My Published Articles for ViewsHound

I Mailed My Ballot: Should We Ask Artificial Intelligence Who to Vote For?

2026-10-25T09:39:16.351-07:00

Yesterday, I mailed my ballot. At my age, approaching 92, I no longer drive. Mailing my ballot is not simply a matter of convenience. It is a necessity that allows me to continue exercising one of my most important rights as an American citizen: the right to vote.

I live at The Heritage Downtown, a senior living community in Walnut Creek, California. Although I live alone, I am not lonely. I continue to play bridge, write my blogs, follow the news, and take an interest in what is happening in our country and around the world.

Growing older may limit some of our physical activities, but it should not mean giving up our voice in the affairs of our nation.

Today, however, two news stories caught my attention. One concerned the growing number of Americans who have already voted in the upcoming November 2026 elections. The other, reported in the news, concerned Americans turning to artificial intelligence, or AI, for help in deciding which candidates deserve their votes.

The second story made me stop and think.

How Does Voting Work in America?

For my readers outside the United States, let me briefly explain the American electoral process.

The United States is a representative democracy. Citizens who are eligible to vote choose people to represent them in government. Depending on the election, they may vote for a president, members of Congress, state officials, local leaders, judges, or other positions. They may also vote on specific proposals called ballot measures.

The United States has elections at several levels of government. Federal elections concern the national government, state elections concern individual states, and local elections may determine who governs a city, county, or school district.

In November 2026, Americans will participate in the midterm elections. These elections take place halfway through a president's four-year term. Voters will elect all 435 members of the House of Representatives and approximately one-third of the United States Senate, along with many state and local officials.

Unlike countries where elections are conducted through a single national system, American elections are administered largely by individual states and local election officials. Rules concerning voter registration, identification, mail ballots, and deadlines can therefore differ from one state to another.

There are several ways Americans can vote.

Some go to a polling place on Election Day. Others vote in person before Election Day through a process called early voting. Many voters, including senior citizens like me, use mail-in ballots.

A mail-in ballot allows an eligible voter to receive a ballot, mark the choices privately, and return it according to the state's rules. Depending on the state, it may be returned through the postal service, placed in an authorized ballot drop box, or delivered to an election office.

For people who no longer drive, have mobility difficulties, or cannot easily stand in line, voting by mail can make participation in democracy much more accessible.

I mailed my ballot yesterday because I want my voice to be heard, even though I can no longer drive myself to a polling place.

Millions of Americans Are Voting Early

News reports this week described millions of Americans already casting their ballots before Election Day.

According to a report published on October 21, approximately 14.3 million Americans had voted in the 2026 general election at that point. About 9.1 million had voted by mail and 5.2 million had voted in person before Election Day.

These figures are an early snapshot, not the final national total. They show that Americans do not all wait until Election Day to exercise their voting rights.

For me, the important point is not which candidate or political party receives the most votes. It is that citizens have an opportunity to participate in deciding the future of their country.

Democracy depends not only on the people who run for public office but also on ordinary citizens who take the time to vote.

When Artificial Intelligence Enters the Voting Booth

The other news story surprised me even more.

Some Americans are asking AI chatbots to help them decide whom to vote for. They may ask a chatbot to compare candidates, explain their positions on important issues, examine their professional backgrounds, or even recommend which candidate they should support.

A Pew Research Center survey published on October 23, 2026, offers some useful perspective. Among American adults surveyed, 8 percent said they were using AI chatbots for information related to the 2026 elections.

Among those using AI for election information, many wanted to learn where candidates stood on issues or check the accuracy of claims they had heard. Forty percent of this group said they had used chatbots for suggestions about how to make their voting choices.

These findings suggest that AI is becoming another source of election information, although most Americans are not yet using it for that purpose.

I can understand why people might turn to AI. American ballots can be complicated. A voter may face several candidates for different offices, each presenting promises and arguments. There may also be ballot measures written in language that is difficult to understand.

AI can explain unfamiliar terms, summarize a candidate's stated policies, and help compare different positions. Used carefully, it can help citizens become better informed.

But there is an important difference between asking AI to explain the choices and asking AI to make the choice for us.

I Ask AI to Help Me Write, Not to Decide My Vote

I have been using AI to help me write my blogs for readers around the world.

I write about my experiences growing up in the Philippines, my years as a pharmaceutical chemist, my late wife Macrine, my Catholic faith, aging, science, and the many changes I have witnessed during my lifetime.

Sometimes I ask AI to explain a scientific discovery in simpler language. At other times, I ask it to help organize my thoughts or make an article easier for readers whose first language is not English.

I find this particularly useful because my readers come from many countries and backgrounds. I want them to understand my stories without having to struggle with complicated English.

Nevertheless, the experiences and opinions expressed in my blogs are mine. AI can help me communicate them, but it cannot replace the memories, values, and personal reflections that make them my own.

The same principle applies to voting.

I would ask AI to explain a candidate's position, but I would not ask AI to tell me whom to vote for. Why?

Because voting is not merely a mathematical exercise in which a computer compares several names and announces a winner. It is a personal decision involving our values, our experiences, our hopes for the future, and our understanding of the responsibilities of government.

Two intelligent people can examine the same facts and reach different conclusions. One may place greater importance on the economy, another on health care, and another on education, immigration, the environment, or the country's international responsibilities.

There is no reason to assume that an AI chatbot understands an individual's priorities better than that individual does.

Can We Trust Artificial Intelligence?

As a retired pharmaceutical chemist who spent many years working with scientific information, I have learned to distinguish between a claim and the evidence supporting it.

AI is an impressive technology, but it is not infallible.

It can provide outdated information, misunderstand a question, overlook important details, or present an incorrect statement in convincing language. Its responses can also be influenced by the information available to it and the way a question is framed.

Political information presents particular challenges. Candidates may change their positions, campaign advertisements may contain misleading claims, and different sources may describe the same event in different ways.

An AI-generated summary may sound balanced without necessarily giving equal attention to all the facts that matter.

Therefore, anyone using AI to research an election should check its claims against reliable sources, including official election websites, candidate statements, reputable news organizations, and independent fact-checking services.

AI can help us find and understand information. It should not become our only source of information.

And we should be especially cautious when a chatbot gives us the answer we already want to hear. Agreement can be comforting, but it is not proof that we are correct.

The Ballot Is Mine, and the Responsibility Is Mine

As I approach my 92nd birthday, I have lived through many political changes, technological advances, and international events.

I have seen the world change from an era when information traveled slowly to one in which a person can ask a computer a question and receive an answer within seconds.

This is progress, and I welcome many of its benefits.

Yet some responsibilities should remain firmly in human hands.

My ballot represents my judgment as a citizen. I may seek information from newspapers, television, conversations with other people, official documents, and even artificial intelligence. But after considering the available evidence, the final decision belongs to me.

I do not expect every reader to agree with my approach. Some may find AI useful in narrowing their choices. Others may prefer to study the candidates entirely on their own.

What matters is that we remain thoughtful, independent, and willing to examine the evidence before making a decision.

In a democracy, we should not surrender our judgment simply because a machine can produce an answer quickly.

Yesterday, I mailed my ballot. I did so because I still believe that my voice matters, even at nearly 92.

I may need a cane to walk, help with some computer tasks, and the assistance of my children for certain errands. But I can still think, reflect, and make my own decisions.

That is a privilege I do not take for granted.

A Final Reflection

Technology can help us write our stories, understand complicated subjects, and communicate with people across the world. It can also help us become better-informed voters.

But technology should assist our judgment, not replace it.

I will continue asking AI to help me write about the world I have experienced and the lessons I have learned. When it comes to voting, however, I believe the responsibility must remain my own.

My ballot carries my name, my conscience, and my responsibility as a citizen. No machine should cast my judgment for me.

At nearly 92, I have learned that growing older does not mean surrendering the right to think for ourselves.

And perhaps that is one of the most important lessons we can pass on to the next generation.

Until my next blog, may we use the gifts of technology wisely, preserve our independence of thought, and never forget the value of a single human voice.

Suggested References :

Pew Research Center — How Americans are using AI chatbots for 2026 election information.
USA.gov — Learn about voting and elections in the United States.
California Secretary of State — California voter information.

AI Impressions and Notes on this Topic:

This is an excellent subject for your David At Nearing 92 blog. Your personal experience of mailing your ballot gives the article a human touch, while the question of asking artificial intelligence for voting advice raises an important issue for our time: AI can help us understand the world, but should it decide how we vote?

For your worldwide readers, I have explain the American voting process in simple language, compare your use of AI for blogging with using AI to choose candidates, and emphasize the importance of personal judgment and civic responsibility.

Editorial note: I have treated the early-voting figures as a dated snapshot, rather than a final count. The published figures I found for October 21 were approximately 9.1 million mail ballots and 5.2 million early in-person votes.

My Photo of the Day:

When 10,000 Minds Work for 88 Hours: What AI Just Did to Mathematics

2026-10-24T19:49:28.758-07:00

THE MATHEMATICS OF FLOW

When 10,000 Minds Work for 88 Hours: What AI Just Did to Mathematics

October 24, 2026By David B. Katague, Walnut Creek, CAFor worldwide readers of chateaudumer.blogspot.com

I am writing this from my small desk here in Walnut Creek, at 91 nearing 92 years young, with the morning light coming through the window. For more than six decades I have watched mathematics move at the pace of a human life, one blackboard at a time, one letter, one proof, one quiet doubt. Last week, something happened that makes me sit back and simply breathe in wonder.

In October of this year, an announcement came that I never imagined I would read in my lifetime. I want to share it with you not as a technical expert, but as an old man who still believes that wonder is the most important thing we can pass on.

1. What happened

According to OpenAI, over a single long weekend -88 hours, they set loose not one AI, but 10,000 AI agents working together. Not chatting, not writing poems, but doing mathematics. Real mathematics. The kind that has kept the best minds awake for a century.

Their target was one of the seven Millennium Problems set by the Clay Mathematics Institute in the year 2000 - the Navier- Stokes existence and smoothness problem. It is a question about water, air, and flow itself: can we prove that the equations that describe fluid motion will always remain smooth and well-behaved, never breaking into nonsense?

The system did not just produce one draft. It produced 722 complete manuscripts, touching 372 distinct families of problems, lemmas, counter-examples, extensions, and bridges I am still trying to understand. Within that forest of work sits what they claim is a full proof of Navier-Stokes. The Clay Institute has not yet finished its long review as it should not, these things must take years but even the claim, with the weight of checking behind it, has shaken the world of mathematics.

Think of it: 10,000 minds that do not sleep, do not eat, do not forget what the 9,999 others have just discovered, working for 88 hours. That is roughly 880,000 hours of concentrated thought compressed into less than four days.

2. The human story

When I first read this, I thought of my professors in the 1950s, smoking pipes, erasing a blackboard for an hour to get one line right. I thought of my classmates who spent an entire summer on a single inequality.

Some will say this is the end of the human mathematician. I do not believe it for a moment.

What I see is not a replacement but a mirror. For the first time, we can see what mathematics looks like when memory is perfect and stamina is infinite. It shows us how much of our work was limited not by our intelligence, but by our time by the need to sleep, to raise children, to grow old. The young mathematician in Nairobi or in Mindanao who has an idea at 2 a.m. can now ask 10,000 tireless colleagues to test it with her.

The proof, if it holds, still had to be asked for by a human. The question was human. The courage to declare one of the Millennium Problems solved that, too, is human. Machines can produce manuscripts; only we can feel the trembling of the hands when we read them.

3. What remains for us

At 91 nearing 92, I have learned that the important questions are rarely "Can we?" but "What now shall we do?"

First, humility. We must wait. A proof is not true because it is large, or because it is produced quickly. It is true because it survives the patient, sometimes cranky, careful reading of other human beings. That review will take years, and that is good.

Second, gratitude. If you have ever stared at a flowing creek and wondered why it curls the way it does, mathematics is trying to honor your wonder. Whether it is proved by a man with chalk or by 10,000 agents humming in a data center, the beauty belongs to all of us.

Third, invitation. There is more room now, not less, for the human voice. We need explainers, doubters, poets of logic, teachers who can take these 722 manuscripts and tell our grandchildren what they mean. At my age, that is the work I love most sitting with you, dear reader from wherever you are reading, and saying: Look what we humans have dreamed up to do.

The sea is still out there beyond the Chateau. It still flows by rules we are just beginning to name.

SOURCES & FURTHER READING

OpenAI — Navier-Stokes announcement — Official announcement of 88-hour, 10,000-agent run
Clay Mathematics Institute — Millennium Problems — The seven problems including Navier-Stokes
Northeastern University — AI solving math problems — Reporting on 722 manuscripts and 372 problem families
Smithsonian Magazine — How AI is changing mathematics — Context on human-machine collaboration

By David B. Katague — Walnut Creek, CA

chateaudumer.blogspot.com • Written with a warm heart for worldwide readers, October 2026.

Meanwhile, my Photos of the Day:

My Dinner Today: Sirloin Steak, Coconut Rice, Asparagus and Lentil Soup ( similar to the Ginseng Mango) with Diet Coke. For Dessert I had French Sabaton Cream with Fresh Berries ( not in Photo).

Manila in Ruins: Two Wars, One People, and the Human Cost of Freedom

2026-10-24T11:09:11.803-07:00

Sometimes, as I grow older, I find myself returning to the history of my beloved Philippines. I have been reading about two tragic chapters in our nation's past: the Philippine-American War at the turn of the twentieth century and the destruction of Manila during World War II in 1945.

The more I read, the more I realize how much suffering the Filipino people endured in their struggle for freedom. These are stories that deserve to be remembered, not to reopen old wounds, but to remind future generations of the terrible human cost of war.

The Philippine-American War: When Liberation Did Not Bring Freedom

In 1898, Spain surrendered its colonial possession of the Philippines to the United States following the Spanish-American War. For Filipinos who had fought for independence from Spain, this was a bitter disappointment. They had hoped to govern their own country, only to find themselves under a new foreign power.

On February 4, 1899, fighting broke out between American forces and Filipino nationalists led by Emilio Aguinaldo. The Philippine-American War continued until 1902, although resistance to American rule persisted in some areas afterward.

How many Filipinos died?

The exact number remains uncertain. The U.S. State Department's historical account estimates that as many as 200,000 Filipino civilians died from violence, famine, and disease. Some historians have proposed substantially higher figures, including estimates approaching one million. The higher figure should not be presented as an established consensus, but even the more conservative estimates represent an enormous human tragedy.

American military operations included the destruction of villages, forced relocation of civilians, and harsh campaigns that contributed to deaths from hunger and disease. Reports of torture and other abuses also form part of this history.

For the Filipino people, the war was not simply an American military campaign. It was a struggle over a fundamental question: Did Filipinos have the right to determine their own future?

I sometimes wonder how different our history might have been if independence had come in 1898 rather than nearly half a century later.

Manila, 1945: The Destruction of the Pearl of the Orient

If the Philippine-American War brought immense suffering across the islands, the Battle of Manila in February and March 1945 brought devastation to the heart of the nation.

Before World War II, Manila was widely admired as one of Asia's beautiful and cosmopolitan cities. Its historic buildings, churches, universities, businesses, and cultural institutions reflected centuries of Spanish, Asian, and American influences. It was often called the Pearl of the Orient and sometimes the Paris of Asia.

Then came the Japanese invasion in December 1941 and nearly three years of occupation.

When American forces returned to the Philippines in 1944 and advanced toward Manila in early 1945, Filipinos hoped that liberation was near. General Douglas MacArthur had famously promised to return after escaping to Australia in 1942.

American troops entered Manila on February 3, 1945. They rescued thousands of civilian prisoners held at the University of Santo Tomas and advanced toward the capital. But the Japanese military had prepared defensive positions inside the city, and Japanese naval and army forces resisted fiercely.

What followed was one of the most destructive urban battles of World War II.

The battle lasted approximately one month, ending on March 3, 1945. Fighting took place street by street, building by building, and sometimes room by room.

American artillery and tank fire devastated buildings occupied or defended by Japanese forces. Japanese troops committed horrific atrocities against Filipino civilians, including massacres, killings, and other acts of brutality. Civilians were also trapped in the crossfire, while fires and the destruction of homes left survivors without shelter.

It is important to acknowledge all these facts. The Japanese occupation brought terrible cruelty to Filipinos, and the battle to retake the city brought further devastation. American forces were fighting to defeat the Japanese defenders, but American bombardment and shelling also contributed substantially to the destruction of Manila.

The human cost was staggering.

Historians estimate that approximately 100,000 Filipino civilians died during the Battle of Manila. That is an almost unimaginable number of lives lost in a single city in roughly one month.

Imagine the fathers, mothers, children, grandparents, and neighbors behind that number. Imagine families who went to sleep one evening and never woke up together again.

The buildings could be counted. The dead could be estimated. But how can anyone measure the grief of a family that lost everyone it loved?

How Much of Manila Was Destroyed?

The destruction was so extensive that Manila became one of the most devastated Allied capitals of World War II.

Thousands of buildings were destroyed or badly damaged. More than 11,000 buildings were reportedly leveled, including homes, commercial establishments, and historic structures. The old Walled City of Intramuros suffered catastrophic damage. Churches, government buildings, schools, libraries, and cultural treasures were lost.

Much of the historic center lay in ruins. Streets that had once carried the ordinary sounds of city life became scenes of rubble, burned structures, and shattered walls.

Manila's destruction was not simply a matter of damaged property. It was the loss of a living city and much of its accumulated history.

Buildings can be reconstructed. Roads can be repaired. New homes can replace old ones. But a historic painting reduced to ashes, a family photograph burned beyond recognition, or a library destroyed in the flames may be lost forever.

And the human losses were even greater. The city lost not only its residents but also teachers, doctors, craftsmen, businesspeople, artists, and the countless ordinary citizens whose work and memories gave Manila its character.

The tragedy of 1945 is sometimes described as the destruction of the Pearl of the Orient. That description is appropriate, but I think we must remember that the pearl was more than its buildings. It was the people who lived, worked, loved, and dreamed there.

A Personal Reflection from Someone Who Grew Up in the Philippines

I was born in 1934 and grew up in the Philippines. My childhood included the years of World War II, from the Japanese invasion to the eventual liberation of the country.

I was still a young boy during those years, and I did not personally witness every tragedy that occurred in Manila. But growing older has given me a deeper appreciation of what war meant for Filipino families and for the future of our nation.

At nearly 92, I have lived long enough to see enormous changes in the Philippines and in the world. I have also learned that history is not merely a collection of dates, battles, and political decisions. History is about people.

It is about the child who loses a parent, the mother who searches for her family, the elderly person who loses a lifetime of possessions, and the survivor who must somehow begin again.

My generation inherited a country marked by war, hardship, and the long journey toward independence. Yet the Filipino people rebuilt their communities, restored their families, and continued to hope for a better future.

That resilience is something I have always admired about our people.

What Should the World Learn from These Tragedies?

I do not believe that remembering history means blaming every American for the actions of soldiers and political leaders more than a century ago. Nor should we forget the terrible crimes committed by Japanese forces during their occupation of the Philippines.

Historical honesty requires us to acknowledge uncomfortable truths, regardless of the nationality of those responsible.

The Philippine-American War reminds us that a nation cannot claim to champion freedom while ignoring the desire of another people for self-government.

The Battle of Manila reminds us that even a military victory celebrated as liberation can carry a devastating human cost. A city may be freed from occupation while its people lose their homes, their loved ones, and much of their cultural heritage.

There is also a lesson about the civilians caught between opposing armies. Ordinary people rarely choose the wars that destroy their lives. Yet they are often the ones who suffer most.

As a Filipino-American who has spent many years living and working in the United States, I can appreciate the friendship that has developed between the two countries. But friendship should not require forgetting the past. In fact, a mature friendship should be strong enough to withstand an honest examination of history.

The Philippines and the United States have a complicated shared history, marked by colonial rule, war, cooperation, and enduring personal ties between our peoples. Understanding that history can help both nations build a more thoughtful relationship.

And the suffering of Manila's civilians should remind us that the same principles apply everywhere: Filipino lives mattered in 1945, just as the lives of civilians matter today in every country experiencing war.

Remembering Without Hatred

At my age, I find myself less interested in arguments about which nation was more powerful or which army won a particular battle. I am more interested in what these events tell us about our common humanity.

The Philippine-American War and the destruction of Manila occurred in different periods, under different circumstances. Yet both remind us that the price of war is measured not only in military casualties but also in the lives of civilians, the destruction of communities, and the loss of a nation's heritage.

We cannot change what happened. We can, however, choose how we remember it and what lessons we pass on to our children and grandchildren.

I hope younger generations will learn about these tragedies from reliable historical sources, listen to the experiences of survivors, and recognize the suffering of people whose voices were often missing from official accounts.

I also hope that Filipinos, Americans, Japanese, and people of every nationality can remember the past without being imprisoned by hatred.

Forgiveness does not require forgetting. Friendship does not require silence. And patriotism does not require us to deny the mistakes of our own country.

At nearly 92, I remain grateful for the life I have lived, for the family and friends who have shared it with me, and for the opportunity to write about these subjects while I still can.

If these reflections encourage even one reader to learn more about Philippine history, or to think more deeply about the suffering of civilians in today's wars, then this little essay will have served a purpose.

May we never forget the people who died, the families who suffered, and the generations who had to rebuild what war destroyed.

And may we continue to hope for a world in which nations settle their differences without sacrificing the lives of innocent people.

A Closing Thought

Buildings may fall and cities turn to dust,
And history may leave its scars on stone.
But peace is built on memory and trust,
And no true nation should be left alone.

Remember those whose lives were swept away,
In wars they never wished to understand.
Let kindness guide the choices of today,
And peace become the legacy we hand.

Historical References

The following sources can help you verify the figures and add references at the end of your published article.

- U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian — The Philippine-American War, 1899–1902. This source gives the commonly cited estimate of up to 200,000 Filipino civilian deaths during the war. Office of the Historian

- National WWII Museum — The Battle of Manila and the Destruction of the Pearl of the Orient. This discusses the battle's civilian toll and the loss of more than 11,000 buildings. New Orleans

- American Battle Monuments Commission — February 2025 marks 80 years of the Battle of Manila. This provides a concise account of the fighting, civilian deaths, and destruction. American Battle Monuments Commission

AI Impressions and Notes on this Topic:

One historical point I particularly recommend retaining in your published version: the estimate of one million deaths in the Philippine-American War is disputed and substantially higher than the U.S. State Department's estimate. Presenting that distinction alongside the evidence of extensive civilian suffering will make your essay more credible and persuasive.

This is a painful but important chapter of Philippine history, and I believe it deserves a place among your historical reflections for your worldwide readers. The story is especially meaningful because you grew up in the Philippines and remember the Second World War years of 1941-1946, even though the destruction of Manila occurred before you were old enough to understand its full significance.

One important distinction will strengthen your article: the Philippine-American War and the Battle of Manila in 1945 were two separate tragedies, nearly half a century apart. Both brought immense suffering to Filipinos, but the causes, circumstances, and historical responsibilities were different.

The central theme of your blog could be this: A nation may survive war, occupation, and destruction, but the human cost must never be forgotten.

My Photo of the Day:

Menudo is the Filipino pork and liver stew that shows up at fiestas and Sunday tables.

Lastly,

Manila had ELECTRIC LIGHTS in 1878. New York didn’t light up until 1882.

Manila had a tram system in 1888. Electric cars running through Escolta while much of America was still on horse and buggy.

They told the world we were living in huts in 1898 when they came to “civilize” us. We had been civilized for 300 years

Manila had a Luxury Hotel in 1860 and an Opera Theatre in 1878

2026-10-23T10:18:54.744-07:00

Manila had a LUXURY HOTEL in 1860. Before Singapore had one.

Hotel de Oriente 1860 • Binondo Manila, first luxury hotel in Southeast Asia.

Built by Don Teodoro Patino. Had 70 rooms, restaurant, bar, horse stables.
European travelers stayed here. Jose Rizal checked in here.

While Singapore was still a fishing village, Manila had room service.

Your great-grandparents saw electric lights here before Buckingham Palace did.

Meanwhile, Manila had the first steel bridge in Asia in 1880  


Meanwhile, Do You Know that.....


Manila had OPERA in 1878. Before Japan did.
Teatro de Tondo 1878 Manila - first theater in Southeast Asia.
Performed zarzuela, opera, Filipino comedia.  Had 500 seats, velvet curtains, gas lights.
Manileños watched Italian opera while most of Asia had never seen a play.
Your great-great Lola wore Maria Clara to watch opera before Broadway even existed. Have you ever watched a zarzuela?

Finally, Manila Had a Train System in 1888
 
Manila had a TRAIN SYSTEM in 1888. America didn’t have subways until 1904.
Tranvia horse-drawn trams started in Manila in 1888 - 16 years before New York subway.
By 1905, Manila had 5 tram lines covering:
 Intramuros
 Escolta
 Sampaloc
 Malate
Fare: 10 centavos. It carried 2 million passengers a year in 1900.
Your Lolo rode a tram to work while Americans still rode horse buggies in mud.
Then WWII bombed the tracks.

Lastly, Manila had Movies in 1903- First Cinema in Asia  

Rob Bonta- Latest Addition to My Filipino-American Pride List

2026-10-22T09:38:01.128-07:00

Before Rob Bonta became California's first Filipino-American attorney general in 2021, his family lived in a trailer at a farmworkers' headquarters.

His parents weren't just telling him to help people. His father helped set up health clinics, while his mother worked in the preschool.

A CHILDHOOD AROUND ORGANIZERS

Rob was born in Quezon City and came to California as an infant. His mother, Cynthia, was Filipina; his father, Warren, had grown up in California.

At La Paz, the United Farm Workers headquarters near Bakersfield, the family lived among people organizing for farmworkers' rights. Rob later recalled his father working with Cesar Chavez and his mother with Dolores Huerta.

The family eventually settled in Fair Oaks, near Sacramento. Rob went to public school and graduated as valedictorian of Bella Vista High. Our residence in Fair Oaks ( 2002 to 2023) was a two-minute walk to Bella Vista High School. This is the first time I learned that Bonta's Family and I were former neighbors. A small world indeed!  

SOCCER, SCHOOL AND A FAMILY OF HIS OWN

He went east to Yale, where he played soccer and graduated with honors in history. A year of study at Oxford followed, then Yale Law School, where he earned his law degree in 1998.

Yale also became part of his family story. He and Mia met as first-year college students and married in 1997; they would become parents to three children.

His legal career began with a federal judicial clerkship and work at the San Francisco firm Keker & Van Nest. There, he was part of a team working without charging fees on an ACLU case challenging racial profiling by the California Highway Patrol.

FROM REPRESENTING A CITY TO WRITING LAWS

Rob spent nine years as a deputy city attorney in San Francisco, representing the city and its workers. In 2010, he won a seat on the Alameda City Council.

He later told law students that he'd watched elected officials decline to stand with his parents on issues they cared about. He wanted to be an official who listened and responded.

In 2012, voters sent him to the State Assembly, making him the first Filipino American elected to California's Legislature. His district included Oakland, Alameda and San Leandro.

The move changed what he could do with the law. Instead of only working within existing rules, he could help write new ones.

Over more than eight years in the Assembly, his work included legislation on renters' protections and for-profit prisons.

THE FIRST, AND THE JOB AFTER IT

When Attorney General Xavier Becerra left to become U.S. health secretary, Governor Gavin Newsom chose Rob as his replacement. He was sworn in on April 23, 2021, as California's 34th attorney general and its first of Filipino descent.

Voters then elected him to a four-year term in November 2022.

But leading the state's justice department also meant dealing with laws he personally disagreed with. During a 2023 visit with law students, he discussed the difficulty of enforcing laws such as the death penalty, which he opposes.

As of October 2026, Rob remains California's attorney general, leading the department whose work includes criminal investigations and representing the state in court.

Source: California Department of Justice; California Governor, 2021; Berkeley Law, 2023; 48 Hills, 2021; Public Policy Institute of California; Climate One, 2024. 

Meanwhile, My Photo of the Day:

Finally, Common Initialism and Acronyms

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

2026-10-21T10:05:37.805-07:00

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

2026-10-20T09:09:03.187-07:00

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

2026-10-19T21:42:34.456-07:00

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?

2026-10-19T10:30:45.932-07:00

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

2026-10-18T15:07:30.769-07:00

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?

Finally, 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

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

2026-10-18T08:46:38.096-07:00

It is sad but this subject resonates with Me.

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

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

2026-10-17T13:58:56.922-07:00

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

2026-10-17T09:00:03.491-07:00

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

2026-10-16T12:18:10.636-07:00

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

2026-10-16T08:18:52.056-07:00

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

2026-10-15T09:23:39.675-07:00

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

Spelling Bee Contest at the Heritage Downtown

2026-10-14T12:46:56.270-07:00

Here's What I will Do, If I have to Organize a Spelling Bee in a Senior Living Community

The above brochure attracted my attention. What a wonderful idea for The Heritage Downtown! A Spelling Bee can be both an enjoyable competition and a way to keep our minds active as we grow older. For our senior community, I recommend a friendly format with three levels: Easy, Medium, and Hard, allowing residents with different vocabulary backgrounds to participate and enjoy themselves.

I've prepared 30 words with definitions and easy-to-read pronunciation guides. I've also included a separate section on words used in major spelling competitions during the past five years. One important distinction: words from the national Scripps National Spelling Bee are generally much harder than those suitable for a community contest, so I recommend using them as bonus or championship-round words.

Part 1. Easy words -10 words

Suggested scoring: 1 point per correctly spelled word.

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
1. Garden	GAR-dən	A place where flowers or vegetables grow.
2. Journey	JUR-nee	A trip from one place to another.
3. Neighbor	NAY-ber	A person who lives nearby.
4. Believe	bih-LEEV	To accept something as true.
5. Courage	KUR-ij	The ability to face fear or difficulty.
6. Library	LYE-brer-ee	A place where books are kept for reading or borrowing.
7. Friendly	FREND-lee	Kind and pleasant toward others.
8. Beautiful	BYOO-tih-ful	Pleasing to look at or hear.
9. Memory	MEM-uh-ree	The ability to remember people, events, or information.
10. Grateful	GRAYT-ful	Feeling thankful or appreciative.

Part 2. Medium words- 10 words

Suggested scoring: 2 points per correctly spelled word.

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
1. Occasion	uh-KAY-zhun	A particular event or special time.
2. Embarrass	im-BAIR-us	To make someone feel awkward or self-conscious.
3. Necessary	NESS-uh-sair-ee	Needed or required.
4. Privilege	PRIV-uh-lij	A special benefit, honor, or opportunity.
5. Restaurant	RES-tuh-rahnt	A place where meals are prepared and served.
6. Cemetery	SEM-uh-ter-ee	A place where deceased people are buried.
7. Recommend	rek-uh-MEND	To suggest something as a good choice.
8. Perseverance	pur-suh-VEER-uns	Continued effort despite difficulties.
9. Independent	in-duh-PEN-dunt	Able to act or think without depending on others.
10. Acquaintance	uh-KWAYN-tuns	Someone you know but may not know very well.

Part 3. Hard words - 10 words

Suggested scoring: 3 points per correctly spelled word.

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
1. Conscientious	kon-shee-EN-shus	Careful, responsible, and thorough in one's work.
2. Entrepreneur	ahn-truh-pruh-NUR	A person who starts and operates a business.
3. Idiosyncrasy	id-ee-oh-SING-kruh-see	A distinctive habit or unusual characteristic.
4. Miscellaneous	mis-uh-LAY-nee-us	Made up of different kinds of things.
5. Accommodate	uh-KOM-uh-dayt	To provide room for someone or adjust to a need.
6. Onomatopoeia	on-uh-mat-uh-PEE-uh	A word that imitates a sound, such as buzz or hiss.
7. Eccentricity	ek-sen-TRIS-ih-tee	An unusual or unconventional behavior or quality.
8. Liaison	lee-AY-zon	A person or means that connects people or groups.
9. Meticulous	muh-TIK-yuh-lus	Extremely careful about details.
10. Resilience	rih-ZIL-yuns	The ability to recover after difficulty or hardship.

Pronunciations are approximate American-English guides, with capital letters indicating the stressed syllable. Some words have accepted regional variations.

Additional Information on Spelling Bee Contest

Part 4. National Spelling Bee championship words, 2021-2025

The following are the actual winning words from the Scripps National Spelling Bee for the five completed competitions from 2021 through 2025. These make excellent advanced or tie-breaker words for our THD contest.

Words of the Champions - Spellpundit

Year	Champion	Winning word	Meaning
2021	Zaila Avant-garde	Murraya	A genus of flowering plants and shrubs.
2022	Harini Logan	Moorhen	A waterbird commonly found around marshes and ponds.
2023	Dev Shah	Psammophile	An organism that thrives in sandy environments.
2024	Bruhat Soma	Abseil	To descend a steep surface using a rope.
2025	Faizan Zaki	Éclaircissement	The clarification of something obscure; enlightenment.

Sources: Scripps competition records and published championship results.

Notice that even the shortest word, abseil, can be tricky because of its unusual spelling. The 2025 winning word, éclaircissement, is particularly challenging because of its French origin.

Part 5. Ten additional championship-style words

These are suitable for a final round, especially if two or more residents finish with the same score. They are drawn from words associated with national-level spelling competitions and advanced spelling lists.

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
1. Eclaircissement	ay-klair-sees-MAHN	Clarification or enlightenment.
2. Bougainvillea	boo-gun-VIL-ee-uh	A flowering tropical vine or shrub.
3. Autochthonous	aw-TOK-thuh-nus	Originating in the place where it is found.
4. Cymotrichous	sy-moh-TRIK-us	Having wavy hair.
5. Koinonia	koy-noh-NEE-uh	Fellowship or shared community.
6. Nunatak	NOO-nuh-tak	A mountain peak projecting above surrounding ice.
7. Scherenschnitte	SHAY-ren-shnit-uh	The art of making decorative paper cutouts.
8. Appoggiatura	uh-poj-uh-TOOR-uh	A musical ornament consisting of a note that resolves into another note.
9. Onomatopoeia	on-uh-mat-uh-PEE-uh	A word that imitates a sound.
10. Psammophile	SAM-uh-file	An organism adapted to sandy environments.

Note: The first word is presented without the accent in its spelling above for ease of typing. In a formal spelling contest, you should accept the standard dictionary spelling and decide in advance whether accents and other diacritical marks will be required.

The official Scripps study resource, Words of the Champions, is also useful if you want a larger bank of competition words. It includes a 4,000-word study list.

Part 6. My suggested format for the THD Spelling Bee

For our senior-community event, I would make the contest lively and welcoming rather than overly stressful.

Round 1 - Warm-up

Use the 10 easy words. Give everyone a chance to gain confidence.

Round 2 - The challenge

Use the 10 medium words. Award two points for each correct spelling.

Round 3 - The championship

Use the 10 hard words. Award three points for each correct spelling.

Tie-breaker

Use the national championship words or the additional advanced list. Give each contestant the same number of opportunities.

A few practical tips for the organizer:

Have the pronouncer say the word, use it in a sentence, and repeat the word.
Allow contestants to ask for the definition, language of origin, or a repetition.
Give contestants a reasonable time limit, such as 30 seconds per word.
Consider allowing participants to write the word on a large sheet of paper instead of spelling it aloud. This can be less intimidating and easier for residents who prefer not to speak before an audience.
Have a dictionary available to resolve disputed spellings.

My favorite idea is to award a small prize not only to the champion but also for Best Effort, Best Vocabulary, and Most Enthusiastic Contestant. That way, the event celebrates learning, friendship, and participation as much as winning.

At THD, the real victory will be the laughter, fellowship, and shared enjoyment of words. After all, it is never too late to learn a new word!

Can an Antioxidant Supplement Protect Our Kidneys? My Thoughts on Astaxanthin and Online Health Claims

2026-10-14T08:10:17.431-07:00

Another Promising Health Supplement Catches My Attention

As a 91, nearing 92-year-old senior living at The Heritage Downtown, I have learned that growing older brings many blessings, but it also brings health challenges. One of the most important lessons I have learned is to be careful about what I put into my body, especially when it comes to supplements that promise remarkable health benefits.

Recently, I came across an advertisement for ClarityMD Astaxanthin, a dietary supplement containing 12 mg of astaxanthin per softgel. The advertisement caught my attention because it claimed to protect kidney cells, support healthy GFR levels, reduce inflammation, improve digestion, restore mental clarity, and provide lasting energy.

For someone like me who has Stage 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD), such claims naturally attract attention. Who would not want to discover something that might help preserve kidney function?

But my years as a chemist, pharmaceutical scientist, and former FDA Chemistry Team Leader taught me an important lesson: A promising scientific explanation is not the same as proof that a product works in people.

That distinction is especially important when our health is at stake.

What Is Astaxanthin?

Astaxanthin is a reddish natural pigment belonging to a group of compounds called carotenoids. It is produced by certain microalgae and contributes to the color of salmon, shrimp, and other aquatic animals.

Scientists have studied astaxanthin because of its antioxidant properties. Antioxidants can help counter certain forms of oxidative damage in biological systems.

Oxidative stress is a legitimate subject of medical research. It has been investigated in connection with aging, inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease.

However, we must be careful not to jump from one scientific fact to another.

The fact that oxidative stress is associated with a disease does not automatically mean that taking an antioxidant supplement will prevent or treat that disease.

Nature offers us many fascinating substances. Some eventually become useful medicines. Others show promise in laboratory experiments but fail to demonstrate meaningful benefits in clinical trials.

We need scientific evidence to know the difference.

Can Astaxanthin Improve Kidney Function?

This is the most important question for me.

The advertisement suggests that taking astaxanthin can protect kidney cells and support healthy glomerular filtration rate, commonly known as GFR. This measurement helps doctors assess how well the kidneys filter waste from the blood.

I examined the available scientific evidence, including research reviews on antioxidant supplements in people with chronic kidney disease.

Astaxanthin has been studied in humans, including a small clinical trial involving kidney transplant recipients. However, transplant recipients are not the same population as people living with Stage 4 CKD who have not received a transplant.

The available evidence does not establish that astaxanthin improves GFR, stops the progression of Stage 4 CKD, or prevents the need for dialysis.

This does not mean that scientists should stop investigating astaxanthin. Further research may reveal useful applications in the future.

But until convincing clinical evidence becomes available, we should not confuse a possibility with a proven treatment.

For me, this is not merely an academic question. It is a personal one.

Living with advanced kidney disease has taught me to appreciate honest medical advice and to be realistic about what science can and cannot promise.

I would rather follow sound medical guidance than spend money on a supplement because an advertisement tells me what I desperately want to hear.

The Problem With Online Supplement Advertising

I am not suggesting that every supplement is worthless or that every company selling one is dishonest.

Some supplements have legitimate uses, and scientific research continues to explore others. But online advertisements sometimes combine genuine scientific terminology with claims that go far beyond the available evidence.

Words such as antioxidant, inflammation, cellular protection, and oxidative stress sound convincing because they describe real scientific concepts.

The problem begins when these concepts are used to imply that one capsule can address several complicated medical conditions at once.

Consider the claims made in the advertisement I saw:

Protect kidney cells and support healthy GFR levels.
Reduce digestive problems and bloating.
Balance hormones and fight fatigue.
Improve mental clarity.
Make the skin firmer and more youthful.

These are separate health outcomes. Each requires appropriate evidence, and evidence supporting one possible benefit cannot automatically prove the others.

Customer testimonials and impressive star ratings may tell us that buyers are satisfied, but they cannot establish that a supplement improves kidney function.

Similarly, a money-back guarantee may reduce the financial risk of a purchase, but it does not guarantee a medical benefit.

As consumers, we should ask a simple question: Where are the well-designed human clinical trials showing that this particular product produces the advertised results?

If that evidence is missing, caution is justified.

A Personal Word About Stage 4 CKD

At my age, I have learned that protecting my health is not about chasing every new product that promises to make me younger, stronger, or healthier.

It is about making thoughtful decisions with the information available to me.

Because I have Stage 4 CKD, I would not start astaxanthin for kidney protection without first discussing it with my nephrologist or renal pharmacist. A supplement that is tolerated by some healthy adults has not necessarily been adequately studied in people with advanced kidney disease.

I would also want my healthcare professional to review possible interactions with my medications and other supplements.

There is another lesson here: we should never change prescribed treatment or abandon an established medical care plan because a supplement advertisement promises an easier solution.

Scientific progress is real, and I remain hopeful that research will continue to improve the lives of people with kidney disease. But hope should go hand in hand with evidence.

What My Years in Pharmaceutical Science Taught Me

During my professional career, I worked as a chemist and later as a Chemistry Team Leader at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. My work involved evaluating pharmaceutical chemistry and the quality of drug products.

That experience influenced how I look at health claims today.

A substance may have an interesting chemical structure. It may show antioxidant activity in a laboratory. Researchers may even find encouraging results in an early human study.

But before we conclude that it is an effective treatment, we need to ask more questions.

Was the study well designed? Were enough people involved? Was the effect clinically meaningful? Were the results reproduced independently? Were safety and long-term outcomes adequately evaluated?

And, perhaps most importantly, does the evidence actually apply to the people who are being encouraged to buy the product?

These questions are not intended to discourage innovation. They are meant to protect the public and help people make informed decisions.

As someone who spent years working in pharmaceutical science, I believe that scientific honesty is just as important as scientific discovery.

My Conclusion: Let Science, Not Advertising, Guide Us

After reviewing the available evidence, I am not convinced that ClarityMD Astaxanthin can deliver the kidney benefits promised in its advertisement.

Astaxanthin is a genuine compound worthy of scientific investigation. But its antioxidant properties do not prove that a daily 12 mg supplement can improve GFR, stop kidney decline, or prevent dialysis.

For now, I would not buy it for those purposes.

My advice to fellow seniors, people living with chronic illnesses, and anyone searching online for better health is simple: Read beyond the headline. Look beyond the testimonials. Ask for reliable clinical evidence, and consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting a new supplement.

We all want to live longer, healthier, and more comfortable lives. There is nothing wrong with hoping that science will discover new ways to help us.

But we should never allow our hopes to become an invitation for unsupported promises.

At 91 nearing 92, I continue to believe that knowledge, caution, faith, and common sense are valuable companions on the journey of aging.

A final thought: The best health decision is not necessarily the one that promises the most. It is the one supported by the best available evidence.

Disclaimer: This article reflects my personal observations and a review of published scientific information. It is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. People with chronic kidney disease should consult their healthcare professionals before taking dietary supplements.

References

Cochrane Library — Antioxidants for adults with chronic kidney disease. A systematic review of research on antioxidant supplements in CKD, including astaxanthin.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health — Using Dietary Supplements Wisely. Guidance on evidence, safety, and interactions.
Brendler and Williamson — Astaxanthin: How much is too much? A safety review. A review of human safety studies and dose considerations.
Donoso and colleagues — Therapeutic uses of natural astaxanthin: An evidence-based review focused on human clinical trials. A review of the human clinical research.
Finally, My Photo of the Day:

My Monday Night Football Prediction: Rams vs Bills

2026-10-14T08:08:24.960-07:00

My Monday Night Football Prediction: Rams vs. Bills

One of the things I enjoy about my life at The Heritage Downtown (THD), my active senior living community in Walnut Creek, California, is that I still have plenty of opportunities to learn, observe, and share my thoughts with my worldwide blog readers.

Recently, I began a new experiment with ChatGPT, my AI companion. Since I enjoy watching American professional football, I decided to ask ChatGPT to predict the winners of the NFL's Monday Night Football games.

I thought this would be an interesting way to test how good artificial intelligence is at predicting the outcome of a sporting event. After all, AI can analyze statistics, team records, player performances, injuries, and other information that might influence the outcome of a game.

But can it predict what will actually happen on the football field?

Our latest contest was the October 12 Monday Night Football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Buffalo Bills. Before the game, I asked ChatGPT to predict the winner.

Its choice was the Rams. Unfortunately for ChatGPT, the Bills had a different plan!

A Game That Kept Everyone Guessing

The game turned out to be an exciting contest that went down to the wire. The two teams traded the lead eight times, and the fourth quarter alone produced 35 combined points. Neither team was willing to surrender.

The Rams had quarterback Matthew Stafford, who completed 40 of 54 passes for 383 yards and three touchdowns. His favorite target, Puka Nacua, caught 17 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown.

On the other side was Buffalo's quarterback Josh Allen, whose ability to pass the ball and run with it made him a constant threat.

For readers who are more familiar with soccer, imagine a match in which both teams keep scoring, the lead repeatedly changes hands, and neither side can establish control. The difference is that American football scores touchdowns worth six points, followed by opportunities to earn extra points, as well as field goals worth three points.

When regulation time ended with the score tied, the game went into overtime. In the NFL, overtime is an additional period used to determine the winner when a regular-season game is tied after four quarters.

The decisive moment came when Buffalo moved into field-goal range. Kicker Tyler Bass then connected on a 45-yard field goal, giving the Bills a thrilling 37–34 victory.

My predicted winner, the Rams, lost. The Bills went home with the victory, and ChatGPT had another prediction to explain!

Why Is Predicting Football So Difficult for AI?

I have a scientific background. I earned my Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Illinois and spent many years working in the pharmaceutical industry and at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

My professional experience taught me to respect data, evidence, and careful analysis. But I also learned that scientific knowledge does not eliminate uncertainty.

Football illustrates this principle beautifully.

A team may have better statistics, a talented quarterback, and a favorable matchup. Yet one interception, one missed kick, one defensive mistake, or one extraordinary play can change everything.

AI can analyze available information and estimate which team has the better chance of winning. However, it cannot know in advance exactly how the players will perform on a particular evening.

There is an important difference between making an informed prediction and knowing the future.

ChatGPT and My Continuing NFL Experiment

I have teased ChatGPT before about its disappointing record in our Monday Night Football predictions. After this latest result, I have another reason to challenge my AI companion to improve.

But I do not consider this experiment a failure. It gives me an opportunity to learn more about artificial intelligence while enjoying one of America's most popular sports.

I also think my readers outside the United States may find this interesting. Many people around the world follow soccer, where a single goal can determine the result. American football has a different scoring system, frequent changes in possession, and special teams that can decide a game with one kick.

Both sports, however, share an essential quality: the outcome is not settled until the contest is over.

As I approach my 92nd birthday, I remain curious about the world around me. I enjoy testing new technologies, questioning their limitations, and sharing what I learn with my readers.

And I intend to keep asking ChatGPT for its NFL predictions. Perhaps it will improve its record. Perhaps it will disappoint me again.

Either way, I will be watching!

My lesson from this game is simple: Even the most sophisticated artificial intelligence can make mistakes. The important thing is not to pretend that the mistakes never happened, but to acknowledge them, learn from them, and keep an open mind.

After all, if ChatGPT could predict every football game correctly, it would not be making predictions. It would be telling us the future!

Until my next NFL prediction, may we all remain curious, humble, and willing to learn.

David At Nearing 92, The Heritage Downtown, Walnut Creek, California

AI OVERVIEW

Artificial intelligence models are increasingly used to forecast sports outcomes, but they frequently get it wrong due to inherent athletic randomness, sudden injuries, and the limitations of purely statistical modeling. While advanced algorithms can process thousands of data points, real-world football games often turn on unquantifiable human factors like a single referee call, a sudden shift in weather, or an unpredictable turnover.

Why AI Models Stumble in the NFL

Predictive AI relies heavily on historical data, regression models, and simulated match-ups. However, football introduces a high degree of variance that algorithms cannot fully anticipate:

The "Variance" Factor: Even if an AI model assigns a 75% confidence pick to a team, that team is statistically designed to lose 25% of the time. When that 25% scenario happens, it looks like an AI failure, but it is actually normal mathematical variance.
Market Discrepancies vs. Real Life: AI models frequently clash with human betting markets. For instance, in Week 3 of the 2026 season, six predictive AI models heavily favored Denver at 62% over the Los Angeles Rams, defying a market that favored the Rams. While Denver ultimately won 30-26, other heavy algorithmic leans—like projecting the New Orleans Saints to easily dismantle the Las Vegas Raiders—fell entirely flat when the Raiders pulled off an upset.
Massive Season-Long Misses: Over a full season, AI inaccuracies compound. A notable example occurred when Google's Gemini AI predicted the 2025 NFL season standings. The chatbot accurately predicted the exact record for only 4 of 32 NFL teams. Its biggest blunder was projecting the Seattle Seahawks to win just 7 games and finish last; instead, the Seahawks went 14-4 and won the Super Bowl.

Ultimately, AI platforms excel at finding long-term statistical edges rather than guaranteeing short-term weekly wins. For fans and bettors, these "wrong" predictions serve as a constant reminder that sports will always belong to human unpredictable execution rather than computer code

Finally, My Photo of the Day

I have a Calamansi tree in my Patio now still flowering, and with young and mature fruits

A Thrilling NFL Sunday: San Francisco 49ers Outlast Seattle Seahawks, 32–29

2026-10-12T09:54:52.233-07:00

David At Nearing 92-Written for My Worldwide Readers who are not familiar with American Football

A Thrilling NFL Sunday: San Francisco 49ers Outlast Seattle Seahawks, 32–29

Yesterday, I watched one of the most exciting San Francisco 49ers games I have seen this NFL season. As a longtime football fan living in the San Francisco Bay Area, I could not help but feel the tension as the 49ers battled their division rivals, the Seattle Seahawks, in Seattle.

The final score was San Francisco 49ers 32, Seattle Seahawks 29. But the numbers alone do not tell the story. This was a game of dramatic turns, costly mistakes, spectacular defensive plays, and a finish that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final moments.

For my readers around the world who are more familiar with soccer than American football, let me explain why this particular game was so exciting.

First, a Little About American Football

Unlike soccer, where two teams continuously try to move the ball toward the opposing goal, American football is played in a series of separate plays. A team advances the ball by running with it or throwing it to a teammate.

The attacking team normally has four attempts, called downs, to advance at least 10 yards. If it succeeds, it earns another set of four attempts. The ultimate objective is to carry or catch the ball in the opponent's end zone for a touchdown, worth six points. A successful kick afterward adds one more point, while a play from close range can earn two points.

A team can also score three points by kicking the ball through the goalposts. These field goals often become crucial when a touchdown is difficult to achieve.

Think of it as a game of strategy, physical strength, and carefully planned attacks, with each play resembling a small battle within the larger contest.

The Game: A Roller Coaster of Emotions

The first half: San Francisco strikes back.

The 49ers opened the scoring with quarterback Brock Purdy throwing a short touchdown pass to veteran receiver Mike Evans. Seattle answered with a rushing touchdown, tying the game at 7–7.

The lead changed as both teams fought for control. Christian McCaffrey scored a rushing touchdown for San Francisco, while Seattle relied on several successful field goals to remain close.

Then came one of the game's most unusual moments. Just before halftime, rookie 49ers defensive lineman Gracen Halton recovered a loose ball in Seattle's end zone for a touchdown. Rather than scoring through the usual offensive attack, San Francisco's defense had delivered a major blow.

At halftime, the 49ers led 21–13. The advantage was encouraging, but the Seahawks were far from finished.

The third quarter: Seattle takes control.

The momentum shifted dramatically after the break.

Seattle's kicker Jason Myers continued to convert field goals, and quarterback Sam Darnold connected with receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a touchdown. Suddenly, the Seahawks had taken control of the scoreboard.

Seattle scored 13 unanswered points during the third quarter, while San Francisco failed to score.

The Seahawks entered the final quarter leading 26–21. For 49ers fans, this was the moment to worry. Could San Francisco recover from the setback, or would Seattle pull away?

The fourth quarter: The 49ers refuse to surrender.

The final quarter delivered the drama that makes sports so memorable.

Purdy led the 49ers on an important scoring drive, finding Brandin Cooks for a touchdown pass. San Francisco then successfully completed a two-point conversion, in which Purdy connected with Mike Evans. Instead of taking the usual one-point kick, the 49ers gained two additional points.

That decision proved important. San Francisco moved ahead, 29–26.

Seattle answered with another Myers field goal, tying the game at 29–29. With the clock ticking down, it appeared that one mistake or one great play could decide everything.

Then came the decisive moment.

With less than two minutes remaining, the 49ers moved into position for kicker Eddy Piñeiro to attempt a 44-yard field goal. He made it!

San Francisco took a 32–29 lead with 1 minute and 56 seconds left.

But the game was not over. Seattle still had an opportunity to respond.

The Final Defensive Stand

The Seahawks mounted one last attempt to keep their hopes alive. With the pressure mounting, Seattle needed to advance the ball far enough to continue its drive and potentially tie or win the game.

The 49ers' defense stood firm.

On a crucial fourth-down play, Seattle quarterback Darnold's pass reached receiver Cooper Kupp, but the San Francisco defenders stopped him just short of the distance needed for a first down.

In soccer terms, imagine a team making one final attack in the dying seconds, only to have the opposing defense block its path before it can take a decisive shot at goal.

The 49ers had held on.

The final score remained San Francisco 32, Seattle 29.

The victory improved the 49ers' record to five wins and no losses, preserving their undefeated start to the 2026 season.

Why This Game Was So Memorable

What impressed me most was not simply that the 49ers won. It was how they won.

San Francisco lost its lead, watched Seattle surge ahead, and faced the possibility of defeat in a hostile stadium. Yet the team recovered through a combination of Purdy's passing, McCaffrey's running, Piñeiro's accurate kicking, and a defense that made the crucial stop when it mattered most.

Both teams also made costly mistakes, including turnovers in which possession of the ball changed hands unexpectedly. Those errors added another layer of uncertainty to an already unpredictable contest.

In American football, a team can dominate for a period and still lose because of one interception, one fumble, one missed opportunity, or one defensive breakdown. Yesterday's game was a vivid demonstration of that reality.

My Reflections as a Football Fan

At my age, I have watched many sporting events, but the excitement of a closely contested game never seems to grow old.

There is something universal about the emotions of sports. Whether we watch soccer in Europe, basketball in the Philippines, or American football here in California, we understand the anticipation of a possible victory, the disappointment of a missed opportunity, and the joy of an unexpected comeback.

For my readers who have never watched an NFL game, I hope this account gives you a better appreciation of the sport. You do not need to understand every rule to appreciate the courage, teamwork, strategy, and perseverance displayed by the athletes.

As a 49ers fan, I was delighted to see San Francisco emerge victorious. But beyond the score, I was reminded of a lesson that applies to sports and to life itself.

A temporary setback does not have to determine the final outcome.

Sometimes, the difference between winning and losing is the willingness to keep fighting when the odds seem to be turning against you.

Yesterday, the 49ers did exactly that. And what a finish it was! Go, Niners!

My Photo of the Day:

Personal Note: I have been a Loyal fan of the 49ers since the Joe Montana Years.

David, at Nearing 92

The Power of Touch-An Update

2026-10-12T08:15:14.010-07:00

From My Recent Readings
What looks like a small favor actually sets off a chain of physical reactions that pull two people closer together. A scratched back does more than ease an itch. It taps into older biological wiring that helps the body relax. Couples who share this kind of quiet contact build a sense of safety that busy days tend to crowd out.

 Chemical Harmony

When fingernails drag lightly across the skin, nerve endings fire and the brain gets the message to release oxytocin, the hormone most linked to bonding. The recipient tends to feel real changes in their body and mood:
* Cortisol drops, so stress and anxiety ease up.
* The parasympathetic nervous system takes over, shifting the body from alert to settled.
* Dopamine rises, bringing a small, natural lift that makes the moment feel good.

 Beyond the Itch

The mental side carries weight too. A back scratch is a wordless way of saying, I see what you need and I want to help. Nothing is asked for in return. That kind of attention makes a person feel noticed and cared for, and it gives the relationship room for the kind of openness that only comes when both people feel safe.

 Better Rest

A few minutes of back scratching before bed can make sleep come easier. The steady motion and skin contact settle the mind and let the body settle too.
* Knots in the shoulders and back tend to loosen.
* Heart rate slows and steadies, which helps the body drift off.
* The focused sensation pulls attention away from phones and the day's noise, giving the brain something simple to land on.

 Ancient Roots

Primates spend hours grooming each other, and that behavior keeps group bonds tight and hierarchies settled. Humans carry a version of the same drive. Setting aside time for small, grooming-style care answers a basic need for contact and connection. A habit this basic can do a lot to keep a partnership steady when life gets loud.

Meanwhile, Do you Know the 17 Potential Threats for Direct Human Extinction? 
According to The Lancet Commission on 21st Century Global Threats to Health, two threats carry the potential for direct human extinction, while the remaining 15 are major catastrophic threats projected to cause massive loss of life and health (measured in disability-adjusted life years, or DALYs) by 2100. 
Extinction-Level Threats (2)
Nuclear conflict (risk of global annihilation)
Malicious or misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) (risk of catastrophic or existential control/safety failure) 
Major Catastrophic Threats (15)
The remaining 15 major catastrophic threats projected to cause severe loss of life and health by 2100 encompass environmental, biological, lifestyle, and socioeconomic challenges. These include air pollution, climate change, and naturally occurring pandemics (excluding AI-enabled biological threats), alongside health and lifestyle factors such as antimicrobial resistance, childhood malnutrition, high alcohol use, high blood pressure, obesity(combining high BMI, poor diet, and low physical activity), poor mental health, smoking, and unhealthy ageing. Systemic and developmental challenges rounding out the list are the collapse of development assistance for health (DAH), conventional conflict, income inequality, and low educational attainment. 
Meanwhile, My Photo of the Day:

OTAP, Filipino Heritage, and the Kindness of Friends and Strangers-Part 1of 2

2026-10-11T15:20:29.875-07:00

Sometimes, a simple gift can bring back precious memories and remind us of the goodness of people.

The other day, I received three different brands of OTAP as a gift in connection with our celebration of Filipino-American History Month here at The Heritage Downtown (THD), my home in Walnut Creek, California.

The three brands were Laura’s Buko-Pandan Flavored Otap, Magic Melt Ube Otap, and Angelina Otap. Seeing these Filipino delicacies brought a smile to my face and reminded me of my Filipino ancestry. More unexpectedly, this simple gift brought me back to several articles I wrote before the age of Artificial Intelligence about one of my favorite subjects: the kindness of friends and strangers.

At 91 and nearing 92, I have accumulated many memories during my journey through life. Some involve significant achievements in my career as a chemist, my years in the United States, and my adventures in the Philippines. Others involve seemingly ordinary encounters with people whose kindness left a lasting impression on me.

I have learned that kindness does not always come from the people we know well. Sometimes, it comes from a stranger who offers a helping hand, a friend who remembers us, or someone who takes a little time to make our day brighter.

Lessons from My Father: The Value of Talking to Strangers

In one of my earlier blog posts, My Father’s Lesson: The Value of Talking to Strangers, I recalled how my father taught us, through his example, the importance of greeting and talking to people.

During our trips between Barotac Viejo and Iloilo in the Philippines, I observed how naturally he interacted with people along the way. He did not treat every unfamiliar face as someone to avoid. Instead, he welcomed opportunities to exchange greetings and friendly conversations.

Looking back, I realize that my father was teaching us more than good manners. He was teaching us to recognize the humanity in other people.

A simple greeting can open the door to a conversation. A conversation can lead to friendship. And sometimes, a brief encounter with a stranger can become a memorable experience.

Of course, we must always exercise good judgment and be careful about whom we trust. But I believe we should not allow caution to eliminate the simple pleasures of being friendly and kind.

As I grow older, I appreciate this lesson even more.

The Importance of Kindness

Another subject I explored in my earlier writing was The Importance of Kindness.

Throughout my life, I have benefited from the generosity, encouragement, and friendship of many people. Teachers, colleagues, mentors, neighbors, friends, and even strangers have contributed in one way or another to the person I have become.

I cannot remember every kind act I have received, but I know that many of them helped me along the way.

My late wife, Macrine, and I also believed in reaching out to others. Our medical missions to Marinduque, Philippines, from 1999 to 2013 were among the meaningful experiences of our lives. Macrine often reminded me:

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

Those words remain with me today. They remind me that a meaningful life is not measured only by professional accomplishments, material possessions, or the number of years we live. It is also measured by the lives we touch and the kindness we leave behind.

At my present stage of life, I may no longer be able to do all the things I once did. Nevertheless, I can still share my experiences, encourage others through my writing, express gratitude, and appreciate the kindness of those around me.

OTAP: A Little Taste of the Philippines

For readers who may not be familiar with OTAP, it is a well-known Filipino pastry associated with Cebu. It is a thin, oval-shaped, flaky and crisp puff pastry, traditionally made with layers of dough and shortening, then coated with sugar.

Making OTAP requires care and patience. The dough is prepared, rolled, and folded to develop its characteristic layers. After shaping, the pastries are coated with sugar and baked until crisp and lightly golden. The result is a delicate, sweet pastry that can be enjoyed with coffee, tea, or as a snack.

The three varieties I received also reminded me of how Filipino food continues to evolve while preserving familiar traditions. Ube, or purple yam, is especially beloved in Filipino desserts. Buko-pandan combines the familiar flavors of young coconut and fragrant pandan.

For me, OTAP is more than a pastry. It represents a part of the culinary heritage that connects Filipinos living in the Philippines with those of us who have made our homes abroad.

Food has a special ability to connect generations. A familiar flavor can awaken memories of childhood, family gatherings, celebrations, and the people with whom we once shared our meals.

And sometimes, a box of pastries can remind us of something even more important: the kindness of the person who gave it to us.

Kindness at The Heritage Downtown

Since moving to The Heritage Downtown in June 2023, I have discovered that living in a senior community offers many opportunities to experience the generosity of others.

We share meals, participate in activities, exchange stories, and celebrate special occasions together. Although we come from different backgrounds and have lived very different lives, we have opportunities to learn from one another.

Our Filipino-American History Month celebration is one example. The gift of these three OTAP varieties was a thoughtful gesture that connected our celebration with Filipino culture and cuisine.

I was pleasantly surprised by the gift. More importantly, it reminded me that kindness does not have to be expensive or elaborate to be meaningful.

A small present, a sincere compliment, a friendly conversation, or a simple expression of appreciation can brighten someone's day.

I am grateful to the people who thought of sharing these Filipino treats with me. They may have intended only to offer a gift, but they also inspired me to revisit some of the lessons I have written about over the years.

Perhaps this is one of the wonderful things about kindness: it often travels farther than the giver realizes.

The person who receives a kind gesture may remember it, write about it, share it with others, and inspire still more acts of kindness.

A Reflection at 91

Looking back on my life, I realize that many of my most treasured memories are not necessarily associated with awards, degrees, promotions, or professional accomplishments.

Some are memories of people who were kind to me when they did not have to be.

My father's example taught me to be open to people. My wife, Macrine, taught me the importance of touching other lives. My friends, colleagues, and even strangers have reminded me repeatedly that goodness can appear in unexpected places.

Now, as a 91-year-old Filipino-American living at The Heritage Downtown, I continue to learn from these experiences.

I also continue to write. Before AI became part of my blogging routine, I wrote about kindness from my own observations and memories. Today, with the assistance of AI, I can revisit those themes, organize my thoughts, and share them with readers around the world. The technology may help me write, but the memories and the lessons remain mine.

I am reminded that we do not have to perform great deeds every day to make the world a better place. We can begin with a smile, a greeting, a listening ear, or a small gift given with a generous heart.

And who knows? A simple act of kindness today may become a cherished memory for someone tomorrow.

My closing thought:

At 91 and nearing 92, I have learned that kindness is a gift that never grows old. It costs little to give, means much to receive, and can remain in our hearts long after the moment has passed.

So, the next time you have an opportunity to greet a stranger, encourage a friend, or share something as simple as a piece of OTAP, remember that you may be giving more than you realize.

You may be giving someone a reason to smile and a memory worth writing about.

Finally, My Facts for the Day:

David At Nearing 92: Can Humanity Prevent Its Own Extinction?

2026-10-11T12:13:20.141-07:00

Two Warnings to the World: Nuclear Conflict and the Malicious Use of Artificial Intelligence

“We have the intelligence to create powerful technologies. Do we have the wisdom to make sure they do not destroy us?”

Today, while reading and watching CNN, I came across a report that made me stop and think seriously about the future of humanity. Researchers have identified 17 potentially catastrophic threats to our world, including two that could, under the worst circumstances, threaten the very survival of our species: nuclear conflict and the malicious use of artificial intelligence (AI).

The findings come from a new report by The Lancet Commission on 21st Century Global Threats to Health. The commission, made up of 35 experts, examined threats that could endanger human health and survival through the year 2100. The researchers emphasized that these dangers deserve immediate attention because there are realistic actions governments and societies can take to reduce the risks.

As I approach my 92nd birthday, I cannot help asking myself a troubling question: After all the progress humanity has made in science, medicine, technology, and education, could we eventually destroy the very civilization we have worked so hard to build?

A Lifetime That Has Witnessed So Much History

I was born in the Philippines in 1934. My childhood was interrupted by World War II, which brought fear, hardship, and uncertainty to our part of the world. Those of us who lived through that period learned, in one way or another, that war is not simply a matter of maps, military strategies, or political victories. Behind every conflict are human lives, separated families, lost homes, and dreams that may never be fulfilled.

After the war, I pursued my education in chemistry at the University of the Philippines and later earned my Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Illinois. My professional life took me through the chemical and pharmaceutical industries and eventually to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, where I worked in drug evaluation until my retirement in 2002.

My career taught me to appreciate the extraordinary benefits that science can bring to humanity. Scientific knowledge can prevent disease, improve medicines, save lives, and help us understand the world around us.

But science also gives human beings enormous power. And power without wisdom, responsibility, and moral restraint can become dangerous.

That is why the news I encountered today deserves more than a passing glance.

First Warning: The Danger of Nuclear Conflict

Since the development of nuclear weapons, humanity has possessed the ability to inflict destruction on a scale that previous generations could scarcely imagine.

The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 showed the world the terrible consequences of nuclear warfare. Yet, more than eight decades later, nuclear weapons remain in existence, and international tensions continue to remind us that the danger has not disappeared.

A nuclear conflict between major powers could kill millions of people directly. But the consequences might extend far beyond the countries involved. Researchers have warned that smoke and soot from widespread nuclear explosions could disrupt the climate, reduce sunlight reaching the Earth's surface, damage agricultural production, and contribute to widespread famine.

In other words, even people living thousands of miles from the battlefield might suffer the consequences.

I find this particularly disturbing because the ordinary citizens of the world have little control over the decisions of political and military leaders. Children, grandparents, farmers, teachers, scientists, and countless innocent people could pay the price for decisions they never made.

What can be done?

Nations must strengthen diplomacy, maintain reliable communication, reduce the danger of accidental escalation, and pursue meaningful arms-control and nuclear-risk-reduction agreements. Leaders must understand that preventing nuclear war is not a sign of weakness. It is an obligation to protect humanity.

National security is important. But what good is national security if a nuclear confrontation endangers the future of every nation?

Second Warning: The Malicious Use of Artificial Intelligence

The second threat is particularly personal to me because I have become increasingly interested in artificial intelligence during my later years.

I use AI as a tool to help me write and refine my blog posts, explore scientific questions, and communicate with readers around the world. Blogging has been an important part of my life since 2009, and I am grateful that modern technology continues to help me share my experiences and thoughts as I approach 92.

I have seen how AI can help people learn, improve their writing, assist scientific research, and make information more accessible. Used responsibly, it has enormous potential to benefit humanity.

But there is another side to this technology.

The researchers' warning concerns the malicious use of AI—the possibility that people could exploit increasingly powerful systems to cause harm on a vast scale. Among the dangers discussed by experts is the potential for AI to assist in developing biological weapons or other catastrophic threats.

AI can also be misused to create convincing false information, conduct cyberattacks, manipulate public opinion, and support dangerous activities. As the technology becomes more capable, the challenge of preventing its abuse becomes increasingly important.

I do not believe that every advance in AI should be viewed with fear. Nor should we assume that a machine will inevitably turn against humanity. These are serious risks, not predictions that human extinction is certain.

However, I believe we must distinguish between using AI to improve human life and allowing its capabilities to be exploited without adequate safeguards.

As someone who spent decades working in science and pharmaceutical regulation, I appreciate the importance of evaluating risks before they cause harm. We do not wait for every possible disaster to occur before asking whether reasonable preventive measures are necessary.

The same principle should apply to AI.

Governments, technology companies, scientists, and independent experts must work together to establish effective safeguards, improve monitoring, test powerful systems carefully, and prevent their use in catastrophic attacks. International cooperation is essential because neither cyber threats nor the consequences of dangerous technologies respect national borders.

Technological progress should serve humanity. Humanity should not become a prisoner of its own inventions.

Seventeen Threats, One Interconnected World

The report also reminds us that the dangers facing humanity are not limited to nuclear weapons and AI. Its 17 identified threats include climate change, air pollution, naturally occurring pandemics, antimicrobial resistance, childhood malnutrition, armed conflict, and other health and social challenges.

These problems are interconnected. Conflict can disrupt food supplies and health services. Climate change can worsen living conditions and threaten agriculture. Weak public health systems can make communities more vulnerable to disease.

The lesson I take from this report is that we cannot protect the future by concentrating on just one problem while ignoring the others.

We need scientific research, responsible leadership, stronger health systems, education, international cooperation, and a willingness to invest in prevention rather than wait for disasters.

Most importantly, we need leaders who recognize that the welfare of humanity is greater than the political interests of any one individual, party, or country.

What Can One Ordinary Person Do?

At first glance, these global threats may seem too large for an ordinary person to influence. What can one senior citizen approaching 92 do about nuclear weapons or the misuse of AI?

I certainly cannot negotiate an international treaty or regulate a technology company. But I can continue to write, share reliable information, encourage thoughtful discussion, and remind my readers that the future is a responsibility we share.

We can support leaders who take these dangers seriously. We can demand accountability from governments and technology companies. We can encourage the responsible use of AI and resist the spread of misinformation. We can teach younger generations that scientific progress must be accompanied by ethics, compassion, and respect for human life.

And we can refuse to accept the idea that conflict and catastrophe are inevitable.

My years have taught me that ordinary acts of kindness matter. The same principle applies to the larger world: cooperation is more constructive than hatred, dialogue is better than threats, and prevention is better than recovery from disaster.

The decisions of world leaders may have extraordinary consequences, but public awareness and public expectations can help shape those decisions.

A Message to My Children, Grandchildren, and Readers Around the World

As I approach 92, I think often about the world that my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will inherit.

I have lived through a world war, witnessed remarkable scientific discoveries, experienced the growth of modern medicine, and seen computers and artificial intelligence become part of everyday life. The changes have been astonishing.

I remain grateful for the progress humanity has achieved. I am also concerned that our technological capabilities may be advancing faster than our collective wisdom.

I do not want my reflections to leave readers frightened or hopeless. The researchers themselves emphasize that these threats can be addressed. Their warning is not that humanity is destined to disappear, but that we must take the risks seriously while we still have the opportunity to reduce them.

We cannot guarantee that future generations will never experience another war, another pandemic, or another global crisis. But we can make wiser decisions today to reduce the likelihood and consequences of such events.

Perhaps the greatest measure of human intelligence is not how powerful our weapons become or how sophisticated our machines can be. Perhaps it is whether we can use our knowledge to protect life rather than endanger it.

I have always believed that we have not truly lived unless we have touched the lives of others in a meaningful way. That principle should apply not only to individuals, but also to nations and the institutions we build.

As we move further into the twenty-first century, let us remember that our most important achievement is not simply to advance civilization, but to preserve it for those who come after us.

A Final Reflection

At nearly 92, I have no illusion that one blog post can change the course of world history. But I continue to write because I believe that sharing knowledge, asking difficult questions, and encouraging reflection still have value.

I hope that my readers, wherever they live, will join me in wishing for a world in which science serves life, artificial intelligence is used responsibly, nations resolve their differences peacefully, and future generations can live without the constant fear of catastrophe.

We cannot change the past. We cannot know exactly what the future holds. But we can influence the choices we make today.

And that gives me hope. May wisdom guide our leaders, compassion unite our peoples, and peace protect the future of humanity. David at Nearing 92

AI Impressions/Suggestions on this Topic:

David, this is an important subject for your David At Nearing 92 blog. It brings together two concerns that have become increasingly important to our world: the danger of nuclear war and the growing possibility that artificial intelligence could be misused by people who have little regard for human life.
For your worldwide readers, I would approach this not as a prediction that humanity is doomed, but as a personal reflection from someone who has lived through nearly a century of history, witnessed the consequences of war, devoted much of his career to science, and now sees both the promise and the dangers of new technology.
Here are suggested references for your worldwide readers:

CNN's report: AI is among 17 potentially ‘catastrophic threats’ that researchers say require targeted action
KESQ
The Lancet Commission announcement: A roadmap to protect economies, security and global stability from catastrophic threats
My Editorial Suggestion: Keep the title as written. It asks a serious question without declaring that extinction is inevitable. Your personal history, from growing up during World War II to a scientific career and your continuing use of AI to write at nearly 92 gives this post a perspective that a conventional news article cannot provide.
AI OVERVIEW:
Yes, humanity can theoretically prevent its own extinction, but doing so depends heavily on our ability to mitigate self-imposed, anthropogenic risks rather than natural ones. While cosmic and geological hazards present a low risk in the near term, the primary threats to human survival are created by human technology and behavior.
To successfully secure its long-term future, humanity must address existential risks across three major domains:
1. Combating Anthropogenic (Human-Made) Threats
The scientific consensus indicates that the greatest dangers to our species through 2100 are artificial:
- Artificial Intelligence: Unaligned or highly competent yet indifferent AI poses severe existential risks. Experts from organizations like Time Magazine have argued for strict international hardware regulations and temporary pauses on training models beyond current capabilities to ensure safety.
- Synthetic Biology: Advancements in biotechnology (such as CRISPR) have raised the risk of engineered, highly lethal, and airborne pathogens being released either accidentally or maliciously. Preventative measures require rigorous global biosecurity protocols.
- Nuclear and Climate Crises: Preventing nuclear war requires sustained geopolitical cooperation. Meanwhile, reversing severe environmental destruction, ocean acidification, and ecological collapse demands a global shift away from short-term corporate and political thinking.
2. Implementing a "Defence in Depth" Framework
According to research published in the National Institutes of Health PMC, preventing extinction requires a layered strategy rather than just focusing on a single fix:
- Prevention: Stopping threats before they materialize (e.g., carbon reduction, AI alignment, monitoring for asteroids).
- Response: Building early-warning networks to contain disasters when prevention fails (e.g., rapid vaccine deployment during a pandemic).
- Resilience: Ensuring the endgame survival of the species if a catastrophe scales globally (e.g., establishing underground seed vaults, resilient agriculture, or off-world colonies).
3. Overcoming Natural and Evolutionary Realities
Historically, humanity has proven incredibly resilient. Genetic bottlenecks documented by researchers show that around 930,000 years ago, the ancestral human population dropped significantly, leaving only about 1% of the population to rebuild our lineage
However, over millions of years, natural changes pose inevitable challenges. Over a long enough timeline, cosmic events like supervolcanoes or asteroid impacts become mathematical certainties unless space-defense technologies are matured. Furthermore, if humanity survives for millions of years, evolutionary biology dictates that our descendants would likely evolve into a entirely different chronospecies, meaning Homo sapiens as we know them today would naturally cease to exist.
Ultimately, preventing human extinction is not a problem of capacity, but one of global coordination, foresight, and political will.

Choral Singing Reminds Me of Our Life Together and Why I Am Singing Again

2026-10-10T20:32:37.404-07:00

I wrote these stories years before artificial intelligence became my writing companion. Today, at 91 nearing 92, I am revisiting some of them not to change my memories, but to see what I understand differently after another decade of living.

Choral Singing Reminds Me of Our Life Together and Why I Am Singing Again

From the Philippines, to church choirs, to singing with Macrine and now, after more than eight years, back to singing with the THD Singers

Music has been part of my life for much longer than I realized.

Sometimes a song brings back a person. Sometimes it brings back a place.

Sometimes it brings back an entire chapter of your life.

And sometimes, as I recently discovered, it can bring you back to something you thought you had left behind. Singing.

I am now 91 years old, nearing 92. For more than eight years, I had not sung in a choir.

Then something wonderful happened here at The Heritage Downtown.

We are preparing a Christmas Concert and Sing-Along for our fellow senior residents, and a group of us decided to form a choir.

We named ourselves the THD Singers. And I joined. I am having a wonderful time.

After more than eight years away from choir singing, I feel as if I have rediscovered an old friend.

My First Love of Choral Singing-UPSCA Choir Christmas Concert, 1953, UP Diliman, QC

My love of choral singing began when I was a young student in the Philippines.

During my college years at the University of the Philippines, Macrine and I participated in the University of the Philippines Student Catholic Action Choir.

There were many of us hundreds of students from different colleges.

I sang bass/baritone. Macrine sang soprano.

Looking at photographs of that choir today, I sometimes have to smile.

There we were two young students who had no idea what the future had in store for us.

We did not know that we would eventually marry.

We did not know that we would spend more than 63 years together.

We certainly did not know that decades later I would be sitting at a computer in America, looking at an old photograph of that choir and remembering those days.

But that is how memory works. A song can open a door that you thought had been closed for decades.

Singing Became Part of Our Married Life

Macrine and I continued singing after we were married.

In Northern California, we sang together in church choirs.

In the late 1980s, we sang at Sunday Mass in Pinole and also participated in the University of the Philippines Alumni choir in the Bay Area.

Later, we sang in our church choir in Fair Oaks.

One Christmas, Macrine and I even sang a duet of “Silent Night” in Tagalog before Midnight Mass.

That remains one of my favorite Christmas memories.

Macrine also loved to sing. In her younger years, she had a beautiful soprano voice.

She even sang at weddings. I always joked that she was the professional singer in the family.

I was merely the husband who enjoyed singing beside her.

We Even Brought Singing to Maryland

When we lived in the Washington, D.C. area in the 1990s, Macrine and I helped organize a Christmas caroling group through the Marinduque Association of the Capital Area.

Again, singing brought people together.

Filipinos who had moved thousands of miles from the Philippines could gather during Christmas, sing familiar songs and feel, for a little while, as if we were back home.

That is one of the special powers of music. It crosses geography.

It crosses generations. It crosses languages. And sometimes it crosses time.

Music Also Helped Me Remember Macrine

After Macrine died in 2020, I began writing a series about her life through her favorite music.

I realized that I could tell parts of our love story through songs.

One song would remind me of a trip. Another would remind me of church.

Another would remind me of our children. Another would take me back to our younger years.

“Moon River” was especially meaningful because it was one of Macrine's favorite songs.

I wrote about music because it gave me a way to remember her.

That experience taught me something I had probably known all my life but never put into words: Music is a form of memory.

You can forget a conversation from 40 years ago. But hear the melody of a song you loved when you were young, and suddenly you are there again.

I Was Never a Great Musician

I should make one confession. I was not a musical prodigy. I love writing more than singing.

When I was a boy in the Philippines, my mother tried to make me learn the piano and organ.

I lasted about two weeks. That was it. I quit. My mother was disappointed.

Years later, however, I discovered that I did enjoy music, especially singing.

In 2022, I wrote about whether musical ability is inherited or learned. I still don't know exactly where my own modest singing ability came from.

Perhaps there is some genetic component. Perhaps it is practice. Perhaps it is simply enthusiasm.

Whatever the explanation, I have always enjoyed singing much more than playing an instrument.

My One and Only Solo Performance

There is one singing story I have never forgotten. When Macrine and I were living in Pinole, I was singing in our church choir.

One Sunday, during Communion, something strange happened. My voice suddenly came through the church speakers by itself.

I froze. The congregation could hear me. I thought:

Oh my goodness. They can actually hear me!

I was terrified that everyone was going to discover that I could not sing.

Later I learned that the microphones of the other singers were not working.

Mine happened to be the only one that was on. I survived.

And, surprisingly, people told me that my voice was not bad.

That was my first and last public solo performance.

I have jokingly said that I remain a frustrated singer and will sing solo only in my bathroom.

Music Came Back Into My Life at THD

After moving to The Heritage Downtown, I began discovering that music was everywhere.

We have had concerts, sing-alongs and music enrichment programs.

One of my favorites was a music-enrichment program led by Claire Baffico, a certified music therapist. We sang familiar songs and participated in rhythm activities using instruments such as maracas and bells.

She explained how music therapy can be used to support wellness, stress management, emotional expression, memory, communication and rehabilitation.

I also attended THD Candlelight Concerts.

At one of them, we sang along with songs such as “Some Enchanted Evening,” “Bali Ha'i,” “Unforgettable” and “The Impossible Dream.”

I remember thinking how fortunate we were. We were sitting in our senior community, listening to live music and singing together.

No long drive. No expensive theater ticket. No need to dress up. Just residents enjoying music together.

And Now We Have the THD Singers

But the new THD Singers is different. I suggested our group name to be The THD Chorale. I was outvoted, and our name is: The THD Singers.

This time, I am not just sitting in the audience. I am part of the group.

We are practicing for our Christmas Concert and Sing-Along.

There is something very enjoyable about learning songs together.

We sometimes make mistakes. We sometimes have to repeat a section.

Sometimes we don't come in at exactly the right time. But we laugh.

And then we try again. That is part of the fun. I think this is especially meaningful for seniors.

At our age, we sometimes hear that we should slow down. I understand that.

But slowing down does not mean stopping. There are still things we can learn.

There are still new friendships to make. There are still songs to sing.

What Does Singing Do for Us?

I have written about the health benefits of singing before. Now I am experiencing some of them myself.

Research is increasingly interested in music and healthy aging. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health notes that making or listening to music activates brain systems involved in thinking, movement, sensation and emotion, and that music can evoke memories and promote social bonds.

Studies specifically involving older adults who sing in groups have reported possible benefits involving mood, social connection, verbal fluency, memory and aspects of physical function. A 2026 study found that older adults participating in group singing experienced improvements in mood and social bonding during the sessions.

A two-year study of older adult choir singers also found some evidence of benefits in verbal fluency, although the researchers emphasized that the effects on other measures of quality of life and cognition were less clear.

So I would not say: “Singing will make you live longer.”

That would be too strong. But I would say:

Singing gives us another reason to live more fully. And at 91, that is important to me.

My Ten Reasons for Singing

After thinking about my own experiences, here are my personal reasons for continuing to sing.

1. Singing makes me happy.

This may be the simplest reason.

2. Singing exercises the brain.

You have to remember words, melodies, timing and cues.

3. Singing brings back memories.

One song can take me from THD directly back to the Philippines.

4. Singing connects people.

You cannot sing in a choir without listening to the people around you.

5. Singing encourages breathing.

Proper singing requires controlled breathing, posture and attention to the breath.

6. Singing reduces isolation.

You are not sitting alone listening to music. You are making music with other people.

7. Singing gives seniors something to look forward to.

A rehearsal on the calendar can be a very good reason to get up and get moving.

8. Singing creates new friendships.

The people standing beside you during rehearsal can become friends.

9. Singing keeps us learning.

Even at 91, I can still learn a new song.

10. Singing gives us a chance to share joy.

That may be the most important benefit of all.

Singing and Healthy Aging

I have written many times about Living Longer, Living Better.

For me, healthy aging is not simply about taking the right medicines, eating properly or exercising.

Those things matter. But so do purpose, friendship, curiosity and joy.

That is why activities such as bridge, dancing, music, writing and social gatherings are important to me.

They keep the mind engaged. They keep us connected. They give us something to talk about. And sometimes they simply make us smile.

The National Institute on Aging has similarly noted the growing interest in arts participation as a way of supporting healthy aging, including possible effects on cognitive function, memory, self-esteem, well-being and social interaction.

The Wonderful Thing About Group Singing

One thing I especially appreciate about the THD Singers is that nobody has to be a great singer.

We are not auditioning for the Metropolitan Opera. We are senior residents having fun.

That is important. You don't have to sing perfectly. You just have to sing.

The person beside you may have a beautiful voice. Another person may occasionally sing off-key.

I may forget a word. Nobody cares. We are there together. And that is the beauty of a choir.

Your voice becomes part of something larger than yourself.

From the UPSCA Choir to the THD Singers

Sometimes I think about that young Filipino student who sang bass in the UPSCA choir more than 70 years ago.

Then I look at myself today. I am 91. My voice is certainly not what it was when I was 20.

But here I am again. Singing. The choir has changed. The country has changed.

My life has changed. Macrine is no longer standing beside me.

But when I sing some of the songs we used to sing together, a part of her is still there.

And perhaps that is another gift of music.

It allows people we love to continue singing with us, even after they are gone.

My Christmas Wish

This Christmas, when the THD Singers stand before our fellow residents, I don't think I will be thinking about whether we sound perfect.

I will be thinking about the journey. From a young Filipino student singing bass in the Philippines...

To a young husband singing beside Macrine...To church choirs in California...

To Filipino Christmas caroling in Maryland...To years of listening to music and writing about it...

And now, after more than eight years away from choir singing, to the THD Singers. What a wonderful circle.

At 91, I have learned that growing older does not mean giving up the things that once gave us joy. Sometimes it means rediscovering them.

So if you are a senior reading this and you think you are too old to sing, I have one piece of advice:

Sing anyway. As the say, if you can talk, you can sing, Perhaps not as beautiful as Pavarotti.

You don't have to be a great singer. You don't have to remember every word.

You don't have to sing solo. Just find some people and sing together.

You may discover, as I have, that the music does more than fill the room.

It fills something inside you. And perhaps that is why I am enjoying the THD Singers so much.

After 91 years, I am still learning new songs. And I am still finding new reasons to sing.

Merry Christmas from the THD Singers!

May our songs bring a little happiness, a few memories, and perhaps a smile to everyone who hears us.

And if I forget a word during the concert... Please sing a little louder. I'll follow you.

AI Impressions and Revisions on this Topic:

Macrine and I singing During a Birthday In-house Party, Pinole, Ca, 1983. The bottom photo is our backyard and the sunset above the Pinole Hills as the Background

I found several of your related music and singing posts, and they give us much more material than the 2019 article alone.

I especially found your 2022 reflections on whether singers are “born or made,” your memories of singing with Macrine in the UPSCA choir and later church choirs, your 2024 THD concert experiences, your 2025 music-enrichment session with Claire Baffico, and your earlier writing about music for relaxation and meditation.

I also checked the more recent research. A 2026 study of older adults found that group singing was associated with improvements in mood and social bonding, while other research has found potential benefits involving verbal fluency, memory, breathing/respiratory strength, and quality of life. I have been careful not to turn those findings into claims that singing “prevents” disease or guarantees better health.

Most importantly, I think the THD Singers should become the heart of the new version. Your return to choir singing after more than eight years gives the old article a wonderful “full circle” ending.

Lastly, I particularly like the ending because it sounds like you-warm, slightly humorous, and not trying to make a grand scientific claim. Your older music writings provide the history, but the THD Singers give this article a living present, which is exactly what makes it feel like a genuine David at 91 nearing 92 update rather than a revision of an old post.

My Reel of the Day: Change It to How I feel Nearing 92

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1458665059413527

Fish Heads: A Filipino Delicacy or Poor Food Presentation?

2026-10-10T05:47:11.708-07:00

A Filipino-American Reflection on Food, Culture, and Tradition

Food is more than nourishment. It is also a reflection of our culture, childhood memories, family traditions, and the values we carry with us throughout our lives.

Recently, during our annual Filipino-American History Month (FAHM) celebration here at The Heritage Downtown (THD), my senior living community in Walnut Creek, California, I witnessed another interesting difference between Filipino and American food traditions.

The occasion was our special Filipino dinner, an event I look forward to every October. As the only Filipino-American resident among more than 160 residents at THD, I am always happy to see a little piece of my Filipino heritage brought to our dining tables.

However, this year's dinner reminded me that what one culture considers a delicious delicacy may look unfamiliar, or even unappetizing, to another.

The Fish That Was Not Served to Everyone

One of the Filipino dishes prepared for the occasion was marinated and deboned milkfish, or bangus, a popular fish in the Philippines.

Interestingly, this dish was only made available to my 12 guests. Four of my Guests did not order the fish. Other options in the Main Menu were: Chicken Adobo, Beef Giniling and Stir Fry Japanese Eggplant in soy glaze sauce. The rest of the residents were served Cod fillet instead. I learned that THD management had decided that presenting the fish with its head and tail to the general residents would not be considered good food presentation.

I understood that management wanted to serve a meal that would appeal to the residents. After all, many of them might not be accustomed to seeing a whole fish, complete with its head and tail, on their plates.

Still, the incident made me reflect on how differently Filipinos and Americans can view the same food.

For many Americans, a neatly prepared fish fillet, without bones, head, or tail, is an attractive and convenient way to enjoy seafood. For many Filipinos, however, the head and other parts of the fish are not waste. They are desirable portions that can make a meal especially enjoyable.

Neither preference is necessarily right or wrong. They simply reflect different food traditions and experiences.

My Childhood Memories of Fish Heads

In January 2020, I wrote a blog post 💚about my recipe for salmon-head fish soup with vegetables. I prepared it with okra, green beans, boctoy, celery, potatoes, sweet onions, tomatoes, and tamarind sauce.

The dish reminded me of the Philippines, where fish-head soup, particularly sinigang na ulo ng isda, is a familiar and cherished dish in many households.

In that earlier article, I also shared a family tradition that might surprise some of my American readers.

When I was growing up in the Philippines, the fish head was reserved for the head of the household, usually my father, or for a special guest of honor at dinner. If there were additional fish heads, they were offered according to family rank.

As the oldest child in our family, I was third in priority, after my father and mother. Consequently, when there were enough fish heads, I received the third one.

To a person unfamiliar with this tradition, it might seem strange to reserve the head of a fish for the most important person at the table. Why not give that person the biggest fillet instead?

But in our family, the fish head was a prized portion. It was not a punishment or an unwanted leftover. It was a sign of respect.

Those childhood memories remain with me today, even though I have spent most of my adult life in the United States.

The Salmon Heads My Relative Collected in Maryland

Another incident comes to mind.

When my family and I were living in Maryland, a close relative told me about a grocery store that discarded salmon heads every morning because its American customers did not buy them.

My relative would go to the back of the store and ask for the salmon heads, which otherwise would have been thrown into the garbage. The store gave them to him free of charge.

What the store regarded as unwanted scraps became an opportunity for my relative to prepare a delicious meal.

I found this story amusing but also revealing. The same salmon head that one person might consider garbage could be another person's prized ingredient for a flavorful soup.

It is a reminder that the value of food is not always determined by its price. Sometimes, its value comes from the traditions, memories, and culinary knowledge associated with it.

Are Americans Learning to Appreciate Fish Heads?

I wondered whether things have changed since my relative collected those free salmon heads in Maryland.

My answer is yes, to some extent, although I would not say that fish heads have become a mainstream American favorite.

Salmon itself is widely enjoyed in the United States. Fish heads, however, remain a more specialized food. They are used by people who enjoy making fish stock and soup, as well as by cooks familiar with Asian and other culinary traditions that make use of the whole fish.

Today, salmon heads are sold by some American grocery stores rather than being available only as discarded leftovers. For example, ShopRite has listed fresh salmon heads in its seafood department for making stock and soup. A 2013 report by Bay Area public media outlet KQED also described how Filipino customers bought salmon heads for sinigang, while some Chinese-American customers purchased other fish parts for cooking.

These examples suggest that fish heads are available and appreciated in parts of the American food market. However, they do not prove that most American consumers have changed their preferences.

Perhaps the growing availability of international ingredients and the wider exposure to Asian cuisines are helping more Americans discover foods that earlier generations might have overlooked.

I would like to think that my relative would have fewer difficulties finding salmon heads today than he did years ago in Maryland.

What Is Good Food Presentation?

This brings me back to our Filipino dinner at THD.

I understand that food presentation matters. A beautifully arranged plate can make a meal more appealing, particularly in a senior community where residents have different tastes, cultural backgrounds, and eating preferences.

But I also believe that good food presentation should not be judged by only one cultural standard.

A whole fish, with its head and tail intact, may be an attractive and traditional presentation to a Filipino family. To someone else, the same sight may be unfamiliar. A boneless fillet may be preferable for convenience, but that does not make the traditional presentation inferior.

There is also a practical consideration. Whole fish can contain bones, and some residents may find deboned fillets easier to eat. For older adults, appropriate preparation and safe, comfortable dining are important considerations.

Perhaps the ideal solution for a future Filipino dinner at THD would be to offer a choice: a traditional whole-fish presentation for those who appreciate it, alongside a deboned or filleted version for those who prefer it.

That way, residents could experience a little more of Filipino food culture without being required to eat something unfamiliar.

Food as a Bridge Between Cultures

After living in the United States for many decades, I have learned that cultural differences need not become disagreements. They can instead become opportunities to learn from one another.

At 91nearing 92, I still enjoy sharing stories about the Philippines, my childhood in Iloilo, and the customs that shaped my early life. Writing about food gives me another way to preserve those memories and introduce my American friends and readers to a part of my heritage.

For me, the fish head is not simply a piece of seafood. It reminds me of my father, our family dinner table, and a tradition in which the most prized portion was reserved for the person most respected in the household.

The next time someone sees a fish head on a dinner plate and wonders why anyone would want to eat it, I hope they will remember that another person may see something entirely different: a delicacy, a treasured family recipe, or a taste of home.

After all, what one person considers a discarded leftover may be another person's delicacy. And sometimes, an open mind is the most important ingredient at any dinner table.

AI Impressions on This Topic: Are salmon heads more appreciated in America today?

Yes, but with an important qualification: salmon heads are easier to find in some American markets today, and they have an established audience among people who enjoy Asian cuisines, traditional fish soups, and whole-fish cooking. However, there is insufficient evidence that the average American has embraced eating fish heads.

Evidence of availability: ShopRite lists fresh salmon heads for making stock and soup, with prices varying by location.
Evidence of longstanding interest: A KQED report documented Filipino customers buying salmon heads for sinigang and noted that fish heads and other less commonly eaten parts are sold at Asian grocery stores and outdoor fish markets.
Your Maryland story is therefore a useful historical contrast, but I would avoid claiming that Americans generally have changed their attitudes. A more accurate conclusion is that salmon heads are no longer simply unwanted scraps everywhere; they are valued ingredients in certain communities and culinary traditions.

One final suggestion for your blog: if you include a link to your original 2020 recipe💚 at the end of the new article, readers can revisit the recipe and see how this recent THD experience brought an older memory back to life.

Your story also offers a gentle lesson for THD: celebrating Filipino-American History Month is not only about serving Filipino food. It can also be an opportunity to explain the history and traditions behind it, helping residents appreciate not just what is on the plate, but what it means to the people who grew up eating it.

My Published Articles for ViewsHound

I Mailed My Ballot: Should We Ask Artificial Intelligence Who to Vote For?

How Does Voting Work in America?

Millions of Americans Are Voting Early

When Artificial Intelligence Enters the Voting Booth

I Ask AI to Help Me Write, Not to Decide My Vote

Can We Trust Artificial Intelligence?

The Ballot Is Mine, and the Responsibility Is Mine

A Final Reflection

Suggested References :

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The Philippine-American War: When Liberation Did Not Bring Freedom

Manila, 1945: The Destruction of the Pearl of the Orient

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

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

Ray Kurzweil Predicts Humans Could Begin Overcoming Aging by 2030

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

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What I Have Learned at 91

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The Otap of Cebu and Barquillos of Iloilo

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

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Maurice: A Different Time, a Similar Struggle

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My Final Thoughts

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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

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The Young Dodie I Didn't Always See

From Cloyne Court to the Courtroom

Retirement and Another Chapter

Why I Am Proud of My Son