BatacStake2013 | 13

2013ANNUAL HISTORY REPORTBatac Philippines Stake

Activity: Young Single Adults BallDate: February 16, 2013Venue: Paoay Stake Center

With the theme, Make your heart skip a beat, stake president, President Bonifacio Galapia approved a ball for the young single adults of the Batac Philippines Stake held at the Paoay Stake Center, February 16, 2013, Saturday. This activity aimed to encourage young single adults, specially, the return missionaries not to delay marriage.

All of the branches and wards of the said stake were well represented by group of young adults. Also, young single adult advisers were present in the said event.

Not only did the single adults danced in the event but there were also games prepared by the young single adult representatives such as Thats my RM, Snow Ball, and many other pakulos to make the event memorable and unforgettable.

The activity was made possible through the stake YSA representatives, the support of the branch presidents and bishops, the councilors of the stake presidency and of course, the stake president himself.

Truly, the activity was not just a mere social event for the single adults but also a spiritual remembrance for them to follow the counsel of the prophet not to delay marriage.

Activity: Stake SportsfestDate: March 23, 2013Venue: Mariano Marcos Stake University Sports Complex

In unity, the Batac Philippines Stake held its first ever stake wide sports festival at the Mariano Marcos State University Batac Campus (Sports Complex) on March 23, 2013. It was a memorable both in physical and spiritual aspect.

Games in different fields were held such as volleyball for men and women, basketball for men and women, chess for men and women, badminton - singles and doubles for men and women , scrabble for the kids, athletics in 100 meter, 200 meter, and 300 meter dash, athletics relay was also performed, soccer for men, and baseball and softball for men and women, respectively.

Branches and wards who won in the group sports (volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball and soccer) were awarded a trophy ranking in the 1st to 3rd places respectively. Those individuals who won in their respectively sports were awarded a medal of gold, silver and bronze, respectively.

Over-all champion was garnered by the San Lorenzo ward, followed by Dingras and San Nicolas Ward II.

This activity was made possible because of the bishops and branch presidents, and also for the support of the stake leaders, specially the headed by the stake president, President Bonifacio Galapia.

Activity: Stake Youth ConferenceDate: April 10 12, 2013Venue: Mariano Marcos State University University Training Center (Batac City)

With the 2013 mutual theme, Stand ye in Holy Places and be not moved, as a basis, the stake youth leaders together with the bishops and branch presidents, and stake presidents, Batac Philippines Stake 2013 Stake youth conference was held in Mariano Marcos State University University Training Center, Batac City, Ilocos Norte in April 10 to 12, 2013.

The conference was divided into parts, namely: [During the first day] (1) The Opening Program; (2) Pathway to Success; (3) Community Service Project; (3) Social Night; [During the second day] (4) Personal Progress, Duty to God, Missionary Work Workshop; (5) Scripture Mastery; (6) Road show; [During the third day] (7) Testimony Meeting; (8) Devotional.

During the opening program, all wards and branches were properly represented by youth participants ages fourteen to eighteen years old. The chairman, the stake president, Bonifacio Galapia, advised the youth of proper conduct during the activity. The youth participants were also accompanied by their respective young men and young women leaders in their wards and branches. The opening program served as the orientation for the participants as well as the branch leaders in supervising and taking care of their youth.

Career workshop was given to the participants during the pathway to success. The youth ages fourteen to seventeen years old were trained by a Data Center College in Laoag who is a professor in English and arts while the eighteen year olds were trained by the Self-Reliance Services volunteers in the Laoag Stake. The participants had a clear picture of what they want to become and how will they be able to get there.

The career workshop was followed by a service project by the participants at the MMSU Sports Complex. With a joy and humble heart, each of the participants gave their all in sweeping and gathering the trash into their proper places.Little did they know that their reward is waiting for them a Stand in Holy Places T shirt as their souvenir during the conference.

All the hardwork was paid off, says Brother Mark Jarome Quevedo, 17, from Paoay Branch.

We did not really expect a shirt this year. We never did expect from the past years. Leaders say that it is over the budget. But this year, they really made us feel special. This [stand in holy places] shirt will always remind to do as would the Lord do, says Sister Frances Athena Baraoidan, 18, from Paoay Branch.

We want to give them the best that the Lord could give them. I hope the shirt would remind them to always do what is right, says Sister Melba Baraoidan, Stake Young Women President.

The stake young women representative, Sister Frances Athena Q. Baraoidan, and the stake young men representative, Brother Royal Frank L. Burgos, under the assistance and supervision of the committee head, Brother Melito Balinbin, decided to pursue the theme Career. Money. Success. in the social night. The participants had a dress code that they must wear what they to become such as an accountant, a nurse, a teacher, or an engineer. Not only did they danced, but during the social night there were also special awards such as the best dressed male and female. The top three pairs male and female were chosen by the stake leaders. Thus, at the end of the night, Sister Abigail Adrid (Batac Wards Flight Stewardess), Sister Frances Athena Q. Baraoidan (Paoay Branchs Accountant), and Sister Haizel de Leon (Batac Wards Accountant) were chosen as the top three best dressed girls. Mean while, Brother Royal Frank L. Burgos (Batac Wards Politian), Brother Moroni Tinde (San Nicolas Second Wards Businessman), and Brother Oliver (Dingras Wards Seaman) were the top three best dressed male. All of the participants were well dressed, but there were some who really stood out.

It was really the correct time of getting to know one another, especially for the new members and for the investigators who came. Each has smiling faces. The youth representatives thought of a souvenir that will be able to remind each of the participants and leaders the joy they had during the night. There was a photo booth at the back of the floor for each participant to take their pictures that will be able for them to remind themselves of this special occasion.

There were also presentations from each of the participants. This showcased their talents as an individual or as a group. The masters of the ceremonies during the social night was Sister Kriezl Joyce Quisquis (Nurse) and Brother Jessie Alos (Engineer), assisted by Sister Baraoidan and Brother Burgos, the stake youth representatives.

The second day was a spiritual blast for each and everyone. The youth participants were divided according to their gender young men and women. And the young single adults whose age was eighteen was also separated.

For the young men they were trained by Sister Tomas, the missionary volunteer of the Laoag Mission for the family history, particularly in creating your own LDS account and what is the importance of it in the family history.

Family History is an important work of the Lord. I now realized it, says Alex Valdez, 16.

Meanwhile, Brother Elijah Tinde, 14 said, I am not a computer literate. But I never thought creating an LDS account could be as easy as one, two, three.

On the other hand, the young women was trained by Sister Aracelli Orcino, a member who has a business in making bags out of straw. She taught the young women to make their own scripture bags using straw. If they will finish their own scripture bag in few months, they will let their young women check their personal progress value project under Knowledge.

Judy Mendoza, 15, said, I am not an art girl. I did not have fun listening to the workshop. But as it ended, I got jealous of the other young woman who tries their best in doing, so at the end of the road, I made and started my own, and I sincerely love every bits of it.

The other side of the room was filed by almost thirty eighteen year olds who attended the conference. They were trained by the Laoag Mission President, President Barrientos. He taught them the importance of missionary work. He encouraged them to go on a mission and prepare effectively. He subdivided the group into three and made of his three office elders the team leader of each group. Each group has a pamphlet of missionary lessons one, two, and three. The group was assigned to distribute twenty five pamphlets each to one person, ask their name, contact number, and make them be willing to hear the gospel.I was happy. It was hot outside. But I was happy that I did it, says Mark Jay Mamuad of San Nicolas first ward.

I have the desire. I really had the desire to serve the Lord. But now, I felt like it is urgent for me to serve the Lord, says a sister from Paoay Branch.

The workshop was followed by the scripture mastery. This years course is the Book of Mormon. The stake seminary and institute supervisor, Brother Sherwin Lutap was in-charge of this part of the conference. He divided the participants into two according to their age bracket (1) fourteen to sixteen years old and (2) seventeen and eighteen years old.

The fourteen to sixteen years old did the usual seminary gospel quiz, where in Brother Lutap would give a statement and they will just identify if it is true or false.

On the other thought, the seventeen and eighteen years old acted as if they were full-time missionaries. They have to go through maximum of twenty five stations, where in each of these stations have fake investigators or fake less active members in which they need to know their concern and need to teach them the correct principle to solve their concern. In the sister missionarys category, Sister Baraoidan (Frances Athena), and Sister Garcia (Aizel Geline), got the highest points (thirteen points), while on the elders category, Elder Burgos (Royal Frank) and Elder Mamuad (Mark Jay) got the highest points (nine points). Sister Baraoidan shared her testimony of the activity that it was really important to work with your companion and work with the Spirit, as well.

The highlights of the second day happened during the night when the youth showcased their acting, and dancing skills. Each unit has to perform an event in the Book of Mormon. The events were chosen by the Young Men President, President Ireneo Guittap and the Young Women President, Sister Melba Baraoidan, and two months before the conference, the events designated to each unit were given to them for them practice. They have to make their own scripts and dialogs, props and costumes. It was a successful show.

We never expected it would happen this big. The room was filled with spirit, a branch youth leader said during the evaluation.

The youth also had unity dance after all the shows were done. The dance was led by Sister Athena Baraoidan and Brother Adrian Dansalan with the music Stand, the youth mutual theme song.The last day was a spiritual ending. All of the participants had an opportunity to share their testimony in front in two to three minutes. Most of those who shared their testimonies were emotional as they say it was hard to leave a place where you have friends with the same standard and a place full of spirit.

A Stake Leader said, The testimonies of the participants were proofs that they had learned something and they got something that they will never let go of. It was overwhelming that we gave them what they needed the love and the spirit of the Lord.

After the testimony meeting, President Barrientos came back as the devotional speaker. He taught about using our agency well that we may stand in Holy Places.

The conference was concluded by the Stake Presidents message for the participants.

Activity: Young Single Adults Summer LovinDate: May 28, 2013Venue: Subli Subli Beach Resort

The stake presidency really wanted to tie a close bond between the young single adults; hence they approved another activity, following the YSA ball last February, called Young Single Adults Summer Loving in Subli-subli beach resort, May 28, 2013.

It began with a workshop from the District Leaders (Full time missionary elders) of the Batac Philippines Stake. They taught about the importance of member missionary work; the importance of being a fellowship or a friend to a new member or investigator; the need of referrals; and more importantly, serving in a full time mission.

Participants also had games and fun to socialize to each other after the workshop. The activity lasted for ten hours.

Activity: Stake Sunday school Teachers TrainingDate: July 19, 2013Venue: Paoay Stake Center

Held at the Paoay Stake Center last July 19, 2013, the stake Sunday School Presidency headed by its stake Sunday school president, Brother Nathaniel O. Baraoidan, held a stake Sunday school training for all the teachers in branches and wards, including the Sunday school teachers in youth, and adult, as well as the primary, seminary and institute teachers. Though it was meant for the teachers, everyone was invited also.

There were about sixty teachers who attended the said training. The training was made by the Stake Sunday School President, Brother Baroidan, his counselors, Brother Hermenigildo Valdez and Brother Willfredo Domondon. Micro teaching was also done by the new Stake Seminary and Institute Supervisor, Brother Franklin Apostol.

The attendees were divided into three groups and had to choose two to three members of their group to discuss a certain topic they can micro teach. Afterward, Brother Baraoidan, together with his counselors, and also the Stake Presidency presided by President Bonifacio Galapia, had to pin point only the strengths of each team and encourage the rest of the team to apply it.

The training shall be expected to happen once every year which already started this year.

Activity: Family Week Celebration 2013Date: September 2013Venue: Paoay Stake Center

With the theme, Unity Across Generations: A Strong Family, A Strong Society, Batac Philippines Stake celebrated family week celebration together with the local government officials of Paoay, Ilocos Norte and Batac City, Ilocos Norte.Officials, including the mayor and some of the sanggunian bayan members of the municipalities came and dine with the stake leaders presided by President Bonifacio Galapia. While they were dining, they were entertained by the youth in dancing, singing, and cultural events.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from the Batac Stake also celebrated family week celebration in cultural shows, such as dancing, singing, and acting.

The family week celebration was lively celebrated in the stake.

Activity: MPRS BallDate: December 26, 2013Venue: Teatro Ilocandia, Batac City, Ilocos Norte

The MP Holders and the RS sisters were dazzling in their lovely and beautiful suits and gowns as they participate in the MPRS ball held in Teatro Ilocanda last December 26, 2013.This activity aims to strengthen the relationship of married couples in the church, as well as the investigators, and also for the young single adults to find their eternal companion.

This activity was made possible through the careful planning of the Stake Relief Society Presidency headed by Sister Eulalia Baga, Stake RS president and under the approval of President Bonifacio Galapia, Stake President.

The activity is expected to become a tradition of the stake that will happen once a year in the month of December.