David B.Katague, B.S., M.S., M.A, Ph.D. Sunset Photo from the Balcony of the Chateau Du Mer Beach House, Boac,Marinduque,Philippines
Welcome to My Site
If this is your first visit, welcome! This site is devoted to my life experiences as a Filipino-American who immigrated from the Philippines to the United States in 1960. I came to the US as a graduate student when I was 26 years old. I am now in my mid-80's and thanks God for his blessings, I have four successful and professional children and six grandchildren here in the US. My wife and I had been enjoying the snow bird lifestyle between US and Philippines after my retirement from USFDA in 2002. Macrine(RIP),Me and my oldest son are the Intellectual migrants. Were were born in the Philippines, came to the US in 1960 and later became US citizens in 1972. Some of the photos and videos in this site, I do not own. However, I have no intention on infringing on your copyrights. Cheers!
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto #3-Olga Kern
I feel like listening to classical music today. My selection today is Olga Kern playing Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto #3. I have read that this Concerto is the most difficult piece of music that has ever been composed*.
Listening to Olga play the concerto brought tears to my eyes. It is absolutely haunting and intense piece of music that I have enjoyed in my life. To have full enjoyment of the 40 minutes of music, watched it in 10 minutes segment. WOW! WoW! and WoW! Here's the video. Enjoy!
*The Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30 composed in 1909 by Sergei Rachmaninoff has the reputation of being one of the most technically challenging piano concertos in the standard classical repertoire.
Olga Kern, the striking young Russian Gold Medal winner of the 2001 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition - whose performance of the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 made her the first woman to achieve this distinction in over 30 years - made her New York City debut in Carnegie's Zankel Hall in May, 2004. Eleven days later she returned to New York to play at Carnegie again, this time on the stage of the Isaac Stern Auditorium at the invitation of Carnegie Hall. Olga Kern is a magnetic performer with one of the most prodigious piano techniques of any young pianist.
For more details on Kern's biography read: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olga_Kern
Monday, November 27, 2017
Ditas Katague Art Show-Grieving Thru Glee
Ditas Katague, my youngest daughter has been Chair of National Advisory Committee On Racial, Ethnic and Other Populations at U.S. Census Bureau since August 1, 2015 and its member of National Advisory Committee since 2012. She has more than 20 years of experience at federal, state and local government agencies. She serves as Chief of staff to California Public Utilities Commissioner Catherine Sandoval. She served as California's 2010 Census director as well as the 2000 Census Chief Deputy Director, overseeing and directing the statewide outreach and coordination.
Besides her regular job at the Governor's office in the State of California as Director of Census, 2020, Ditas other activities are her art work (http://www.grievingthruglee.com/) as well as her Yoga teachings (http://www.solfirejstreet.com/teachers/).
The video below was taken during her 2014 art show at the Penthouse Floor of Capitol Towers Condominium in Downtown Sacramento. I am really proud of Ditas (and Carenna also) accomplishments. During this show Carenna also sold a couple of her award-winning photographs.
Saturday, November 25, 2017
A Message from My Niece Down Under
Taken from the FaceBook of my Niece from Australia: Repeat after me: "I failed but I am not a failure" "I lost but I am not a loser" "I am not where I want to be in life but I am not finished yet" "My past will not determine my future" Have a great day everyone.....you deserve it!
The above message was in the FaceBook page of my niece residing in the suburbs of Sidney, Australia. The above message reminded me of my article " You have to Fail in order to Succeed" that I am reposting in case you have not read it.
http://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/2011/12/chapter-3-you-have-to-fail-in-order-to.html
I have also listed 20 of my favorite quotes on Failures and Success as follows:
1. “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” - Thomas Edison
2. “Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.” - Winston Churchill
3. “Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, only this time more wisely.” - Henry Ford
4. “Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail.” - Confucious
5. “In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.” - Bill Cosby
6. “Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.” - Dale Carnegie
7. “Failure is success if we learn from it.” - Malcolm Forbes
8. “I’ve come to believe that all my past failure and frustrations were actually laying the foundation for the understandings that have created the new level of living I now enjoy.” - Tony Robbins
9. “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure.” - Colin Powell
10. “It is fine to celebrate success, but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.” - Bill Gates
11. “Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of a greater or equal benefit.” - Napoleon Hill
12. “Like success, failure is many things to many people. With Positive Mental Attitude, failure is a learning experience, a rung on the ladder, a plateau at which to get your thoughts in order and prepare to try again.” - W. Clement Stone
13. “The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows.” - Buddha
14. “My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with failure.” - Abraham Lincoln
15. “Don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t waste energy trying to cover up failure. Learn from your failures and go on to the next challenge. It’s ok to fail. If you’re not failing, you’re not growing.” - H. Stanley Judd
16. “Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failing is another steppingstone to greatness.” - Oprah Winfrey
17. “Remember that failure is an event, not a person.” - Zig Ziglar
18. “Failure after long perseverance is much grander than never to have a striving good enough to be called a failure.” - George Eliot
19. “Why do I talk about the benefits of failure? Simply because failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me.” - J.K. Rowling
20. “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” - Michael Jordan
https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-7915/20-iconic-quotes-on-failure-that-will-inspire-you-to-succeed.html
Friday, November 24, 2017
Our First Taste of Dungeness Crab This Year
Today, I purchase two Dungeness crabs from my favorite grocery store(Food Mart) for only 5.99/lb. Each crab weighs about 1.5 lbs. I only purchase two because David III is not eating with us. The crab is perfect with fresh lemons growing in my garden here in FO. We have turkey and ham last night so this is a good change of menu for us.
The Dungeness crab, Metacarcinus magister (formerly Cancer magister), is a species of crab that inhabits eelgrass beds and water bottoms on the west coast of North America. It typically grows to 20 cm (7.9 in) across the carapace and is a popular seafood. Its common name comes from the port of Dungeness, Washington. The crabs is a special attraction to tourists in the San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf during the Crab Season. The season for the San Francisco Bay starts in the second Tuesday of November.
For more details on Dungeness fishing regulations read:
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Fishing-Map/San-Francisco
Thursday, November 23, 2017
Today is Thanksgiving Day in the United States
My Miniature Orchid in Bloom Again-Happy Thanksgiving to All
Today is Thanksgiving Day here in the US. This year we will celebrate it at my wife niece residence ( Lanie Lazarte Chalfin) in Mountain View. The whole Jambalos and Katague Clan have been invited for dinner tonight.
There are three things I am thanking the Lord this year. First, to all my friends and relatives who have encouraged me to continue my writing and blogging activities based on their comments on my FB page and blogs. There are days when I feel its time to quit, but thanks to your comments I have been posting articles almost every other day since 2008.
Second, I thank the Lord for my Health and for my spouse(for 60 years)-Macrine. Macrine was diagnosed with Parkinson Disease in 2013. Thanks to medications, diet and exercise her PD is progressing very slowly. The support and understanding of friends and relatives alleviate her loneliness and sense of isolation -a side effect of the medications she is taking to control her movement disorder. In my case, I will be 83 years old next month. So far my high blood pressure and adult on-set diabetes are under control. I watch my diet ( lots of fruits and vegetables), read and write, play duplicate bridge ( exercise my mind) and do some light gardening and housework for my physical exercise.
The 4 D's-Dodie, Dinah, David III and Ditas, Mountain View, CA 2013
Last, but not least, Macrine and I are thanking our four Children and six Grandchildren for their love and support. Special thanks and Happy Birthday ( yesterday) again to David III who helps me in taking care of his Mom on his days off from work. His help makes my life as a primary care giver more pleasant and bearable. Your Mom and I love you very much and hope you have many more birthdays to come.
My six grand children, Ian, Elaine, Philip, Alix, Marina and Carenna, 2011
Thanksgiving day always reminds me of our First Thanksgiving Day here in the US as follows:
https://hubpages.com/holidays/my-first-thanksgiving-day-in-the-united-states
Again Happy Holidays!
Today is Thanksgiving Day here in the US. This year we will celebrate it at my wife niece residence ( Lanie Lazarte Chalfin) in Mountain View. The whole Jambalos and Katague Clan have been invited for dinner tonight.
There are three things I am thanking the Lord this year. First, to all my friends and relatives who have encouraged me to continue my writing and blogging activities based on their comments on my FB page and blogs. There are days when I feel its time to quit, but thanks to your comments I have been posting articles almost every other day since 2008.
Second, I thank the Lord for my Health and for my spouse(for 60 years)-Macrine. Macrine was diagnosed with Parkinson Disease in 2013. Thanks to medications, diet and exercise her PD is progressing very slowly. The support and understanding of friends and relatives alleviate her loneliness and sense of isolation -a side effect of the medications she is taking to control her movement disorder. In my case, I will be 83 years old next month. So far my high blood pressure and adult on-set diabetes are under control. I watch my diet ( lots of fruits and vegetables), read and write, play duplicate bridge ( exercise my mind) and do some light gardening and housework for my physical exercise.
The 4 D's-Dodie, Dinah, David III and Ditas, Mountain View, CA 2013
Last, but not least, Macrine and I are thanking our four Children and six Grandchildren for their love and support. Special thanks and Happy Birthday ( yesterday) again to David III who helps me in taking care of his Mom on his days off from work. His help makes my life as a primary care giver more pleasant and bearable. Your Mom and I love you very much and hope you have many more birthdays to come.
My six grand children, Ian, Elaine, Philip, Alix, Marina and Carenna, 2011
Thanksgiving day always reminds me of our First Thanksgiving Day here in the US as follows:
https://hubpages.com/holidays/my-first-thanksgiving-day-in-the-united-states
Again Happy Holidays!
Sunday, November 19, 2017
Why Go to the Beach Regularly or Build a Beach House
Amoingon Beach, Front Yard of Chateau Du Mer
I have been wondering why every time I am In our Beach House in Amoingon, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines, I feel more relax and very Happy. The following article lists four reasons and why one should go to the beach regularly or better yet build a beach house if you can afford it.
Chateau Du Mer Beach House, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines
Beach Wedding Ceremony, Chateau Du Mer Beach Resort and Conference Center, Boac, Marinduque
http://mysticalraven.com/health/9646/neuroscientists-strongly-recommend-that-you-visit-the-beach-regularly-heres-why
I have been wondering why every time I am In our Beach House in Amoingon, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines, I feel more relax and very Happy. The following article lists four reasons and why one should go to the beach regularly or better yet build a beach house if you can afford it.
Chateau Du Mer Beach House, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines
Beach Wedding Ceremony, Chateau Du Mer Beach Resort and Conference Center, Boac, Marinduque
http://mysticalraven.com/health/9646/neuroscientists-strongly-recommend-that-you-visit-the-beach-regularly-heres-why
Friday, November 17, 2017
I Started Playing Duplicate Bridge On Line Again
After a hiatus of almost five years, I started playing duplicate bridge on line again. It is an excellent exercise for my aging brain. I have registered as an intermediate player at the website: http://www.bridgebase.com/.
Try playing on this site which is a very popular site for all bridge players over the world for free. You must registered to play.
Another site to play contract bridge: http://games.aarp.org/games/bridge/
For more details about bridge( both contract and duplicate) read the following hub in my Hubpages account.
https://hubpages.com/games-hobbies/bridge-is-my-card-game
If you get tired of playing bridge try playing Hongkong Mahjong at this site:
http://www.itsmahjong.com/
Monday, November 13, 2017
My Boy Scout Uniform Featured in the Mindanao Daily News
Dr. David B.Katague of Iloilo wears the BSP uniform circa 1943-1945, similar to the one worn by Scout Loloy Queppet when he met MacArthur in 1942.
While surfing on the Internet the other day, I was surprise to see the following article with my boys scout uniform picture. I did not have a copyright to my photograph so I was not aware that the Mindanao Daily News had used my picture in the following article of historical significance- regarding the reenactment of General McArthur's arrival in Macabalan Pier, Cagayan De Oro in 1942 from Corregidor on his way to Australia.
The departure of General McArthur from Corregidor to Australia was not well publicized in comparison to his return to Leyte from Australia in October, 1944 almost at the end of the war. ( see footnotes on bottom of this page),
Here's a reprint of the whole article as published in the Mindanao Daily News dated March 15, 2017.
General Douglas MacArthur Week: BSP Council to honor scout who met MacArthur in Macabalan
Mar 15, 2017 Clifford Santillan , Mindanao Daily News.
The Boy Scouts of the Philippines Cagayan de Oro Council will honor one of its scouters for the role he played in a footnote in history on March 13, 1942.
As recounted by Ann Gorra in her anthology “City of Gold: People Who Made Their Home and History in Cagayan de Oro”, Abelardo Neri Queppet was one of the scouts of Baden-Powell Troop (named after the founder of the Scouting movement Lord Baden-Powell) in charge of enforcing the mandatory blackout.
His Dad encouraged him to join the Boy Scouts and he was a member of Troop 1 at the City Central School. There were at least 20 scouts in the troop among them Jaime Tiano, Victor Roa, Terencio Gadrinab, Hugo Balase, Antonio Zacharies, Vic Itchon, Jose Apolinario and Cristobal Nagac.
These were dark days in Philippine history when the country was tottering on the brink of defeat with US and Filipino forces boxed in Bataan and Corregidor by the all-conquering Japanese Imperial Army. So it was strictly lights out after 5PM for everyone lest they be subjected to Japanese attack.
Cagayan de Oro’s Macabalan Pier during the Japanese Occupation
“As soon as dusk gave way to night, I rode my bike (bought from a Japanese Bazaar) and rode around Del Mar, Mindanao and to the pier, blowing my whistle to warn residents that it was time to shut their lights off.” Loloy was assigned to do the task by his Scout Master Epifanio Balase since he was a native-born Kagay-anon and knew his way around. Even if he was just 14 years old at the time, Loloy went about his routine like a professional: waking up at 6AM, clean the house, eat breakfast, and report to HQ in his Boy Scout Uniform: shorts, knee socks, red and blue neckerchief, brown shirt and Boy Scout cap.
Another of Loloy’s responsibilities was to direct traffic at Plaza Divisoria to expedite the passage of US military convoys to avoid strafings by Japanese planes.
His friend, one Sergeant Hunter, charged with the security of Macabalan port in those days, often kidded him about making sure he stops the tartanillas since they had no brakes.
On the evening of Thursday, March 12, 1942, Sgt. Hunter asked Loloy to be at the parola (lighthouse) in Macabalan at 7PM. Upon his arrival, Sgt. Hunter told him they were expecting General Douglas MacArthur to arrive between midnight and dawn. Sure enough, at 7AM of Friday, March 13, 1942, MacArthur and his party disembarked from two PT Boats at Macabalan Pier and rode a convoy of military vehicles to the Del Monte airfield in nearby Tankulan, Bukidnon.
But not before the General noticed the Boy Scout and his bike (who saluted him with the three fingered Boy Scout salute), standing by the gangplank where they were disembarking (now the site of the flagpole for the Cagayan de Oro Port Management Office of the Philippine Ports Authority).
Asked what the Boy Scout was doing there, one of the soldiers replied he was a community volunteer.
“Send him home,” MacArthur said. “The war is inevitable.” (Gorra, 2010)
On Monday, March 13, 2017, the City of Cagayan de Oro through the City Historical and Cultural Commission (Hiscom) leads the 75th Diamond Jubilee of General MacArthur’s Breakout from Corregidor to Australia, via Cagayan, Misamis and Dicklum, Tankulan (Manolo Fortich).
Among the salient moments of the week –long celebration from March 13-17, 2017, is the reenactment of MacArthur’s arrival at Macabalan.
To be included among the cast of reenactors, (and unknown to world history save for the local yarn as told by Loloy to Ms. Gorra), is Boy Scout Abelardo “Loloy” Neri Queppet, who will be played by his 9-year old grand nephew Clark Dexter M. Prudente of the Baden-Powell Troop of Xavier University High School, the same troop of by his late grand uncle when he met MacArthur.
According to Boys Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) Cagayan de Oro Council Chair Roy Hilario P. Raagas, they will be awarding the late Scout Queppet a posthumous award for his valiant deeds as a Boy Scout in enforcing the blackout and directing traffic under dangerous circumstances in Plaza Divisoria in 1942.
BSP Cagayan de Oro Council Scout Executive Rudy Guligado added the local council will also present the family of Genevieve Josefa Queppet Ramonal, his only child, with a BSP Centennial Medallion and plaque during the 75th Commemorative Dinner and Program on March 17 which closes the curtains on General Douglas MacArthur Week.
Scout Loloy Queppet passed on in September 2008. But his date with one of the titans of the 20th Century will now forever stay entwined with the saga of General Douglas MacArthur, “The Liberator of the Philippines.”
Footnotes: From McArthur's Biography in Wikipedia:
"In February 1942, as Japanese forces tightened their grip on the Philippines, MacArthur was ordered by President Roosevelt to relocate to Australia. MacArthur discussed the idea with his staff that he resign his commission and fight on as a private soldier in the Philippine resistance but Sutherland talked him out of it.
On the night of March 12, 1942, MacArthur and a select group (that included his wife Jean and son Arthur, as well as Sutherland, Akin, Casey, Marshall, Willoughby, Diller, and George) left Corregidor in four PT boats. MacArthur, his family and Sutherland traveled in PT 41, commanded by Lieutenant John D. Bulkeley. The others followed in PT 34, PT 35 and PT 32.( The PT's disembarked in Macabalan Pier in Cagayan de Oro, then proceeded via military vehicles to the Airfield in Bukidnon).
MacArthur and his party reached Del Monte Airfield in Bukidnon province on the island of Mindanao two days later. General George Marshall sent three U.S. Navy B-17s to pick them up. Two of them arrived, and brought the entire group to Australia".
Source: http://www.mindanaodailynews.com/general-douglas-macarthur-week-bsp-council-to-honor-scout-who-met-macarthur-in-macabalan/
While surfing on the Internet the other day, I was surprise to see the following article with my boys scout uniform picture. I did not have a copyright to my photograph so I was not aware that the Mindanao Daily News had used my picture in the following article of historical significance- regarding the reenactment of General McArthur's arrival in Macabalan Pier, Cagayan De Oro in 1942 from Corregidor on his way to Australia.
The departure of General McArthur from Corregidor to Australia was not well publicized in comparison to his return to Leyte from Australia in October, 1944 almost at the end of the war. ( see footnotes on bottom of this page),
Here's a reprint of the whole article as published in the Mindanao Daily News dated March 15, 2017.
General Douglas MacArthur Week: BSP Council to honor scout who met MacArthur in Macabalan
Mar 15, 2017 Clifford Santillan , Mindanao Daily News.
The Boy Scouts of the Philippines Cagayan de Oro Council will honor one of its scouters for the role he played in a footnote in history on March 13, 1942.
As recounted by Ann Gorra in her anthology “City of Gold: People Who Made Their Home and History in Cagayan de Oro”, Abelardo Neri Queppet was one of the scouts of Baden-Powell Troop (named after the founder of the Scouting movement Lord Baden-Powell) in charge of enforcing the mandatory blackout.
His Dad encouraged him to join the Boy Scouts and he was a member of Troop 1 at the City Central School. There were at least 20 scouts in the troop among them Jaime Tiano, Victor Roa, Terencio Gadrinab, Hugo Balase, Antonio Zacharies, Vic Itchon, Jose Apolinario and Cristobal Nagac.
These were dark days in Philippine history when the country was tottering on the brink of defeat with US and Filipino forces boxed in Bataan and Corregidor by the all-conquering Japanese Imperial Army. So it was strictly lights out after 5PM for everyone lest they be subjected to Japanese attack.
Cagayan de Oro’s Macabalan Pier during the Japanese Occupation
“As soon as dusk gave way to night, I rode my bike (bought from a Japanese Bazaar) and rode around Del Mar, Mindanao and to the pier, blowing my whistle to warn residents that it was time to shut their lights off.” Loloy was assigned to do the task by his Scout Master Epifanio Balase since he was a native-born Kagay-anon and knew his way around. Even if he was just 14 years old at the time, Loloy went about his routine like a professional: waking up at 6AM, clean the house, eat breakfast, and report to HQ in his Boy Scout Uniform: shorts, knee socks, red and blue neckerchief, brown shirt and Boy Scout cap.
Another of Loloy’s responsibilities was to direct traffic at Plaza Divisoria to expedite the passage of US military convoys to avoid strafings by Japanese planes.
His friend, one Sergeant Hunter, charged with the security of Macabalan port in those days, often kidded him about making sure he stops the tartanillas since they had no brakes.
On the evening of Thursday, March 12, 1942, Sgt. Hunter asked Loloy to be at the parola (lighthouse) in Macabalan at 7PM. Upon his arrival, Sgt. Hunter told him they were expecting General Douglas MacArthur to arrive between midnight and dawn. Sure enough, at 7AM of Friday, March 13, 1942, MacArthur and his party disembarked from two PT Boats at Macabalan Pier and rode a convoy of military vehicles to the Del Monte airfield in nearby Tankulan, Bukidnon.
But not before the General noticed the Boy Scout and his bike (who saluted him with the three fingered Boy Scout salute), standing by the gangplank where they were disembarking (now the site of the flagpole for the Cagayan de Oro Port Management Office of the Philippine Ports Authority).
Asked what the Boy Scout was doing there, one of the soldiers replied he was a community volunteer.
“Send him home,” MacArthur said. “The war is inevitable.” (Gorra, 2010)
On Monday, March 13, 2017, the City of Cagayan de Oro through the City Historical and Cultural Commission (Hiscom) leads the 75th Diamond Jubilee of General MacArthur’s Breakout from Corregidor to Australia, via Cagayan, Misamis and Dicklum, Tankulan (Manolo Fortich).
Among the salient moments of the week –long celebration from March 13-17, 2017, is the reenactment of MacArthur’s arrival at Macabalan.
To be included among the cast of reenactors, (and unknown to world history save for the local yarn as told by Loloy to Ms. Gorra), is Boy Scout Abelardo “Loloy” Neri Queppet, who will be played by his 9-year old grand nephew Clark Dexter M. Prudente of the Baden-Powell Troop of Xavier University High School, the same troop of by his late grand uncle when he met MacArthur.
According to Boys Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) Cagayan de Oro Council Chair Roy Hilario P. Raagas, they will be awarding the late Scout Queppet a posthumous award for his valiant deeds as a Boy Scout in enforcing the blackout and directing traffic under dangerous circumstances in Plaza Divisoria in 1942.
BSP Cagayan de Oro Council Scout Executive Rudy Guligado added the local council will also present the family of Genevieve Josefa Queppet Ramonal, his only child, with a BSP Centennial Medallion and plaque during the 75th Commemorative Dinner and Program on March 17 which closes the curtains on General Douglas MacArthur Week.
Scout Loloy Queppet passed on in September 2008. But his date with one of the titans of the 20th Century will now forever stay entwined with the saga of General Douglas MacArthur, “The Liberator of the Philippines.”
Footnotes: From McArthur's Biography in Wikipedia:
"In February 1942, as Japanese forces tightened their grip on the Philippines, MacArthur was ordered by President Roosevelt to relocate to Australia. MacArthur discussed the idea with his staff that he resign his commission and fight on as a private soldier in the Philippine resistance but Sutherland talked him out of it.
On the night of March 12, 1942, MacArthur and a select group (that included his wife Jean and son Arthur, as well as Sutherland, Akin, Casey, Marshall, Willoughby, Diller, and George) left Corregidor in four PT boats. MacArthur, his family and Sutherland traveled in PT 41, commanded by Lieutenant John D. Bulkeley. The others followed in PT 34, PT 35 and PT 32.( The PT's disembarked in Macabalan Pier in Cagayan de Oro, then proceeded via military vehicles to the Airfield in Bukidnon).
MacArthur and his party reached Del Monte Airfield in Bukidnon province on the island of Mindanao two days later. General George Marshall sent three U.S. Navy B-17s to pick them up. Two of them arrived, and brought the entire group to Australia".
Source: http://www.mindanaodailynews.com/general-douglas-macarthur-week-bsp-council-to-honor-scout-who-met-macarthur-in-macabalan/
Thursday, November 9, 2017
Dodie and Ditas Katague were in the News Last Week
Dodie's Family without Philip Winchester-his oldest son
Dodie is my oldest son. His full baptismal name is Diosdado- meaning God-given. Ditas on the other hand is my youngest daughter.
Dodie has almost 30 years experience as a prosecuting attorney for the Contra Costa County in Martinez, California. He has specialized in High Tech Crimes Prosecution and have expertise in the presentation of digital evidence in the courtroom and legal analysis. He has lectured on Internet Crime Prosecution, Identity Theft Prosecution, and Presenting Digital Evidence. He has authored and advocated for California legislation regarding Internet harassment and Search Warrants that became law.
He is also the author of a fiction novel, "Cloyne Court", about college life during the 1970's at the infamous student cooperative at UC Berkeley. Currently he is working on a new fictional novel, "Devil Mountain DA"
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2017/11/02/24-hour-fitness-hit-with-1-2-million-penalty-over-shady-sales-tactics/#.Wfzksb_OcQA.facebook
Ditas is in the blue outfit chairing discussions in preparation for the 2020 National Census.
Ditas is my youngest daughter. Her full baptismal name is Ditas Macrine. Last week she finished 3 days of intense but productive meetings at the National Advisory Committee on Race, Ethnicities and Other Populations, Bureau of Census at the Pentagon in Washington, DC.
She is currently the chairperson of the above committee. This is a voluntary work for her. This is not directly connected to her current job in the Finance Department of the Office of the Governor of the State of California.
Ditas has been Chair of National Advisory Committee On Racial, Ethnic and Other Populations at U.S. Census Bureau since August 1, 2015 and a member of National Advisory Committee since 2012. She has more than 20 years of experience at federal, state and local government agencies. She serves as Chief of staff to California Public Utilities Commissioner Catherine Sandoval. She served as California's 2010 Census director as well as the 2000 Census Chief Deputy Director, overseeing and directing the statewide outreach and coordination. For more news on the coming 2020 census read:
https://lasentinel.net/2020-census-apathy-will-be-detrimental-to-people-of-color.html and
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Latinos-sound-alarm-on-2020-census-12334264.php
Both Macrine( my spouse for over 60 years) and I are very proud of Dodie's and Ditas accomplishments. We have two other professional children. Like majority of young and middle-age professionals their accomplishments, bread and butter work as well as their extracurricular activities are seldom published or make the news. However, my wife and I are also very proud of our other two children accomplishments in the field of Banking and Home Land Security Services .
Dodie is my oldest son. His full baptismal name is Diosdado- meaning God-given. Ditas on the other hand is my youngest daughter.
Dodie has almost 30 years experience as a prosecuting attorney for the Contra Costa County in Martinez, California. He has specialized in High Tech Crimes Prosecution and have expertise in the presentation of digital evidence in the courtroom and legal analysis. He has lectured on Internet Crime Prosecution, Identity Theft Prosecution, and Presenting Digital Evidence. He has authored and advocated for California legislation regarding Internet harassment and Search Warrants that became law.
He is also the author of a fiction novel, "Cloyne Court", about college life during the 1970's at the infamous student cooperative at UC Berkeley. Currently he is working on a new fictional novel, "Devil Mountain DA"
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2017/11/02/24-hour-fitness-hit-with-1-2-million-penalty-over-shady-sales-tactics/#.Wfzksb_OcQA.facebook
Ditas is in the blue outfit chairing discussions in preparation for the 2020 National Census.
Ditas is my youngest daughter. Her full baptismal name is Ditas Macrine. Last week she finished 3 days of intense but productive meetings at the National Advisory Committee on Race, Ethnicities and Other Populations, Bureau of Census at the Pentagon in Washington, DC.
She is currently the chairperson of the above committee. This is a voluntary work for her. This is not directly connected to her current job in the Finance Department of the Office of the Governor of the State of California.
Ditas has been Chair of National Advisory Committee On Racial, Ethnic and Other Populations at U.S. Census Bureau since August 1, 2015 and a member of National Advisory Committee since 2012. She has more than 20 years of experience at federal, state and local government agencies. She serves as Chief of staff to California Public Utilities Commissioner Catherine Sandoval. She served as California's 2010 Census director as well as the 2000 Census Chief Deputy Director, overseeing and directing the statewide outreach and coordination. For more news on the coming 2020 census read:
https://lasentinel.net/2020-census-apathy-will-be-detrimental-to-people-of-color.html and
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Latinos-sound-alarm-on-2020-census-12334264.php
Both Macrine( my spouse for over 60 years) and I are very proud of Dodie's and Ditas accomplishments. We have two other professional children. Like majority of young and middle-age professionals their accomplishments, bread and butter work as well as their extracurricular activities are seldom published or make the news. However, my wife and I are also very proud of our other two children accomplishments in the field of Banking and Home Land Security Services .
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
What Happened to Rand Paul Could Have Happened to Me- My Autumn Leaves
I was watching the news the other day stating that Rand Paul neighbor attacked him resulting in 5 broken ribs. The attack was not politically motivated but due to a trivial matter about yard waste etc....
Manu Raju, a CNN correspondent, reported that it may have had something to do with “yard waste and leaves blown on each other’s lawns for years.
For details read: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/11/07/rand-paul-not-perfect-neighbor-says-community-developer/841622001/
This incident could have happened to me last year. My next door neighbor an 84 year old widow, have knocked a couple of times during this time of the year complaining that dead leaves from my yard is being blown by the wind to her front yard. She threatened that if I did not removed the leaves right away she would call the police. I would appease her by cleaning the leaves right away. Last year I did not have a gardener.
This year my gardener comes only twice a month. This time of the year, leaves have to be clean at least once a day, so it would not accumulate. David and I would only rake the leaves once a week. The leaves are accumulating and dropping every minute. This year my neighbor was diagnosed with early Alzheimer's. She is no longer obsessed with her yard. Her oldest son takes care of her. So far as of this writing date no one knocks at our door complaining about the autumn leaves in my yard.
The above incident reminds me of my favorite song this time of the year- Autumn Leaves as follows:
Manu Raju, a CNN correspondent, reported that it may have had something to do with “yard waste and leaves blown on each other’s lawns for years.
For details read: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/11/07/rand-paul-not-perfect-neighbor-says-community-developer/841622001/
This incident could have happened to me last year. My next door neighbor an 84 year old widow, have knocked a couple of times during this time of the year complaining that dead leaves from my yard is being blown by the wind to her front yard. She threatened that if I did not removed the leaves right away she would call the police. I would appease her by cleaning the leaves right away. Last year I did not have a gardener.
This year my gardener comes only twice a month. This time of the year, leaves have to be clean at least once a day, so it would not accumulate. David and I would only rake the leaves once a week. The leaves are accumulating and dropping every minute. This year my neighbor was diagnosed with early Alzheimer's. She is no longer obsessed with her yard. Her oldest son takes care of her. So far as of this writing date no one knocks at our door complaining about the autumn leaves in my yard.
The above incident reminds me of my favorite song this time of the year- Autumn Leaves as follows:
Tuesday, November 7, 2017
Cecile Licad-Filipino-American World-Renowned Pianist
I first heard of the Licads in the late 1950's when my wife Macrine was employed by Mr Serafin Lanot ( deceased) in his Printing Press, Tamaraw Press Inc. in the Philippines. Mr Lanot was the husband Gloria Licad( music professor and pianist-deceased) who was the aunt of Cecile. Gloria was the sister of Cecile's father, Dr. Jesus Licad. Through the years I have been following Cecile Licad's musical career. For details on Cecile biography read: http://www.barrettartists.com/artist.php?id=clicad&aview=bio
Here are two articles on Licad's musical performances/achievements in the Philippines: http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/220188/when-cecile-licad-played-a-fiery-concerto-with-fire-about-to-gut-the-venue/ and http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/2013/6/etude-on-a-life
Here's a video with her Brazilian husband for ten years, Antonio Meneses for your enjoyment.
Here are two articles on Licad's musical performances/achievements in the Philippines: http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/220188/when-cecile-licad-played-a-fiery-concerto-with-fire-about-to-gut-the-venue/ and http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/2013/6/etude-on-a-life
Here's a video with her Brazilian husband for ten years, Antonio Meneses for your enjoyment.
Sunday, November 5, 2017
Sometimes, It is Better to Give then Receive
The first three in the list are my donations and the last one is from my mother, Paz Barrido Balleza Katague( Deceased)
The DONOR WALL OF GRATITUDE
1. Money: Last May 7, 2014, Renan del Rosario, 1977 chemistry graduate and currently one of the advisers of the University of the Philippines Chemistry Alumni Foundation (UPCAF) treated me with a personal tour of the new Institute of Chemistry Teaching Building at the UP Diliman National Science Complex. It was one of the highlights of my 90-day snow birding sojourn in the Philippines three years ago. I was able to take photographs of the Donor Wall which included my name(see photo above). The Donor Wall is right at the entrance of the teaching building just by the side of the guard podium. That day reminded me of my student and teaching days (1952 to 1959) at the College of Chemistry now known as the Institute of Chemistry. I was only 24 years old when I first taught chemistry to pre-medical, nursing, and engineering students in the Fall of 1957.
Currently, I am a Life Member of the University of the Philippines Chemistry Alumni Foundation. I graduated from UP with a B.S. Chemistry degree in 1955. Immediately after graduation, I was appointed Assistant Instructor in Chemistry in my Alma Mater. A year later after I passed the National Chemistry Board Examination coping 3rd place, I was appointed to Instructor and held that position until 1959 when I decided to pursue graduate work in the United States.
The DONOR WALL OF GRATITUDE
1. Money: Last May 7, 2014, Renan del Rosario, 1977 chemistry graduate and currently one of the advisers of the University of the Philippines Chemistry Alumni Foundation (UPCAF) treated me with a personal tour of the new Institute of Chemistry Teaching Building at the UP Diliman National Science Complex. It was one of the highlights of my 90-day snow birding sojourn in the Philippines three years ago. I was able to take photographs of the Donor Wall which included my name(see photo above). The Donor Wall is right at the entrance of the teaching building just by the side of the guard podium. That day reminded me of my student and teaching days (1952 to 1959) at the College of Chemistry now known as the Institute of Chemistry. I was only 24 years old when I first taught chemistry to pre-medical, nursing, and engineering students in the Fall of 1957.
Currently, I am a Life Member of the University of the Philippines Chemistry Alumni Foundation. I graduated from UP with a B.S. Chemistry degree in 1955. Immediately after graduation, I was appointed Assistant Instructor in Chemistry in my Alma Mater. A year later after I passed the National Chemistry Board Examination coping 3rd place, I was appointed to Instructor and held that position until 1959 when I decided to pursue graduate work in the United States.
The construction of a National Science Complex in Diliman, Quezon City started a few years ago which included a new Teaching Building for Chemistry. The first phase of government Funding was 200 million pesos and the second phase was 118 million pesos.
In the Fall of 2013, I had the opportunity to visit the construction site through the kindness of Renan Del Rosario, the Chairman of the UPCAF Board of Trustees that year. Fund raisings for furniture in the new building were undergoing also that year. That year, I also donated to the Foundation 10,000 pesos ( about $200) through Renan. I felt good about that donation. It was my way of saying thank you for the educational benefits that I had received from the University of the Philippines.( See my name listed in the Donor Wall in the above photo).
2. Property: Sometime in the middle of May, 1990, I donated several volumes of technical journals from the duplicate copies from Stauffer Chemical library that were about to be burned and discarded. I was able to salvage several volumes of hard bound copies of Journal of Chromatography, 1971-1976. Also included in my donation were dozens of volumes of hardbound copies of BioChemistry ,1969-1984. The value of the donation was about $1500. Shipping was arranged through the Commission on Filipinos Overseas ( CFO). On May 23, 1990, I received a thank you letter from Alfredo Perdon, Executive Director of CFO,as follows:
Dear Dr. Katague:
The Commission on Filipino Overseas acknowledge with thanks the donation of five boxes of technical journals to the Institute of Chemistry, University of the Philippines.
Your donation is a manifestation of the willingness of Filipino overseas to be actively involved in the development efforts of the country. Such participation through the Commission's “ Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino” or “ Linkapil” likewise serves to strengthen the linkages between Filipinos overseas and their countrymen.
Needless to say, these books will be a most welcome addition to the journal collection of the UP College of Science Library and will certainly be useful to the thousands of students in the said university. Best Regards and thanks you again for your donation.”
3. Time and Expertise: In January, 1986, I participated in the United Nations Development Program at the University of the Philippines in Diliman. The program was for two weeks of consultancy ( lecture and management of research) at the U.P. Natural Sciences Research Institute( NSRI). My round trip fare was paid by UN and I also received a substantial amount of per diem during my consultancy period of two weeks. It was satisfying to give at least two weeks of my "Know-how" to my Alma Mater. The program at that time was called TOKTEN ( Transfer of Knowledge through Expatriate Nationals). Today, it is called Balik scientist program. The program helps in the alleviation of "Brain Drain" from 3rd world countries like the Philippines. This experience made me feel good, because I have given back to my alma mater, even just two weeks of my time in the field of pesticide research and analytical residues method development.
4. Property: In the early 1950's my mother Paz Balleza Katague donated a piece of land (about 15,000 sq.meters) for the Barotac Viejo National High School, Iloilo, Philippines. The photo above is my sister (Amor Gregorio) and me posing in front of the sign at entrance of the school listing the names of the Donors. The biggest lot was from my uncle, Jose Balleza, older brother of my mother.
Note: I did not include in this blog my wife and my involvement( giving up time, expertise, and funds) with the Marinduque International, Inc. Medical and Dental Missions to the Philippines for almost a decade, because I have already documented it in my Hubpages.com hub as follows: https://hubpages.com/politics/medical-mission-of-love-to-marinduque.
For future medical missions read the MI, Inc website or visit the FaceBook page of its current President, Agnes Lardizabal Apeles.
Thursday, November 2, 2017
Carlos Avila with the California Symphony-Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto #1
I am in the mood for Classical music today! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKu5R6HHny3Pu48WsId7eNw
Here's Carlos Biography: http://www.artsglobal.org/en/people/carlos-avila
In case you have not heard, Carlos is Macrine's nephew, the only son of Charro, Macrine's youngest sister. Carlos began his professional career in 2001 when he stepped in for an ailing Stewart Goodyear at 24-hours-notice to play the Rachmaninoff First Piano Concerto with the California Symphony – a “pinch-hit homerun” (San Francisco Chronicle)-the video below.
Here's Carlos Biography: http://www.artsglobal.org/en/people/carlos-avila
In case you have not heard, Carlos is Macrine's nephew, the only son of Charro, Macrine's youngest sister. Carlos began his professional career in 2001 when he stepped in for an ailing Stewart Goodyear at 24-hours-notice to play the Rachmaninoff First Piano Concerto with the California Symphony – a “pinch-hit homerun” (San Francisco Chronicle)-the video below.
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Have You Heard of PAASE?
Unless you are a member of this organization, you probably have not heard of PAASE. So here's some information from the organization's website. I am proud to say that the current President of PAASE, Dr. Joel Cuello had recently acknowledged that I am one of the members of the trailblazing generation of this prestigious organization. Allow me to quote a few sentences from Dr. Cuello's e-mail regarding my reaction to Napoleon Abueva's accomplishment the other day:
Many of us, and the Philippines itself, indeed owe a tremendous lot to the good men and women of your trailblazing generation -- Abueva and yourself included. We are grateful to your pioneering generation for allowing us to stand on your shoulders.
PAASE Meeting at UC Davis with Ruth Uy Asmundson as Guest Speaker, Mayor of Davis, California, 2006. I am the only person standing besides the guest speaker. My wife Macrine ( with yellow dress and glasses) listening to the Mayor. I believe this is the only PAASE Annual Meeting that my wife and I had attended.
The Philippine-American Academy of Science & Engineering (PAASE) is a non-profit organization composed of scientists and engineers of Philippine descent who have distinguished themselves in scholarly and research related activities. PAASE was founded and incorporated in the US State of Indiana on April 23, 1980.
PAASE aims to promote the advancement of science, engineering & technology; encourage collaborative work among scientists & engineers of Philippine descent in research and development through scholarly and scientific endeavors; support efforts that advance science & technology; and recognize and honor the achievements of scientists and engineers of Philippine descent.
Some of the PAASE Members, UC Davis, 2006
PAASE is a professional organization of scientists and engineers of Philippine descent who hold Ph.D. or M.D. degrees, or both, and are in the forefront of scientific research and technology development in the United States, the Philippines and other countries. Starting with 27 founding members in 1980, the membership has now grown to over 230. We are university professors, government and academic research scientists, policy makers, and lecturers in world-class academic institutions in the U.S., the Philippines, Europe, Australia and Asia. Some of us have the distinction of being elected members of the most prestigious and exclusive scientific and engineering academies of the United States and the Philippines.
Our research activities span diverse fields of study: physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, mathematics, computer science and engineering and we are actively pursuing scientific and technological challenges facing our society. We are involved in the training of students in the Philippines and abroad as we believe that the youth will shape the future of science and technology and economy of our country.
A primary objective of PAASE is to promote contacts and collaborations among Filipino scientists the world over and to help the Philippines in her efforts to advance science and engineering, teaching and research in our country. The challenges involved in significantly raising the economic welfare and well-being of Filipinos are daunting. But recognizing that the value of science is ultimately measured by its impact on society, it is crucial for us to commit to extend the fruits of science and technology to benefit our people through education, information dissemination, entrepreneurial activity, and commercialization. A high-level and expansive perspective is required to establish the value chain from basic to applied science, for the benefit of society.
Source: http://www.paase.org. Here's my member listing information from the website minus telephone numbers and e-mail addresses.
KATAGUE, David B. Owner and Manager, Chateau du Mer Beach Resort and Conference Center; Medical Missions member, Marinduque International, Inc. (Retired from US Food and Drug Administration Center for Drugs Evaluation and Research)
Expertise: Drug approval process, analytical chemistry of pesticides, botanical drugs and natural products, manufacturing and control of new anti-infective drug products
Many of us, and the Philippines itself, indeed owe a tremendous lot to the good men and women of your trailblazing generation -- Abueva and yourself included. We are grateful to your pioneering generation for allowing us to stand on your shoulders.
PAASE Meeting at UC Davis with Ruth Uy Asmundson as Guest Speaker, Mayor of Davis, California, 2006. I am the only person standing besides the guest speaker. My wife Macrine ( with yellow dress and glasses) listening to the Mayor. I believe this is the only PAASE Annual Meeting that my wife and I had attended.
The Philippine-American Academy of Science & Engineering (PAASE) is a non-profit organization composed of scientists and engineers of Philippine descent who have distinguished themselves in scholarly and research related activities. PAASE was founded and incorporated in the US State of Indiana on April 23, 1980.
PAASE aims to promote the advancement of science, engineering & technology; encourage collaborative work among scientists & engineers of Philippine descent in research and development through scholarly and scientific endeavors; support efforts that advance science & technology; and recognize and honor the achievements of scientists and engineers of Philippine descent.
Some of the PAASE Members, UC Davis, 2006
PAASE is a professional organization of scientists and engineers of Philippine descent who hold Ph.D. or M.D. degrees, or both, and are in the forefront of scientific research and technology development in the United States, the Philippines and other countries. Starting with 27 founding members in 1980, the membership has now grown to over 230. We are university professors, government and academic research scientists, policy makers, and lecturers in world-class academic institutions in the U.S., the Philippines, Europe, Australia and Asia. Some of us have the distinction of being elected members of the most prestigious and exclusive scientific and engineering academies of the United States and the Philippines.
Our research activities span diverse fields of study: physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, mathematics, computer science and engineering and we are actively pursuing scientific and technological challenges facing our society. We are involved in the training of students in the Philippines and abroad as we believe that the youth will shape the future of science and technology and economy of our country.
A primary objective of PAASE is to promote contacts and collaborations among Filipino scientists the world over and to help the Philippines in her efforts to advance science and engineering, teaching and research in our country. The challenges involved in significantly raising the economic welfare and well-being of Filipinos are daunting. But recognizing that the value of science is ultimately measured by its impact on society, it is crucial for us to commit to extend the fruits of science and technology to benefit our people through education, information dissemination, entrepreneurial activity, and commercialization. A high-level and expansive perspective is required to establish the value chain from basic to applied science, for the benefit of society.
Source: http://www.paase.org. Here's my member listing information from the website minus telephone numbers and e-mail addresses.
KATAGUE, David B. Owner and Manager, Chateau du Mer Beach Resort and Conference Center; Medical Missions member, Marinduque International, Inc. (Retired from US Food and Drug Administration Center for Drugs Evaluation and Research)
Expertise: Drug approval process, analytical chemistry of pesticides, botanical drugs and natural products, manufacturing and control of new anti-infective drug products
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