Silliman's money, he never came to the Philippines. "..The mission in the Philippines started with Dr. David Sutherland Hibbard and wife, Laura, who were commissioned to head it. Three areas were considered: Cebu, Zamboanga and Iloilo. While in Cebu, someone suggested for him to make a side trip to Dumaguete. Sailing from Cebu on a Saturday night, he came out early on deck the next morning and saw ‘the unsurpassed drama of a Dumaguete morning from the sea.’ It was told that the friendly attitude of the people and the caliber of the local officials attracted him to Dumaguete, a ‘place of health and beauty.’" Most of the land and more funding was contributed by local residentsThe rest is history... I think Hib was the first pres (1901-1930) ? More info on the link in my first post

 

I have no problem with the Mormon missionaries. I disagree with any religion's policy of proselytizing, but they have the right to practice their religion as they please. The Mormon missionaries are always impeccably clean and polite and will back off immediatey if you just say your are not interested. (Mormon theology is unique and IN MY OPINION a bit "nutty" as someone else has characterized it, so I just dismiss them and sincerely wish them well.)

What I do find fascinating is their denomination's decision to pull their missionaries back to the US at the first sign of Filipinos in real need. That says a lot, IN MY OPINION. AS hideously as the Roman Catholic Spanish missionaries treated Filipinos (and to a large extent still do), they didn't abandon them until they were forced out at the turn of the last century.

 

from https://tinyurl.com/tvrjx5f
''In the Philippines specifically, the Mormon church chartered six Delta flights from the Philippines back to Salt Lake City because of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints decision that all non-native missionaries leave the Philippines due to the coronavirus outbreak.''

um... six Delta flights; not cheap!!! maybe the LDS Church figured it wasn't cost effective to canvas the fils with the local economy down.

 

Perhaps they made the wrong call - be here on an isolated island or in the USA at this time and I would stay here (well, I have!).