Intramuros - A Trip to the Past

 Our Senior Missionary Zone had a wonderful activity as we went into Intramuros.
It is a fortress the Spanish built when they conquered the Philippines.
Our friend, John Go Hoc planned a wonderful afternoon and evening for us.
We met at his school, The Kiddie Joy School and got to meet
several of his darling students.

In 2007, John decided he would teach the street children of Intramuros some lessons from the  Bible. 100 children came and after that week, they came back so he began teaching them from his porch. Now he has 20 young men and women who help teach 400 students. He has had a great influence on many children and as they graduate, he also helps them get into collage.

We met at John's school and were entertained by this cute group of children playing tone bells. They played "I Can't Help Falling in Love With You" and "How Great Thou Art". They were the perfect songs for our age group and of course, several of us sang along!

They put away the tone bells and brought out these beautiful bamboo 

instruments call angklungs.

They are two pieces of bamboo tuned to the same octave and when you shake 

them up and down, they produce a beautiful flute sound!

Elder Jackson said that we should return the favor and teach them one of our 

fun songs, "Wadallyachy"! The kids were wonderful and could keep up with Elder 

much better than we could!

Soon our trolly car arrived to take us for a tour of Intramuros!

Sis. Ferrin, Sis. DuPaix, Sis. and Elder Jackson!

Our first stop - Plaza San Luis Complex (Casa Manila)

Wonderful re-creation of the early architecture. The Casa, is a museum showing the 

affluent lifestyle at the turn of the century and included beautiful artifacts. 

Elder and Sis. DuPaix in the Court yard.

We then took a walking tour along the wall and into Fort Santiago. 

There are horse drawn carriages or calesas all around Intramuros.

The gate of Fort Santiago - Built in the 1500's.

Many missionaries and friends in our Zone.

Statue of Dr. Jose Rizal. He was held prisoner here in the fort.

These footprints mark the way he walked to where the Spanish executed him by firing 

squad. He was killed because he wanted independence for the Philippines so they

 could have their freedom. He was uniting the people with his writings so the Spanish

 put him to death. Rizal is a national hero.

Posing with a guard looking over the Pasig River

That evening we went to Barbara's for dinner and a dance floor show. It was 

interesting to see how much Spanish influence there was in both the dances and 

the beautiful costumes they wore.