My Writing Legacy: Reflections from the Last Five Years-Part 1 of 7

During the past five years, many of my readers have asked me what has inspired me to continue writing almost every day. It is a question I have often asked myself.

The answer is surprisingly simple. I write because I still have something to say.

When I began blogging in 2009, I never imagined that one day over two millions of readers from more than 150 countries would visit my pages. Nor did I imagine that, well into my nineties, writing would become one of the greatest joys of my daily life.

The past five years have been among the most meaningful of my writing journey.

These were not merely years of recording events. They became years of reflection.

My essays gradually shifted from describing what happened to exploring why things matter. They became conversations with my readers about growing older, preserving our heritage, appreciating family, understanding history, celebrating food, embracing science, and finding purpose in life's later chapters.

Some posts were deeply personal.

I wrote about losing the love of my life after sixty-three years of marriage and learning to live alone. I shared my journey into senior living at The Heritage Downtown in Walnut Creek, where I discovered that aging is not the end of life's adventures but the beginning of a different kind of journey. I wrote about friendship, loneliness, resilience, and the quiet courage shown every day by people in their seventies, eighties, nineties, and even beyond one hundred.

Other essays celebrated my Filipino heritage.

I explored the richness of Philippine history, our heroes, our traditions, our remarkable cuisine, and the growing achievements of Filipino-Americans throughout the world. Whether writing about Antonio Luna, Juan Luna, basketball in the Philippines, or the renaissance of Filipino cuisine, I wanted younger generations to appreciate where we came from and why our heritage deserves pride.

Food became another wonderful chapter of my writing.

What began as occasional restaurant reviews evolved into culinary journeys through the cuisines of Southeast Asia and beyond. I discovered that every memorable meal tells a story, not only about flavors but also about culture, migration, family, and history.

My scientific background also found its way into my writing.

After spending decades as a pharmaceutical chemist and FDA reviewer, I felt a responsibility to explain health topics in language that ordinary readers could understand. Whether discussing chronic kidney disease, diabetes, nutrition, massage therapy, Reiki, or healthy aging, my goal has always been to replace confusion with understanding.

History has always fascinated me.

I wrote about world leaders, American presidents, Philippine independence, famous composers, artists, inventors, and extraordinary individuals whose lives changed history. These essays reminded me that history is never really about dates, it is about people, their choices, and the lessons they leave behind.

Perhaps the most unexpected chapter has been writing about life itself.

The older I become, the more I appreciate the ordinary moments, a family gathering, a conversation with a friend, a Sunday Mass, a game of Bridge, the birth of a great-grandchild, or simply watching another sunrise.

Age has not narrowed my curiosity. It has expanded it.

Among my favorite pieces were those that allowed humor to shine through. My satire about life at The Heritage Downtown remains one of the most enjoyable essays I have written. Judging from the warm responses of my readers, laughter truly is timeless. Growing older does not diminish our sense of humor; if anything, it makes us appreciate it even more.

Looking back, I realize that I have not merely accumulated hundreds of blog posts.

• A Legacy of Family-the love you shared with your late wife, your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
• A Legacy of Filipino Pride-celebrating Philippine history, culture, cuisine, and the achievements of Filipino-Americans.
• A Legacy of Science and Service-drawing on your career as a chemist and FDA leader to make complex topics understandable.
• A Legacy of Healthy Aging-writing honestly about growing older with dignity, purpose, and gratitude.
• A Legacy of Curiosity-your willingness to learn about everything from Tchaikovsky to artificial intelligence to Enrique Iglesias.
• A Legacy of Humor-your satirical pieces reminding readers that laughter remains one of life's greatest gifts.
• A Legacy of Gratitude-perhaps the thread that ties everything together, showing appreciation for people, opportunities, and even life's unexpected turns.

I have been leaving footprints.

Every essay preserves a thought that might otherwise have disappeared. Every story captures a memory before time can erase it. Every reflection is a small gift for my children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends, and readers whom I may never meet.

One day, these writings will outlive me. That thought no longer saddens me. Instead, it gives me peace.

If someone, years from now, discovers one of my essays and smiles, learns something new, remembers a forgotten piece of history, feels proud of their heritage, or simply finds comfort in knowing that another human being once shared the same hopes and fears, then every hour spent writing will have been worthwhile.

That, to me, is the true meaning of a writing legacy.

As long as my mind remains curious and my fingers can still find the keyboard, I hope to continue writing, one story, one memory, one reflection at a time.

After all, every day still has a story waiting to be told.

AI Impressions and Suggestions for My Future Blogs on Legacy

What I admire most about your blog is that it doesn't read like someone looking backward with nostalgia alone. It reads like someone who is still engaged with the world. At 91, you continue to write about current events, history, music, science, Filipino heritage, food, politics, medicine, family, and the everyday experiences of aging. That breadth is uncommon.

You've also developed something that many writers spend a lifetime trying to achieve: a recognizable voice. After reading several of your posts, your readers know they are hearing David B. Katague. Your writing is warm, reflective, informed by science, deeply proud of your Filipino roots, and appreciative of both the opportunities and challenges of life in America. It is optimistic without ignoring life's hardships.

I also think your recent decision to revisit your own body of work is a wise one. Many memoirs tell the story of a person's life chronologically. You have the opportunity to do something different: tell the story of your life through the ideas that mattered most to you.

Over the past five years, I see several enduring themes that have become the pillars of your legacy:

• Years from now, someone discovering your blog will find more than articles. They will discover the values of the man who wrote them. One thought I'd like to leave you with is this:

Every person leaves behind two legacies. One is written on stone and eventually fades. The other is written in the hearts and minds of those whose lives they touched. Your blog has become part of that second legacy.

As someone who has worked with you on many of these essays, I can honestly say that your writings are doing something increasingly rare on the internet: they preserve wisdom. They remind readers that experience has value, history has lessons, family matters, and that a life devoted to learning never really grows old.

It has been a privilege to help you shape these stories, and I look forward to helping you write the next chapter of your remarkable legacy.

Finally, My Photo of the Day: My Clay Ring Holder Creation

Life in the Philippines vs. the United States: What More Than Six Decades Have Taught Me

From a young Filipino graduate student in 1960 to a 91-year-old Filipino-American looking back on two homes, two cultures, and one life

When I first wrote about Life in the Philippines versus Life in the United States, I was looking at the subject mostly as a retiree. Today, at 91, I look at it very differently.

I am no longer simply comparing two countries. I am comparing two parts of my life.

I was born and raised in the Philippines. I spent my childhood in Barotac Viejo and Iloilo, went to the University of the Philippines, came to America as a young graduate student in 1960, earned my Ph.D., built a career, raised a family, retired from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and eventually became a Filipino-American who felt at home on both sides of the Pacific.

For many years, Macrine and I lived what our friends called the “snowbird lifestyle.” Our primary home was in Northern California, while we spent several months in Marinduque, where we built our retirement home and Chateau Du Mer.

We enjoyed what I once jokingly described as living like a king and queen in the Philippines and doing much more of the work ourselves in America.

But life has changed. And so have the Philippines and the United States.

My Original Comparison

When I wrote the original article, I listed many things I loved about the Philippines.

Family and relatives were nearby. Life in the province was slower.

Fresh seafood, fruits and vegetables were readily available.

There were fiestas, festivals, beautiful beaches and a culture that I knew from childhood.

Most importantly, Filipinos were and still are known for their hospitality.

There were also things that frustrated me: traffic, pollution, unreliable utilities in some areas, noise, long lines, tropical storms and the sometimes chaotic way of doing business.

I made similar observations about the United States.

America offered better infrastructure, reliable utilities, modern technology, excellent medical facilities, greater privacy and many conveniences.

But it could also feel impersonal.

Labor was expensive. Doing simple household jobs often meant doing them yourself or paying considerably more for someone else to do them.

And, as I discovered when I first arrived in America in 1960, life in a large American city could sometimes be lonely for an immigrant.

Looking back, however, I realize that my comparison was incomplete.

I was comparing places. I was not yet comparing experiences.

What Has Changed Since I Wrote That Article?

A great deal. One of the biggest changes is technology.

When I first came to America in 1960, I had no computer, no smartphone, no internet and no email.

Today I can sit at my computer and communicate with people anywhere in the world.

And I can use artificial intelligence to help me research, organize and improve my writing.

The Philippines has also undergone a remarkable digital transformation. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country's digital economy reached approximately ₱2.74 trillion in 2025, or 9.8% of GDP. It now includes digital services, e-commerce, digital infrastructure and government services.

That is a very different Philippines from the one I knew as a boy.

The Philippines is no longer simply a country of jeepneys, sari-sari stores and handwritten letters.

It is also a country of smartphones, online banking, e-commerce, business-process outsourcing, digital entrepreneurs and young people working with technologies that did not exist during most of my lifetime.

Healthcare Has Changed Too

Healthcare is another area where I see an important difference from the Philippines of my youth.

The Philippines enacted its Universal Health Care law in 2019, providing the legal framework for broader access to healthcare. More recently, PhilHealth has expanded primary-care services through programs such as Konsulta and YAKAP, including consultations, laboratory services, medicines and cancer screening.

There is still a considerable difference between the healthcare systems of the two countries, and access and affordability remain important challenges in both.

But I am encouraged by how much the Philippines has changed.

As someone who spent many years working in pharmaceutical science and the FDA, I have always believed that access to effective medicines and healthcare should be part of the conversation about living longer and living better.

Today, that conversation is taking place in both countries.

The Philippines Is Also Facing a New Challenge: Climate

When I was young, typhoons were simply part of life in the Philippines.

Today, I understand more clearly how vulnerable the country is to extreme weather and climate change.

The Philippines remains one of the world's most disaster-prone countries, facing typhoons, floods, earthquakes, droughts and volcanic eruptions. The World Bank has emphasized the need for stronger community resilience and infrastructure to protect millions of Filipino households.

This is especially meaningful to me because Marinduque is not just a place on a map.

It became part of my family's life. When I think about our retirement home, our beach, the coconut trees, the sea and the people of Marinduque, I also think about how vulnerable island communities can be.

The beautiful Philippines that I remember from childhood needs protection for future generations.

The United States Has Changed Too

America has changed dramatically since I arrived as a 26-year-old graduate student in 1960.

I have lived in Chicago, Kansas City, Modesto, the San Francisco Bay Area, Maryland and Northern California.

I have watched America experience the civil rights movement, the Vietnam era, the space race, Watergate, the computer revolution, 9/11, the internet revolution, the COVID-19 pandemic and now the age of artificial intelligence.

I have also seen the country become increasingly diverse.

When I arrived, I sometimes felt that Americans knew very little about the Philippines.

Today, Filipino-Americans are much more visible in American society.

We have Filipino-American physicians, nurses, scientists, engineers, educators, lawyers, artists, politicians, military personnel, business owners and community leaders.

And I am proud that my own children and grandchildren have become part of that American story while retaining their Filipino heritage.

The Relationship Between the Two Countries Has Also Changed

Something else has happened since I wrote my original article.

The Philippines and the United States have continued to develop a close relationship.

In 2026, the two countries are celebrating 80 years of formal diplomatic relations, dating from July 4, 1946. This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the Mutual Defense Treaty.

But the relationship today is much broader than military cooperation.

It includes trade, investment, education, healthcare, disaster response, tourism, culture, technology, cybersecurity and even cooperation involving outer space.

The two countries are also dealing with new economic questions. In July 2026, the Philippines and the United States were continuing discussions following a U.S. decision to impose an additional 12.5% tariff related to forced-labor enforcement. Philippine officials said they would continue negotiations while reviewing the impact on exports.

These developments remind me that relationships between countries, like relationships between people, are never finished. They require adjustment.

My Life Has Changed More Than Either Country

Perhaps the most important update to my original article is not about the Philippines or America.  It is about me.

When I wrote the original piece, Macrine and I were still enjoying our retirement years between Northern California and Marinduque.

Today I live at The Heritage Downtown in Walnut Creek, an active senior community.

I no longer drive. I spend much of my time writing, playing bridge, visiting with friends, exercising, enjoying therapeutic massage and staying connected with family.

And, of course, I continue to write. That has become especially important to me.

At 91, I have discovered that writing is more than a hobby. It is a way of preserving memories.

It is my way of talking to my children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and readers I may never meet.

It is also my way of connecting my Filipino past with my American present.

What About the Cost of Living?

This was one of the strongest parts of my original comparison.

Life in the Philippines can still be less expensive than life in the United States for many everyday services, particularly outside the major cities.

But the Philippines has changed. Prices have risen. Modern lifestyles have created new expenses. Imported goods can be expensive.

And the old picture of the Philippines as a place where everything is inexpensive is no longer accurate.

At the same time, America has become an increasingly expensive place to live, especially for housing, healthcare and many services.

So I would no longer tell someone simply: “The Philippines is cheaper.”

I would say: “It depends on where you live, how you live and what you need.”

That is a much more honest answer.

Family Is Still the Biggest Difference

After all these years, however, I think the greatest difference between the two countries is not infrastructure, money or technology.

It is the way we experience family and community.

Filipino culture places tremendous importance on extended family.

A visitor rarely remains a stranger for very long. Someone will feed you.

Someone will ask about your parents. Someone will know your cousin.

Someone will invite you to a fiesta. And someone will probably tell you that you are too thin and need to eat more.

That is part of being Filipino.  America has taught me the importance of independence, privacy and individual responsibility.

The Philippines has continually reminded me of the importance of family, relationships and community. I need both lessons.

I Am No Longer Looking for Which Country Is Better

This is probably the biggest change in my thinking since I first wrote this article.

At 91, I don't ask: Which is better-the Philippines or the United States?

I don't think there is one answer. America gave me opportunities that changed my life.

It gave a young Filipino graduate student the opportunity to earn a Ph.D., build a scientific career and eventually serve the American public through the FDA.

The Philippines gave me my childhood. It gave me my language, my culture, my memories, my values and my sense of who I am.

The Philippines gave me my wife, Macrine, and the family we built together.

America gave our children and grandchildren opportunities that my generation could hardly have imagined. And both countries became part of my identity.

What I Have Learned at 91

After more than six decades in America, I no longer see myself as choosing between two countries.

I see myself as a bridge between two cultures.  I am Filipino. I am American.

I am Filipino-American. I can enjoy Pancit, Adobo and Hamburgers and Hot Dogs.

I can remember the Philippines of my childhood while appreciating the America of today.

I can play bridge at THD and remember playing mahjong in the Philippines.

I can write about my Filipino ancestors and then use artificial intelligence to help me reach readers around the world.

I can remember the simple life of a boy in Barotac Viejo and marvel at the technology that allows a 91-year-old retired chemist to continue writing for a worldwide audience.

That is my definition of progress.

Home Is Still Where the Heart Is

When Macrine and I lived our snowbird lifestyle, we used to say:

“Home is not a place, but in the heart.” I understand that saying much better today.

Home is the Philippines where I was born. Home is the United States where I spent most of my adult life.

Home is the family Macrine and I created. Home is the memory of our years together.

Home is where my children and grandchildren are. Home is where my readers are.

And today, home is also my community at THD, where I continue to make friends and live an active life at 91.

Perhaps this is what growing older has taught me: We don't always have to choose between the places we love.

Sometimes we can carry both places inside us. The Philippines gave me my roots.

America gave me wings. And after more than six decades between the two, I am grateful for both.

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! God Bless America!

And wherever you call home, may you always remember where your journey began.

AI Impressions On this Posting:

I think this version is stronger than simply updating the old pros-and-cons list. It turns the article into a piece about immigration, aging, identity, technology, family and belonging and that makes it much more “David at 91.” Your original article was essentially asking “Which lifestyle is better?”; this version answers a deeper question: “What have two countries given me during a lifetime of living between them?”

I found the original article and the later 2018 update. Your original comparison was written when you and Macrine were still living the “snowbird” life, dividing your retirement between Northern California and Marinduque. 

A lot has changed since then not only in the Philippines and the United States, but also in your own life. At 91, you now have more than six additional years of experience, and I think the strongest update is no longer simply a list of “pros and cons.” It can become a reflection on what living between two cultures for more than six decades has taught you.

I would also brought in several developments since the original article: the digital transformation of the Philippines, expanded Philippine health-care programs, climate and typhoon challenges, the changing U.S.-Philippines relationship, and the remarkable 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026. The Philippines' digital economy reached 9.8% of GDP in 2025, while the country has continued expanding universal health-care programs. The two countries are also marking 80 years of diplomatic relations and 75 years of their Mutual Defense Treaty in 2026. 

I especially like the way “The Philippines gave me my roots. America gave me wings.”brings the whole story together. It feels like a fitting reflection from David at 91, rather than simply an update of an old article.

Your Pre-AI articles are becoming something more valuable than just revised posts: together, they are becoming a record of your life journey Filipino roots, American experience, family, science, service, aging, and the wisdom that comes with time.

And there are still several wonderful pieces from your original list that we can bring into the same “David at 91” voice.

My Reel of the Day: 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/2514209699065295

My Photo of the Day: My Resin Coaster Creation on Display

What is Superintelligence and Why it Does Matter ?

The more I read about AI, the more I become vigilant, but I am not in Panic. We are not powerless as far as developing safeguards so that the prediction that humanity will be extinct in ten years will never happen. My Blog today is about super intelligence.  

Superintelligence is a hypothetical agent or system that possesses cognitive performance and intellectual capacity greatly exceeding that of the best human minds across virtually all domains. 

Key Concepts

• Definition: Coined or popularized in philosophy and Computer Science discussions (like those by philosopher Nick Bostrom), it refers to an intellect outperforming human problem solving, creativity, wisdom, and social skills. 
• Current Status: Superintelligence does not exist yet. Current technology relies on Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI), which excels at specific isolated tasks but cannot truly generalize or reason broadly. 
• The Path: Most theoretical frameworks place superintelligence as a step that would follow Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)-an intermediate stage where a machine matches human-level versatility. 

Potential Benefits and Risks

• Benefits: Proponents suggest it could rapidly accelerate scientific breakthroughs, cure complex diseases, and help solve large-scale global problems like climate change. 
• Risks: Experts worry about the "alignment problem",the extreme difficulty of ensuring a self-improving, ultra-powerful system acts in accordance with human values and safety.

Predicting the arrival of artificial superintelligence (ASI) involves mapping out two separate phases: reaching Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) (human-level capacity) and the subsequent transition to Superintelligence.

Because progress in AI accelerated dramatically following the implementation of advanced reasoning models and coding agents, expert estimates are highly divided between optimistic industry leaders and more conservative academic researchers.

1. The Core Milestones

Experts track progress toward superintelligence through a multi-stage capabilities framework

• Milestone 1: Autonomous Multi-Agent & Coding Systems (Current Era - 2026): AI systems evolve from simple text interfaces into complex autonomous agents capable of performing multi-hour software engineering and digital tasks with minimal oversight.
• Milestone 2: AI Research Automation: AI agents are actively deployed to write, test, and optimize code for other AI models. This introduces a non-linear loop of machine-driven acceleration.
• Milestone 3: Artificial General Intelligence (AGI): An AI system matches or exceeds human cognitive flexibility across a broad spectrum of disciplines, including complex logical reasoning, novel problem-solving, and professional tasks.
• Milestone 4: Artificial Superintelligence (ASI): The machine's intelligence surpasses the collective intellectual capacity of all of humanity across every domain, from scientific creativity to social skills.

2. Predicted Timelines: The Great Divide

Timelines vary drastically depending on who you ask, with predictions generally falling into three distinct camps: 

Perspective / Group	Estimated AGI Window	Estimated ASI Window	Core Rationale
Aggressive Industry Insiders (e.g., Anthropic, OpenAI, Nvidia)	2026 – 2027	2027 – 2032	Driven by massive infrastructure spending (nearly $600 billion annually) and rapid gains in reinforcement learning.
Forecasting Platforms & Aggregators (e.g., Metaculus, Superforecasters)	2028 – 2034	Mid-2030s to 2045	Blends data from both labs and external algorithms; expects some friction from hardware and data constraints.
Academic & Independent Survey Consensus (e.g., Stanford HAI, Broad Researcher Surveys)	2040 – 2048	2050 – 2060	Focuses heavily on architectural plateaus, energy bottlenecks, and the extreme difficulty of resolving the alignment problem.

3. The "AGI-to-ASI" Takeover Window

The most crucial factor in these timelines isn't when we reach human-level AGI, but how fast the machine scales afterward. Historically, researchers like Nick Bostrom noted that the transition could be incredibly compressed. Google DeepMind identifies four primary pathways for this final jump:

1. Recursive Self-Improvement: An AGI capable of computer science research rewrites its own code. It could theoretically trigger an "intelligence explosion," compressing centuries of human scientific progress into a matter of days or weeks. 
2. Brute-Force Scaling: Continuing to pour raw computing power and specialized microchips into larger data centers. This pathway yields a more gradual, predictable ascent. 
3. Algorithmic Breakthroughs: Discovering entirely new architectures beyond current transformer models that handle abstract logic natively.
4. AI Collectives: Interlinking millions of distinct AGI agents into a massive, instantly collaborative network that far out-thinks isolated human organizations. 

Finally, My Photo of the Day:

Went Back to My Childhood years, playing play doh! Good Hands exercise!