Chateau Du Mer Beach House and Conference Hall

San Marino- The Oldest Country in the World

2026-10-21T23:41:00.570-07:00

While 34 countries were born in the last thirty years, one nation has been quietly surviving for over 1,700 years and most people have never heard of it. Between 1940 and 1960, as the age of colonialism collapsed, the world witnessed an explosion of independence. Over 40 new countries came into existence, representing more than 800 million people suddenly governing themselves. 

During the Cold War, the United States and Soviet Union competed fiercely for influence in these newly formed nations, and many became battlegrounds both cold and hot.

The next big wave came with the disintegration of the USSR and Yugoslavia. Since 1990, 34 new countries have appeared on world maps, each one representing populations seeking self-determination, each one reshaping political boundaries.

The youngest country on Earth is South Sudan, which became sovereign and independent in 2011, just fifteen years ago.  

But what about the oldest?  Hidden in the Apennine Mountains of Italy, perched on the slopes of Mount Titano, sits a country so small you could drive across it in twenty minutes. It's completely landlocked, entirely surrounded by Italy, with a population of just 34,042 people, about the size of a small American town.

Yet this tiny nation has outlasted the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Holy Roman Empire, countless Italian city-states, Napoleon's conquests, two World Wars, Mussolini's fascism, and the rise and fall of the Soviet Union.

The Most Serene Republic of San Marino has been independent and sovereign for over seventeen centuries. Founded on September 3, 301 AD, according to tradition, by a Christian stonemason named Marinus who fled persecution and established a small community on Mount Titano.  San Marino has maintained its independence through a combination of strategic neutrality, diplomatic skill, geographic isolation, and sometimes sheer luck.

While empires rose and fell around it, while borders were redrawn hundreds of times, while Italy itself didn't exist as a unified nation until 1861, San Marino simply persisted. Its constitution, written in 1600, is one of the world's oldest still in effect.

Today, you can visit this living piece of ancient history. You can walk streets that have been walked for seventeen centuries, see fortresses that have stood since the Middle Ages, and marvel at a nation that has survived longer than almost any other political entity on Earth.

South Sudan, the world's newest country, is fifteen years old. San Marino, the world's oldest country, was founded 1,724 years ago today, on September 3, 301 AD. Some things, it turns out, are built to last.

Meanwhile, here's the AI Overview
Yes, San Marino is widely considered the world's oldest surviving sovereign state and republic, founded in 301 AD by Saint Marinus, making it a nation with over 1,700 years of continuous independence and democratic tradition, though its independence wasn't recognized by the Pope until 1631. While civilizations in places like China or Egypt are older, San Marino is unique as the oldest continuous republic and sovereign state with its current form of government. 
Key Facts:
Founded: 301 AD by a stonemason named Marinus.
Claim to Fame: Oldest surviving republic and sovereign state.
Location: A microstate landlocked within Italy.
Constitution: Its 1600 constitution is the world's oldest still in effect.
Government: A unique parliamentary republic with two Captains Regent as heads of state.
Why It's Considered Oldest:
Continuous Governance: 
It has maintained its republican form of government and sovereignty for centuries, unlike ancient civilizations that evolved into modern nations.
Historical Resilience: 
Its isolated location on Mount Titano helped it remain independent through various European conflicts and changes in power. 
Meanwhile, Did you know that.....
The US used the Philippines as a "laboratory" to see if American-style democracy could actually work in Asia? Long before most of our neighbors were even thinking about independence, the Philippines held the first-ever national elections in Southeast Asia (1907) and established a US-style tripartite government (Executive, Legislative, Judiciary) to prove that Filipinos could be "tutored" in Western self-rule.
This "test" had a massive flaw: to ensure stability, the Americans handed power to the pre-existing landed elite (the Principalia), effectively creating the "political dynasties" that still dominate the country today. While we got the form of a democracy (elections and a constitution), the substance, economic equality was ignored, meaning we built a high-tech political engine on top of an old feudal social system.

My Photo of the Day:

GOOD NEWS FOR THE PHILIPPINES TOURISM !

2026-10-21T18:28:35.055-07:00

The Philippines welcomed 5.4 million foreign visitors in 2024, earning the title of Asia’s Leading Beach Destination at the prestigious World Travel Awards. Investments in infrastructure are planned to improve connectivity to key tourist destinations. Efforts to promote sustainability and eco-tourism will help preserve the country’s natural resources while catering to environmentally conscious travelers. 
LOOK :  In 2024, the Philippines made significant strides in its tourism sector, welcoming over 5.4 million foreign visitors—a notable 8.7% increase from the previous year. This growth was bolstered by the country’s recognition as “Asia’s Leading Beach Destination” at the prestigious World Travel Awards, underscoring its appeal to global travelers.  
Key Highlights from 2024 Tourism:
 • Visitor Demographics: South Korea led as the top source of tourists with 1.5 million arrivals, followed by the United States (947,891), Japan (388,316), and China (312,222).  
 • Economic Impact: Tourism revenue reached a record-breaking PHP 760.5 billion (approximately USD 13 billion), reflecting the sector’s robust recovery and its contribution to the national economy.  
 • Accolades and Recognitions: Beyond the beach destination title, the Philippines secured multiple honors at the World Travel Awards, including Asia’s Leading Dive Destination for the sixth consecutive year, Asia’s Leading Island Destination, and accolades for specific locales such as Boracay (Asia’s Best Luxury Island Destination), Cebu (Asia’s Leading Wedding Destination), and Intramuros (Asia’s Top Tourist Attraction).  
Looking Ahead to 2025:
Building on the momentum from 2024, the Philippines aims to attract 8.4 million foreign tourists in 2025, marking a projected increase of over 55%.  To achieve this, the Department of Tourism is implementing initiatives such as easing entry for digital nomads and introducing tax-free shopping options for tourists.  
With its extensive coastline, rich cultural heritage, and commitment to enhancing the tourist experience, the Philippines continues to solidify its position as a premier destination in Asia.
Palawan has been named the World’s Best Island to Visit in 2025 by U.S. News & World Report, placing the Philippine destination at the top of a prestigious global list that celebrates natural beauty, adventure, and accessibility. The report praised Palawan’s “impressive coastlines, immersive experiences, and alluring characteristics,” spotlighting must-see destinations like Coron’s crystal-clear Kayangan Lake, the dramatic lagoons of Bacuit Bay in El Nido, and the stunning cave-kayaking experience along the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River.

Palawan is the only Southeast Asian destination to break into the top 10, surpassing other world-renowned islands such as Sardinia, Mauritius, and Santorini. The recognition reflects the island’s unique ability to attract both thrill-seeking adventurers and laid-back beach lovers.

Meanwhile, NOW OPEN: Experience the adventure at Bagumbungan River Cave System, Barangay San Isidro and Punong, Sta. Cruz, Marinduque.


Here's a short video on Gold Found in the Philippines

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1040050111311669

Finally, here are the top 10 tourist destinations in the Philippines:

1. #BoracayIsland  - Famous for its white sandy beaches and vibrant nightlife.

2. #Palawan  - Known for its stunning landscapes, including the Puerto Princesa Underground River and El Nido's limestone cliffs.

3. #Manila  - The capital city offers historical sites like Intramuros and cultural attractions such as Rizal Park.

4. #Cebu  - Features historical landmarks, beautiful beaches, and diving spots like Malapascua Island.

5. #Bohol  - Home to the Chocolate Hills, tarsier sanctuaries, and picturesque beaches.

6. #SiargaoIsland  - Renowned for its surfing spots, such as Cloud 9, and pristine beaches.

7. #BanaueRiceTerraces  - A UNESCO World Heritage Site, showcasing the ingenuity of the Ifugao people.

8. #DavaoCity  - Offers attractions like Mount Apo, Philippine Eagle Center, and pristine beaches.

9. #Vigan  - Known for its well-preserved Spanish colonial and Asian architecture.

10. #Batanes  - Offers breathtaking landscapes, rolling hills, and unique stone house 

The Fifteen Architectural Wonders of the World

2026-10-21T18:28:06.049-07:00

Humans have always striven to build monuments and symbols to honor the earthly and spiritual influences in their lives. Art and building design go hand-in-hand and through the ages, world civilizations have designed some pretty awe-inspiring structures. From the Great Pyramids of Egypt to the majestic skyscrapers of our modern cities, let’s travel through time and across the planet as we explore 25 jaw-dropping architectural wonders.

1. Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela, Ethiopia

Credit:wilpunt/iStock

Near the small town of Lalibela are 11 magnificent medieval churches all carved

out of massive slabs of rock. The churches were built in the 12th century under

the direction of King Lalibela. The most fascinating of the ancient churches is the

House of Saint George, famed for its cross-shaped design and network of

trenches and ceremonial passages which connect it to the other churches.

2. National Stadium, Beijing, China

Credit:PhotoTalk/iStock

The Bird’s Nest got its nickname from its elaborate lattice steel design. Beijing’s

iconic National Stadium is made of 42,000 tons of metal enclosing one of the

world’s largest indoor spaces. The stadium is best remembered for its memorable

opening and closing ceremonies during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

3. The Great Wall of China

Credit:zorazhuang/iStock

At 13,170 miles, the Great Wall is the longest man-made structure ever built. It was

constructed between 220 and 206 B.C. by Emperor Qin Shi Huang in order to

defend his territory from attack. The Chinese call the wall cháng chéng which

means “long city” and only a few sections of the original wall remain standing today.

4. Pont Du Gard, Remoulins, France

Credit:espiegle/iStock

The Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct bridge spans nearly 1,000 feet and stands

than 150 feet above the Gard River. It is actually a working aqueduct that was

built by the Romans in the 1st century A.D. and still supplies the region with

44 million gallons of water each day. The engineering design of this bridge is a

marvel because each stone was precisely hand laid, built without mortar and

has a gradient of less than 1 inch per 500 yards

5. Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Bilbao, Spain

Credit:tichr/iStock

This architectural wonder was the brainchild of American architect Frank Gehry.

The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is a mind-blowing chrome and metal creation

that houses an impressive collection of modern and contemporary art masterpieces

and is a continuation of the Guggenheim legacy.

6. Burj Khalifa, Dubai, UAE

Credit:dblight/iStock

Burj Khalifa in Dubai takes home the title as the world’s tallest building at 2,723 feet

tall and 160 stories. Inspiration for the design was drawn from the Hymenocallis,

or Spider Lily, with three sections of the tower arranged around the central core.

When viewed from the top, the onion shape is reminiscent of designs used in

Islamic architecture on a much larger scale.

7. La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain

Credit:NeoPhoto/iStock

La Sagrada Família is a giant basilica in Barcelona that has been under construction

since the late 1800s and is not expected to be complete for many years to come.

This amazing cathedral was designed to mimic nature, with the interior featuring

tree-like columns, and was built without any straight lines.

8. The Colosseum, Rome, Italy

Credit:vwalakte/iStock

The nearly 2000-year-old Colosseum is still the world’s largest amphitheater and

Rome’s most-visited attraction. With 80 entrances, the Colosseum can seat

50,000 people. Its dark and sad past is a reminder of countless victims who

died in the gladiator battles that took place here for nearly 400 years.

9.The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy

Credit: f11photo/Shutterstock

Famous for its noticeable tilt, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the most

remarkable architectural buildings in Europe. It started to lean while it was being

built because of the soft ground on one side of the site. Completed in 1473,

the tower leans at around 4 degrees and is predicted to collapse in the

next 75-100 years.

10. Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia

Credit:ai_yoshi/iStock

The Sydney Opera House has become the iconic symbol of both Sydney and

Australia. This spectacular building features three sets of interlocking shells that

house two performance halls and a restaurant. The Opera House hosts over

3,000 events each year.

11. Al Khazneh, Petra, Jordan

Credit:Astalor/iStock

The Treasury at Petra is known as Al Khazneh and was carved right into the

mountain of rose-colored stone. This 1st-century architectural wonder was

originally built as a crypt and evokes the Greek architecture of that time period.

12.Pyramid of Kukulcan, Chichén Itzá, Mexico

Credit:Csondy/iStock

Towering over Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula are the world-famous Mayan

architectural relics of the Pyramid of Kukulcan, or El Castillo. This geometric

structure was built between 800 and 900 A.D. to honor the feathered serpent god

in the ancient city of Chichén Itzá. The pyramid was built so precisely that during

the spring equinox, the sunlight produces shadows that give the illusion of a

serpent ascending and descending the side of El Castillo's staircase.

13.Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California

Credit:Eloi_Omella/iStock

This 80-year old majestic bridge gets its name from the Golden Gate Straits that

it spans. The iconic symbol of San Francisco is an engineering marvel and

considered one of the “Seven Wonders of the Modern World.” Not bad for a

landmark that was once called “the bridge that

couldn’t be built.”

14. Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

Credit:neirfy/iStock

This remarkable 900-foot tall engineering marvel still stands tall in the City of Lights

and was once the tallest man-made structure in the world. The Eiffel Tower has

withstood the test of time and after 130 years, is still the most-visited paid

monument in the world.

15.The Great Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

Credit: rayints/Shutterstock

No list of architectural wonders is complete without these two eternal icons. Facing the

sunrise and standing guard outside the pyramid tombs of Giza, you will find one of the

largest and oldest statues in the world—the Great Sphinx of Giza. The Great Pyramids

of Giza are the last surviving of the Seven Wonders of the World. Khufu’s Great Pyramid

is made up of 2.3 million granite blocks.

Born in Paris, Jim is a retired lecturer of African Studies and self-described

life-long global trekker. His career as an Air Force officer gave him the

chance to experience amazing and exotic destinations in Europe, Asia

and Africa. He is at home on the golf course or backpacking anywhere

there is a story to tell.

How many of these fifteen architectural wonders have you seen or visited? If have seen them all, I salute you. You are a world traveller and I congratulate you on your achievements.

Meanwhile, Here's some hidden gems in the Philippines for Tourist Information

The Philippines is a treasure trove of hidden gems, from stunning beaches to historic landmarks and vibrant cultural experiences. Here are some top recommendations:

1. Natural Wonders

Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, Ilocos Norte: A geological wonder sculpted by wind and wave erosion, featuring stunning alabaster-hued rocks and breathtaking coastal views.

Big Lagoon, El Nido: A picturesque lagoon with towering limestone cliffs and crystal-clear waters, perfect for island hopping and snorkeling.Dahican Beach, Davao Oriental: Known for its strong surf, coconut groves, and long stretch of golden sand, ideal for surfing and beach camping.

Maniwaya Island, Marinduque: A peaceful island getaway with pristine beaches and natural wonders like Palad Sandbar.

2. Cultural and Historical Landmarks

San Sebastian Church, Manila: Asia's only all-steel church, a marvel of engineering and a symbol of the country's complex colonial past.

Vigan, Ilocos Sur: A beautifully preserved Spanish colonial town and UNESCO World Heritage Site, featuring cobblestone streets, ancestral houses, and horse-drawn carriages.

Intramuros, Manila: A historic walled city with well-preserved fortifications, churches, and colonial buildings, offering a glimpse into the Philippines' rich history.

Taal Basilica, Batangas: The largest Catholic church in Asia, boasting stunning architecture and a rich religious history.

3. Unique Experiences

Ifugao Rice Terraces: Ancient engineering marvels carved into the mountains of northern Luzon, showcasing sustainable agricultural practices and breathtaking views.

Asin Tibuok, Bohol: A rare type of artisanal sea salt formed through a centuries-old process, offering a taste of local flavors.

Local Street Eats: Sampling street food like fish balls, banana cue, and other local delicacies is an essential part of the Filipino travel experience

My Internet Presence- An Update

2026-10-21T18:27:37.221-07:00

David B Katague

The following information is what I get when I google myself, typing David B Katague

David Balleza Katague (often known as Dr. David B. Katague) is a Filipino-American retired pharmaceutical chemist, writer, and avid blogger. He is best known for sharing his life history, family stories, and love for his homeland through his prominent personal blogs.

Key Information About David B. Katague

Profession & Background: He holds an advanced degree in chemistry. He previously worked as a pharmaceutical scientist, contributing to research such as the chemical analysis of essential oils like Ylang-Ylang.
Blogging & Writing: In his retirement, he became a highly active online writer. He documents his life across platforms like Blogger and HubPages. His popular blogs include The Intellectual Migrants and Chateau Du Mer.
Core Topics: His articles and autobiographical posts cover a wide range of heartfelt topics:
- Traditional Philippine and American cooking recipes.
- His childhood experiences in the Philippines during World War II.
- Relocating to the United States as an immigrant professional.
- Poetry and commentaries on modern culture.
Chateau Du Mer: He is the owner of Chateau Du Mer, a beach house and conference facility located in the island province of Marinduque, Philippines. He often writes about the joy of spending his retirement years by this seaside paradise.
Family: He is married to Macrine Katague. He is the father of several children, including Ditas Katague, a prominent public official in California

Dr. David B. Katague successfully balanced a rigorous career as a government and pharmaceutical scientist with a prolific second chapter as an online memoirist and cultural blogger.

🧪 Scientific Background & FDA Career

Before turning to writing, Dr. Katague had a highly distinguished career in pharmaceutical and organic chemistry, moving from laboratory research to federal drug regulation.

Advanced Education: He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Illinois, Chicago. His early academic research specialized in using advanced extraction and separation tools.
Early Research Specialties: In the 1960s, he published notable peer-reviewed papers in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. His work utilized gas chromatography (a method to separate and analyze compounds) to map out the volatile components of Papaya fruit and Ylang-Ylang oil.
US FDA Leadership: From 1990 until his retirement in 2002, he worked for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Silver Spring, Maryland. He served as a Chemistry Team Leader within the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER).
Drug Review Oversight: In his role at the FDA, he supervised groups of chemistry reviewers and signed off on crucial regulatory approval packages. His team oversaw the chemical validation and safety oversight for various life-saving anti-infective medications, such as Augmentin and Macrodantin.

✍️ Prolific Writings & Core Themes

After retiring from the FDA, Dr. Katague transformed into a digital storyteller. Writing primarily under his name and his island moniker Chateau Du Mer, he established a massive footprint on Blogger and HubPages. His works generally fall into a few primary themes:

Autobiography & History: He has written extensive multi-part memoirs documenting his childhood in the Philippines during the Japanese-American War (1914–1945). He provides a rare first-hand perspective of what wartime looked like through the eyes of a child.
The Immigrant Experience: In his blog The Intellectual Migrants, he explores the societal contributions, challenges, and cultural adjustments faced by professional Filipino immigrants relocating to the United States.
Philippine Culture and Tourism: He acts as a digital ambassador for his home province of Marinduque. He writes heavily about local traditions, such as the famous Moriones Festival (a week-long masked street pageant) and local humanitarian efforts like medical missions.
Culinary Arts: An enthusiastic cook, he frequently publishes heritage recipes aimed at keeping traditional Philippine dishes-like roasted pig (lechon)- for younger generations of Filipino-Americans who grew up in the West.
Creative and Personal Pieces: He also shares poetry, lighthearted musings on aging, thoughts on his favorite books, and essays with provocative, eye-catching titles like I Am a Man, but I Gave Birth to Two Sons.

AI Overview:

Key Information About David B. Katague

Profession & Background: He holds an advanced degree in chemistry. He previously worked as a pharmaceutical scientist, contributing to research such as the chemical analysis of essential oils like Ylang-Ylang.
Blogging & Writing: In his retirement, he became a highly active online writer. He documents his life across platforms like Blogger and HubPages. His popular blogs include The Intellectual Migrants and Chateau Du Mer.
Core Topics: His articles and autobiographical posts cover a wide range of heartfelt topics:
- Traditional Philippine and American cooking recipes.
- His childhood experiences in the Philippines during World War II.
- Relocating to the United States as an immigrant professional.
- Poetry and commentaries on modern culture.
Chateau Du Mer: He is the owner of Chateau Du Mer, a beach house and conference facility located in the island province of Marinduque, Philippines. He often writes about the joy of spending his retirement years by this seaside paradise.
Family: He is married to Macrine Katague. He is the father of several children, including Ditas Katague, a prominent public official in California.

✍️ Prolific Writings & Core Themes

Autobiography & History: He has written extensive multi-part memoirs documenting his childhood in the Philippines during the Japanese-American War (1914–1945). He provides a rare first-hand perspective of what wartime looked like through the eyes of a child.
The Immigrant Experience: In his blog The Intellectual Migrants, he explores the societal contributions, challenges, and cultural adjustments faced by professional Filipino immigrants relocating to the United States.
Philippine Culture and Tourism: He acts as a digital ambassador for his home province of Marinduque. He writes heavily about local traditions, such as the famous Moriones Festival (a week-long masked street pageant) and local humanitarian efforts like medical missions.
Culinary Arts: An enthusiastic cook, he frequently publishes heritage recipes aimed at keeping traditional Philippine dishes—like roasted pig (lechon)—alive for younger generations of Filipino-Americans who grew up in the West.
Creative and Personal Pieces: He also shares poetry, lighthearted musings on aging, thoughts on his favorite books, and essays with provocative, eye-catching titles like I Am a Man, but I Gave Birth to Two Sons.
Primary Historical Hub: To read his personal accounts of the war, you can visit his blog page, The Japanese-American War as Seen through the Eyes of a Child.

Alternative Directory: He also cross-listed his war memories under a slightly different title on his Blogger Profile, listed as The Japanese-American War in the Philippines, 1941-1945

The Wayfarer's Chapel and the Two Chapels in Marinduque

2026-10-21T18:27:19.810-07:00

This posting is inspired from my recent readings on the completion and blessing by the Pope of the towers of Sagrada Familia Church in Barcelona. Spain. The message I like to bring is prayers whether done in the tallest Church of the World or in the lowest Chapel in the Philippines will have the same meaning if it comes from the heart. Prayers comes from the heart and not in a Place!

Between 1949 and 1951, Lloyd Wright, son of Frank Lloyd Wright, designed the exquisite Wayfarers Chapel. The delicate glass-and-wood sanctuary is one of Rancho Palos Verdes’ most beautiful landmarks, conceived as a memorial to theologian Emanuel Swedenborg, and serving as a welcoming, spiritual sanctuary for all “wayfarers.”

It stood on the Palos Verdes bluff for three-quarters of a century before extreme land movement from an ancient landslide forced the chapel’s management to disassemble it in 2024.

The above chapel designs and architecture reminds me of the other two other chapels in my second Home, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines as follows:.

💚 Yong Nieva(RIP)-and Me at the Amana Resort Chapel, Cawit, MRQ, Philippines

Our Chapel and Prayer Room, Chateau Du Mer, Boac, MRQ, Philippines

The Living Room of the Amana Resort - Designs by Ivy Almario- Amana Resort, Cawit, MRQ. An exquisite example of blending native materials and modern furniture design, incorporating the philosophy of immersing visitors to the natural surroundings.

💚Yong Nieva was Macrine(RIP) first cousin- a member of the well-known Nieva Clan of Marinduque.

Meanwhile, here's the AI Overview

Wayfarers Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, designed by Lloyd Wright is celebrated for its "organic architecture," blending floor-to-ceiling glass and redwood into the surrounding forest and coastal bluffs. Several stunning chapels across the US share this philosophy of immersing visitors in nature.

Similar Glass & Nature-Inspired Chapels

Thorncrown Chapel (Eureka, AR): Designed by E. Fay Jones, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. Like Wayfarers, this award-winning structure in the Ozark Mountains is made primarily of glass and wood, containing over 6,000 panes of glass that allow the surrounding forest to act as the architecture.
Anthony Chapel (Hot Springs, AR): Located at Garvan Woodland Gardens, this is considered Thorncrown's "big brother." It features similar geometric architecture with sweeping glass and steel, offering a grand but intimate feel within a pine and oak forest.

Cooper Memorial Chapel (Bella Vista, AR): Another creation by E. Fay Jones. It features a smaller, intricate wooden-and-glass design that serves as a quiet sanctuary nestled into the surrounding trees and hillsides.

Other Notable Frank Lloyd Wright-Designed Spaces

First Christian Church (Phoenix, AZ): Designed in 1950 by Frank Lloyd Wright, this building features an impressive seventy-seven-foot spire supported by 23 slender triangular pillars. Light filters in through stained-glass inserts, evoking a sacred, nature-focused atmosphere.

Danforth Chapel (Lakeland, FL): Commissioned for Florida Southern College, this brick and geometric glass space was envisioned by F.L. Wright as a "spiritual sanctuary in the garden."

Pettit Chapel (Belvidere, IL): One of Wright's earlier religious structures, reflecting the prairie style with low eaves and beautiful bands of art glass that tie the interior to the cemetery grounds

Six Interests That Tell My Story: Faith, the Philippines, Mahjong, Books, Cats, and Tango

2026-10-21T09:21:08.003-07:00

Reflections of David B. Katague, a Filipino-American Blogger Nearing 92

“A life is not measured only by the years we have lived, but also by the interests we continue to nurture, the people we touch, and the memories we carry in our hearts.”

Recently, I created a special caricature of myself surrounded by six things that have brought meaning, happiness, and fulfillment to my life. Looking at the illustration, I realized that these six interests tell a story about who I am, where I came from, what I believe, and how I continue to enjoy life as I approach my 92nd birthday.

I am David B. Katague, a Filipino-American, retired scientist, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and longtime blogger. I have lived through World War II, earned a Ph.D. in pharmaceutical chemistry, worked in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and experienced the joys and sorrows that come with a long life.

Today, I live at The Heritage Downtown, a senior living community in Walnut Creek, California. Although I live alone following the passing of my beloved wife, Macrine, I am not lonely. I still have my memories, my family, my friends, my faith, my writing, and the interests that keep my mind and spirit engaged.

Here are the six interests represented in my caricature.

1. Catholic Faith: My Spiritual Anchor

My Catholic faith has been an important part of my life. Growing older has given me more time to reflect on the blessings I have received, the challenges I have overcome, and the people who have helped me along the way.

I do not believe that a long life is necessarily an easy life. We experience disappointments, illness, separation, and the loss of people we love. My wife Macrine and I shared more than 63 years of marriage before she passed away in August 2020. Her absence remains part of my daily life, but so do the beautiful memories of our years together.

Faith helps me accept what I cannot change and appreciate what remains.

I continue to value prayer, the teachings of the Church, and the opportunity to reflect on the meaning of life. Even when I cannot attend Mass in person, I can participate in Sunday Mass online.

At my age, I am less interested in having all the answers than I am in living with gratitude, kindness, and hope.

I believe that faith is not simply about what we profess. It is also about how we treat other people.

2. Travel and the Philippines: My Roots Will Always Be Home

I was born in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, in the Philippines. My first 26 years were spent in the country of my birth, where I grew up speaking Hiligaynon and later learned Tagalog and English.

My childhood included the difficult years of World War II. Those experiences became part of the personal history that I have carried throughout my life.

Although my education and career eventually took me to the United States, my Filipino identity never disappeared. I earned my undergraduate degree at the University of the Philippines and later traveled to Chicago to pursue my Ph.D. at the University of Illinois Medical Center.

My career brought me to different parts of America, but the Philippines remained close to my heart.

One of the most meaningful chapters of my later life was our connection to Marinduque, where Macrine and I participated in medical missions from 1999 to 2013. We also developed Chateau Du Mer, our island retreat and conference center.

Macrine often reminded me of a simple truth:

“You have not really lived if you have not touched the life of others.”

Those words continue to guide my reflections.

Today, I am proud to share Filipino history, food, traditions, and personal experiences with my readers around the world. Here at The Heritage Downtown, I am especially happy when I have an opportunity to introduce my fellow residents to Filipino culture.

My roots are in the Philippines, but my life has also been enriched by America. I am grateful to belong to both worlds. The Philippines give me roots and America give me wings.

3. Philippine Mahjong: Friendship Around the Table

Games have always been an important part of my social life.

I have played bridge since my graduate-school days in the early 1960s. Over the decades, it has become more than a card game. Bridge challenges my memory, concentration, reasoning, and ability to work with a partner.

At The Heritage Downtown, I help organize bridge games and enjoy playing with fellow residents. I am happy that, even as I approach 92, I can still sit at a bridge table and enjoy a good game.

I have also shared another favorite pastime with my community: Philippine mahjong.

Mahjong is a tile-based game with a rich history in Asia. It requires observation, memory, strategy, and a little luck. More importantly, it brings people together.

Introducing Philippine mahjong to residents has given me another opportunity to share something from my cultural background.

I enjoy seeing people learn the game, recognize the tiles, develop strategies, and laugh together when luck does not favor them.

For me, games are not merely competitions. They are opportunities for friendship and mental engagement.

Growing older does not mean we must stop learning, playing, or sharing our skills. Sometimes, all it takes is a table, a few willing participants, and the patience to teach someone something new.

4. Books and Reading: A Lifetime of Curiosity

My interest in reading and learning began long before I became a scientist.

My academic journey took me from the University of the Philippines to graduate school in Chicago. My professional career involved chemistry, pharmaceutical science, and the evaluation of drug products. Later, my work at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave me the opportunity to contribute to the review of medicines intended to help patients.

Science taught me to ask questions, examine evidence, and distinguish reliable information from unsupported claims. Retirement did not end my curiosity.

I continue to read about science, medicine, aging, technology, history, and world affairs. I am particularly interested in artificial intelligence and how it may affect humanity.

I also use AI tools to help me research ideas and develop my blog posts. As someone who began blogging in 2009, I find it remarkable that technology now allows an older person like me to continue communicating with readers across continents.

Of course, reading and writing require effort. Computers are not always as cooperative as I would like them to be, and I occasionally need help from my children.

But I continue because writing allows me to organize my thoughts, preserve memories, and share lessons from my life.

My formal education may have ended many years ago, but my education as a human being continues.

5. Cats: Small Companions, Simple Joys

There is something comforting about the companionship of animals.

At The Heritage Downtown, two cats named Batman and Robin are part of the community's everyday life. Their presence adds a little warmth and amusement to our surroundings.

Cats have a special way of making themselves at home. They can be independent, curious, playful, and completely uninterested in our schedules. Perhaps that is part of their charm.

As we grow older, we sometimes discover that happiness comes from small things rather than grand accomplishments. A friendly greeting, a shared meal, a beautiful afternoon, or watching an animal explore its surroundings can brighten an ordinary day.

My life has included academic achievements, professional responsibilities, travel, and family milestones. But some of my happiest memories are much simpler: time spent with Macrine, conversations with friends, laughter around a game table, and the companionship of those who make a place feel like home.

The cats in my caricature remind me that joy does not always need an explanation.

Sometimes, it is enough simply to enjoy the moment.

6. Tango Dancing: A Romance That Never Really Ends

Of the six interests in my caricature, tango dancing may be the most personal.

My father taught ballroom dancing, including tango, Cha-Cha, and the jitterbug, when I was growing up in the Philippines. Dancing was therefore part of my early life.

Later, Macrine and I enjoyed dancing together. At our island retreat in Marinduque, tango became one of the activities that brought us closer.

There is something beautiful about tango. Two people move together, listening to the music, responding to each other's movements, and maintaining a connection without needing many words.

In some ways, marriage is like dancing. It requires patience, communication, trust, compromise, and the willingness to adjust when one partner changes direction.

Macrine and I shared more than six decades of marriage. We experienced happy years, difficult years, professional changes, family responsibilities, and the ordinary routines that make up a life together.

Since her passing in 2020, I can no longer hold her in my arms on a dance floor. But memories of our dancing remain.

When I see tango dancers, I remember that love does not end simply because one person is no longer physically present. The music may stop, but the memories continue.

For me, tango represents more than dancing. It represents romance, companionship, and the enduring bond between two people who shared a lifetime.

What These Six Interests Have Taught Me About Aging

Looking at my caricature, I see more than six hobbies. I see six different dimensions of a life.

My Catholic faith reminds me to be grateful. My Filipino heritage reminds me of my roots.

Mahjong and bridge remind me to keep my mind active and enjoy friendship.

Books and reading remind me that learning has no expiration date.

Cats remind me to appreciate simple pleasures.

Tango reminds me that love and memories can remain with us long after circumstances change.

None of these interests can prevent aging. I know that growing older brings physical limitations, health challenges, and changes that we cannot always control. I have had to make adjustments in my daily life, and I understand that the years ahead may bring additional challenges.

But I do not believe that aging should be defined only by what we can no longer do.

It should also be defined by what we can still enjoy, what we can still learn, and what we can still share with others.

At The Heritage Downtown, I am fortunate to live among people with different backgrounds, experiences, and talents. Every resident has a story, even if that story is not always visible to others.

I hope we will continue to discover one another's interests and abilities rather than assume that growing older means becoming less useful or less interesting.

At nearly 92, I still have stories to tell. I still have questions to ask.

And I still have reasons to wake up each morning with gratitude.

A Final Reflection

My caricature may be a playful illustration, but its six little symbols represent a serious truth about my life.

I am a Filipino-American who has been blessed with education, a meaningful career, a loving family, a wonderful marriage, friendships, and opportunities to serve others.

I have experienced war and peace, professional success and personal loss, travel and homecoming, youth and old age.

I cannot return to my childhood in Iloilo, relive my years with Macrine, or repeat every adventure that has shaped my life. But I can remember, reflect, and share what those experiences have taught me.

And that is one reason I continue to blog.

My hope is that someone reading these words, whether in the Philippines, the United States, Asia, Europe, or another part of the world, will be reminded that a fulfilling life does not require extraordinary accomplishments every day.

It requires a few things we love, people we care about, an open mind, and a grateful heart.

As I approach my 92nd birthday, I remain thankful for the opportunity to continue this journey.

Mabuhay! May we all continue to find joy, purpose, friendship, and love at every age.

AI Impressions and Notes: David B. Katague is a Filipino-American blogger, retired pharmaceutical scientist, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and lifelong learner. He has been blogging since 2009, sharing reflections on Filipino heritage, science, aging, family, faith, and the experiences that connect us as human beings.

My Quotes of the Day:

“Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.”

Anonymous

“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”

Maya Angelou

My Photos of the Day:

Arroz caldo is the warm chicken rice porridge that Filipinos reach for on rainy days and when they feel under the weather.

Love the Improvements in Our Always Available Menu, Here at THD

Manila was Called Paris of Asia in 1880 and Had Telephones in 1890

2026-10-20T08:55:18.779-07:00

Manila had TELEPHONES in 1890. Most of Europe didn’t.

First telephone line in Southeast Asia - 1890 Manila.

By 1894, Manila had 500+ telephone subscribers.

Intramuros to Escolta, Binondo to Malate, you could call across Manila.

While farmers in America still used letters, Manileños called each other.

Your great-great Lolo answered a telephone before the Eiffel Tower was even famous.

In the late 1890s, the Escolta became one of the first streets in Asia to glow with an extensive electric streetlighting system. At the time, many major European capitals were still transitioning from gas lamps making Manila’s upgrade shockingly ahead of its era

Meanwhile, Do you know that.... 
Intramuros, the walled city of Manila, was founded in 1571.
Spanish colonizers built this fortified city on the south bank of the Pasig River, and its thick stone walls and churches stood at the center of Spanish rule in the Philippines for more than three centuries. Much of it was destroyed during the Battle of Manila in 1945, and parts have been carefully restored since.
Today visitors can walk its cobblestone streets, tour Fort Santiago, and take a kalesa ride past centuries of history.

Lastly, UST is older than Harvard

Personal Notes: Macrine (RIP) graduated with a Bachelor of Degree in Commerce,  minor in Accounting from UST. She later graduated with a Bachelor Nursing degree here in US, at Holy Name College, Oakland, CA

Two Minutes, a Racing Heart, and a Game That Was Not Over

2026-10-19T21:27:09.791-07:00

This posting is dedicated to my world-wide blog Readers who are Not Familiar with American Football.

Two Minutes, a Racing Heart, and a Game That Was Not Over

A Monday Night Football reflection for my friends around the world

Tonight, I was reminded that two minutes can contain a remarkable amount of

suspense. I was watching the San Francisco 49ers play the Washington Commanders

on Monday Night Football. As the game approached its final two minutes, what had

looked like a comfortable evening for San Francisco had become something much

more uncertain. The 49ers ultimately won, 23–17, but that final score hardly conveys

the anxiety of watching Washington threaten to turn the game around.

For my readers around the world-especially those more familiar with soccer than

American football, let me explain why those closing moments were so thrilling.

You do not need to understand every rule to appreciate the story. At its heart,

it was about uncertainty: one team trying to protect what it had built, and another

refusing to accept that it was beaten.

From a Comfortable Lead to an Uncomfortable Finish

For much of the evening, San Francisco appeared firmly in control. The 49ers led 20–3

at halftime and later extended their advantage to 23–3. Christian McCaffrey scored

two rushing touchdowns, and quarterback Brock Purdy threw a touchdown pass to

George Kittle.

Then Washington began to answer.

Led by quarterback Jayden Daniels, the player who directs the offense and usually

throws its passes, the Commanders scored two second-half touchdowns.

A twenty-point deficit became a six-point deficit. Suddenly, San Francisco’s lead

no longer felt like a cushion. It felt like something that might slip away.

For a soccer supporter, imagine your team controlling a match, only to concede

late and find itself desperately defending another attack. The scoring systems are

different, but the emotional transformation is familiar: confidence gives way to

nervous calculation. How much time remains? Can we stop them? Surely we are

not going to lose this now?

Why 23–17 Was Such a Dangerous Score

Here is the small amount of American football arithmetic needed to understand

the tension: A touchdown is worth six points. A team scores one by carrying the

ball into the opponent’s end zone, the scoring area at either end of the field or

completing a legal catch there. After a touchdown, the team can attempt a kick

worth one additional point.

A field goal, a different scoring kick through the uprights, is worth three points.

Washington was six points behind. That meant a touchdown could tie the score,

and a successful extra-point kick afterward could put the Commanders ahead by one.

A field goal would not be enough.

That was the arithmetic behind the anxiety. San Francisco was still winning, but

Washington was within one touchdown and an extra point of taking the lead.

The Moment Near the Two-Minute Mark

The decisive defensive stand came with 1 minute and 54 seconds remaining.

Washington faced a fourth-down play close to San Francisco’s end zone. Daniels

threw a pass, but it fell incomplete. The Commanders’ immediate opportunity to

take the lead disappeared, and possession went back to the 49ers.

To understand the importance of “fourth down,” think of American football as

a sequence of short territorial challenges. The attacking team normally has four

attempts, called downs, to advance the ball at least ten yards, about nine metres.

If it succeeds, it earns another set of four attempts. If it uses its fourth attempt

without gaining the required distance or scoring, the opponent takes possession.

For a soccer-minded reader, the emotional equivalent might be a desperate

late attack broken up inside the penalty area. It is not an exact rules comparison,

but it captures the feeling: danger, anticipation, and then an enormous release

of pressure. Even that was not quite the end. Washington eventually had one final play,

but Daniels was brought down before he could launch a desperate long pass toward

the end zone -an attempt Americans call a “Hail Mary.” San Francisco survived.

Why Two Minutes Can Feel So Long

American football has a built-in pause near the end of each half called the “two-minute

warning.” It is an official timeout taken when the clock reaches that point, or after an

ongoing play finishes.

For an unfamiliar viewer, the interruption can seem puzzling. Why stop just when

everything is becoming exciting? For me, that pause sharpened the suspense. It gave

me time to consider everything that could still happen and everything that could

go wrong.

A soccer supporter may be accustomed to tension building through a continuous passage

of attacking play. American football often packages that tension differently: a brief burst

of action, a pause, another decision, another attempt.

Tonight, those pauses did not diminish the drama. They gave it room to breathe.

Different Footballs, the Same Human Drama

What held my attention was not simply the technical contest. It was the reversal of

expectations.

San Francisco had built a commanding lead. Washington had fought its way back.

The 49ers then had to do something quite different from dominating the early game:

withstand the pressure of a possible late collapse. Their defense did enough to preserve

the victory and keep the team unbeaten at 6–0.

There is something recognizably human in that change of circumstances. We all know

the feeling of believing that a difficult task is nearly finished, only to discover that its

final stage demands our full attention.

For my international readers, that is perhaps the best introduction to American football.

Begin not with every formation, penalty, or unfamiliar expression. Begin with the situation:

one team is close to completing a comeback; the other is trying to prevent it; time is

running out. The details may require explanation. The feeling does not.

Tonight, the 49ers won. But what I will remember is how uncertain that victory felt

near the end and how two minutes became the most absorbing part of my evening.

Personal Notes: Both teams I have been rooting for, Having resided in

Washington DC, from 1990 to 2002, I have been interested with The Commanders.

However, Having resided in The San Francisco Bay Area for more than 40 years,

The 49ers have been my favorite Team Since the Joe Montana Era. Thus with the

49er's win tonight made my evening a super happy One.

Lastly, My Photo of thee Day:

The Philippines in 2026: What Is Our Major Challenge Today?

2026-10-19T10:20:15.437-07:00

The Philippines in 2026: What Is Our Major Challenge Today?

I saw a chart online this week: "Countries and Their Major Challenges." United States - gun violence. China and Japan - aging population. India - quality job creation. Pakistan - water scarcity. Brazil - Amazon deforestation. Twenty countries listed.

The Philippines was not on that list. So I asked myself, if we were No. 21, what would our challenge be?

I was born in the Philippines during the Commonwealth era. I worked for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, retired in 2002, and have been a snowbird since - winters in California, summers in Marinduque, the previous several decades. At 91 nearing 92, I have seen the country go through war, martial law, people power, and now this.

If that chart allowed only one challenge, it would be misleading for us. We don't have one major challenge. We have five that are connected.

1. The Economy Has Slowed Down Again

In October, the World Bank lowered our growth forecast to 3.7 percent for 2026, down from 4.4 percent in 2025. Inflation was 6.2 percent in July 2026 and is projected at 5.8 percent for the whole year. Reuters reported the government itself cut its forecast, citing a graft scandal that slowed government spending and an energy crisis. For ordinary families, that means what I hear from my relatives in Marinduque - higher fuel, higher food, less money left.

The good news hidden in that bad news: the World Bank reclassified the Philippines this year as upper-middle income, with a GNI per capita of $4,850. We crossed a threshold. But the poverty rate is still 55.2 percent under that upper-middle standard. That is the real challenge - we are classified as richer, but more than half still live as poor.

2. Energy and Cost of Living

In a recent survey, 92% of respondents from the Philippines cited reliance on fossil fuel imports as our top economic vulnerability. When oil prices go up in the Middle East, tricycle fare goes up in Boac. We are an island nation that imports almost all our fuel.

That is why brownouts and fuel prices hurt more in the Philippines than in the United States. My old refrigerator in Marinduque costs more to run now than it did three years ago.

3. Climate and Environment Is No Longer Seasonal

The chart lists Japan's aging and Bangladesh's flooding. For us, it is both climate and daily environment.

Reports this year list our critical environmental issues as deforestation, water pollution, soil degradation, urban flooding, typhoons and rising sea levels. Over 70% of our rivers are polluted. In June 2026, PAGASA warned of a very strong El Niño bringing droughts, food insecurity and power shortages.In Marinduque, we know this. When it floods, it floods the low houses. When it is dry, the wells go salty.

4. Jobs and The Young People Leaving

The Philippines still has unemployment hitting 3 million reported this year, and that ripple affects tourism, airlines, and families dependent on OFW money. Our challenge is not just "quality job creation" like India. It is keeping quality jobs in the country so our nurses, seafarers, and IT graduates don't have to leave.

5. Governance and Trust

The BTI 2026 report says under President Marcos Jr. there have been slight improvements in human rights, but significant challenges persist. And analysts still put the Philippines at high risk for political instability because of supply chain and energy security issues. For me at 91, this is the oldest story. Projects get delayed. Money disappears. Then growth is cut not because we don't have money, but because we didn't spend it well.

So What Is Our One Major Challenge?

If I had to write one line for that chart, like "Gun violence" for America, I would not write one thing.

I would write: "Making upper-middle income mean middle-class life."

We have the income classification. We have the talent. What we don't have yet is affordable housing, cheap and stable electricity, clean rivers, and jobs that pay enough that you don't have to go to Dubai or Walnut Creek to find a better life.

At 91 nearing 92, I am hopeful. I have one blog with nearly 3 million views and seven more over a million. Most of my readers are from the Philippines and from Filipinos abroad. You write to me that you are worried. I tell you what I learned after 91 years: the Philippines always faces a crisis, and Filipinos always find a way through with family, faith, and resourcefulness.

What do you think is the biggest challenge we face today? Leave a comment. I read them every morning with my coffee in Walnut Creek.

David B. Katague, Walnut Creek, California and Boac, Marinduque, Philippines
October 2026

My Photo of the Day:

Do you have a Favorite? Mine is Number 7!

Finally, Do you Know that....

Binondo in Manila is widely considered the oldest Chinatown in the world.

It was established in 1594 by Spanish colonial authorities as a settlement for Catholic Chinese residents, and it grew into a center of trade that still thrives today.

Today it is known for its food, temples, and family-run shops.

Ray Kurzweil Predicts Humans Could Begin Overcoming Aging by 2030

2026-10-18T09:31:06.520-07:00

Ray Kurzweil Predicts Humans Could Begin Overcoming Aging by 2030
Futurist Ray Kurzweil believes humanity could begin overcoming some of the effects of aging around 2030. The idea is not that people will literally become immortal, but that advances in medicine and biotechnology could eventually extend human lifespans at an increasingly rapid pace.

A former Google AI researcher, Kurzweil has made more than 140 public predictions about technology. According to a review conducted by Kurzweil himself, 86% of 147 predictions he examined had either come true or were essentially correct. In 1999, he received the National Medal of Technology for his contributions to computing.

In his book The Singularity Is Near, Kurzweil introduced the concept of “longevity escape velocity.” The hypothesis suggests that medical technology could eventually advance to the point where a person gains more than one additional year of remaining life expectancy for every year they continue to age.

One technology Kurzweil has discussed is nanobots—microscopic machines that, in the future, could potentially travel through the human body, monitor health problems, repair cellular damage, and assist in fighting diseases.

Kurzweil has also become known for several technological predictions that later came close to reality. In 1990, he predicted that a computer would defeat the reigning world chess champion before the end of the decade. In 1997, IBM's Deep Blue defeated world champion Garry Kasparov.

He also anticipated the widespread adoption of portable computers, wireless communication, and voice-based interfaces.

Kurzweil further predicts that artificial intelligence could reach human-level capabilities around 2029, while by 2045, humans and machines could become deeply integrated.

These predictions do not mean that immortality is guaranteed. Kurzweil's broader argument is that aging, which is currently considered an unavoidable biological process, could eventually become something that advanced technology is capable of slowing, managing, or even partially reversing.

In short, the vision is not “immortality by 2030,” but a future in which medicine advances quickly enough to dramatically change how humans experience aging and disease. 

Meanwhile, Here are the Signature Dishes of Some Philippine Provinces

Marinduque is not in the List: What Do you think is Marinduque Signature Dish?

My Photo of the Day: 

The Philippines is not in the List. What Do you Think the Philippines is Best Noted For? Like to hear from You!  

My Reel of the Day: A Beautiful orchestral Arrangement of Autumn Leaves   
 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1478477624129238

Loida Nicolas Lewis-in My Filipino-American Pride List

2026-10-18T09:15:10.615-07:00

Reprinted from My Facebook Page 

In December 1993, two hours before a board meeting, a Filipina lawyer from Sorsogon called the man running her late husband's company. "Jean, I'm taking over," she told him, according to TIME.

Her name is Loida Nicolas Lewis. The company was TLC Beatrice, a food business that sold more than a billion dollars a year and was known as the biggest Black-owned company in America.

She had never run a company before, and Wall Street expected her to fail.

So how did a girl from Sorsogon end up in that chair?

A GIRL FROM SORSOGON

Loida was born in Sorsogon in 1942, during World War II. Her father built a string of businesses, from construction and furniture to farming and entertainment.

She was the first daughter, after two older brothers. She studied in Manila, at St. Theresa's College and then at the University of the Philippines College of Law.

She passed the Philippine bar in 1968. That same year, she went abroad with her mother.

In New York, a blind date changed her life. He was Reginald F. Lewis, a young Black lawyer fresh out of Harvard Law School.

In her memoir, she says she asked him what it was like to be a Black man in America. His answer was, "I'm international!"

They married in Manila in 1969 and had two daughters, Leslie and Christina.

THE LAWYER THEY WOULDN'T HIRE

In New York, she worked for a civil rights law group and for Manhattan Legal Services.

In 1974, she passed the New York bar. She is often described as the first Asian woman to pass it without going to law school in America.

Then she applied to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, and they turned her down. She sued for discrimination, saying her race, her sex and where she came from were held against her.

She won. The judge ordered the agency to hire her and give her back pay.

She worked there as a lawyer for about ten years, until 1988. She even co-wrote a popular guide called How to Get a Green Card.

I love that part. The office that didn't want her ended up with her writing the book on its paperwork.

THE BILLION-DOLLAR DEAL

Meanwhile, Reginald became a Wall Street dealmaker. In 1987, he bought the overseas food businesses of a company called Beatrice for $985 million, mostly with borrowed money.

He named it TLC Beatrice. It became the biggest Black-owned company in the United States.

Then, in January 1993, the company announced that Reginald had brain cancer.

He died the next day. He was 50.

"When Mr. Lewis died, I knew I would be mother and father to them," she said years later about her girls.

His life story came out in 1995, finished by a journalist from what he had written. It was called Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun?

"JEAN, I'M TAKING OVER"

For about a year, Reginald's company was run by Jean Fugett Jr., a lawyer and former football player. Loida controlled more than half of the stock, and in December 1993 she made that phone call.

By early 1994, she was chairwoman and chief executive. She was now in charge of dozens of companies in more than 30 countries.

TIME reported that Wall Street's smart money thought she would surely flop. She started with the things everyone could see.

She sold the private jet. She got rid of the limousines and other perks.

Then she went after the parts that were losing money. TIME counted 500 jobs cut, including half of the corporate staff, and money-losing businesses closed.

"I don't take any crap," she told TIME. I love that line, coming from a woman TIME also described as scholarly and deeply religious.

In 1994, the company made its first significant profit in three years.

A CHAPTER ENDING

Over the next few years, she sold the company's big pieces, including its French grocery stores. In May 1999, the board approved selling what was left and paying the money to the shareholders.

"A chapter in his life is ending, so it's hard," she told The Baltimore Sun. She said her husband's goal was to make the company worth more to its owners and pay them out, and that she had taken that goal on as her own.

THE GIRL FROM SORSOGON, TODAY

Outside the company, Loida built something else. She helped start the National Federation of Filipino American Associations in 1997, and she helped found the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund.

She has led the foundation named after her husband, which has given to schools, universities and museums. In 2023, in her eighties, she published her own memoir.

Its title is Why Should Guys Have All the Fun? She just dropped one word from his.

She is in her eighties now and still speaking. In May 2026, around the Asian Hall of Fame gala in Los Angeles, she told the Asian Journal, "I am a girl from the province of Sorsogon."

At the gala, she told the women in the room, "If you don't know how to do the job, you will learn how to do the job. Don't say 'Oh, I am not ready.' You'll never be ready."

More than thirty years after that phone call, that is still her advice.

Source: TIME, 1996; The Baltimore Sun, 1999; UPI, 1993; International Directory of Company Histories; Black Enterprise; The Filipino Expat; African American Registry; Asian Journal, 2026; Carnegie Corporation of New York; Filipina Women's Network; The FilAm, 2023 →

Why Might an Adult Child Stop Valuing or Speaking to Their Mother?

2026-10-18T08:37:16.088-07:00

It is sad but this subject resonates with Me.

Why Might an Adult Child Stop Valuing or Speaking to Their Mother?

Filipino Languages and Dialects

2026-10-17T23:24:06.386-07:00

Filipino language dialects

The Philippines is home to over 170 languages, with two official languages: Filipino and English. Filipino, also known as Tagalog, is the national language, widely spoken nationwide, and used in schools, offices, and media platforms.

Major Filipino Dialects:

Primary Dialects:

Filipino (Tagalog): Spoken by around 25% of the population, it's the most widely spoken language in the Philippines.

Cebuano (Bisaya, Visayan): Primarily spoken in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.

Ilocano: Native language spoken in Northern Luzon, particularly in the Ilocos region.

Kapampangan (Pampango): Spoken in Pampanga and neighboring provinces.

Bicolano (Bikolano): Spoken in the Bicol region.

Other Notable Dialects:

Waray-Waray: Spoken in Eastern Visayas, particularly in Samar and Leyte.

Ilonggo (Hiligaynon): Native language in Western Visayas.

Pangasinense: Widely spoken in Pangasinan.

Maguindanaon: Spoken by the Maguindanao people in Mindanao.

Language Influences:

The Filipino language has been shaped by various influences, including

Spanish: Introduced loanwords and grammatical structures.English: Widely used in business, education, government, and media.Malay and Austronesian: Influenced the language's grammar and vocabulary.Chinese: Contributed loanwords, especially in areas with significant Chinese populations.Arabic: Influenced Islamic traditions and customs in certain regions.

Preservation Efforts:

Efforts are being made to promote and preserve regional languages, including education programs, cultural festivals, and community initiatives

The Philippines is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world, home to over 170 distinct native languages and hundreds of regional dialects. The country features Filipino and English as its two official languages, with Filipino acting as the national lingua franca. These indigenous tongues form part of the Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family, meaning they share ancient roots with languages in Indonesia, Malaysia, and as far away as Madagascar and Hawaii. [1, 2, 3, 4]

The Official & National Languages

Filipino: The national language of the Philippines. It is a standardized, modernized version of Tagalog, primarily based on how it is spoken in Metro Manila. It is continually enriched with words borrowed from other regional Philippine languages and foreign loanwords. [1, 2, 3, 4]
English: Extensively used in government, education, the legal system, and business. Because English is the primary medium of instruction in schools, the country boasts a very high level of English proficiency. [1, 2]
Tagalog: The native tongue of the Tagalog ethnolinguistic group, which is concentrated in the Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon regions. It possesses its own regional variations (like the Batangas or Manila dialects) and historically served as the foundation upon which "Filipino" was built.

Major Regional Languages

Aside from Tagalog, there are several regional languages that have well over a million native speakers each. Many of these are distinct languages with their own grammar and vocabulary, rather than just "dialects" of Tagalog:

Cebuano (Bisaya / Binisaya): Spoken by over 20 million people. It is the primary lingua franca of the Visayas islands and large parts of Mindanao.
Ilocano (Iloko): Spoken by nearly 10 million people natively, primarily serving as the lingua franca of Northern Luzon, the Ilocos Region, and the Cordilleras.
Hiligaynon (Ilonggo): Spoken by over 9 million people, mostly in the Western Visayas provinces (like Iloilo and Negros Occidental) and parts of Mindanao
Central Bikol (Bikolano): Spoken by over 3 million people across the Bicol Region, renowned for its large amount of localized dialectal variation from town to city.
Waray-Waray: Spoken by over 3 million people, prominent in the Eastern Visayas region (Samar and Leyte provinces).
Kapampangan: The dominant language in Pampanga, Central Luzon. It is an agglutinative language with very moderate dialectal variation.
Pangasinan: Widely spoken in the province of Pangasinan in the Ilocos Region.]

Languages vs. Dialects

Linguistically, a language has its own unique vocabulary and distinct grammar rules, whereas a dialect is merely a variation of a single language (such as variations in accent, slang, or minor word choice). The misconception that regional languages (like Cebuano or Ilocano) are "dialects" of Tagalog is common. However, the difference between these native languages is often as massive as the difference between Spanish and French.

Other Recognized Languages

Chavacano: A fascinating Spanish-based Creole spoken in the Zamboanga Peninsula and parts of Cavite. It uses a Spanish-derived vocabulary but retains a Philippine language syntax.
Philippine Hokkien: Spoken widely by the Chinese-Filipino community, primarily used for trade and in family settings.
Foreign Influences: Over centuries of trade and colonization, Filipino languages have borrowed heavily from Spanish, Chinese (Hokkien), Sanskrit, Arabic, and Malay, which are deeply integrated into daily conversational vocabulary.
AI Overview on David B Katague

Dr. David B. Katague has written extensively about his family's deep ancestral roots in Iloilo and Marinduque, capturing a rich tapestry of life in the Philippines before and after World War II. Through his memoirs and his dedicated genealogy writing, he documents how his family history mirrors the broader cultural identity of the Philippines.

Here are the key stories and ancestral lines he has explored:

The Ancestral Roots: Iloilo and Marinduque

The Javellana Lineage in Jaro: Dr. Katague has documented his family's connections to the prominent Javellana clan of Jaro, Iloilo City. Historically one of the wealthiest and most culturally significant colonial-era towns in the Philippines, Jaro forms a major pillar of his paternal ancestry. He discovered that his father, David Jamili Javellana Katague, was the grandson of Victoriano Catague and Marcelina Javellana.
The Barrido-Balleza Roots in Barotac Viejo: On his mother’s side (Paz Barrido Balleza), Dr. Katague traces his lineage to Barotac Viejo, Iloilo. His stories vividly recall growing up in this coastal town, capturing the tight-knit community, local traditions, and the daily rhythm of life in the Visayan countryside.
The Move to Marinduque: Dr. Katague also frequently writes about Marinduque, the island province known as the heart of the Philippines. The geography of both Marinduque and Iloilo heavily influenced his personal tastes, especially his lifelong love for traditional Filipino seafood dishes.
Childhood, Folklore, and Traditional Food

World War II Memories: Some of his most poignant historical articles focus on his childhood memories during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. He writes about the resilience of his family, the hardships of the war era, and what it was like to witness the country’s liberation.
Filipino Folklore & Cultural Proverbs: Fascinated by the spiritual and natural heritage of the islands, Dr. Katague has preserved stories about traditional folklore. Beyond the famous, mystical Balete tree, he explores how local trees and nature spirits weave into native Filipino superstitions and cultural proverbs.
Preserving Family Recipes: To keep his heritage alive for his children and grandchildren in the United States, Dr. Katague has painstakingly documented traditional Filipino family recipes. His writings detail how to prepare authentic, soulful Visayan comfort food, viewing cooking as an essential bridge of cultural love across generations.

A Legacy of Writing

For Dr. Katague, writing about the Philippines is a lifelong mission. His articles stand as a vital record for Filipino-Americans, ensuring that the stories of his parents, the local history of Iloilo, and the traditions of the old country are never forgotten by future generations.

ELEPHANT ISLAND: BEFORE BELLAROCCA- Pleasant Memories of Yesteryears

2026-10-17T23:22:24.822-07:00

ELEPHANT ISLAND: BEFORE BELLAROCCA- Pleasant Memories of Yesteryears!  

If you've seen this island from the coast of Buenavista, you probably thought of Bellarocca first. But did you know that this is called Elephant Island?

It was also known as Perro Island, the island is called Elephant Island because of its shape resembling an elephant when viewed from the sea.

In the 2000s, the island changed. Here, the Bellarocca Island Resort & Spa was built, a luxurious island resort that became one of the most renowned tourism destinations in Marinduque. It is known for its white buildings with a Santorini-inspired design, a unique view amidst the green island and the blue sea.
But time passed, and the Bellarocca chapter ended.

The resort may have changed. The name may have changed. But Elephant Island is still there. 

 Elephant Island, Buenavista, Marinduque
For those from Marinduque:

 What do you call this—Elephant Island or Bellarocca?

 Who among you has an old photo or memory of this place during the Bellarocca era?

I have pleasant memories of this island. We visited the island before it was called Bellarocca. After it was renamed Bellarocca, Macrine and I and several other friends  from our medical mission group held after our mission R & R on this island .

The following  photos were memories of our private tour ( with Annie Miles and Aquilana Rivas) of the Bellarocca Beach Resort and Spa in Buenavista, Marinduque. At that time the resort was rated 5 Star and one of the best in Asia.  https://asiangrandlegacy.com/portfolio-items/bellarocca-island-resort/



On Our Way to a Private Tour of Bellarocca ( Macrine and I with Annie Miles and Aquilina Rivas), Dec 28, 2010
Macrine enjoying the view of the Main land from one of the Rooms at the Resort
View of Mt Malindig from the Resort

 Finaly here are photos During our Weekend R&R after our Medical Mission Work in Marinduque  
Group Picture After the Festivities ( Macrine and I were already in our Terazzo Unit when this Photo was taken) 
Macrine and I (in my guayabanera pink shirt) in the Backgtound enjoying the Night of Dancing and Music (with Flo Apeles Karoeke)
Anyone for Line Dancing?
David E enjoying the Valentine Festivities
Me and David E enjoying a leisurely Breakfast
MI,Inc members getting ready for Valentine Mass at the Meditation Cottage
The Bishop of Boac, Most Reverend Rey Evangelista with MI, Inc Members after Mass

For Details visit: 
https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2011/07/bellarocca-resort-2nd-year-anniversary.html

My Reel of the Day: 17 Natural Wonders of the World

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1586317339866326

I am Related to Felipe Buencamino, Sr- Soups of the Philippines

2026-10-17T22:45:10.704-07:00

Felipe Buencamino Sr. (1848-1929) was a prominent Filipino lawyer, politician, and revolutionary figure during a transformative period in Philippine history. Born in San Miguel, Bulacan, he pursued law and became a respected attorney. Buencamino's political career began under Spanish colonial rule, where he served as a member of the Spanish Cortes. However, his legacy is most closely tied to his role in the Philippine Revolution against Spanish rule and the subsequent Philippine-American War. As a member of the Malolos Congress, Buencamino was instrumental in drafting the Malolos Constitution, which established the First Philippine Republic in 1899. Despite initially supporting the revolution, he later advocated for cooperation with the United States, believing it would lead to eventual independence. This controversial stance led to his arrest by Filipino revolutionaries. Buencamino's legacy is marked by his complex role in the struggle for Philippine independence, reflecting the broader tensions and challenges faced by the nation during this era of colonial transition.

Meanwhile, My Word of the Day

NOUN

Meanings

Contemplation of or meditation upon one's navel; navel-gazing.
(Figuratively) Ratiocination to the point of self-absorption.

Finally, which Soup Do you Like Best?

Sinigang was voted the best soup in the World in 2021 by TasteAtlas.

Nilaga ( Beef Soup) was served during our Special Filipino Dinner here at THD just recently.

Chicken Tinola is my favorite soup when I was growing up in Iloilo, Philippines.

La Paz Batchoy and Cavite's Bulalo are the soups that I will always remember.

Davao Dark Chocolate + Orange by Askinosie-A Surprise Gift from A Friend

2026-10-17T13:49:28.043-07:00

Davao Dark Chocolate + Orange by Askinosie

A long-time and good friend had a small surprise for me the other day- a bar that says DAVAO PHILIPPINES DARK CHOCOLATE + ORANGE from Askinosie chocolate. Thanks a million, my friend for the unexpected gift.

I have written about otap from Cebu and barquillos from Iloilo, but I have not written about our chocolate for a long time. It is about time.

A little history on our table

In the Philippines, many of us grew up with tablea. Cacao came to the Philippines in the 1670s, brought from Mexico to the Philippines via the Acapulco galleon. For centuries we made it into tablea for champorado and tsokolate. It was always good, but it was always for home.

Now Davao is different. Davao City and Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, in Mindanao, is our cacao capital. The soil, the rain, the elevation- it is perfect for Trinitario beans, which is what is in this bar. For many years we exported our beans as commodity. Now chocolate makers from America, France, and Japan come to Davao to buy single-origin beans. This bar is 58% dark, made from Davao Trinitario beans.

The Maker

Askinosie is not a big factory. It is a small bean-to-bar maker in Springfield, Missouri, started by Shawn Askinosie in 2007. They do direct trade - they go to Davao, meet the cooperative, and pay above market price. That is why the farmer's face is printed on the wrapper. When you buy the bar, you know who grew it.

They also press their own cocoa butter in their factory. That is rare. Most small makers buy it.

What is inside and how does it taste?

I like simple ingredients. I worked many years as a chemist for the US FDA, so I read labels.

Ingredients: Davao Philippines Cocoa Beans (Trinitario), Organic Turbinado Sugar, Cocoa Butter (made in their factory with Davao beans), Organic Oranges, Organic Orange Oil, Organic Vanilla Bean. Nothing else.

They mix in organic oranges, peel and pulp plus a little orange oil. It is like candied orange peel dipped in chocolate, but in bar form. On first bite: bright, juicy orange. Then the dark chocolate comes - fudge, a little tart citrus, and vanilla sweetness at the end. Askinosie's own tasting notes say juicy orange, chocolate-dipped citrus peel, and vanilla. That is exactly right.

Net weight: 85 grams (3 oz). It is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free. Price on their website is $11.50.

How I enjoy it at home

Here in Walnut Creek, I do it the Filipino way:

After dinner, with black coffee. The bitter of Barako or even plain American coffee cuts the sweetness of the orange. Break it into small pieces, do not chew fast.
With otap or barquillos. As I posted last week, we had three tubs of otap - buko-pandan, ube, and classic. A small piece of this Davao chocolate with a crisp otap is wonderful. The butteriness of otap and the citrus of the chocolate balance each other.
For tsokolate. If you like to experiment, shave a little of this bar into your tablea when you make tsokolate for a light orange aroma. Your grandchildren will notice.

Do not put it in the refrigerator if you can avoid it. Chocolate likes cool, not cold. Keep it at 65-68 degrees if you can, and it will keep its snap.

Why I am proud of this bar

When I was young during the war, chocolate was a luxury from America. Now American makers are putting Davao on the wrapper. This means our farmers can earn more from quality, not just volume. If you visit Davao, you will see chocolate shops and cacao farm tours now. That is new, and that is good for our food tourism.

If you find this bar, please try it and tell me what you think. And if you are in Davao, what is your favorite local chocolate? Is it Malagos, Theo & Philo, Auro, or this kind of small American maker?

You can find Askinosie Davao bars at askinosie.com and at World Wide Chocolate and specialty stores.

https://worldwidechocolate.com/shop/askinosie-chocolate/davao-philippines-58-dark-chocolate-bar-with-orange/?attribute_pa_quantity=five-pack&nbt=nb%3Aadwords%3Ax%3A17809749528%3A%3A&nb_adtype=pla_with_promotion&nb_kwd=&nb_ti=&nb_mi=117016111&nb_pc=online&nb_pi=as-101-mp5&nb_ppi=&nb_placement=&nb_li_ms=&nb_lp_ms=&nb_fii=&nb_ap=&nb_mt=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17811045280&gbraid=0AAAAADKrQi8slyDb0zBjk8ShTQlBpt25u&gclid=CjwKCAjwuczWBhA9EiwAYGgEoRskvz2yqfbDTNaV7gKMo04nBE9FQznNTkPMLsmN2z6mdeSQIAPpYxoCKlUQAvD_BwE

AI Overview:

$11.00

Askinosie Chocolate& more

An earthy single-origin craft chocolate bar made with Trinitario cocoa beans sourced directly from a cooperative in Davao, offering tasting notes of brown sugar, nutmeg, and a clean caramel finish. Available directly via Askinosie Chocolate or through World Wide Chocolate.

The maker:

Askinosie is a small-batch bean-to-bar maker in Springfield, Missouri. Founder Shawn Askinosie started it in 2007 and they are known for "direct trade" — they go to the origin, meet the farmers, and pay well above commodity price. They press their own cocoa butter in-house.

The beans:

Origin: Davao, Mindanao in the Philippines. Davao is the cacao capital of the Philippines -Trinitario beans.
This bar is 58% dark. Askinosie also makes a 77% pure Davao bar, a 62% dark milk, and a white chocolate from the same origin.
The man on your wrapper is one of the farmers from the co-op they source from. Askinosie puts the actual grower on every bar.

This flavor:

The description from Askinosie is: "Imagine a candied orange peel, dipped in chocolate. Now imagine it in bar form". It's not just orange flavoring. Ingredients are: Davao Philippines Cocoa Beans (Trinitario), Organic Turbinado Sugar, Cocoa Butter (made in their factory with Davao beans), Organic Oranges, Organic Orange Oil, Organic Vanilla Bean. They blend in organic orange peel and pulp plus a dash of orange oil. Tasting notes they list: juicy orange, chocolate-dipped citrus peel, and vanilla, and from retailers: notes of fudge, tart citrus, and vanilla sweetness.

Specs:

85g (3oz) bar, $11.50 on their site. It's Certified Kosher D.E., vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free, but processed in a facility that also processes milk, peanuts, tree nuts and wheat. It's a nice example of how good Philippine cacao has become in the last 10 years, Davao used to export mostly bulk beans, now it's recognized for fine-flavor single-origin like this.

My Photo of the Day:

Beef kaldereta is the rich, tomato-based stew that shows up at every big Filipino celebration.

The Otap of Cebu and Barquillos of Iloilo

2026-10-17T08:54:43.603-07:00

Just recently, I posted that I received a Gift of Otap during our THD celebration of FAHM. A few of my Fellow Residents here at THD informed me that this is the first time they heard of Otap, but are familiar with Iloilo Barquillos. Here are the similarities and differences between these two pastries.

While Barquillos and Otap are both wildly popular, crunchy Filipino treats heavily rooted in Spanish culinary history, they are fundamentally different pastries. One is a paper-thin poured wafer roll, while the other is a dense, multi-layered laminated puff pastry.

Direct Comparison

Feature	Barquillos	Otap
Primary Region	Iloilo City (Jaro District)	Cebu Province
Shape & Form	Long, hollow, cylindrical tubes or rods	Flat, oblong, oval biscuits
Pastry Type	Wafer / Batter-based pancake	Laminated puff pastry
Texture	Ultra-thin, light, snap-crispy, melts in the mouth	Thick, brittle, heavy flaky layers with a shattering crunch
Key Ingredients	Flour, sugar, milk, eggs, butter, vanilla	Flour, shortening/butter, sugar, coconut oil, yeast
Cooking Method	Pressed flat in a iron waffle mold (barquillera), then immediately hand-rolled while hot	Multi-stage rolling/folding of two doughs, sliced, rolled paper-thin, then oven-baked
Mess Factor	Low; crumbles neatly into your mouth	High; "shattering" layers leave a trail of flakes and sugar

Key Similarities

Colonial Heritage: Both treats evolved from Spanish baking influences. Barquillos derived directly from Spanish wafer rolls (historically linked to communion wafer leftovers in Iloilo), whereas Otap is closely related to Spanish hojaldres (puff pastries) and French palmiers.

The "Pasalubong" Culture: Neither is typically baked at home due to the complex, specialized equipment or time-intensive preparation steps required. Instead, they serve as iconic pasalubong (travel souvenirs or gifts) bought from regional institutions like Deocampo in Iloilo or Shamrock in Cebu.

Flavor Profile: Both focus heavily on a simple, sweet profile consisting of toasted flour, sugar, and fat. They are both traditionally paired with hot local coffee (kapeng barako) or hot chocolate (tsokolate).

Key Differences

1. Texture and Eating Experience

Barquillos are incredibly delicate and light. Because they are entirely hollow, they offer a very neat, clean snap and quickly melt on your tongue.

Otap delivers a massive, shattering crunch. It is made by folding a yeast dough and a fat dough together over and over again to create hundreds of microscopic layers. When you bite into it, the structural integrity collapses instantly into hundreds of flaky shards, usually showering your clothes in crumbs and caramelized sugar.

2. How They are Formed

Barquillos start as a liquid batter poured directly onto a specialized hot iron press called a barquillera. After a few seconds of cooking, the flat pancake is rolled tightly around a metal rod into a tube while it is still piping hot, hardening instantly as it cools.

Otap relies on intense dough lamination. Once the dough is layered with shortening, it is sliced into small wheels, pressed down, rolled out flat with a rolling pin into long ovals, heavily dusted with sugar, and slow-baked in an oven until the dough puffs and bubbles up.

3. Modern Evolution

Barquillos have evolved to include hollow cores filled with sweet polvorón (called barquiron) or infused with distinct local flavors like ube, pandan, or carrot.

Otap stays mostly true to its original laminated form, though modern iterations include variations like Ube Otap or versions brushed with extra honey glazes.

While barquillos and otap are both highly cherished, crispy Filipino treats, they are fundamentally distinct in texture, preparation, and structure.

The comparison below details how Cebu’s beloved otap stacks up against Iloilo’s signature barquillos.

AI OVERVIEW:

1.A polvoron (also spelled polboron or pulburon) is a soft, crumbly shortbread confection named after the Spanish word polvo, which means "powder" or "dust".

There are two provinces famous for their Polvoron, Pampanga and the Bicol Region ( for their Pili Polvoron).

Origins and Varieties

Spanish Polvorón: Traditionally baked in Spain (especially in Andalusia), this version is made with lard, flour, sugar, and almonds, and is often enjoyed during the Christmas season.

Filipino Polvoron: Introduced during the Spanish colonial period, the Filipino version is a beloved no-bake treat. Instead of baking, it is made by toasting flour in a pan, mixing it with powdered milk, sugar, and butter or margarine, and pressing the mixture into small, oval-shaped tin molds.

Direct Comparison

Feature	Otap (Cebu)	Barquillos (Iloilo)
Origin / Identity	Rooted deeply in Cebu (often associated with brands like Shamrock).	Associated with Iloilo / Bacolod (Western Visayas); has Spanish colonial roots.
Shape & Structure	Flat, oval-shaped biscuit.	Long, hollow cylindrical wafer roll.
Texture & Body	Flaky and brittle puff pastry; crumbles instantly into layers of fine flakes upon biting.	Thin, crisp wafer with a clean, snappy crunch.
Core Ingredients	Flour, shortening, sugar, yeast, and occasionally coconut.	Flour, sugar, eggs, butter, milk, and vanilla.
Preparation Style	An 11-stage lamination process(rolling and folding dough with fat layers), then baked.	Prepared as a thin liquid batter poured onto a heated iron press (barquillera), then rolled immediately while hot.
Sweetness Delivery	Extensively dusted with granulated white sugar on the outside before baking.	Sweetness is baked directly into the batter, giving it a uniform flavor.

Key Differences

The Crunch vs. The Flake: Otap relies on yeast and layered vegetable shortening to create a puff-pastry structure resembling French palmiers. It breaks apart into thousands of tiny, messy flakes. Barquillos, conversely, are tightly rolled individual wafer sheets that give a firm, snap-like bite.

Dough vs. Batter: Preparing otap requires a labor-intensive, multi-step dough lamination process. Barquillos are crafted by pouring a smooth, liquid egg-and-milk batter onto an open waffle-like iron press, then rolling the cooked wafer around a wooden dowel.

Key Similarities

Visayan Pride & Pasalubong Culture: Both items serve as the ultimate regional pasalubong (travel gift). Taking a trip to Cebu almost universally requires bringing home a box of otap, just as a trip to Iloilo prompts a stop for fresh barquillos.

Coffee Companion: Neither pastry is overly heavy. Both are traditionally served alongside hot coffee or tea, allowing the dry, crisp textures to complement a warm morning or afternoon brew.

Spanish Influence: While adapted locally over generations to match Filipino ingredients, both pastries trace their culinary ancestry back to Spanish baking traditions introduced during the colonial era.

Meanwhile, Dungeness crabs from Canada is only $10.99/lb

Which Filipino bread is the BEST?

Pandesal - the classic morning roll
Ensaymada- sweet buttery perfection
Pan de Coco- coconut-filled heaven
Monay - dense and satisfying
Spanish Bread - that buttery crumb filling

Finally,  THE Chicken Adobo is the dish every Filipino learns to cook first, and the one they never stop perfecting.


Long before refrigeration, Filipino cooks discovered that simmering meat in vinegar and soy sauce preserved it for days in tropical heat. What began as a practical preservation method became the national dish, with every family guarding their own version of the recipe. Some swear by coconut vinegar, others by cane. Some add coconut milk for richness. The one rule everyone agrees on: never rush the braising.

La Bola Negra, Brokeback Mountain, and Maurice: Love Beyond the Boundaries of Society

2026-10-16T10:00:17.679-07:00

La Bola Negra, Brokeback Mountain, and Maurice: Love Beyond the Boundaries of Society

La Bola Negra ( The Black Ball) movie is released in US Theaters Today:

A Reflection by David At Nearing 92

Every now and then, a movie comes along that does more than entertain us. It makes us think about life, love, prejudice, courage, and the world we have created for ourselves and for others.

The new Spanish film La Bola Negra is one such movie. Even before reaching a worldwide audience, it has generated considerable attention and discussion, with some film critics already talking about its prospects for the 2027 Academy Awards.

As I read about this film, I was reminded of two earlier movies that explored similar themes: Brokeback Mountain and Maurice. Although these films were made in different years and portray different societies, they share a common thread. They tell stories about people whose feelings and desires conflict with the expectations imposed upon them by the world around them.

And that, I believe, is a subject worth reflecting upon.

Three Movies, One Human Story

La Bola Negra, directed by the Spanish filmmaking duo Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, tells interconnected stories involving three men living in different periods of Spanish history: 1932, 1937, and 2017.

Through these lives, the film explores love, identity, social rejection, historical persecution, and the painful consequences of keeping important truths hidden. Its inspiration includes the unfinished work of the celebrated Spanish poet and playwright Federico García Lorca, whose life and legacy are inseparable from the history of artistic freedom and persecution in Spain.

What makes the film particularly interesting is its suggestion that the struggles of one generation do not necessarily disappear when that generation passes away. Pain, prejudice, and family secrets can be inherited, even when the people who come later do not fully understand their origins.

In this respect, the film is not merely about three men. It is also about the relationship between the past and the present.

I find this theme especially meaningful because history is not simply a collection of dates and events. History is also the accumulated experience of ordinary people who loved, suffered, hoped, and sometimes lived in fear.

Remembering Brokeback Mountain

When I think about Brokeback Mountain, the award-winning 2005 film directed by Ang Lee, I remember a deeply moving story of two men, Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist, whose relationship develops in a society where openly expressing their love could expose them to hostility and danger.

Their story unfolds across many years. They attempt to reconcile their feelings with the expectations of their families, their communities, and the traditional masculine roles society has taught them to follow.

The tragedy is not simply that their love encounters obstacles. It is that fear, social pressure, and the inability to live openly shape so many of their choices.

The film leaves us with an uncomfortable question: How much of a person's life can be lost because society tells that person that a particular kind of love is unacceptable?

We may not all have experienced the same circumstances as these characters. Nevertheless, many of us understand what it means to hide a feeling, remain silent to avoid criticism, or make a life decision because we are afraid of disappointing others.

That is where a story about two particular individuals becomes a story about humanity.

Maurice: A Different Time, a Similar Struggle

Another film that comes to mind is Maurice, the 1987 romantic drama directed by James Ivory and based on the novel by E. M. Forster.

Set in Edwardian England, the film portrays a society in which class distinctions, social respectability, and the condemnation of homosexuality place severe limits on personal freedom.

Maurice Hall struggles to understand and accept his own feelings in a world that offers him few safe ways to express them. His journey is not only about finding love but also about finding the courage to live according to his own understanding of himself.

What I find significant about Maurice is its historical setting. The rules of society may appear permanent to those who live under them. Yet what one generation regards as unquestionable morality may be examined very differently by another.

The film reminds us that social acceptance is not always the same as justice, and that living a respectable life in the eyes of others does not necessarily mean living an honest life within oneself.

Unlike Brokeback Mountain, which ends in profound tragedy, Maurice offers a more hopeful possibility of choosing love outside the conventions of its time.

Both films, however, invite us to consider the human cost of prejudice.

What Connects These Stories?

Although the three films differ in their storytelling, historical settings, and endings, I see several common themes.

First, the universal desire to love and be loved.

Regardless of nationality, language, religion, or cultural background, human beings want companionship, affection, understanding, and acceptance. The details of our lives may differ, but these emotional needs are familiar across the world.

Second, the power of society to influence personal choices.

Families, religious institutions, governments, and communities can provide belonging and guidance. But social expectations can also become sources of fear when people are punished or rejected simply for being different.

Third, the burden of silence.

When people believe that telling the truth about themselves will bring shame, rejection, or danger, they may conceal important parts of their lives. That silence can affect not only the individuals concerned but also the people who love them.

Finally, there is the importance of historical memory.

The younger generations may inherit a world that appears more accepting than the one their grandparents knew. But understanding the past helps us recognize that the freedoms we enjoy today were not always available to everyone.

La Bola Negra brings these themes together by connecting lives across nearly a century of Spanish history. Its message, as I understand it, is that acknowledging the experiences of those who came before us can help us build a more compassionate future.

A Reflection from My Filipino-American Perspective

As someone born and raised in the Philippines, educated there before coming to the United States for graduate studies, and fortunate to have lived through nearly a century of enormous social change, I have witnessed how cultural expectations influence the way people think and behave.

The Philippines and the United States have their own histories, traditions, religious influences, and ideas about family and social responsibility. Neither society is monolithic, and people within the same culture may hold very different views.

Growing up, I learned the importance of family, respect for elders, and consideration for what others might think. These values can bring people together and strengthen communities. Yet, like all values, they can become difficult when preserving appearances takes precedence over understanding another human being.

With advancing age, I have come to appreciate that we do not need to understand every aspect of another person's life to treat that person with dignity.

We can disagree without being cruel. We can hold personal beliefs without humiliating those who believe differently. And we can recognize another person's humanity even when that person's choices are unfamiliar to us.

For me, this is one of the most important lessons that films such as La Bola Negra, Brokeback Mountain, and Maurice can offer their audiences.

We do not have to share the same experiences to recognize suffering. We do not have to live the same lives to understand loneliness. And we do not have to agree on every question to show kindness.

Have We Really Changed?

It is tempting to believe that these stories belong to the past.

After all, the world of the 1930s, the Edwardian era, and the America portrayed in Brokeback Mountain seems far removed from the world we inhabit today.

Laws have changed in many countries. Public conversations about sexual orientation and identity have become more visible. Many people now have opportunities that earlier generations could scarcely imagine.

Yet acceptance remains uneven around the world. In some places, people continue to face discrimination, rejection, or even danger because of whom they love.

Progress, therefore, should not make us complacent. It should remind us of the responsibility that comes with greater understanding.

I also believe that films can help us have conversations that might otherwise be difficult to begin. A story allows us to see the world through another person's eyes. For a few hours, we may experience another person's hopes, fears, disappointments, and dreams.

That is one of the gifts of good cinema.

It can open a door to empathy without requiring us to abandon our own identities or beliefs.

My Final Thoughts

I have spent much of my life studying science, working in the pharmaceutical industry and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, raising a family with my late wife Macrine, and observing the many changes that have taken place in our world.

Science teaches us to examine evidence carefully. Life teaches us that human beings are more complicated than any single explanation can capture.

At this stage of my life, I am increasingly interested in stories that encourage us to reflect rather than rush to judgment.

I do not know whether La Bola Negra will ultimately win an Academy Award in 2027. Awards are important recognitions of artistic achievement, but they are not the only measure of a film's value.

Sometimes, the greatest achievement of a movie is the conversation it begins, the memories it awakens, or the compassion it encourages in someone who watches it.

Perhaps that is why these three films continue to interest me. Beneath their different settings and characters lies a question that every society must confront:

Can we create a world in which people are treated with dignity, even when their lives do not conform to our expectations?

As I approach my 92nd birthday, I find myself returning to a simple belief: We may not always understand one another, but we can always try to be more understanding.

We cannot change every injustice of the past. We cannot eliminate every prejudice in the present. But each of us can make a small contribution by listening before judging, showing kindness instead of contempt, and remembering that every person has a story we may not know.

And perhaps, in the end, that is what the best films do. They remind us that behind every label, every difference, and every social boundary, there is a human being who wants to be seen, understood, and loved.

A Closing Thought

Different lives, different stories,

Different paths along the way.

Yet every heart seeks understanding,

And kindness still can light the day.

May we learn from those before us,

And judge our fellow human beings less.

For a world with room for everyone

Is a world with greater tenderness.

David, At Nearing 92

AI Impressions on this Topic:

I think your comparison is an excellent starting point for a blog post that can speak to readers across cultures and generations. La Bola Negra, Brokeback Mountain, and Maurice are different films, but they share an important theme: the struggle to love honestly in a world that may not accept that love.

One important distinction for your readers: La Bola Negra has generated considerable Oscar excitement, and Spain has selected it as its official submission for the 2027 Academy Awards' International Feature Film category. That is not yet a guarantee of an Oscar nomination or a win. It has also received major festival recognition, including the Cannes Best Director prize and the Toronto International Film Festival's People's Choice Award.

I deliberately distinguish the films' shared themes without suggesting that their historical circumstances are identical. Brokeback Mountain won three Academy Awards, while Maurice is a critically acclaimed film with its own awards history. La Bola Negra is the current Oscar contender. That distinction will help keep your post accurate while preserving its central message about love, dignity, and compassion.

AI Overview:

La Bola Negra (The Black Ball) is a 2026 Spanish historical melodrama film directed by the acclaimed duo Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, collectively known as Los Javis. The movie is released in US theaters today, October 16, 2026, coinciding with its wide streaming premiere on Netflix. The film stands as Spain's official entry for the 99th Academy Awards.

Plot and Inspiration

Co-written by Los Javis alongside Alberto Conejero, the screenplay is a queer epic triptych. It draws narrative inspiration from Federico García Lorca's unfinished, fragmented play La bola negra as well as Conejero’s own play La piedra oscura.

The plot spans nearly a century of Spanish history, following the interconnected lives of three generations of gay men who navigate love, desire, and trauma across three distinct timelines:

1932 (Granada): Carlos (Milo Quifes) is blackballed from an exclusive casino after a cruel vote-using literal black balls to vote "no", due to his presumed sexuality.
1937 (Spanish Civil War): Sebastián (played by Spanish music star Guitarricadelafuentein his debut role) is conscripted into the fascist forces and finds a profound connection across enemy lines with a leftist prisoner named Alberto.
2017 (Modern Day): Alberto (Carlos González), a contemporary writer, uncovers a long-buried family secret that unifies the spectral weight of their shared history.

Acclaim and Awards

The production features a massive ensemble cast, highlighted by brief but standout appearances from Academy Award-winner Penélope Cruz (as a traditional cabaret singer) and Glenn Close.

La Bola Negra premiered in competition at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where Los Javis won the Best Director prize. Before its wide release, it became a massive film festival darling, picking up prestigious audience awards worldwide, including the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and major prizes at the San Sebastián and Sydney film festivals. Critics have highly praised its lush, museum-like 35mm cinematography by Gris Jordana and its uncompromising look at historical LGBTQ+ resilience.

Finally, My Photo of the Day:

The Intelligence and Solitude Link-Not Socializing During Meal Times at Newton's

2026-10-16T08:12:12.524-07:00

The Intelligence and Solitude Link_From My Recent Readings 

Most people assume that constant socializing is what makes us happy. The research tells a different story for those with higher cognitive abilities. Frequent socializing doesn't automatically translate into greater life satisfaction for everyone. In fact, people who score higher on measures of intelligence often report being more content when they spend less time with friends and more time on their own. Their need for solitude after social events isn't a quirk or a flaw. It appears to be a feature of how their brains actually work.

 Understanding Evolutionary Roots

Evolutionary psychology offers one explanation through what's called the savanna theory of happiness. The theory argues that human brains evolved in small hunter-gatherer groups where tight social bonds were a matter of survival. Most people today still carry that ancient wiring, which is why isolation can feel uncomfortable. Highly intelligent individuals, though, seem to adapt more easily to modern conditions, including urban living and time spent alone, without the same distress others might feel.

 Driven by Purpose

Goal orientation plays a big role too. People with strong intellectual drives often see casual socializing as a distraction from the deep work their projects demand. Their minds are always chewing on problems, and they tend to protect that mental space deliberately. Common priorities include:
* Extended blocks of uninterrupted creative work
* Pursuing academic or professional excellence
* Thinking through abstract or philosophical questions
* Building specialized skills without outside interference

 Rethinking Social Fulfillment

Liking time alone doesn't mean someone is cold or socially incapable. It usually means they care more about the quality of a conversation than the number of people in a room. A few deep relationships often matter more to them than a wide circle of acquaintances. Time spent recharging isn't wasted time. It's how these minds process, reset, and prepare for the next stretch of focused work. The pull toward solitude after a social event is less about avoiding people and more about returning to a state where clear thinking is possible.

Sources: The British Journal of Psychology

AI Overview: 
Highly intelligent individuals often have a distinct relationship with solitude and loneliness, driven by unique cognitive, evolutionary, and psychological mechanisms. Research and psychological experts highlight that for those with high intelligence, time spent alone is frequently a deliberate strategy for mental preservation and creative fulfillment, though it can sometimes transition into an isolating experience. 
The connection between intelligence, solitude, and loneliness can be understood through several core factors:
1. The Cognitive Load & Energy Conservation
Highly analytical minds spend substantial energy processing complex, abstract problems. After periods of intense cognitive work, social environments can feel like an overwhelming sensory overload rather than a way to unwind. 
Strategic Recharging: Solitude acts as a practical mechanism to reduce cognitive load. Choosing to be alone allows the brain to lower its defenses and replenish its mental bandwidth.
Activation of the Default Mode Network: When an individual is removed from external social pressures and distractions, the brain enters its default mode network. This state is crucial for deep reflection, long-term planning, imagination, and creative synthesis. 
2. Intellectual Loneliness and the "Compatibility Gap"
Solitude is often peaceful, but it can blur into involuntary loneliness due to what psychologists call an intellectual compatibility gap. 
The Shrinking Pool Problem: Finding peers who match a highly intelligent person's pace, depth, and thirst for complex concepts is statistically challenging.
Surface-Level Fatigue: Casual small talk or trivial social rituals fail to activate the reward centers of a highly intelligent brain, which craves novelty and depth. 
Social Masking: To fit into standard social environments, intelligent individuals often "code-switch" or simplify their natural communication. This constant self-monitoring turns social interactions into exhausting "work" and leads to a strange form of isolation—feeling liked only for an edited, polished version of oneself rather than being authentically known.
3. The Evolutionary Perspective (The Savanna Theory)
From an evolutionary standpoint, the Savanna Theory of Happiness suggests that the human brain evolved to handle the social dynamics of small hunter-gatherer tribes (roughly 150 people). 
While frequent social contact with a close-knit group was essential for ancestral survival, individuals with higher cognitive abilities are better equipped to adapt to evolutionarily novel, complex modern environments without needing constant social reassurance.
Consequently, studies have shown a "happiness reversal" where brilliant individuals actually report lower life satisfaction when they interact with large social groups too frequently. 
Distinguishing Solitude from Loneliness
As highlighted by experts in Psychology Today, it is vital to separate solitude (an intentional, restorative, and productive state of being alone) from loneliness (the painful, distressing perception that one’s social relationships lack substance). High IQ does not doom a person to a lonely life; true social fulfillment for analytical minds simply relies on prioritizing the depth of relationships over breadth and finding rare, resonant communities of true mental peers. 
Personal Note Related to this Topic:
A Fellow resident asked me the other day, why I do not socialize anymore on meal times. I told her, I just get tired of it after socializing at meal times in Newton's for the last 2 years. I told her I do my socializing during bridge, mahjong, chair volleyball, corn hole time as well as in the Hallways. I now enjoyed very much eating 3 meals a day in my apartment alone, perhaps watching TV for News etc..I also like to walk around while eating my meals. 
In addition, since Jun 2026, I have not been attending our Happy Hour on Fridays. The reason behind this is more medical than personal. For the last two years, I have been enjoying Carmen's Margarita. At the advice of my nephrologist, alcohol consumption is in my list to avoid. Thus, to avoid temptation of me ordering my favorite drink during THD Happy Hour, I have decided not to attend the Happy Hour on Fridays anymore, However, If the Russian Alek is the Guest Singer, I may attend.   I enjoyed Alek music and energy. 
Finally, My Photo of the Year:    

My Oldest Son Dodie Katague: From Berkeley Student to Author of Cloyne Court

2026-10-15T09:19:38.327-07:00

October 15 is Dodie's 68th Birthday

My Oldest Son Dodie Katague: From Berkeley Student to Author of Cloyne Court

A Father's Pride in His Son's Unexpected Journey

As I approach my 92nd birthday, I find myself looking back more and more at the people and experiences that have shaped my life.

Among my greatest blessings are my children. Today, I would like to reintroduce my oldest son, Dodie Katague, to my worldwide readers.

Many people know Dodie as an attorney and former Prosecuting Attorney for Contra Costa County, California. October 15 this year is his 68th birthday. 💚

But there is another side of Dodie that I would like to share.

He is also a writer. And in 2009, he published a book called Cloyne Court.

Cloyne Court on Amazon

Who Is Dodie Katague? Dodie is my oldest son.

He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley, graduating in 1981 with a degree in Geography. He later earned his law degree from the University of California, Davis, King Hall School of Law, in 1985. He went on to spend more than three decades as a prosecutor in Contra Costa County.

I have always been proud of his professional career.

Being a prosecutor is not an easy profession. It requires judgment, persistence, knowledge of the law, and a strong sense of responsibility.

But long before he became a prosecutor, Dodie was simply a young college student trying to find his way. And that is where Cloyne Court begins.

The Berkeley Years

Dodie lived at Cloyne Court Cooperative from 1977 to 1979 while attending UC Berkeley.

Cloyne Court was and remains, a famous Berkeley student cooperative. According to Dodie's own description of the book, it was an unusual, counterculture, student-run residence filled with young people from many different backgrounds and with very different personalities.

The book is based substantially on journals Dodie kept during those years.

Amazon describes Cloyne Court as a coming-of-age creative memoir set in Berkeley in the late 1970s. The current Kindle edition was published by Three Clover Press in December 2009 and is 328 pages.

That fact fascinates me. When Dodie was a young man, he was keeping journals.

He probably did not know that decades later those journals would become the foundation for a published book.

That is one of the wonderful things about keeping a journal.

You never know which ordinary memory may become precious many years later.

From Journals to a Novel

Dodie calls Cloyne Court a coming-of-age story. I think that description is appropriate.

It is about a young Berkeley student entering an unfamiliar world and learning about friendship, relationships, independence, and life outside the classroom.

Dodie has explained that the story is partly factual and partly recreated for the purposes of storytelling. Some characters are composites, and some events were reconstructed from memories when his journals did not provide every detail.

That makes the book particularly interesting to me as a father.

It is not simply a history of Berkeley. It is Dodie's interpretation of his own youth.

It is a story about discovering who you are. And isn't that what college is supposed to be about?

The Young Dodie I Didn't Always See

Parents sometimes forget that their children have lives that exist beyond the family home.

We see our children growing up. We see them go to school.

We celebrate their graduations. We watch them begin careers and families of their own.

But there are chapters of their lives that we never witnessed.

For me, Cloyne Court opened a small window into one of those chapters.

I knew Dodie as my son. I knew him as a Berkeley student.

Later, I knew him as a lawyer and prosecutor.

But through his writing, I could see another Dodie, the young man living at Cloyne Court during a very different period in American history.

The late 1970s were a fascinating time. America was changing. Berkeley was changing.

And Dodie was growing up.

From Cloyne Court to the Courtroom

There is an interesting contrast between the young man in Cloyne Court and the professional Dodie I later watched develop.

The young Dodie was experiencing the uncertainties and adventures of college life.

The older Dodie became a prosecutor entrusted with serious responsibilities.

He eventually spent more than 30 years in the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

That is quite a journey. From a Berkeley student cooperative...to law school...

to the courtroom...to public service...and eventually to retirement and writing.

Life certainly does not always follow a straight line.

Retirement and Another Chapter

Dodie is now retired. But one lesson I have learned from my own retirement is that retirement does not mean that life stops.

Sometimes it simply gives us time to do things we could not do before.

For Dodie, writing became one of those things. For me, blogging became one of mine.

I have been writing online since 2009, and today I continue to write about family, aging, science, Filipino-American life, genealogy, faith, technology, artificial intelligence, and the many experiences accumulated during a long life.

Dodie and I have taken different paths as writers. But we share something important.

We both believe that our experiences are worth preserving.

Why I Am Proud of My Son

I am proud of Dodie because of his professional accomplishments.

I am proud that he served the people of Contra Costa County.

I am proud of the family he has raised. But I am also proud that he became an author.

Writing a book requires something different from practicing law.

A lawyer works with facts, evidence, statutes, and arguments.

A writer works with memories, imagination, observation, and human experience.

Dodie brought those two worlds together. He took memories from his youth and transformed them into a story that other people could read.

That is a form of legacy.

What Our Children Teach Us

At my age, I have learned that parents never completely stop learning about their children.

Even when our children are adults, they can still surprise us.

Sometimes they surprise us with their careers. Sometimes with their talents.

Sometimes with the stories they tell. Dodie surprised me by becoming an author.

And perhaps he was always a writer.

The evidence was there in those journals he kept as a Berkeley student.

He was preserving his experiences long before he knew what those experiences would eventually become.

A Message to My Worldwide Readers

Many of my readers are older adults. Some of you may have children who have followed careers very different from what you expected.

Some may be lawyers, doctors, teachers, engineers, artists, business people, scientists, or writers.

Others may have chosen paths that surprised you completely. My advice is simple:

Let them surprise you.

Our children are not simply extensions of ourselves. They are individuals with their own stories.

We give them roots. They grow their own branches.

And sometimes, if we are fortunate, they give us a book that lets us see a part of the journey we never knew.

A Father's Final Word

Dodie, I am proud of you. I was proud when you graduated from Berkeley.

I was proud when you became a lawyer. I was proud of your years of public service as a prosecutor.

And I am proud of you today as a retired attorney and author.

Your book, Cloyne Court, reminds me that every life contains many chapters.

Some chapters are written in classrooms. Some in courtrooms. Some in family homes.

And some are written in the memories we carry for decades before finally putting them on paper.

You have written one of yours. And I am grateful that I get to call you my oldest son.

A Thought From a Father

At 91, I have come to appreciate something I did not fully understand when I was younger:

Our greatest legacy is not always what we accomplish ourselves. Sometimes it is watching our children create something that becomes uniquely theirs.

Dodie, Cloyne Court is your story. But it is also a small part of our family's story.

And for that, your father is grateful. Keep writing, my son. Your story is not over yet.

💚Happy 68th Birthday, Dodie!

For More Details about Cloyne Court visit:

https://dkatague.wordpress.com/2010/01/01/whats-cloyne-court-the-novel-about/

For Reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/7576060-cloyne-court

The AI OVERVIEW

Dodie Katague
(Dodie Diosdado Katague) is a prominent Deputy District Attorney in Contra Costa County, California, and a published author. He is best known for his work prosecuting high-tech crimes and consumer fraud, as well as for his creative memoir about his time at UC Berkeley.

Professional Career

Katague has spent decades as a prosecutor based in Martinez, CA. His notable legal work includes:

High-Tech Crimes: Specializes in cases involving computer hacking, identity theft, and internet scams.
Major Cases: Led the prosecution of the Diablo Valley College "grades for cash" scandal, where students were charged with hacking systems to change grades for money.
Consumer Protection: Handles cases related to elder adult theft and financial fraud.
Teaching: Lectures to law enforcement agencies nationwide on the topic of high-tech crime.

Author & Creative Work

Katague is the author of the creative memoir "Cloyne Court," published in 2009.

Content: The book is a fictionalized account based on his personal journals from 1977 to 1979, when he lived in the Cloyne Court student co-op while attending UC Berkeley.
Acting: Beyond writing, he has been involved in local theater, recently appearing as "Evan" in the Benicia Theatre Group's production of Sweat.

Education

B.A. in Geography: University of California, Berkeley (1981).
J.D. (Law Degree): University of California, Davis, King Hall School of Law(1985).

Legal cases

Dodie Katague

is a specialist in high-tech crimes and consumer protection

for the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office. As of early 2024, he continues to be listed as an active attorney in Martinez, CA.

His legal work typically focuses on complex fraud, identity theft, and digital crimes:

Notable High-Tech & Fraud Cases

DVC Grade-Changing Scheme: Katague was the lead prosecutor in a massive scandal at Diablo Valley College, where dozens of students were charged with paying to have their grades fraudulently upgraded in the school's computer system.
Public Employee Payroll Fraud: He successfully prosecuted a former Contra Costa Fire Battalion Chief for falsifying payroll records to obtain unearned pay [Previous Context].
Online Harassment & Privacy: As a specialist in high-tech crimes, he has been a vocal advocate for strengthening laws against online harassment and digital stalking.

Consumer Protection & Community Outreach

In his role within the Consumer Protection Unit, Katague focuses on:

Elder Abuse & Senior Scams: He frequently works on cases involving financial exploitation of the elderly. This expertise extends to community education, such as workshops hosted by Contra Costa Legal Services to help seniors identify and report scams.
Investment & Real Estate Fraud: His unit investigates "white-collar" crimes, including grand theft and deceptive business practices that target local residents.

Professional Status Note: While some records indicate Katague moved to inactive status with the California State Bar in 2020, he remains associated with the District Attorney's office in a professional capacity as of 2024.

Dodie Katague

balances a decades-long legal career with active participation in the Bay Area arts scene. His work spans from a "creative memoir" about his time at UC Berkeley to roles in local theater.

Literary Work

Katague is primarily known for his book Cloyne Court
, published in 2009.

Genre: It is described as a "creative memoir," blending factual events from his journals (1977–1979) with fictionalized elements and composite characters.
Subject: The story focuses on the "coming-of-age" experiences at Berkeley’s
Cloyne Court
student co-op shortly after it became co-ed.
Future Projects: He has worked on a young adult science fiction novel titled "
Rock Star Planet
" and has expressed plans for a fictional account of life in a district attorney's office titled "
Devil Mountain DA
".

Acting and Theater

Katague is a frequent performer in Northern California community theater, particularly with groups in Benicia and Martinez.

Notable Roles:
- Played Evan in the Benicia Old Town Theatre Group's 2024 production of "Sweat" by Lynn Nottage.
- Appeared in the Onstage Theatre
  production of "Social Security" in Martinez.
Style: His roles often range from dramatic contemporary plays to lighthearted comedies, reflecting his long-standing interest in the performing arts alongside his professional life.

These links provide summaries of Dodie Katague's literary contributions, particularly his book "Cloyne Court":

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2026/07/dodie-katague-my-oldest-son-author-of.html

My Photo of the Day: Ditas Filipina Blouse top

The Mamdani Effect -23 Ways to Say, I love You!

2026-10-14T19:56:41.472-07:00

Republicans swore Mamdani would destroy NYC. Instead, it was just ranked the #1 city on the planet.

Oxford Economics scored 1,000 cities on their economy, talent, quality of life, environment and governance. New York came out on top with a perfect 100.

And while the right was busy predicting the apocalypse, the mayor was busy getting things done.

He froze the rent. The Rent Guidelines Board approved a two-year freeze for rent-stabilized apartments, about 40% of the homes in the city. Landlords are suing over it, which tells you exactly who it helps.

He’s taxing the rich, implementing a pied-à-terre tax on second homes worth over $5 million. They’re also suing over that, which tells you exactly who it helps.

He's bringing free child care to New York, starting with free 2-K seats in four communities, with universal care as the goal.

He forced delivery apps to pay up, with a $5.2 million wage-theft settlement and 10,000 fired Uber Eats workers getting their jobs back.

He told ICE it needs a judge's warrant to operate in his city.

He moved to ban junk fees, the first U.S. city to do it. And he's building city-run grocery stores that will sell food at 30% below market prices.

He campaigned on every bit of it, and he's delivering.

So much for the end of New York

Meanwhile, Have you tasted the Filipino Balut:
 
Balut is the ultimate Filipino street food dare, and eating one for the first time is a rite of passage that separates the adventurous from the merely curious. This fertilized duck egg, incubated for 14 to 21 days until the embryo is partially developed, is boiled and eaten straight from the shell with a sprinkle of salt and a splash of vinegar. Street vendors sell balut from insulated baskets in the evening, calling out "baluuuut" in a singsongy voice that echoes through residential neighborhoods after dark. The experience of eating balut is a full sensory event, starting with sipping the warm broth from a small hole in the top, then peeling away the shell to reveal the soft yolk and the tiny embryo curled inside. Filipinos have been eating balut for centuries, and the city of Pateros in Metro Manila built its entire identity around duck-egg production, earning the nickname "Balut Capital of the Philippines." The protein-rich snack is considered an energy booster and is popular with workers, students, and anyone who needs a late-night pick-me-up.
Have you ever tried balut, and if so, what was your honest reaction?

Finally My Photo of the Day:

A Little Philippines in a Bottle

2026-10-14T19:55:55.079-07:00

That little bottle on my shelf has a big story.

I purchased this piece in the Philippines several years ago, and every time I look at it, I'm transported back home.

It is Filipino miniature art - inside a clear glass bottle, a tiny world. Two Nipa Huts, with its woven walls and palm-thatched roof. Two small palm trees swaying beside it. And right out front, a Filipino couple working together, building or tending their house. The artist even put a little sign on the hut that says "Philippines."

If you have ever seen a nipa hut, you know what it represents. Simplicity. Bayanihan - neighbors helping neighbors. A house built by hand, with materials from the earth, meant to be shared.

It sits on my desk right in front of another treasure - a Plaque of Appreciation from the University Library of the University of the Philippines Visayas. It was given for my contribution to the Setup of the UPV Archives Section in the New UPV Library Building, in memory of my late son and wife. That plaque and this bottle sit together, and for me they belong together. One honors memory and learning. The other honors home and hard work.

What I love about bottled art like this is the patience it takes. Someone had to build that tiny hut, paint those tiny figures, place every piece of bamboo inside a bottle neck that is barely wider than a finger. It is the Filipino spirit in miniature - resourceful, detailed, joyful even in small things.

To my readers around the world who have never been to the Philippines, this is what I want you to see: we build our homes with our hands, but we build our lives with each other.

I keep it where I can see it every day. It reminds me that no matter how far we travel, a small piece of home can still fit in the palm of your hand.

Have you ever seen bottled art like this from your own travels? I would love to hear what little treasure keeps you connected to home.

My Photo of the Day-22 Ways to Say Beautiful in Filipino Languages and Dialects

My Photo of the Day:

Two Small California Towns with An Oversized Appetite

2026-10-14T17:21:55.952-07:00

OctoBER 2026

Two Small California Towns

With an Oversized Appetite

Carmel-by-the-Sea reminds me that abundance isn't measured in size but in care, craft, and community gathered around a good table.

DBy David B. Katague • Read by friends in 150+ countries • 8 min read

Carmel-by-the-Sea fewer than 4,000 residents, more than 60 restaurantsOCEAN AVE • LATE AFTERNOON

When I was a young man, I thought a town needed to be large to matter. Big cities, big plans, big noise. At 91, I have learned the opposite is often true. Some of the most memorable places in California are barely larger than a neighborhood and yet they feed the world.

1. A Village That Ignores Logic

Carmel-by-the-Sea sits on the Monterey Peninsula like a well-kept secret, even though everyone seems to know it. The official population is about 3,200 souls, smaller than many apartment complexes I have visited. And yet, this one-square-mile village holds more than 60 restaurants.

It defies logic until you walk it. No streetlights. No chain stores by ordinance. Cottages that look lifted from a storybook, galleries on every corner, and the smell of fresh bread and pine drifting down Ocean Avenue toward the sea. Tourism sustains it, yes, but hospitality is its true economy. People come for the beach and stay for dinner.

A village within a forest, within sight of the sea. Carmel’s scale is what keeps it human.

Why Food Lovers Find Their Way There

You do not need to be a critic to feel it. You turn a corner on Dolores Street and there is a wood-fired oven going. On Mission, a courtyard is already full at 5 p.m. The village invites you to linger, which in Carmel means to eat well.

For friends planning a visit, these are the tables I keep hearing about and a few I hope to return to:

Chez Noir - 5th Ave between Dolores and San Carlos, Carmel - One Michelin Star. Intimate, modern coastal tasting menu, seasonal and precise.
Aubergine at L'Auberge Carmel - Monte Verde at Seventh Two Michelin Stars. Chef Justin Cogley's refined California cuisine inside a Relais & Châteaux inn.
La Bicyclette - 29 Dolores St , Wood oven, rustic French-Italian, beloved for its pizzas and bistro comfort. Line forms early.
Dametra Cafe - Ocean Ave & Lincoln, Mediterranean warmth, family recipes, live music some evenings, and generous spirit.
Little Napoli = Dolores & 7th , Classic Italian, old-Carmel charm, perfect for a long lunch with friends.
Anton & Michel - Mission St, Court of the Fountains, Elegant courtyard dining, Continental-California, a favorite for celebrations.

“A town of 3,200 feeding the world is not an accident. It is devotion repeated daily.”

2. What Yountville Teaches Us Too

Carmel is not alone in this quiet miracle. A few hours north, in Napa Valley, lies Yountville, only about 3,000 people, yet home to the highest per capita concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants in North America.

At 91, I find that comforting. It tells me that America still makes room for small places that choose excellence over expansion. Both towns teach the same lesson: you do not have to be big to be great. You have to be faithful to what you do well, every day, for years.

The Larger Lesson for All of Us

When I was a young man raising a family, I measured success in milestones. Promotions. Properties. Numbers that could be counted. At 91, I have learned to measure it in mornings.

Here at Chateau De La Mer ( also THD) in Walnut Creek, our mornings are not unlike Carmel's. Small community, big heart. We gather for coffee, we remember names, we share stories we have told before and we listen as if hearing them for the first time. That is hospitality, too.

A village with 60 restaurants is not really about restaurants. It is about the decision, made again and again, to welcome strangers and feed them as if they were family. That is faith in practice. That is friendship made edible. That is why a place with fewer than 4,000 residents can feel larger than a city.

“We are all small towns, really. Our job is to have an oversized appetite for kindness.”

If You Visit

Park once and walk. Start at Ocean Avenue, drift down to the beach, then back up through the side streets. Dolores, San Carlos, and Mission hold most of the treasures.

Best time is spring and fall fewer crowds, softer light, easier reservations. In summer, book two weeks ahead for the starred rooms.

PRACTICAL NOTES

• Stroll Ocean Avenue before dinner
• Reservations essential — Chez Noir & Aubergine
• Best seasons: April–June, Sept–Nov
• Parking: public lots at Sunset Center
• No street addresses on many cottages — look for courtyards

Chez Noir - Michelin Star

5th Ave between Dolores and San Carlos

Aubergine - 2 Michelin Stars

Monte Verde at Seventh, L'Auberge Carmel

La Bicyclette

29 Dolores St, Carmel

Dametra Cafe

Ocean Ave & Lincoln St

Carmel-by-the-Sea Village

Heart of the Village

Little Napoli & Anton & Michel

Dolores & 7th / Mission St Court of Fountains — Classic courtyard favorites

So tell me, dear readers what is your small town with an oversized appetite? What place, perhaps no larger than a few blocks, has fed you more than its size should allow?

I would love to hear from you. Your letters from over 150 countries remind me daily that we are all, in some way, neighbors at the same table.

David B. Katague

Chateau De La Mer(also THD) | Walnut Creek, California

Retired educator/Federal employee, writer, and grateful resident. Writing about aging, faith, friendship, and the small joys that become large when shared.

I have been to the two towns in my younger years. Writing this blog today, reminds me of the many pleasant memories of my younger years.

Thank You, MetaAI for your formatting Assistance!

MY WRITING LEGACY SERIES

Continue the journey

Part 6: The Garden Year Part 7: Letters Home →

Stage 4 CKD: When “Healthy” Foods, Medicines and Supplements Need a Second Look

2026-10-14T16:18:57.190-07:00

Why Do Filipinos Look Different From Other Asians?

2026-10-14T15:57:26.627-07:00

From My Recent Readings 

Apparently, genetic research shows that the Philippine genetic landscape was shaped by at least five distinct migratory waves over tens of thousands of years: 

1. Early Indigenous Peoples - Negrito Groups
Some of the earliest inhabitants of the Philippines arrived tens of thousands of years ago and contributed to the country’s deep indigenous ancestry.

2. Austronesian Expansion
Thousands of years ago, Austronesian-speaking peoples expanded from Taiwan through the Philippines and into Island Southeast Asia, becoming a major ancestral component of the population.

3. Mainland Southeast Asian Connections
Later movements and long-standing interactions connected the Philippines with populations from mainland and island Southeast Asia, adding to its genetic and cultural diversity.

4. Chinese and Northeast Asian Migration
Centuries of trade, migration, and settlement brought additional ancestry from southern China and other parts of East Asia. These influences varied greatly among regions and families.

5. Later Global Migration and Intermarriage
Spanish, South Asian, Middle Eastern, American, and other migrations during the colonial and modern periods added further ancestry to some Filipino communities.

Meanwhile, Do you know that......


Filipino American history began long before  America did.​
In 1587, Filipinos arrived in what is now Morro Bay,  California-33 years before the Mayflower and 189 years before U.S. independence.

Finally, 


JUST IN: Pope Leo XIV approves Cardinal Tagle's election as Dean of the College of Cardinals. (10-9-26).   
Pope Leo XIV has approved the election of Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as Dean of the College of Cardinals on 8 October 2026, succeeding Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, whose resignation from the office has been accepted by the Pope.
Cardinal Re will assume the title of Dean Emeritus while retaining the title of the suburbicarian See of Sabina-Poggio Mirteto.
Cardinal Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization’s Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches, will assume the title of the suburbicarian See of Ostia while retaining his existing title of Albano. | via Holy See Press Office


Macrine enjoying the view of the Main land from one of the Rooms at the Resort

Chateau Du Mer Beach House and Conference Hall

San Marino- The Oldest Country in the World

GOOD NEWS FOR THE PHILIPPINES TOURISM !

The Fifteen Architectural Wonders of the World

1. Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela, Ethiopia

2. National Stadium, Beijing, China

3. The Great Wall of China

4. Pont Du Gard, Remoulins, France

5. Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Bilbao, Spain

6. Burj Khalifa, Dubai, UAE

7. La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain

8. The Colosseum, Rome, Italy

9.The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy

10. Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia

11. Al Khazneh, Petra, Jordan

12.Pyramid of Kukulcan, Chichén Itzá, Mexico

13.Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California

14. Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

15.The Great Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

My Internet Presence- An Update

The Wayfarer's Chapel and the Two Chapels in Marinduque

Six Interests That Tell My Story: Faith, the Philippines, Mahjong, Books, Cats, and Tango

1. Catholic Faith: My Spiritual Anchor

2. Travel and the Philippines: My Roots Will Always Be Home

3. Philippine Mahjong: Friendship Around the Table

4. Books and Reading: A Lifetime of Curiosity

5. Cats: Small Companions, Simple Joys

6. Tango Dancing: A Romance That Never Really Ends

What These Six Interests Have Taught Me About Aging

A Final Reflection

Manila was Called Paris of Asia in 1880 and Had Telephones in 1890

Two Minutes, a Racing Heart, and a Game That Was Not Over

Two Minutes, a Racing Heart, and a Game That Was Not Over

From a Comfortable Lead to an Uncomfortable Finish

Why 23–17 Was Such a Dangerous Score

The Moment Near the Two-Minute Mark

Why Two Minutes Can Feel So Long

Different Footballs, the Same Human Drama

The Philippines in 2026: What Is Our Major Challenge Today?

Ray Kurzweil Predicts Humans Could Begin Overcoming Aging by 2030

Loida Nicolas Lewis-in My Filipino-American Pride List

Why Might an Adult Child Stop Valuing or Speaking to Their Mother?

Seven Psychological Reasons and a Lesson About Family Relationships

1. They may have felt emotionally neglected

2. They may have experienced too much criticism

3. They may feel controlled

4. Old childhood wounds may never have been resolved

5. They may have different memories of the same childhood

6. A spouse or partner may influence the relationship

7. Sometimes distance becomes easier than reconciliation

But Does This Mean the Mother Is Always to Blame?

What I Have Learned at 91

And What About That Family of Three?

A David at 91 thought

Filipino Languages and Dialects

ELEPHANT ISLAND: BEFORE BELLAROCCA- Pleasant Memories of Yesteryears

I am Related to Felipe Buencamino, Sr- Soups of the Philippines

Davao Dark Chocolate + Orange by Askinosie-A Surprise Gift from A Friend

The Otap of Cebu and Barquillos of Iloilo

La Bola Negra, Brokeback Mountain, and Maurice: Love Beyond the Boundaries of Society

La Bola Negra, Brokeback Mountain, and Maurice: Love Beyond the Boundaries of Society

Three Movies, One Human Story

Remembering Brokeback Mountain

Maurice: A Different Time, a Similar Struggle

What Connects These Stories?

A Reflection from My Filipino-American Perspective

Have We Really Changed?

My Final Thoughts

A Closing Thought

The Intelligence and Solitude Link-Not Socializing During Meal Times at Newton's

My Oldest Son Dodie Katague: From Berkeley Student to Author of Cloyne Court

October 15 is Dodie's 68th Birthday

My Oldest Son Dodie Katague: From Berkeley Student to Author of Cloyne Court

A Father's Pride in His Son's Unexpected Journey

Who Is Dodie Katague? Dodie is my oldest son.

The Berkeley Years

From Journals to a Novel

The Young Dodie I Didn't Always See

From Cloyne Court to the Courtroom

Retirement and Another Chapter