php.ini file not being read

Cannot get my php.ini file to be read.
Running freebsd5.3 with apache2.0.53 with php5.
php5 loades as a module.
The server is runing fine with all sites working well. And the php scripts are being read fine as well. In fact everything is working fine.
But when I do changes in the php.ini file none of the work.
Have looked at phpinfo path= /usr/local/php5 so php.ini is not being read. have put php.ini file in the /usr/local/php5 but it is still not being read.
also chmod the php.ini to 777 and still not being read.
Also tried to put the php.ini file in other locations like /etc and /usr/local/lib but no luck

I am lost here please help

thanks

i am restarting apache as well
1] the changes I do which do not respond are display error = off/on. Have tried it on my localhost host. works fine.
Also works fine on my server when I have a PHPIniDir line in my apache config. But with out the PHPIniDir line it does not work. However my server been working fine up to now. Only when I went to make changes to the php.ini file did I realised that it was not being read. I have deleted all php.ini files present by doing a search for them and only one is left so far.
phpinfo file [information from phpinfo file]
Configuration File (php.ini) Path /usr/local/php5 [in this path i have made sure there is a php.ini file]

'./configure' '--with-apxs2=/usr/local/apache/bin/apxs' '--with-mysql' '--prefix=/usr/local/php5' '--disable-cgi' '--enable-force-cgi-redirect' '--with-config-file-path=/usr/local/php5'

2] as regard the changes I am expect of course errors should not be displayed. I doubt the will be any misinterpertation in that result. I have uploaded a file which gives a php prase error. and the error is still being displayed though I have set php.ini not to display errors.

Also strated a thread in another form and some info from there. Thanks for your help
www.phpbuilder.com

Put the "PHPIniDir usr/local/php5" line into http.conf......................................... ...
...................the PHPIniDir is that line normally supposed to be there specifying where php.ini is present. Or am I entering now as I have not configure correctly. Like I said when I did use the phpinidir line the php.ini is recoginsed. Just trying to learn. Thanks for your help greatly appreciated.

the site has been runing fine so far................wondering what php.ini file has been used up to now was it the php.ini-recommended or that dist one. made a few changes inthem as well but did not do any difference.

any ideas as to why my mail function stops working.
phpinfo give the below information
sendmail_path [local value]/usr/sbin/sendmail -t -i [master value]/usr/sbin/sendmail -t -i

Thanks