The Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California

Just recently a close relative, who was a former Guest Faculty Lecturer at Esalen Institute informed me she applied and was approved for a four Weeks Retreat, Lecture and Vacation (LEEP) at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. For details and cost of the Live, Extended, Education Program (LEEP) read the site as follows:

https://www.esalen.org/workshops/rebuild-and-expand-trust-in-challenging-times-with-embodiment-practices-of-yoga-dance-and-sound-meditation 

I have heard of this place before, but did not really know the history and details of this world famous institute.https://www.visitcalifornia.com/uk/attraction/esalen-institute

So I did some search and here's a summary from Wikipedia. For complete details visit the link below: 

The Esalen Institute, commonly called Esalen, is a non-profit American retreat center and intentional community in Big Sur, California, which focuses on humanistic alternative education. The institute played a key role in the Human Potential Movement beginning in the 1960s. Its innovative use of encounter groups, a focus on the mind-body connection, and their ongoing experimentation in personal awareness introduced many ideas that later became mainstream.

Esalen was founded by Stanford graduates Michael Murphy and Dick Price in 1962. Their intention was to support alternative methods for exploring human consciousness, what Aldous Huxley described as "human potentialities". Over the next few years, Esalen became the center of practices and beliefs that make up the New Age movement, from Eastern religions/philosophy, to alternative medicine and mind-body interventions, to Gestalt Practice.

Price ran the institute until he was killed in a hiking accident in 1985. In 2012, the board hired professional executives to help raise money and keep the institute profitable. Until 2016, Esalen offered over 500 workshops yearly in areas including personal growth, meditation, massage, Gestalt Practice, yoga, psychology, ecology, spirituality, and organic food. In 2016, about 15,000 people attended its workshops.

In February 2017, the institute was cut off when Highway 1 was closed by a mud slide on either side of the hot springs. It closed its doors, evacuated guests via helicopter, and was forced to lay off 90% of its staff through at least July, when they reopened with limited workshop offerings. It also decided to revamp its offerings to include topics more relevant to a younger generation.

As of July 2017, due to the limited access resulting from the road closures, the hot springs are only open to Esalen guests.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esalen_Institute 

Currently, my close relative that prompted me to write this article teaches
 

Kundalini Yoga & Sound Bath Gongs and Bowls at Summer Moon Yoga Sacramento and had worked as a Certified Grief Yoga Teacher since March 2020

From the visit California Ad:

 

An Oceanside Temple of Healing in Big Sur- More a retreat centre than a decadent spa, the storied Esalen Institute, perched above the rugged oceanside bluffs of Big Sur, calls to visitors looking for an escape from the everyday world. Esalen’s spiritual offerings include workshops,  in everything from yoga to meditation to hypnosis. 

 

Visitors come from near and far seeking a soak in the natural hot springs on this 120-acre property, which have been flowing through the mountains here for over 6,000 years. 

 

How much is a retreat at Esalen?

 

Weekend workshops start at $405 per person, which includes the course, food and sleeping in a communal area in a sleeping bag. A private room for a couple is $730 per person. Seven-day workshops start at $900 and cost $1,700 per person for a couple in a private room. For updates and current rates call or visit on line.

Register for your Esalen workshop online, or by phone:

1. Online: Fill out the registration form.
2. Phone: Call us at 831-667-3000. We're here from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, Monday through Friday.

 

The Manila Brew-An Example of the Pinoy Entreprenurial Prowess

Last week, Ditas and Rick were at the Manila Brew Coffee Shop with the Owner at the-Holborn Central District, London, UK.

The Manila Brew Coffee Shop in the Holborn Central London is an example of the Pinoy entrepreneurial prowess. The Manila Brew is the smallest coffee shop in the world ( Eat your heart out- Starbuck). It is known for its fresh ensaimadas  (see below for description). Here's the latest video for details.

Last Feb 27, Ditas ( daughter) and Rick ( nephew) were at the Manila Brew and enjoyed the fresh ensaimada and coffee as shown in the following photos.

My mouth is watering for fresh Ensaimadas*

Speaking of entrepreneurship in the Philippines:  The Philippines is a difficult environment for starting and growing a new business. ... Its population, on the other hand, is one of the world's most entrepreneurial — the country has the 10th most entrepreneurs per head globally and nearly 60% of Filipinos plan to open their own business in the coming three years as published on Dec 2, 2017.

 

Opportunity, to many Filipinos, apparently means becoming an entrepreneur—and it’s something they feel very confident about compared to most other nations in the Asia Pacific (Apac) region, says a new  study by professional network LinkedIn.

Read more: https://business.inquirer.net/262164/for-filipinos-becoming-an-entrepreneur-is-a-big-deal#ixzz7MDA101uW

*The ensaimada is a pastry product from Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain. It is a common cuisine eaten in Southwestern Europe, Latin America and the Philippines. The first written references to the Mallorcan ensaïmada date back to the 17th century. At that time, although wheat flour was mainly used for making bread, there is evidence that this typical pastry product was made for festivals and celebrations.

The ensaïmada de Mallorca is made with strong flour, water, sugar, eggs, mother dough and a kind of reduced pork lard named saïm. The handmade character of the product makes it difficult to give an exact formula, so scales have been established defining the proportion of each ingredient, giving rise to an excellent quality traditional product. The name comes from the Catalan word saïm, which means 'pork lard' (from the Arabic shahim (شحيم), meaning 'fat').

If you have not tasted this pastry, try it, you will love it!

Meanwhile, here's an old photo from my album during our last visit to Wembly Stadium, London, UK.

 

Memories of Our Villa Escudero Trip, San Pablo City, Philippines

Last week, the Philippines open its door to tourists and Balikbayans if they are fully vaccinated. If you are a tourists and in nearby Manila, I suggests plan on a day trip to Villa Escudero in San Pablo City, Laguna. Here's a photo of our trip to this place from my blogs a few years ago(2001).

Watching the video below of Nelly and Mike of their lunch in Villa Escudero described in detail in their Making it Happen Vlog below,  reminded me of our day tour also of this Resort and Plantation in the summer of 2001.  Macrine(RIP) enjoying the Buffet (photo above). The tour was courtesy of Lito and Olga( RIP) Quiazon.  

 

 Here's Mike and Nelly's video:  (Make it Happen Vlog) and two other videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_wlTHRdmqk 

 Meanwhile enjoy this photo from my collection

My terrestial orchid outside in our backyard, 2022

 

The Sky Garden on 20 Fenchurch Street, London, UK

Ditas Katague ( my daughter) and Rick ( Erico, Jr.) Katague-my nephew enjoying the panoramic view of London at the Sky Garden, 20 Fenchurch Street, UK, February, 2022

 

Sky Garden is London’s highest public garden – a vibrant social space with 360-degree views of the city’s iconic skyline.

Here, you can experience London from a spectacular viewpoint. You can enjoy lush greenery, exquisitely landscaped gardens, observation decks, and an open-air terrace.

The access to the Sky Garden is free of charge, but spaces are limited. Visits must be booked in advance through this site, and can be made up to three weeks in advance.  Sky Garden was designed by award-winning landscape architecture practice Gillespies.

To create the richly planted terraces, the designers opted for a variety of drought-resistant Mediterranean and South African species. Individual plants were chosen to work in harmony with the space – flourishing all year round in full colour. 

Among the flowering plants are African Lily (Agapanthus), Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia) and Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae) – alongside fragrant herbs such as French Lavender.

The Sky Garden is located in 20 Fenchurch Street and designed in 2004 by world-renowned Uruguayan architect Rafael Viñoly. With his distinctive design, the building is stunning on an aesthetic level – incorporating expansive sheets of glass, and growing larger as the eye travels upwards. This is a popular destinations for locals as well as tourist in the City of London.

Here are more photos of Ditas and Rick during their recent visit to this public garden in the sky.

 

 

 For Complete details visit:

 https://skygarden.london/what-is-sky-garden/

Meanwhile enjoy the flowers in bloom in my living room

Meanwhile, also enjoy this video of a wedding ceremony/reception at Our Chateau Du Mer Beach Resort and Conference Hall, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines taken a few years ago. 

 
 https://www.facebook.com/razastillsandmotions/videos/654125195156022/

 

The 2021 Version of West Side Story on My HBO Max Account

I just finished watching the remake of West Side Story Today streaming on my HBO Max account today. I enjoyed it very much and compared it immediately with the 1961 original movie. The first video outlined the differences between the 1961 and 2021 versions.  I like both versions equally.

Here's a summary from Wikipedia:

West Side Story is a 2021 American musical romantic drama film directed and co-produced by Steven Spielberg from a screenplay by Tony Kushner. It is the second feature-length adaptation of the 1957 stage musical of the same name.^10] It stars Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler in her film debut with Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Mike Faist, and Rita Moreno in supporting roles. The latter, who starred in the 1961 film adaptation, also served as an executive producer alongside Kushner. The film features music composed by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

The film entered development in 2014 at 20th Century Fox and Kushner began writing the screenplay in 2017. In January 2018, Spielberg was hired and casting began that September. Justin Peck choreographed the dance sequences. Principal photography occurred in New York and New Jersey; filming began in July 2019 and ran for two months.

West Side Story had its world premiere at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rose Theater in New York City on November 29, 2021, three days after Sondheim's death. The film was theatrically distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures through the 20th Century Studios label in the United States on December 10, 2021 after being delayed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film received universal critical acclaim, with praise for the performances of the cast, Spielberg's direction and the cinematography, with some critics deeming it superior to the 1961 film. It received seven nominations at the 94th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and was named one of the top ten films of 2021 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute. It also received four nominations at the 79th Golden Globe Awards, winning three, including Best Picture – Musical/Comedy, Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical for Zegler, and Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture for DeBose. The film was a box-office bomb, grossing a total of $72.5 million worldwide against a production budget of $100 million.

After watching the movie I have now two favorites for the Oscar Winner for Best Picture this year. The first one was the Power of the Dog that I reviewed a few weeks ago. If you enjoy watching musicals, this movie is a must see. 

 

The Nurses and Physicians with Filipino Ancestry in the US Health Care System

 

Macrine's(RIP) BS Nursing Graduation, Holy Name College, Oakland, CA 1979

I have always plan to write in my blogs about the Filipino-American Nurses here in the US. The subject is closed to my heart and soul, since my late spouse, Macrine Nieva Jambalos Katague was a Nurse- a profession that she loved. 

One of Macrine dreams when she was a child in the Philippines was to be a nurse. Because of her parents wish she did not pursue a nursing career in her college years. It was only in the late 1970's when our kids were all in college and high school, she decided to go back to nursing school. She earned her Bachelors Degree in Nursing in 1979 here in the US specializing in public health ( visiting nurse) then to Quality Assurance Nursing a few years before she retired. The site below is her community involvement not only as nurse but as a US citizen with Filipino ancestry.

https://whyretireinthephilippines.blogspot.com/2021/03/remembering-macrine-j-katague-through.html 

Nursing has been in the blood of the Jambalos Clan as well as the Katague clan. Two of Macrine younger sisters were Nurses here in the US( Philippine trained- both are now retired). Two of her first cousins on the Jambalos clan also served as nurses here in the US. On my side of the family, two of my nephews are currently nurses. One is in the US and the other in UK. I have two nieces that are also nurses. One is in the US and the other in Canada. Macrine has a niece who is a US trained /educated nurse.  I have other distant relatives and Filipino-American friends who are or were nurses and physicians here in the US, The Middle East, Europe and Canada.      

After the U.S. colonized the Philippines in the late 19th century, the country has relied on Filipino health care workers to mend the staffing gaps in America’s patchwork health care system, especially in times of medical crisis. Since 1960, over 150,000 Filipino nurses have migrated to the U.S. In 2019, one out of 20 registered nurses in the U.S. was trained in the Philippines. There are a few I know that are US educated and trained like Macrine and her niece.

“Without Filipino nurses, the U.S. health care system would have been paralyzed,” says Leo-Felix Jurado, a professor and department chair of nursing at William Paterson University, tells TIME. “It would have been almost impossible for the health care system to have safely existed.”

From AIDS to COVID-19, America’s Medical System has a long history of relying on Filipino Nurses to fight on the front lines.

Just recently you may have seen a grim statistic : 32% of U.S. registered nurses who died of COVID-19 by September 2020 were of Filipino descent, even though they only make up 4% of nurses in the United States. Yet an event like the pandemic is disproportionately likely to affect Filipino-American families: Approximately a quarter of working Filipino-Americans are front line healthcare workers.

Filipino nurses have also faced exploitation and wage discrimination—a long history that persists today. Jurado says fraudulent recruiting agencies and even some American health care facilities have lured Filipino nurses with false promises of opportunities or higher pay, and later forcing them to work long hours in unsafe working conditions, sometimes with threats of revoking their visas. In 2019, 200 Filipino nurses won a human trafficking lawsuit in which they alleged that the owners of a group of New York nursing homes were not paid the wages promised in their contracts and were forced to work in unsafe conditions with inadequate staffing.

To this day, foreign-educated nurses are frequently sent to hospitals where it is difficult to recruit American-born nurses, including public hospitals in inner cities and health care facilities in rural areas that are frequently understaffed and under-resourced.

“These physicians and nurses work in communities with workers that are the essential workers who don’t have these white-collar protections. And they’re working in hospitals that don’t have all the equipment,” says Eram Alam an assistant professor in the history of medicine at Harvard University. “All of these things are working together, and I think all of these things are suggestive of who is considered to be disposable in the United States.” For details read:

https://time.com/6051754/history-filipino-nurses-us/

https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/filipino-nurses-america-medical-system/

I salute all Filipino-American nurses/physicians in the US and in other parts of the world for their service specially those who are front line workers in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. May your tribe increase!!