home › Programs › past program reports ›

PHILIPPINE TOUR, February 2004

The International Council for Unitarian and Universalists (ICUU), Unitarian Universalist Partner Church Council and Unitarian Universalist church of the Philippines jointly sponsored the Philippine Study tour conference that took place in Dumaguete City of the Negros Island in the Philippines from February 22 -28 2004. The Conference theme was 'Come learn and know us'. The following were the participants. Rev. Leon Hopper Jr. representing the PCC, Rev. Mike Young from Honolulu-Hawaii, Mr. Bert Brun and Mr. William Curtis from Annapolis- Maryland, Rev. Monica Cummings from Longhorne- PA and Mr. Don Pfister from Ashville- North Carolina.

The participants had the opportunity to listen to lectures delivered by professors on the following topics. Philippine history and Mindanao Challenge. Theology of Struggle. The History of the UUCP, the struggle and Challenges of the church. Bishop Erme Cumba of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines delivered the key note address on Partnership. The group visited selected congregations of the church. They also went on special tours. The program provided sufficient time for interaction and fun. There were devotions and worship services and time for discussions and dialogue. In the final evaluation the participants had lots of good things to say about the whole learning experience and of a successful tour. PCC LAPEL Pins, A prayer Bundle, A Romanian hand stitch alter spread and a wood carving of the Philippine water buffalo were offered as symbols of partnership and good will.

Rev. Mike Young is from the First Unitarian church of Honolulu Hawaii. His congregation is partnered with Caican congregation of Santa Catalina, of Negros Island Philippines. Rev. Young joined the tour and visited Caican for the second time. He spent two days with the members of Caican listening to them and there plan of activities in the church for the coming year. The church building is situated by the sea and most members live in the vicinity. Rev Young had fun swimming in the sea with the youth. He danced and played with children. Rev. Young made a cash contribution to the congregation for its programs. Rev. Young brought along with him a three in one scanner, printer copier as a gift to the UUCP and the English translation of the Buddhist and Islam Holy Scripture.