Young Single Adult Conference

Thursday, October 27, 2005

We had a great adventure today going to speak at a Regional Young Adult Conference - traveled for about an hour up and down and around on the tiniest dirt/rock mountain road you can imagine - after two hours of driving over the mountains and down the coast on paved roads)- but we got there. Coming home it was pouring rain - and someone was following us since we had a young adult guide with us.The Conference was held at a place called Hidden Valley Resort - in Lamak - which was a branch assigned to us, but we were told by a missionary that we would probably never go there since the roads were too bad! We had a wonderful time and saw many of the young adults whom we have met in the various branches. Over 300 YA's were at the conference which was for 2 Stakes and 3 Districts. Simultaneously on Negros Island, another YA Conference was being held for one Stake and four districts from parts of our mission and the adjacent mission. Our Mission President went to speak at that one. It is semester break for the schools here. We were assigned to talk for one hour on Mission Preparation to those who had not yet served missions - we had about 150 in our group. The previous speakers - Employment Resource Center - took half of our time, and we definitely wanted to finish on time to give ourselves time to get down off the mountain road before dark - so our talks were short and to the point and seemed greatly appreciated, which made the 3 hours driving each way all worth it.

Joy in Missionary Work

Waiting for Zone Conference



Gloria at her desk


Bob in the Clerk's office

Friday, October 21, 2005

After the meeting and lunch, six Filipino elders came in the office and sat down to wait for their American companions, who having money from home had headed off to the mall to shop. The Zone Leader (from Sri Lanka) from the local Zone was just leaving with his American companion to go tracting in the area around the mission office. Seeing all those wonderful Elders just sitting there, he couldn't resist. He armed them each with a Book of Mormon and took them all out tracting with them. You should have seen the excitement when they returned. One pair had set up four appointments, another had set up one with a family of 9 people, a third pair had three appointments scheduled and the Zone leader and the Filipino elder who had gone with him had found and taught an investigator the first discussion and found 4 four that they made appointments with. The enthusiasm in the room was electric. What an inspired young man that Zone Leader is. It was such a joy to see. The American elders who were waiting in the mission office were sorry they didn't go too!

First Visit to Lutopan Part 2

Primary President Erlyn Batatay and Primary Secretary Cynthia Saldoa
Prepare for Primary


Elder Cocos and Ward Missionary Cyril Cuanso

Branch 1 began at 9:00 a.m. and Priesthood, Relief Society, and Primary began promptly. Only one sister, not including me, and the teacher were there when it was time to start, but the teacher started anyway and was doing a fine job when I left to go to Primary. I had seen the Primary President and Secretary earlier taping up the words to songs and preparing the room. They had an excellent Primary with lots of singing, sharing time, classes for both the older and younger children, and four Primary leaders who stayed in the room the entire time helping one another. It was a delight. About 12 children attended. They had the Primary songs on cassettes and had a nice recorder in the room and used that to help teach the songs. The children knew many songs and sang with great enthusiasm.

During Sunday school hour Bob taught the combined youth and adult classes on the Signs of the True Church and the Bible references to the Book of Mormon. People seemed very interested in what he had to say.

In Sacrament meeting, the Branch President asked me to be the concluding speaker – he asked Bob first, but Bob said he had already talked for a long time and that they could ask me. I told the story of Ammon and King Lamoni and talked about the power of love, and the importance of love and forgiveness in a small branch like theirs. Most of the people understand English, but I did introduce my talk and conclude with my testimony in Visayan.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Lutopan Branch One and they seemed very grateful to have us. They are out in the bundok (the origin of our word boondocks) and don’t get many visitors from the Mission leadership.

We were impressed again with the Toledo District leadership. President Cocjson had assigned his First Counselor, who lives in Lutopan, to meet us at the Branch, to welcome us and to see that all went well. We are grateful for his support. If only we had more senior couples in our mission so that a couple could be assigned to Toledo District and visit these Branches more often than we will be able to do.

Lutopan Branch II began at noon and again I visited Primary and Bob taught during the Sunday School hour. This Primary was a little bigger, not quite as well organized, but again had lots of singing and all the Primary leaders – 4 stayed with the children the entire time, very helpful. They asked me – on the spot – to teach the class lesson of which a posted outline was on the board from the first Branch. It was titled "The Saints Build Winter Quarters" and they weren't sure what "Quarters" meant. I had just heard the lesson the hour before, so was able to do it. I had brought crayons and paper with me and had the children draw a picture of how they could help someone. They very much liked that activity and the Primary leaders had their own crayons to use. The First Counselor wanted to tell the children exactly what to draw, and I asked her to let the children decide. She replied, “Oh, you want them to use their own coconut (pointing to her head. We all laughed. A little later as part of the lesson, I asked her a question and she looked a little puzzled. I said, “You use your own coconut.” She laughed and then came up with a very good answer. I helped them a little with the tunes of some of the songs – I’m not much help in the music department so we laughed and sang together. After the closing prayer, they had some time left, so I taught them “Do As I’m Doing” and teachers and children together had fun as we sang. There was a great feeling in the Primary and wonderful cooperation among the leaders. We still had time, so each person bore their testimony in Visayan – including me. The children, who can read and talk in both English and Visayan, were quite interested in my elementary Visayan and even helped me with a word or two. It was a great experience.

Again when he was asked, Bob volunteered me to speak in Sacrament meeting and I told the story of Ammon again and along with a little about “Taming the Wicked Witch of Barbara Avenue” and encouraged them to love and serve and forgive one another as we had heard that they were having some problems in that area. Prior to Sacrament meeting the Branch President arranged a fan to blow directly on me as I was seated on the stand, and even though it blew my hair all over the place, I was very grateful as the afternoon air was very still and hot. (There had been a lovely breeze in the morning meetings.)

We visited a bit after the meeting and I used my new Visayan phrase that Elder Lowry had taught me, “I am happy to be getting to know you.” Elder Hardman introduced me to a sister – actually the Primary first counselor who had teased about the ‘coconut’ and told me her 18 year old daughter has a heart defect and the doctors in Toledo say she much have heart surgery or she will die. The father died last year and six months later the mother had a series of strokes. She is recovering well, can walk (with a limp) and do some things, but she lost her job. I am interested in some of this humanitarian work and since there is no couple here with that assignment, I hope to do some of that. I checked with the President and he said, “Fine. That would be great.” I asked her to write down the problem and the situation (Elder Hardman will help her and then will bring it to me on Friday when he comes to Cebu for Zone Conference.) The daughter is the Branch organist and plays the simplified version of the hymns on the keyboard.

We decided to take a new way home. Cyril drew us a ‘sketch’ and then he and his brother and little sister rode part way with us to help us find the way. We had been warned that it was a bumpy road and it was. We had also been told to get behind a big bus and stay there and we did. The lovely Trans Central Highway is closed to big trucks and busses to preserve the beauty and serenity of the area so they all go on this “National Highway.’ It is under construction and was gravel and mud (it had rained during sacrament meeting) and potholes and bumps most of the way. We couldn’t enjoy the scenery much as we had to watch the road so carefully – a lot of traffic – many busses and big trucks. We came out on the east coast in the city of Naga right at a beautiful new LDS Chapel. We then drove along the coast north through Naga, Talisay and then south Cebu. This way had much more traffic and was not as pretty as our usual way, but we were glad we tried it out and became acquainted with a new area.

We arrived home just before dark – a little after 5:30- tired and happy.

First Visit to Lutopan

Bob at Lutopan Meeting House



Road to Lutopan Meeting House

Sunday, October 16, 2005

We were up early to get ready to leave. The sun rises about 5:30 a.m. here so we have good light for an early drive. We left home about 6 and enjoyed the trip up over the mountains again. There is very little traffic and the scenery is lovely along the “Trans Central Highway.” We arrived at the Toledo chapel about 7:45 a.m. and people were just starting to arrive for their 8:00 a.m. meetings. We saw Elders Tatua and Morales who were picking up ward missionaries to go on splits with them. Then Elder Cocos and Cyril (pronounced surreal) arrived to guide us to Lutopan. Then Elder Stoker – the Zone Leader and his companion came. We delivered the box of blenders we had brought to them. (The Area Medical Office wants every missionary apartment to have a good blender and we are to encourage them to make smoothies from the abundant local fruit in an effort to improve their health.)

Soon we were on our way up a new (to us) road into the mountains. We went a much shorter distance than we expected and after a quick turn down a tiny little lane (we wondered about taking the car down there) and pulling into a little driveway in front of the Church meeting house – we were there. Elder Cocos and Cyril took off and hired a motor bike to go and tell the Branch President we were there and he arrived shortly. The meeting house is a converted house with the most fascinating bamboo panels on all the inside walls – very appealing.

Preparation Day on Bohol Island

Gloria at 'Chocolate Hills'



Gloria and Makanoa's on boat


Tarsier

Monday, October 10, 2005

We were up at five, quickly dressed, ate a delicious breakfast Edita had prepared for us, and taking the lunch she had prepared also, we headed out. We first stopped by a large hotel to visit its store so Sister Makanoa could get film. While there I found two straw hats I liked, one cost 25 pesos – about 50 cents and the other cost 85 pesos – about $1.60. I was very glad to have them the rest of the day to keep off the sun. We then drove up to Luboc to see the Tarsiers – tiny monkey-like creatures indigenous to Bohol and very fragile. They are rarely, if ever found in zoos because they die if contained in cages. They are nocturnal and live on the hillsides around Luboc. A family has a business of raising them for showing to tourists. The Makanoas have made friends with this family so we were permitted to hold them and take many pictures. Usually tourists can just look at them in the plants and take pictures. They are not in any kind of cages – just live in the potted plants near the river. The family cover the entire area with netting at night to keep out cats – their major predator. They have very big eyes and on the ground hop like frogs. They can jump quite long distances and can also swing and climb in trees like monkeys do. They live to be 15 to 20 years old; have one baby a year; and eat all kinds of insects in the wild. The family feeds them crickets.

We then took a boat ride up the Luboc River to see the hills where they live in the wild. Of course we didn’t see any of the tarsiers in the wild, it was daytime so they should have been asleep, and they are so tiny that they are hard to see anyway. The river was quite muddy – looked like cocoa – and has a small waterfall and then rapids. The water was low or we could have gone a little further. Very interesting bamboo houses were along the bank and we saw an old man in his old canoe, but he did not want his picture taken. We also saw a pool of clear water off to the side where a spring fills a large cavity in the rock. People were bathing – in their swimming suits. I really enjoyed the boat ride. Bob took pictures and was intrigued by the use of Clorox bottles with small rubber tubes instead of a gas tank.

From there we headed up to the town of Carmen to see the “Chocolate Hills.” These are large mounds – quite symmetrical – hundreds of them that are brown in the dry season when all the vegetation on them dies. It is the rainy season now so they were very green, but still looked very unusual and interesting. The Makanoa’s took us to a resort where we could drive most of the way up one of them and then climb 214 stairs to the top (or take a winding path up and the stairs down – which we did.) Beautiful plants lined the path – most of them in bloom and the view from the top was lovely.

From there we drove (Elder Makanoa likes to drive fast, but is very used to the Philippine drivers and safely navigated his way around and past them) up to almost the center of Bohol Island to the little town of Pilar where we have a lovely little Church building and a small branch of members. We took a quick look at the building and at the missionary apartment, then went to visit the Branch President Orapba at his rice mill. He was quite busy as it is the harvest season and many people were waiting in line with their rice to be milled. We had seen people out harvesting the rice and then spreading it out to dry on the highway – often taking most or all of one lane of the two-lane road. Everywhere rice was drying – in towns and villages as well as on the open road. Unfortunately, our picture of an old grandma spreading the rice to dry did not turn out. Hopefully we will have other opportunities to try again.

Just out of Pilar we stopped just off the highway under a big tree and ate the wonderful lunch Edita had packed for us. She is the Makanoa’s “house help”, a member of the Church and a very great help to them as well as a friend. Seeing her in action, I wanted an “Edita.”

After lunch we drove over a lot of gravel highways back over to the west coast of Bohol and then up to the towns of Tubigon and Inabanga. In Tubigon we checked out the chapel and the elders’ apartment. We have been impressed with the nice houses and apartments provided for the missionaries. Parents would be relieved, I think, if they saw where their children live. In Inabanga – the furthest north branch on Bohol we again visited the meeting house – the worst one we’ve seen so far – a couple of large rooms at the back of a house. They were clean and had nice fans, but very dark….maybe it is cooler that way.

We then drove all along the west coast of Bohol – very pretty – back to Tagbilaran, where we had started. Along the way I saw many variety of orchids growing in people’s yards. Nearly every house, no matter how small, has flowers around it and many times, they are orchids.

We passed right by Makanoa’s little street and went back out on to Pangloa Island to see the elders’ apartment in Dauis, to visit the chapel again, and to visit the underground pool. We went to the pool first. A spring in an underground cavern has created an interesting and cool pool where children like to swim when they are not in school. The water was very clear – you could easily see the very rocky bottom – and cool, but not at all cold. It has two openings to the sky that let in a little light (and let the bats fly in and out.) There were stalactites as well. The whole island of Pangloa (as are most of the islands here) is volcanic and this was very clearly seen by looking at the rock in the cavern. They have made steps and a path to walk down inside and charge a very nominal fee – I think 20 pesos. ($.40) After the carvern, we drove by the elders’ apartment and the Dauis Branch chapel – one of the oldest in the area and scheduled to be demolished and completely rebuilt. Then it was back over the bridge and through very, very heavy tricycle traffic to the Makanoa’s house, where Edita had dinner ready. Afterwards we sat at the table and talked for a long time, then some of the Elders (who live next door) came over and visited and enjoyed candy and fresh fruit called lanzones.

Tuesday, October 11

We were up early again – five – breakfast at 6 and packed at visited and were at the ferry before 8 to head back to Cebu. The Assistants to the President called to confirm the time we expected to arrive in Cebu and said they would be at the dock to pick us up. They are great and work very hard to help everyone in the mission. The morning was lovely; the water was glassy; the ferry arrived from Dumaguete and then departed for Cebu on time. Again we spent the entire trip up on the observation deck thoroughly enjoying the views of the water and of Bohol and several other small islands. The sun was bright, but there was a haze to the west so we could barely see Cebu until we were very close. We couldn’t see Negros at all. We arrived back at Cebu feeling very rested, certainly well fed, and happy about the work we had been able to do for the mission – speaking and teaching, meeting the District leaders and then checking on all the apartments and church buildings.

Saturday and Sunday on Bohol Island

Sister Makanoa and Gloria in front of the Cortes Meeting House

Saturday, October 8, 2005

You can’t depend on the roosters on Bohol to wake you up in the morning. They start crowing at 2 A.M. We could hear the Makanoa’s get up between 4 and 5 A.M. and we got up at 5, showered, dressed, and we all ate breakfast at 6. We left before seven to visit several Church meeting houses and some elders’ apartments before attending a rebroadcast of Conference at 11a.m. We had a good time visiting and laughing in the car as we located the buildings and apartments and surprised some sleepy elders. We went across the bridge in Tagbilaran to Pangloa Island and visited the chapel in Dauis. We knocked on the door of a member who lives across the street from the Church. Bob was looking for Brother Lungay who had baptized Brother Acosta and who Brother Acosta had asked him to meet and say hello. We had a good visit with Brother Lungay – he has 12 children – all active. He told us, “Every time I go to my little garden, I think, ‘The prophet is right. He knows the way.’ I have saved so much money to help my family when I feed them from my garden. We always have food to eat.”

We stopped by the Makanoa’s house for an early lunch before going over to the Church to hear conference.

Not many members attended the Saturday sessions of Conference, but some of those who did were the Tagbilaran District auxiliary leaders so I met the Primary, Relief Society and YW District Presidents. It was quite hot in the chapel, but fortunately the fans were all on full blast. I felt like the speakers were talking directly to me and took notes of things I needed to remember and change.

We went back to the Makanoa’s house about 4 and had a quick dinner and then the men went back to the chapel for Priesthood and Sister Makanoa and I sat and visited. When the men returned we ate again – every meal was a wonderful treat – with snacks always available. After dinner we talked awhile – then again went to bed early.

Sunday, October 9, 2005

We were up at dawn, breakfast at 6 and again left before 7 to get to the Calape Branch meeting, about an hour away, before 8. We were the first ones there, but soon, two missionaries arrived and then the Branch President, wife and toddler son arrived on their motorcycle. Soon a few members had gathered and we began Priesthood and Relief Society. Actually, the men began their meeting and the sisters just talked for 30 minutes waiting for someone in the Relief Society Presidency to arrive. When they hadn’t come by 8:30 I suggested to Sister Makanoa and the District Relief Society President that we go ahead and start. The District R.S. President conducted, I taught – went over Elder Henry B. Eyring’s conference talk (thank goodness for the notes I had taken the day before). We discussed some of the ideas and by 9:00 about 10 sisters were there. Bob then taught the adults and youth in a combined Sunday School class and I visited the Primary. They had no primary the first hour – only about 2 children were there. The second hour children came in throughout the hour until there were over twenty by the time Primary was over. The teacher was young, used the chalkboard and discussed and taught well. The children did get restless, however, and I encouraged her afterwards to use more music. She had an opening and closing song and that was it. I hope I didn’t offend her. One little girl especially caught my eye. She had big bandages on both feet and did not walk – her father carried her in. She had cut her feet on broken glass – ouch! Fortunately they do have fairly good medical care here and her feet looked professionally bandaged, so I assume and hope she had a tetanus shot and stitches.

The young Branch President asked Bob to be the concluding speaker and he punted over to me. Sister Makanoa had told me of the problems of the branch in not accepting callings and coming very late to meetings, so I told some stories, used some scriptures and talked about obedience and respect. Don’t know what the people thought but the Makanoas and the Branch President liked it.

After the meetings we visited for a few minutes and then drove down to Tagbilaran, eating lunch as we went. We arrived at the chapel in time to hear all of the Sunday afternoon session of conference and it was wonderful. I was especially inspired by Elder Utchdorf’s talk. We visited with the members for some time and then returned to the Makanoas for dinner. After dinner Sister Carol ___________ and her two children, a girl age 17 and a boy age 21, stopped by to visit and we talked for over an hour. All five children in the family and the mother are active in the Church. The father is not a member, but supports the others in their callings and attendance at meetings. Four of the children have graduated from the college where the mother is the dean of the mathematics department and the father is a dean and currently in charge of property acquisition. Two of the children teach at the college. The 21 year-old-boy, whom we met, has just graduated in accounting and has been studying for his licensing exam which he will soon take. Then he hopes to go on a mission. He is a bit apprehensive about talking to his father, but says he will do it. They were very interesting, fun, intelligent young people and it was a lovely evening.

Trip to Bohol Island

On the way to Bohol Island, looking back at Cebu

Friday, October 7, 2005,

I was not able to attend the Family History Conference today because of all the activity and work involved in receiving the new missionaries. I worked in the office until 1 and then Bob and I ate and packed and then headed off to the boat to Bohol with the new elders who were being assigned there and other elders being transferred. We visited with them while we waited in the terminal and were very impressed with their great spirits. They were so excited to be actually beginning their missions.

Before the boat left the dock, soft music came over the PA system and then a short, sweet prayer of gratitude and requests for safety in the journey. It was in English. What a wonderful way to start a trip. It was a magnificent boat ride. The weather was stormy with big swells and white caps. Bob and I rode the whole 1 and ½ hour trip on the observation deck on top and thoroughly enjoyed it. Bob took some pictures and I just looked and breathed in the sea air and loved it. We could see dark clouds and some rain over Cebu Island and patches of sun shining through the clouds on Bohol. We could see the shape and ends of both Cebu and Bohol. Many fishermen were out in their small, but mostly motorized, outrigger canoes fishing with nets.

Elder and Sister Makanoa met us at the pier. The weather had cleared and the sun was shining. They are serving their 9^th mission for the Church – all in the Philippines. They made us feel instantly at home as they loaded our luggage in their car and drove us the short distance to their apartment in Tagbilaran. They have a three bedroom, two bath large duplex – very comfortable. The elders live in the other half of the house. Their ‘house help’ Edita is an excellent cook and we enjoyed a delicious dinner and visited with the elders stopping in to chat too, and then went to bed very early - 8 p.m.

Family History Training - Exciting to Mom

View of Cebu Harbor from the ferry

Thursday, October 6, 2005

An international (Asia Pacific Area) family history training took place in the Stake Center. I met a few of the participants when they stopped in the mission office to saw hello. I asked if I might be able to attend and they said, “Of course!” I asked the President and he also said, “Of course.” So, after checking in the office for a few minutes in the morning, I went over. It was so interesting and exciting. About twenty people were there from Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Guam, Australia, and the Philippines. Family History employees, Church Service missionaries, and a senior couple serving in the Philippines taught about the new program the Church is implementing to put all family history on the internet with immediate access to updates and the ability to add your own data and modify it on line. I think I was the most excited person there. This is something I have been wanting and thinking about for several years. It will make it very easy to coordinate work with Lou and others working on our family lines. I attended nearly all day – running over to the mission office on breaks and doing the few things that really needed doing. What a great blessing to have it held here (it was scheduled for Manila, but moved because of civil unrest (they call it restlessness.)

Missionary Fireside

Elder Little Conducts the choir



A small group number featuring Elder Little


Sunday, October 2, 2005
After fasting prayers and a quick dinner, we went over to the chapel for the Missionary Fireside on the Restoration. This had been prepared by Sister Anderson and a choir made up of the missionaries here in the city. Elder Little conducted the choir and sang in two groups. The President had prepared a power point presentation as a background. The enthusiasm and Spirit were great and made up for whatever was lacking in musical ability. Over 100 members and investigators came and all felt it was a great success.

Amazing Primary

Primary children pause for a photo Balamban Branch Meeting Hall

Sunday, October 02, 2005
We returned to the rented house where Balamban 1 and 2 Branches are meeting while their building is being renovated. Balamban 2 met first at 8:30 A.M. Bob taught the combined Sunday School classes on Signs of the True Church and Bible References to the Book of Mormon. The District President had come to greet us and to make sure we found the building. He is a very capable, hard-working young man- full of the spirit. He has been in Church leadership for 15 years and is truly a wonderful leader. I visited Primary and was so delighted with what I saw. Primary meets in a carport set up with a tape recorder, black board, chairs and a fan. The District Primary Secretary does double duty and also serves as a Counselor in the Branch Primary. Her friend, the District Primary President, who lives in the Branch, set up the recorder and fan and helped in many other small ways. The Counselor/Secretary did opening exercises and sharing time and did an excellent job. She had music, visual aids, a coloring activity where the children sat in a circle with the crayons on a chair in the middle for all to share. When it was class time, they separated into two groups and the Primary President took the younger children to the back of the carport and gathered them in their little chairs around her and taught and sang to them. The other counselor/teacher taught the older children a lesson on Priesthood Authority. She had good visual aids, learning activities, spoke directly to the children and involved each one of them. The Spirit was strong, the children attentive, and all in all, it was a very fine Primary. Testimony meeting was lovely with many sharing brief and simple testimonies. Just over 50 people were in attendance. The Branch President's wife - young, as is her husband - played the piano which really adds to much to the meeting.

Views of the South China Sea

Outline of Negros mountains across the water Boys pose on Sea Wall

Sunday, October 02, 2005
We arrived in Balamban about a half hour early so we drove down to the waterfront. Preparations were beginning for the fiesta sponsored by the local Catholic Church in honor of their patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi. Shops, ballons, vendors of all kinds were everywhere. We drove slowly through and parked near a park being built along the water's edge. A street market was set up at the end of the parking lot with delicious-looking fruits and vegetables, but being Sunday, we passed by them and went along the newly-laid concrete paths and over to the water's edge. We attracted a group of small boys who wanted to pose on the sea wall. Bob took their pictures with some boats in the background and looming large, through the mist in the distance, the island of Negros.

Drive to Balamban

Farming on the steep hillsides












Boys on bamboo sled pulled by cariboa


Sunday, October 02, 2005, part 1
What a lovely day! I woke up early and was able to listen to the last half-hour of the Saturday afternoon session of conference and thought of all the family listening to conference too. Then about 5 we began to prepare to travel over the hills to the west to Balamban. It was a wonderfully clear morning with very little traffic. We stopped three times on the way to take pictures (oh the blessings of being early rather than late.) We took some views back to Cebu to the east, then some of the mountains and farming valleys. We also saw two darling boys riding a bamboo sled pulled by a large cariboa and took pictures of them.

Rainy day parade

Parade in the rain Jeepney full of passengers


Just before we went out to dinner with the President and his wife, we heard a lot of noise outside and stepped out to see what was going on. A parade of people, decorated cars and tricycles, and drummers was coming down the road. They took up one entire lane of the street. It was a parade by members of the local parish of the Catholic Church in honor of the feast day of their patron Saint - St. Theresa. It was sprinkling so from our balcony what we could see mostly were the moving umbrellas and then a vehicle decorated with fresh flowers and a statue of the saint and then more umbrellas and another vehicle - very colorful. The parade lasted several minutes, making quite a traffic jam, but when the parade was over, the traffic cleared very quickly.