Random Threads

How MCTV15- Channel 15 Started

2020-09-28T00:08:00.006+08:00

Setting the Record Straight

As a major fundraiser for the annual 4th of July fireworks on the city of Mt. Shasta's local TV station, Channel 15, I wanted to put on a show about them. I approached the City Administrator at that time, Joe Riker about it. He then drove me to the Community center, opened up a door in the basement, we had to move chairs that were stacked all around, he took me to a corner where a funky tube TV sat on a rolling TV stand with an old VCR (we were already up to VCHR then) attached to it. Upstairs in the room where the Mt. Shasta City council held their meetings, there were fixed view, black and white security cameras attached to the live feed wire, and from there, the feed went to the TV and VCR. Someone had to personally go down to the basement and start the VCR to record the meetings each time. When there were no Council meetings to air, Channel 15 broadcast text messages on a blue screen with public service, and city announcements. I called it the Big Blue.

I asked Joe Riker how we could make it a truly PUBLIC access TV station and he asked me to meet with the full City Council to discuss it, which I did. There was absolutely no funding for this at the time, but that didn't deter me. The first thing I did was get community volunteers to start a committee to study the by-laws of over 30 public access stations across the United States to find a template that would work for a small town like ours.

All the while the committee was researching and writing our own bylaws, I was given access to the TV and VCR in the basement to put in shows that initially Joe Riker supplied me with, such as public information shows. In order to show my good faith and claim the station for the Public, I choose a night the shows would be played and my husband at the time, Tony Pollard would drive me to the Community center to physically put the show into the VCR and press play to start it! Neither rain nor sleet or snow kept us from doing this, even though only a handful of people would see it.

When we presented a viable set of bylaws for our community we had to decide on a name. The committee came up with Mt. Shasta Community TV, but my vision was to take over all the public access stations in Siskiyou county eventually, so I came up with Mountain Community TV-15 because all of the towns sat in the shadow of glorious, and magnificent Mount Shasta. It was shortened to MCTV15.

The next order of business was to form a 501-C3, non-profit corporation so that MCTV15 would have a legal presence and sponsors could write off donations. The city came up with an informal agreement at the time which allowed MCTV15 to manage channel 15. Thanks to local attorney Tim Stearns, for donating his time in filing all the corporate papers in order to make this happen.

Over time, I have noticed, in available information lately, about its origins. We founders have all become the "committee", or individuals from the community. I think it's important for people to know that the "committee" were people who had names, and I will try to remember them all as I go. It's important to remember them because they rank amongst the groups of individuals who actually contributed their valuable time and resources to the cause. Hence, without me, without them, none of you would be watching shows on Channel 15 today.

Memories of Batangas City Cathedral

2020-09-27T23:55:00.001+08:00

Immaculate Conception Cathedral

Batangas City, Batangas

Built-in 1851- photo was taken in 2000.

As a child, growing up in Batangas, Batangas; it was not yet a city in the l950's, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, was an integral part of my childhood memories, just as it was for my ancestors from the time it was built. I was baptized in 1948. I am no longer a churchgoer, but the memories of this church seem to form a base in my core, and the essence is instilled within my soul.

I was baptized beyond the

doors in the back of the narrow,

winding staircase in 1948.

Every time I entered the cathedral I felt peaceful. I loved beautiful paintings, tall ceiling, and statues of all saints. I felt a reverence and desire to always keep the images alive within me. When I was about 8 years old, I even had dreams of becoming a nun. I watched every saint or biblical movie I could. I always preferred to go into the church when there was no mass. I liked being alone on the pews, imbibing the atmosphere with all my heart and letting it wash over my entire being.

I did a lot of daydreaming as
a child up in the bell tower.

I was baptized in this.

I think one of the bells was cast in the 1500s, but my memory isn't that great anymore and I can't find a reference at the moment.

There was a lodge or balcony at the back of the church, with a narrow, winding staircase. I loved the view of the church from there. There was a small door which led to the steeple and, bell tower, then up another set of stairs. It was one of my favorite places to go when I didn't want to be found. I could have stayed up there forever, with its views of the city and the Calumpang River. I felt like Rapunzel or Shakespeare's Juliet from up there. I did a lot of daydreaming there.

This was my school, St. Bridget's College run by

nuns of the Good Shepard Convent. Establish in

1903.

My school was attached to the basilica, and it had a secret door which was at the back of the life-sized statue of the crucified Jesus Christ, which led directly into the church. And many of my aunts and uncles attended this same school from the 1920s.

Discovering El Nido

2016-04-17T15:28:00.000+08:00

This is a late post, but El Nido always seems to be in the news of late and I haven't been back. We actually went to Corong-Corong, El Nido, a beach just before the town itself in January of 2015. It was blustery and not still and quiet waters like you seen in the postcards. I never did get to swim as the waves made it uncomfortable on my bad back but it was truly beautiful. We did try to drive into El Nido town in our truck, but the roads are too narrow to accommodate it so we stuck to Corong, Corong where we were able to park on the lot of a friend's friend.

The town of El Nido as of this writing is very congested. The water in Bacuit bay has coliform bacteria due to raw sewage running into it. But people still throng there and once you get out of town on the tours to the various coves, all seems well.

Personally, I am more of a forest elf, but I do upon occasion, enjoy the beach. I do like going out to snorkel in the sea on our banca, which is much different that sitting idly on a beach.

January 2015 - The Beach Shack. Nice sandy waters in front of this place. The center of the cove is more rocky close to the shore.

We stayed at the Blue Pearl. Nice crew there.

Incredible sunset the first night! This is Marimegmeg beach in Corong Corong, El Nido

I went up to El Nido expecting deserted beaches....hah boy was I ever wrong. It's like the French Riviera during the day and at sunset!

A Walk down my road

2015-08-15T09:19:00.001+08:00

I was in Manila for two weeks getting overhauled in a hospital for a week, and staying with good friends there afterwards. It was nice seeing friends I never get to see and strangely. I saw more friends from Palawan there that I never see in town. Odd to run into more of them in Manila than where I live.

It's always wonderful to get back home after seeing nothing but sky scrappers, except for the verdant garden at the friend's house I was staying at. But for that little oasis, I might have gone nuts.

It was nice to go for a walk down the road I live in and see not one concrete structure, but the road. Here is what I like to see, not much of anything but green and verdant valleys. It help me remember why I love Palawan. I have been so upset over the approval of a coal fired electric plant and the Ocean Park in a marine sanctuary, I almost forgot why I live here.

Mangingisda Road. This is walking back towards my house from the Mangingisda Pier.

A very common sight. Carabao carts! Too bad the 3 year old cement road is already falling apart due to no steel rods!!

It's very common so see children ridding the carabao aka water buffalo.

Palawan cherry blossom. Not really a cherry at all.

Hidden in the forest 243 species of flora and fauna found only in Palawan.

Lantana, so bright and colorful. Butterflies love them!

Mahogany tree seed pods.

Milk weed flowers.

Star like flower on a tree.

Philippine wood rose buds!

Dried Philippine wood rose flowers.

Life in Puerto Princesa update

2015-06-30T09:23:00.000+08:00

We moved to Palawan after searching other islands for our retirement base. I liked Palawan because it was so pristine compared to other cities. I also loved the fact that earthquakes don't happen here, nor the ferocious winds of the Typhoons that strike Luzon and other islands.

In 2009,when we moved here, it was a laid back town. Not much of anywhere to shop for groceries except for NCCC and the public markets. I hated NCCC because they constantly blared Christian music so loud I couldn't even think straight, much less remember what to buy. I don't have anything against Christian music in general, except I didn't expect to have it blasted in my ears at a Supermarket!!! I think that should be left to churches. If I wanted to listen to that type of music...I definitely would have gone to church to hear it. To make matters worse, at checkout, they would stop the process to pray!!! This drove me crazy and I actually had to force them to stop praying and continue to check me out, much to the chagrin of other shoppers, who seemed to think this was normal. I would say, "Please continue to check me out...this is not a church!"

When Robinson's supermarket opened, it was quite a relief to my ears to shop there, even though I was the first to protest the cutting of hundreds of old growth trees to make room for it. I am now happy for the opportunity to shop closer to home. Especially now that traffic has grown intolerable to me. I wish they would have left some trees for shade, as their parking lot is a hell hole in the summer with no shade at all now.

We moved to a farm lot about half an hour from the junction of north and south highways. I am so glad we did. The congestion in the city is maddening. I have always chosen to live in remote areas because cities have no allure for me. I am a nature lover, so as close to nature is where I have chosen to live here, yet only half an hour drive to get supplies.

Our home in Palawan using bamboo from our own
groves for railing and flooring for deck.

Unfortunately it's very stressful to live here these days. There are electrical black outs 4 hours a day everywhere. Sometimes they are rolling blackouts, so some have power while others not, PALECO, the local power coop, calls this "load shedding". Yesterday it was a total blackout. It isn't as bad for us, since we have installed enough solar panels and batteries to run 3 fans and all the LED lights all day if it is sunny. And we have a backup generator when we need to power the refrigerators.

To make matters worse, there is also water rationing in town. My 96 year old dad, and mom 90, have no water coupled with the blackouts. So when it's hot, there is no way to cool down. Her water rationing hours were 12 midnight to 12 noon. Most inconvenient. We have three deep wells on our property, and even those are beginning to taste like iron, the water tables have dropped so low. We do harvest rain when there is any, but so far there hasn't been enough rain to fill the tanks.

Traffic in town is slowing becoming so congested, I feel like I live in Manila when have to go there. Too many tricycles, tourists vans, more people with private cars, and motorcycles! No one has any manners on the roads, but I guess that is typical for the Philippines.

Then there is the proposed Coal Fired Plant our own Governor is veritably shoving down our throats. Clean coal he says. He won't even read about all the science behind coal. Maybe it's because he is friends with the people who own DMCI, the suppliers of the dirtiest coal in the world.

The marine sanctuary in back of our house is slated, and given permits to become a man made ocean park. The local governing board, Palawan Council for Sustainable Development or PCSD, is also headed by the current Governor who seems to care more for profits and not at all for the environment. Poor Palawan, being touted as the best island in the world, is soon to become a wasteland of man made recreational "nature" parks! They do not care that the otters in that bay will be threatened by this development.

Palawan has the most natural biodiversity of any island in the Philippines, but the only thing our so called leaders care about is harnessing tourism at all costs. The very thing people come here to see, pristine nature, will soon enough be gone. It only took 10 years to ruin Boracay...it will only take a little longer for Palawan.

Instead of learning from the mistakes made in Boracay, and starting to implement renewable energies, and lessons from Cebu, whose potable water has to be shipped in, the City is going ahead with all projects. Allowing hotels to be built in small alleys with no parking, cutting down heritage and old trees to make room for them. No requirements for solar or water harvesting to save our water tables.

I have a hard time keeping my chin up these days. I am grateful for the life we have on our quiet corner of the world, but civilization is catching up to us once more, and not in a good way, and this makes me sad.

How not to do laundry

2015-01-07T19:10:00.025+08:00

by Vince Naso 1971

It was 1971, and I was 21 when I met a lovely man many years my senior, named Vince Naso. I think he was about 36 at that time. We hit it off right away and we were literally inseparable. Not long after, much to the chagrin of my conservative parents, we bought a house together and proceeded to set up house and home. I had been raised in the Philippines with household staff and ridiculously unaware of anything as mundane as putting things away etc. It was never asked of me to do one stitch of household work or any of the cooking. In fact, it never dawned on me to even consider it. Simply oblivious.

When we moved in together, I pretty much winged it. I always was fairly precocious, if not experienced, but here is one incident that backfired on me.

One day he asked if I did laundry. Thinking, Hell everyone in America does laundry, they have washing machines. I mean how hard can it be? I was pretty smug.

In the Philippines, we had laundry people, and my mom did all my laundry in her machine when we moved to the States. I had actually never technically done laundry myself, but heck, how hard could it be.

by Diana Limjoco 1972

I got all his, tees, shirts, business pants, and suit tops, his suits, sweaters, jeans, underwear, white socks, and shoved them into the washing machine. Plus some of my own things. It was full. So next, the soap. The box of laundry soap said one scoop, but I thought heck, this is a big load and this is America, so the more the merrier. I must have poured in half the box. Then for the temperature, I figured as hot as possible to kill any germs. It made sense to me.

Between the laundry room and the kitchen was a swinging door, and when I went to get a cup of coffee a little later, I noticed it was slowly opening and I saw foam all around the edges!! Oh my God! I opened the door and a wall of stiff foam enveloped me. Thank goodness there was a door to the outside and somehow I managed to sweep get all the foam out of the hallway, and my, my, weren't the walls clean now too. That took quite a while and the clothes were still inside the machine.

Well, that didn't go as planned. The clothes have to go into the dryer now. The best is yet to come for me. I opened the electric dryer and began removing the items. White specks were on everything and a bit of foam. That's odd, but what do I know, the dryer probably gets that all out while spinning.

It's when I started taking everything out of the washing machine that I realize something was very wrong. All the sweaters were the size of my fist. The designer suits were all akimbo, The silk shirts were all pink and much smaller than they were as well. Basically, everything cotton, silk, wool, cashmere was ruined. My heart began to pound wildly. I AM DISGRACED!

But wait, there is HOPE, I would call mom, Helen Limjoco since she knows EVERYTHING. When she answered I asked her, "Hey, how do you make sweaters go back to the size they were before you washed them?"

A very pregnant pause. "What do you mean go back to the regular size?", she says.

"You don't mean to say you washed them in the machine in hot water?"

Now dead, heart-pounding silence on my end, while a sickening feeling was rising in my gut. I freak out in my head. OMG. "You mean to tell me they won't go back to the size they were?"

"Ummmmmm nope! I can't believe you did that."
This from the woman who got me spoiled in the first place.

GOD HELP ME, I'm dead.

"What about getting the pink out of the whites?"

"What do you mean get the pink out of the whites?"

Needless to say, she gave me a lecture on How NOT to do laundry. I felt like a total idiot and failure.

When I got off the phone I thought I would still give a go at getting those damnable cashmere sweaters back to their original size, but no amount of pulling, stretching, or yanking would work,

I had to face Vince when he got home and he was actually quite the sport about it, although, I felt like a total moron all the more.

The good thing that came out of this is that he never let me touch his laundry EVER again and I was spared that chore for all the years we were together. But I never did that again.

THE END

PS: Vince passed away many years ago, I am sure he can laugh about this more now while he sings with the angels.

Adorable rescued kitty

2014-07-14T08:30:00.002+08:00

Last week my husband and I were driving along the highway heading to town and in the middle of the road, on the yellow painted divider I saw something tiny moving....after we zipped past it, I realized it was a kitten! I begged my husband to go back, we already have so many rescued animals he wasn't too thrilled about it, but I knew if we came home and I saw it as a splattered ink spot, I would feel guilty all my life about it. So he relented and took me back. There were cars zipping and weaving as we approached it and I thought for sure it was a goner!

This is the poor lil guy after I grabbed him from the highway!

However we managed to safely pull over about 15 feet away and I ran over to it. The poor thing was so scrawny and thin, it could hardly move! I called to it and it began to stagger over to me! However it wasn't moving fast enough so I ran over to it and picked it up and brought it back to the truck.

I had to de-f;ea the lil guy, clean his ears of mites, put ointment in his eye and get him fed
before we introduced him to our other rescue, a puppy named Lucy! Here they are trying to get to each other through the screen slider.

Holy moly, it was flea ridden, skinny as could be and had mucous in it's left eye. But it did seem grateful to have some comfort and it just sat peacefully in my lap. I called my mom, who lives in town where we were headed. She made up a box for it, and put in some milk and readied some ophthalmic eye medicine to put in it's eye. She's the best mom! I got my love of animals from her and my dad.

When we let him out after 3 days, he ran into an image of himself in the mirrored glass door and caused himself quite a fright!

He was so frail and thin, he walked like a tin soldier, all stiff and wobbly! He would occasionally even fall over. But what an indomitable little spirit he had to survive with such a cute personality.

While I was playing a game on my iPad, he looked up and saw things moving on the screen and even tried to play with them. He even looks up and watches TV or a movie on my PC monitor!

Here he is on the 3rd day, much stronger and very aware of his surroundings, especially games on my iPad! He trys to swipe at the moving things too. He especially enjoys any movies with animals in them.

We finally named him CatMan, as he has a hero type mask and flys all over the room now. Here is a rare quiet moment with our puppy Lucy napping on our bed.

After napping they like to play, usually all over the room, but I was able to capture them gently playing pretty much in the same spot on my bed. Take a look at them playing...it's just too adorable. They are now best of friends, these two. It's amazing how gently Lucy is with him.

Handy stuff with our bamboo

2014-07-04T06:43:00.001+08:00

We have several bamboo groves on our property. Consequently, we build a lot of things with it. Here are a few of the things we have made with the help of local carpenters, who had never made anything like these things before. I think they did well.

Bamboo dish drying rack. I bought a wooden one many years ago, and it lasted so long, but it finally fell apart and our assistant Jhun Solis, who is not really a carpenter copied it and rebuilt it in bamboo! I love it don't you?

Bamboo jewelry tree! I have so much bling. They were stashed for many years in clear boxes and I had to dig through each one to find what I wanted. Now it's all there for me to pick and choose. All with scrap bamboo from building our native deck. It also doubles as a hat rack!

When we built our new bedroom cottage, I didn't have anything to put the towels on and when I shopped for stainless steel towel rods, there were so expensive. Having seen these in a couple of hotels we stayed in, I showed the carpenter a photo and they came up with this. It works quite well.

Our entire wrap around deck is bamboo as are the guard rails.

Our place is small and there was nowhere to put our mops, dustbins etc., and they were always in sight, which wan't great, so I had them build this broom closet on our deck. It now hides the necessary, but eyesore household tools. It looks pretty good I think.

Bamboo kitchen cupboards. Again when I went to the local hardware store, the modern cupboards were so expensive, even so, I was willing to pay for them, but they were out of stock! So once more, our handy carpenters followed my instructions and came up with there. In back of the tea kettle is a screened bamboo wall, to keep with the open airy theme and allow ventilation. Things get moldy when totally closed up in the tropics.

I only have a small amount of counter space, and the microwave took up quite a bit of it, so we had the carpenter retrofit it into the far left cupboard. It works quite well there and I have my space back!

Bamboo couch bench! Dave even added electrical outlets for me to charge my laptop and ipad with.

Close up of the electrical outlet which is power by solar cells!

Crooked bamboo for the railings. The carpenters were not going to use the crooked bamboo, but I think it is beautiful. I had them come up with their own design for the railing with my basic guidelines. They once more, did a great job. We have a lot of coconut shells from making coconut milk.So we used them as end caps to keep the water out of the bamboo so they don't get waterlogged and begin to mold. A fried of ours said they look like dancing stick figures. That works for me.

Read more about the sustainable things we are learning to do on my other blog.

Mount Shasta 4th Of July Community Fireworks Fund

2014-06-27T19:08:00.000+08:00

I lived in the Mt. Shasta area, and neighboring towns at various times in my life since 1977. Before I went there, I had a vivid dream about a woman and a mountain. The next day I was invited to lunch at a friend's place and an Israeli kibutznik was there. After a few hours conversation, he mentioned he was thinking of going up to Mt. Shasta, because there was a woman who wrote an esoteric book, and he wanted to meet her. (This is a whole other story though)

I immediately offered to pay for the entire trip, if we left the very next day! He agreed! Thus began my love affair with that area. The pristine evergreen forests, interspersed with Aspens that turned gold in the fall, wild blackberries covered in raindrops, wild sweet pea flowers blooming in all their pink splendor. I left West Hollywood the next year, with what would fit in my car, moved there, and never looked back.

Every year that I lived there, there was an annual fireworks display by Lake Siskiyou in the town of Mt. Shasta. It was the one time that friends, family and tourists would converge upon the town in vast numbers. Even more folks that any other time at once, even Christmas! I don't know where most people watched, but the people I knew at the time, would park at Lake Siskiyou and we would have to tramp through the shrubs and trees to get a good vantage point. Then we would stumble home in the dark; not so fun through the brush. There were a few campgrounds that everyone else watched from. There was a resort, the Mt. Shasta Resort later a few years after I moved there, and they had good views from their restaurant and deck, but only if you were a guest or having dinner at the restaurant.

click to enlarge

The whole 4th of July celebration was a 3 day affair, ending in the Annual Fireworks display. It was fun because there were always so many vendors and food stalls downtown, live music, local art, and bric a brac and to buy. My friends and I would get together and party down (I was in my 20's). It was a tradition that the town had for over 50 years at that time. It was looked forward to, and planned many months in advance. The 4th of July would start with a parade in town, with live music afterwards, then in the early 80's Dr. Jim Parker started a "Small Town Run - Walk". It became so big, it could no longer be called small, in fact it is now the largest small town run in the country. They still have it on going to this day.

Well anyway, I was sitting at my dining room table in 1997 and I saw an article about not having any more annual fireworks because it was too hard to raise the funds for it. Wow, I couldn't imagine the kickoff for summer without the fireworks, nor could most of my friends. I called the number in the paper and thereafter became the new fund raiser along with a local businessman, John Kennedy and initially Nancy la Mott. John and I made up the perfect partnership. He knew everyone in town, and I knew how to promote events and work with the media, do the photography, and media flyers. We only had a meeting when we both had something that needed to be done. Otherwise I would just call him if a sponsor needed some media exposure and he would show up for the Newspaper photo ops. He drafted letters to corporate sponsors, something I am lousy at. We just made things happen, working with him was a dream.

The Fund O Meter we used each year to
let folks in town know how we were
doing with funds for the fireworks.

John and I looked at each other and put our thinking caps on. We came up with donations boxes which John designed and made. I made the art that went on them and we put them all around town. One day a girlfriend of mine, Kathy Ahearn was listening to me groan about how slow the donations were coming in, and she suggested a thermometer of sorts, a giant one placed where everyone in town could see how we were doing with funding and whether or not there would be fireworks that year. I gave the idea to John and he ran with it! As the donations went up, the empty space would be filled with red. We placed it in one of the most strategic places, where you just couldn't miss it. It seemed to do the trick a got a lot of attention. It was also a good spot to take photo ops for the various donors and sponsors as well. We used it for the 3 or 4 years that we were in charge of getting donations.

Mt. Shasta had an old steam engine #25, that had recently been put back online we enlisted them to take tourists for rides. The train became a nice fundraiser and a fun family event. One year I enlisted the Mt. Shasta Police chief and his deputies. They would set up a robbery somewhere along the route at the base of Mout Shasta. When old #25 steam engine (which made it's last run in Nov. 2008) hit the mark, these masked bandits on horses would stage a blockage with old barrels and rifles poised in the air (unloaded of course). They would then "force" the conductor to stop so they could board. They would then extract more money from the passengers for the Annual Fireworks display!

Steam Engine #25 - Photo by Michael F. Allen at http://railpictures.net

I designed and printed up gobs of large WANTED posters with the masked faces of the "Banditos" and posted them everywhere I could in town. It was the Chief of Police and his deputies posing for me in full cowboy outfits, and on the poster. Of course, you aren't allowed to nail posters to city poles or walls, but because it was the Chief's mug on it, no one ever took them down. I guess they figured it was for a good and mutual cause. It was a popular ride, except when the unpredictable weather would turn cold and it would rain or snow.

I wish the hard drive I had years of photos on hadn't crashed. It took with it many wonderful memories. It was a lot of work and also a lot of fun.

One of the innovations we initiated in 1999, was holding the viewing spot at the golf resort, The Mt. Shasta Resort. I approached the owners and they agreed. It was one of the best spots to view the fireworks from high on a hill overlooking Lake Siskiyou. We then decided, we would charge $1.00 to use the greens. The event had been free for over 35 years, so many people resented it, and I got a lot of F you's from people when we asked for the 1.00!! But how else were we supposed to get funding for this event? Every year it was such a struggle to get the businesses in town to foot it. I figured, the townsfolk wanted to see the Fireworks, so why should we not make each person a part of the funding?

Jon Thomas, one of my all time favorite jewelers in Mt. Shasta. Always very generous.

For the major sponsors, I asked if we could rope off the private parking at the resort, everyone else had to park anywhere they could, and it was quite a hike up those hills. It became a coveted thing to have, one of those spaces right there by the event.

I haven't been around since 2002, but I notice that the Mt. Shasta Resort is still allowing the public on their greens. I don't know if they still charge, but they should. We made a lot of money from the 3 or 4 thousand attendees, it really took a load off of us for the next year. We often had a little under half of the next year's fireworks funding from each 4th of July.

We got a lot of help and support as well as exposure from the Mt. Shasta Chamber of Commerce and the only newspaper, the Mt. Shasta Herald would send a photographer and reporter out to promote the events and feature our sponsors any time we called them. But even with all of that, the one event that took us over the edge for the next year, was charging that 1.00 entrance fee to watch from the resort-golf club.

It was the first time the history of the Community Fireworks fund that the funds were raised ahead of schedule. Congressman Herger presenting Mayor Gibson with an American flag flown over the capitol. Click to enlarge. L to R: Diana Limjoco Pollard, Congressman Wally Herger, Mt. Shasta City Mayor Audra Gibson.

It seems to be forgotten now how the fireworks display started, but I have a vague memory that it started in 1948 as a part of a fund raiser for the park. It then became a tradition and when I picked up the funding, it was 50 years old. The new website for the Community Fireworks Fund says over 35 years, but by my estimation it is now 66 years old! Many of the old timers have passed away, and much of the history of the traditions has faded with them.

One of the more memorable moments was when an aide called from Congressman Wally Herger's office, saying that one of the senior High School graduate students, a Ryan Curtis, had written a letter to the Congressman asking for support. I immediately saw it as a good opportunity to highlight the efforts of the young man and perhaps inspire others his age to care about the community as much. I arranged for Cong. Herger to come up for a photo op. I called a local caterer and got some canapés donated, after which I called our Mayor, Audra Gibson, a personal friend, and told her she was sponsoring the Congressman at her house, after which we would proceed to nearby Shastice park. We gathered the many of the major fund raisers, two supervisors, Bill Hoy and Lavada Erickson for a photo op. Congressman Herger gave us a good donation, and presented a flag to Mayor Gibson to fly over city hall, with a certificate that it had been flown over the nation's capitol

Circled is Mt. Shasta High School graduate Ryan Curtis, who was responsible for getting Congressman Wally Herger to come up to Mt. Shasta in support of our fireworks fund. He praised Ryan for his effort to help the community by writing him a letter. That's me holding the right corner of the banner, and Congressman Herger in the center front in the dark shirt in back of the banner.

Click to enlarge.

The last year I helped the fireworks fund in 2000, I thought it would be a good idea to put it on the local Mt. Shasta TV station, Channel 15. It showed in every hotel room and had a lot of local subscribers. At that time it was just a blue screen with text typed in by the city clerk, mainly alerting people to any disasters and parking information in the winter. I approached the Mt. Shasta City Council to see if we could put up our information there, they agreed, but I had to be the one to type in the information. The City Clerk taught me how and I would type in updates about the funding.

I then asked them why we don't actually have shows on Channel 15, wanting to air some of the video footage of the fireworks. The City Administrator took me to the community center, unlocked a closet, stepped over folding chairs and showed me a funky tube TV on a stand with a VCR underneath it on one of those cheap portable rolling TV stands. No much public access there, the one key unlocked the entire Community Center! But now I am getting into another story, of how I founded MCTV-Channel 15!

Since this seemed like a more far reaching venue, I quit the Fireworks Fund and at the behest of the Mt. Shasta City council, I embarked on my new adventure. Learning all about public Television.

There you have it, a little bit of trivia. Next Chapter, how I started MCTV-Channel 15. The station now airs in Mt. Shasta, Yreka, McCloud, Weed and Dunsmuir. It has since become Siskiyou Media Council.

President Tom Moore, of the Mount Shasta Chamber of Commerce giving me a plaque of Appreciation for my 3 years as Mt. Shasta Community Fireworks Fund.

L to R: Diana Limjoco Pollard, Congressman Wally Herger, Ryan Curtis, Mt. Shasta City Mayor
Audra Gibson - 1998 at Shastice Part, Mt. Shasta City.

Congressman Wally Herger came to Mt. Shasta in support of the Mt. Shasta Community
Fireworks Display Fund, at the request of newly graduate student Ryan Curtis of Mt. Shasta
High School. We wanted to make Ryan and example to his peers for his outstanding
community appreciation and support.

Always a great turn out. When I got there in the late 1970's, the parade wasn't that thrilling. I always screamed with delight an clapped though, just to give the participants a little gratification!
2002 - 4th July Parade -downtown Mt. Shasta, City

Electric school trike

2014-06-25T10:13:00.001+08:00

Our daughter is now going to the local public school since we live almost 2 hours round trip to city center, which is where the private school she last attended was. Now she gets to ride in her daddy's e-Trike which he developed as a R & D research project with former Mayor Edward Hagedorn.

It's still going strong and now we use it to take our daughter and her friends to school everyday. We only live 5 minutes by etrike away from her school. Several of the her friends ride with her everyday and we pick up more kids as we go. It makes 3 round trips per day, as Alysha likes to come home for lunch since we live so close.

Our number one assistant Jhun, taking our daughter and her friends to school. This trike prototype was built by local a Palawan body shop owned by William Russel. We used some of his mechanics and ours. Dave Dewbre designed the mechanical system and helped Russel with the design based on the roads here and passenger capacity of the 5000 watt motor.

Alsyha is a lucky girl. She gets to share this great ride with some of her friends. They are all amazed how quiet it is and there are no awful diesel or gas emissions to smell.

Etrike mascot, our assistant's doggie, and our daughter on way home for lunch.

Dave Dewbre driving to school to pick up Alysha for lunch.

Our assistant's dog, always has to come in the etrike to pick up Alysha every trip! If we don't bring him, he will run alongside us until we stop!

Here is a short video I too a in 2012 of the etrike scooting up Puerto Princesa National highway at 75 kilometers per hour.

Just more rambling

2014-05-02T19:07:00.000+08:00

Taken in January 2014

It's hard to believe that I'm going to be 66 this year. Now I know why people always say, "it's just a number". The mind doesn't feel age, except in wisdom gained through life's experiences, if you have strived for it. The body, on the other hand, is feeling it. Not that I ever had a strong body to begin with.

Mom, Helen Limjoco when she
had breast cancer and was using
only natural therapies. She looked
great!

When I was just an infant, mom said I had a bad case of chickenpox, and nothing my grandfather, a physician, administered would help. They finally called in an "albolario", as they are called here in the Philippines, at least where I'm from. She was a natural herbal healer. She simply boiled some gauva leaves and had them bathe me in the guava water until I showed signs of improvement. Which apparently I did soon after the treatment.

My proclivity towards more natural forms of healing have persisted till this day. When my mother wound up with advanced stages of breast cancer, she beat it with all natural therapies, no chemo or radiation at all. A brave and determined mother I have. I moved in with her and gave her something for her immune system every 3 hours or so. Within a year she was deemed in remission.

Mom Helen, and Dad Ramon in
2013 with our daughter Alysha.

I don't totally eschew pharmaceuticals if prescribed by a doctor, but I always ask what they do to my system and try to find something in nature that will do the same thing. Sometimes I will do a combination, but I do always take an herb or vitamin along with to counter any drug side effects.

My parents are long lived. They are both very much alive. Dad will be 95 in September and mom will be 88, August-2014! Dad is legally blind, but if he weren't, he'd still be very active. His mind is sharp as a tack! Mom is just the most steadfast person I know. There is no stopping her if she has her mind set on something. Dad was one of the first jet fighters for the Philippine Air Force, trained by the US Army Air Corp. A young man from California is coming in a few days to interview him about his World War II experiences. I'm so happy dad's stories will finally be told and remembered. Unfortunately, my mind doesn't retain any of that info. Sadly, only the barest bones of his stories, do I remember.

Being a mom as 65 certainly is turning out to be quite rewarding. I must admit I didn't enjoy the crying baby phase at all and mostly the diapers. Also it was so frustrating not knowing what she wanted. But now, at 6 years old, she's turned into quite a great kid. She's been exposed to our rescued wild animals here in Palawan, and has helped me feed them since she was 4. She loving, kind, generous and smart. She loves people and animals alike. I guess I did a good job inspite of a total lack of experience with children!

Alysha with otter pups.

Since we moved to this farm lot, Alysha and I have raised a baby palm civet, a baby pangolin, aka scaly anteater, and three otter pups! We now have a second wild palm civet and it's the only wild thing we have had to raise that wasn't just a few days to a week old. It still won't let anyone come too close, except me.

We recently released the wild civet with three legs. His leg was amputated at the elbow, and he happily hobbled away from us, looking back only once when I called out to him to say my final goodbye.

We also have domestic animals which Alysha likes to play with.

This is a baby pangolin or scaly anteater that came into our care for a few months. Such a divinely

sweet creature and very important to our environment.

Rambling about Palawan wildlife and Coal Fired plants

2013-11-13T15:49:00.002+08:00

I live in Palawan and I love it here. I can't remember when I have been happier and more content. I love the greenery around me (I don't live at city center). The wildlife here is like no other. Where we live is where we want to be, and I for one will end my days right here on this green slice of personal heaven.

This is Bindi the masked Asian palm civet that
was brought to us to rescue. She was 3 days old;
deaf and blind like a kitten for a few weeks.

The first baby wild animal was brought to me last year on Nov. 1, 2012, was a masked Asian palm civet aka musang locally. She was just 2 or 3 days old we estimated. Like a cat (although civets are not related to cats), they born deaf and blind. She was so tiny and helpless. I had to research online what and how often to feed her.

The first night Bindi the musang was brought to us.
Not much larger than my cell phone. Eyes and
ears still closed until 2 weeks later.

She cried like a baby with a high pitched screech every 2 hours for the first two weeks and I fed her round the clock. I had never cared for a wild animal before.

She survived me and is just a little over 1 year old now. She cannot be put back into the wild. She likes people too much and we live in an area where they eat these creatures and they are generally considered pests by the locals. We use her as an Ambassador for her kind; we have brought her to local schools and different events that people about our wildlife and how to respect it. She's very good with the kids and likes to jump on their shoulders and smell them. The kids love her and she's always a highlight of the event. She basically lives with me in my home office all day and most of the night hanging out on the highest point or piece of furniture. I do take her outside every now and then so she can explore and she doesn't run away but we do watch her as we live near a road.

I have learned since that sometimes they are also poached by illegal wildlife traders and sold as pets in Indonesia. Although they do have their own civets, several kind in fact, the pet trade and illegal hunting are slowing decimating their numbers. Over here they are considered common, yet they are still endemic and an important part of our ecosystem. Why wait till something is on the brink of extinction to teach people about them I say. Usually by then it's too late any way as in the case of our next rescue.

In April of 2013 a village boy brought me a strange creature. I had never seen this creature before. It was a mammal with scales. Perhaps a month old. It was a scaly anteater or pangolin as they are also called. It was so sweet and hung on to me as though it needed a touch. It hung on to my neck for reassurance for the longest time while I searched online for what to do with it; how to feed it and care for it. The boys had found a mud termite mound and brought it with the creature so it could feed on that the first night. We called him Balin, short for the word used to name it here, Balintong.

Baby Palawan scaly anteater or pangolin.

The next day they harvested live termites from it and we tried to get it to eat them but it would not. The next day it crawled up the leg of another cage and began to eat the tiny ants crawling up. It dawned on me to take it outside the animal enclosure and let it find it's own ants and termites. After that the boy, myself and our other dedicated assistant Jhun, would night after night take it out on our 2 hectares and even neighbors properties and just watch it while it found its own food. It was grueling to follow it especially in the rain. The mosquitoes alone were horrendous; we had to use a lot of insect repellent.

Balin on one of the nights following him while he
foraged for his food.

We continued to care for it while I looked online for more information about this fascinating animal. It has no teeth. Only a tongue as long as it's body and it's diet consists of ants and termites. It never destroyed the whole colony. It would eat enough and then moved on. This of course assured it that there would be insects a plenty when they rebuilt themselves. I noticed also that as it burrowed into the ground to find the insects it would be aerating the soil where it went. This allows seeds of all the plants around it will grow in hour hard soil more easily! Even on old logs. It would literally shred them to pulp getting at the insects and that would add compost to the earth. What a planet friendly creature it is.

While studying about the pangolin, a few days later, a Chinese ship was in the news having stranded itself on the protected Tubatahha reefs in Northern Palawan. Alas, inside it were dead and processed pangolins already descaled in plastic bags. This is when I began to really learn about the illegal wildlife trade here in Palawan and how the pangolin is one of the most poached creatures aside from the turtles. In fact it's so bad they feel the creature will be extinct is as few as 10 years. People actually eat them! How a person can kill such a wondrous and valuable asset to our ecology I will never, ever understand. The creatures are totally helpless again'st humans. Such gentle animals they are! One night after we had Balin for 2 months, it got out of the animal enclosure and we saw it coming back. We tried to find out and seal where we thought it was getting out, but apparently they are well known escape artists. After two nights of getting out and coming back, on the third night it didn't. We have not seen it since. It won it's freedom for better or for worse. I choose to believe he is surviving somewhere because I can't stand the thought that he might have been trapped and eaten.

One of the three small clawed otter pups, Owen.
All three are males! He is about 45 days or or a
little more we have estimated by their growth.

Our third and current rescue happened on Oct. 1, 2013 when another village person brought us a wriggling sack. In it were three baby otter pups. Asian small or short clawed otters to be exact. All still with their eyes and ears closed like the musang! I hurriedly searched online and wrote an urgent email letter to all the otter organizations online asking for their help. All of them responded with valuable help. They did immediately take to the mini puppy bottles and to the low lactose milk I'd had on hand for the pangolin, who would not drink it at all. I was grateful for this as trying to feed them with a syringe the first day before we got the bottles was a nightmare. They are considered vulnerable because of encroachment into their habitats.

Omar discovers he's a reall otter and takes a
short swim. Approximately 48 days old.

All these creatures, the pangolin, the otters and many other creatures occur only in Palawan in the entire Philippines. What a treasure this island is in endemic flowers, birds mammals and sea life.

All this leads me to Coal! The government wants to put in a coal fired electrical plant. With all the scientific information coming in and the whole world weighing in against the horrors of coal plants. What a shining example Palawan could be a jewel in the crown of the Pearl of the Orient as the Philippines is called. So much new and alternative ways to produce energy and here on the last frontier the leaders want to have a coal burning plant. No vision at all for the sustainability of this island. It's difficult to overcome the effects of coal in the future and will be more expensive in the long run.

Green technologies bring in better and longer lasting jobs. Yet the leaders won't do their homework and refuse to invite bidding to companies offering alternative energy solutions.

The planning department here has no clue about zoning or sustainability or regulating new businesses. I've heard that 1200 new hotels and pension houses have sprung up just this year alone. What we really need are at least 6 more world class hospitals and then the hotels will fill up again when the allure of the Underground River and waiting in all the lines to see it wears off.

Coal will certainly pollute the environment and cause the loss of many of these species in the area surrounding Aborlan where they want to place it.

I love Palawan but I fear and I observe that its going the way of other polluted, congested and ill planned cities in the country. What a pity the people running this place don't understand, won't try to understand the long term consequences of their choices today.

Exclusive Feature C Magazine May 2013 Issue

2013-04-20T09:45:00.000+08:00

My story about Dave Dewbre's etrike project in Palawan was featured in C! Magazine's May 2013 Issue. I document his adventure in research and development in electric tricycles.

Charley Boorman, celebrity biker host of Freedom Rider's Asia dropped in to check out the e-trikes and had a good time driving one around Luzviminda.

The magazine feature talks about the evolution of the different models Dave has developed and he talks about the problems people are having with after sales service and parts. A very big issue in this new field. I also talk about how then Mayor Edward Hagedorn was the first person to convert a regular gas trike to electric back in 2008 with the help of Rolly Conception and how Dave became involved with him in developing the successive prototypes.

On this page top photo is Dave with one of his 3000 watt electric motorcycles and his eT4 tricycle taxi prototype, driving the half moon shaped eT3 etrike prototype is Mayor Edward Hagedorn.

Top photo left to right, Dave Dewbre, Diana Limjoco, Charley Boorman. Bottom center photo is Buch Chase, Philippine Motocross here and Charley.

Charley dropped by our place where we have all Dave's models and then we had a little surprise lunch prepared for him at the famous Kinabuch restaurant in town. A bonus was that our own Motocross icon, Buch Chase who owns Kinabuch, was around for the shoot and wound up taking Charley along with the Tamilok motorcycle riders on a back road ride in Napsan.

Charley test driving Dave's eT3 prototype electric trike

A behind the scenes look at a portion included in Freedom Riders Asia Philippine edition

Dave, Charley and Buch Chase. He was served Tamilok, a local delicacy. It's a mollusk but looks more like a large flat worm which he bravely chugged down.

Charley and Dave discussing the next plan of attack.

Dave Dewbre sells some of the fastest and upgradeable electric motorcycles on the planet at his online store: http://www.environmentfriendlystore.com

Dolphin Watching My new thrill

2012-09-13T10:26:00.001+08:00

When Dave decided to buy a banca (a motorized canoe with outriggers), I was thrilled. We live on a small peninsula surrounded by mangroves, the South China Sea and Puerto Princesa Bay.

I've read that both spinner and bottle nose dolphins ply these waters. These, I believe are spinner dolphins. Spinner dolphins can be found in schools of up to 200 individuals! They like to feed at night on fish and squid and I read they like to do most of their jumping and spinning at night as well. I guess we were lucky to see them during the day.

A spinner dolphin doing it's thing!!

A lot of tourists come to Puerto Princesa, Palawan for the Underground River, I'll take dolphin watching over it any day...although I have seen the Underground River three times now!!

Shot taken with a GoPro Hero cam in a waterproof case from above the water from the front of the bangka

Spinner dolphins are considered small and weigh up to 79 Kilograms.

Shot with a GoPro Hero2 cam, mounted on a metal pole and submerged when the dolphins would swim by. Swimming with the dolphins or feeding them, is not allowed . Best to leave them wild!

This spinner dolphin was right next to me in the boat...taken overhead with a GoPro Hero2 cam, hand held. There were so many all around us, I just pointed and shot. It was too bright to see what I was shooting, but the GoPro is so wide angle you are bound to get something.

When we spot the dolphins, we head out towards them. They suddenly, magically appear next to the boat and swimming ahead. They will usually disappear again and then resurface when we once again get near them. This is the underwater view of what they were doing and where they were coming from in all directions. Shots were taken with a GoPro Hero cam, in underwater housing, then attached to a metal rod and dipped into the water when we'd start to see them close by.

When we moved here in 2009 I heard there was dolphin watching but we have never taken the tours. When we went out on our own bangka a few weeks ago, along with Alysha, our daughter and some other village children, we were literally flanked by dolphins!

Most tourists come to Palawan to see the to visit the Puerto Princesa Underground River, which of course being one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, is spectacular, and which we have seen 3 times. But for me, since this is practically in our "backyard" so to speak, watching the wild dolphins frolic is my new obsession and joy.

I love living in Puerto Princesa!

Thoughts on Motherhood

2012-07-12T07:08:00.001+08:00

When I first put up this blog in 2008, our daughter Alysha was only a year old and wasn't talking yet. I was 59. I was wishing she could talk so that I could communicate with her. She is now 6, (going on 30). I have to say, it's so much better now that she can tell me what she wants.

It was never my ambition to be a mother, and since the Universe contrived a situation which removed my ability to conceive, I simply accepted it. In fact, I felt I had so much to work out on in my youth, that it would have been selfish and detrimental to myself and my child to have had one.

Me and Alysha on our farm in July of 2012 taken by Dave Dewbre

Now that I am going on 64, I have mortality issues. I worry I won't be around long enough to fully teach her all that I want her to know about our world, other people and life itself. I know that is counterproductive, and I do indeed try to live one day at a time and make the most of it. But once in awhile, I do prepare for the time I won't be around.

She has started school and lives with my even more elderly parents (mom will be 86, dad 93, both healthier and spry than I have ever been) in Puerto Princesa City, during the week, and we now only get her on weekends. I have found that absence truly does make the heart grow fonder. Although I reluctantly became a mom late in life, I am very glad I have this opportunity to give Alysha a good and meaningful life. Dave is a great dad and she has learned many things from him, like tinkering with mechanical objects!

I'm not an ooey, gooey mom. I don't get all up in a lather every time she falls down. I just tell her to get right back off and brush herself off. She's very independent now, and chooses to dress herself without my help. She's says, "I WANT to do it myself."

My mom Helen, spoils her, so it's left to me to be the "strict" mommy and see to it that her being spoiled doesn't make it ok to take advantage of people by whining when she doesn't get her way all the time. I think when I was her age, I was a baby tyrant doing whatever I had to to get mom to see things my way. Of course, mom didn't know how to say no to her only baby daughter, and I took quite the advantage of her! Compared to me then, she's a pretty spectacular kid. We are blessed as she is blessed to have each other in our lives.

Dave with Alysha and her electric car.

When Dave first expressed his desire to raise a daughter, my first thought was, "That's nice, please send me postcards and let me know how ya'll are doing". My way of saying, I didn't sign up for this! Especially since I was fast approaching 60 back then.

After having thought, meditated and prayed about it, and not wanting to deprive my mate from an experience he wanted, I relented. Later it became a mission, and now it's a joy.

I am learning as much about myself as about Alysha. She is teaching me patience and many other things. Here's hoping I stick around long enough for us to really have a grand life together with me and Dave.

Alysha in red, strolling on our property with
our helper Shalla, goat Rachel, cat Ming
ming and daughter of our other farm hand.

We live on a 2 hectare lot in the countryside, away from the maddening noise and traffic. We have been learning sustainable practices. We have animals like chickens and a singular goat named Rachel. I've gotten cats and dogs and a bunny so she will learn to love God's creatures and also how to take care of and respect them as well.

Hopefully she will grow up to love and try to protect Mother Earth as we are trying to do on our semi sustainable farm. If I survive, when she is 20, I will be 83. Heck, my mom is 85 and still drives her to school 5 days a week. I guess there is still hope for me.

Our native home in Luzviminda

A photo of my and Alysha taken in May 2014 - She is now 6 years old and a delight to us all.

Medical Tourism Philippines

2012-05-30T12:56:00.001+08:00

Had an almost week long stay at St. Luke's Medical Center in Global City, Taguig. Some sort of unidentifiable virus, caused me to be in isolation with no guests allowed. One of the things I have to work on is my immune system apparently. One thing I am glad about is the cost of health care in the Philippines and it's no wonder that it is becoming a center for medical tourism.

When I left the States, my health insurance was costing me $850.00 per month because I was over 55 years old.

One night at a hospital in Tucson, Arizona, including my insurance deductible cost me over $7200.00 for a shared room. They left me alone so long that my IV was actually pulling my blood back into the IV bottle, instead of the other way around! The visit did not include any xrays, or extensive tests either.

At St. Lukes, I was given X-rays, CT scans, extensive blood tests and a team of 5 doctors, plus a beautiful private suite with my own fridge and microwave. There are restaurants and even a Starbucks on the ground floor. Dave ordered online for food delivery, since unfortunately, as good as the care was, the food wasn't up to my palate and it was nice to have good gourmet food delivered to my room.

My room had a PC with free internet and even a printer scanner. I had no energy for any of that, but if you're in business and stuck in a hospital, I suppose they would come in handy.

The lounge area in my suite and office center. Not that
I needed one or even was up to using it. I brought
my own ipad and laptop!

They also allow family members to stay with you to make sure you get the care you need and be there for you emotionally as well. All of this cost me $3400.00, because when you are over 60 years old here, you get 20% off your hospital care and doctors fees as well. If you aren't a senior, do the math and add back the 20% to that bill and compared to a hospital stay in the States for a shared room, it's still a bargain.

One thing of note however, your assigned doctor at any hospital charges 20% of your room rate. I had this suite and the bill would have been much less if I just had gotten a private room without all the bells and whistles.

The nurses and all the staff were so friendly and made me feel comfortable as possible under the circumstances. When I checked out, I was given a list of all the attending doctors, with their contact numbers and a full list of prescriptions with concise instructions on how and when to take them. And all the hospitals do take credit cards, which definitely helps, since who carries around cash for an emergency visit, which mine was.

Dave got himself an executive check up at the St. Luke's Wellness center on another trip. I was able to wait for him in a lovely lounge with lots of snacks to keep me from freaking out from low blood sugar. They have all the equipment for tests there so you don't have to go down to the areas where all the sick people are and wait around there.

Here's a list of their Check up packages, and if you live in the United States., I am sure you will agree that it's worth the flight here.

The doctors and nurses are all highly trained as well. The portable Xray machine looked like a girafe which I thought was a cute touch.

It's never fun to be ill and I hope to never have to stay in a hospital again. But I have to say that compared to hospital care in the U.S. the Philippines is a better choice, not only for costs but for the highly skilled Physicians, nurses and technical staff.

Entry way to my suite at St. Luke's,
Taguig with my own fridge and microwave,
and behind the cabinet next to the fridge;
hidden was lot of shelves and a safe to
store your personal items.

I was given a CD of all my tests when I checked out as well as written reports. Every doctor that is listed and works at the Hospital has computer access to your files when you have the tests done there. This makes it really handy too.

This trip to the hospital made me realize that our time on Earth is precious and I am making a lot of changes to my daily life and my own attitude towards certain things as well. I am glad to be alive and each and every moment is a gift that I will treasure.

Huge fruit basket, a whole watermelow, and other goodies
buried underneath what is showing.

My executive Suite at St. Luke's, Taguig

Sustainable living

2012-04-26T13:42:00.000+08:00

It took 10 coconuts to make the 2
bottles of VCO. The one bottle
was full but I had to use some
to cook with!

We have been on the farm now, not quite 6 months and I've been noticing how many coconuts we have around the place. First I started using the coconut milk to make various curries from around the world as well as coconut based deserts and also, I've found the coconut cream is delicious in coffee as well.

I have been reading of the benefits of Virgin Coconut oil and bought a few bottles to use in cooking. So it was a natural progression for me to do some research on how to make your own VCO. Having read up on the internet, it didn't look too awfully difficult, especially when you have a helper who can climb those trees and grate the coconuts!

Coconuts from our trees.

Recently I have also been using the VCO on my face and body after a shower and it makes my skin glow, although I have to admit, I'm not overly fond of the coconut smell on body, but it does dissipate so that eventually I don't notice it.

The process of course does create some by products and not wanting to waste any part of the coconut we have used the coconut husks to plant my orchids in and the coconut shells themselves are are making into various and sundry items like bowls or scoops. The grated and pressed coconut from making the milk goes either to feed the chickens, as a soil conditioner or lightly roasted with sugar to put over ice cream or the native desert suman, as steamed sticky rice.
I cant even begin to tell you how rewarding it feels to make use of what the land has offered us.

Instead of tossing these into a landfill, we are using them
to grow herbs and veggies. They are just now
sprouting.

Having a plethora of plastic bottles was troubling me so recently, after having seen a photo on Facebook of a hanging garden made from them, I put up the same thing here and there are seedlings sprouting already. It seems a better way to use the bottles than tossing then into a landfill, which at the rate Puerto Princesa is growing, we will be able to make a huge vessel of them!

A skiff made of recycled soda bottles.
Click to enlarge any photo.

Speaking of vessels, I saw this photo on Facebook of a little skiff made of plastic bottles as well as life vests...very clever I say!

Living so far from "civilization", or at least far enough to make it inconvenient if you want something, it makes sense for us to grow our own veggies and also, since we live on an island, to recycle.

We have started to harvest the rain during rainy season to preserve the well water table. We use this water for dishes and washing clothes in, and even for showers.

Our electric motorbikes are charged with the sun.

We use solar panels to charge batteries and so we have solar lights at night even during the frequest electrical brownouts. Dave even charges his electric motorbikes with solar panels.

We have a few chickens which we allow to free range. The eggs they lay cannot even compare to store bought eggs from commercial egg farms. The yolks are deep orange, and the whites hold their shapes and don't run all over the pan and they taste so much better than store bought.

Playset, slide, swing and sandbox
of bamboo from our groves.

There are 5 bamboo groves on the property so Dave had a playset made for our 4 year old daughter. It's a swing set, slide, sand box and a covered raised area where she likes to play as well. This is her favorite place to play. When she gets bored with the sand box, which actually keeps her amused for hours, she can swing or slide or day dream on the upper deck.

Check out my other blog on sustainability for more details.

7th Wonder Undergroumd River Celebration Manila

2012-04-23T12:55:00.000+08:00

Click to enlarge

We were fortunate enough to attend the historical Official Inauguration of the Puerto Princesa Underground River as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, last April 21, in Manila.

Unfortunately I didn't bring a pro cam so I just have a few snapshots to shot for the evening...but the opening show was great. It was made even more enjoyable because my family and close friends were able to attend and share it with us.

Afterwards we sat near Mayor Edward Hagedorn and we were able to personally thank him for the evening and all his efforts in promoting eco-tourism to the PPUR.

Former Under Secretary of Tourism Cynthia C Norton, Cecile Limjoco, Mayor Edward Hagedorn,
Diana Limjoco, Back: Dave Dewbre, Jerry Rollin and Avic Alcantara

President Ninoy Aquino presented Mayor Hagedorn a plaque which will be installed on site at the PPUR

The Puerto Princesa Underground River is a definite must see! We have been there three times!

Mr. and Mrs. Randy Limjoco, Dave Dewbre (back) Diana j. Limjoco and Avic Alcantara

Here is an Online article about the event on ABS-CBN

Read my blog about Puerto Princesa Palawan
Read my blog about the Puerto Princesa Underground River

Empowered Women Of Achievement Award 2012

2011-11-16T10:01:00.009+08:00

This photo was added to the cover of Vanity
magazine along with the other Awardee.
Photoshop is an amazing tool. They placed
all of us to look like we were all in the photo
shoot together.

I feel truly honored to have been one of a select group of women chosen to receive the Empowered Women Of Achievement Award 2012. The event is organized by an independent group of Filipino artists and fashion designers. The first gown designed for me, sight unseen, was truly remarkable. But then you be the judge.

Photos taken by Toné McGuire. He made the photo shoot so fun and brought out the best in me. It's so different to work with a photographer who gives you feedback and direction.

Hair and makeup by David's Salon on Rizal Ave., Puerto Princesa City, gown by Goullee Gorospe, location: Hotel Centro, PPC, Palawan.

Click any photo on this page to enlarge.

There will be an actual Award Dinner this coming Dec. 15th in Manila. I am hoping I can re-arrange my schedule so that we can attend!
Many thanks to the panel of judges for choosing me along with all the other remarkable women on the magazine cover, who I am looking forward to meeting!

What is amusing to me is my placement on the magazine cover. I am probably the shortest lady there at 4'10" ! The gown was at least a foot too long. I am actually standing on the stair above the bottom of the skirt. Postulating that my legs were on the lower step, it would truly seem to the viewer that I must be a long legged gal. It just goes to show you not to always believe what you see. I am thrilled about it, as for once in my life, I see what I might have looked like taller.

The occassion of me being invited was through Facebook initially, then through cell texting. I have not yet met the organizer nor the designers! They asked for my measurements and designed the beautiful gown around that. It was then sent by overnight courier from Manila to me, where I live on beautiful the island of Palawan.

Cleavage courtesy of Nubra adhesive,
strapless bra cups!

Although the gown was so clasic with the tulip skirt, it was actually about 4 inches too tight in the back and wouldn't even begin to close. My 86 year old angelic mother, sewed ribbons on the back so that they could be tied to keep the top from falling off me.

Thanks mom, what would I do without you? And while I am on mom, I wouldn't be the woman (a senior citizen now at that) I am today without her. Her loving support all my life gave me the strength I needed when I was feeling in the depths of despair. The fact is, that I have stellar parents without whom none of this would be possible. They have been my pillar of strength, inspirations, my heroes. It is remarkable to grow old with both parents and I am eternally grateful.

It has not always been an easy road to follow, learning online e-commerce, as well as trying to learn new sustainable ways to re-use, reycle, harvest rain and eventually grow our own vegetables in our personal lives. Since we live in the countryside now, with a nice slice of Mother earth to tend to and nurture, I am excited about learning to grow vegetables in a controlled greenhouse using aeropinic and vertical growing techniques. We are already supplying night lights via solar charged batteries and are starting to harvest rain to preserve the well water so as not to drain it. The island of Cebu has been a big lesson to me in preserving water, as they already import most of their potable water since their watersheds have not been properly managed.

Our temporary loft apartment above
our workshop. One of these days we will
get the energy to build the master
cottage. In the meantime, rest, relax
and enjoy the clean air and
ubiquitous green vegetation
everywhere I look.

I never tire of learning new things and I hope that more people will always be curious about our world and try to nurture and sustain it in their way as well. It is a beautiful mother, our Earth, and we each must do what we can to preserve it's natural beauty for our children to enjoy and the generations after them. Each of us is responsible for the dire conditions our poor earth is in.

On a lighter note, it's so fun to be able to play dress up. Living in the countryside as I do. most of the time it's practical clothing, cool and comfortable and not glamorous at all. Yet as fun the occasions are to dress up, I so adore my bohemian lifestyle now in our native abode on this gorgeous, pristine island of Palawan.

Empowered Women of Achievement Awards in Philippine National Inquirer Lifestyle section Dec 9, 2011

Gown by Goulee Gorospe

Check out my personal website for more events and information.

Blogging Away

2011-11-04T11:19:00.013+08:00

My blogging headquarters for now.

Luzviminda, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines

Here I sit with hair still wet from just having had a nice refreshing shower, blogging away.

After a lot of work on both our parts, Dave and I finally have built a cozy place together. I am sitting here on my cogon thatched roof native deck, happier than I have been in, well I just can't remember, except perhaps the time I had another farm in high up in the mountains and far away Montague, California in the early 80's. From the cool clean alpine abode in Northern California, and miles away from my desert home in Tucson, Arizona, I have finally landed where I want to be. Back in my native Philippines. Where I was born and raised.

Our adopted stray kitten Ming Ming,
AKA Ms. Stinky butt.

Though not in my hometown of Batangas, I feel very at home here in little, sleepy Luzviminda.

I am feeling so happy, content, blessed and grateful. It's so good that I want to pinch myself to make sure I am not dreaming. Even though there is a whole palate of landscaping to do, herb gardens to sow, I feel no dire urgency, only the lovely tingle of anticipation of how things can be with our combined efforts and those of our fabulous staff.

Our mini Chihuahua. The name he came
with is larger that he is, Shakespeare, and
Ming Ming the newly adopted stray kitten.

Now I am sitting here waiting for our guests to arrive for lunch. Dave just set out driving to the Mangingisda Pier to pick them up. There's a large banca ferry coming and going till 5pm from Baywalk in City center to Mangingisda! No need for guests to drive here! The ferry only takes between 20 to 35 minutes depending on the water conditions. Then it's just a 5 minute drive in the car to pick them up.

When they pave the road all the way to the pier we will be able to take our electric Trikes there and back! What a joy that will be.

Slivers of carrots, jicama,
cucumbers, thai basil in a pureed
red pepper, olive oil, garlic and lime
dressing. It doesn't look that great,
ut it was tasty!

I made Chicken Picatta, slices of potatoes baked in olive oil and dill weed, a salad of thinly sliced carrots, jicama and crisp cucumber (thanks to friends at Bahay Kalipay who brought them for lunch the day before), with a fresh sweet bell papper, mustard, lime and olive oil dressing. I can't wait for them to get here so I can dig my chops into the Chicken Picatta which is one of my favorite meals.

Eveyone was so hungry when they arrived, I put out the Chicken Picatta and it was wolfed down before I could get a photo. It was very tasty indeed. I also made a side dish of mung bean sprouts and okra tortas.

Side of mung bean sprouts and okra tortas

A good time was had by all. It has been so wonderful to be able to relax and enjoy the company of new and old friends and family. Already one of my very close cousins has already come and "camped" with us! We've had more company here than over the whole year or two and it's out of town and a bit of a trek. With the holidays coming soon we are in a festive mood. And to think, we have just been here 1 month!

Alysha wanted to be a kitty cat
for halloween.

I think it's a wonderful place for Alysha, our soon to be 4 year old daughter In fact it's 11/11/2007! What an auspicious date! Speaking of her, it's time for me to put her to bed and hang out with her before she slips into the dreams of childhood.

Here are some scenes of my surroundings. Clicking any photo on this page will bring them up in a new window much larger.

Shower, original eating area. The decorative
banana plants have more than tripled in 6 months. The rear
right roofs are our cogon thatched roof deck and thatched covered
stairs.

Akapulko blossoms and shrub tree. The leaves and flowers
are both used as treatments for skin rashes, insect bites etc.

Christmas wreath in November. The cogon thatched roof of my
deck and blog spot for now until we build the main house
when we recover from building this.

Life in Luzvviminda, Palawan

2011-11-02T13:16:00.012+08:00

Our loft apartment above the barn/workshop/
kitchen/shower commode area downstairs.
I feel like I am living in one of Tarzan's lairs.
So indoor outdoorsy....I'm listening to and
watching the rain fall outside the deck.

Wow, as of September 21 we started staying out on our land in our loft apartment above the barn/workshop/kitchen area. It's in Luzviminda, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines! Whew!

It's quite a switch from our elegant Subic Freeport digs. It's sort of my tree house, although not built in the trees, we are at tree level when looking outside. A wall of green surrounds me, so peaceful, quiet and so very relaxing to live here.

It all started as a huge barn to house the materials we needed for the master bedroom cottage we were initially going to build. We didn't want the building materials exposed to the weather while gathering supplies so we built this huge tin covered barn. Building materials aren't always easy to get out here.

The upper storage deck wound up so tall and large that we both measured for height and made a apartment above the barn to live in without waiting to build the main house or master cottage we wanted.

Our bedroom. Up at the tree line
overlooking th bamboo grove and
young coconut trees. (CLICK TO
ENLARGE)

I am so happy. I feel like I am camping without the discomfort. Thanks to my hubby Dave's amazing array of handyman, IT, hi tech skills, we have Solar lighting all over the property, Satelite TV, aircon in our bedroom, internet, and every other appliance in a modern kitchen you would need. We are trying to be as self sustained as possible.

We have one room that is our bedroom which is finished in simple materials where we can escape to if it gets too hot and turn on the aircon wherein I had a commode built so I wouldn't have to trek downstairss to the loo! A separate sink inside the bedroom allows someone to us the bathroom and someone else can brush their teeth without interferin with the other.

We call it living at the farm, or "we are heading to the farm" although we don't really grow much of anything yet. We do have a slew of chickens which we are letting breed so eventually we will have our own eggs.
We have begun to harvest the rain because the water wells out here run dry awfully fast it seems. We also use water from our own creek to water the flowering plants, orchids and miscelaneous citrus, coffee and other fruiting trees.

Click to photo to enlarge.

Our little daughter will be turning 4 years old on 11-11-2011 this year. What an auspicious date, and what a lovely plae to spend it at! Being 4 she wants to have it at the "farm" with nanny's kids and the children the other workers, but of course, she wants Shakey's Pizza or Jollibee chicken to be served.

One of the many yummy meals at the "farm".

Alysha wanted to be a cat on Halloween so I painted her up as best I could. What a great childhood she is having with nature so close by.

We took her to a waterfalls yesterday with nanny's kids and a couple of friends with their toddler. What a surprise that journey was. We caught a fleeting sight of a huge Monitor Lizard and two troops of monkeys, as well as many little streamlets along the way.

When we got to the falls, what a wonderous suprise that was as well. So beautiful. It was a rainy drizzly day so it wasn't warm enough for me to dive in, but we will be going back to Salakot Waterals in Napsan, Palawan.

Salakot Waterfalls, Napsan, Palawan, Philippines
I loved the beautiful rain forest plants. Huge tree ferns dotted
the hillsides. CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE

Approximately 4 KMS from our place is the Mangingisda fish port, though it's not much to speak of, there are bancas that go to and from there to the fish port wharf, at Bay Walk in Puerto Princesa City proper. You can't beat the price at 35.00 PhP per person 1 way. Less if you are a carded senior citizen.

Mangingisda Pier

If you get there early in the morning and sometimes in the late afternoon towards sunset, you can buy fresh caught fish from the local fishermen.

But then I get ahead of myself. I was talking about living at the farm and so here are more shots around and about.

My native living room deck, showing stairs and my little
toy chihuahua and Ming Ming the stray kitten we took in.

We do have all the comforts like flat screen TV. With Dave around, every
comfort is available. Solar lighting, internet, hot showers; on and on it
goes. The man is the handiest person I know.

Decorative bamboo was just two tiny little
plants in pots. This is 6 months growth since
we planted them in the ground!

Thanks to Dave, we drive electric tricycles. This is my cousin Alex
Limjoco, Sr. who came to visit us and drove around with us on the etrike.

My desk right side of deck over looking the trees. (dark wood)

My native open kitchen with all the appliances I need! That's my 86 year old mom Helen cooking up some breakfast for my 92 year old dad Ramon. She drives the 30 kms. here 30 kms and back. That woman is amazing.

The lower tin roof is our barn area, and the upper roof is our bedroom. At the end is our cogon covered thathed roof and bamboo floor deck. The small hut in front is the first hut we build from our own bamboo groves and houses a pump for the water well a large shower area and a long dining area outside.

If you are a city person, don't move to Luzviminda, Palawan! There are no restaurants, and only little Sari Sari stores here and there where you can get staples like rice, soy sauce, vinegar etc! However, since we are a self contained village, in that we enjoy each others' company and like planting things and exploring nature, this is a perfect Haven for us!

Yummy fresh lobster from the San Jose Public Market

Rediscovering Kahlil Gibran

2010-12-04T16:27:00.005+08:00

Gubran Kahlil Gubran 1883 - 1931

The book, The Prophet came to me in about 1963 when I was an early teen and it helped me get through the rough spots and when I was in need of some inspiration. It was the only thing I can remember bringing with me to live in San Francisco, California in 1967. When ever I felt overwhelmed I would draw a hot bath, light candles and read The Prophet. This book changed the way I looked at life and helpd mold my character.

Khalil Gibran (born Gubran Khalil Gubran[1] bin Mikhā'īl bin Sa'ad; Arabic, January 3, 1883 – April 10, 1931)
"Also known as Kahlil Gibran, was a Lebanese American artist, poet, and writer. Born in the town of Bsharri in modern-day Lebanon (then part of the Ottoman Mount Lebanon mutasarrifate), as a young man he immigrated with his family to the United States where he studied art and began his literary career. He is chiefly known in the English speaking world for his 1923 book The Prophet, a series of philosophical essays written in English prose. An early example of Inspirational fiction, the book sold well despite a cool critical reception, and became extremely popular in the 1960s counterculture. Gibran is the third best-selling poet of all time, behind Shakespeare and Lao-Tzu." extracted from Wikipedia at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalil_Gibran

Gibran's many wise passages spoke to and consoled my aching heart or anxious mind.

This is one of too many favorite passages to count:

"Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself. Love possesses not nor would it be possessed; For love is sufficient unto love." Kahlil Gibran (1883 - 1931), The Prophet
Or
The Prophet, On Love
"If you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

The Prophet, On Work
Life is indeed darkness save when there is urge,
And all urge is blind save when there is knowledge,
And all knowledge is vain save when there is work,
And all work is empty save when there is love.

This next passage help me heal my wounded spirit:

The Prophet, on Beauty
Beauty is eternity gazing at itself in a mirror.

But you are eternity and you are the mirror.

On my Issues with Mortality this passage ease my discomfort:

The Prophet, On Death

Drawing by Kahlil Gibran
and used in book The Prophet

"For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?

And what is to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?

Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing. And when you have reached the mountain top, then shall you begin to climb. And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance." Kahlil Gibran

Feliz Navidad -Chrismas family Video

2010-11-11T15:17:00.002+08:00

I made this Christmas video on http://www.jibjab.com/ Starring me, our daughter Alysha, Dave and my parents. They have been playing Christmas music in Puerto Princesa since Oct. 1. With just 46 days till Christmas I figured it's ok to get with the spirit.

It's sort of chopped up here...so to view it in full width view it click this link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNicss7iAlY

Images Asia Magazine Aug-Sept. 2010

2010-03-28T09:16:00.027+08:00

Diana Limjoco bottom left.

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to feature the fine artisans and scenery as backdrops or props for the shots in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

These were all shot at the end of February 2010 for their April May 2010 Issue. It was a fun 2 day shoot. The city of Puerto Princesa, through the kindness of Mayor Edward Hagedorn, sent the crew to our most popular tourist spots, and one of the nominees as one of the new 7th New wonders of the World, the Puerto Princesa Underground or subterranean River.

Thanks to the photographers, MJ Cachero who took the magazine issue shots and Voltair Fernandez Domingo for the behind the scenes shots, with all of us under the sound direction of Images Asia Magazine publisher, Ernest Gonzaga.

Shot at Lotus Garden Restaurant and Suites, one of our favorite restaurants at that time, the food is great and the ambiance at night to us, is one of the best in Puerto Princesa. Fine pineapple silk scarf by Rugungan sa Tubod weavers. I'm addicted to their fine scarves and have a collection of them going.

Shot at Lotus Garden Restaurants and Suites. Fine pineapple silk scarf by Rugungan sa Tubod weavers

Fine pineapple silk scarf by Rugungan sa Tubod weavers

Photo on right: Gown by Oskar Peralta

Fine orange pineapple silk scarf by Rugungan sa Tubod weavers

Photo on right: Gown by Oskar Peralta.

Shot at the Bay Walk in Puerto Princesa by MJ Cachero for Images Asia Magazine. Diwan drummers and fire eaters headed up by Jones and Kyle Tabuhara. Large woven bracelet by Nigiro/Jones Tabujara

Original Vintage 1970's dress by famous Hollywood star fashion designer Holly Harp. Hand signed by Holly and named "Ultimate Power". I have many wonderful memories associated with this dress, and now this is one more.

Rocking out on the Baywalk in Puerto Princesa.

Fine pineapple silk scarf by Rugungan sa Tubod weavers

Visit my personal website at http://www.djl.net/

GNN Talk News TV by Annete Ablan

2010-03-12T08:48:00.007+08:00

L to R: Annette Ablan, Dave Dewbre, Diana J. Limjoco

March 11, 2010 We were guests on GNN Talk News, hosted by Annette Ablan while we were in Manila. We are trying to pass the word on about electric motor bikes and electric tricyles as an alternative to vehicles using fossil fuels. We were able to go in depth on the pros and cons of the technology as it stands today and we feel the benefits far outweigh the cons, as long as people know and learn how to take care of them. And the retailers should have full mechanical support of units. Otherwise, it's a bust, leaving disillusioned first time electric vehicle buys with a bad taste in their mouth.

Read more about our electric tricycles on my blog. http://electric-tricycles.blogspot.com/

On the set at GNN Talk News TV

Interviewing us is Annette Ablan. Host at Talk News of GNN TV. Dave Dewbre, my hubby in Red.

One of our Electric Tricycle prototypes in Puerto Princesa, Palawan

Our Etrikes and and electric motorcycle
View our blogs:
http://electric-tricycles.blogspot.com/
http://electricmotorbikes.blogspot.com/