Travel with Me Down Under ( Australia) via Ditas Photos- First Day In Sydney with Efren Katague Clan

Ditas on her first day of her Australian Adventure and Talk arrived in Sydney last week Sunday( March 30). My younger brother, Efren and family welcomed her. Although she was still suffering from jet lag, the Katague Clan treated her to lunch and show her beautiful Sydney and some of its tourist attractions ( the Opera House and Vicinity, Bondi Beach and Blue Mountains)

Efren is my younger brother. His family had been residents of Sydney for several decades. His son, David, my namesake had visited me here at THD just recently.  
 Here are some photos Ditas sent me on her first day in Australia. Ditas will speak at the Indigenous Data Conference in Canberra, April 3. Then she plans on Living aboard the Reef Encounter Boat in the Great Barrier Reef.  She will also visit Brisbane and Cairns.

Ditas FB message: After a long long flight-Fantastic visit with the Katague cousins in Sydney! Thank you for a great start of my voyage down under!

The Sydney Opera House - An Iconic Landmark 

My brother Efren and Sister-in-law, Lourdes with Ditas

Ditas with Efren's oldest Grand Daughter-Annie.   She is Beautiful! An Aussie-Pinoy Mestiza. I believe she is only 13 years old and in 9th Grade . 

Ditas Blue Mountain Tour, NSW, AU 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1738895387058516
and Bondi Beach
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1195916605221536

Meanwhile, Did you know that....

The statue near Manila Cathedral isn’t just any Spanish king—it’s King Charles IV, honored for sending the smallpox vaccine to the Philippines in the early 1800s.

As part of the Balmis Expedition, this life-saving mission brought vaccines across Spanish territories, protecting countless Filipinos from the deadly disease.

While Spain’s rule was controversial, this act of medical aid left a lasting impact—so much so that Charles IV got a statue in Intramuros!

Finally Did you know that...

The Dao tree (Dracontomelon dao) can grow over 50 meters tall, with massive roots strong enough to break through concrete! This towering giant is a true testament to the power of nature.Dao provides high-quality lumber used for furniture, houses, and plywood production. Its durability makes it a valuable resource in construction and woodworking.

These unique Philippine woods are proof that the country’s forests once held some of the strongest and most valuable trees in the world!

Secrets of a Long Lasting Marriage

From My Readings This Week: This posting is inspired from my recent meal time conversation with a THD couple residents who have been married for over 68 years.  

I have been married to one person for over 63 years, but now living alone since 2022.  I was often ask what my secrets or formula I had to attain that goal. My serious answer was always: Communication, Patience and Love.  My non-serious answer was; Made my wife thinks she is the boss, but in reality I am! Or Made you wife thinks she is the Boss, But in reality You Are!

My Wedding Day- May 8, 1957,  Boac, Marinduque, Philippines

Here are 8 traits of a long-lasting marriage that you can put into practice today, if you are still married. 

1. Understand compromise

Every couple in existence will have a conflict or some form of obstacle throughout their relationship. Some more severe than others. The number one thing to be resilient in the face of adversity is understanding how to compromise. Being able to solve problems together is crucial to a resilient marriage. This means knowing the needs and priorities of your partner and vice versa to clearly communicate and find common ground. Don’t throw in the towel to just “get it over.” True compromise is sitting and listening with an open mind to each other until each person feels heard and understood, and then making a mutual decision TOGETHER. 

2. Show emotion and be vulnerable

Gone are the days when men used to hide their emotions. Understanding and being in tune with your feelings and emotions can help you show compassion towards your partner in times of conflict. By showing your partner compassion, you are showing that you care and respect your partner. The vulnerability is what connects people and helps form the foundational bond of a long-lasting relationship. If we aren’t vulnerable, we aren’t connected. And if we’re not connected, we’re not in a real relationship.

3. Trust fully in your spouse

Trust is a major indicator of a resilient marriage and one of the most important things to keep strong in a marriage. If trust is broken or taken away, long-term work will have to be put in to redeem the relationship, and the trust may never come back. Trust isn’t just about infidelity, it’s about knowing that you are secure, your deepest thoughts are protected, and that no matter what your spouse will be there to love and support you in the long run.

4. Show physical affection- be intimate!

The last thing you want to happen in your marriage is to feel like you are platonic roommates. Physical intimacy is a strong foundation for a happy marriage and is what keeps your bond evolving and growing as time goes on. Intimacy helps you feel truly loved and accepted by your spouse and improves loyalty, honesty, and appreciation towards one another. Physical intimacy helps connect you together and makes you feel wanted and loved by your partner.

5. Respect one another

If you feel respected by your spouse and vice versa, you will grow security and confidence in your marriage. Respecting your partner in difficult times and in difficult situations (both within and outside of your relationship) helps your spouse feel truly appreciated and loved. When we care about others, we show them respect. So if you aren’t respecting your partner you’re sending the message that you don’t care about them.

6. Appreciate each and every moment of your time spent together

This means practicing mindfulness and being present. This could be putting your phone away during meals, eating together without the TV on and talking about your day, giving your spouse your full attention when together and showing them that you are there for them instead of just physically being by their side. Try an experiment: take a minimum of 15 minutes each day of 1 week to truly be present with your partner – see what happens.

7. Be best friends

Having a solid friendship with your spouse is the foundation of a happy marriage. You know each other better than you may know your close friends, you can laugh with each other and enjoy spur of the moment adventures, and can share many exciting memories as best friends would. By being your spouse’s friend, you will strengthen your relationship long-term and will know that you will be by each other’s side no matter what. Share secrets, tell stories, laugh together, cry together and explore together.

8. Make your marriage a priority in life

If you want your marriage to be resilient, you need to put your marriage first. Your spouse is not only your lover but your life partner and will be by your side throughout your entire life. Someone who has dedicated their life to you should be your number one priority. By making each other a priority, you are practicing the art of mutual respect, being in the moment, and every other trait explained above. Even when kids and “life” come into the picture, continuing to make your marriage a priority is a crucial factor in a long-lasting marriage. For Details read:

https://www.marriage.com/advice/relationship/traits-of-a-lasting-marriage/

Here is our Golden Wedding Anniversary Photo, Chateau Du Mer, Boac Mrinduque, Philippines, 2007

Meanwhile, Wishing You All....

Happy International Day of Happiness!

This year’s theme CARING AND SHARING reminds us that lasting happiness comes from caring for each other, feeling connected and being part of something bigger.

We’re encouraging 1 million extra acts of caring and sharing all around the world. And you can be part of it!

The International Day of Happiness was celebrated on 20 March, and was set up by the United Nations (UN) in 2013 as a day to celebrate the things that make people all over the world happy.

Lastly, Statistics and Demographics of THD Residents Based from the April 2025 Phone Book

Total Residents= 153,  Number of Couples= 17,  Number of Single Men= 22,   So the total number of men= 39 and total number of women = 115. That is around 1:3 Men to Women Ratio.  Note that there is one Female Resident not listed in the phone book.  We called her the Masked Lady or Ghost Lady.    

My Educated Guess, is that there are around 20 residents over 90 years old including myself. The average age of the residents is probably in the early 80's.  The 3:1 women to men ratio confirmed that women live longer than men. Does this mean that women are the stronger sex?    https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2024/10/why-women-live-longer-than-men.html

Newton's New Breakfast Offerings- Papeta par Eda

My Breakfast, Wednesday, April 2, 2025 plus a Cup of Coffee! No Eggs!

 A New Recipe by Carmen and her Newton's Breakfast Crew-A Potato Dish from India( Photo Above)

My Congratulations to Carmen and her Breakfast Kitchen Crew for a Variation in Our Breakfast menu and her new recipe, Papeta par Eda💚 inspired by Indian spices. It was a little spicy but I loved it. Thank you, Carmen for trying to vary some of Newton's breakfast offerings.

In general the food in Newton's is great. The salads, soups and desserts are great. However, the main menu appears to be the same every other week, except on Special Holidays. Thus a little bit of variation in the menu will be highly appreciated and will add tremendously to our quality of Life here at THD.

In the past I have been suggesting in my blogs to have a monthly special dinners featuring ethnic dishes from all over the world. There are 193 countries in the world.  There are only 12 months in a year. I would imagine it will not be too hard to have 12 dishes featured in our dinner menu, once a year. That is not asking too much. For as they say, Variety is the Spice of Life. 

Here's the recipe of the Potato Dish that Carmen featured yesterday. Carmen said this was her first time to try the recipe. I love it! The dish reminds me of Macrine's (RIP) potato soufflé recipe, that I have enjoyed for a number of years.  I have the dish without the eggs. 

💚

           The most amazing egg recipes in India are found in the Parsi community, but papeta par eda (eggs over potatoes) is hands-down my favorite. You can have it for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack. Sometimes it’s even prepared with potato chips instead of sliced potatoes! If you have any leftover cooked potatoes, you can reheat them in a small skillet and poach a fresh egg on top. Sprinkle with some more chopped cilantro and you have a delicious dish in minutes.

Deselect All

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil or vegetable oil

3 red onions (about 1 pound), thinly sliced 

1 tablespoon peeled and grated fresh ginger 

1 to 5 Thai green chiles or 1 to 2 serrano peppers (depending on your spice level), finely chopped  

3 cloves garlic, grated 

1 tablespoon unsalted butter 

3 Yukon gold potatoes (about 1 pound), peeled, cut into approximately 1/8-inch slices and soaked in a large bowl of water 

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper 

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems 

6 large eggs

Directions

Special equipment:

 a heavy skillet with a lid

1. Heat the oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the ginger, chiles and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the raw smell goes away, about 3 minutes.
2. Add the butter, potatoes and 2 teaspoons salt and gently stir to combine. Lower the heat to medium and cook, occasionally gently turning over the potato and onion mixture from the bottom, until the potatoes are just cooked, but still firm, about 10 minutes. Some of the potatoes should have nice crispy edges and some of the onions should be caramelized.  
3. Add most of the cilantro (reserving some for garnish) and gently stir in. Adjust the salt to taste. Gently flatten out the mixture and make 6 evenly spaced nests in it using the back of a spoon. Crack an egg into each nest. 
4. Pour 2 tablespoons of water around the edge of the skillet. Cover the skillet, lower the heat to medium-low and cook until the egg whites are set and the yolks are still slightly wobbly, 8 to 10 minutes. (Open the lid and peek every few minutes to make sure the eggs are not getting overcooked.) 
5. Sprinkle with some salt and pepper and garnish with the remaining cilantro.

From: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/papeta-par-eda-11148237

Meanwhile. Did you know that....

The average Filipino eats around 120 kg of rice per year? That’s more than most people in Southeast Asia! Rice is not just a side dish in the Philippines—it’s the ultimate Pinoy staple food, appearing in almost every meal. Whether it's served with adobo, sinigang, or just a simple fried egg, rice is the foundation of Filipino dining.

It's so ingrained in the culture that it's often part of every family gathering, celebration, and even daily life. No rice, no meal—that’s the Filipino way!

Lastly Did you Know that .......

In 1906, a Filipino baby was displayed at the Coney Island "Human Zoo" in New York, USA. This disturbing exhibit was part of a broader trend where indigenous Filipinos, especially Igorots, were showcased like curiosities. It was a grim reminder of colonial-era racism and the dehumanization of non-Western peoples.