Joke of the Month-How's Your Golf Game?

I do not play golf. But my son and a lot of my Filipino-American friends are golf fanatics. I dedicate this joke to all golf enthusiasts all over the world. Bellarocca Resort in Marinduque has completed a beautiful 9-hole golf course in Buenavista for the enjoyment of their guests. Bellarocca Resort and Spa is a five star resort in the Philippines completed last year. From Sandee Comedy Plus:

Three guys are golfing with the club pro. First guy tees off and hits a dribbler about 60 yards. He turns to the pro and says, "What did I do wrong?"

The pro says, "Loft."

The next guy tees off and hits a duck hook into the woods. He asks the pro "What did I do wrong?"

The pro says, "Loft."

The third guy tees off and hits a slice into a pond. He asks the pro, "What did I do wrong?"

The pro says, "Loft."

As they're walking to their balls, the first guy finally speaks up. He says to the pro, "The three of us hit completely different tee shots and when we asked you what we did wrong you gave the same exact answer each time, what is 'loft?'

"The pro says, "Lack Of F#%king Talent."

View of Golf course at Bellarocca Resort- Marinduque, Philippines-Photo from tripadviser.es.com
Here's a video about playing a different kind of golf game-Hitting the Gong

Ten Basic things you have to know about Filipinos

I found the following video interesting and informative. In case you have never meet a filipino or filipina, this video will be a good start to learn more about Filipinos. There are now close to four million Filipino-Americans residing in US. I am a Filipino-American and I am proud to be a "PINOY". Like any race, there are good as well as bad filipinos. But in general, Filipinos are friendly and hospitable and easy to get along with.



Here's a short article on Filipino-Americans from Wikipedia.

"Filipino Americans are Americans of Filipino ancestry. Filipino Americans reside mainly in the continental United States and form significant populations in California, New Jersey, New York, Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, and Northern Marianas.

The earliest recorded presence of Filipinos in what is today the United States occurred in October 1587, when mariners under Spanish command landed in Morro Bay, California. The earliest permanent Filipino Americans to arrive in the New World landed in 1763, later creating settlements such as Saint Malo, Louisiana and Manila Village in Barataria Bay. These early settlements were composed of formerly pressed sailors escaping from the arduous duties aboard Spanish galleons and were "discovered" in America in 1883 by a Harper's Weekly journalist.

Significant immigration to the United States began with the need for agricultural laborers in the 1900s, with Filipinos settling primarily in what was then the Territory of Hawaii and California, after the Spanish-American War, which turned the Philippines into a territory of the United States. This immigration would slow to a trickle during the 1930s due to multiple factors, including the United States' recognition of independence of the Philippines on July 4, 1946. Filipino immigration to the United States would not see a resurgence until the late 1960s. Of the immigrants who arrived after the late 1960s, most settled in California, while others found a new home around U.S. Navy bases, major metropolitan areas, the West, and to a lesser extent the South. Some came looking for political freedom, but most arrived looking for employment and a better life for their families.

Personal Note: I went to US to pursue my Graduate Degree in Chemistry in 1960. I have no intention of residing in US, then. But after graduation with my Ph.D, I was offer a job that was hard to refuse and I see this as a big opportunity for a better life for my family. A year later, my wife and oldest son joined me in Chicago, Illinois. The rest of the story is history. ( For the rest of my story visit http://theintellectualmigrant.blogspot.com)

The Filipino American community is the second largest Asian American group in the United States. Filipino Americans are also the largest subgroup of Overseas Filipinos.

The U.S. Census Bureau reported that the 2007 American Community Survey, identified approximately 3.1 million persons as "Filipino alone or in any combination." The census also found that about 80% of the Filipino-American community are United States citizens. Also in 2007, the U.S. State Department estimated the size of the Filipino American community at 4 million or 1.5% of the United States population. There are no official records of Filipinos who hold dual citizenship.

Intermarriage among Filipinos is not uncommon, as they have the largest number of interracial marriages among Asian immigrant groups, as documented in California. It is also noted that 21.8% of Filipino Americans are multiracial, second among Asian Americans".

I hope you find the above article informative and erased your homophobic( just in case you have) attitudes toward Filipinos/Filipino-Americans due to ignorance. Here's a video of some famous Filipino celebrities( see Part 1 and 2). This list is just a sample of filipinos who are known worldwide.

Sexy Names of Places in the World-Towns with my Parents Surnames

Chocolate Hills, Bohol, Philippines
While surfing the web, I found the following names unusual, sexy and funny. There is no particular order in the list. I also listed two places that are both surnames of my father (C(K)atague) and mother(Balleza). My father's town is in the Philippines and my mother's town is in Mexico.( see below)

With regards to my wife's mother surname, NIEVA, there is a street named NIEVA in Makati, Philippines and a bridge, named NIEVA in Gasan, Marinduque, Philippines.

Sexy Names Indeed!

Sexmoan ( changed to Sasmuan in 1990), Pampanga, Philippines
Tinurian, Iloilo, Philippines ( it means a place for circumcision)
Landi, Santa Cruz, Marinduque, Philippines ( Landi' could mean flirt or whore)
Condom, Gers, France
Fucking, Austria
Bra, Italy
Pussy, France
Cockplay, Scotland
Agay, France
Pennis Wood, UK
Three Cocks, Wales
Blowhard, Australia
Dikshit, India
Titless, Switzerland
Long Dong, Guangxi, China
Weener, Germany
Cocktown, Wexford, Ireland
Onacock, Virginia, USA
Seman, Alabama, USA


Climax, Georgia, USA

More Unusual Names
Paradise, California, USA
Cool, California, USA
Manila, California, USA
Earth, Texas, USA
Jackpot, Nevada, USA
Truth or Consequence, New Mexico, USA
Happy, Texas, USA
New York, Cubao City, Philippines
San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, Philippines
Mexico, Pampanga, Philippines
Chocolate Hills, Bohol, Philippines

Personal Connections

Catague, Bohol, Philippines

Catague is my fathers' surname. When he was in high school he changed it to Katague.
Catague is a small town in Central Bohol, near the town of Sevilla. Any one knows the origin of the Catague name in Bohol, please let me know.

Balleza, Chihuahua, Mexico ( Balleza is my mother's maiden name)

Balleza is a town in Northern Mexico in the province of Chihuahua. The town is named after Fr. Mariano Balleza, a priest from Bilbao, Spain.

Latest News from the University of the Philippines Chemistry Alumni Foundation(UPCAF)

I am a Life Member of this Foundation. I graduated from UP with a B.S. Chemistry degree in 1955. This year is the Centennial Year of Chemistry in UP and for the first time members of the Board of Trustees held a meeting at the new Research Building for Chemistry just recently completed and furnished ( map above).

The construction of a National Science Complex in Diliman, Quezon City started a few years ago which included a new Teaching Building for Chemistry. It will be completed soon ( see update below). The first phase of government Funding was 200 million pesos and the second phase was 118 million pesos.

Last year, I had the opportunity to visit the construction site through the kindness of Renan Del Rosario, the current Chairman of the UPCAF Board of Trustees. Fund raising for furniture in the new building are undergoing. Last year, I donated to the Foundation 10,000 pesos ( about $200) through Renan. I felt good about this donation.. It is my way of saying thank you for the the educational benefits that I have received from the University of the Philippines. My college years in UP taught me perseverance, humbleness, goal setting, ambition and high hopes for the future. I had a grand time during my college years in Diliman.

All Chemistry alumni and their friends are encourage to donate for the furniture and other equipments needed in the new Teaching and Research Building. Please send your donation to UPCAF, Inc, Institute of Chemistry, College of Science, U.P., Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines, c/o Renan del Rosario.
Life membership to UPCAF is 3000 pesos for local or $ 70 for foreign membership.

The Institute of Chemistry (IC) is one of six degree-granting units of the UP College of Science and is designated by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as a center of excellence in chemistry.

The IC started as the Department of Chemistry in 1910 and was eventually reorganized as an Institute in 1987. Today it is recognized as a leading institution of learning and research in chemistry in the Philippines.

With the completion of two new buildings within the Science Complex, the IC continues its commitment to education, research, and extension services and in producing the finest graduates in chemistry.

Update on IC New Buildings

The implementation of Phase 1 of the construction of the research building and part of the teaching building of IC has been underway since last May 2008. Construction of the research building is expected to finish by December 2009. Phase 2 of the project for the completion of the construction of the teaching building starts January 2010 and ends January 2011.

The Project Team led by IC and Architect Lisa Santos ensures that buildings construction are completed on schedule and within budget by holding weekly site coordination meetings with the building construction management and contractor and representatives of the UP Office of the Campus Architect

Joke of the Month-Reunion- Friends and Sons

Reposted From Sandee, Comedy Plus:

"Four friends, who hadn't seen each other in 30 years, reunited at a party. After several drinks, one of the men had to use the rest room. Those who remained talked about their kids.

The first guy said, "My son is my pride and joy. He started working at a successful company at the bottom of the barrel. He studied Economics and Business Administration and soon began to climb the corporate ladder and now he's the president of the company. He became so rich that he gave his best friend a top of the line Mercedes for his birthday."

The second guy said, "Darn, that's terrific! My son is also my pride and joy, he started working for a big airline, then went to flight school to become a pilot. Eventually he became a partner in the company, where he owns the majority of its assets. He's so rich that he gave his best friend a brand new jet for his birthday."

The third man said, "Well, that's terrific! My son studied in the best universities and became an engineer. Then he started his own construction company and is now a multimillionaire. He also gave away something very nice and expensive to his best friend for his birthday, A 30,000 square foot mansion."

The three friends congratulated each other just as the fourth returned from the restroom and asked, "What are all the congratulations for?"

One of the three said, "We were talking about the pride we feel for the successes of our sons. ...What about your son?"

The fourth man replied, "My son is gay and makes a living dancing as a stripper at a nightclub."

The three friends said, "What a shame... What a disappointment."

The fourth man replied, "No, I'm not ashamed. He's my son and I love him. And he hasn't done too bad either. His birthday was two weeks ago, and he received a beautiful 30,000 square foot mansion, a brand new jet and a top of the line Mercedes from his three boyfriends!"

Cheers and Have a Good Day to All! May your sons be as successful as you are, if not more!

Personal Note: I have two sons. I am indeed proud of their accomplishments. Both are solid citizens. It does not matter whether they are less or more successful than myself, as long as they are happy of their own lives. This also applies to my two daughters and their respective husbands. I love you all!

Ditas Katague-Chief Deputy Commissioner of Corporations, State of California

The following news is from Asian Journal dated July 21, 2010 and written by Joseph Pimentel. Ditas is my youngest daughter and indeed proud of her accomplishments.

Ditas Katague, Chief Deputy Commissioner Department of Corporations, CALIFORNIA

"Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed FilAm Ditas Katague to chief deputy commissioner for the Department of Corporations.

As Deputy Commissioner, she’ll work under the Commissioner Preston DuFauchard.

Katague, a 45-year-old Democrat from Sacramento, has been director for the Census 2010 in the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research since 2008.

During the 2010 Census count, she was vital in the "Kabilang Ako Kabilang Tayo" (I Am Counted We Are All Counted) campaign to increase the number of Filipinos to participate in the census.

Prior to that, Katague was the first vice president of state and local governmental affairs for Countrywide Financial Corporation from 2005 to 2008, program director for California Telemedicine and eHealth Center from 2004 to 2005 and senior program manager for Blue Shield of California from 2003 to 2005.

She was also the assistant secretary for transportation and project management at the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency from 2000 to 2003 and chief deputy director for the Complete Count Census Campaign from 1999 to 2000.

As deputy commissioner for the Department of Corporations she’ll earn $118,000.

The Department of Corporation is responsible for protecting consumers, and provides services to businesses, engaged in financial transactions. The Department also license and regulate a variety of businesses, including securities brokers and dealers, investment advisers and financial planners, and certain fiduciaries and lenders.The Department regulates the offer and sale of securities, franchises and off-exchange commodities."

( www.asianjournal.com )

( Published July 21, 2010 in Asian Journal Los Angeles p. B3