A Short Tribute to Dr. Rudy Jao-MI, Inc 25th Anniversary

Top Picture: From Right to Left: Dr Jao(RIP), Sister Emma Garcia, Mama Ellen Jambalos( RIP), Sister Guia Jambalos, Macrine Katague and Sr Tessie Soriano(RIP).

Visiting Sr Guia Jambalos at the Cenacle with Dr. Rudy Jao, Warrenville, Illinois, December, 1963.

Bottom Picture: From Left to Right: Sister Guia Jambalos, Sister Tessie Soriano(RIP), Mother Superior of the Cenacle and Macrine Katague, Winter, 1963 in Chicago, Illinois.

Welcoming Guia Jambalos from the Philippines to start her postulancy at the Cenacle, Chicago O'hare Airport, Winter of 1963

This is Macrine's Katague tribute to Dr Rudy Jao in connection with Marinduque International (MI), Inc.* celebrating its 25th Anniversary to be held in Chicago this coming Saturday, August 25.

I know Rudy since our childhood years. We grew up in Boac and socialized up to our college years in Manila. After our college years we did not have much contact until the early 1960's in Chicago, Illinois. At that time, David (my husband for 61 years) was doing his Ph.D in Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Illinois Medical Center Campus and at the same time worked as Instructor in Chemistry in the College of Pharmacy. Dave and I were surprised when we learned that Rudy was also doing his post graduate research and internship at the College of Medicine in the same campus of UI in Chicago.

He was our constant visitor and guest at the university apartment where Dave and I resided and raising 3 young kids. One day he borrowed our old 1957 Mercury ( our first car) to drive around the city. He was shocked and terrified when the muffler of the old junk conked out while he was driving it and almost had an accident because of the loud noise. He had it fixed but told us, he will never borrow an old car, especially from us.( Note: Dave and I purchased our first car (1957 Mercury) from another graduate student for only $500 cash. As a graduate student that was big money then).

Another incident that he told us, he will never forget: One day, our youngest son David III had a fever. We called him for advise as a physician. He confirmed David had Chicken Pox(CP). This happened about two weeks before his wedding in Indiana. Rudy later informed us that he was so scared he will get David's CP and will not be able to bear children. This event was indeed just a scare, knowing the number of children (9) Rudy and Tessie had raised here in the US.

Rudy and Tessie: We will never forget our overnight stay in your residence in Indiana. That night we went to the Casino. I( Macrine) won $1000 is the slots, just about one minute before we checked out of the Casino.

Dave and I missed you Rudy. Rest in Peace! Macrine Katague, Past President, MI, Inc

Here's Dr. Jao's obituary published in Las Vegas, Nevada dated February 18, 2018: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/las-vegas-nv/rodolfo-jao-7777666

For more information on MI, Inc visit their FaceBook page:

*https://www.facebook.com/mdqintl/

Carenna Seven Years Ago and Today

Carenna vacationing in Hawaii with the Chalfins and with Merlet Perlas last week

The first video show Carenna's musical talents when she was only 8 years old.

https://www.facebook.com/ditas/videos/10150249511981270/

This second video was just taped recently. Enjoy

https://www.facebook.com/ditas/videos/10155764378696270/

It is Expensive Getting Old in the USA

Last year, when Macrine required long term care assistance I finally realized that it is very expensive getting old here in the United States in spite of my Federal Medical Insurance and Medicare A Benefits. I searched the Internet and confirmed that the US is ranked poorly compared to other 10 countries in terms of seniors health care benefits.

"The most notable way the U.S. differs from other industrialized countries is the absence of universal health insurance coverage. Other nations ensure the accessibility of care through universal health systems and through better ties between patients and the physician practices that serve as their medical homes. Source: The Commonwealth Fund Mirror 2014 Update".

For more details visit the following site:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/danmunro/2014/11/30/u-s-healthcare-for-seniors-ranked-poorly-compared-to-10-other-countries/#1410013f339e

Personal Note: I have a Federal Medical insurance (BCBS) which covers most of Macrine and my short term medical needs and drug prescriptions. I am paying $500 monthly premium for this benefit. However I do not have long term insurance coverage or long term custodial care insurance. In addition, Macrine and I have Medicare A which covers all Hospitalization costs, but not incidentals etc.....Every time Macrine goes to the Emergency Room or Hospital, my pocket expense ( not covered by Insurance) totals to about $1000 to $3000 per episode. In addition, Macrine long term custodial care is not covered by my BCBS or Medicare. Right now I am spending about $2800 a month for Macrine's custodial care. All these expenses are coming from my own SAVINGS, since I do not have long term care insurance which is super expensive. However the 60-day home care visits after hospitalization by a nurse, physical and occupational therapies and home care aide( bathing) is covered by Medicare. I am paying only $8 a month for the rental of an electric hospital bed-an excellent benefit.

It is indeed very expensive getting old here in the United States of America! May be we will move to Canada or the Philippines! Comments anyone?

Here's the site showing average costs for long term care in the US:

https://longtermcare.acl.gov/costs-how-to-pay/costs-of-care.html

Just Discovering FaceBook Groups

Recently I joined two FaceBook groups associated with our second-home( Boac, Marinduque) in the Philippines with more than 7000 members. In addition I also joined three alumni groups, Universities of the Philippines, Illinois and California, Berkeley. I notice that traffic to my blogs and Hubpages account increased thus also increasing my AdSense Account for a few cents a day. So today I did some Internet search on FB groups and here's the list for your information.

Let me hear from you if you used FB groups to advertise products and events etc...

https://techwebsites.net/facebook-groups-list/

My Story at Boac-Childhood Memories

The Calesa in Boac

Marinduque International, Inc headed by President Agnes Lardizabal Apeles is now getting ready for the next medical mission to Marinduque, this coming February, 2019. The several fund raising activities prior to this humanitarian project reminded me of an article written by Jorge Bunag (RIP-2013)* in 2008 when he returned to the island to join the medical mission in Boac and in the other 5 towns of the province.

This article is a testament that childhood pleasant memories will never be erased in our minds.

http://marinduqueonmymind.blogspot.com/2008/11/my-story-at-boac.html?showComment=1453058800476#c5476080815569145401

Here's Jorge obituary on October, 2013:

*https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/app/obituary.aspx?n=jorge-l-bunag&pid=167497991&fhid=27080

Sunset and Twilight at Chateau Du Mer, Boac, Marinduque

My favorite time of the day in Marinduque is at sunset and at twilight. During this time and up to midnight, I could show case my more than 50 solar lights of various types around the resort. Besides the solar lights, I have installed spot lights in all of the statuary's and garden sculptures near the Conference Hall and also in the Main House. The three photos( taken at twilight) above focused on the bridge lighting (red and white). The bridge is the focal point of the landscaping design of the beach house.

The creek under the bridge is filled with native fish, crabs and snails during the summer season. Two years ago, I seeded the creek with tilapias in November. By May, it was already about 3 to 5 lbs. I feed the tilapias twice a day with commercial fish food. I told Edwin, my caretaker to harvest them before the rainy season, otherwise they will be flushed into the ocean, when the monsoon rains start around July-August. Edwin was able to harvest more than a dozen for his table. A couple of tilapias that remained in the creek were flushed into the ocean by August.

The second photo from top is one of my favorite sunset picture taken from the balcony of the beach house. Macrine and I hope to see you soon in Marinduque-our island Paradise. I wrote this article originally in 2009.

Quell's Wearable Device for My Back Pain

Two weeks ago I hurt my back lifting Macrine from her wheel chair to the lounging chair. My Back hurts so bad, I could hardly walk. David suggested using his Quell device. Today I can walk and was even able to go to the grocery store. The pain is not completely gone, but I can do normal daily activities, but is really careful and have the proper position when lifting Macrine from her wheel chair either to bed or her Lounging Chair.

The Quell is an FDA-approved wearable device that Velcros around the upper calf and uses electrical stimulation to purportedly offer pain relief without the innate dangers or risks of addiction that come with drugs. The science of the device is fairly complex, but the basic theory is that stimulating specific nerves can activate a natural pain-relief process. "At a molecular level, the pain centers within the brain release endogenous opioids, called enkephalins, that bind to receptors in the spinal cord leading to a reduction of pain signal transmission and therefore pain relief," says Shai Gozani, CEO of NeuroMetrix. For details on how this works read the following:

https://blog.quellrelief.com/science-behind-quell-electrodes/