. Inside the tunnel there is a light and sound show giving the history of the tunnel.

One of the many guns still standing on the island.

Ruins of the hospital. The island was completely destroyed by the Japanese bombing. Even the plant life was destroyed. When the island became a national park, the trees and plants were replanted. It has taken years to restore the island.

One of the barracks. There were three large long barracks on the island. When the bombing started they were abandoned and everyone had to move into the tunnel.

The Eternal Flame of Peace in the memorial park.

That's me - Looking out at the South China Sea.

There are several beaches long the island that are now parks.

Alan and I at the memorial park.

One of the gun batteries. Before the island became a park, many of the guns were stripped for scrap metal.

Carrabao Island near by. There are several small islands around Corregidor.

Hole left from a Japanese bomb.

Our tour group for the day! It was a nice day trip. There is alot of history there. Since coming to the Philippines I am just now learning alot about the war. My father was a WWII veteran.

Sister Salvacion Meniano

Sister Salvacion Meniano passed away on February 14th at St Lukes Hospital, Quezon City of complications of leukemia and chemotherapy. She was 22 years old. These are the only pictures we have of her.

The first is in the hospital with her mother about a week before she died and the second is with her older sister and nephew and her older brother. Sis Meniano has on the brown and blue dress.

She was a sweet young woman and a hard working missionary - having served in the Butuan Philippines Mission. Her family lives in the Leyte Tocloban area. Please keep her family in your prayers.

Christmas in the Philippines

Sorry it has taken so long to get Christmas pictures up - too many other things happening. These are pictures of the lights at the Manila Temple. They were amazing.

These are pictures from some the houses around our neighborhood. There were lights on the walls, fences, hanging from all the trees!

We bought a lantern (called a Parsol) made of capiz shells. They come in many sizes and colors. (Hope we can get it back to the US in one piece...)

The pagent at the ward Christmas party.

The MRC Christmas tree.

My collection of Santas from various bazaars. Including my Pilippino Santa complete with barong (shirt) and rice hat.

Marlon Corpin

Many of you have asked for pictures of Marlon - our leaukaemia patient. Here he is before his release and before he started his first month of medication. Since starting his medicine, his face and hands are swollen.





With his trainer from his mission who stopped by to see him on his way home from his mission.

Christmas day with his family. We had his parents, two sisters, three cousins and two nieces over for breakfast and lunch. Look at the excited look on his mother's face as she opens a gift of kitchen wares - measuring cups, spoons etc.

This is Marlon's father. Even under the mask you can see the smile as he opens a gift of a framed picture of Marlon. We then took the picture at the bottom and printed it out to add to the frame - their first family picture ever.

Family members together for Christmas. Back row - Marlon with his two younger sisters, Merly, 20 and MaryAnn, 17, and three cousins. His parents sitting and two nieces in front.

Mayon Volcano Erupting

The Mayon Volcano southeast of Manila has been bellowing smoke and ash for a couple of weeks now. There is lava flowing on the east side. This volcano is only 15 km from Divine's provincial home where she is spending the holidays. She called today to say she was OK. There is alot of ash and breathing is difficult. They don't go out much.
We have had some hazy days here in Manila with ash blowing to the west. Here are some pictures from local papers. An article in the paper said there have been over 1,000 small earthquakes a day for the last week. They are predicting a major eruption any day now.