A Day in the Life of David B Katague Here at THD

My thoughtful nephew and namesake from Australia, AI expert/lecturer and International Videographer visited me again yesterday💚. He completed the video he took during his first here at THD last July 31, 2024. 

The day of Dave's first visit was the last day of our Chair Volleyball Championship Game, the Award Ceremony and Reception. The video is only 5 minutes long. He titled it, The Day in the Life of Uncle David Katague at the Heritage. 

In the video members of the Fairmount Chair Volley Ball Team Champions were interviewed.  The film has comments from Glenn Mays, Jay Pollack, Mary Alice Rathbun  and Steve Kam. The video also showed photos of several residents and employees. Among the employees in the video who are no longer employed here at THD were Galen Corson ( Activity Director) and Teresa Nudo ( Activity Coordinator). Jenny Shively and Cydney Carbah are also on the video. THD Management had approved Dave's taking of the video. It is his gift to me for my coming 90th Birthday Celebration and Lunch in Dublin, Ca this coming December 21.  

Here is the 5-minute video for your viewing pleasure. I believe it is a Good Advertisement for THD.

 

I treated Dave to Brunch yesterday and here's the photo of the occasion. With Aileyn Ecob, Guest, and Susie Bramson   💚https://www.davekatague.com/)

Watch the video

💜THD is an active senior living community in downtown Walnut Creek, CA. Currently it has about 130 senior residents housed in 4 buildings with 147 apartment units. There is an in-house restaurant ( Newton's) and a Cinema. There is a small gym, yoga studio, small library and two meeting rooms. However, there is no Hall or Room that could be rented by residents for private parties ( birthday etc..) that could accommodate more than 50 attendees.   THD has 47 employees  (some are part time) and a Garage for Residents and Guests for Parking. THD has been awarded the Best For Senior Living Award for 2023 and 2024 by the Place for Mom organization. 

I am the only Filipino-American Resident in this Senior Community. It is owned privately and hopefully will not be sold to a mega corporation for Senior living in the near future. This is my 17th month residency here and I am very happy with my living environment. Of course, there is no perfect place in the World and I believe THD and its employees are trying to do their jobs to the best of their abilities to enhance the residents well being and sense of belonging during the last stage of our lives.  But again there is always room for improvement. Suggestions for improvement have been posted in my previous blogs.

https://theintellectualmigrants.blogspot.com/2024/02/suggestions-for-improvement-of-quality.html

https://theheritagedowntown.com/

Filipino Cocktail Hour Here at THD

This is my 14th Article on my blog series in connection with the Filipino American History Month Celebration here at THD💜 

The Philippines Lumpia Shanghai 💚with the sweet and sour Sauce- A Gastronomic Delight

Yesterday's afternoon THD Cocktail Hour featuring Filipino appetizers was a gastronomic success. San Miguel beer, lumpia Shanghai and pot stickers were served along with the standard, cheese, fruit and vegetable platter.  The Lumpia ( Philippines spring rolls) were purchased from Seafood City in Concord according to Agustin. With the sweet and sour sauce, it was a gastronomic delight.    I HAD  also the Philippines San Miguel beer ordered for the occasion. I enjoyed the beer very much. I had seconds of the appetizers ( Lumpia and pot sticker only) and I lost my appetite for the Dinner that follows.  I took pictures during the cocktail hour and happy to share it with you. 

The Standard appetizer platter with lumpia and pot sticker

My Ice-cold San Miquel Beer- Refreshing and Authentic Beer imported from the Philippines 

The Cocktail Hour also celebrated not only the Filipino American History Month, but Residents born in October. The birthday celebrants were given special birthday cup cake to honor their birthday. Among the Birthday Celebrants present were Marsha Kefer and Anne Long. Patty Healy did not attend. 

Thank You, THD for this Special Cocktail Hour featuring lumpia Shanghai or Filipino spring rolls. It was a well-attended event. The music was great, but not Philippine music as advertised. 

💚 Lumpiang Shanghai (also known as Filipino spring rolls, or simply lumpia or lumpiya) is a Filipino deep-fried appetizer consisting of a mixture of giniling (ground pork) with vegetables like carrots, chopped scallions or red onions and garlic, wrapped in a thin egg crêpe. Lumpiang Shanghai is regarded as the most basic type of lumpia in Filipino cuisine, and it is usually smaller and thinner than other lumpia variants.

 💚https://iankewks.com/lumpiang-shanghai/

💜THD is an active senior living community in downtown Walnut Creek, CA. Currently it has about 130 senior residents housed in 4 buildings in 147 apartment units. There is an in-house restaurant ( Newton's) and a Cinema. There is a small gym, yoga studio, small library and meeting rooms. However, there is no Hall or Room that could be rented by residents for private parties ( birthday etc..) that could accommodate more than 50 attendees.   THD has 47 employees ( some are part time) and a Garage for Parking. THD has been awarded the Best Senior Living Award for 2023 and 2024 by the Place for Mom organization.   

Philippines National Symbols- Tree, Flower and Bird

This is the 13th article on my series about the Philippines in connection with the celebration of Filipino American History Month here in the US

The link below list the state tree, flower and bird of all the fifty US States. Do you them all ? Please read, because these are frequent and common questions if you play Trivial Pursuit's Game. I love Trivia and the Jeopardy TV show. 

https://www.thegardenhelper.com/state~flowers.html#google_vignette

Meanwhile Do you Know the Philippines, National tree, flower and bird and Other National Symbols?

Aside from those stated symbols in the Constitution and in Republic Act 8491, there are only six official national symbols of the Philippines enacted through law, namely sampaguita as national flower, narra as national tree, the Philippine eagle as national bird, Philippine pearl as national gem, arnis as national martial art and sport and the Filipino Sign Language as the national sign language. Thus, there is a total of twelve official national symbols passed through Philippine laws.

There are symbols such as the carabao (national animal), mango (national fruit) and anahaw (national leaf) that are widely known as national symbols but have no laws recognizing them as official national symbols. The milk fish (bangus) is sometimes called the national fish but again not officially designated by the Government. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_symbols_of_the_Philippines#:~:text=Aside%20from%20those%20stated%20symbols,national%20gem%2C%20arnis%20as%20national

Lastly, Before the Spanish set foot in the Philippines, the coconut tree was the undisputed star of daily life. Prehispanic Filipinos mastered the art of using every part of the coconut tree—it was their source of shelter, food, alcohol, medicine, and even tools.

The leaves were woven into roofs, the trunk was used for building homes, and the sap was fermented into tuba (a local drink). The coconut also provided oil for cooking and medicine, while the meat was a staple food source. It was so integral that their day-to-day activities literally revolved around it.

In a way, the coconut tree was their version of a "Swiss army knife"—doing everything and more. Even today, the coconut remains a vital part of Filipino culture, and we owe a lot to this ancient connection.

Reminder Today: Filipino Cocktail Hour - Egg rolls, lumpia and Pot stickers along with San Miguel Beer will be served.

Philippines Diverse Ecosystems and Biomes

This is the 12th article on my blog series about the Philippines in connection with Filipino-American History Month Celebration here in the US

The Philippines, an archipelago blessed with diverse ecosystems and biomes, is home to an incredible range of species, many of which represent nature’s extremes or superlatives. From the tallest trees to the tiniest fish, these species offer unique foods that reflect the country’s rich biodiversity.

𝘗𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘴 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴, or Toog, the Philippines’ largest tree species, provides ubod (the tender heart of young shoots) which is consumed as a vegetable. The seeds are also reported to be edible and are said to taste like peanuts. The second tallest tree in the country, 𝘒𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘢 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘢, known locally as ginoo or manggis. Its seeds, with a taste reminiscent of a cross between watermelon and sunflower seeds, are enjoyed by the locals of Palawan, either roasted or sweetened with sugar. Both species are two of the most tallest tropical rainforest trees in the world.

In coastal areas, the 𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘤𝘯𝘢 𝘨𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘴 and other species from genus 𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘤𝘯𝘢, a group of the largest living bivalve mollusks locally known as manlut or taklobo, is traditionally prepared as kinilaw. However, many species of giant clams are now threatened and are protected by law. A giant of the reefs, the 𝘉𝘰𝘭𝘣𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘮, or humphead parrotfish or molmol, is the largest species of parrotfish and the largest herbivorous fish in coral reefs, also hunted and consumed in some regions. The 𝘉𝘪𝘳𝘨𝘶𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘰, or coconut crab or tatus, is the largest terrestrial arthropod, is considered a delicacy in areas like Batanes and Caluya, Antique. An adult tatus can weigh up to 4 kilos and span up to 3 feet across, though human exploitation has made such sizes rare.

In freshwater ecosystems, we have the 𝘔𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘪, or ulang/urang (giant river prawn), the largest species of Macrobrachium and one of the largest freshwater prawns globally. At the other end of the spectrum is the world’s smallest commercial edible fish, the 𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘵𝘩𝘺𝘴 𝘭𝘶𝘻𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴, or sinarapan. This tiny fish is endemic to the lakes of the Bicol Region, including Lake Buhi and Lake Bato, Lakelets Manapao and Katugday, in Camarines Sur, and Lake Danao in Albay. So small that a specialized net called sarap is used to catch them, sinarapan is typically cooked with coconut milk, stewed, or sun-dried into thin sheets for frying.

Meanwhile, Did you know that the Philippines boasts over 20 unique kinds of noodle dishes?

From the ever-popular pancit canton to the beloved pancit palabok, Filipino noodle dishes are as diverse as the regions they come from. Each one has its own flavor, history, and twist—like pancit habhab from Lucban, served on a banana leaf, or sotanghon made with vermicelli noodles. And let's not forget mami, which combines flavorful broth with a variety of toppings! Whether stir-fried, in soup, or layered with toppings, Filipino noodles are a testament to the country’s rich culinary heritage.

Lastly, Did you know? While Filipinos are known for their close-knit communities and strong family ties, they often prioritize loyalty based on province, group, or affiliation over a broader national identity.

Unlike in countries like Mexico or the United States, where citizens might rally together as a unified state, the Philippines sometimes grapples with divisions that hinder a sense of national solidarity.

This fragmentation is compounded by ongoing challenges like chronic corruption, which undermines trust in institutions and the rule of law. As a result, the journey toward unity remains a complex and ongoing struggle for the nation.

Lastly, do not forget the Filipino Cocktail Hour for Tomorrow at 3:45PM, Liberty Pavillon.

Bull and Cock Fighting in the Philippines

his is the 9th article on my blog series about the Philippines in connection with the Filipino-American History Month Celebration here in the US.

Bullfighting in the Philippines has a fascinating history that stretches back over 400 years, blending Iberian influences with local traditions. This practice emerged during the Spanish period and has undergone various changes throughout its existence.

In the 1890s, bullfighting events were held in Manila, specifically in the Paco district, where a bullring was situated. American writer Joseph L. Stickney, who was in the Philippines from 1898 to 1899, observed that "neither Spanish bull-fighters nor Spanish bulls are brought to the island." Consequently, local talent was utilized for both roles in the spectacle. Stickney described the bulls as "timid and lazy," and noted that the bullfighters were not much better, suggesting that the experience differed significantly from traditional bullfighting in Spain, Cuba, or Mexico.

A brief revival of bullfighting occurred during the 1953 Manila International Fair at the sunken gardens outside Intramuros, featuring Spanish bulls and matadors. Despite its popularity at the time, a push to reintroduce bullfighting in 1999 faced strong opposition from groups against blood sports, preventing its return.

Bullfighting was noted in the Philippines as early as 1619, when it was among the festivities in celebration of Pope Urban III's authorisation of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Today, it has been replaced with 💚Cock Fighting- A popular Gambling Activity of Most Filipino Men.  Why is cockfighting very popular in the Philippines?

People train their roosters for months to prepare them for the fight. There are people who say that battles are so popular in the country because they align very well with the typical Filipino mentality of pride and courage but at the same time their success is associated with the money involved in betting.

💚 https://theintellectualmigrants.blogspot.com/2020/02/cock-and-bull-fighting-in-philippines.html

It is official. Filipino Cocktail Hour this Coming Friday, October 25, 3:45PM at the Liberty Pavilion. I was lobbying for a Special Dinner, but very happy with this Cocktail Hour on the Schedule. Thank You, THD! 

  

Sterling Vineyards Tour and Wine Tasting, Calistoga

Ten adventurous souls from THD chaffered by Nancy C. and chaperoned by Kellie S.  had a fun time during the wine-tasting tour of the Sterling Vineyards in Calistoga, yesterday.  We had a grand time in spite of the little bit of walking.  The Gondola ride was fantastic. I was able to purchase a Sterling Vineyards Cap souvenir for my collection.💚 We intended to have lunch at Gott's Roadside but the line was too long we decided to have lunch at the Mexican Taqueria near by. I had the Chile Relleno Platter and it was delicious. I took some photos and here they are for your viewing pleasure.  

From Left to Right: Dean Elias,  Mary Sorensen, Nancy Kleiber, Peggy Yamada, Anne Stackhouse, Hisako Tanaka, Eileen Breismeister, Farna Sewell, Sue Hoyt and Me-at the Start of the Gondola Ride 
     

Kellie also took some pictures and she promised to share with me some of her photos. I will repost it in this blog once I received it.

Thank You Nancy and Kellie for a wonderful Saturday trip out of our Gilded Cage here at THD.

💚

My $35 Sterling Vineyards Souvenir Cap

Sterling Vineyards was founded in 1964 by Peter Newton and Michael Stone. Newton and Stone were early pioneers of crafting Bordeaux-inspired red wines in California, transforming Napa Valley into the premier winemaking appellation we know today. Sterling Vineyards quickly put the region on the map for creating top quality wines. The winery is an architectural icon and the only winery in the world with an aerial gondola. Today, Sterling Vineyards continues to delight consumers through commitment to consistency and quality. For more information, visit sterlingvineyards.com or cs_sterling@sterlingvineyards.com.

Here are the photos that Kellie took during the tour. Thank you, Kellie for Sharing your Photos

 

First Filipino Landing in the Continental United States

This is the 8th article on my blog series about the Philippines in connection with Filipino-American History Month.

Do you know the significance of Oct. 18 to Filipino American history? The first documented presence of Filipinos in what is now the continental United States occurred some 33 years before Pilgrims from England arrived at Plymouth Rock. ⠀⠀⁣

⠀⠀⁣

On October 18, 1587, the Filipinos — called “Luzones Indios” — were indentured servants and sailors who arrived aboard the Nuestra Señora de Buena Esperanza, which had sailed as part of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade. They landed in the area known as #MorroBay, California today.⠀⠀⁣

⠀⁣

From @fanhs_national: “Upon arrival, two Luzones Indios were first sent to shore to scout the land. In spite of observing several local indigenous people (the Chumash people), the landing party (now led by 2 Spaniards) climbed atop a hill and claimed the new land as theirs. The Chumash retaliated - resulting in the deaths of one Spaniard (Felipe de Contreras) and one unnamed Luzon Indio. The galleon retreated and continued onto Acapulco, Mexico.⠀⁣

⠀⁣

For decades, Filipinos continued to work aboard these Spanish galleons, enduring poor working conditions and violence. In the mid 1700s, Filipino sailors escaped these ships and formed settlements in Louisiana. The earliest documented settlement of Filipinos was in St. Malo, Louisiana in 1763; it was also the first documented presence of any Asian group in what would later become the United States.” ⠀⁣

⠀⁣

October marks Filipino American History Month to commemorate the landing of these first Filipinos.

From Wikipedia: On 18 October 1587, the first Filipinos landed in what is now the Continental United States at Morro Bay. They arrived aboard the Nuestra Señora de Buena Esperanza, which had sailed from Portuguese Macau, as part of the Manila galleon trade. During about three days of travels ashore around Morro Bay, the crew of the Nuestra Señora de Buena Esperanza came in contact with the Chumash people, ultimately resulting in the deaths of two crew members: one Spaniard and one Filipino.

Departing Morro Bay after the deaths of the crew members, the Nuestra Señora de Buena Esperanza eventually reached its intended destination of Acapulco. No other Filipino landed in California until 1595. In 1995, a monument on Morro Bay was dedicated to commemorate the events of 1587. October has been designated as Filipino American History Month since 2009 in recognition of these events.

Although the landing was an important milestone, it would not be until the latter half of the 18th century that Filipinos began to settle in what would become part of the continental United States. Beginning in 1992, the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) began efforts to commemorate the landing. On 21 October 1995, with the mayor of Morro Bay in attendance, a monument was placed at Morro Bay to commemorate the events of 1587. The monument was placed in Coleman Park. By 2009, after follow-up efforts by FANHS, Filipino American History Month was recognized by California, as well as nationally by resolutions in state and national legislatures; it occurs every October, in recognition of the landing at Morro Bay.

Personal Note: THD will celebrate Filipino-American History Month not with a Special Filipino Dinner just last year, but in our next Cocktail/Happy Hour this coming Friday, Oct 25, Filipino Snacks and Appetizers will be served. This was relayed to me yesterday by our Activity Director, Kellie Schuyler.  

Meanwhile here was my breakfast the other day!  Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese on Muffin toast with yogurt and cut orange.