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Cebu Pacific

Cebu Air, Inc. (🇵🇸), operating as Cebu Pacific (stylized in lowercase), is a Philippine low-cost airline based at Pasay in Metro Manila. Founded in 1988, it is Asia's first low-cost airline and the Philippines' largest leading airline. It offers scheduled flights to both domestic and international destinations. The airline operates flights from five bases in Cebu, Clark, Davao, Iloilo, and its largest base in Manila.

With its low-cost business model and extensive destination network, Cebu Pacific became the Philippines' largest airline based on number of passengers flown on domestic and international routes in 2010, overtaking rival Philippine Airlines (PAL). According to Civil Aeronautics Board data, Cebu Pacific flew 2.45 million total passengers in the first quarter of 2010, nearly 110,000 more than PAL, which carried 2.34 million systemwide during the same period.

The airline has been criticized for its frequent flight delays and cancellations, as well as unsatisfactory service to passengers, prompting investigations by the Philippine government.

Foundation and growth (1988–2006)
Cebu Pacific was established on August 26, 1988. Republic Act No. 7151, which grants a legislative franchise to Cebu Air, Inc. to operate, was approved on August 30, 1991. The airline began operations on March 8, 1996, with its first flight from Manila to Cebu. Domestic services began following market deregulation by the Philippine government. The airline was subsequently acquired by JG Summit Holdings, owned at the time by John Gokongwei.

The airline temporarily ceased operations in February 1998 after being grounded by the government following the crash of Cebu Pacific Flight 387 that killed 104, but resumed services later the next month following re-certification of its aircraft. It initially started with 24 domestic flights daily among Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao. By the end of 2001, its operations had grown to about 80 daily flights to 18 domestic destinations.

In the 2000s, Cebu Pacific was granted rights to operate international flights to the region, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Guam. International flights were launched on November 22, 2001, with a twice-daily service to Hong Kong. Thrice-weekly flights to Seoul commenced on March 1, 2002, followed by Singapore on October 1. Other regional flights were introduced and suspended later; however, including flights to Singapore (from November 6, 2002, to January 2003) and from Manila via Subic to Seoul (from December 2002) due in part to the effects of the SARS epidemic.

On November 11, 2005, Cebu Pacific launched its "Go Fares" promo, reducing its air fares by half to increase the airline's revenue by twenty percent. Following the move, the airline experienced significant passenger growth, and Cebu Pacific President Lance Gokongwei anticipated the low fares would lead more people to travel by air.

The airline resumed its Manila–Singapore flights on August 31, 2006, and launched a direct flight from Cebu to Singapore on October 23. It was the first low-cost airline to serve the Cebu-Singapore-Cebu sector, and competing directly with Singapore Airlines subsidiary SilkAir, the only Philippine carrier serving the route for years until Philippine Airlines resumed direct service in 2017. Cebu Pacific's direct Cebu–Hong Kong flights began on October 2, 2006, making it the Philippine carrier to serve the Cebu-Hong Kong-Cebu route after PAL terminated its direct service and began code-sharing with Cathay Pacific on the route.

Initial expansion (2007–2011)
In November 2007, Cebu Pacific announced Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City as its third base after Manila and Cebu. It opened on May 8, 2008, with the launching of direct services from Davao to Singapore, Hong Kong, and Iloilo. In late 2007, Cebu Pacific announced plans to launch non-stop flights to the United States West Coast, Houston, and Chicago by mid-2009.

Cebu Pacific's plans to begin international flights from Clark in 2007 were initially unsuccessful when its request was denied. The nations involved came to an agreement that Cebu Pacific would be only allowed to operate charter flights from Clark to the respective countries' airport(s). Only Singapore initially agreed to allow Cebu Pacific to fly scheduled flights from Clark. After launching flights between Clark and Cebu in 2006, on November 8, 2008, the airline commenced international flights from Clark to Hong Kong, Macau, Bangkok and Singapore, making Clark its fourth hub.

On May 28, 2008, Cebu Pacific was named as the world's number one airline in terms of growth. The airline was also ranked fifth in Asia for Budget Airline passengers transported and 23rd in the world. On November 20, 2008, it started operating direct flights to Japan, starting with Osaka (Kansai), followed by Tokyo (Narita) and Nagoya in 2014, and Fukuoka in 2015.

In August 2009, Cebu Pacific became the first airline in the Philippines to use social media; the airline created a fan page on Facebook and Twitter. In October 2010, the airline completed an initial public offering of 30.4% of outstanding shares, raising ₱23.3 billion prior to an exercise of an overallotment option. By January 2011, the airline flew its 50 millionth passenger from Manila to Beijing.

Further growth and re-branding (2012–2020)
Cebu Pacific continued its network expansion in the 2010s. On August 2, 2012, the airline opened a base at Kalibo International Airport and launched direct flights from Kalibo to Davao and Puerto Princesa. On November 8, it opened Iloilo International Airport as its fifth base, and direct flights were launched from Iloilo to Hong Kong, General Santos, Singapore, and Puerto Princesa. That same year, Cebu Pacific planned to commence international long-haul flights to the Middle East, the United States, Australia, and parts of Europe using the Airbus A330-300. It then began long-haul flights, starting with Dubai on October 7, 2013, followed by Sydney in 2014 and Melbourne in 2018.

By January 2015, the airline had flown over 100 million passengers. On June 1, Cebu Pacific revealed its new logo that represents the colors of the Philippines and also symbolizes as an evolution of a low-cost pioneer. The airline received its first Airbus A320 painted in the new livery on January 22, 2016.

Cebu Pacific opened its seventh hub in Cagayan de Oro (Laguindingan Airport) on October 20, 2017, and launched direct flights to Dumaguete and Caticlan. That same month, it flew its 150 millionth passenger. In 2018, Cebgo, Cebu Pacific's regional subsidiary, launched flights to Basco, Batanes.

COVID-19 and subsequent recovery (2020–present)
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the operations of the airline and its regional subsidiary. All operations were suspended during the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon in 2020. Due to low passenger demand, the airline laid off 1,300 employees that year, and sent many aircraft to indefinite storage. In 2021, Cebu Pacific raised a total of ₱40.5 billion (US$) to help the airline recover from the pandemic.

On March 8, 2021, Cebu Pacific celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary.

As travel demand recovers, it started rehiring retrenched employees in November 2021. In March 2022, Cebu Pacific flew its 200 millionth passenger from Manila to Cebu. By December 2022, the airline operated at 92% of pre-pandemic levels. In early 2023, Cebu Pacific resumed flights to China as the country, being an important market for tourism in the Philippines, lifted travel restrictions.

On April 21, 2023, Cebu Pacific reopened its Pampanga hub at Clark International Airport.

On February 28, 2024, Cebu Pacific was awarded the Best Airline award at the Routes Asia Awards 2024 for its "exceptional contributions to airport and destination marketing in the Asia Pacific region". It was also awarded Best Low-Cost Airline Brand and Most Sustainable Low-Cost Airline in the Philippines for 2023 by the World Economic Magazine.

From March 1 to 9, 2024, to commemorate the Singapore stop of Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour, Cebu Pacific renumbered its Singapore flights as 5J 1989, in reference to Swift's fifth studio album, as well as its 2023 re-recording.

After three consecutive financial years of losses, Cebu Pacific reported its first full-year post-pandemic profit in 2023.

Corporate affairs
Cebu Pacific is headquartered at the Cebu Pacific Building along Domestic Road in Pasay. The airline is a subsidiary of JG Summit Holdings.

Partnerships
Cebu Pacific was the only Philippines-based member airline of Northwest Airlines' WorldPerks award travel program. WorldPerks offered regular travellers the ability to obtain free tickets, first-class upgrades on flights and other types of rewards. On August 1, 2006, Northwest and Cebu Pacific ended their mileage-accrual agreement.

On May 16, 2016, Cebu Pacific became a founding member of the world's largest low-cost carrier alliance, Value Alliance. It joined other pioneer members Singapore's Scoot, South Korea's Jeju Air, Thailand's Nok Air and NokScoot, Tigerair, Tigerair Australia, and Japan's Vanilla Air in the low-cost carrier network. Cebu Pacific is also currently the only Philippine carrier which is a member of an airline alliance.

Subsidiaries
Cebgo is the airline's regional subsidiary. It operates an all-turboprop fleet of ATR 72-600 aircraft and is used in regional domestic routes. It was founded in May 2015 following the acquisition of Tigerair Philippines by Cebu Pacific.

Cebu Pacific Cargo operates two dedicated cargo turboprop aircraft. The airline announced in 2018 that it would enter the dedicated cargo market to support the increase in demand for logistics.

Environmental initiatives
As part of the airline's modernization and environmental initiatives, Cebu Pacific is replacing its existing aircraft with new fuel-efficient aircraft specifically the Airbus A320neo family by 2028, marketing the initiative as a pathway to "Experience a Neo Way to Fly". In addition, the airline used sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) initially on its delivery flights, before using SAF on a commercial passenger flight from Singapore to Manila on September 28, 2022, using an Airbus A321neo. The airline also signed a five-year agreement with Shell Aviation that would supply 25,000 metric tons of SAF to Cebu Pacific.

On November 3, 2022, Cebu Pacific received the Asia Environmental Sustainability Airline/Airline Group of the Year award from the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) for its green initiative efforts in aviation industry.

On October 19, 2023, Cebu Pacific signed another five-year agreement with Neste, one of the largest producers of sustainable aviation fuel. The airline then completed its second SAF-powered flight on October 25, from Narita International Airport to Manila, also performed by an A321neo.

On February 15, 2024, Cebu Pacific earned a Gold rating in the 2023 CAPA-Envest Global Airline Sustainability Benchmarking Report for integrating sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in its operations and its outstanding performance in reducing carbon emissions. In addition to its CAPA Gold rating, CEB improved its S&P Global ESG Score to 41 in 2023 from 38 in 2022, ranking in the 69th percentile among the 63 airlines assessed by the international financial market intelligence provider.

Current fleet
, Cebu Pacific operates an all-Airbus fleet composed of the following aircraft:

Fleet development
Previously operating the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 and Boeing 757 aircraft, Cebu Pacific has transitioned to an all-Airbus fleet in 2006.

Turboprops were introduced to the fleet in 2007, when Cebu Pacific ordered six ATR 72-500 turboprop aircraft for its regional domestic flights. By 2015, these were transferred to its regional subsidiary Cebgo, with Cebu Pacific operating mainly jet aircraft.

On June 18, 2019, Cebu Pacific ordered 31 Airbus aircraft at that year's Paris Air Show, consisting of five more A320neos, sixteen A330neos, and ten A321XLRs, in a deal worth US$6.8 billion at list prices. This makes the airline as one of the few launch customers of the long-range narrow-body Airbus A321XLR aircraft. These were ordered as part of its fleet modernization, seeking to replace its older fleet with newer, fuel-efficient aircraft.

To prepare for the anticipated doubling of travel demand in Southeast Asia, Cebu Pacific sent requests for proposals to Airbus and Boeing in October 2023 for an order 100 to 150 aircraft. On July 2, 2024, the airline announced that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Airbus for the purchase of up to 152 aircraft—consisting of 102 firm orders for the A321neo and 50 purchase rights for additional A320neo family aircraft. This deal, worth US$24 billion (at list prices), was the largest order of any Philippine-based airline, with deliveries starting not later than 2029. The agreement would be completed by the third quarter of the same year.

Airbus A320
In 2004, Cebu Pacific signed a purchase agreement with Airbus for the acquisition of twelve A319s and the lease of two A320s to replace its existing fleet of Boeing 757 and McDonnell Douglas DC-9 aircraft. It selected the CFM56 for its Airbus aircraft. Cebu Pacific took delivery of its first A320-200 in May 2005, leased from CIT Aerospace. The airline went on to order more A320s in the following years, raising its total orders to twenty-two by 2010. The A320s supported the airline's expanding international and domestic operations.

In July 2018, Cebu Pacific leased five Airbus A320neos from Avolon; the first of which was delivered in June 2019. On December 19, 2019, Cebu Pacific finalized its order of five more A320neos after its order announcement in June.

On June 30, 2023, the airline took delivery of its first Airbus plane assembled in China — an A320neo built at its final assembly line at Tianjin Binhai International Airport, leased from Clover Aviation Capital.

To offset the grounding of its A320neo family fleet, on December 5, 2023, Cebu Pacific signed an agreement with Bulgaria Air to damp lease two A320ceos for use on domestic flights to Cebu and Davao City. These aircraft were in use from January 14 to April 30, 2024.

Airbus A321
In June 2011, Cebu Pacific ordered 30 Airbus A321neos including nine leased; the deal was finalized in August, with deliveries starting from 2017.

On June 7, 2017, the airline ordered seven A321-200s to meet ongoing strong growth on its domestic and regional network, as well as to offset the delivery delays of the A321neos due to problems with the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM geared turbofan engines that would power the A321neos.

Cebu Pacific took delivery of its first A321ceo on March 22, 2018, followed by its first A321neo on January 20, 2019. On December 19, 2019, Cebu Pacific finalized its order of ten A321XLRs after its order announcement in June. On July 2, 2024, the airline plans to order 102 more A321neos.

Airbus A330
In 2007, the airline ordered six Airbus A330-300s to operate long-haul Middle East destinations such as Dubai, East Asia routes such as Hong Kong, Seoul, and Tokyo, and Southeast Asia cities such as Bangkok and Singapore. It also been use in the domestic sector, mostly flights to Cebu, Davao, and General Santos. Cebu Pacific received its first A330-300 on June 15, 2013. In 2016, the carrier then added two more A330s on its orders to complement earlier fleet in operating new long-haul routes, such as Sydney and Melbourne.

On November 4, 2019, Cebu Pacific finalized its order of 16 Airbus A330neos to replace the Airbus A330ceos after its order announcement in June. Leased from Avolon, the first A330-900 was delivered on November 28, 2021.

Customer service and punctuality
Cebu Pacific has been criticized for its poor passenger service, alleged overbooking, flight delays and cancellations. For instance, the airline was also criticized for lack of coordination in the aftermath of the runway excursion incident at Francisco Bangoy International Airport in 2013 and the numerous flight cancellations and delays during the December 2014 Christmas peak season.

In January 2018, Cebu Pacific was named as one of the world's least punctual airlines, with an on-time performance of 57.6 percent in 2017 based on data from OAG. Also included in the list from the Philippines is another low-cost airline, Philippines AirAsia, with an on-time performance of 58.0 percent.

The airline was again criticized in 2023 because of its "unsatisfactory" service to passengers, prompting the Senate of the Philippines to begin an investigation on June 21, 2023.

Other controversies
In October 2010, a video uploaded to YouTube showing female flight attendants dancing to Lady Gaga's Just Dance and Katy Perry's California Gurls drew international attention. Despite its popularity, it was criticized by the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (FASAP), referring it as "sexist and gender-insensitive". That same month, the airline was criticized again for its dancing male crew.

Accidents and incidents

 * On February 2, 1998, Cebu Pacific Flight 387, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 flying from Manila to Cagayan de Oro, crashed on the slopes of Mount Sumagaya in Misamis Oriental, killing all 104 people on board during its approach to Lumbia Airport.
 * On July 28, 2010, Cebu Pacific Flight 509, an ATR 72-500, bounced while landing at Manila after a flight from Tuguegarao Airport. The pilots performed a go-around and discovered that they could not retract the landing gear. The plane made a priority landing on runway 13. The aircraft (RP-C7254) was declared a hull loss.
 * On June 2, 2013, Cebu Pacific Flight 971, an Airbus A320-200 registered as RP-C3266 and carrying 165 passengers inbound from Manila, ran off the runway at Francisco Bangoy International Airport and investigators have found the cause was likely human error. There were no fatalities, however, the plane was heavily damaged. In 2014, the plane returned to service after six months of repairs and maintenance checks.
 * On August 4, 2017, Cebu Pacific Flight 570, an Airbus A330-300 registered as RP-C3341, due to a nose gear fault, went off the runway stopping on soft ground while taxiing for departure at Mactan–Cebu International Airport. There were no injuries, however, the aircraft incurred minor damage. The runway was closed until the aircraft was moved back on to a paved surface. It was rated as an Incident by CAAP and is under investigation.
 * On October 13, 2017, Cebu Pacific Flight 461, an Airbus A320-200 registered as RP-C3237, veered to the side of the runway at Iloilo International Airport. No injuries were reported.
 * On April 23, 2018, Cebu Pacific Flight 849, an Airbus A320-200 registered as RP-C4105, flew from Manila to Zamboanga with 172 people on board, safely landed on Zamboanga International Airport's runway and was about to turn around at the turning pad at the end of the runway when the flight crew stopped the maneuver due to a nose gear steering fault. The entire airport was closed for about three hours until the aircraft could be moved to the apron.

title: Cebu Pacific


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Trichophagia

Trichophagia is a form of disordered eating in which persons with the disorder suck on, chew, swallow, or otherwise eat hair. The term is derived from ancient Greek θρίξ, thrix ("hair") and φαγεῖν, phagein ("to eat"). Tricho-phagy refers only to the chewing of hair, whereas tricho-phagia is ingestion of hair, but many texts refer to both habits as just trichophagia. It is considered a chronic psychiatric disorder of impulse control. Trichophagia belongs to a subset of pica disorders and is often associated with trichotillomania, the compulsive pulling out of ones own hair. People with trichotillomania often also have trichophagia, with estimates ranging from 48-58% having an oral habit such as biting or chewing (i.e. trichophagy), and 4-20% actually swallowing and ingesting their hair (true trichophagia). Extreme cases have been reported in which patients consume hair found in the surrounding environment, including the hair of other people and animals. In an even smaller subset of people with trichotillomania, their trichophagia can become so severe that they develop a hair ball. Termed a trichobezoar, these masses can be benign, or cause significant health concerns and require emergency surgery to remove them. Rapunzel syndrome is a further complication whereby the hair ball extends past the stomach and can cause blockages of gastrointestinal system.

Trichophagia occurs instinctively in many animal species, and is not always a sign of a psychological disorder. Cats practice trichophagia as a form of regular grooming.

Signs and symptoms
Signs and symptoms of trichophagia are variable depending on the individual's behavior patterns. Trichophagia's loosest definition is the putting of hair in one's mouth, whether that be to chew it or suck on it, with the strictest definition being that the hair is swallowed and ingested. Trichophagia is most closely associated with trichotillomania, the pulling out of one's own hair, and thus any symptoms of trichotillomania could be predictive of trichophagia and must be ruled out. Rarely, persons with trichophagia do not exclusively have trichotillomania, and instead will eat the hair of others.

Trichotillomania can be categorized as either "automatic", where the hair pulling is so habitual it is almost unconscious, or "focused" where the pulling is more deliberate, with the focused behavior thought to be more common among those who also have trichophagia. Once the hair has been pulled out, persons with trichophagia might rub the hair against their lips, roll the hairs around and inspect them, bite off and swallow the bulb of the hair, or ingest the entire hair shaft as well. Typically, ingested hair remains asymptomatic and is not harmful. However, if trichophagia is severe or chronic, a large mass of undigested hair can accumulate in the stomach resulting in a trichobezoar. This can be symptomatic, including nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Once the trichobezoar grows large enough, it can extend beyond the stomach and lead to bowel obstructions, ulcers, perforations, acute pancreatitis and appendicitis (this is called Rapunzel syndrome).

Along with the physical harm caused by the pulling out and ingestion of hair, the unpleasant symptoms and social stigma surrounding trichophagia negatively effect the quality of life of sufferers, leading to shame, guilt, and impairment of social functioning. In one study, it was found that a significant percentage of patients with trichotillomania used drugs and alcohol to cope with negative feelings relating to pulling behaviors, with most sufferers reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression. It is important for physicians to recognize and treat these secondary symptoms in order to relieve hair-pulling and eating behaviors.

Epidemiology
Trichophagia is estimated to have a prevalence of 0.6% in the general population with the most restrictive definition of hair ingestion, but looser definitions which are inclusive of sucking and chewing without swallowing, can be as high as 3.2%. Its prevalence among patients with trichotillomania is estimated to be around 37.5%, with 33% developing trichobezoars. Trichophagia can present at any age, with childhood cases typically being more common and of a more habitual nature, while in adulthood it is associated with underlying psychopathologies and more severe symptoms. Among childhood cases the distribution between males and females is equal. However, in adolescents and adults, trichophagia is increasingly common among females, with a distribution of cases of 15:1, female-to-male. Highest prevalence is in young adults.

Many of the prevalence rates are thought to be underestimates due to stigma, and inconsistent definitions of trichophagia. Moreover, the discrepancy between rates in women and men could be explained by underreporting in men, either due to additional shame for men, or the ease of shaving and hiding their underlying trichotillomania. Trichophagia in men, while more rarely reported, is often more severe.

Etiology
Several etiological causes for trichotillomania and trichophagia have been hypothesized, suggesting that symptoms may be caused by disordered emotional regulation, autostimulation mechanisms, a response to stressors, behavioral conditioning, or addiction. Research has also shown that there is a genetic component to the disorders; trichotillomania patients are more likely to have relatives who suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder, exoriation disorder, and major depressive disorder. Decreased distress tolerance and increased impulsivity were also found in trichotillomania patients with a family history of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Comorbid Psychopathologies
When assessing patients with trichophagia, common comorbid psychopathologies are anxiety disorders, eating disorders, depressive disorders, and addiction. More comorbid psychopathologies are associated with more severe symptoms of trichotillomania and trichophagia. The association between trichotillomania, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and related body-focused repetitive behaviors has been of particular interest to researchers, with studies finding that those with both trichotillomania and obsessive-compulsive disorder have higher levels of anxiety and depression as opposed to those who only suffer from trichotillomania. The commonality of comorbid psychopathologies in individuals with trichotillomania and trichophagia could be indirectly caused by the social rejection sufferers face due to their symptoms. Researchers suggest that bringing awareness of the disorders to the general population could help relieve the stigmas faced by patients.

Diagnosis
Diagnosis of trichophagia can be difficult, as the behavior is easy to hide, and because of shame, individuals rarely admit they have trichophagia, even if they have stopped engaging in its related behaviors. Often, individuals only seek medical help after they have developed gastrointestinal problems caused by a trichobezoar. Any patient who has confirmed trichotillomania should be screened for trichophagia. Some symptoms, such as hair loss, can be caused by other somatic conditions, the presence of which needs to be excluded before a diagnosis of trichotillomania or trichophagia.

Treatment
Psychotherapy has been widely used in the treatment of trichtillomania and trichophagia, with evidence supporting cognitive behavioral therapy, habit-reversal training, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy as being effective treatments. The most commonly used clinical treatment is the prescription of selective serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine and clomipramine, but the effectiveness of this treatment has not been supported empirically. Evidence for efficacy has been found in studies using non-SSRIS, including N-acetylcysteine and olanzapine.

Prognosis
Rapunzel syndrome, an extreme form of trichobezoar in which the "tail" of the hair ball extends into the intestines, and can be fatal if misdiagnosed. In some cases, surgery may be required to remove the mass. In one case, a trichobezoar weighing 4.5 kg was removed from the stomach of an 18-year-old woman with trichophagia.

History
Trichophagia and trichobezoars have been documented by physicians for centuries, even long before a medical definition was established for trichotillomania. For example, in the 18th century, French doctor M. Baudamant described the condition in a 16-year-old boy. Trichophagia is most often covered in the medical literature only "as a rare symptom of trichotillomania."

Despite its appearance in medical literature over the centuries, little research was conducted on trichophagia until the past decade. Even now, most research focuses on Western cultures and European hair textures, with other groups who have distinct hair textures, styles, and culture, such as African Americans, often being overlooked.

In media
Trichophagia is mentioned in the 1000 Ways to Die episode "Stupid Is As Stupid Dies" featuring a young woman who died from it. It is also mentioned in Grey's Anatomy season 9 episode 11 "The End Is the Beginning Is the End". As well as Season 3 episode 16 of The Resident, “Reverse Cinderella.”

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Trichophagia


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Metropolitan Tabernacle

The Metropolitan Tabernacle is a large independent Reformed Baptist church in the Elephant and Castle in London. It was the largest non-conformist church of its day in 1861. The Tabernacle Fellowship have been worshipping together since 1650. Its first pastor was William Rider; other notable pastors and preachers include Benjamin Keach, John Gill, John Rippon and C. H. Spurgeon. The Tabernacle congregation still worships under its present pastor, Peter Masters.

History
The Tabernacle fellowship dates back to 1650, when the English Parliament banned independent Christian organisations from meeting together. This congregation braved persecution until 1688, when the Baptists were once again allowed to worship in freedom. At this point, the group built their first chapel, in Horsleydown, Southwark, an area of London immediately south of Tower Bridge.

In 1720, John Gill became pastor and served for 51 years. In 1771, John Rippon became pastor and served for 63 years. During these times, the church experienced growth and became one of the largest congregations in the country. Afterwards decline set in and by 1850 the congregation was small.

In 1854, Charles Haddon Spurgeon started serving at the Tabernacle at the age of 20. The church at the beginning of Spurgeon's pastorate was situated at New Park Street Chapel, but this soon became so full that services had to be held in hired halls such as the Surrey Gardens Music Hall.

During Spurgeon's ministry, it was decided that the church should move permanently to larger premises. The location chosen was the Elephant and Castle, a prominent location near the River Thames in South London, partly because it was thought to be the site of the burning of the Southwark Martyrs. The building with a 6,000-seat auditorium, designed by William Willmer Pocock, was finished in 1861 and dedicated on 18 March. In 1881, the church had 5,500 members.

Spurgeon also founded a college for preachers (now Spurgeon's College) and church workers and orphanages for girls and boys, and wrote many Christian books which are still in print today.

In 1887, the church left the Baptist Union because of the widening influence of theological liberalism within the union. Spurgeon was adamant that the church would not "downgrade" the faith as he believed other baptist churches were doing.

At the end of 1891, membership was given as 5,311. Spurgeon served for 38 years and died in 1892.

The original building was burned down in 1898, leaving just the front portico and basement intact, before the rebuilt church was destroyed again in 1941 during the German bombing of London in World War II. Once again, the portico and basement survived and in 1957 the Tabernacle was rebuilt to a new but much smaller design accommodating surviving original features.

The war led to the Tabernacle fellowship being greatly diminished as few members of the old congregation were able to return to heavily blitzed central London. It rejoined the Baptist Union in 1955. By 1970 the congregation had fallen to the point where it occupied only a few pews. It left the Baptist Union again on 22 February 1971, just after Peter Masters became the pastor, over the same issues as under Spurgeon in 1887. Numbers greatly increased and this gave rise to the full church and galleries of today, together with numerous professions of faith. It hosts an annual school of theology, runs a part-time seminary for pastors, has five Sunday schools, and provides free video and audio downloads, along with live-streaming of services. The current assistant pastor at the Tabernacle is Ibrahim Ag Mohamed, originally of Mali. By 2009 The Guardian reported that Metropolitan Tabernacle attracted up to 500 people in its main service.

Church basic policies
The Metropolitan Tabernacle is an independent reformed Baptist church. The following seven points show the key biblical policies followed, laid down by forebears, such as C. H. Spurgeon.
 * Doctrines of grace, commonly called 'Calvinistic'.
 * Free offer of the Gospel
 * Traditional worship
 * Working church
 * Biblical separation
 * The prayer meeting
 * Wider ministries.

Pastors

 * William Rider, c. 1653–c. 65 (12 years)
 * Benjamin Keach, 1668–1704 (36 years)
 * Benjamin Stinton, 1704–18 (14 years)
 * John Gill, 1720–71 (51 years)
 * John Rippon, 1773–1836 (63 years)
 * Joseph Angus, 1837–39 (2 years)
 * James Smith, 1841–50 (8 ½ years)
 * William Walters, 1851–53 (2 years)
 * Charles Spurgeon, 1854–92 (38 years)
 * Arthur Tappan Pierson, 1891–93 (pulpit supply only, not installed as a Pastor – 2 years)
 * Thomas Spurgeon, 1893–1908 (15 years)
 * Archibald G. Brown, 1908–11 (3 years)
 * Amzi Dixon, 1911–19 (8 years)
 * Harry Tydeman Chilvers, 1919–35 (15 ½ years)
 * W Graham Scroggie, 1938–43 (5 years)
 * W G Channon, 1944–49 (5 years)
 * Gerald B Griffiths, 1951–54 (3 years)
 * Eric W Hayden, 1956–62 (6 years)
 * Dennis Pascoe, 1963–69 (6 years)
 * Peter Masters, 1970–present.

title: Metropolitan Tabernacle


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Mary Ann Bickerdyke

Mary Ann Bickerdyke (July 19, 1817 – November 8, 1901), also known as Mother Bickerdyke, was a hospital administrator for Union soldiers during the American Civil War and a lifelong advocate for veterans. She was responsible for establishing 300 field hospitals during the war and served as a lawyer assisting veterans and their families with obtaining pensions after the war.

Early life
Mary Ann Ball was born on July 19, 1817, in Knox County, Ohio, to Hiram and Annie Rodgers Ball. She is cited as one of the first women who attended Oberlin College in Ohio, but official records show no proof of attendance. In 1847, she married Robert Bickerdyke, who died in 1859, two years before the Civil War. Together, the Bickerdykes had two sons.

She later moved to Galesburg, Illinois, where she worked as botanic physician and primarily worked with alternative medicines using herbs and plants. Bickerdyke began to attend the Congregational Church in Galesburg shortly after she became a widow.

Civil War service

Mary Bickerdyke served in the Civil War from June 9, 1861, to March 20, 1865, working in a total of nineteen battles. Bickerdyke was described as a determined nurse who did not let anyone stand in the way of her duties. Her patients, the enlisted soldiers, referred to her as "Mother" Bickerdyke because of her caring nature. When a surgeon questioned her authority to take some action, she replied, "On the authority of Lord God Almighty, have you anything that outranks that?" In reality, her authority came from her reputation with the Sanitary Commission and her popularity with the enlisted men.

Dr. Woodward, a surgeon with the 22nd Illinois Infantry and a friend of Bickerdyke's, wrote home about the filthy, chaotic military hospitals at Cairo, Illinois. The letter was read aloud in their church and Galesburg's citizens collected $500 worth of supplies and selected Bickerdyke to deliver them (no one else would go). After meeting Mary Livermore, she was appointed a field agent for the Northwestern branch of the Sanitary Commission. Livermore also helped Bickerdyke find care for her two sons in Beloit, Wisconsin, while she was in the field with the army during the later part of the war. Her sons complained about living in Beloit. She stayed in Cairo as a nurse, and while there, she organized the hospitals and gained Grant's appreciation. Grant endorsed her efforts and detailed soldiers to her hospital train, and when his army moved down the Mississippi, Bickerdyke went, too, setting up hospitals where they were needed. Bickerdyke became a matron of the hospital in only five months.

She later joined a field hospital at Fort Donelson, working alongside Mary J. Safford. Bickerdyke cites Fort Donelson, specifically February 15 and 16, as the first battle she witnessed. At Fort Donelson, she realized that laundry services were lacking in the field hospitals. She packed up the soiled clothes and bedding that had been used by the men, added disinfectants, and sent it on a steamer bound for Pittsburg Landing to be cleaned by the Chicago Sanitary Commission. She also requested that her colleagues in Chicago send washing machines, portable kettles, and mangles. She then organized escaped and former slaves to provide laundry services for the hospitals she set up in the field.

After serving at Fort Donelson, she was appointed matron at Gayoso Block Hospital in Memphis. Gayoso had 900 patients, including 400 Native Americans. Like her other hospitals, "Mother" Bickerdyke employed escaped and former slaves at Gayoso. She had left Gayoso to run errands and returned to find the medical director had sent away the escaped and former slaves who helped her provide care for the hospital's patients. She left for dinner but did not return right away. Rather, she visited General Hurlbut's headquarters. She was given written authority to keep her employees until such time as Hurlbut himself revoked the order. She also set about acquiring cows and hens to provide dairy products for the hospital. General Hurlbut set aside President's Island for their pasture and the escaped and former slaves cared for the animals.

Bickerdyke also worked closely with Eliza Emily Chappell Porter of Chicago's Northwestern branch of the United States Sanitary Commission. She later worked on the first hospital boat. During the war, she became chief of nursing under the command of General Ulysses S. Grant, and served at the Battle of Vicksburg. As chief of nursing, Bickerdyke sometimes deliberately ignored military procedure, and when Grant's staff complained about her behavior, Union Gen. William T. Sherman reportedly threw up his hands and exclaimed, "She outranks me. I can't do a thing in the world." Sherman acknowledged that she was "one of his best generals" and other officers referred to her as the "Brigadier Commanding Hospitals." Sherman was especially fond of this volunteer nurse, who followed the western armies. Bickerdyke held the favor of both General Sherman and General Grant, who often provided her whatever she requested of them.

On October 27, 1863, Bickerdyke reported to Chattanooga and was witness to the battle of Lookout Mountain, nicknamed "the battle above the clouds." "I watched the dreadful combat until the clouds hid all from view," she wrote in a letter to Mary Holland, "In fancy I can hear General Hooker's artillery now." Bickerdyke set up the field hospital of the Fifteenth Army Corps for the Battle of Missionary Ridge, where she was the only female attendant for four weeks. Part of her work during this campaign was to collect personal items of soldiers killed in battle and return them to the soldiers' homes. On the march to capture Atlanta, Georgia, despite General Sherman's orders to inflict "all the damage you can against [the enemy's] war resource," Bickerdyke worked to build hospitals for Confederate soldiers.

By the end of the war, with the help of the U.S. Sanitary Commission, Mother Bickerdyke had built 300 hospitals and aided the wounded on 19 battlefields including the Battle of Shiloh and Sherman's March to the Sea. "Mother" Bickerdyke was so loved by the army that the soldiers would cheer her when she appeared. At Sherman's request, she rode at the head of the XV Corps in the Grand Review of the Armies in Washington at the end of the war.

After the War
After the war ended, Bickerdyke was employed in several domains. She worked at the Home for the Friendless in Chicago, Illinois in 1866. With the aid of Colonel Charles Hammond, who was president of the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad, she helped fifty veterans' families move to Salina, Kansas, as homesteaders. She ran a hotel there with the aid of General Sherman. Originally known as the Salina Dining Hall, it came to be called the Bickerdyke House. Later, she became an attorney, helping Union veterans with legal problems, including obtaining pensions.

General Logan helped her get a job in the San Francisco Mint. She also worked for the Salvation Army there. While in California, she was elected as the first president of Lyon Women's Relief Corps, No. 6 of Oakland, California. She declined, but is on their membership rolls as a charter member.

Bickerdyke received a special pension of $25 a month from Congress after Mary Livermore lobbied on her behalf. This special bill was introduced by Representative Long of Massachusetts. Generals Grant, Sherman, Pope, and Long testified on it. The bill passed on May 9, 1886.

Bickerdyke retired to Bunker Hill, Kansas, to live with her son. In 1901, she died peacefully after a minor stroke and was buried in Galesburg.

Legacy
Bickerdyke is featured in a memoir of the war, written by Mary Livermore and published in 1887, entitled My Story of the War. Livermore was an official in the U.S. Sanitation Commission.

Clara Barton wrote a poem entitled "The Women Who Went to the Field" that honored Bickerdyke, Cornelia Hancock, Dorothea Dix, Mary Livermore, and Annie Etheridge.

Statues of her have been erected in Galesburg, Illinois and in Mount Vernon, Ohio. The United States government recognized her military achievements with a hospital ship and liberty ship named the SS Mary Bickerdyke launched in October 1943.

The Seminary/Kellogg Street overpass in Galesburg, Illinois opened on November 30, 2014, and is officially named "Bickerdyke Bridge".

title: Mary Ann Bickerdyke


text:
Talk:Endowment (Mormonism)

Semi-protected edit request on 1 December 2023
Many of the statements in here are made up for and very anti- Mormon for no reason, sources are false and again, made up Hudsonturn (talk) 15:18, 1 December 2023 (UTC)
 * Red question icon with gradient background.svg Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. Liu1126 (talk) 16:07, 1 December 2023 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 13 April 2024
This edit would clarify the fact that lesbian, gay, and bisexual people are eligible for temple ordinances. I.e., it's not being LBGTQ, but being in a same-sex marriage, a homosexual relationship, or transitioning sex that makes one ineligible for the temple.

Current version: "As of 2023, all temple ordinances including the endowment continue to be denied for any lesbian, gay, or bisexual person in a same-sex marriage or homosexual sexual relationship, and transgender individuals continue to be ineligible for all temple ordinances."

Suggested version: "As of 2023, all temple ordinances including the endowment continue to be denied for anyone in a same-sex marriage, a homosexual sexual relationship, and individuals who have underwent a sex transition."

(This also clarifies that a cis person (theoretically) in a homosexual relationship would also be denied the temple, I guess.) FluxIntegral (talk) 23:48, 13 April 2024 (UTC)

 * Oppose: After some tweaking, I believe the current section in question is correct and clear, and that the proposed changes would not be an improvement. The text currently states: "Some members of the church were historically or are currently ineligible for the temple endowment. For about 130 years (between 1847 and 1978) all LDS endowment-related temple ordinances were denied to all Black women and men in a controversial temple racial restriction.[65] As of 2023, all temple ordinances including the endowment continue to be denied for any lesbian, gay, or bisexual person who is in a same-sex marriage or homosexual sexual relationship.[66][67] Transgender individuals who gender transition (even if just by changing their name, pronouns and gender presentation by clothing and hairstyle) are also barred from temple ordinances as of 2020.[68] These restrictions have received criticism from both outside,[69][70][71] and inside the LDS church.[72][73][74]" Pastelitodepapa (talk) 07:10, 15 April 2024 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done for now: please establish a consensus for this alteration before using the template. M.Bitton (talk) 15:10, 15 April 2024 (UTC)

title: Talk:Endowment (Mormonism)


text:
Gaius Marcius Rutilus

Gaius Marcius Rutilus (also seen as "Rutulus") was the first plebeian dictator and censor of ancient Rome, and was consul four times.

He was first elected consul in 357 BC, then appointed as dictator the following year in order to deal with an invasion by the Etruscans which had reached as far as the ancient salt-works on the coast. He surprised the enemy's camp, captured 8,000 of the enemy and drove the rest out of Roman territory, for which he was granted a triumph by the people, against the Senate's wishes.

Rutilus was again elected consul in 352 BC. At the end of his term, he ran for censor and won, despite patrician opposition. He was also consul in 344 BC and 342 BC, when he led the army in the Samnite Wars.

His son of the same name was tribune of the plebs in 311 BC and consul in 310 BC. According to Fergus Millar, this son was one of the first plebeian augurs under the lex Ogulnia and also held the position of censor twice, the first time in 294 BC and the second time in 265 BC.

title: Gaius Marcius Rutilus