Debut of Elai

It is time for my daughter to be woman, her 18th birthday was as inspiration for everyone especially with us as parents. 

Elmar Beach Resort in Sogod Cebu

Elaizah in 360 Tuburan, Cebu - Bamboo Area

Sogod Farm - Rise and Rebuild

Beauty and the Beast - BYC Production

Another opportunity to witness a Beauty and the Beast Broadway production by the BYC (Broadway Youth Cebu), founded by Allan Nazareno.

My daughter, Elaizah, was part of this production and was assigned to be the stage manager, along with three other managers. They were tasked with taking care of the stage needs for Beauty and the Beast.

My wife and I were excited to see this production. Fortunately, we received two complimentary tickets for free, but my wife still bought two more for the other group's production. There are two cast teams performing in this event, and we wanted to witness both groups of performers.

On August 2, 2024, we saw the Set A team perform. It was our first time witnessing this Beauty and the Beast production, and I was amazed by the characters and the performance of the cast in this team.

We had another chance to see the Set B team on August 3, 2024, at 7 PM. The cast was also good, although I preferred some of the performers in Set A. Our friends joined us for this event, including Merlyn Matthews, Merchenito Fernandez and his wife Gerlie, and their children AZ, BY, CX, DW, and EV. Kariza Llanera and Alvy Montemayor were also with us.

This was a beautiful experience to witness their performance. I learned that a man's heart can always be influenced by the world's power and pride, which can lead to imprisonment or a state of no progression.

Through the cast's performances, it was evident that good hearts can change everything. The main character in this event was Belle, who showed a loving heart that transformed everything. She is not perfect but always sees the bright side of what is good for her parents. This opportunity prepared her to meet the Beast, whose heart was hardened, but her influence brought about an amazing change in him and everything else.

Prayer - The Only Way

Prayer is one way to lead ourselves to humility and to seek God's will in our lives.

Our lives are full of opportunities and tests. The only way to be led to what our soul needs and to reach our exact destination is through prayer.

I watched a YouTube video from Elder Uchtdorf about the art of walking in a straight line and learned something about prayer.

In our lives, if we only depend on ourselves, we will not go far on our journey.

Through proper guidance, we will learn more about Him and how we can reach our potential as sons and daughters of God.

Nowadays, individuals depend much more on themselves rather than on a Being who knows everything about us. Our loving Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ set something for us to follow and guide us in these perilous times. With prayer, we will come to know what we can do and how we will be led according to Their will.

With our Savior Jesus Christ, our lives will always have the opportunity to change, grow, and understand the will of God.

One of the best reasons I always attend church every Sunday is to learn more about my Savior. The lesson we discussed is related to this article and why I am writing it. During our Elders Quorum meeting, I felt the Spirit. It was amazing, and we discussed prayer.

During our discussion about prayer, Sister Porter shared about three types of prayer: prayer to know, prayer to grow, and prayer to show. I was edified and blessed by our shared thoughts on this matter.

Everything we have in our lives is confirmed through prayer. When we always pray to seek the will of God, we will be blessed with many things.

I have been blessed to know the truth about His Church. I have come to know that the Book of Mormon is true through sincere prayer. This leads me to believe that Joseph Smith Jr. is a prophet of God called by God in these latter days. The Church of Jesus Christ is a church that Christ established in these latter days.

Lapu Lapu First Stake Creation

One of the historical places here in the Philippines is Lapu-Lapu Island. This is where the battle between Lapu-Lapu, the chieftain, and the Spaniard Ferdinand Magellan took place. I wrote this because I've been a tour guide for many guests coming to Cebu for almost seven years.

The growth of the Church here in Cebu is exponential, and it has indeed been a blessing for every Latter-day Saint to witness this amazing Church grow. One aspect of this growth is the creation of stakes in the Philippines.

Since I was transporting an Area Seventy during this time, I was able to attend the creation of the Lapu-Lapu Stake. The location of their building is in Agus, Lapu-Lapu City.

I was a witness to this creation, and this stake is the 130th stake in the Philippines. The first Stake President is Martinez. 

Another adventure with Fremer William and its family

 It was a fun experience with my older brother Fremer William to come to Cebu and visit one of the famous tourist spot in Cebu from November 4-6 2023

Fremer William

Oslob Whaleshark Interaction

Sumilon Island, Oslob

The southern tip part of Cebu Island

Visited Inambakan Falls

Dolores, Darlene Mae, Amelyn, Grace Ann,  Odessa Kate, Fremer, Shena Lee



  

The Highland of the North

One of the best moment I have done is to visit again my father in Tinoc, Ifugao where his parent migrated and raised their children in that remote area. 

During my youth days I had memorable experience with this place. When I was around 11-12 years of age, my father was able to convince me to go their province where he grow up and told me that it will be a long day journey of walking. Well, as a young person it is fine with me. 

We start the journey through climbing the road upward and I told to myself wow this is terrible and I'm tired. We walked and climbed and it seems that theirs no end of it. Passing with the ugly roads which I've sawn, I told to myself wow this road is terrible. Anyone car might pass would be broken. Well it is, while passing on the road we've seen with my father a broken 6x6 wagon. They are fixing it and I think they've fixed and this truck had caught us while we passes on the road. We get a hitch and where we passes some few kilometers but we stop by and took another route. 

We continue to have journey until we sleep with a house unknown to me but because of fatique during the day walk I just sleep the whole night. 

We woke up early in the morning and took some few hot drinks and continue with our journey. 

Fortunately we reach up to the landing area where we meet some families of my father. 

After a while we walk again going down where we go to the old house where built. We slept and take a few days and need to go back to where we came from. This is what I remember during that first time I've been to this place. Lucky I am to have this kind of experience. 

Now last Dec 28-29, 2022 I and my brother take the journey to Tinoc, Ifugao, but before this I've notice that the road is cemented and it is easier for travelers to go to Tinoc, Ifugao. This has given me idea to go there and visit my father. 

Actually my father was living in Tinoc alone for some time. It took him around 10 years to stay but fortunately he tried and tried but still couping up to survive. This is one reason why we need to visit him and see what works and progress he is doing. 

<b>The Journey to the Highland (Tinoc Ifugao) with James</b> 

The journey was confirmed and me and my brother got the courage to visit my father in Tinoc Ifugao through motorbike (125i Mio Yamaha). Before this jour happen I told my brother to get a higher cc of bike to make sure our ride will be more better but my brother offer his motorbike to be used to get there to tinoc. Our first planed is get there as 3 brothers and to use the car of my older brother but it seems it has some overheating issue and my bother just got back from manila due to repair and maintenance of his car so just use the motorbike. 

We started the journey and it seems the weather was not that good that day but our faith seems so strong and we still took the challenge.

We drove around 8:30am and got to some spot where we stop and took some beautiful scenery. 

While we drove going further we notice that the weather is foggy and drizling but still be continue. We stop for a while to put more gears on our body. The weather is cold and it was ok for us. 

While reaching to Abatan, Buguias about 80kilometers we took some stop over and get our lunch. 

After that we prepare going to Tinoc. 

We have reach the highest highway in the Philippines and it seems so fun. The weather was very cold and strong wind is eminent but our mission is not yet done. We need to go to Tinoc, Ifugao without the knowledge where we are going to. 

In my mind well I've been here so I know we reach our destination. I just need to go to the landing area and we need to ask. 

Well after reach the highest highway we continue to take our journey. I think it takes 30mins before we reach the landing area. 

We've ask some few people and ask the name Elvira. Some people point us the right direction and some pointed us a different house but its ok we still manage to find Untie Elvira house and ask for him. Fortunately her young daughter was there we're he ask some help to other and help us to reach our father camp. 

I've called my father and fortunately he was there in his farm maybe expecting that we are on our way to him. 

We've reach our destination and have a little talk and discuss about his work. We took 1 chicken and my bother was good in cooking pinikpikan where he burn the chicken and clean and boil it with some few additives plants. 

We had a dinner and slept in the camp of our father. Our plan is to go back to La Trinidad that day but the weather will be bad in the evening. 

This is our experience and hope to go back there with our family.

Cebu Oslob Whaleshark Watching - Experiences

My older bro Jonathan and his family visited us in Cebu and explore some tourist spot here in Cebu. One of the places is in Oslob where you can see the beautiful whale sharks. These are the photos that we have during our whale shark interaction. 

This day is a special day for Leilani Myer Cuyasen, her birthday gift since she is a debutant. 

Branz Ammaron with the Whaleshark in Oslob