A Personal Reflection As I Approach My 91st Birthday

Macrine (RIP) and I: Photo Taken in 1982, Pinole, California, USA  

In the next 21 days, I will  be 91 years young. Here is a reflective summary of the highlights from my seventeen-chapter autobiography, celebrating my journey as I approach my 91st birthday this December.

A Life Rich in Memories

As I near my 91st birthday, I look back not with a ledger of riches or worldly possessions, but with gratitude for a life filled with memories, accomplishments, and meaningful relationships. My journey has been shaped by family, education, career, service, and community—a story that bridges continents and decades.

Roots in Wartime Philippines

My childhood began in the 1940s, amid the Japanese-American War in the Philippines. My father served as a Dental Officer for guerrilla forces, and early friendships with American soldiers ignited my interest in the United States, though I never dreamed I would one day live there.

Academic Pursuits and Achievements

School life brought milestones: graduating with honors in grade school and as valedictorian in high school, all despite the challenge of bullying in my early years. University years at UP Iloilo and UP Diliman were marked by scholarships, academic rigor, and a chemistry degree, narrowly missing Cum Laude honors, but gaining experiences that shaped my future.

Graduate Study and Early Career in America

Graduate school at the University of Illinois in Chicago proved to be one of the hardest yet most formative periods of my life. It was there I experienced snow for the first time, balanced the responsibilities of raising a young family, and ultimately earned a doctorate in Pharmaceutical Chemistry in 1964.

Professional Impact and Leadership

For twenty years, I worked as a chemist in three private firms before joining the US Food and Drug Administration. My tenure at the FDA was a capstone, serving as the first Filipino-American Chemistry team leader in the Center for New Drugs, and receiving multiple professional awards that I still cherish.

Family, Community, and Giving Back

Sixty-three years of marriage to Macrine💚 have been filled with partnership and shared commitment to service. Together, we contributed to Filipino-American communities across the US, from Washington, D.C. to California and spearheaded humanitarian projects such as the Marinduque International medical missions, which have touched countless lives since 1996.

The True Wealth of Life

My life’s wealth does not reside in gold, pesos, or dollars, but in the love, friendships, and service that have defined these nine decades. These memories and relationships are the real treasures I celebrate as I mark another birthday, thankful for every chapter and every person who has been a part of my story.

Let this reflection inspire not just those who know me, but anyone who reads these words: the richest lives are those spent in service, community, and lifelong learning. Thank you for sharing in my journey.

If you’d like to journey with me through the seventeen chapters of my autobiography, you can find them here: My Life Story – 17 Chapters http://davidbkatague.blogspot.com

Meanwhile, here are photos ( Courtesy of Jenny Shively) on Yesterday THD Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. We had Christmas music, pastry and cookies as well as champagne or Apple Cider. It was hosted by our capable and energetic new Activity Coordinator Elane Johnson. In these photos, I was trying to lead a Sing-Along to Uplift the Christmas Spirit and Mood of the Event. Not in the photo, is me and Elane dancing to the tune of Feliz Navidad.  

Finally, here are the 🌍 Top Five News of the Day

Russian airstrike on Kyiv

• Russia launched a deadly aerial strike against the Ukrainian capital overnight. The attack killed at least one person, injured dozens, and damaged residential buildings in Kyiv. ABC News

Anti‑corruption protests in Manila

• Large-scale anti-corruption protests kicked off today in Metro Manila and other areas, as part of broader public outcry. Philstar+1

Cyclone Ditwah storm and its aftermath

• A powerful storm named Ditwah brought heavy rain across parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry (and earlier impacted Sri Lanka), causing widespread flooding, damage, and humanitarian concerns. www.ndtv.com+1

Venezuela suspending deportation flights after US warning

• Tensions escalated between the U.S. and Venezuela after the U.S.—per reports — closed Venezuelan airspace to certain flights. In response, Venezuela suspended all deportation flights in defiance. The Guardian+1

Request for pardon by Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu

• Israeli Prime Minister submitted an official request for a presidential pardon from the country’s president — a major development amid ongoing political and judicial turmoil. Yeshiva World News+1

Chinese Dimsum in Dublin, Thanksgiving Day

After our Turkey Dinner here at THD on last Wednesday, I was ready for a meal besides Turkey. This was achieved when on Thanksgiving Day, Dinah, Ditas and I went to Pearl Bay Manor for Dimsum in Dublin, CA. The Dimsum place is still under the Grand Opening stage and the place was mobbed. We have to wait for 15 minutes to be seated since they did not have reservation that day. The food was great but the price is a little bit higher compared to other Dimsum places in the area. Since pictures speak louder than words, here are my photos that day.        

Looking at the Restaurant Clients, I felt I was either in Hongkong, China or in San Francisco China Town.  

Meanwhile, here are five of the biggest news stories today (November 29, 2025):

📰 Top 5 Headlines

• Donald Trump says airspace above and around Venezuela should be considered “closed in its entirety.”The declaration intensifies tensions with Venezuela amid growing political pressure on its government. Reuters+2Al Jazeera+2

• Global airlines scramble after a software glitch affects Airbus A320 jets — hundreds of flights cancelled or delayed. The recall and repairs are creating major disruptions in air travel across Asia and Europe. Reuters

• Aceh and surrounding regions in Indonesia hit by deadly floods and landslides — death toll rising as rescue operations continue. The disaster has displaced many communities and triggered urgent humanitarian response. Big News Network+1

• Sri Lanka reels from cyclonic damage as floods and landslides after Cyclone Ditwah kill dozens, prompt missing-person reports and government mobilization. International aid efforts are underway. Nhan Dan Online+1

• Kyiv: Power cuts and civilian casualties after missile and drone attacks — part of the continuing assaults on Ukraine’s infrastructure by Russian-controlled forces. The strikes add to mounting civilian hardship and infrastructure damage in the war-torn region. The Guardian+1

More news today

Reuters

Trump says airspace above and around Venezuela should be considered closed

Today

Reuters

Global airlines race to fix jets as Airbus apologises following A320 recall

Today

The Indian Express

News Today Live Updates, 29 November | Shrimp species rediscovered in Karnataka and Odisha after 72 years

Today

Lastly, My Music Video of the Day

https://fb.watch/DG-YtuhEKG/

Understanding Loneliness in Teenagers in the US

This posting is inspired from my recent readings from the November 22-23 issue of the WSJ. An article written by Jamil Zaki and Rui Pei discussed that Sharing Data about friendliness at Stanford University helps young people make friends. 

The Quiet Crisis: Understanding the Loneliness of Teenagers in the United States and in the World

Loneliness among teenagers in the United States has quietly grown into one of the most concerning emotional and public-health struggles of our time. It’s not always visible, certainly not in the smiles of high school yearbook photos or the choreographed joy of TikTok videos but it sits beneath the surface of daily life, often unspoken and often misunderstood.

A Generation Hyperconnected—Yet Deeply Alone

It’s ironic that today’s teens are the most connected generation in history. Their phones are extensions of their hands, their worlds expanded through screens. And yet, study after study shows rising levels of loneliness, anxiety, and emotional disconnection among young people.

Connection, it turns out, isn’t the same as companionship. Many teens describe feeling surrounded by people but unseen, unheard, or misunderstood. Social media has given them unlimited access to others, but not necessarily meaningful relationships. The constant pressure to present a curated version of themselves can leave them feeling as if their real selves have no place to belong.

The Changing Landscape of American Childhood

The teenage years have always been turbulent, but something about today's landscape feels different:

• Academic pressure has intensified, with college admissions feeling more competitive than ever.

• Economic uncertainty weighs on families, and teens often absorb that stress.

• Social structures have weakened—fewer community organizations, changing family dynamics, and less unstructured social time.

• The aftereffects of the pandemic linger, especially in habits of isolation and the erosion of confidence in face-to-face socializing.

Many teens I read about describe feeling emotionally “adrift” as if the roadmap to adulthood they expected simply vanished.

Loneliness That Doesn’t Look Like Loneliness

Adults often imagine teen loneliness as the quiet child sitting alone in a cafeteria. But the truth is much more complicated.

Teen loneliness can look like:

• Overfilled schedules designed to hide emotional emptiness.

• A bedroom door that’s always closed.

• Endless scrolling on a phone late at night, searching for someone to talk to.

• Social groups that are wide but not deep.

• A sense of being misunderstood, even by loving families.

Loneliness is not the absence of people; it’s the absence of connection.

Listening—The Most Important Gift Adults Can Offer

Coming from decades of observing people and listening to their stories, professionally and personally. I’have learned that the greatest antidote to loneliness has always been presence. Not advice, not problem-solving, but presence.

Teenagers may not always say it directly, but what they often want is:

• Someone who listens without rushing.

• Someone who doesn’t dismiss their feelings as “just teenage stuff.”

• Someone who treats their emotional world with seriousness and respect.

• Someone who sees them, not just the version of them filtered through school grades, chores, or expectations.

Lonely teens aren’t asking for grand solutions. They’re asking for understanding.

Rebuilding Real Connection

Addressing teen loneliness in the U.S. will take more than individual effort, it requires cultural change:

• Schools can create more safe spaces for conversations and mental-health check-ins.

• Parents can model vulnerability, showing that loneliness is a human experience, not a personal flaw.

• Communities can rebuild opportunities for teens to gather in real, not virtual, spaces.

• Technology can be used intentionally rather than reflexively.

And on a human level, we can all be more aware that young people often carry emotional burdens heavier than they appear.

A Final Reflection

When I read about teen loneliness, I see not a failing generation but a generation calling out for connection in a world that moves too quickly for its own good. Their loneliness is not a weakness. It’s a sign that they are still deeply human, still yearning for the real bonds that make life meaningful.

Perhaps the real question is not “Why are teens lonely?” but rather “How can we, as adults, become the kind of people they feel safe connecting with?”

In a culture of noise, the simple act of listening might just be the most powerful thing we can do.

My Music Video of the Day: 

https://fb.watch/Dy0G19o5Ku/

My Photo of the Day

Somebody Important is My Driver....

The Summit Nobody Ask For-A Political Satire

The Summit Nobody Asked For: A Political Satire

Photo Credit: From the FaceBook Page of My Friend in the Philippines.

Every nation dreams of hosting a historic summit, a moment when world leaders gather to negotiate peace, debate policy, or at least shake hands awkwardly for the cameras. But the image I received today from a FaceBook friend in the Philippines depicts a very different kind of summit. Let’s call it The Rooftop Bar Accords, held high above a neon-lit cityscape, where diplomacy has been replaced with cocktails and geopolitical strategy comes garnished with lime wedges.

At the center of the photo sit three extremely recognizable world figures, yes, those ones  smiling as if decades of tension, sanctions, and mutual threats dissolved the moment the waitress delivered a platter of chicken wings. Surrounding them is a ring of jubilant young women( from the Epstein Files) raising their glasses, as if cheering the sudden outbreak of world peace or perhaps just the drink specials.

And there, on the far right, sits the most grounded person of all: my Facebook friend, caught in the middle of this unlikely political fever dream. In a scene featuring the world’s most controversial personalities, he looks like the only one who actually belongs at a normal social gathering.

The expressions are what make the image a masterpiece. One of the men(Trump) appears to be holding a sparkler, not as a symbol of national celebration, but more like someone who discovered pyrotechnics after two margaritas. Another(Putin) wears the face of a man who believes he just negotiated a three-way security pact or maybe he’s simply thrilled about the fries. The third(Kim Jong-Un) is laughing with a joy rarely seen at international press conferences, possibly because no one here is asking him about missiles. Sorry, Xi you were not invited.  

If only real diplomacy worked this way. Imagine global tensions dissolving over shots of tequila. Imagine sanctions replaced with karaoke duets. Imagine the United Nations moving to a rooftop bar with happy hour from 5 to 7.

You want peace in our time? Start with half-priced appetizers with free San Miguel beer.

This impossible image clearly digital, clearly satirical, tells a political truth more honest than anything in a televised debate: put powerful men in a room with good food, bright neon lights, and people who aren’t scared of them, and suddenly the world feels less dangerous. Maybe a little too relaxed, judging by the empty bottles on the table.

And then there’s my friend, smiling, toasting, and looking as though he somehow stumbled into the most politically incorrect reunion ever staged. His presence grounds the whole scene. Amid the absurdity of global rivals partying like college roommates, he is the one figure who reminds me that satire works best when there’s something real in the frame.

So yes, the “Rooftop Bar Accords” will not appear in any history book. No treaties were signed. No borders were redrawn. The only conflict resolved was probably over who got the last spring roll.

But for one glorious, digitally invented moment, world politics looked peaceful, ridiculous, and strangely hopeful. And honestly? If this is what diplomacy looked like, I’d tune in a lot more often.

I hope you get a good laugh or at least smile after you read this posting. 

Meanwhile, here's my own photo with the Three Kings💚 of the World.. 

From Left to Right: Trump, Putin, Kim Jong-Un and ME 💚(The 3 Dictators). Oh, I forgot to invite Xi of China. 

Me with my Five-Days Beard and Mustache!

“Rooftop sky bar in Saigon at night with warm air, loud music, neon reflections, and a proper party atmosphere. A small VIP table is stacked with cocktails, beers, shots, mixers, and bar snacks. The four men sit in the same positions as the reference.

• Left seat: Donald Trump, recognisable hair, light skin, wearing a lightweight black jacket or open-collar shirt, laughing hard while holding a fun party prop instead of the guitar.

• Middle-left seat: Vladimir Putin, short hair, light skin, in a simple grey breathable T-shirt, caught mid-laugh with a lively expression.

• Middle-right seat: Kim Jong-un, neat hairstyle, light grey rolled-sleeve shirt, smiling big and clearly enjoying the chaos.

• Right seat: the man from the uploaded reference photo(me), no hat, black polo shirt, raising his drink toward the camera with a cheeky grin. A few Saigon sky-bar girls are with them, dressed for the heat in black or grey crop tops, sleeveless tops, fitted dresses, or light clubwear that matches the leaders’ tones. They lean in, clink glasses, dance a little, laugh loud, and blend seamlessly into the hype. The whole scene feels wild, energetic, fun, and messy in the best way, like a candid iPhone party photo taken mid-night.”

Here are five of the biggest news stories grabbing headlines today — Nov. 28, 2025:

• Donald J. Trump freezes immigration from “Third World countries” — After a shooting near the White House that left a member of the United States National Guard dead, Trump announced a “permanent pause” on migration from what he called “Third World countries,” and ordered a wide review of green-card approvals. Reuters+2The Guardian+2

• National Guard soldier killed in shooting near White House — The tragedy triggered the immigration crackdown. The Times of India+2www.ndtv.com+2

• Consumers click — fewer stand in line — as Black Friday kicks off amid soft demand — Online Black Friday spending rose ~5 % over last year, but in-store foot traffic and traditional bargain-hunting seemed subdued as many shoppers stayed home. Reuters

• COP30 ends with watered-down deal on fossil-fuel phaseout — The global climate summit in Brazil failed to secure binding commitments from major oil-producing nations, raising questions about the pace of climate action. The Guardian+1

• Next Gen ATP Finals — Young talents like Learner Tien are making headlines in tennis’s next-gen surge— Tien, riding a breakthrough season into the Jeddah tournament, has become a leading name among rising stars. atptour.com

Last but list more top stories today

indianexpress.com

News Today Live Updates, 28 November | After airstrikes, Donald Trump says US land action against Venezuelan drug networks coming ‘soon’

Today

nypost.com

Anti-corruption units raid home and offices of Zelensky’s chief of staff

Today

deccanherald.com

News in Pics | November 28, 2025: Best photos from around the world

Today