Philippines/Micronesia Area Senator praises Church

QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES - The Church's sense of community, vigorous work ethic, moral integrity and lively interest in recreation were praised by the president of the Philippine Senate, Edgardo Angara, during recent ceremonies on the grounds of the Manila Philippines Temple.Sen. Angara, a recent guest of the Church in Salt Lake City, was one of a number of civic leaders, including Sen. Neptali Gonzalez of the Philippines Senate and Ismael Mathay Jr., mayor of Quezon City, who participated in nightly programs held at the temple during December.

Sen. Naptali and Mayor Mathay took part in the ceremonial switching on of some 100,000 lights on the temple, the 10th year that the grounds have been lighted for Christmas.

Elders Ben E. Banks, Augusto A. Lim, C. Max Caldwell of the Seventy and the presidency of the Philippines/Micronesia Area, also participated in the events, as did Pres. Myron Francom of the Manila Temple. Europe/Mediterranean Area Radio program boosts work

ASCOLI PICENO, ITALY - Full-time missionaries serving here are spreading the gospel through a weekly radio program broadcast over a local station, according to Elder Dane Seeley of the Italy Rome Mission.

In August 1994, the elders began transmitting the weekly program at Radio Minor. Titled "Per Saperne Di Piu" ("To Know More About It"), it airs every Saturday morning. During each 45-minute segment, the missionaries discuss basic gospel principles and the Book of Mormon.

The program has helped the Church become better known in this city, which was opened for missionary work only two years ago. A branch was organized here Dec. 11, 1994, by mission Pres. C. Gerald Parker. It currently has 11 members.

Ascoli Piceno, located in central Italy, is an ancient Roman city founded hundreds of years before the birth of Christ. Today, it has about 50,000 residents. Central America Area Festival features local culture

SAN MIGUEL, GUATEMALA - The Relief Society of the Villa Nueva Guatemala Stake recently organized a cultural festival on a patriotic holiday.

The sisters, under the direction of Carmen Rodriguez de Fuentes, stake Relief Society president, invited stake members to perform regional cultural dances, wear traditional clothing and prepare traditional food. Less-active and non-members also participated in the event.

"It was a special experience to see the stake leaders enthusiastically performing the regional cultural dances with their wives," said Sister Fuentes. "They were an example to the rest of the stake on preserving our heritage." The Petapa Ward sisters, with the help of Sister Gloria Gonzalez de Vasquez, made a video of the historic locations in their city and interviewed people about their culture. For their service, they were presented with a certificate of appreciation by the mayor, Rosendo Molina. A local television station carried the activity. South America North Area Centennial leads to service

CHOSICA, PERU - In celebrating with the rest of the population the centennial of this community, Church members volunteered to help the community.

They subsequently cleaned the Pomaticla cemetery and the central market area of Chosica. At a recent awards ceremony for community leaders, the mayor of the city presented a medal to Pres. Ricardo Lazo Torres of the Lima Peru Chosica Stake, honoring the members for their efforts.

In attendance at the ceremony were some 112 leaders of colleges, religious congregations and other institutions. This presented an opportunity for Pres. Lazo to share and exchange ideas to improve the community.

In addition, Maria Macedo de Cervantes, the stake director of public affairs, met with the municipal director of public relations to coordinate efforts and offer lessons on the prevention of drugs and alcoholism among youth. South America South Area LDS assist mayor

SAN MIGUEL, CHILE - To find evidence of the growth of the Church in this suburb of Santiago, one has to go no farther than the mayor's office. Here, seven members of the Church serve on the staff of Mayor don Juan Claudio Godoy. The mayor has nothing but compliments for the Latter-day Saints on his staff. "With them at my side, I don't have have the worries other corporations may have about having a good and open administration," he said. "What is more, they don't smoke or drink, two more good points."

In addition, according to local directors of public affairs, youth in San Miguel and Santiago were among many throughout the South America South Area to dedicate a recent Saturday to painting and cleaning their communities.

North America Northeast Area Anniversary observed

PITTSBURGH, PA. - Members of the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Stake and Pittsburgh Pennsylvania North Stake recently celebrated the silver anniversary of the first stake organized in Pittsburgh. Former Pittsburgh residents, including many former stake presidents from around the state and country, returned recently to celebrate their heritage and the growth of the Church in the area.

The theme for the 25th anniversary was "A Magnificent Heritage. There was a "Magnificent Heritage Ball" complete with orchestra and floor show. Early Pittsburgh pioneers were spotlighted and a historical video was shown.

North America Southwest Area Display draws hundreds

LOS ALAMOS, N.M. - Many people in this community are looking forward to next year's exhibit of some 150 creche sets, a holiday gift to the community from the Los Alamos Ward. As the visitors, who numbered several hundred, viewed the exhibit in December, they were entertained by a musical program presented by the ward. Also, LDS Christmas video features were continually played on a monitor, according to Jerilyn Christiansen, who chaired the event. The exhibit was covered by the local newspaper, according to Alice R. Mann, ward Relief Society president.

The creche sets were loaned by members and a few non-member Nativity set collectors.

North America West Area Television special produced

HONOLULU, HAWAII - The Honolulu Hawaii Stake choir joined with two other churches' choirs in the production of a television special that was broadcast in Hawaii during the recent holidays. Each choir - including the Kawaihao Church (Congregationalists) and St. Andrew's Cathedral (Episcopalian) - had portions of its annual concert videotaped by a local network affiliate and produced as "Hawaii's Gift of Song: The True Spirit of Christmas."

"The association with the other churches has been a marvelous experience," said stake Pres. Arthur P. McKinley. "New friendships have been formed and a greater appreciation of LDS people as Christians has developed."

As new relationships were formed, the Honolulu Stake Choir was also invited by another large congregation, the Central Union Church, to participate in its recent annual community service.

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