Today is Exactly Fifteen Years After My Retirement from the FDA

Three of my more than a Dozen FDA Awards-Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) award was my most treasured award.

I woke up very early (5:30AM) this morning. I remember that today is exactly 15 years after my retirement from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Silver Spring, MD. I feel that my mind is not as alert compared to the previous years prior to my retirement. In addition, I also missed my interaction with my fellow workers and my Chemistry reviewers that I had supervised.

However, today I feel very happy and accomplished as I reminisce my life and career. It is rich with pleasant memories, but not with Gold or Money.

The following are the reasons why I feel very accomplished although not rich in gold, pesos or dollars and how it was attained.

My life is not rich in terms of dollars or pesos, or material possessions( luxurious villas or mansion here or abroad) but in pleasant memories and accomplishments.

How was this attained?

First, I grew up in the 1940's in the midst of the Japanese-American War in the Philippines. My father at that time was a Dental Officer for the Philippine-American Guerrilla Forces in Panay and Romblon Islands. Thus, I did have a lot of contacts with American GI's from all parts of the US. These contacts initiated and triggered my desire and ambition to someday see and visit the US. ( I had no desire or dream to reside in US at that time)

Second, my elementary and high school years were also filled with accomplishments. I graduated with honors in 6th Grade and valedictorian in my high school class. Except for a bullying incident in my freshman year, I had pleasant memories of my elementary and high school years.

Third, my college years at UP, Iloilo and Diliman, Quezon City were also filled with scholastic achievements. I received the Fernando Lopez Scholarship in Iloilo for attaining the highest grade in the whole university. In Diliman, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry missing 0.02 points to graduate CUM LAUDE(with honors).

Fourth, my graduate school years at the University Of Illinois in Chicago were also filled with pleasant memories. Those years were the hardest years of my life. Those years started with seeing my first snow in US, followed by raising three children ( my 4th child was born after my graduate school years) while a graduate and teaching assistant and culminated with my doctorate degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry in 1964.

Fifth, my professional career working as a chemist for 20 years for three private companies and later for the federal government (FDA) for another 12 years ( as team leader) were unforgettable. My years in FDA were filled with awards and challenges. My 12 years in FDA was the most productive years in my professional career. My superiors informed me that I was the first Filipino-American Chemistry team leader in the Center of New drugs in the history of the US Food and Drug Administration.

Sixth, Macrine ( my spouse of 60 years) and my involvement with the activities of the Filipino-American Community in the Washington, D.C., Kansas City, Missouri, Modesto and Pinole, California were memories that we will treasure and will never forget as long as we live.

Last, but not least were the civic, social and humanitarian projects that Macrine and I had been involved since the early 1960's here in the Philippines and US. Our involvement with the Marinduque International, Inc medical mission projects since 1996 to the present are memories we will never forget.

Indeed, my wife and I are not rich in GOLD or SILVER, but in MEMORIES, ACCOMPLISHMENTS and Personal Relationships.

For details of the above accomplishments and activities, visit my blog sites at

http://theintellectualmigrant.blogspot.com or http://lifeinus1960present.blogspot.com

NOTE: Happy Halloween to ALL!

Napoleon Abueva-A Famous Living Contemporary

I first met Napoleon Abueva when he was a young Instructor in the College of Fine Arts, University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines in the mid 1950's. At that time I was also an Instructor in Chemistry at the College of Liberal Arts. I believe he was also a member of UPSCA( University of the Philippines Student Catholic Action) at that time. The above picture is how he looks as I remember him. Today he is 87 years old -only four years older than me. For more details on his accomplishments read https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_Abueva and/or https://theculturetrip.com/asia/philippines/articles/napoleon-abueva-the-artist-who-created-modern-filipino-sculpture/

The following is an e-mail from Dr Joel Cuello- President of PAASE ( Philippine-American Academy of Science & Engineering) summarizing Mr. Abueva's accomplishment as National Artist( Sculpture) of the Philippines.

One of the many sculptures ( Bridge of Love) of Abueva that I really enjoy and admire.

My Own Bridge of Love-the focal point in the landscaping of our beach house and retirement home in the Philippines.

Here's the E-mail that I received today:

Dear Paase Member:

The transcendent artistry and astounding range of Napoleon Abueva's body of work simply cannot be denied. I surely hope to see more of his sculptures, photos shown in this link, when I visit the PH:

https://www.google.com/search?q=napoleon+abueva&rlz=1C1BLWB_enUS560&tbm=isch&source=iu&pf=m&ictx=1&fir=lca1VSF81AHU7M%253A%252COq0UO1YLdz4OoM%252C_&usg=__inMVfTAtdPXIBWmXYEKPjWuGEOk%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj_0LbgwpXXAhXpqlQKHT98AJ8Q_h0IhwEwDA#imgrc=xmt7ycgg57mTOM:

At 87, Abueva is now indeed a lion in winter. I sincerely hope that there are rising young Filipino sculptors today possessed of Abueva's artistic sensibility, instinctively deep understanding of Filipino myths and history, and his utter conviction and audacity.

http://bluprint.ph/napoleon-abueva-house-studio/

Memories of a Frustrated Singer-The Philippines Madrigal Singers

When Macrine( my spouse of 60 years) and I were students at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City (early-1950's), we joined the University of the Philippines Student Catholic Action Choir (UPSCA). This was an extracurricular activity that we both loved and enjoyed.

So every time I heard choral music it reminds me of my student days, making me feel young again. This video is one of the best choral music that I have heard so far from You Tube. Enjoy "the Prayer" as sang by the world renown Philippine Madrigal Singers. The background are scenery's of nature, animals and birds with most of the photographs highlighting the four seasons in the US. A couple of photos show children from the Philippines and India.

Macrine and I loved singing in the choir here in Northern California. In our younger days, we sang in our church choir on Sunday masses in Pinole, as well as with the UP Alumni, Berkeley Chapter Choir based in El Sobrante, California. Five years ago, we sang in the Church Choir here in Fair Oaks. We even sang a duet of Silent Night in Tagalog at the concert before the Christmas midnight mass. Macrine and I had also organized the Marinduque Association of the Capital Area( MACA) Christmas Caroling Group in Colesville, Maryland in the late 1990's.

Macrine used to be a soloist. She sang soprano coloratura in her younger days. Today her voice is ruined by her cigarette smoking. I sang baritone, also comfortable with tenor. I could read notes, and took piano lessons, when I was a kid. I have taken only about six months of voice lesson, but did well on my first concert singing "O Solo Mio", an Italian song and Buhat, a Tagalog song. This shows that I am not only a frustrated writer but also a frustrated singer.

Some of My Favorite Photos from ReSnap in Face Book

Amoingon Beach-a few meters from the balcony of the Chateau Du Mer Beach House, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines

Click the Link below and enjoy some of my favorite photos.

https://editor.resnap.com/#!/s0W2NOnmOLay9552yfW8/view/Mcd71507745968jKDUoohxMoIulRMg?lang=en

Our Involvement with Christian Family Movement (CFM) in the United States-An Update

I wrote my first article about CFM when Macrine and I were introduced to Pat and Patty Crowley of Wheaton, Illinois ( suburb of Chicago) in 1960. I was still a graduate student at the University of Illinois in Chicago at that time. We continued our involvement with CFM in Kansas City, Missouri after I graduated with my Ph.D degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry in 1964.

In Kansas City, Macrine and I organized the first and only ecumenical unit ( composed of 5 couples of various religious affiliation) in our Diocese. Macrine and I participated in the first Marriage Encounter Retreat organized by CFM in 1966. Our involvement with CFM was the most rewarding activity that Macrine and I have experienced as a young couple raising four young children in the US. Our involvement with CFM ended when we moved to Modesto, California in 1969.

Our involvement with CFM is detailed in my autobiography as follows:

http://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/2011/12/chapter-7-life-in-chicago-illinois-and.html

Just in case you have not heard-CFM is a lay religious movement composed of groups of families embracing the Christian faith.

Macrine and I first heard of CFM in the Philippines from Pat and Patty Crowley in the early 1960's when I was a graduate student at the University of Illinois in Chicago. The Crowley's mentioned the names of Tony and Teresa Nieva to us. It was a coincidence that Tony Nieva was my mother-in-law first cousin. Today we are in contact with both Ronie and Pepi Nieva-daughters of the Tony ( RIP) and Teresa.

Here's some information about CFM of the Philippines from their web site:

Pat & Patty Crowley of Chicago, USA, brought the movement to the Philippines on Feb. 8, 1956. Within the year, Tony & Teresa Nieva formed the first CFM unit in Makati.

The CFM was the first lay organization whose members are both the husband and wife and their children. CFM pioneered the Family and Life Programs in the Philippines developing or introducing, and delivering up to now the following programs:

1950’s – Marriage Orientation (Pre-Cana Counseling) and Holy Week retreat for  Couples

1960’s –Family Life Education (FLED) courses in schools, Marriage Encounter (ME), Discovery Weekend

1970’s – Marriage Enrichment (TIPANAN), Solo Parents Program, and Sons and Daughters Encounter (SADE), Family Rights Movement.

1980’s – Family Communications and Young Adults Program (YAP)

1990’s -FIRES Priest Encounter and FIRES Marriage Encounter, Self Encounter, New Pentecost and Family Life Appreciation Seminar (FLAS)

2000’s – “Ala… Una ang Pamilya” regular Sunday radio program on Veritas 846.

The initial formation takes place through the Family Evangelization Program (FEP) guidebooks using the inquiry or Observe, Judge, Act (OJA) methodology, authored by its members.

CFM also pioneered in 1950 – 60’s advocacy activities in the field of social action, mass media, good government, clean & honest elections (NAMFREL)

For more details read: http://www.cfmphilippines.org/

My Seven Most Treasured Short Videos

http://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/2016/10/my-treasured-and-memorable-videos.html


The following seven videos are my treasures. They are the videos that have touched my life!

Ditas, my youngest daughter, interviewed by Comcast, as California Director of Census, 2010



Carenna singing one of her original songs

Macrine's 80th Birthday

Chateau Du Mer, 2011

Carlos Avila, Macrine's Nephew