This is my story - 82 Philippines

82 – First week in the Philippines

After seven and a half years living in a quiet compound in the New Territories in Hong Kong, some distance from Headquarters we now moved to quarters at Pasay right in the city in Manila with all the pollution.   In this compound were four duplexes; to house eight families. The Salvation Army had been renting this place for many years for the Territorial Leaders. We were the last leaders to occupy this place.   After we left Philippines, the Chief Secretary moved in, but not for long as the owner decided to take it back.

A security guard armed with a gun sat at the gate guarding the compound 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so we felt quite secure. We were happy living there as it was not far from Territorial Headquarters about fifteen minutes drive in the morning. We always left home everyday at 6.00 a.m. In the evening it took longer time because of the heavy traffic. I had to get used to driving on the right side of the road, and not left as in Singapore and Hong Kong, former British colonies.

A week after our arrival, we attended the ground breaking ceremony for Dynasty Village. The Army had bought the land and now were ready to put up a building for officers – retired and active.

In the same month we visited the Northern Division at Urdaneta for our welcome by the Divisional Commander and his wife, Major and Mrs. Wilson Urbien. We also did three sessions of Officers’ Councils and met all the officers of this Division. We only visited two Corps in the Central Division – Manila Central and Tondo in the first month. 

Then on 27^th June, hardly a month in our new appointment, we left for London for the International Congress. This lasted more than a week of interesting and inspirational meetings – Opening ceremony at Wembley stadium, meetings conducted by the General at Royal Albert Hall and other places.  We also watched the musical by John Gowans and John Larsson at Wembly stadium.  The second week in London, I spoke at the Praise meeting at the Royal Albert Hall.

Delegates were given the choice during week days to attend seminars of their choice. I was given the responsibility of conducting a seminar on “Other Faiths.” I gave talks on the different religions in Asia, like Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and Islam. The purpose was to help the delegates understand something of the religions in Asia.

Celebrations over, we attended the Development Conference after which we had a short holiday at Chippenhem where we stayed with Judy and David Shewring. Judy was a girl at our Ipoh Children’s Home and later she became soldier of Kuala Lumpur Corps when we were the Corps officers.  Theirs was the first wedding we conducted at the rented shophouse at Kuala Lumpur Corps. Sadly her first husband, Ken Hammond was promoted to Glory a few years later. She emigrated to United Kingdom and married David Shewring.

We did not feel too comfortable having this short holiday but this had been planned a long time ago when we were still in Hong Kong. Had we known we were to get a change of appointment we would not have added the short holiday immediately after the Congress.

Anyway it was a joy to see some of our old friends in England in the short period of time.   Most of them had served with us in Singapore and Malaysia in the past.

We were glad to get back to the Philippines – the country we had just been newly appointed. I shall be writing about some of the adventures as we toured the archipelago.