Presenting Carenna KT Latest Original Song

Once again, I am very, very proud presenting my 13-year old grand daughter Carenna Katague Thompson (KT) latest original song. You are getting better and better every day. Is this your number 7 original song? Keep up with the good work. Your proud LOLO and LOLA.

Don Manuel Javellana and Dona Gertrudis Lopez were my Great, Great Grand Parents

The David Jamili K(Catague) Family, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, 1955

I have enjoyed tracing my roots down to my great, great Grand Parents, Don Manuel Javellana and Dona Gertrudis Lopez. Most of the information of my ancestral roots I have read from the blog, www.javellana.wordpress.com. Most of the information in the blog regarding my ancestry were confirmed by several living relatives in the Philippines about two years ago. Other detailed information about my roots were verbally communicated to me by my father during my childhood years in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, Philippines.

I am so proud that in my veins are the blood and genes of the Javellanas and Lopezes from Jaro, Iloilo, Philippines. In this post, I am also discussing the origin of the Javellana and Lopez surnames.

Hello Readers: My name is David Balleza K(C)atague, Jr. I was born in Jaro, Iloilo, Philippines on December 20, 1934. My Father was David Jamili K(Catague) and my mother was Paz Barrido Balleza.

My Father's father ( my grand father) was Roberto Catague( married to Consolacion Golez Jamili). Roberto was the oldest son of Marcelina Javellana who was married to Victoriano Catague. Roberto died when my father was still young. His mother remarried Ruperto, the younger brother of Roberto. Consolacion and Ruperto had eleven other children.

My father had two other brothers, Guillermo and Julio. The three brothers changed the spelling of their last name from Catague to Katague when my father was still in elementary school. My father was raised and sent to dental school by his rich aunt from Leganes, Iloilo. His reason was that he wanted his surname to be in the middle of the alphabet, because he does not want to be called early in class by a demanding teacher, who asked questions by alphabetical order. Strange reason but I believe this was true.

Marcelina Lopez Javellana was the youngest daughter of Don Manuel Javellana and Dona Gertrudis Lopez. Marcelina was also the youngest sister of Don Cristino Javellana, known as Capitan Tinong who was very active in the political and religious life and activities during his time( 1890's) in Jaro, Iloilo, Philippines ( www.javellana.wordpress.com)

Cristino Javellana was the sixth of the nine children of Don Manuel Javellana and Doña Gertrudis Lopez. His other siblings besides Marcelina were Escolastica (married to Geronimo Jiz de Ortega), Petra (married to Sixto Golez), Quintana (born 1840), Narcisa (born 1842, married to Simon Grecia), Inocencia (born 1849, married to Juancho Jamora), Mariano (born 1851, married to Crispina Gamboa), Florentina, Cristeta, and Carmen (married to Miguel Jayme y Lopez).

The origin of the surname Javellana according to Wikipedia is:

Javellana is a family surname from the Philippines(1850s) who originated from Jaro, Iloilo City in the Visayas. The original name of the Family was "Kim Byong" and is of Chinese descent. Due to a mandate by the Spanish Government, ordered by Spanish Governor General D. Narciso Claveria (November 21, 1849) for the natives of the Philippines to adapt the Spanish naming system, they and a number of Chinese and Filipino families were forced to adapt new names.

The name they chose was derived from Avellana, the Common Hazel (Corylus avellana), which was further derived from the town of Avelino in Italy. The appended letter "J" to the name was in deference to their hometown, Jaro.


Corylus avellana, commonly called European filbert, European hazel or cobnut, is a deciduous, thicket-forming, multi-trunked, suckering shrub that typically grows to 12-20’ tall. It is native to Europe, western Asia and northern Africa where it is typically found growing in rich thickets, woodland borders, wooded slopes, hedgerows, clearings and along streams.
Javellana Coat of Arms
On the other hand, the name Lopez is indeed a surname of Spanish origin.
Lopez Coat of Arms
The Lopez surname was originally a patronymic, meaning "Son of Lope", Lope itself being a Spanish given name deriving from Latin lupus, meaning "wolf". The surname is first attested in Old Castile in the heart of Spain, where the name originated in Visigothic times; however, the name is not of Germanic origin. Its Portuguese equivalent is Lopes, its Italian equivalent is Lupo, its French equivalent is Loup (or Leu), its Romanian equivalent is Lupu or Lupescu and its Valencian equivalent is Llopis. López is the most common Spanish surname in the United Kingdom as well as in the Philippines.

The most well known Lopez in the Philippines was Fernando. He married another Javellana ( Mariquit). I remember my father mentioned when I was a teenager that both Fernando and his wife Mariquit were our relatives. For those of you who have not heard of Fernando Lopez ( I was a recipient of the Fernando Lopez scholarship during my sophomore year at University of the Philippines Iloilo in 1952-1953), here's his short biography from Wikipedia.

Fernando Hofileña Lopez, Sr.,a Filipino statesman was born on April 13, 1904 and died on May 26, 1993. He was a member of the influential Lopez Family of Iloilo. Fernando Lopez served as Vice President of the Philippines for three terms – under Elpidio Quirino (1949–1953) for the Liberals and Ferdinand Marcos (1965–1969 and 1969–1972) for the Nacionalistas and also the chairman of ABS-CBN Corporation from 1986 to his death 1993.

Lopez was born in Iloilo City, Iloilo. His parents were Benito Lopez and Presentacion Hofileña. He was the younger brother of Eugenio Lopez, Sr. The Lopez family was very influential and the richest family in the province.

Lopez studied high school at San Juan de Letran College, finishing in 1921. He then studied law in the University of Santo Tomas, earning his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1925. After passing the bar examinations, he did not go into private practice, but helped his older brother manage the family business.

In 1945, with no prior political experience, Lopez was picked by President Sergio Osmeña to be mayor of Iloilo City. In 1947, he ran for Senator and won the election.

Lopez was one of the founders of University of Iloilo and the FEATI University in Manila. He is a descendant of Graciano Lopez-Jaena of Iloilo. And who is Graciano Lopez-Jaena? Here's some information from Wikipedia.

Graciano López Jaena was born on December 18, 1856 and died on January 20, 1896. He was a journalist, orator, revolutionary, and national hero from Iloilo, Philippines, who is well known for his newspaper, La Solidaridad.

Philippine historians regard López Jaena, along with Marcelo H. del Pilar and José Rizal, as the triumvirate of Filipino propagandists. Of these three illustrados, López Jaena was the first to arrive in Spain and may have begun the Propaganda Movement, which was a movement based in Spain that advocated the reform of the then-Spanish colony of the Philippines and which eventually led to the armed Philippine Revolution that begun in Manila in 1896. The Propaganda Movement was a key step towards a Philippine national identity.

Note: I am dedicating this article to my six grand children: Ian Katague King, Elaine Katague King, Philip Winchester Katague, Alix Katague, Marina Katague and Carenna Katague Thompson. Remember the saying that if you know your past you will have a clear direction to see your future.

Time for Some Cool Bandurria Music and Philippine Folk Dances

It had been 3 digits temperature here in Northern California the last couple of days. No cooling off is expected in the next 4 days. So, It is time for some cool bandurria music and some Pinoy Folk dances.
Philippine National Folk Dance

Have you heard of bandurria? The bandurria is a plucked chordophone from Spain, similar to the mandolin, primarily used in Spanish folk music, but also found in countries that were once colonies of Spain.

Prior to the 18th century, the bandurria had a round back, similar or related to the mandore. It had become a flat-backed instrument by the 18th century, with five double courses of strings, tuned in fourths. The original bandurrias of the Medieval period had three strings. During the Renaissance they gained a fourth string. During the Baroque period the bandurria had 10 strings.

The modern bandurria has 12 strings (6 pairs). The strings are tuned in unison pairs, going up in fourths from the low G#. The lowest four strings are a major-third above those of a standard guitar and the highest two strings are a fourth above a standard guitar, i.e. G♯, c♯, f♯, b, e and a( From Wikipedia).

Here's a collection of Philippine Folk Dance music with the Bandurria ( Rondalla) music with Amorsolo's Paintings in the background. Enjoy!

An Update: Zion David Katague is Now Two Months Old

Zion David Katague-2 Months Old. Zion is the grand son of my brother, Dolce Ruben Balleza Katague from Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. Read the following blog on the five living David Katague's on Planet Earth.
http://marinduqueawaitsyou.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-5th-living-david-katague-zion-on.html

My Five Favorite National Parks

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Last Monday was officially the start of the Summer Season here in Northern California. The temperature is near 3 digits as expected the last couple of days and my air conditioner is continuously humming. Yesterday, The First family were in the news visiting Yosemite National Park-one of my favorite park. These two events reminded me of an article I wrote in 2009 about the US National Parks that Macrine and I had visited since 1960.

Macrine and I have visited several parks in the US but the following five national parks are our favorite.


1. ARCHES: The park is known for its natural arches. There are more than 2000 ranging in size from a three foot opening up to the Landscape Arch which measures 306 feet from base to base. It lies near the heart of the desert called the Colorado Plateau, in the State of Utah. Towering spires, fins and balanced rocks complement the arches, creating a remarkable assortment of land forms in a small area. You can bike, hike or drive an 18 mile scenic road from the entrance to the north point of the Park. There are three picnic areas along the way. The two most famous arch are the Delicate and Skyline Arches.


2. BRYCE CANYON: The park is famous for its unique geology, consisting of a series of horseshoe-shaped amphitheaters carved from the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau of Southern Utah. The erosional force of frost-wedging and the dissolving power of rainwater have shaped the colorful limestone into bizarre shapes including slot canyons, windows, fins and spires called “Hoodoos”.
The park was named after the Mormon pioneer Ebenezer Bryce and it become a national park in 1924.

My wife and I visited this park just after my retirement from FDA in 2002. This visit was one of the best vacation we had since my retirement. Tinted with colors ranging from light brown to dark red, these whimsically arranged rocks, creates a wondrous landscape of mazes. A 45 minute walk from Inspiration to Sunset Point was the highlight of our visit. Ponderosa pines, high elevation meadows, and fir-spruce forest border the rim of the canyon and abound with wild life. Several scenic points offer a panoramic view of three states and about 200 miles of visibility. We did not stay overnight, but our guide tour and driver, informed us that the lack of large light sources nearby, creates unparalleled opportunities for for stargazing at night.


3. GRAND CANYON: This park is the only natural wonder of the US, that made it to the final 28 natural Wonders of the world as announced by the new 7 natural wonders of the world organization.
Macrine and I have visited this park and we agree with the 7 new natural wonder judges that Grand Canyon should be one of the top 28 finalists in this worldwide contest. I am even hoping that it will be voted one of the 7 new natural wonder of the world.

The Grand Canyon is more than a great chasm carved over million of years ago through the rocks of the Colorado Plateau. It is more than an awe-inspiring view. It is more than a pleasuring ground for those who explore its roads, hike its trails or float in the currents of the turbulent Colorado River.

The Canyon is a gift of nature that transcends what we experience in life. Its beauty and size humbles us. Its timelessness provokes a comparison to our short existence in this universe. Visiting the place makes me feel calmed and relaxed , as I gazed in amazement the beauty and splendor of this National Park. The park can be enjoyed whole year round.



4. YOSEMITE: Macrine and I have visited this park a number of times about two decades ago, when my family was still residing in the Stanislaus County, Modesto, California. The park embraces a spectacular tract of mountain and valley scenery of the Sierra Nevada. It was made into a national park in 1890. The park has a number of waterfalls, meadows, forests that include groves of giant sequoias, the world largest living trees.

The park highlights include the Yosemite valley, high cliffs, and waterfalls. There is the historic Wawona Hotel( famous for its Christmas Dinners and Decorations), the Mariposa Grove, which contains hundreds of giant sequoias, Glacier Point, Tuolumne Meadows and a large sub-alpine meadow surrounded by mountain peaks and Hetch-Hetchy- a reservoir in a valley considered a twin of Yosemite Valley. Ninety Five percent of the park area is designated as wilderness areas that provides opportunities for solitude and relaxation. There are over 800 miles of trails for hiking and backpacking. There is some trout fishing in the streams that my family enjoyed during one of our visits several years ago. Our first visit to the park in the early 1970's was my first experience in camping. One night, our camp site and garbage can was visited by the bears - an experience my kids will never forget. The visit of the bears was the highlight of our trip to Yosemite at that time. The classic beauty and fascinating ecosystems of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range are well represented in the wilderness of Yomesite National Park. I consider this park very friendly to families with small children.


5. ZION NATIONAL PARK: This is another park that my wife and I just visited after my retirement. The park is home to narrow canyons, overlooks, emerald pools, a petrified forest, a desert swamp, springs and waterfalls, hanging gardens, wild flowers and wildlife .It is located in Southwest Utah near the Arizona border. Zion is part of the Southwest “ Grand Circle” of national parks, monuments, historical areas and recreation areas. It is also a wilderness preserve which includes the world largest arch-KOLOB ARCH, spanning 310 feet. The park has high plateaus, a maze of narrow, deep, sandstones canyons and striking rock towers and mesas. The North Fork of the Virgin River has carved a spectacular gorge with canyon walls that rises to 2000-3000 feet above the canyon floor in most places. My wife and I just spent just 90 minutes touring the canyon by the Park's bus. We did not have the time to hike or at least stay overnight. We wish we have more time to enjoy the wild life flora and fauna of the park. According to the park's guides, the Park is home to many mammals and critters such as the collared lizard, Gambel's quail and sometimes even a golden eagle.

Other parks that we have visited are as follows: The Redwood National Park, the Muir Woods National Monument, The Point Reyes National Seashore, The Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, The Hawaiian Volcano National Park (photo above), Shenandoah Mountains, and the Blue Ridge Mountain and its famous Skyline Drive in Virginia, and the Luray Caverns in West Virginia. For description of these parks, visit the National Park Service site at www.nps.gov/parks.

Food for Thoughts on Father's Day Today

This year all my four children(The 4 D's) did not forget me today. My oldest son sent me a Fathers' day Card three days ago and will probably call me later this evening for his annual greetings. My other two daughters are here now preparing lunch. My oldest daughter arrived at 10:30AM bringing Italian Pasta and Green Salad. My youngest daughter and grand daughter arrived shortly with appetizers and my favorite dessert-Cheese Cake.

My youngest son who lives with us and helped me take care of his Mom enhanced/fixed my computer ( faster with more memory and-Windows 10) charging me only $250 for the parts. His labor for fours hours was free and told me it is his Fathers Day Gift to me. My oldest daughter also gave me a Red Lobster gift card, I can use any time. Thanks to all of You my 4 D's. To my oldest son, Happy Fathers Day to you also.

I am attaching a video ( Daddy Day Trio)for your enjoyment. Two other videos that I loved in this set are Katherine McPhee and Chris Mann's duet of the Prayer and the Three Tenors of Pavarotti, Domingo and Carreras singing "I Did it My Way" with Frank Sinatra in the audience.





Fathers' Day reminds me of the responsibility of Parenthood. I found the following quotes timeless and applicable to all Fathers and Mothers of Today and of the future.

1. Marriage is an institution, but who wants to live in an institution.

2. The trouble with most average American is that they expect their children to be above average.

3. The best inheritance a parent can give his children is a few minutes of his time each day.

4. A mother of 13 children was asked "how in the world can you have time for 13 children" she replied, "when I had only one child, it took all my time, what more can 13 do?

5. A Chicago psychologist lists these rules for parents to insure their child happiness
Avoid favoritism, do not compare one child to another
Don't be too dominating; don't impose your own ambitions or hobbies
Don't be upset at what your neighbor's children accomplish
Don't remind yourself constantly that you worked harder or had fewer privileges.

6. The fear of depriving our children has produced the most "gifted" generation of children in our history. We shower them with gifts to prove our love, with the inevitable result that the gift of love has degenerated into a love of gifts. Are we offering things as parent substitutes? Are we offering presents instead of our presence? Are we giving things because we are reluctant to give time or self or our heart?

Brokeback Mountain-Support Your LGBT Community

The Orlando Massacre this week reminded me that homophobia and the hatred for the LGBT community exist in this world. In support of the LBGT community, I am reposting this Movie-an award winning film and as the critic says the best romantic movie ever made during the last decade. So, here it is even if you have seen it before. Watch it again to show support to your LGBT community.

http://xfinitytv.comcast.net/watch/Brokeback-Mountain/8761939925434301112/690951747728/Brokeback-Mountain-%28Cinemax%29/videos

Brokeback Mountain is a 2005 American romantic drama film directed by Ang Lee. Adapted from the 1997 short story of the same name by Annie Proulx, the screenplay was written by Diana Ossana and Larry McMurtry. The film stars Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway and Michelle Williams, and depicts the complex emotional and sexual relationship between Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist in the American West from 1963 to 1983.

Brokeback Mountain was a commercial and critical success. It won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, Best Picture and Best Director at the British Academy Film Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Producers Guild of America Awards, Critics' Choice Movie Awards, and Independent Spirit Awards, among others. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards, the most nominations at the 78th Academy Awards, where it won three: Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Score, while losing Best Picture.

Presenting My Youngest Grand Daughter-Carenna Katague Thompson

Carenna, daughter of Ditas my youngest daughter is now 13 years old. She is not only a composer, singer and award- winning photographer but also a future scientist. I am indeed a proud Lolo!

Here's her latest performance on 6/16/16: Enjoy!

My Involvement with the Medical Missions in Marinduque, Philippinesw

Exactly six years ago today, I wrote an article in my blogs, the reasons why I participated during Marinduque International( MI, Inc) Medical Missions for the last six previous missions in the Philippines. My sentiments about volunteering is still applicable today. For those of you who had done or participated in a humanitarian project could probably identify and agree with me on this subject. The following article I am reposting today in case you have not read it. My advanced Happy Father's Day Greetings to all the DADs, Daddys, Papas and Fathers of the World!

Marinduque International Medical and Dental Mission, Boac, Marinduque,Philippines, 2008

One of the FaceBook users in my group “ Marinduquenos All Over The World” ask me yesterday, why I continue volunteering and giving my time, spend my own money and make a big effort to publicize this project of Marinduque International, Inc.( MI, Inc) via my blogs and Face Book account. I told her because I feel good about it. Moreover, the more I gave of myself ( time, money and my heart), the more I feel good about myself. For those of you who are not familiar with MI, Inc.. It is a non-profit organization registered in US compose of Marinduquenos now residing in US and Canada. Last year, a new chapter from Saudi Arabia joined the eight chapters in US and Canada. For more details please visit the website: www.marinduqueinternational.org

For those of you that had participated in at least one of the six previous medical mission ( 1998-2008), you know in your heart what I meant by “Feeling Good About Yourself.”. Some of you may have different reasons why you had participated previously or have plans of joining this coming mission next year ( February 5-14, 2011). But essentially,volunteering your time, money and your heart is one way of giving back to the poor and needy of Marinduque, the graces and good fortunes you have attained for yourself and your family when you immigrated to US, Canada or other parts of the world.

When you participate in the medical mission, you will touch the lives of many of your poor kababayans from the rural areas of the six towns of Marinduque. Therefore the saying that “the time that you really live is the time when you have touch the lives of others” can now be applied to you. For those of you who had not participated in the medical mission, your participation to this humanitarian project is highly encourage. I hope you will join us.

If you had participated in the previous medical mission, please feel free to add ( via comments) the benefits you have received personally and the reasons why you keep volunteering to this humanitarian project. I am looking forward to your participation next February in Marinduque. Mabuhay kayo Lahat!

Reminiscing Our Visits to Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

It's the start of the summer season with graduation ceremonies almost all over the US. My oldest grand daughter Elaine Katague King graduated from College the other day. I am very proud of her accomplishments. This summer reminds me of our vacation at Niagara Falls several years ago. Here's a repost of our two visits to Niagara Falls several years ago in case you have not read it. This is my most viewed blog with over 2500 views.

On August 9 to 11, 2001, Macrine and I attended the 5th International Reunion of Marinduque International, Inc. hosted by the Marinduque Cultural Society of Canada. The meeting was held at the Delta Meadowvale Resort and Conference Hotel in Ontario, Canada. On our way to Toronto from Bufallo, New York we passed by Niagara Falls both on the US side as well as the Canadian side. We had lunch at a restaurant overlooking the waterfalls and spent more than two hours taking pictures and just enjoying the sights and sounds of the Falls. In our entourage were 10 members of MI, Inc from the Washington, D.C. area.

Niagara Falls at Night

Macrine and I first visited Niagara Falls in the summer of 1985. We stayed for three days and had plenty of time enjoying the scenic and very rural Canadian country side up North of the Falls. We specially enjoyed the Falls at Night.


Niagara Falls is a Canadian city of 83,184 (as of 2008) residents on the Niagara River in the Golden Horseshoe region of Southern Ontario. Across the river is Niagara Falls, New York. Niagara Falls Ontario was incorporated on June 12, 1903.

The city is dominated by Niagara Falls, a world famous set of two large waterfalls on the Niagara River and benefits from the fact that both falls, the American and Horseshoe, can be best seen from the Canadian side of the river, thus presenting the city one of the major tourist attractions of the world. The natural spectacle brings in millions of tourists yearly. The city permitted the development of a tourist area along the falls and the gorge. This area which stretches along the Niagara River parkway and tourist promenade is particularly concentrated at the brink of the falls and, apart from the natural attractions along the river, includes huge parking lots, souvenir shops, observation towers, high-rise-hotels, casinos and theatres, mostly with colourful neon billboards and advertisements. Further to the north or south there are golf courses alongside historic sites from the War of 1812.

Note: This No. 14( Part 2) of the series of articles on places that Macrine and I had visited outside the US since 1960.

Inspiring and Interesting Comments on my Blogs

Since I started blogging in 2008, I have received more than 300 comments from my readers all over the world. I have a few negative comments but about 99% were positive and keep inspiring me with my blogging activities. The following are ten comments that really inspire me to continue blogging. I found them interesting and informative as well.
1. We hear about British successes. This is one of their forgotten failures, until now. Interesting that most of the Spanish army were Filipino soldiers and officers. Because of this I've now come across the story of the fight against the Dutch invasion and it is another forgotten story. The history of the Philippines seems to be filled with amazing forgotten stories. I'm going to read more and not just about the colonial period. Thank you for opening my eyes, on British Occupation of Manila-Forgotten Episode in Philippine History>by Anonymous.

2. Hi, I read your blogs like every week. Your story-telling style is awesome, keep doing what you're doing! Also see my site on, Thomas Coleman on Political Dynasty and Pork Barrel as Cause of Corruption in the Philippines
3. Dear Dr. David B. Katague, Greetings… I hereby humbly request your permission to allow me to copy some portion of your blog article regarding “Marinduque – My Island Tropical Paradise” for the reason that I’m doing a factual research about the province of Marinduque which I’ll use it for the construction of my argumentative essay entitled Marinduque. I assure you that this will only be used for academic purpose only in our university as a school project research. Furthermore, I admire that way you’ve written your blog article especially the details regarding the tourist spots in the province especially the Bellaroca resort since I haven’t been there due to its costly fee which I can’t afford so far. Your approval would be a great help for my research and studies. Thank you in advance for your kindest help. May the Lord shower you more of His blessings in these coming years. Sincerely yours, JHONAS Q. DE LA CRUZ on Latest Article on Traveling to Marinduque

4. The story of MHL has a nice ring about it. It tells the juicy details and reality of unconventional relationships, which add flavor to the plot and draws in the hordes of viewers. It would be educational to draw up a drama series which portray the pain, suffering and havoc of diseases spread mainly by gay relationships. People never learn and HIV/AIDS is spreading faster than we are aware of it. Your blog site can be a tool in helping stamp out the sexually transmitted diseases of our generation. Mark Stromill on Bisexuality-Theme of Episode 50 of My Husband's Lover
5. I have Filipino friends living in Spain who visit Morocco for the weekends, similar to Americans visiting the Mexico side for the weekend. It is an exotic short trip for them just as you mentioned. The street vendors remind us of people hawking everything in the streets of Manila. Nowadays, Morocco is a jumping point for would be illegal migrants from Africa heading to Europe. Spain continues to have a small territory in North Africa, I am not sure if it is near or on Morocco, and Spain has fortified its borders because some migrants enter it illegally and is a headache for the EU. Jose Luis Martinez on One Day in Tangier, Morocco, North Africa

6. Good to read your article about the discrimination. Looking forward for more articles like this on Prejudice and Discrimination Against Filipinosby Anonymous.

7. I'm impressed, you are now the handy man that your wife luckily married. You should post on your blogs the recipes of your new skill and we your readers can start judging you. Keep up the good work and have a joyful Father's day weekend. Orby Gustafsson on Blueberries Pancake for Breakfast

8. Dear Dave, I just came across your site while I was looking for background information regarding the Rigodon de Honor. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your blogs and admire your dedication to keeping your blogs updated. Looks like retirement suits you! I am also a Filipino American who have dedicated the last 25 years in pursuit of improving the clinical trial enterprise. I noticed you retired from the FDA. Did you by any chance come across Dr. Jean Fourcroy and Dr. Peter Reinhart? We were members of the Board of Trustees of the former Academy of Pharmaceutical Physicians and Investigators. I just wanted to let you know that your stories inspired me to look into doing something similar. At age 56 and in the process of yet another reinvention of my professional and personal life,I found some wise pearls in your blogs. Thank you for sharing your stories with the world! Kind regards, Dr. Nadina Jose drnjose@gmail.com on Cinco de Mayo Celebration and Sales

9. Hi Sir, I am also an alumna of UP (Chemical Engineering, 2009) and stumbled upon your blog. I would just like to say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading your entries, and am impressed that you remain a prolific blogger well into your 70s! I can only aspire to do the same when I reach my golden years. Salamat po, and I look forward to your future posts. Regards, Patricia on Chapter 1: Childhood Memories of the Japanese-American War in the Philippines, 1941-1945
10. Hi there, Your blog page is just too perfect for our project, I don’t know how to catch your attention but hopefully you could spare me a minute to read this message. We've recently launched the site www.mytaste.com where users search through recipes from all the major recipe sites and blogs. We noticed that you have a great number of tasty recipes on your blog and would like to suggest you to have a look at our “Top Food Blogs” section. We would like to give you an opportunity to add your food blog to the list and have your recipes indexed on our site, all you have to do is add your blog URL here: http://www.mytaste.com/add-your-food-blog Our project is the second biggest worldwide when it comes to recipe search, and it’s already live in 37 countries, including countries in Europe, Asia, Middle-East, Australia, South America and South Africa. We deliver thousands of visitors to food blogs daily. Some of the top food blogs receive at least 10,000 visitors from us on a weekly on Garden Salad with Dungeness Crab

The Imitation Game Movie and the Comcast Power Outage

One of my Favorite Movies worthy of your time. One of the benefits of subscribing to Comcast. However, yesterday, I had no Internet and land line phone service. I immediately called the Comcast Help Line and was connected to their Service Center in the Philippines. I had a pleasant and helpful talk with a representative named Lea. She informed me there is a Power Outage in our area, but Comcast expect this to be solved in 3 hours. She was helpful and promised to text me in my mobile phone once the problem is solved. She offered a $5 refund or credit to my account because of interruption of service. Four hours later, My Internet and Land line phone was still not working. I called COMCAST help line again. This time I was connected to the Help Desk in Seattle. I was told the Outage was fixed. The representative tried her best to reset my connection but no success. I was then told that a Technician will be scheduled for a personal visit the next day. I was told I will get a credit for interruption of service. Later on during the night my son tried to reset my PC and he was able to connect and restore Internet and Phone service. I had to cancel the Technician visit. I will stop now so you can enjoy this movie.

http://xfinitytv.comcast.net/watch/The-Imitation-Game/8638545684966749112/621374019941/The-Imitation-Game/videos

The Imitation Game is a 2014 American historical drama thriller film directed by Morten Tyldum, with a screenplay by Graham Moore loosely based on the biography Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges (previously adapted as the stage play and BBC drama Breaking the Code). It stars Benedict Cumberbatch as real-life British cryptanalyst Alan Turing, who decrypted German intelligence codes for the British government during World War II.

The film's screenplay topped the annual Black List for best unproduced Hollywood scripts in 2011. The Weinstein Company acquired the film for $7 million in February 2014, the highest amount ever paid for U.S. distribution rights at the European Film Market. It was released theatrically in the United Kingdom on November 14 and the United States on November 28.

The Imitation Game was a commercial and critical success. It grossed over $233 million worldwide against a $14 million production budget, making it the highest-grossing independent film of 2014. It was nominated in eight categories at the 87th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Tyldum), Best Actor (Cumberbatch), and Best Supporting Actress (Keira Knightley). It won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. It garnered five nominations in the 72nd Golden Globe Awards and was nominated in three categories at the 21st Screen Actors Guild Awards, including Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. It also received nine British Academy of Film and Television Arts nominations, including Best Film and Outstanding British Film, and won the People's Choice Award at the 39th Toronto International Film Festival.

The LGBT civil rights advocacy and political lobbying organization for Human Rights Campaign honored The Imitation Game for bringing Turing's legacy to a wider audience. However, the film was criticized for its inaccurate portrayal of historical events and Turing's character and relationships.

Side Effects of Azilect for the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease

Lately Macrine has been complaining of neck stiffness/soreness. I had a feeling it is a side effect of Azilect- One of the drugs she is taking. Along with Azilect, 1 mg( Rasagiline) she is also taking Carbo-Levo Dopa( 25-100 mg) to control her movement disorders, tremors and other symptoms of PD. I believe this stiffness of the neck is due to Azilect as described in the package insert below.

Azilect is a very expensive drug. When it was first prescribed for her, I inquired from several drug outlets in our area( CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Costco) on the price for a 90 day supply. At that time I was quoted a price from $1590 to 2060 for the 90 day supply. I can not believe on the price, so I inquire on the Mail Order Prescription Benefits of My Federal Insurance. It will cost me only $80.

So What is Azilect?

Azilect (rasagiline) is a monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibitor used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Azilect is sometimes used with another drug called levodopa. Common side effects of Azilect include dizziness, spinning sensation, joint pain, headache, depression, heartburn, nausea, fever, muscle pain, dry mouth, stomach upset or abdominal pain, hair loss, skin rash, numbness or tingly feeling, loss of appetite, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, impotence, loss of interest in sex, trouble having an orgasm, strange dreams, or flu symptoms.

The recommended dose of Azilect for the treatment of Parkinson's disease patients is 1 mg administered orally once daily. Azilect may interact with ciprofloxacin, theophylline, or antidepressants.

For additional details on Azilect

http://www.rxlist.com/azilect-side-effects-drug-center.htm

From the Package Insert of the Drug: Get medical help right away if any of these serious side effects occur: frequent/severe headache, fast/slow/irregular/pounding heartbeat, chest pain, neck stiffness/soreness, severe nausea/vomiting, sweating/clammy skin (sometimes with fever), widened pupils, vision changes (e.g., double/blurred vision), sudden sensitivity to light (photophobia).

An Old but Highly Acclaimed Movie-The Pianist

I was just browsing for old but highly acclaimed movies and I happened to watch The Pianist. It was worth my time since I love classical piano pieces by Chopin. I highly recommend it if you do not mind watching the Germans maltreating the Jews (Holocaust)during World War II in Poland. It is one of the top ten movies I had watched in the last decades.

The Pianist is a 2002 historical drama film co-produced and directed by Roman Polanski, scripted by Ronald Harwood, and starring Adrien Brody. It is based on the autobiographical book The Pianist, a World War II memoir by the Polish-Jewish pianist and composer Władysław Szpilman. The film was a co-production between France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland.

The Pianist met with significant critical praise and received multiple awards and nominations. It was awarded the Palme d'Or at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival. At the 75th Academy Awards, The Pianist won Oscars for Best Director (Polanski), Best Adapted Screenplay (Ronald Harwood), and Best Actor (Brody), and was also nominated for four other awards, including the Academy Award for Best Picture. It also won the BAFTA Award for Best Film and BAFTA Award for Best Direction in 2003 and seven French Césars including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Brody.

Cooking My First Lobster Tails-Baking

I always wanted to cook lobster tails. However, I am scared I will ruin it and since lobster tails are expensive, I never had the courage to buy this delicious seafood. However today there is special sale at our local Food Mart. The price is only $12.49 per lb, regular price is $16.99. I purchase 3 medium size tails for only $9.99, indeed a good buy. I searched in the Internet for a Recipe and here is what attracted my attention:*

Directions:

Make sure lobster tails are thawed completely before cooking for best results.

To prepare the lobster tail for baking or broiling:

Grab a pair of kitchen shears and grab the lobster tail in your hand. Begin cutting down one side of the lobster tail as close to the side as you can. Repeat the cut down the other side of the lobster tail. Cut the shell across the middle at the base of the tail. Grab the top of the shell and peel back. Take a knife and cut around the lobster meat so when it's finished cooking, it's easy to remove.

Lay each lobster tail on individual sheets of foil. Prepare lobster marinade of 3 tablespoons each of lemon juice and clarified butter, with a pinch of paprika, white pepper, garlic powder and sea salt. Drizzle lobster marinade over lobster.

Fold up the ends of the foil so your lobster tail is completely sealed. Bake lobster tail according to the chart below in a 450° F. preheated oven.

2 oz. - 12 minutes....................4 oz. - 18 minutes

6 oz. - 22 minutes....................8 oz. - 26 minutes

12 oz. - 30 minutes................14 oz. or more - 35 minutes

Once the lobster is cooked, unwrap the tail, dunk in butter and enjoy!

*From: http://festivalfoods.net/cooking/5188/Baking_Lobster_Tails

Tired of City Living? Visit Marinduque on your next Vacation

I wrote this article six years ago, But I feel it still applies today. It was my first blog post and first attempt to advertise Chateau Du Mer in the Internet. The cover photo was also my first photo of the coral reefs of the Amoingon Coast of Western Marinduque.

Sunset at Low Tide as viewed from the Balcony of the Beach House

There are hundreds of tourist destinations in the Philippines. However, my favorite destination is Marinduque Island, a sleepy, unspoiled and scenic island, south of Manila. It is not world renown as Boracay Island, Aklan. However, the island has white beaches, underground caves, hot and sulfur springs, waterfalls and Mt Malindig as well as several diving sites and numerous snorkeling sites around the island.

One of my friends in US, a retiree like myself calls the island "A Heaven on Earth", where you could live like a king for less than $1000 US dollars a month complete with a driver and a maid and an abundance of fresh seafood everyday if you wish. I called it my island paradise, because there is no pollution and not much traffic except on Easter Week, when tourists from Manila and other parts of the world attend the Moriones Festival. But that is only one week out of 52 weeks. The rest of the year, you could relax, enjoy the sun and live like a king or queen, again with less than $1000(US)a month.

Chateau Du Mer Beach Resort and Conference Center,formerly a private resort and retirement property is now open to the public. For details visit the website. www.chateaudumer.com

For information about Marinduque, visit the provincial website, www.marinduque.gov.ph

For travel blogs on the island, visit, http://eazytraveler.blogsspot.com/2008/04/marinduque

or Moriones Festival 2007 @clicktheCity.com.travel or guides.clickthecity.com/travel

or http://instaurareperomniachristo.blogspot.com/2008/04/marinduque