Elder Hall tapped the horn in the middle of the steering wheel. Nothing happened.

When driving in the Philippines, a horn is not just a way of expressing displeasure to another driver. It is used to let people, bicycles and oblivious dogs you will be using the roadway. It is used to let pedicabs, tricycles, and cars know you are sharing the road with them. It is used to let huge trucks and buses know you plan to overtake (pass), with the hope that they do not try to pass another vehicle at the same that you are passing them.

When the traffic cleared, Elder Hall tried the horn again. Nothing happened.

The next day, when we were home, Elder Hall checked the fuses. They were intact. He touched the wire from the horn to the battery wires. The horn blared. A downtown mechanic shop diagnostic indicated that a part in the steering wheel, which allows touch activation of the horn, was broken. They did not have stock and could not order it.

I think after we go to Lamac this morning, we will go from there to Cebu City.

To get the part for the horn?

Yes. They will probably have to order it.

We took the South Highway. When landmark construction of the Seaside City Mall appeared on the skyline, our guide commented:

That mall is being built to look like a ship. The builder is also the owner of the SM Mall. “SM” stands for “Shoe Mart.”. It started as a small company selling shoes. Now SM owns several malls. This one will be the 4^th largest mall in the world. The owner is Chinese.

Elder Hall drove on down the South Road Property (SRP) freeway. The area is land reclaimed from the sea. He spoke to our guide.

Do you have anything you need to buy while we are here?

Yes.

Where do you need to go?

I will show you.

We threaded through the intricate maze of old town Cebu City.

This is called the Carbon Market. It is the oldest and largest farmers market in Cebu. All traders are here—Christian, Muslim, and Chinese. This is where the vegetables grown along the Trans-Central Highway are marketed.

The Carbon Market was named for the depot where coal was unloaded from the Cebu Railroad. Another story is that it was named for the “heaps of waste,” or cinders, dumped here in the 19th Century. You can turn here.

Is there two-way traffic here?

Yes, for now. At night it is one-way. You can stop here.

Is it alright to park here?

Just stay here. Don’t turn off your motor.

He disappeared into the crowd. A short while later he reappeared.

They do not have what I need. They pointed me at another shop around the corner. They did not have what I need either. We will go on for a ways.

We double parked again and waited. He reappeared with a small package.

I found what I need. This is the Chinese market section.

We threaded through more streets. Our guide put his right hand out the window to signal turns. Drivers tend to ignore electronic turn signals. Tricycle drivers signal with a hand or foot.

We pulled into the perfectly manicured grounds of the Temple Complex, and were greeted like old friends in the Mission Office. We turned in papers and picked up supplies. As we were leaving, I stopped to fill my water bottle. Before I finished, Elder Hall came back in the door.

President McCurdy wants to talk to me.

I sat back down on one of the couches to wait and visited with the various missionaries that came through. Those from the city area had gathered in the Temple Complex for Zone training that morning.

We stopped at the Distribution Center, then passed through the gate and back into traffic to find the Ford Dealership. The sky had clouded over and it was threatening rain. We appreciated the storm’s cooling effect.

Did you get the part?

No, they had to order it.

How long will it take?

About ten days. It has to come from Thailand. Hang onto that receipt. They won’t call us. We will have to call them.

We stopped at a stand on the Trans-Central Highway on our way home and bought fresh sweet corn.

Well, I guess you could get a hand held horn to use until the part comes.

I think I should get a big truck horn. I could mount two on top of the cab.

You might consider driving slower.

Why would I want to do that?

SM Seaside City Cebu is a shopping mall owned and developed by SM Prime Holdings located in Cebu City, Philippines. It is expected to open in 2015. If completed, it will be the 4th largest shopping mall in the world. SM Seaside City Cebu will be SM’s third mall in Cebu and 52nd mall in the Philippines. The mall is designed by Arquitectonica, the same company which designed SM North EDSA, SM Mall of Asia and SM Megamall.

On April 12, 2011, SM Prime Holdings held a ground-breaking ceremony at the mall’s location.

The SM Seaside City Cebu will be a 4-level circular-shaped retail mall with multiple anchors, including a two-story SM Department Store and SM Hypermart, a five-theater Cineplex and IMAX Theatre, an 18-lane SM Bowling and Amusement Center, and a food court flanking an ice skating rink.^]

In addition, the mall will have over 2,000 food and retail shops, including international brands. Retail shops will occupy the outer arc of the mall on the ground floor. This area will include a furniture zone as well as a fashion boulevard.

A 150 meters Iconic Viewing Tower will be an attraction in itself, offering sensational panoramic views of the entire city of Cebu while serving as a new landmark for the City..

Significantly, with the jitters of recent natural calamities, being located at the sea-front could be a concern.A company spokesman assured the public of SM Prime Holding’s President Han Sy’s serious commitment to build a disaster-resilient project.

The company is allocating a capital expenditure (capex) of P60 billion in the next three years in the Philippines for its shopping centers construction projects. Aside from its aggressive expansion move in Cebu, the company is also spending to open up new shopping malls in other provinces.