High Occupancy Rate of the First Floor of the Fairmount Building (THD)

With the move of Sandi G💥 on the first floor of the Fairmount Building here at THD, only one apartment is vacant. The vacant apartment is a one bedroom recently vacated by my former next door neighbor, Marvin who moved to Merrill Gardens in Lafayette since he needs more assistance in his daily activities.  

The first floor occupants in the first floor of the Fairmount Building, I know by name. The other day, Claudia R across my apartment talk to me that she is thinking of organizing an informal welcome to our new neighbor, Sandi G in the near future.  I said she organize it and I will support her.   So currently the residents in the first floor of the Fairmount Building starting on the West Wing are Mary R, ME, and Sara R.

In the East Wing are Claudia R, Sandi G ( new resident) and Maggie Y. I have not been to the second or third floor of the Fairmount Building but looking at the names in the Mail boxes in the Garage it appears that there are 4 empty apartments in the second floor and the 3rd floor has 100% occupancy.  

On the other hand, I heard during one of our meal times conversations with some Liberty Building Residents that the occupancy rate in the Liberty Building is only about 50%. When I heard this, I was somewhat concern that THD may not be making money and the owner may be tempted to sell this compound to a Conglomerate. So I wrote an e-mail of suggestion to THD management as follows:

"Let me start this e-mail by saying this is not my business. After talking to several residents here during meal times, I have learned that THD is not known at all in the Internet World. Except for the Page Book page with limited readership, I have not seen any ads in the local newspapers advertising this 5 Star Facility for Seniors Independent Living Facility.  Perhaps additional budget for advertising is needed. 

 

Another suggestion is the Buddy system: If a resident recommends a friend/relative to rent here, he or she should be given A GIFT AND PERHAPS A DISCOUNT IN THE NEXT MONTH RENT.

 

I have a couple of friends who are interested in renting here, but I am neutral to their plans. If there is an incentive for residents if they recruit new renters, my attitude would be more positive.  Again, this is just A suggestion. I hope you do not feel I am intruding into your jobs/position here at THD.

 

David, A Happy Resident   

Here are two responses from THD Management to My E-mail:

First Response: Thank you, David.  Personally, I feel everyone should feel comfortable and welcome to offer suggestions.  I know you are a “happy resident” and I appreciate your “courage” 😊 in sending this. There is nothing wrong with providing insight and perspective that could potentially benefit the community as a whole!  Thank you again, David,

My Response to Above: My life experience as owner/manager of Bed & Breakfast Beach Resort in the Philippines tells me that advertising and promotion works. David

 

We have many new residents arriving in October and November -  A new neighbor ‘Sandi’ arriving on your floor tomorrow!  Thank you again!

 

💥I have breakfast with Sandi G. the other day( her first breakfast) here at THD. I learned she moved from Mission Viejo, CA to be near her closed relatives here in Concord and Walnut Creek. She plays bridge and aqua exercises. I told her of the THD Bridge group. She said it may take her a few weeks to settle down to participate in activities here and I can identify with that  sentiment personally. Her daughter-in-law who helped her move told her that she read in the THD Facebook page that one of the reasons why I moved here is to play bridge again after a hiatus of several years. It is a small world indeed with Facebook.

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I checked on Google the ranking of THD when you do Internet search for Seniors Independent Living Facility in the East Bay. THD is on the 5th row in the list as follows: 

senior independent living facilty in the East Bay

Judge for yourself. However, THD has been listed as a 2023 Award Winner for the Best Senior Independent Living Facility by the Place For Mom organization

I was assured that the owners of THD has no intention of selling this senior community to a conglomerate and I should not worry about it. 

Thank you all for reading my blogs. Your written and oral comments about my postings encourages me to continue blogging and so far so good. Have a Great Week. The rains, the rains etc....We need more rain!!!. 

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Personal Note: New Term  I Learned and Suggested by a Resident Reader of my Blogs: 

Instead of using and referring THD as a Facility, the term community or senior compound is better.

Instead of using the Term Cleaning Ladies, it was suggested I used the term Housekeeping Staff

I agree and appreciate very much the suggestion. Again Thank you, CP for the suggestion and reading my blogs.   To all my readers, suggestion to improve my blog posting are always encouraged and appreciated.  

Some Key Dates in the Philippine History-My Hand-0ut during my Oct 14 Talk

Below was the handout I passed during my talk last October 14, here at THD.

Needless to say my talk was resounding success based on comments after my talk. My goal of spreading good words about the Philippines to fellow senior residents who have little knowledge of the  country of my birth has been achieved. Thank You, THD management for celebrating Filipino-American History Month by featuring a Filipino Dinner, A Resident Talk and several award winning movies for the whole month of October here at our Cinema.

IMPORTANT TIMELINE in Philippine History

IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES

Image caption, 

Spain's fabled galleons plied the Pacific trade route between Manila and Acapulco

Some key dates in The Philippines' history:

900AD - Laguna Copperplate Inscription, mostly written on Old Malay, is the earliest record of a Philippine language and the presence of writing in the islands.

11th Century - Some areas become part of China's tributary system.

14th Century - Indian cultural traits such as linguistic terms and religious practices began to spread in the Philippines.

15th Century - Islam is first established in the Sulu Archipelago.

1521-Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippines, but was killed in Mactan, Cebu

1565-First Spanish Settlement in the Philippines. Legazpi arrived in Cebu (the chief port of Visayas) from New Spain (México) in 1565 with six Augustinian friars. As the first royal governor and captain-general (gobernador y capitán general), Legazpi established the first permanent Spanish settlement, built a chapel and erected a fort.

1542 - Spanish expedition claims the islands and names them the Philippines after the heir to the Spanish throne. Three centuries of Spanish rule fail to conquer Muslim areas in the south. 

1762-64- The British Occupied Manila for Eighteen Months

1896-98 - Philippine Revolution: Filipino revolutionaries fight against the Spanish colonial authorities in an attempt to win the archipelago's independence. 

1897 - Spanish authorities and revolutionaries sign the Pact of Biak-na-Bato, which temporarily reduces, and revolutionary officers exile themselves to Hong Kong. 

1898 - During the Spanish-American War, the US navy destroys the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay. Spain cedes the Philippines to the US, which proclaims military rule and begins to forcibly incorporate Muslim areas.

1898-1902 - Philippine-American War: Tensions arise after the US annexes the Philippines under the Treaty of Paris at end of the Spanish-American War rather than acknowledging the Philippines' declaration of independence. The war can be seen as a continuation of the Philippine struggle for independence that began in 1896 with the Philippine Revolution.

1916 - Jones Act, or Philippine Autonomy Act, which has the first formal declaration by the US to grant eventual independence to the Philippines.

1935 - Commonwealth of the Philippines: Philippines gains internal self-government, with the US responsible for foreign relations. 

1941-1945 - The Philippines are occupied by Japan during the World War Two, but are retaken by the US in bitter fighting. More than 500,000 Filipinos die during the war.

1946 - The islands are granted full independence and renamed the Republic of the Philippines.

1942-1954 - Hukbalahap Rebellion: Rebellion by former Hukbalahap or Hukbong Bayan Laban sa Hapon ("People's Army Against Japan") soldiers against the Philippine government. During the Japanese occupation the Huk guerrillas created village strongholds against the Japanese. After 1945, the new Philippine government, prompted by the US disarmed and arrested the Huks for allegedly being communists. The rebellion eventually petered out in the 1950s. 

1965 - Ferdinand Marcos is elected president; he declares martial law in 1972.

1983 - Anti-Marcos lawyer Benigno Aquino is assassinated at Manila's airport as he returns from exile.

1986 - Marcos ousted in "people power" revolt after claiming victory over Aquino's widow in an election that many believe was stolen.

2001 - President Joseph Estrada is forced out by a military-backed "people power" uprising. 

2014 - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebel group signs a peace deal with the government, ending one of Asia's longest and deadliest conflicts.

2017 - Islamic State jihadists attack the city of Marawi in Mindanao.

2022 - Ferdinand Marcos Jr, son of the previous dictator, is elected president.

Meanwhile, enjoy these photo of our Filipino Dinner Menu-Friday October 13

Personal Note: Have You Heard of Carlos Bulosan? He was a prolific writer and poet, best remembered as the author of America Is in the Heart, a landmark semi-autobiographical story about the Filipino immigrant experience.

Bulosan gained recognition in mainstream American society with the 1944 publication of Laughter of my Father, which was excerpted in the New Yorker, Harper’s Bazaar, and Town and Country. He immigrated to America from the Philippines in 1930, endured horrendous conditions as a laborer, became active in the labor movement, and was blacklisted along with other labor radicals during the 1950s. He spent his last years in Seattle, jobless, penniless, and in poor health.

UC Davis has the Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies to honor the memory of Carlos. In 2019, the state of California granted the Bulosan Center $1,000,000 to facilitate its continued growth. With that money, the Center hired staff and has been able to fully fund the research of several graduate students whose work will have a direct impact on the Filipinx American community.

Hart Hall, home of the Bulosan Center for Filipinx Studies at the University of California, Davis

 https://bulosancenter.ucdavis.edu/about-us