Duo Gadjo-At THD New Years Eve Bash

From the THD Website: We’re ringing in the new year together at Newton’s with great company, music, and a celebration that feels just right for our community. Join us as we welcome 2026 with smiles and a night to remember.

Wednesday, December 31

New Year’s Eve Party – 7:00 PM (Newton’s)

Celebrate the new year with joy, laughter, good friends, and Champagne!

Learn more about what were doing at: theheritagedowntown.com/newsletter

#SeniorLivingCommunity #NewYearsEveParty #ActiveSeniors #CommunityLife #WalnutCreekEvents

"Duo Gadjo's music is inspired by the sounds of the 20's and 30's, when jazz was the thing and Paris was the place to be. Their style is generally called 'French Cafe' or 'Gypsy Jazz' as pioneered by the french gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt. Their repertoire spans from Bal-Musette to Edith Piaf, and Serge Gainsbourg, but also includes selections from the Great American songbook. They accompany themselves on guitars, and the Melodica, but the real feature is Isabelle Fontaine's sultry vocals. Their version of La Vie En Rose from their album Meet Me In Paris is one of the most popular streams on Pandora and Spotify in the French Cafe Music category. They perform as a duo, trio (add upright bass,) or a quartet (add violin, or accordion)." For Details on the Music Accomplishment  of the Duo read:

ISABELLE FONTAINE

Isabelle Fontaine was born and raised in the French countryside with the voices of Edith Piaf, Charles Trenet, and Yves Montand ringing in her ears. Growing up, she spent endless hours listening to the family's old records and although she had no intention of becoming a professional musician, she loved singing. During her college years, her life took an unexpected turn when she joined a group of friends and started performing as a vocalist. She abandoned her plans of teaching English and instead spent the next twenty years singing and playing the snare drum throughout France, with trips to Spain and over the Alps to Switzerland. During this period, she developed an unconditional love for the Ladies and Dukes of the Big Band Era, and the great composers of the American Songbook. She was eventually drawn to the gypsy swing of Django Reinhardt and The Hot Club of France, the perfect union of her French cultural heritage and the world of Jazz. Somewhere along the way, she picked up the guitar and applied her impeccable sense of rhythm to the stringedinstrument. In 2004 she moved with her family to the San Francisco Bay Area and has since become sought after not only for her singing but for her rhythm guitar playing as well.

 

JEFF MAGIDSON

Jeff Magidson was born in San Francisco. His parents, both musicians, taught him to read music and play the piano at an early age. Throughout his childhood he was exposed to many different styles and became proficient on a number of instruments, (piano, guitar, drums, bass, harmonica). In 1983, as a Cal student on a year abroad program in Poitiers, France, he was drawn to the local music scene and ended up staying 20 years, thereby making his impact on the French blues scene. With a variety of groups, or as the leader of his own formation, he had the opportunity to perform on countless festival and club stages throughout Europe, releasing three albums of his own compositions, and a dozen more as a contributing artist. It was in France that Jeff was first introduced to the music of Django Reinhardt which he describes as ‘a life changing experience.’ Jeff was drawn deep into the world of Gypsy Swing culminating in the formation of Duo Gadjo with Isabelle. From 2005-2015, Jeff was a member of the much revered Hot Club of San Francisco. Jeff still performs with the Hot Club occasionally and was the producer of their most recent album ‘John, Paul, George, and Django’. He also performs with his own band ‘The Jeff Magidson Blues Band.’ He is the author of a Gypsy jazz instructional book published by Hal Leonard. 

https://www.duogadjo.com/about

Meanwhile, here's the top five news of the Day:  

🌍 International & Conflict

1. China launches massive military drills around Taiwan — China has encircled Taiwan with live-fire exercises and showcased new assault ships, a clear signal amid rising tensions over U.S. arms sales to the island. Reuters+1

2. Saudi Arabia bombs Yemen port city (Mukalla) — Riyadh says it struck a shipment of weapons allegedly bound for separatists, increasing tensions in the Yemeni conflict and complicating Gulf regional dynamics. AP News

🚆 Travel & Local Disruption

3. Eurostar cancels all services through the Channel Tunnel — Major disruption hit rail connections between the UK and mainland Europe, stranding travelers and prompting delays on the eve of New Year’s Eve. Fox News

🇺🇸 U.S. Domestic News

4. Officials push back on Minnesota daycare fraud claims — State officials and a daycare manager are countering viral video allegations of fraud, calling the claims inaccurate. Fox News

🌫️ Environment & Health

5. India issues air quality alerts as pollution remains high — Major cities in India are reporting “unhealthy” to “very unhealthy” air quality, prompting health warnings and travel impacts. IQAir

   My Photos of the Day, Featuring My marble lamp from the Philippines and Indoor Plants

   
   
   
   
   
   Finally, Looking Forward to our New Years Eve Dinner( see attached menu)
   
   
   

6. 
   

Relationship to Jose M Delgado and Dyan Castillejo from Geni.com

From Wikipedia: Dr. José María Delgado (June 20, 1887, Malolos - December 24, 1978) was the first Philippine Ambassador to the Vatican. He was the cousin of Francisco Afan Delgado, descendant of General Martín Teófilo Delgado.

Delgado was born on 1887 in the Philippine city of Malolos. He was the fourth child of Juan Fausto Delgado and Eustaquia Salcedo y Concepción. He married Felisa Concepción by whom he has four boys: Jose, Jesus, Francisco, Antonio and four girls: Milagros, Pilar, Filomena, Teresita.

In 1923, he returned to Manila and resumed his practice with old friends and classmates, establishing his own clinic in the city. It was during this period of his life that he began teaching obstetrics, pediatrics and gynecology at the University of Santo Tomas, while lecturing on medical ethics, sociology, anthropology, apologetics and religion. This would be a career path that would continue for 27 years and would earn him the distinction of being the only layman teaching theology.

Delgado was appointed as the first resident ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to the Holy See in 1957. A post that his son Antonio C. Delgado would also hold. Written about Ambassador Delgado in a special issue of the Manila Chronicle, January 31, 1969 by Francisco De Leon: 

“Pope pius XII had assured him that the Philippines would finally get her due recognition with the appointment of the first Filipino cardinal...Pope Pius XII died a few months later. Many Filipinos back home believed that it killed the hope. Ambassador Delgado on his part, knew that the idea did not perish with the death of the pope. The appointment of a Filipino cardinal was a matter of justice. Justice may be delayed but it does not perish...in less than three years of serving as the country's Ambassador to the Vatican, the Philippines finally got her first cardinal with the appointment by Pope John XXIII of Manila archbishop Rufino Jiao Santos.”

In 1966, he authored a book "Fe Y Patria," Discursos, conferencias y articulos.

Among some of the awards received through the life of Dr. José María Delgado: 

• Most Outstanding Physician by the Philippine Federation of Private Medical Practitioners
• Medal of Catholic Action of the Philippines, Pope Pius XI (1939)
• Medal of the Pilgrims to Jerusalem
• Papal Knight with decoration “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice” (1927)
• Knight of the Grand Cross
• Order of Pius IX
• Golden Cross Award by The University of Santo Tomas

When asked about his passions, Dr. Delgado is remembered as saying: “I have three loves in this life, God, Country and Culture. Upon his passing at the age of 91 on December 24, 1978, one might say that his life was an embodiment of these passions.

Meanwhile, here's a Short Video on A Day in the Life of David B Katague at THD, Walnut Creek, Ca, USA 

https://vimeo.com/1023785376/422c81b4d3?fl=pl&fe=sh

See also

• Rufino Jiao Santos, First Cardinal of The Republic of The Philippines
• Antonio C. Delgado, Philippine Ambassador to The Vatican
• Lorenzo Ruiz, Filipino Saint

References

• Encarnacion Alzona, El Legado De Espana A Filipinas, 1956
• A Renaissance Man, Vera-Reyes, Inc, 1987.

• Antonio C. Delgado, The Making of The First Filipino Saint, The Ala-Ala Foundation, 1982.
• Jose Maria Delgado, Fe y Patria, 1966

Dyan Castillejo (b. 1965) is a prominent Filipino sports journalist and former professional tennis player. Born in the Philippines, she grew up in a family that valued sports and physical fitness, which greatly influenced her career path. Castillejo made her mark in the 1980s as a tennis player, representing the Philippines in various international competitions, including the Federation Cup. Her athletic prowess and dedication to sports laid the foundation for her transition into sports journalism. In the 1990s, Castillejo became a well-known sports broadcaster, joining ABS-CBN, one of the Philippines' leading television networks. Her engaging reporting style and in-depth coverage of major sporting events, such as the Southeast Asian Games and the Olympics, earned her a reputation as a trusted voice in sports media. Castillejo's work has significantly contributed to the promotion of sports in the Philippines, inspiring a new generation of athletes and sports enthusiasts. Her legacy continues to influence the landscape of sports journalism in the country.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyan_Castillejo

Finally, 

Did you know Filipinos are considered the world’s most emotional people? Gallup surveys reveal that no other nationality reports experiencing as many daily emotions both highs and lows as Filipinos do.

This intense emotional range shapes the warmth, expressiveness, and resilience that define Filipino culture, from festive celebrations to everyday interactions.

My Photo of the Day: Great Grand son Beau David Joseph with his Alligator-my Gift

Daly City, Los Angeles, and the Many Heartbeats of Filipino America

Daly City, Los Angeles, and the Many Heartbeats of Filipino America

By David B Katague, Senior Blogger Reflecting on Community, Memory, and Belonging

In the past week, I found myself reading two articles about Filipino-American communities one about Daly City, California being the “beating heart” of Filipino America, and another calling Los Angeles the city with the highest concentration of Filipino-Americans, often dubbed the Pinoy City of America.

As someone who has lived a long life observing, writing, and remembering, these stories feel more than demographic trivia. They feel like threads in a much larger tapestry that I have watched being woven across nine decades.

Daly City: A Familiar Warmth

Daly City has always held a special place in the Filipino diaspora story. One in three residents has Filipino ancestry an astonishing statistic, but one that makes perfect sense when you drive through town. The restaurants, the bakeries, the grocery stores bursting with bagoong, longganisa, and fresh pandesal… they all echo a sense of home.

For me, Daly City feels like an epicenter of heritage, alive, fragrant, and shaped by generations who came before and after me. It is a community that grew not from wealth or glamour, but from shared struggle, resilience, and that famous Filipino instinct to create family wherever we land.

Somewhere in that mosaic, I’m reminded of my own relatives, including my distant connection to Mayor Mike Guingona, Daly City’s first Filipino-American mayor. That tiny genealogical thread always makes me smile. It reminds me that history is never abstract; it is personal. It lives in bloodlines, in stories told around the dinner table, and in the quiet pride that comes from seeing a kababayan make a mark.

Los Angeles: A Larger, Louder Pulse

While Daly City may be the symbolic heart, Los Angeles is the loud, full-bodied rhythm of Filipino America. With the largest number of Filipino-American residents of any U.S. city, L.A. earned its nickname, The Pinoy City of America, not simply through population, but through sheer visibility.

From Historic Filipinotown, HiFi, as younger Filipinos lovingly call it, to the sprawling suburbs where Filipino families planted roots over the decades, Los Angeles tells a story of migration in waves. Nurses, engineers, students, dreamers, they all found their way there.

Reading about L.A. today, I am struck by how Filipino culture has become woven into the city’s identity: food festivals, church communities, youth organizations, civic leaders, and now even Filipino-owned creative studios that tell our stories to the world. The quieter immigration narrative I grew up with has now grown into a vibrant, public symphony.

What These Cities Mean to Me

At nearly 91 years old, I find myself reflecting more often on the themes of place, legacy, and belonging. I have lived through seasons where Filipinos were scarce in national conversation barely represented in media, hardly recognized in history books.

To see cities like Daly City and Los Angeles celebrated today for their Filipino presence feels like witnessing the blooming of a tree planted generations ago.

It makes me think of my own journey from my early years, to my long FDA career, to the many decades of writing, learning, and observing human stories. And through it all, Filipino identity has been a constant compass. Even as times changed, it stayed steady, a source of grounding, pride, and perspective.

A Community That Continues to Grow

What I love most is that Filipino America is not defined by one city alone. It grows wherever Filipinos bring hospitality, hard work, food, laughter, faith, and care for one another. Daly City has heart. Los Angeles has volume. But the Filipino spirit? That lives in every place we have touched.

As I continue writing these reflections for my blog, I feel grateful to witness this chapter of Filipino-American history, one where our presence is not hidden but recognized, celebrated, and cherished.

The heartbeat of Filipino America, it seems, is not in just one city. It’s in the millions of us who carry the homeland in our stories.

A Brief Historical Reflection on Filipino Immigration to the U.S.

The story of Filipino America stretches back more than four centuries, long before the modern cities of Daly City and Los Angeles became Filipino hubs. The first recorded Filipinos arrived in California in 1587 as crew members on the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Esperanza, marking one of the earliest Asian presences in what would become the United States.

But the true waves of Filipino immigration began much later:

• Early 1900s – The First Wave:
  During the American colonial period in the Philippines, Filipinos arrived as “U.S. nationals,” not aliens. Many came as farmworkers in Hawaii and California, or as students known as pensionados, sent to American universities. These Manong generation workers helped build the agricultural backbone of the West Coast, enduring discrimination, poverty, and intense labor conditions.

• Post–World War II – The Second Wave:
  After Filipino soldiers fought under the American flag during the war, many war brides and veterans immigrated to the U.S., joining military bases, shipyards, and urban communities. Filipino nurses also began to arrive in greater numbers, planting seeds for what would become a defining legacy in U.S. healthcare.

• 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act – The Third Wave:
  This landmark law opened the doors wide. It removed restrictive quotas and allowed for family reunification and skilled worker pathways. Nurses, engineers, teachers, and entire families came to the U.S., many of whom helped transform cities like Daly City and Los Angeles into the Filipino centers we know today.

• The Modern Era:
  Over the decades, Filipino-Americans have become one of the largest Asian American groups in the country, deeply contributing to medicine, the military, public service, arts, technology, and hospitality. The growth of communities in the Bay Area and Southern California reflects a long journey from isolated workers to thriving, multigenerational communities.

For someone like me, who has watched these shifts across nearly a century, it feels profound to witness how these early footsteps became millions of stories. Our presence in America was built through grit, sacrifice, and love of family. And today, as I read about Daly City’s heart and Los Angeles’s vibrant energy, I see not just statistics but the continuation of that historic journey.

Meanwhile, here's the AI Overview on the Above Topic:

"Daly City, Los Angeles, and the Many Heartbeats of Filipino America" is a phrase that encapsulates the 

diverse and significant experiences of the Filipino diaspora in California, highlighting two major hubs of Filipino American life. The phrase often refers to the themes explored in academic and community discussions about Filipino American identity, culture, and history, particularly as studied in works like Benito Vergara's book, Pinoy Capital: The Filipino Nation in Daly City. 

Key Themes and Significance

• "Pinoy Capital" (Daly City): Daly City, just south of San Francisco, is known as "Little Manila" and has the highest concentration of Filipino residents of any city in the U.S., with over one-third of its population being Filipino American. The phrase reflects how the city became an "ideal community" and magnet for immigrants due to chain migration, affordable suburban housing after the 1968 Fair Housing Act, and proximity to jobs, creating a strong ethnic enclave with Filipino businesses like Jollibee and Seafood City.
• Los Angeles and Southern California: The greater Los Angeles area, particularly Carson and Historic Filipinotown ("HiFi"), is home to the largest total population of Filipino Americans in the U.S.. The community's history there includes early agricultural workers, post-WWII military personnel, and professionals, with ongoing efforts to gain recognition and visibility for Historic Filipinotown.
• "Many Heartbeats": This part of the phrase captures the complexity and diversity of the Filipino American experience, which is not monolithic. It includes:
  • Transnationalism and Nostalgia: The "double lives" of immigrants, who maintain strong emotional and economic ties to the Philippines while establishing new lives in the U.S., often feeling homesickness despite being surrounded by Filipino culture in their new home.
  • Political Engagement: Breaking stereotypes of being apolitical, Filipino Americans in both areas have developed significant political influence, electing mayors and other public officials.
  • Generational Shifts: The evolving experiences of first-generation immigrants versus second and third generations, and how Filipino identity is preserved, celebrated, and adapted over time.
  • Historical Context: The history is rooted in the unique colonial relationship between the U.S. and the Philippines, starting from the early 20th century migration of pensionados (students) and laborers. 

The phrase thus represents a narrative of resilience, community building, and the ongoing negotiation of identity within the broader American landscape. 

Clarification for the Response to the One Club Bid in Bridge

I asked ChatGPT this Query:

I have been playing contract and duplicate bridge for a number of years. I am using the American Standard Bidding system. However at times, there is confusion on what to respond to a One Club Opening Bid of your Partner. Some bridge players think it is a forcing bid, others say you are asking for 4 card major. Some players always respond 1 D whether they have zero points. What does the expert say on this topic? 

ChatGPT Response: This is a classic point of confusion in Standard American, and you’re right that you’ll hear very different “table rules” unless partnerships are clear💚. Let me summarize what mainstream experts actually teach, and then explain why the confusion exists.

Short Expert Answer (Standard American)

💚A 1♣ opening bid is not forcing.
It is natural, shows 3+ clubs, and 12–21 HCP.

Responder is not required to bid 1♦, and 1♣ does not ask for a four-card major.

However:

• Responder must bid if possible (unless playing Passed Hand situations).

• 1♦ with very weak hands is common practice, but it is not an expert requirement.

Why the Confusion Exists

Three different concepts get mixed together at the table:

1. Standard American

2. 2/1 Game Forcing

3. Modern expert style (Walsh / bypassing diamonds)

Many club players unconsciously blend these.

What Standard American Actually Says

1♣ Opening

• 3+ clubs (could be longer)

• 12–21 HCP

• Balanced or unbalanced

• Not forcing

Responder’s Obligations

• Responder must respond if holding 6+ points (some partnerships say 5+)

• With fewer than that, a pass is technically legal, though many partnerships avoid it

Responding to 1♣ — Expert Priorities

1. Bid a four-card major if you have one

This is the most important rule.

Hand	Correct Response
♠Kxxx ♥Qxxx ♦xx ♣xxx	1♥ or 1♠, not 1♦

Experts never hide a four-card major just to bid 1♦.

2. 1♦ is NOT automatic

Yes, many players respond 1♦ with 0–5 points, but that is partnership convenience, not doctrine.

Expert view:

• 1♦ shows 4+ diamonds

• Usually 6+ HCP (some play lighter)

• It is not a “garbage relay” by default

If your diamonds are only 3 cards, experts often prefer:

• A major

• 1NT (with appropriate shape)

• Sometimes even 1♣ with support later

3. Balanced Hands

Experts respond naturally:

Hand Type	Response
6–9 HCP, balanced, no major	1NT
10–12 HCP, balanced	2NT
13+ HCP	Game forcing route

---

The “1♦ With Zero Points” Habit

You’ve observed something very real.

Many club players:

• Always respond 1♦, regardless of points or diamonds

• Treat it as a “keep the auction alive” bid

Expert Opinion:

⚠️ This is not Standard American.

• It distorts responder’s hand

• It misleads opener

• It works only if both partners explicitly agree

Experts call this “garbage diamond”, and it must be fully disclosed if used.

Does 1♣ Ask for a Four-Card Major?

Absolutely not.

That idea comes from:

• Precision systems

• Artificial club systems

• Misapplied conventions

In Standard American:

• Responder shows majors

• Opener does not ask

If your partner expects 1♣ to be artificial or forcing, you are not playing Standard American, regardless of what they say.

Modern Expert Trend (Optional but Common)

Many experts today play Walsh style (even in Standard American):

• With a weak hand:

  • Bid a four-card major first

  • Bypass diamonds if weak

• Diamonds are shown only with:

  • No major, or

  • Enough strength to compete later

This reduces missed major fits.

Bottom Line (Expert Consensus)

✔ 1♣ is natural, not forcing
✔ It does NOT ask for a four-card major
✔ Responder should show a four-card major immediately
✔ 1♦ is not automatic and should show diamonds
✔ “Always bid 1♦ with zero points” is a partnership agreement, not expert Standard

Meanwhile, here's the  AI Overview on the Above Topic

Responding to a 1 Club bid in Bridge involves 

showing your hand's strength and shape, usually by bidding your longest suit (major first if 4-4), a 1NT bid for balanced hands (6-9 pts), or a special bid like 1♦ (artificial, showing no 5-card major) to clarify distribution and find a major fit, with specific meanings for different bids like 1♦ transfer, 1♥/♠ for 5+ card majors, and stronger jumps for more points or unbalanced hands, always aiming to describe your hand accurately for the opener. 

---

General Guidelines for Responding

• Minimum Points: You need at least 6 points to respond at the one-level; 10+ for a two-level response (except jumps).
• Find a Major Fit: The goal is often to find a 4-4 or 5-3 major suit fit, so show majors quickly if you have them.
• Bid Longest First: Show your longest suit first; if two 4-card suits, bid the lower one (unless it's diamonds and a major, then bid the major). 

Common Responses & Meanings (Standard Bidding)

• 1♦ (Artificial): Shows 6+ points, denying a 5-card major and usually not much strength.
• 1♥ / 1♠ (Natural): Shows 6+ points with a 5+ card suit, forcing.
• 1NT: Balanced hand, 6-9 points (or 9-11 if passed), no 4-card major, or a hand where you can't show another suit.
• 2NT: 11-12 points, balanced, no 4-card major.
• 2♥ / 2♠: 10+ points with a 5+ card suit (usually), forcing.
• 2♦ (Jump): Unbalanced hand, 11+ points, usually 5+ diamonds. 

Key Concepts

• Forcing Bids: Bids like 1♦ (artificial), 1♥, 1♠, and 2-level bids are forcing, meaning partner must bid again.
• Waiting Bids: 1♦ (artificial) and 1NT are waiting bids to get more information from the opener.
• Transfers (e.g., Toucan): Some systems use 1♦ as a transfer to 4+ hearts, and 1♥ as a transfer to 4+ spades, but this requires agreement. 

Example Scenarios

• With 4 Hearts & 4 Spades: Bid 1♥ (cheaper major).
• With 5 Hearts & 5 Spades: Bid 1♠ (higher ranking major).
• With 6+ points, 5 Diamonds, no 4-card major: Bid 1♦ (artificial).
• With 10+ points, 5+ Clubs, no 4-card major: Bid 2♣ (stronger club support). 

Personal Note: 💚Again, May I reiterate that Bridge is a Partnership Game. You and your partner have to agree on your bidding system for better communication in order to win.

Lastly, here's a song I dedicate to my THD Bridge Friends from Maureen Bell

  Sing it to the tune of The Caissons Go Rolling Along

The Popularity of Bridge: 

https://youtu.be/Zt1uD8bpRh8?si=BK9DWDr-wwKu7Q-A