Celebrating Filipino culture through the ages
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A crowd of young people, wearing costumes for "A Celebration of Filipino Heritage," stood outside Cebu Coliseum and waved enthusiastically when President Thomas S. Monson arrived for the cultural program held Saturday evening, June 12.
As he entered the coliseum — the largest arena in Cebu City yet much too small to accommodate all who would have wished to attend — the crowd of some 10,000 stood and sang "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet."
In addressing the audience, he said, "The magnificent Cebu City temple, which will be dedicated in the morning, is the reason for this great celebration. It shines as a beacon of righteousness to all who will follow its light. We thank our Heavenly Father for the blessings this temple — and all temples — bring into our lives."
He said that the cultural celebration gave the young people the opportunity to mingle with the youth from other wards, stakes and mission districts. "When you go home tonight, write in your journal what you saw here this evening and how you felt. Years from now, you will be telling your children and your grandchildren about the opportunity you had to participate in such a tremendous cultural celebration."
The program was a fusion of the many cultures that have had an impact upon the Philippines. Dances showcased the pre-Spanish period, Spanish occupation and rural life, World War II and the American influence, and the present day.
Young people traveled from throughout the temple district to perform. However, because the arena was too small to accommodate all who wished to participate, leaders hit upon a novel idea. They brought 2,000 youth to the arena and had videos made of another 2,000 performing the same dance numbers. The mixture of live performers in the arena and those shown on large screens was impressive.
The finale's processional began with young women carrying banners with the organization's colors and the entire cast of performers gathering on the arena floor.
Many of the young performers wept as they sang the closing hymn, "Come, Come, Ye Saints."
Related links:
Cebu City Philippines Temple: 'We are in a nation … whose people love truth'
Cebu City Philippines Temple: Cultural celebration photo gallery
Celebrating Filipino culture through the ages
Cebu City Philippines Temple: Information nuggets
Cebu City Philippines Temple dedicated — 'a beacon on the hill'
Cebu temple open house concludes, area readies for upcoming dedication activities
Former missionaries return to Cebu
Thousands tour Cebu City Philippines Temple during open house
Cebu City Philippines Temple: 'It was a long wait'
Video: Cebu City Philippines Temple Youth Celebration
Video: Cebu City Philippines Temple Dedication
Video: Cebu City Philippines Temple
Video: Cebu City Philippines Temple Voices
Video: First LDS Missionaries in Cebu Return
Pres. Monson: Cebu temple 'shines as a beacon of righteousness'
