Magellan and More and then . . . to the TOPS of the Mountain

We've been wanting to go on a tour of Cebu for some time, but it's been crazy busy.  But finally . . . Brother Redulla (pronounced ri-dool'-ya), who is temple recorder and also a counselor in the Cebu Mission presidency, along with Brother Olayao (pronounced oh-lie'-yoh), the assistant temple recorder, gave us a city tour.  So fun.  

We're starting our tour with Brother Redulla guiding and Brother Olayao driving.  They both grew up in Cebu so knew their way around very well.  First stop: an I love Cebu sign.  Here we are with Elder & Sister Smith, who serve as Family History specialists in the Cebu Mission.

Christianity began in the Philippines in 1521 when Ferdinand Magellan planted a cross right here to commemorate the baptism of King Humabon of Cebu and his Queen, family, and 800 native Cebuanos.  The King and Queen were given the Christian names of Carlos and Juana.

The original cross, of course, is long gone but this cross marks the spot.  Ferdinand Magellan was Portuguese but he sailed for Spain because Portugal refused to support him in his search for a route to the Spice Islands (eastern Indonesia) to buy spices such as nutmeg and cloves.

Magellan was killed here in Cebu by natives who refused to be converted. His crew carried on to the Spice Islands and returned to Spain in September 1522, with only 18 of the original 270 men. Despite the loss of four ships and many men, including Magellan, the cargo of spices was so valuable that it paid for the entire expedition and generated a profit. 

Right across from Magellan's Cross is the City Hall.  Interesting words on the building:  Public Office is a Public Trust.  Too bad many government officials in the world don't believe that, or at least act like they don't understand it.

Now we're approaching the oldest Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines, the Basílica Minore del Santo Niño.  Brother Redulla is explaining that the ladies in red, yellow and white are "Tig Sinug" candle vendors.  If you buy a candle, they will dance and whisper prayers for you.

The basilica stands on the spot where Spanish soldiers found the original Santo Niño (the child Jesus), miraculously untouched inside a burned wooden box.  The Spaniards had fought a war with the natives and had burned the village, but Santo Niño was unharmed. 
The original statue was given by Magellan to the King and Queen of Cebu.  It was lost through the years and then re-discovered and placed in the Basilica.

This is an internet picture of the Santo Niño in the Basilica.  For some reason, I don't remember seeing it when we visited.  I think I was just too awe-struck by the beautiful Basilica and I probably forgot to look for it.

The current stone Basilica was built in 1740.  So beautiful!  LeRon and I love to visit old churches.  They have such character.

One of the first things that Elder Torrie looks for in a church is the pipe organ.  You can see it in the center, although the light is reflecting so it's hard to see.

And I enjoy looking at the ceilings.  This one has paintings of Biblical scenes and historical scenes of Magellan and Christianity.

INRI is an acronym for the Latin phrase, "Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum," which means "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews."  Pontius Pilate ordered that this sign be placed on the cross.  Yes, Jesus of Nazareth was and is King of the Jews, and of all of us.  His suffering and death mercifully allows us to be forgiven of our sins and to come again into His presence after we die.  What a beautiful blessing!

I took this picture at the Basilica, not for the big red sign, but for the fact that people are writing requests for prayers for people they love.  The "Pamisa Drop Box" is where they place their requests.  

Interesting that we too, in our LDS temples, have a place where we can write the names of people who need our prayers.  
And interesting that in the above Basilica, you can send your requests via the internet.  We too in our Temples, can request prayers online or by phone. 
We have been told that in our Cardston Alberta Canada Temple, even those not of our faith sometimes phone in to the temple to request prayers for loved ones.

Prayer is powerful.  We have experienced praying at the Western Wall in Jerusalem beside Jewish people who are also praying.  We have seen them push small papers with prayers or requests for prayers into cracks between the stones.
We have seen Muslims praying on their prayer rugs and in their mosques, seeking blessings from Allah.  Many faithful people throughout the world connect with God in powerful ways.

Model of the Basilica.  Such a beautiful building.  Parts of it were under renovation when we were there.  Always renovations going on in these old buildings.

If you click on this picture, you will see that this sign actually reads, "500 Years of Christianity" with the year 1521 on top.  The US is only 250 years old and Canada is only 159 years old.  Christianity here the Philippines is now 505 years old!

We're now on our way to Fort San Pedro.

Fort San Pedro was originally built of wood in 1565.  Almost 175 years later, it was rebuilt from coral stones with limestone and egg yolk mortar.  It has housed Spanish troops, Filipino resisters, American troops, and even was a Japanese hospital during WWII. 

Portrait of Ferdinand Magellan on right.  Map on the bottom is of location of Cebu drawn at the time of Magellan's conquest.  Picture at top is of Magellan carrying the cross as he meets with Filipinos. 

The fort was originally built of wood.

You can see moss growing on the stone walls of the Fort San Pedro and an image of Santo Niño, the Christ Child. 

Grandmother teaching her granddaughter to weave "puso".  See next picture for an explanation.

Click to enlarge to read the explanation.  You see these rice packets everywhere.  Such a good way to transport cooked rice.  It's part of the "fast food" culture now.

We were astounded at the beautiful music these blind players made on this partly cloudy/rainy day.  See belong for a very short video of their playing.  I thought I had recorded more than just a few seconds, but I guess not. 

The walls of Fort San Pedro with the modern city of Cebu.

Make sure you are not under this tree when that dark, ripe, coconut falls!  The yellow ones are still green so they won't hurt you, but look out below if a ripe one falls.

Farewell to Fort San Pedro!  Would have liked to stay longer to hear the blind musicians play.  But we were hungry so it was time to head to the SM Seaside Mall, the huge mall fairly close to Fort San Pedro.

The SM Seaside City Mall is one of the largest in the world with a a floor area of 470,486 square meters and 700+ stores.  According to Wikipedia, "It is a circular-shaped retail mall with multiple anchors, . . . a Centerstage theater, a Super Screen Cinema (formerly Large Screen format cinema), two Director's Club cinemas, and 4 regular cinemas, an 18-lane SM Bowling and Amusement Center, and an Olympic-size ice skating rink near the food court."

We were so surprised to see a huge ice skating rink here in the hot, hot, hot Philippines!  So fun to watch them skate.  That's all I can do anymore.  I used to love skating.  As a child, I skated on our frozen pond with my siblings and often at the indoor rink in Taber.  As a mom, I skated on our frozen dug-out with my children. 
So fun!

Fun Filipino Food here at SM Seaside.  It was pouring rain.  Brother Redulla and Brother Olayao wondered if we should end our tour here and go home.  But Elder Torrie said, "Let's go on.  It will probably blow over."

And blow over it did.  Because of the heavy rain, most tourists had gone and we had the place almost to ourselves.  The wind reminded us of our southern Alberta winds.  But the wind also brought with it cooler temperatures, which was perfect for us!  We drove up, up, up, into the TOPS of the mountain.  The TOPS is a lookout point in the Busay hills, about 600 meters (about 1968 ft) high.  Interesting that our home on the farm near Grassy Lake Alberta is about 3000 feet high.

If you know where to look, you can see the teeny-tiny steeple of the Cebu Temple amidst all the high rise buildings of Cebu.

So windy up here in the TOPS of the mountain!  The lookout gives a 360 degree view of Cebu and the surrounding area.

You can see small farms and small farmhouses.

I zoomed in to this very small farmyard.  We're always interested in farming throughout the world.  Many of our workers live in small places like this.

Another direction, another view.

Here are the men of the tour:  Elder Torrie, Brother Olayao, Brother Redulla, Elder Smith.  Looks like  we didn't take a picture of me and Sister Smith.  Sad.

Another view from TOPS.  Perfect place for a special event.  To find the Cebu Temple, look straight back from the yellow flowers (yellow bunch on the right).  You will see white buildings hooked together (the first ones you come to as you look straight up from the flowers).  Look past them and you will see the steeple of the temple.

Three lovely ladies.  Hook your lock on to one of them and they will watch over your promises.  See below to learn what the different coloured locks mean.

The Three Marias of Tops.
Click to enlarge to read about what these three will do for you.

TOPS Promise Locks.  You can buy a lock here in the store and fasten it onto one of the Three Marias and they will watch over your promises.  Maybe even better, YOU should take care of your own promises!

-----------------The End of a Perfect Day-------------------

Philippines Potpourri

We may not love the weather here, but we definitely love the people.  As we get to know more and more Filipinos, we are amazed at their faith and resilience.  There are so many young widows and so many orphans who were raised by their siblings or grandparents or others.  So many who were once alcoholics but who have embraced the Gospel of Jesus Christ and turned their lives completely around.  Their stories are amazing.

And I love the way the Bishop welcomes us to sacrament meeting here in our ward in Lahug, making it very clear that Jesus is the center of our worship.  "We welcome you on behalf of our Savior, Jesus Christ."  And before we take the sacrament, he says, "Please observe reverence as we remember the atoning sacrifice of our Savior."  And before we sing a hymn, he says, "To invite the Spirit of the Lord, please sing . . ."

We have recently been made aware of a promise that the church president at the time, Gordon B. Hinckley, gave in Cebu City on June 1, 1996.  He said, "I believe with all my heart that if they [Filipinos] will accept the gospel and live it, pay their tithes and offerings, even though those be meager, the Lord will keep His ancient promise in their behalf, and they will have rice in their bowls, and clothing on their backs, and shelter over their heads."

The ancient promise referred to by President Hinckley is from the Old Testament prophet, Malachi.  It says in Malachi 3:10: "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse . . . and prove me now . . . if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

Church members agree that this promise has come to pass.  The standard of living among church members is generally higher.  Many have jobs as "virtual assistants" in foreign companies, or in call centers, and as they get more education, there are more job opportunities.  The Church also offers internet education at low cost in its BYU Worldwide Pathways program and English Connect classes.  

And many Filipinos immigrate to Canada, coming for increased opportunities for their children.  There are large numbers of Filipinos in southern Alberta.  Our Taber LDS Stake includes a Tagalog-speaking Filipino branch.  Tagalog is the unifying language of the Philippines.  Everyone knows Tagalog, along with their regional language, their city language, their area language, their home dialect . . . you get the picture.  These are smart people!

Now on to pictures I've taken in the past few weeks. . . .  in no specific order, just a potpourri of beautiful sights, interesting foods and new (to us) ways of living . . .

Click on the pictures to enlarge and be sure to make it to the end where you will see how Filipinos eat duck eggs and how they determine if a pant will fit their waist without trying it on.

Couldn't resist taking this picture at the medical clinic I go to.  Just showing you an example of the warm clothes (girl on the right in the heavy sweater) that people wear here even when it's "feels like" 38 C (100 F)!  We see hoodies and sweaters and even toques.  I left all my warm clothes at home.

We've discovered delicious Belgian waffles at a stand in the Ayala mall.  You can choose the fillings, anything from sweet to savory.  They fold up and you eat them like a sandwich.  An egg and ham waffle followed by a cream cheese/strawberry waffle makes a meal for us.

Love these ladies.  We're all about the same age and it's fun to visit with them.  LeRon and I have started a "singing night" every Thursday evening.  Singing and then treats.  We did that on our Sweden mission with the young missionaries we served with and it was so fun, singing together for about a half hour at 9 p.m. on Sunday nights, followed by treats.  Made for a late night but so fun!

We started with these few people and as the weeks have gone by, more and more have dropped in to sing and eat.  Filipinos love to sing and they love to eat!

I haven't tried these mangosteens yet, but I need to.  They don't ripen after they are picked, so you apparently need to choose carefully.  They should be a deep purple with a bright green stem.  They should give slightly when you press them.  If they are hard, it means they are underripe or overripe.  The inside is white and tastes like a mixture of lychee, peach, and vanilla, so they say.  I will let you know after I try them.

Mangoes, mangosteens, and dragon fruit (red).  Dragon fruit is pretty but a little bland.  The mangoes here are delicious.  

I saw a young man shaking an avocado and holding it up to his ear.  I asked him what he was hearing.  He told me that if you can hear the seeds shaking around, the avocado is perfect for eating.  He shook it by my ear, and sure enough, I could hear the seeds.  Who knew?

Lots of Golden Trumpets are flowering here in the temple compound.  In the Philippines they are known as Yellow Bells or Kampanilla (pronounced kamp-a-nilya).

And Hibiscus here grow on trees; at home they are a small houseplant.

We keep finding new restaurants.  We're at a Chinese one here in Ayala mall.  After cooking for about 57 years, I am getting a little tired of thinking up what to cook next.  So we go to a restaurant once or twice a week now.

Ha ha.  Took this picture to show you how tiny the dining napkins are.  Some restaurants don't even give you one unless you ask for it.  For example, KFC, of all places, only gives if you ask -- how can it be finger licking good if you don't have a napkin to wipe your fingers after you lick them?  Here in Philippines, they call it a tisyu.  A napkin is a feminine product.

These whitey-yellow and pink flowery-looking things are actually new leaves on the balitbitan tree that will eventually turn green.  My dad would have found that fascinating.  He loved trees and so do I.

Cool fountain and sculpture that we just discovered at the Ayala Mall.  The mall is huge at 290,000 square meters with 680 shops and restaurants.  We thought the Mall of Scandinavia in Stockholm was huge.  It's the largest mall in Scandinavia but it is about half the size of Ayala and only has about 225 shops.  And there are even larger malls than Ayala here in Cebu.  The SM Seaside Mall is twice as big as Ayala.  I will talk more about SM Seaside in a later post.

Chicken feet at S&R, which is a Costco-type store.  The yearly membership is only about $20 compared to Costco Lethbridge at $120 or so.  S&R actually sells a lot of the Kirkland Costco brand items. 

But back to the chicken feet.  Is there even meat on the feet?  Lots of strange (to us) things for sale here.

Do ox feet really come from an ox?  Apparently you boil everything -- the bones, the cartilage, the skin, and the tendons -- and it makes a thick soupy-like, gelatinous broth.

Anyone for beef tendon?  Looks quite fatty to me, but Filipinos seem to like the fat.  In fact, a Filipino taxi driver said that eating fat makes him happy!

Ox tripe is the "edible lining of the stomach of cattle."  Hmn . . .  Again, it probably makes flavorful soups or stews.  I won't be buying it in the near future. 

Change of pace from the interesting things for sale at S&R. . . . LeRon teaches Rebecca piano lessons and I go along as chaperone while I read a good book on my Kindle.

For Father's Day, the Ayala Mall had a display of motorcycles and this gorgeous car.  Couldn't resist taking a picture of it for our son Craig, who is an expert on all makes of cars.  I wouldn't want to drive it in the traffic here in Cebu, though.  Too many motorcycles darting here and there.  Wouldn't take much to damage this beautiful car.  Glad we don't drive ourselves here.  I say a silent prayer every time I enter a taxi.

We enjoy taking taxis because we have such great conversations with many taxi drivers.  Recently, a taxi driver said he had been praying to know what direction his life should take.  Elder Torrie told him about the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and encouraged him to talk to our young missionaries who speak Cebuano, as well as English.

The McLaren is a beautiful car.  Glad there's lots of security in this mall.  Guards are everywhere in the mall and in the city.  Because of that, Cebu City is the safest city in the Philippines.  Some guards are unarmed or have batons.  Some have handguns or shot guns.  Even our temple compound is gated and guarded 24/7.  The guards work 12-hour shifts.  So nice to feel safe and secure.

We often travel through this 5-street intersection that has no stop signs, no traffic lights, and usually no traffic directors.  The amazing thing is that it works.  You just each take your turn as you can.

We often pass this tree.  The roots have worked their way over the cement wall of this street-side shop as they search for a bit of moisture.

Whitening lotion for sale.  Looks like Filipinos want whiter skin!  And many white people tan to darken their skin.  We all want to look like someone else!

I didn't know it at the time, but on June 17, 2026, there was a star and moon alignment.  If I would have looked at the right time, I would have seen Venus close to the waxing moon, with Jupiter and also Mercury, which would have been closer to the horizon.  But I did see this on June 17 as I looked northwest toward the temple.

From a different angle, I saw the moon with Jupiter or Venus, not sure which.  I have always loved the night sky.  Have been an astronomer at heart.

A friend at the temple gave me these cute and tiny quail eggs.  They were hard-boiled and ready to eat.  They taste just like chicken eggs.  A nice protein-filled snack.

Talking about eating eggs other than chicken eggs . . .  The above friend told me that they also eat "balut," which is boiled fertilized duck eggs with the embryo.  She says it's delicious but that foreigners should eat it with lights off so they can't see the feathers and the head!!  (And they do eat the feathers and the head too!). This picture is from the internet.  And no, I don't intend to try it. 

I have learned how Filipinos (girls or guys) determine if a pant will fit their waist without trying it on.  First you hold the pant like this. 

Then you hold the waistband around your neck.  If it fits comfortably around your neck, it is sure to fit your waist.  Yes, Elder Torrie, I'm glad to see that the pants you wear actually do fit!

Happy Canada Day . . . and to you Americans, Happy 4th of July

Happy Canada Day on July 1st!  The Constitution Act of July 1, 1867 united the colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick into a single "Dominion of Canada."  So Canada is officially 159 years old this year -- just a baby compared to many countries in the world, including the US.

In my younger years, July 1st was called Dominion Day (as in the Dominion of Canada).  In 1982, the government changed the name to simply "Canada Day." 

The red and white maple leaf flag became the official flag in 1965.  I was a young teenager and it was hard for me to adjust to the change.  I loved the Union Jack, which had been our country's flag from my birth.

According to google, the Union Jack is still an official flag of Canada, but it is flown only on occasion to represent Canada's membership in the British Commonwealth. There are 56 countries in the Commonwealth (also called the Commonwealth of Nations), all with historical ties to Great Britain. 

I have always been happy to be tied to Britain, partly because of my British ancestry.

The Union Jack represents the united flags of England, Scotland, and Ireland, with Canada having been a British colony.  I never thought to wonder what "jack" meant.  But I have since learned that a "jack" is a small flag on a ship.    So the Union Jack is the Union Jack, not the Union Jack flag.  Now I know.  And now you know too.

Our son and daughter-in-law and our Torrie grandkids enjoy celebrating Canada Day.  Here they are on July 1, 2026, waiting for the Vauxhall parade to start.  Very cute Canada Day attire in Canada's colours of red and white.  And love that Canada flag candy bag to collect candy thrown from the parade floats.

Darling cute "Canada Flag" fruit platter.  Our daughter-in-law is totally creative and a good cook too.

I love our national anthem, "O Canada." We usually only sing the first verse and chorus but there are actually four verses, plus a French version.  I love all the verses, but especially the chorus and the fourth verse, which both talk about God and our need to rely on Him.

                                           O Canada! Our home and native land!

                                           True patriot love in all they sons command.
                                           With glowing hearts we see thee rise,

                                           The True North, strong and free!

                                           From far and wide, O Canada,

                                           We stand on guard for thee.

                                                 Chorus between each verse:

                                            God keep our land glorious and free!

                                            O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

                                            O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

                                            O Canada! Where pines and maples grow.

                                            Great prairies spread and lordly rivers flow.

                                            How dear to us thy vast domain,

                                            From East to Western Sea,

                                            Thou land of hope for all who toil!

                                            Thou True North, strong and free!

                                            O Canada! Beneath thy shining skies

                                            May stalwart sons and gentle maidens rise

                                            To keep thee steadfast through the years

                                            From East to Western sea,

                                            Our own beloved native land!

                                            Our True North, strong and free!

                                            Ruler Supreme, who hearest humble prayer,

                                            Hold our dominion in thy loving care;

                                            Help us to find, O God, in thee

                                            A lasting, rich reward,

                                            As waiting for the Better Day,

                                            We ever stand on guard.

                                            God keep our land glorious and free!

                                            O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

                                            O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

                                                Happy Canada Day to all!

And quickly following Canada Day on the 1st of July is the US 4th of July, this year celebrating 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  

Interesting that the US declared independence from Great Britain, while Canada maintained its ties, but became a sovereign nation, both doing what they felt was best for their country.

Also interesting for me and my Hancock relatives, is that John Hancock was the first signer of the Declaration of Independence.  The Hancocks have often thought that they were directly descended from John Hancock, but actually he is our cousin (my 3rd cousin, 6 times removed).  He had children, but none lived to adulthood, so he had no descendants.  Still . . . we are happy and proud to count him as one of our ancestor/relatives.

John Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence and he signed it large and bold.  He wanted independence to happen!

Happy Independence Day to all our American relatives and friends!

Click on the video below.  

The Shaw Family (father and daughters) singing The Star Spangled Banner.

Beautiful harmony.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/gdLwoReRNFw