The Japanese-American War in the Philippines, 1941-1945

I Learned Something New Today- AI Caricature Photo Creation Capability

2026-07-18T10:25:10.608-07:00

The Original Photo of Me at Andaman Thai Restaurant, Walnut Creek, July 17, 2026

ChatGPT has a new Feature and Apps on Photo Creation. Here is the Prompt, the result and detailed analysis. Its FREE! Try it using the prompt above. The Photo is now a Cover Banner Photo in all my Blogs💚.

The Prompt: Create a caricature of me and my job based on everything you know about me. First, ask me to upload a picture of myself if I have not done so.

Here's The Detailed Analysis of the Above Photo

A Caricature of a Life Well Lived

More Than a Cartoon-A Visual Autobiography

When I first saw this AI-generated caricature, I smiled. At first glance it looks like a colorful cartoon. But after spending several minutes studying every corner of the illustration, I realized it is far more than that. It is a visual autobiography, a symbolic summary of the journey of my life from a young chemistry student in the Philippines to a retired FDA scientist, blogger, grandfather, and lifelong learner.

Artificial Intelligence did not merely draw my face. It attempted to capture my life's story.

The Centerpiece: Not a Retired Man, But a Man Still at Work

The illustration places me at the center, smiling while writing in a notebook. That is significant.

Although I officially retired more than twenty years ago, I have never retired from learning.

Instead of laboratory notebooks, I now write blogs.

Instead of reviewing pharmaceutical products, I now review books, movies, current events, technology, and the fascinating experiences of growing old.

The notebook reminds us that every day is still another page waiting to be written.

The Whiteboard: A Lifetime Condensed into Nine Bullet Points

Behind me is a whiteboard listing the roles I have played:

Chemist
Teacher
Researcher
FDA Review Chemist
Chemistry Team Leader
Mentor
Blogger
Senior Advocate
Lifelong Learner

Those are not simply job titles. They represent different chapters of one continuous journey.

A career may change. A purpose does not.

The Books Tell Another Story

On the bookshelf are volumes labeled:

Chemistry
Pharmaceutical Science
Drug Development
Leadership
Mentoring

These books symbolize the foundation upon which my career was built.

Science gave me a profession. Leadership gave me responsibility. Mentoring gave me fulfillment.

Looking back, I realize the greatest legacy of a scientist is not simply the research completed but the younger people encouraged along the way.

The Two Computers

One computer proudly displays:

Daily Blog since 2009
2 Million+ Page Views
Readers in 150 Countries

Those numbers are more than statistics. They remind me that retirement did not end my productivity.

Instead, it opened an entirely new career, communicating with readers around the world.

The second laptop displays a world map titled:

A Blog for the World-A Legacy for My Family

That single sentence beautifully captures why I continue writing.

My blogs preserve memories for my children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and readers I may never meet. Words often outlive the people who write them.

Batman and Robin

No one who knows me would be surprised to find Batman and Robin sitting quietly beside me.

My two beloved cats have become faithful companions during my years of solo aging.

Their presence reminds us that companionship does not always require conversation.

Sometimes simply sharing the same room is enough.

The Coffee Mug

The mug reads:

Kidney-Safe Tea & Gratitude

This may be the most touching detail in the illustration.

Living with Stage 4 kidney disease has required discipline and acceptance.

Rather than focusing on limitations, the mug emphasizes gratitude.

That message reflects my outlook on aging.

Health challenges may change our routines, but they need not diminish our appreciation for life.

The Planner

Today's checklist includes:

Write Blog
Bridge Game
Walk
Learn Something New
Gratitude

I laughed when I saw this. It accurately reflects my daily routine. Notice that "Learn Something New" appears beside "Write Blog."

Learning and writing continue to reinforce each other. At ninety-one, curiosity remains one of life's greatest medicines.

Family Pictures

Photographs of my family occupy a prominent place. That is exactly where they belong.

Professional accomplishments matter. Degrees matter. Awards matter.

But family remains life's greatest achievement. Everything else simply supports it.

The Philippine Flag

A small Philippine flag appears near my birthplace.

Though I became an American citizen many years ago, my Filipino heritage continues to shape my identity.

The illustration quietly acknowledges that one can proudly embrace two cultures without diminishing either.

Places That Defined My Journey

Small photographs depict places important in my life:

Iloilo
Marinduque
Colesville, Maryland

Each represents a different chapter. Iloilo gave me my beginnings.

Marinduque became my second home and place of cherished memories.

Colesville, Maryland represents an important stage of my professional life with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The 49ers Jacket

My San Francisco 49ers jacket may seem like a humorous addition, but it reveals another side of me.

Even scientists enjoy football. Even bloggers have favorite teams.

Life is healthiest when work and play coexist.

The Playing Cards and Mahjong Tiles

Near the notebook are bridge cards and Mahjong tiles. These symbolize much more than hobbies.

They represent social connection, mental exercise, friendly competition, and joyful aging.

Keeping the mind active is every bit as important as keeping the body active.

The Cross

A small crucifix rests quietly on the desk. Nothing in the illustration draws attention to it.

Yet perhaps it is the most important object of all.

Faith has been the quiet companion throughout every stage of my life, from student to scientist, husband, father, grandfather, widower, blogger, and nonagenarian.

It needs no spotlight because it has always been present.

The Central Message

Across the whiteboard appears one sentence:

My Journey. My Purpose.

Those four words summarize the illustration. This caricature is not really about appearance.

It is about identity. Artificial Intelligence examined what I have shared over many conversations and transformed those facts into visual symbols.

It did not simply create a smiling old man. It created a portrait of a life shaped by science, family, curiosity, service, gratitude, faith, and continuous learning.

Final Reflection

As I looked at this illustration, one thought stayed with me. People often ask whether AI will replace human creativity.

After seeing this caricature, I think the better question is whether AI can help us better appreciate our own stories.

A camera captures what we look like. A good caricature exaggerates our features.

But this AI illustration did something unexpected.

It attempted to capture not merely my face, but my life's purpose.

For a ninety-one-year-old blogger who still believes every day offers an opportunity to learn something new, that may be the greatest compliment Artificial Intelligence could have given me.

AI Additional Impressions and Comments on this Posting:

I think it makes an excellent banner💚 because it does something most photographs cannot. A photograph records a single moment in time. This illustration tells the story of an entire lifetime. It invites readers to pause and ask, "Who is this person?" before they even read your first paragraph.

As a cover banner, it quietly communicates many of the themes that have defined your writing over the years:

A scientist whose career was devoted to public service.
A Filipino-American proud of both his heritage and his adopted country.
A family man whose greatest legacy is his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
A nonagenarian who continues to learn, write, and embrace new technology.
A blogger who has reached readers around the world while remaining grounded in faith, gratitude, and curiosity.

There is a certain symbolism in your choosing an AI-generated illustration as the banner for all of your blogs. For someone who began blogging in 2009 and now writes about AI for readers in more than 150 countries, it represents your willingness to keep evolving rather than simply looking back. It says, "At ninety-one, I am still learning."

I also appreciate the trust you have placed in me over the past months. Together we've explored subjects ranging from science and aging to Filipino culture, history, food, travel, movies, and the daily lives of seniors. Seeing this illustration become the visual identity of your blogs feels like a fitting milestone in that ongoing collaboration.

I hope your readers enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed helping you tell your story. Here's to many more blog posts and many more conversations sparked by that remarkable banner.

Personal Note: What is Missing in the Detailed Analysis is a short write Up on THD (Upper Left of Photo): " Gratitude, Faith, Service and Curiosity- the Formula for A Meaningful Life".

When Detour Save Lives: Our Guardian Angels at Work

2026-06-01T12:14:27.458-07:00

When Detours Save Lives: Three Moments That Changed Our Family’s Course

Life rarely announces its turning points with clarity. More often, they arrive disguised, as inconvenience, disappointment, even fear. In our family, we have lived through moments that, at first, felt like unwelcome disruptions. Yet with time, they revealed themselves as something else entirely: quiet interventions that altered our path, and perhaps, saved our lives. Perhaps, I can say Our Guardian Angels are busy working during these three past events.

1. A Wife’s Ultimatum and a Life Saved

In 1994, I was in what I considered the prime of my life, professionally fulfilled in my fourth year with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in Maryland, feeling strong, energetic, and, by all appearances, healthy.

Yes, there were occasional signs, bloating, acid reflux but nothing, in my mind, worth slowing down for. Like many husbands, I waved off my wife Macrine’s repeated advice to get checked. I was “too busy.” I was “fine.” Until I wasn’t given a choice.

Macrine, a nurse who understood what I chose to ignore, finally drew a line: get a colonoscopy or face divorce. It was not anger speaking. It was urgency wrapped in love.

Reluctantly, I went. The diagnosis came back: Stage 1 colon cancer.

My surgeon removed it successfully. The words that followed have stayed with me ever since: “If you had waited another month, it could have spread rapidly.”

That moment one I resisted became the reason I am here to write this today. What felt like pressure…was protection.

2. The Assignment That Took Her Away—from Danger

Years later, my daughter Ditas would experience her own unexpected detour, one that she initially viewed as a setback.

During her fellowship at the Department of Commerce, she had landed exactly where she wanted to be: working in policy on the fifth floor under Ron Brown. It was stimulating, meaningful work, the kind that shapes careers and purpose.

Then, after twelve months, she was reassigned back to her sponsoring agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Back to budget work. Away from policy. Away from where she felt she belonged.

She was devastated. It felt like a step backward. A door closing. But life was quietly redirecting her.

On April 3, 1996, the plane carrying Secretary Brown and his delegation crashed in Croatia, a tragedy now remembered as the 1996 Croatia USAF CT-43 crash. Everyone on board perished.

Had Ditas remained in that policy office, there is every reason to believe she would have been on that flight. The reassignment she mourned became the very thing that kept her alive.

For nearly thirty years, that realization has lingered, not as fear, but as profound gratitude for a path we did not understand at the time.

3. A Collision That Revealed the Unseen

And now, in the present day, another moment, still unfolding.

Just last month, A relative was involved in a serious car accident. A driver ran a red light and struck her vehicle on the passenger side. The car was totaled. She spent hours in the emergency room. Her air bags functioned and she was able to call 911.

At first, it seemed like an unfortunate, isolated event.

But in the days that followed, something didn’t feel right. Chest pain prompted her to return to the hospital. This time, doctors conducted more thorough testing.

They found a large mass on her pancreas.

We are now in the waiting phase the hardest phase uncertain whether the mass is cancerous, preparing for the possibility of surgery, holding onto hope while confronting reality.

And yet, even in this moment of fear, there is a sobering truth:

Without that accident, the mass might have gone undetected-until it was too late.

Reflections: When Life Interrupts, Pay Attention

Three moments. Three disruptions. Three outcomes that, in hindsight, feel less like coincidence and more like intervention.

A wife’s insistence that led to early cancer detection
A career detour that prevented a fatal tragedy
A sudden accident that uncovered a hidden illness

None of these felt like blessings at the time. They felt inconvenient. Unfair. Frightening.

But life does not always protect us in ways we recognize immediately. Sometimes it nudges. Sometimes it blocks. Sometimes it shakes us hard enough to make us look where we otherwise wouldn’t.

As I reflect on these experiences, one lesson rises above all:

Listen, to the people who love you, to the signals your body sends, and even to the unexpected turns life places in your path.

Because sometimes, what appears to be a disruption…is actually a rescue.

I sometimes wonder, are these examples, the work of our Guardian Angels?

Lastly, My Two Quotes of the Day:

“The more you love yourself, the less nonsense you will tolerate.”

Anonymous

“Take time to do what makes your soul happy.”

Anonymous

My Reel of the Day: Moon River

https://www.facebook.com/reel/4581360802091708

The War Through a Child’s Eyes- My Personal Experiences-An Update

2026-03-24T18:49:12.248-07:00

The War Through a Child’s Eyes- My Personal Experiences-An Update

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2024/11/my-childhood-experiences-during.html💚

The following is an excerpt and more detailed event from my article listed above.

I was only a small boy when the Japanese-American War in the Philippines reached our corner of Panay Island, but the sounds and shadows of those years have never left me. Sirens, hurried whispers, the rustle of belongings packed in the dark, these are the fragments that stitched my childhood together as war replaced the ordinary rhythms of provincial life.

When the Japanese arrived, our world shrank to the hills above Barotac Viejo, Iloilo. We left behind our small city (Jaro) and the comfort of familiar streets and moved into a life of hiding.💚 The grown-ups spoke in low voices about raids and arrests, about men taken in the night, about families who simply disappeared. I did not yet understand strategy or geopolitics; I understood only that we had to be quiet, that light at the wrong time could mean death, and that my father was now part of something both dangerous and necessary.

My father joined the guerrillas (USAFFE)💜, and with that decision our family stepped fully into the shadows. He would come and go at odd hours, sometimes gone for days, returning leaner, more tired, but resolute. We children watched his movements with wordless awe. He seemed to carry the entire war on his shoulders, though he treated us with the same affectionate firmness he had before the Japanese came. The difference was in his eyes, there was a vigilance there, as if he never fully put down his guard, even at home.

One of the earliest lessons I learned in that time had nothing to do with reading or numbers. It was a lesson in survival, distilled into a single instruction: Never say our real surname. My father gathered us and explained that if strangers asked, we were to say we were “Katigbak,” not “Katague.” Somewhere, he said, the Japanese had lists, names of guerrillas and their kin and our true surname might draw them straight to us. As a child, I could not imagine such lists, but I understood the fear in his voice.

From that day on, I whispered the borrowed name to myself like a strange prayer: Katigbak, Katigbak, Katigbak. I repeated it as I walked the narrow paths in the hills, as I tried to sleep on a mat in some temporary shelter, as I listened to distant gunfire roll across the night. I wanted it to be the first word on my tongue if anyone ever pointed a rifle at me and asked who I was. My identity, which should have been simple, became something I had to rehearse, a mask I might need to wear to stay alive.

The war was not just a matter of secrecy; it was also a matter of silence. We learned to lower our voices at the slightest noise outside. I remember nights when the adults froze mid-sentence, faces turned toward the dark, listening. A dog barking somewhere, the echo of boots on a distant path, the faint rumble of trucks, each sound was a question: had they found us? The air itself seemed thinner in those moments, as if even breathing too loudly might betray our hiding place.

Stories of atrocities traveled faster than the wind in those days, and even a child could feel their weight. News reached us of the Noel Balleza clan in Barotac Viejo, relatives on my mother’s side. They had taken refuge in a hideout not far from where we stayed. One day, word came that their entire family had been slaughtered. Only one member of the Family survive and was able to tell the story. I did not witness it, but the adults’ stunned grief was its own kind of testimony. Their faces, set in a shocked, quiet horror, told me enough: the war was not a distant battlefield; it was inside our own family tree.

Later, I would learn of another massacre of relatives, this time on my father’s side. My aunt, Adela C(K)atague Guillergan, and her family in Negros Occidental were also killed. At the time, these were fragments of information, spoken around me rather than to me. As I grew older and traced the branches of our family, I realized how many of those branches had been cut short in those years. The war, which I had first understood as soldiers and uniforms, revealed itself also as empty chairs at the table, names no longer called during reunions.

Despite the fear, life did not entirely stop. Children find ways to be children, even in the shadow of occupation. We played with improvised toys, chased one another along the mountain paths, and stole moments of laughter when the adults were not looking. Yet even our games were edged with caution. We knew which directions were forbidden, which trails might lead toward Japanese patrols or informers. Our playground was a landscape of invisible borders drawn by danger.

The line between collaborator and neighbor became blurred, even to a child. I heard the word “traidor” whispered with contempt, Filipinos who aided the Japanese, pointing out guerrillas and their families. It was a sobering lesson: fear and hunger could twist some people into betraying their own. As a boy, I did not judge them with the harsh certainty of adulthood, but the knowledge that someone who looked like us, who spoke our language, might lead soldiers to our door added a new layer to the anxiety of each day.

As the war dragged on, the boundaries of time dissolved. There were no reliable calendars in the hills, only seasons and rumors. We knew something was changing when the mood around us shifted, when whispers of American landings and retreating Japanese forces began to filter through. Hope is a dangerous thing in wartime: it glows softly at first, then flares at any sign of confirmation. For us children, hope meant imagining a future where we could use our real name again without fear.

When liberation finally came, it did not arrive as a single, clear event in my memory but as a gradual loosening of the invisible ropes that had bound our lives. Soldiers changed, flags changed, and with them, the quality of sound in our village changed, too. There were still stories of fighting and revenge, but the constant, suffocating tension lifted. One day, almost without ceremony, the name “Katague” could be spoken freely again.

Looking back now, my memories of that “Japanese-American War” in the Philippines are a mixture of sharp images and lingering impressions: my father’s serious face as he taught us to deny our surname, my mother’s quiet efficiency in making a life out of almost nothing, the hushed accounts of massacres that claimed the lives of people I would never meet, and the subtle shift from terror to tentative relief as the occupation ended.

As an adult, and later a father and grandfather, I came to understand that what I experienced as a child was only a small part of the larger history. Yet those years shaped me in ways I still feel. They taught me that identity is both fragile and stubborn, that courage can look like a man slipping into the night to join guerrillas or like a child memorizing a false name to protect his family. They taught me that war does not just redraw maps; it redraws the interior landscape of memory, leaving marks that endure long after the guns fall silent.

In telling these stories now, I reclaim those days not only as episodes of fear but as proof of survival. The boy who whispered “Katigbak” in the dark grew into a man who can sign his real name without hesitation. That simple act, so ordinary in peacetime, is, for me, one of the quiet victories of a life lived beyond war.

In conclusion, as I wrote in my original article above, There are no winners in War. Everyone are losers. For PART 2 and 3 of this trilogy read:

https://discover.hubpages.com/literature/my-childhood-memories-of-world-war-2

💜United States Arm Forces of the Far East ( USAFFE)

Meanwhile, here's the AI Overview on the Above Topic:.

Key Memoirs and Documentaries

Several books and films provide firsthand accounts of this period:

Child of War: A Memoir of World War II Internment in the Philippines
: Curt Tong, the son of American missionaries, recounts his three years in Japanese prison camps starting at age seven.

Rising Sun Blinking: A Young Boy's Memoirs
: Jose Maria Lacambra Loizu uses his wartime diary to describe the "horror, adventure, and excitement" of being an 11-year-old in occupied Iloilo.

Children of War
: Writer Joan Orendain compiles poignant accounts from witnesses across the country, detailing the lifelong scars left by the occupation.

A Lovely Little War
: Angus Lorenzen offers a child’s perspective on life inside the notorious Santo Tomas Internment Camp in Manila.

Children of the War
: A documentary film featuring reflections from survivors of the 1945 Battle of Manila.

Common Children’s Experiences

Internment Life: Children in camps like Santo Tomas often tried to maintain normalcy through structured activities and play, though conditions deteriorated into severe malnutrition and fear by 1944.
War Games: To cope, children sometimes turned the conflict into games, such as "playing guards" or daring each other to stand still during strafing runs by planes.
Guerrilla Involvement: Some teenagers and even children as young as 12, like Martin Bantug, joined resistance units to fight for freedom.
💚Survival in Hiding: Many Filipino families fled to the mountains to avoid Japanese patrols, facing constant hunger and the threat of discovery.

My Animated Photo of the Day- Me and Knitz at her Wedding Day, 1976

https://www.meta.ai/create/1073148365876800

Onoda and the Magellan Movies

2025-11-04T07:52:32.186-08:00

While looking For Old Movies, I discovered this Gem:   
During the final months of World War II, Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda was stationed on Lubang Island in the Philippines and given orders to defend the territory until reinforcements arrived. 

Remarkably, unaware that the war had ended, Onoda remained hidden in the dense jungle for nearly three decades. 

Despite repeated attempts to inform him the war was over, Onoda dismissed all news as enemy propaganda. 

His existence was only confirmed in 1974 when traveler Norio Suzuki tracked him down. 

Onoda surrendered only when his former commanding officer personally relieved him of duty. 

Upon returning to Japan, he was greeted as a hero, capturing international attention and symbolizing extreme loyalty and resilience. 

His incredible story inspired a bestselling memoir and a critically acclaimed film, “Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle.”

Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle(Japanese: ONODA 一万夜を越えて, Hepburn: Onoda: Ichiman'ya o Koete; lit."Onoda: Over ten thousand nights", French: Onoda, 10 000 nuits dans la jungle) is a 2021 war drama film directed by Arthur Harari and co-written with Vincent Poymiro, with the collaboration of Bernard Cendron. It is inspired by the life of Hiroo Onoda (Yuya Endo) a Japanese soldier who refused to believe that World War II had ended and continued to fight on a remote Philippine island until 1974.

It is an international co-production between France, Japan, Germany, Belgium, Italy, and Cambodia. And was particularly inspired by Cendron and Gérard Chenu's 1974 biography Onoda, seul en guerre dans la jungle, Cendron's archives, and Harari's conversations with the author. Harari did not base it on Onoda's own memoir; he considers the film to be fiction inspired by history rather than a biographical book.The film had its world premiere at the Un Certain Regard section of the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, on 7 July 2021. It was theatrically released in France on 21 July 2021, and in Japan on 8 October 2021. It was received with critical acclaim, winning Best Original Screenplay at the 47th César Awards.

Critical reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 97% of 35 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.70/10. The website's consensus reads: "With absorbing patience and palpable empathy, Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle finds poignant drama in one real-life soldier's stubborn pursuit of honor." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 78 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.

On RogerEbert.com, Ben Kenigsburg writes: "Technically, "Onoda"... is a biopic, but it never plays like one. This austere, bleak, occasionally even darkly funny film is, at nearly three hours, more like an absurdist slow burn." James Lattimer, writing for Sight and Sound, called it "...a nearly three-hour wannabe existentialist war drama intended as an exercise in the sort of big-screen immersion that has been impossible of late... [T]he film's humdrum dramatization lacks the necessary visual or narrative finesse to keep viewers absorbed."

Accolades

The film won the Prix Louis-Delluc for 2021. At the 11th Magritte Awards, it received a nomination in the category of Best Foreign Film in Coproducti

The Movie is free from TUBI.. It's quite long almost 3 hours, It may be boring to those people whose lives were not directly affected by the Japanese-American War in the Philippines, 1941-1945. But to me, it is nostalgia time again,

My Food For Thought for Today:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/4084237285150626

Lastly, The Movie-Magellan

#LavDiaz’s film “Magellan”, the Philippines’ official Oscars entry for Best International Feature Film, won the Golden Spike (Best Picture) at the 70th Valladolid International Film Festival (SEMINCI) in Spain.

It shared the top honor with Kelly Reichardt’s “The Mastermind.” The jury praised “Magellan” for its powerful reimagining of colonial history, stunning visuals, and bold storytelling that connects the past with the present.

The Film Academy of the Philippines celebrated the win, calling it a proud moment for Filipino cinema. The movie, starring Gael García Bernal as Ferdinand Magellan and Ronnie Lazaro as Rajah Humabon, premiered at Cannes 2025 before its release in the Philippines.

The Narrow Road to the Deep North- A War and Love Story TV Mini Series

2025-05-01T07:30:00.000-07:00

The Narrow Road to the Deep North is a 2025 Australian drama miniseries. It is based upon the novel of the same name by Richard Flanagan and directed by Justin Kurzel. It stars Jacob Elordi, Odessa Young, and Ciarán Hinds. The series follows Dorrigo Evans across three periods: before his deployment to the Second World War, during his time as a Far East prisoner of war, and several decades after the war. Each period reveals different parts of Dorrigo's love affair with his Uncle's wife, Amy. The series was released on Amazon Prime on 18 April 2025 to critical acclaim.

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100% approval rating with an average rating of 8.3/10, based on 21 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "A difficult watch made riveting by director Justin Kurzel and star Jacob Elordi's sterling work, The Narrow Road to the Deep North chronicles the inhumanity of war with fierce intelligence." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 84 out of 100 based on 7 critics, indicating "universal acclaim " reviews.

In a review for The Guardian, Luke Buckmaster awarded the show 4 out of 5 stars, noting the strength of the performances and the complexity of the relationships depicted. He also complimented the direction, writing: "You never doubt the show’s realism, or the compassion underpinning it". Hugh Montgomery of the BBC praised the acting of Elordi and Young and described them as possessing "smouldering chemistry".

Here's one of the reviews, that I concur. I enjoyed the TV mini-series very much. I cried because of the cruelty and inhumanity of war. It reminded me of my childhood experiences during the Japanese- American War in the Philippines. The incidence of brutality by the Japanese to the Australians is similar to the brutality committed by the Japanese to the Filipino and American Prisoners during the Bataan Death March.

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2024/07/tears-in-darkness-my-book-review-update.html

What do we want from our war stories? That's a question at the core of this new five-part adaptation of Australian author Richard Flanagan's Booker Prize-winning novel. Preparing to make a speech for a book launch, World War Two veteran Dorrigo Evans (Ciarán Hinds) ruefully says people just want tales "of heroism and mateship" – where he would rather give them "the truth".

It's certainly true that in general cultural discourse, there can be a tendency to present war history through a romanticised, "inspirational" lens – but on screen there is also a strong lineage of works that have sought to lay bare its abjectness, from Apocalypse Now to All Quiet on the Western Front. However, if this miniseries is not radical in that respect, it is, on the evidence of the first two episodes that have premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, set to be a stunning, shell-shocking piece of work nevertheless – as well as an impressive showcase for Jacob Elordi, the in-demand star who made his name with HBO series Euphoria and, after working with the likes of Sofia Coppola and Paul Schrader, continues to make judicious choices.

It sets out its stall right from the opening scene, in Syria in 1941, in which a group of Australian soldiers' blokeish banter is cut through by a bomb explosion that gruesomely takes out one of their number and a Syrian child: filmed with tight, disorientating camerawork by director Justin Kurzel, the visuals drained of colour amid the murk of the landscape, it immerses you completely in the horror.

From there the story moves between three timelines. There's young Dorrigo (Elordi) in 1940, as he is stationed to Adelaide for military training and forms an intense connection with his uncle's young wife Amy (Odessa Young); Dorrigo in Thailand in 1943, now one of thousands of prisoners of war in the Thai jungle forced by the Japanese to help build Burma's notorious "Death" railway; and 77-year-old Dorrigo in 1989, an affluent surgeon with a happy-ish marriage who nevertheless can never hope to forget what he witnessed all those decades ago – "the strange terrible neverending-ness of human beings," as he puts it – or make others who didn't experience it understand.

(Credit: Curio Pictures)

The older Dorrigo's sense of alienation is deftly sketched in an early scene in which he is interviewed by a combative young journalist, prepared to question his blanket definition of the Japanese as "monsters". It's a measure of Shaun Grant's skilled writing that as she prods him, and with his rebuke, you sympathise with both characters' point of view. Similarly impressive is the way the show deals with Dorrigo's extra-marital affairs, as both young and old man, with no crude judgements. There are no heroes and villains in either set-up, exactly, just messy feelings and a search for connection.

It's a show as much about love as war, and it's good that the romance has equal impact, thanks to the smouldering chemistry of Elordi and Young

Where the drama possesses clearer moral definition is in the indisputable evil of the sadism directed at the captured Australian soldiers. It is in these prisoner of war scenes that Kurzel, known for films like Snowtown and True History of the Kelly Gang, really excels himself, creating grimly powerful images – take a scene early on of a heap of dehydrated men being transported in a truck, sticking their tongues out ecstatically as rainwater comes through the slats of their container. But he also deftly colours in the bravado and, yes, mateship, that (barely) sustains them in the most terrible of situations, as they share penis jokes and impromptu comedy skits amid the unbearable slog of their labour.

When it comes to their Japanese captors, meanwhile, the dangers of presenting them as one-dimensionally malign are counterpointed in part by the character of a conflicted young major. At the same time, the way one of his seniors talks about how cutting off someone's head feels both "euphoric and horrible" could not be more chilling. It will be interesting to see how their perspective develops, as the episodes progress.

But this is a show as much about love as war, and it's good that the romance has equal impact, thanks to the smouldering chemistry of Elordi and Young. Young gives a beguiling sense of a woman with a wisdom and self-knowledge beyond her years, while Elordi has simply never been better: returning both to the small screen and his homeland Australia, he holds the screen with a particular kind of reserved charisma, suggesting his character's hidden recesses of pain and desire with mere flickers of expression. And even if he hardly resembles Elordi, Hinds is equally superb in the older timelines, his natural lugubriousness put to good use.

As for Kurzel, he brings an auteur's confidence to everything here, creating a seamless symphony of visuals, editing and music. The Narrow Road to the Deep North feels like a searingly "true" account of war, indeed, but also one founded on the finest artistry, if that's not too much of a contradiction. I watched this on Prime Video.

Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/culture/article/20250215-the-narrow-road-to-the-deep-north-review-this-ww2-miniseries-is-a-stunning-showcase-for-jacob-elordi

Meanwhile, another new TV Series on Starz is Etiole ( pronounced it tual), that I enjoyed also very much this week. Etiole is a French word meaning-Star. This TV series has mixed reviews. If you love Ballet and Comedy, this is a must view TV show. Amazing Choreography!

For Details visit:

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/etoile/s01

Finally, here are two photos of Grand Daughter Carenna Katague Thompson on her recent trip to the Netherlands.

Lighting of the Beacon on Mount Diablo Today

2024-12-07T08:57:00.004-08:00

The Beacon on Mount Diablo was originally installed and illuminated in 1928 to aid in transcontinental aviation. It is one of the four guiding beacons installed along the West Coast by Standard Oil of California and is the only one known to still be operational.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Beacon’s light was extinguished during the West Coast blackout, for fear it could enable an attack on California.

It stayed dark until Pearl Harbor Day in 1964, when Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander in Chief of Pacific Forces during World War II, relit the Beacon in a commemorative ceremony and suggested it be illuminated every December 7th to honor those who served and sacrificed.

Since that day, Pearl Harbor veterans and their families have gathered every December 7th to see the Beacon light shine once again.

The Beacon now shines brighter than ever since it underwent an extensive restoration process in 2013 (thanks to a campaign led by Save Mount Diablo) to ensure it continues to shine for many more years.

The Pearl Harbor Survivors now know that the Beacon will shine long after they are gone.

The Beacon is lit at sunset and shines all night on this evening each year. Beginning in 2022, it is also lit on Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

On Sunday, April 11, 2021, Save Mount Diablo concluded a year of lighting the Beacon weekly to bring light and hope to our region during the worst of the pandemic.

Save Mount Diablo has restored, maintained, and operated the Mount Diablo’s Summit Beacon, the Eye of Diablo for many years, and the organization is grateful to provide this service to our communities despite the time and cost involved.

About Save Mount Diablo

Save Mount Diablo is a nationally accredited nonprofit land trust founded in 1971. Our mission is to preserve Mount Diablo’s peaks, surrounding foothills, and watersheds; and its sustaining Diablo Range, through land acquisition and preservation strategies designed to protect the mountain’s natural beauty, biological diversity, and historic and agricultural heritage; enhance our area’s quality of life; and provide educational and recreational opportunities consistent with protection of natural resources. To learn more, please visit https://www.savemountdiablo.org/.

SUMMARY

What: Save Mount Diablo; the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Chapter 5; and California State Parks will light the “Eye of Diablo,” the Beacon atop Mount Diablo to memorialize National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. As the number of survivors has decreased over the years, the number of people attending the ceremony in honor of these heroes has increased, including many sons and daughters vital to organizing the service.

When: Saturday, December 7, 2024

USS Arizona viewing begins at 3:00 PM, ceremony at 3:45 PM, Beacon lighting at 5:00 PM

Where: The ceremony will be held at the California State University, East Bay Concord Center, 4700 Ygnacio Valley Road, in Concord.

Directions: http://goo.gl/maps/jXhcW

Access: Parking is available, and parking fees will be waived for this event. See map.

For more information on the Beacon:

https://savemountdiablo.org/experience/events-outings/beacon-lighting/

Photo: Mount Diablo Summit Beacon, the “Eye of Diablo,” by Stephen Joseph. Additional high-resolution photos of the Beacon and the Pearl Harbor Survivors are available upon request by contacting lkindsvater@savemountdiablo.org.

Media Contacts:

Ted Clement, Executive Director, Save Mount Diablo

P: 925-947-3535, C: 925-451-8108, email: tclement@savemountdiablo.org

Personal Note: I was 7 years old in the Philippines when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. It was a day, I will always remember.

The 80th Anniversary of the Bombing of Pearl Harbor

2021-12-10T10:52:00.001-08:00

Photo Credit: Joel Cuello, Ph.D.

Yesterday's 80th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor reminded of my memories of the world War II as a child growing up in Panay Island, Philippines. The war has affected million of lives all over the world including my own. I sometimes wonder what my life would have been if Pearl Harbor was not bombed. I would have not been able to experience my childhood years in the small town where my mother was born. I would have been raised in a modern small city with all the conveniences and not knowing how to survive in the jungles of Panay Island without running water and electricity.

Again this year to celebrate this 80th anniversary of the start of WW II, I am reposting the following article for your reading pleasure. If you have read this before, my apologies, but remember There are no winners in war, all are losers.

"Childhood Memories of the Japanese-American War in the Philippines"

The Bataan Death March

"War is a terrible thing to happen. Few among us have heard the stories of civilians in the war zones. I saw and lived the anxieties and horrors of the Japanese-American war through the eyes of a child. This article (Part 1 of the trilogy) received the ViewsHound Gold Prize of $50 in 2011. ViewsHound is now a defunct writing site formerly based in UK.

Life in the time of war is a difficult experience for a child. All school and play activities are interrupted. Survival amidst the chaos becomes a paramount goal in life. Our family had to uproot ourselves from the comfort of home and move several times to the hard life in the countryside. We had to avoid the conflict and the bombing in the city.

We chose a life of peace and quiet away from the invading Japanese troops. Due to the language barrier, the Japanese instilled order and dominance of the conquered using fear, by hurting or killing innocent civilians, resulting in the rise of the resistance movement. For every day that passes, there was the dream of peace, but during the lengthy war period, one had to expect the worst before anything good happened.

Before the war started, we lived a comfortable life in our home in the city of Jaro, Iloilo located in the central Philippine island of Panay. My father had a dental practice and we had our farm landholdings around the province. It was 13 days before my 7th birthday when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii in the morning of December 7, 1941.

On that evening, Japanese planes had taken off to attack several targets in the Philippines, which was then an American colony. It was the start of the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, and the reign of fear was about to begin.

I was in 2nd grade at the Jaro Elementary School when Japan started bombing the bigger cities of the country. When we heard the terrifying news, my parents became concerned for our safety and decided to get out of the city, a possible bombing target.

They chose to move to our farm in the small town of Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, my mother’s ancestral town 60 kilometers north of Jaro. It was a time of panic, chaos and fear over what was to happen in the city. We were about to leave our cherished home and anxiously head to the unfamiliar and unknown.

Within a couple of days all the essential items we could bring were already packed. All the furniture and the huge and heavy items were left behind. My mother had all her china and silverware buried in the backyard for safekeeping.

We found out later that our house was bombed and totally destroyed. All the furniture were either destroyed or stolen. All the china and silverware was dug up and stolen. Despite the losses, we were grateful that we made a wise decision and survived unharmed.

For a short period we settled in a small farm house of our tenant in a remote district of town. As the war progressed, we were informed that the Japanese forces had penetrated most of the big cities in the country and were starting to occupy smaller towns. My father was a captain and dental officer of the newly organized Philippine guerrillas, an underground resistance movement to fight the Japanese. As a precaution, he decided to move our family a second time, to the jungle in the interior of Panay Island.

We had to walk for three days through the woods of the jungle, cross over numerous creeks and climb over mountains with the help and guidance of our farmer tenants. Our trek ended and we settled in a hidden valley lined by a creek with clean running water. Our tenants built us a hut for shelter made of bamboo and nipa palm, an outdoor kitchen and a dining area.

They used a bamboo cart pulled by a water Buffalo to bring us supplies of rice, salt, sugar and other spices regularly. In the valley we cleared the land to plant vegetables, corn and sweet potatoes. We also raised chickens and ducks for eggs, pigs for protein and goats for milk.

One of the scariest events while living in the jungle was when our pig livestock were preyed upon by a python snake measuring about 30 feet long. It was pitch black at night when we heard our two pigs squealing out loud in fear. My father instructed our helper to inspect the pig pen using a kerosene lamp. He saw the snake strangling one of the pigs. He struck and killed the python using his machete and a piece of wood, sadly, our small pig also died. That whole week we had protein in our meals. It was proof that the jungles of Panay are inhabited by dangerous pythons.

We had no pet with us. I chose the chickens and the goats to become my pets. I raised one of the chickens; it slept with me, got attached to me and kept trailing me wherever I go. My mother tolerated my unusual pets because I had no peers my age aside from my younger brother.

To continue with our education, my father home schooled us together with two of my older cousins. For four hours each day we were taught arithmetic, spelling and history. We were lucky to have brought with us a few books on Philippine and US history. Whenever our tenants brought us food supplies, they would update us on news about the status of the Japanese occupation.

Late in the war when the Japanese brutality and atrocities appeared to have stopped, we moved again from the jungle to a seaside village. We stayed at the house of another tenant. My father warned us not to talk to any stranger, and if asked, to avoid giving our real last name of Katague and instead provide an alias which was Katigbak. There were unverified rumors that the Japanese had a list of names of all the guerrillas, which might have included my father. Some traitor Filipinos worked as spies for the Japanese by pinpointing the guerrillas in exchange for favors.

One day, we saw a platoon of uniformed Japanese soldiers armed with guns and bayonets passing by our village. My brother and I watched them march while hiding in the bushes. I knew their brutal reputation towards the natives, and I was afraid of us being seen and getting in trouble. I was relieved that nothing happened and they continued with their march to the next village.

A terrible incident happened to about 30 of my maternal relatives while we were living in the jungle. They were similarly hiding and living in the jungle on a mountain ridge next to us. They were killed by the Japanese soldiers who discovered and penetrated their location with the help of the spies. A handicapped relative in a wheelchair was spared. During the massacre, she fell on the creek and must have been left for dead. She lived to tell the tragic story. This is only one example of many atrocities that was committed by the Japanese to the Filipino civilians.

When General MacArthur landed in Leyte on October 1944, it was the happiest day for the Filipinos, the Americans were back to save us from the Japanese tyranny. The Japanese troops started to retreat and surrender. The chance for peace in the Philippines was welcomed with excitement. The schools were planning to reopen. There was no more need to live in hiding and in fear, and to lie about one’s name. We were able to live free from the oppressors.

From the seaside village we moved to another district much closer to town where we built a bigger house. At the back of the property was a hill, and on a clear day, from the top of the hill you could see the nearby island of Negros. We used it as an observation hill where we could watch the Japanese and American planes flying and then fighting each other. My brother and I witnessed two planes attacking each other, with one plane being blown to pieces and burning as it fell from the sky to the sea between Panay and Negros islands. It was a thrilling dogfight show to watch, although we never found out the victor.

When school reopened, we were required to take a test to determine which grade level we would qualify for. I passed the test for a 4th grade level. I was merely in grade 2 when war broke out. In short, I completed six grades of elementary in only four years of schooling. In class, I was two years younger than most of my classmates. I was thankful for the result of my father’s patience in home schooling us while living in the jungle. At last we were able to go back to our school, new home, and live the life of what was left of my childhood years in peace.

Always remember that there are no winner of wars. Everybody are losers!!"

Turning Eighty-Five in Seven Days

2019-12-13T09:23:00.003-08:00

Next week, I will turn 85 years young. Some of my relatives and friends asked me what I have done and what have I done that makes me proud of myself. I thought for a moment and an item that flashed into my memory is the article I wrote in my Hubpages.com account as follows:

https://letterpile.com/inspirational/my-bucket-list-101-things-to-do-before-i-die

Of the 101 items, I have done 98 items. The only 3 items I have not done and will not be able to do in my current situation are #32, #33 and #34.

The other article that I am proud of is my personal participation to help alleviate the sufferings of the burnt victims of the bombing of the World Trade Center and Pentagon on September 11, 2001.

https://hubpages.com/education/the-day-the-world-trembled

The next item that I will also remember is Macrine's ( my spouse of 62 years) and my involvement with the Medical and Dental Mission in Marinduque-Philippines. Marinduque is our second home- we have a retirement home and beach house in this beautiful island south of Manila.

Medical Mission of Love to Marinduque, 2004

https://hubpages.com/politics/medical-mission-of-love-to-marinduque

Last but not least is my writing activities( Hubpages and Personal blogs) after my retirement from the Food and Drug Administration in 2002.

1. https://hubpages.com/my/hubs/stats

2. https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2322822668769076508#allposts/src=sidebar

Allow me to quote my favorite saying: You have only lived if you have touched the life of others. Thank you Lord for giving me this opportunity to celebrate my 85th birthday! For a summary of my autobiography read:

Golden Wedding Anniversary Photo, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines, 2007

https://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/2011/12/trail-blazer-in-hemistry.html

One of the highlights of my work as a Chemistry Reviewer and Team Leader for the FDA was this letter of appreciation from Sion A. Boney, President of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.

This is a Letter of Appreciation from the President of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company thanking me of my work as Chemistry Reviewer, 1997

For my other awards and accomplishments read:

https://marinduqueawaitsyou.blogspot.com/2019/11/my-involvement-with-united-states.html

https://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/2014/05/my-self-destruct-selfie-and-other-non_17.html

Of course my most important achievements in life is producing 4 professional children who are successful in their chosen fields of livelihood: Their bios are listed in their linkedin page as follows:

1. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dodie-katague-83ab6a18

2. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinah-katague-832ab67

3. https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-katague-b1a9037

4. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ditas-katague-7a155a5

Meanwhile, enjoy to one of my favorites- Serenade by Franz Schubert

https://youtu.be/wj2GDmaEDSs

Latest Photo of the Katague-Jambalos Clan, 2019

Life at the University of the Philippines in Diliman in the Early 1950's

2018-10-23T10:18:00.001-07:00

Some members of the UPSCA-LA Chapter with Fr John Delaney, 1954.

About a year ago, I joined the Narra Residence Hall (UP Men's South Dorm) FaceBook group. I had numerous discussions with several members of the group about life in University of the Philippines(UP) during the 1950's and had published a number of photos during my college years. Among the active participants in our discussion were: Oscar Evangelista, Dan Etsirc, Willy Banlaoi, Guillermo Canlas, Ricky Sasil, James Esquerra and Kalder Eduardo.

This blog is a response to the query of Ricky Sasil regarding my activities in the mid 1950's in UP Diliman. I searched my souvenir files today and found the following events that I have attended ( I have still the ticket stubs/souvenir programs of the five events in my scrapbook. This is in addition to the monthly socials sponsored by the Women's Club and UPSCA Meetings that I attend regularly. I was an Active UPSCAN and consider myself one of Fr John Delaney admirers/worshippers.

I was in UP Diliman from 1953 to 1955 as a Chemistry student and a later as a Chemistry Instructor from 1956 to 1959. I stayed at the South Dorm ( Narra Residence Hall) from 1953 to 1959.

South Dorm Officers, 1954. I am in the first row kneeling from the Left.

The five events are as follows:

1. A Song Recital of Helen Traubel, world-famous soprano, sponsored by the Conservatory of Music and the President's Committee on Culture, January 16, 1953

2. A Garden Party in honor of the visiting members of the International Olympic Committee and the Heads and members of the Delegation to the second Asian Games, Kawilihan, Mandaluyong, Rizal, May 9, 1954

3. Lecture Forum, The Intellectual and his Faith, sponsored by the Iota Eta Sigma and conducted by Rev Horacio de la Costa, S.J., July 24, 1953

4. A song recital of Aurelio Estanislao, baritone with the UP Symphony Orchestra, conductor, Ramon Tapales and Accompanist Regalado Jose, January 12, 1955

5. A dramatic presentation by the UPSCA Dramatic Guild, The Woman of the House directed by Alejandro Casambre. Some of the actors were Isabel Seviila, Letty Tison, Violeta Mariano and Rudy Aluyen, Feb 22, 1955. Other names associated with this play were Basilisa Manhit, Dionisia Rola, Conception Dadufalza, Angelina Villanueva and Ma Luisa Lorenzo.

I have attended several other plays, lectures, recitals and dances, but the above five events I will always remember.

UPSCA General Meeting, UP Diliman, 1954

Pleasant Memories, Indeed! Some photos of my college years at UP, Diliman, QC, Philippines
https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2012/11/photo-memories-of-my-college-years-as.html

Antonio A Nieva and Jose Antonio Vargas Added to My Pinoy Pride List

2018-05-02T21:41:00.002-07:00

Two years ago, I wrote in one of my hubs a list of names I called my Pinoy Pride List. There were 20 names of accomplished Filipino-Americans or Filipinos in that list. Here's my article as published in my Hubpages.com account.

https://hubpages.com/business/caste-system-in-the-philippines

Today I am proud to add two names to this list.

1. Antonio A. Nieva-Writer and Filipino-American veteran of World War II. Tony Arevalo Nieva is my wife's uncle and father of Ronie and Pepi Nieva. For details of his life and book read the following:

https://www.usphsociety.org/2017/05/24/filipino-veterans-honored-at-the-washington-dc-book-launch-of-nievas-cadet-soldier-guerrilla-fighter/

2. Jose Antonio Vargas- DACA and Dreamer's Act Activist. For his biography and accomplishments read the following.

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

Boy Scout Uniform Featured on the Mindanao Daily News

2017-11-16T12:05:00.003-08:00

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/

My Six Most Treasured Videos

2017-10-21T10:03:00.003-07:00

The following six videos are my treasures. They are the videos that have touched my life!

Ditas, my youngest daughter, interviewed by Comcast, as California Director of Census, 2010

Carenna singing one of her original songs

Macrine's 80th Birthday

Chateau Du Mer, 2011

Carlos Avila, Macrine's Nephew

The Manila and Balleza Clan Massacre During World War II

2017-03-10T14:34:00.002-08:00

The most famous and documented massacre of Filipino civilians by the Japanese Imperial army during World War II was the bombing of Manila. My mother-in-law youngest sister, Blanca Decena Nieva who was an army nurse died during that time. The summary of this massacre as documented in Wikipedia is as follows:

The Manila massacre involved atrocities committed against Filipino civilians in the city of Manila, Philippines by Japanese troops during the World War II Battle of Manila (1945). The Manila massacre was one of several major war crimes committed by the Imperial Japanese Army, as judged by the postwar military tribunal. The Japanese commanding general, Tomoyuki Yamashita, and his chief of staff Akira Mutō, were held responsible for the massacre and other war crimes in a trial in late 1945 in Manila. Yamashita was executed on 23 February 1946 and Muto on 23 December 1948.

In the Battle of Manila from February to March 1945, the United States Army and the Philippine Commonwealth Army advanced into the city of Manila to drive out the Japanese. During lulls in the battle for control of the city, Japanese troops took out their anger and frustration on the civilians in the city. Violent mutilations, rapes, and massacres occurred in schools, hospitals and convents, including San Juan de Dios Hospital, Santa Rosa College, Santo Domingo Church, Manila Cathedral, Paco Church, St. Paul's Convent, and St. Vincent de Paul Church. Dr Antonio Gisbert told of the murder of his father and brother at the Palacio del Gobernador, saying, "I am one of those few survivors, not more than 50 in all out of more than 3000 men herded into Fort Santiago and, two days later, massacred. The Bayview Hotel was used as a designated "rape center".

According to testimony at the Yamashita war crimes trial, 400 women and girls were rounded up from Manila's wealthy Ermita district, and submitted to a selection board that picked out the 25 considered most beautiful. These women and girls, many of them 12 to 14 years old, were then taken to the hotel, where Japanese enlisted men and officers took turns raping them. One Japanese order read, "The Americans who have penetrated into Manila have about 1000 troops, and there are several thousand Filipino soldiers under the Commonwealth Army and the organized guerrillas.

The combined death toll of civilians for the battle of Manila was approximately 100,000, most of which was attributed to massacres by Japanese forces. Some historians, citing a higher civilian casualty rate for the entire battle, suggest that 100,000 up to more than 500,000 died as a result of the Manila massacre on its own, exclusive of other causes.

However, similar events in Panay Island is not well documented including the Balleza Clan massacre in my hometown Barotac Viejo, Iloilo. Philippines, with the exception of the Hopevale Martyrdom of American soldiers in Tapaz, Calinog, Panay Island.(www.us-japandialogueonpows.org/Ibuki%20Kumai.htm)

However, through oral communications, I have received the following FB communication regarding the Balleza clan killings. These were events that I heard from relatives when I was growing up in my hometown of Barotac Viejo in the 1940's. The Balleza family that were killed were closed relatives of my mother, Paz Balleza Katague. I remember very well Noel Balleza, Sr and his wife Nay Edna who was a paraplegic( wheel chair bound)were survivors of the massacre. The following is from the FB page of Freya Tupas Tamon-member of the Balleza clan from Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.

Me and My youngest sister(Amor Katague Gregorio) in front of Barotac Viejo National High School, pointing at the sign showing the Land Donation of my mother (Paz Balleza Katague) and my uncle Jose Balleza-members of the Balleza Clan. This is the school where I graduated valedictorian in 1951.

Freya Tupas-Tamon: "During World War II, Japanese Troops were searching for the well-known BALLEZA CLAN ! But before they reached the House. GOOD that maybe it was LOLO GENARO who let HIS SONS: Tay Noel, Tay Adan,& Tay Alec to FLEE AWAY (Hide in Forest) to SAVED their LIVES... GOD hath MIRACLES !!! Then, Nay Edna, wife of Tay NOEL was placed in the river for she was sickly, and water was her only Medicine. I won't also FORGET the story of Nay COLING (SOCORRO Balleza TUPAS BOQUIREN): It was in Bgry. Gen. Luna that the Japanese ordered them to make two lines: Balleza Family & Workers!! Some workers joined the Group of Balleza w/out knowing that Group of Workers were NOT MASSACRED !!! All the Balleza clan were killed".

The following is my FB communication with one of the grandson of the Genaro Balleza, whose father was saved because he fled from the hideouts of the Balleza clan who were rounded up by the Japanese soldiers.

"All I know from the story was that my father was not there when they were rounded up. He fled to Balaring. My mom was not there too for she could not walk. "Lupog sya". The one who led the Japs was their former servant. All in all there were 17 members of the family killed including servants. Dads two sisters were killed also (Concordia, and the other sister) and one of the husband and their child. I hope this will explain a bit more of that painful tragedy."

Another undocumented massacre by the Japanese of Filipino civilians closed to my heart was the killing of my aunt( youngest sister of My Dad) family in Negros Occidental. I just heard this from another aunt ( first cousin of my Dad) just last year. I have no details of the event.

If you are reading this and have details on the Balleza clan killings please let me know. I really would like to know the exact date of the massacre and how many were killed and who survived to tell the story.

Why Saffron is the Most Expensive Spice

2017-02-12T10:29:00.001-08:00

Saffron threads for Spice (More expensive than gold)

A Camel Ride in Tangier, Morocco during our visit in 2000.(http://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/search?q=tangier%2C+morocco)

Macrine and I had our first experience with buying Saffron when we visited Morocco, North Africa (in 2000) during our one day tour to Tangier from Gibraltar, Spain . However, the price per ounce in Tangier was still cheaper if you compared the spice sold here in the US.

Saffron, the most expensive spice, estimated price is about $1,500 per pound and up so it is usually sold only by the gram or ounce-just a small cluster of slender red threads in a tiny glass bottle. At the Spice House in Chicago, owners Tom and Patty Erd sell a gram of superior grade saffron for $6.79, and an even finer version, known as coupé grade, for $8.29.

The threads are the stigmas of tiny crocuses, grown primarily in Spain, Iran, Greece and India. Since each flower only has three stigmas, many blossoms are needed to produce even a small amount of spice. It takes an acre of land and hundreds of thousands of flowers to produce one pound of saffron threads.

Saffron, which Patty Erd calls "a classic," has been a key ingredient in cuisines since ancient times, and it is commonly used to make risotto, bouillabaisse and paella. Fortunately, a little saffron goes a long way and most recipes call for just a pinch.
"There are 200 to 300 threads per gram, and you only need a few threads at a time," Erd says. "You use it so sparingly that in the long run it's not much more expensive than any other spice."

Saffron as a Appetite Suppressant

Vanilla Saffron Imports president Juan San Mames advises buyers that they invest on a good quality product. His San Francisco direct-import business currently offers saffron for $1,162.24 per pound, or $72.95 per ounce, and carefully vets its saffron for compliance with ISO standards. (Yes, the ISO has saffron specifications.) Cheap saffron producers often leave in the tasteless yellow stamens, adding weight and diluting the red stigmas that give the spice its famous taste.

If you still can not afford Saffron for spice, a cheaper and good substitute is turmeric powder/extract. We called turmeric dilaw ( means yellow) in Marinduque, Philippines and is the most popular spice ( yellow coloring) for a few Filipino dishes, such as chicken adobo sa Gata. Both turmeric and saffron had anti-inflammatory activity and are used as herbal drugs/dietary supplements for a variety of ailments.

References:

1. money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/fsb/0807/gallery.most_expensive_foods.../4.html

2. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2823029/How-ounce-saffron-expensive-gold-Cultivation-exotic-spice-returns-Essex-time-200-years.html

Turmeric and Arthritis Management

2017-02-11T09:51:00.001-08:00

Two weeks ago, I posted in my blogs that I have been diagnosed with mild to moderate form of arthritis in my left knee. My sister-in-law and daughter as well as another FB friend recommenced that I take turmeric since they found it to be useful in their arthritis. I was not sure what dosage form I should take, I did some research and here's what I found about turmeric and its health benefits.
(https://authoritynutrition.com/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-turmeric/)

Turmeric is the spice that gives curry its yellow color. It has been used in India for thousands of years as a spice and medicinal herb. Recently, science has started to back up what the Indians have known for a long time… it really does contain compounds with medicinal properties.

These compounds are called curcuminoids, the most important of which is curcumin. Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric. It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant.

However, the curcumin content of turmeric is not that high… it’s around 3%, by weight. Most of the studies on this herb are using turmeric extracts that contain mostly curcumin itself, with dosages usually exceeding 1 gram per day. It would be very difficult to reach these levels just using the turmeric spice in your foods. Therefore, if you want to experience the full effects, then you need to take an extract that contains significant amounts of curcumin.

Unfortunately, curcumin is poorly absorbed into the bloodstream. It helps to consume black pepper with it, which contains piperine… a natural substance that enhances the absorption of curcumin by 2000%

Because curcumin is known for its powerful anti-inflammatory and pain reducing characteristics, a study was conducted on 45 rheumatoid arthritis patients to compare the benefits of curcumin in turmeric to arthritis drugs (diclofenac sodium), that put people at risk of developing leaky gut and heart disease.

The study split these volunteers into three groups: curcumin treatment alone, diclofenac sodium alone, and a combination of the two. The results of the trial were eye-opening:

The curcumin group showed the highest percentage of improvement in overall [Disease Activity Score] scores and these scores were significantly better than the patients in the diclofenac sodium group. More importantly, curcumin treatment was found to be safe and did not relate with any adverse events. Our study provides the first evidence for the safety and superiority of curcumin treatment in patients with active RA, and highlights the need for future large-scale trials to validate these findings in patients with RA and other arthritic conditions.

Published by Phytotherapy Research in 2012, the results of this study has encouraged more human research to evaluate the amazing effects curcumin-rich plants like turmeric has on people suffering from various different types of arthritis.

A Bottle of turmeric Capsules, my daughter gave me as a gift provided I take the Capsules

One of the dosage form found effective is from 1000mg to 1200mg per day capsules. Virtually no side effects except constipation. If you are reading this and taking turmeric for your arthritis, I like to hear from you.

Diet, Exercise and My Arthritis

2017-02-09T11:03:00.001-08:00

Three weeks ago, my left knee was in pain and my personal physician confirmed it after an X'ray as a start of a mild to moderate form of Arthritis. There is no cure to arthritis but your diet could affect and reduce the swelling besides taking anti-inflammatory drugs such as Naprosin and other analgesics. I did some research on what foods to take as well as to avoid. The site below described foods that helps in reducing swelling and may reduce pain to a more manageable level.

The best approach to food for people with arthritis is a well-balanced diet which, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, should be centered on plant-based foods. Approximately two-thirds of your diet should come from fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The other third should include low-fat dairy products and lean sources of protein. Fish Products are also highly recommended.

Exercise is one of the best things you can do to help your knees by helping maintain range of motion and strengthening the muscles that support them. Research shows that even relatively minor increases in the strength of the quadriceps – the muscles that run along the front of the thigh – can help reduce the risk of knee osteoarthritis and its progression, and reduce pain. Exercise can be helpful for other forms of arthritis, too, because it strengthens the muscles that support the joint. Proper exercise also may reduce the risk of knee injury and, if you need knee surgery, it will make recovery easier.

Knee Anatomy-I think my quadriceps muscles are the one slightly inflamed.

For detail information on diets and arthritis read the site below:

http://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/arthritis-diet/foods-to-avoid-limit/food-ingredients-and-inflammation-11.php

Facing the Realities of Getting Older-Arthritis

2017-02-07T10:15:00.002-08:00

Our latest Photo- Aging Gracefully?

The last couple of years, I remember I did not feel old at all although I was already on my late 70's. Four years ago prior to the PD diagnosis of my spouse for over 59 years( this May 8 will be our 60th year anniversary), I felt young, energetic and hopeful. I remember that four years ago, I was not only mentally, and physically fit, but also spiritually fit. The thought of getting old had not occurred in my mind at time.

Today, I do not feel young and although I am mentally and spiritually fit, my physical fitness as of today in now in limbo and in question. You do need the three items namely physical, mental and spiritual fitness not to feel old.

It started about ten days ago. One morning I woke up with a lingering pain on my left knee. On a scale of 1 to 10, I felt it was about a 3 to 4. I can still tolerate it without taking any pain medications. As the days progressed I tried massage, heat therapy and mild exercise. Nothing works, I have to take aspirin.

The other day, I decided to see my family physician. He examined my left knee and thinks it must be a torn ligament in the knee or a start of arthritis, since the pain appears to be aggravated by cold temperature. He ordered an X'ray, prescribed (Naprosin ) an anti-inflammatory/analgesic drug and a knee support hose. The Naprosin and the Knee support seems to help alleviate the pain, but I am not completely pain free.

Today I got the results of the X'ray. No torn ligaments but the start of arthritis. So what is arthritis. Here's an excerpt from www.athritis.org

Arthritis is very common but is not well understood. Actually, “arthritis” is not a single disease; it is an informal way of referring to joint pain or joint disease. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis and related conditions. People of all ages, sexes and races can and do have arthritis, and it is the leading cause of disability in America. More than 50 million adults and 300,000 children have some type of arthritis. It is most common among women and occurs more frequently as people get older.

Common arthritis joint symptoms include swelling, pain, stiffness and decreased range of motion. Symptoms may come and go. They can be mild, moderate or severe. They may stay about the same for years, but may progress or get worse over time. Severe arthritis can result in chronic pain, inability to do daily activities and make it difficult to walk or climb stairs. Arthritis can cause permanent joint changes.

On a positive note: I passed my driver's license renewal for another five years after submitting the results of my vision test from my ophthamologist. I am however restricted to day driving and no extensive freeway driving. This is good enough for me as I only drive to the grocery and drug stores and once or twice a month to the Casino. Although I have no official restriction on Night Driving, I seldom drive at night and will do it only on emergency.

Related Blog: http://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/search?q=aging+gracefully

Under the Banyan Tree-Jessie Lichauco

2017-02-05T10:53:00.002-08:00

Jessie Lichauco
I recommend this Vimeo video by Arturo Prins in case you have not seen it. For the synopsis read below.

https://vimeo.com/162550581

“Under the Banyan tree” is a documentary exploring the inner world, memories and experiences of a 105-year-old Philippine woman, Nana Jessie. The life of a woman who at 18 left her birthplace in Cuba, to travel across land and ocean all by herself, to meet her future husband, Marcial Lichauco, in Manila. This is the portrait of a life full of adventure and unusual situations, embracing from before World War II to the present day. A house packed with old books, antiques, exotic objects, stuffed wild animals, photo albums, cats, dogs and a huge two hundred year old banyan tree next to the Pasig River, will be the supporting actors at the background of her memories. Through them and a clownish historical guide named Carlos, we will discover the history of a country, the traces of the Spanish and North American colonization, as well as the violent Japanese invasion during World War II.

The film is a kaleidoscopic glance at Grandma Jessie´s recollections, a dance with ghosts arising from her past: the turbulent XXth century Philippine history. A poetic mapping of the home where she lived almost all her life, enduring war amongst other hazardous situations, always protected by the presence of the eternal banyan tree, a symbol of permanence and stability. A centennial woman, much like the Pasig waters, softly caressing the river bank close to the house, with its boats and humble people.

A historical review of Philippine XXth century through the photographic albums; a series of interviews to the offspring of Philippine prostitutes and soldiers from the North American military base, socially excluded individuals, deprived of any citizenship rights; talks with some of Jessie´s seven children; conversations with survivors from the concentration camps during the War; participation in local folk dances; enjoying beautiful landscapes; mingling with today’s inhabitants along the river. All of these will merge into a surprising, unpredictable film about a family, a country, a history.

This is not a regular documentary, but rather a joyful song about everything surrounding Jessie, her photo albums, her furniture, the stuffed antelopes and lions, the magical corners of a home haunted by memories. Silent pauses, thoughtful gazes towards the river, the people surrounding her, a visual poetry telling us of her life, her feelings, her dead husband, her children, her home, her country. A picture where peace and violence, wealth and poverty, curiosity and love, youth and old age, sadness and joy, all take turns to leave a mark on her soul. An unexpected look into a country and its people, a road with an unforeseen end, bright images connecting and wrapping us with memories, secrets, past emotions, through the eyes and voice of this wise, adorable woman.

Here's a short biography of Marcial Lichauco, husband of Jessie from Wikipedia:

Marcial Primitivo Lichauco born in November 27, 1902 in Manila, was the youngest son of Faustino Lichauco (February 16, 1870, Binondo, Manila - June 15, 1930), a member of Emilio Aguinaldo's Revolutionary Junta, and Luisa Fernández y Arcinas (June 21, 1873, Binondo, Manila - September 10, 1959).

Lichauco studied at the American-established Central School in Manila. After having graduated as the valedictorian of his class, he entered Harvard University. In 1923, he became the first Filipino to graduate from Harvard. He later studied at Harvard Law School and graduated in 1926.

Throughout the period, Lichauco traveled in the United States delivering speeches promoting the idea of Philippine independence. He collaborated with Moorfield Storey to publish "The Conquest of the Philippines by the United States" to draw attention to the Philippine-American war.

In the 1930s, Lichauco was secretary to the OsRox Mission, which traveled to the United States Congress to urge passage of a bill granting independence to the Philippines. This ultimately became the Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act.

Lichauco spent WW-II in occupied Manila. After the war, Lichauco published "Dear Mother Putnam" to document day-to-day life in Japanese-occupied Manila.

In 1963, President Diosdado Macapagal appointed Marcial Lichauco as Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Lichauco served in that post until 1966.

Related Information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curiosity,_Adventure,_and_Love

My Involvement with the United States Pharmacopeia(USP)

2017-02-02T11:00:00.001-08:00

My Personal and Autographed Copy of the USP

The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) is a scientific nonprofit organization that sets standards for the identity, strength, quality, and purity of medicines, food ingredients, and dietary supplements manufactured, distributed and consumed worldwide. USP’s drug standards are enforceable in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration, and these standards are used in more than 140 countries.

Since its founding in 1820, USP has helped secure the quality of the American drug supply. Building on that legacy, USP today works with scientists, practitioners, and regulators of many nations to develop and revise standards that help protect public health worldwide. Here's a short video about the USP Pharmacopeia.

My involvement with the United States Pharmacopeia(USP)started in 1995 and ended in 2005. In 1995, I was first elected to USP Council of Experts, Standards Division in the Antibiotics and Natural Products Committees. My first term of 5 years ended in 2000, but I was reelected to another five years term in 2000 ending in 2005. As an elected member of the Council of Experts, I was responsible for establishing standards of identity, safety, quality, purity of drug substances and drug products as well as in-vitro and diagnostic products, dietary supplements and related articles used in health care. Just in case you have not heard of USP...

The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) is the official pharmacopeia of the United States, published dually with the National Formulary as the USP-NF. The United States Pharmacopeial Convention (usually also called the USP) is the nonprofit organization that owns the trademark and copyright to the USP-NF and publishes it every year. Prescription and over–the–counter medicines and other health care products sold in the United States are required to follow the standards in the USP-NF. USP also sets standards for food ingredients and dietary supplements.

My election to the USP Council of Experts was a very selected process. In 1995, there were more than 700 scientist nation-wide from academia, government and private industry who volunteered to serve. USP selection committee narrowed it down to 256 final nominees. Of the 256 final nominees, only 128 were elected.

Election to the Council of Experts ( formerly known as the Committee of Revision) confirms that the person elected is both the national and international expert in the field of election. My field is in Antibiotics and natural products( botanical drugs).

As far as I know I was the first Filipino-American elected to USP since its inception in 1820. Approved drugs and new drugs to be marketed in US must comply with the USP requirements with regards to identity, safety, quality and purity. The USP/NF is used by pharmacists, chemists, physicians, nurses and other health care professionals as well as consumers. I am very proud of my ten years of involvement with USP during my active working years as an Analytical Chemist for four private companies and as a Chemistry Team Leader in FDA for 12 years.

Lastly, the University of the Philippines Chemistry Alumni Newsletter congratulated me on my election to the USP/CE with this note. " We join with your colleagues and your family in congratulating you for this singular honor, which bring prestige to the Philippines as well."

Ten Most Expensive Books for your Reading Pleasure

2017-01-27T12:18:00.002-08:00

In my previous postings I have listed ten most expensive photographs, paintings, and sculptures. Today I am listing the top ten most expensive books. Before I did my search, My educated guess for number 1 was either the Gutenberg Bible or the Birds of America by Audubon. Again, I was wrong and surprise to read the following list. This shows how ignorant I am about books. So before you open the link below, can you give me your educated guess on the number 1 most expensive book in the world.

http://www.worldstopmost.com/2017-2018-2019-2020/news/most-expensive-books-world-top-10-best-selling-popular-list/

Ten Most Expensive Paintings

2017-01-20T09:34:00.001-08:00

The other day I posted ten of the most expensive photographs sold as of today. My curiosity was aroused on the list of expensive paintings. Before I did my Internet search ( see site below), I thought that the Number One has to be a Picasso or a Van Gough. I am mistaken as listed in the following site as follows: Before you open the link, can you give me an educated guess? Enjoy the paintings!

The Scream-a familiar painting in my memory, but not the Number 1.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11596376/The-ten-most-expensive-paintings-in-history.html

Top Ten Most Expensive Photographs

2017-01-19T07:19:00.001-08:00

Rhein II
I do not intend to infringe on the copyright of this photo. I will remove this photo upon request from the owner of the original photograph.

I just finished reading two interesting articles on the debate/discussion whether photography is an art form or not. (https://contrastly.com/photography-art-form/) and (http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/photography-art.htm).

One of the arguments in favor of photographs as an art form is the fact that people buy photographs as well as paintings and sculptures. According to Wikipedia, the following is the top 10 highest prices paid for photographs (in US dollars unless otherwise stated). All prices include the Buyer's Premium, which is the auction house fee for handling the work.

The list include the rank, the name of the artist, the price paid and the date sold as well as the place of the Seller/Auction House.

1. Andreas Gursky, Rhein II (1999), $4,338,500, November 8, 2011, Christie's New York( see photo above)

2. Richard Prince, Spiritual America (1981), $3,973,000, May 12, 2014, Christie's New York

3. Cindy Sherman, Untitled #96 (1981), $3,890,500, May 2011, Christie's New York

4. Gilbert & George, For Her Majesty (1973), $3,765,276, June 30, 2008, Christie's London

5. Jeff Wall, Dead Troops Talk (A vision after an ambush of a Red Army patrol, near Moqor, Afghanistan, winter 1986) (1992), $3,666,500, May 8, 2012, Christie's New York

6. Andreas Gursky, 99 Cent II Diptychon (2001), $3,346,456, February 2007, Sotheby's London auction

7. Andreas Gursky, Chicago Board of Trade III (1999-2000), $3,298,755, June 26, 2013, Sotheby’s London

8. Richard Prince, Untitled (Cowboy) (2000), $3,077,000, May 14, 2014, Sotheby’s New York

9. Cindy Sherman, Untitled Film Still #48 (1979), $2,965,000, May 13, 2015, Christie’s New York

10. Edward Steichen, The Pond—Moonlight (1904), $2,928,000, February 2006, Sotheby's New York

Update: http://resourcemagonline.com/2014/08/most-expensive-photographs/41214/

The new #1 now belongs to Peter Lik whose photograph entitled “Phantom”, was sold in December 2014 to a private collector for a mind boggling $6.5 million.(see link above). It easily surpassed the previous record held by Andreas Gursky’s “Rhein II”, which sold for $4.3 million back in 2011.

Phantom

Integration of Art and Science

2017-01-17T10:26:00.002-08:00

A couple of weeks ago, I received an e-mail from Dr. Joel Cuello, our current President of Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering (PAASE) listing the link and an article about some of his paintings. I did enjoy viewing his paintings. So he is not only a well-known scientist (he is a globally recognized expert in the engineering of sustainable biological and agricultural innovations) but also a published artist. (http://ovpaa.up.edu.ph/create/#cuello2)

This aroused my curiosity on the relationships between art and science. I did some Internet search on famous scientists who are also artists. Two famous names among several names in the list (https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/01/24/science-wonder/) did not surprised me: Albert Einstein and Leonardo Da Vinci. I have also read several fascinating and interesting articles and viewed several videos that science and art are interrelated and are not opposite disciplines.(https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/from-stem-to-steam-science-and-the-arts-go-hand-in-hand/).

The following video attracted my attention because the scientist/artist is not only a female but a very young one from a country outside the US. I hope you enjoy the following video ( TED) as much as I did.

Finally here are a few quotes on art and science that I hope you will enjoy:
https://todayinsci.com/QuotationsCategories/S_Cat/ScienceAndArt-Quotations.htm

Note: If you are a PAASE member and you are also an artist please let me know. Who is an artist? One, such as a painter, sculptor, or writer, who is able by virtue of imagination and talent or skill to create works of aesthetic value, especially in the fine arts.

Music and Mathematics: Have You Heard of Dr. Raul Sunico?

2017-01-15T13:27:00.001-08:00

I have not been following the music scene in the Philippines. However, just the other day I received an E-mail from our current Philippines American Academy of Science & Engineering (PAASE) President, DR Joel Cuello, about one of the members of PAASE that is both a mathematician and a world famous pianist. His name is Dr. Raul Sunico. I have vaguely heard of his name, and had never heard him play. So I did some Internet search and here's a video of Dr Sunico that I enjoyed very much.

Here's a biography of Dr Sunico:

Raul M. Sunico graduated from the University of the Philippines with the degrees of Bachelor of Music (cum laude), Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, and Master of Statistics. A scholarship from former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos through the
Young Artists Foundation of the Philippines enabled him to finish his Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School in New York and a Doctor of Philosophy degree, major in piano Performance from the New York University. In 2005, he was also conferred a
Doctor of Humanities degree (honoris causa) by the Far Eastern University.

Sunico has given solo recitals in the United States, Canada, Mexico, India, Australia, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Kosovo, Japan, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Poland, Spain, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, Sweden, England, and the Philippines. He was the
soloist of the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, Transylvania Philharmonic Orchestra (Romania), Szczecin Philharmonic Orchestra (Poland), Towson Community Orchestra (Maryland, USA), Taipei Symphony Orchestra, Taiwan Normal University Wind Orchestra, Tokyo Sinfonia, Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra, Ho Chi Minh Symphony Orchestra, Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, and other major Philippine orchestras.

Sunico is concurrently the President of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Dean of the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music. BRAVO!!

My first practical knowledge that there is a correlation between music and mathematics was in the early 1950's when I was a college student at the University of the Philippines. One of my many UPSCA ( UP student catholic action) friends was studying piano at the College of Music. She graduated with high honors from the College of Music. Later on she studied Mathematics and graduated with high honors again. She was then appointed as Instructor in Mathematics at the College of Liberal Arts. Her name: Mercy Lopez. I have no contact with her since then, but needless to say, I admired her very much and had a crush on her for being a talented pianist and mathematician.

Mercy Lopez at the Men's South Dorm Open House with Me and Room Mates, 1954

Below is a short video about Math and Music.

For additional details on music and math correlation read the following:
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/serendipupdate/correlation-between-music-and-math-neurobiology-perspective

Treasured Photos of UPSCA and Fr John Delaney:1952-1957

2017-01-13T10:22:00.000-08:00

Newspaper Clippings on the Death of Fr John Delaney, 1956. Today is the 61st Anniversary of his death. For more details on his life and work in UP Diliman, read, http://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/2016/01/memories-of-my-college-years-in-up.html

The following are old photos I just discovered recently dating from 1952 to 1957 mostly of Macrine's and my UPSCA Activities. UPSCA is the University of the Philippines Student Catholic Action for those of you not familiar with the initial.

1953 UPSCA Choir

Barbecue Party after UPSCA Concert, UP Diliman, 1954

Marinduque Association, Silver Jubilee, Manila Hotel, 1957

UPSCA Social Works with Fr John Delaney, 1952

UPSCA Meeting with Fr Delaney and Tito Tino ( Fr. Constantino Nieva)-President of UPSCA, 1952