Our Chicago ( Graduate School) Years for the StoryWorth Book of Memories

This is a response to the query about our life in Chicago during my graduate school years for StoryWorth.

Macrine and Her Mom, Mrs Elena Nieva Jambalos (both RIP), at our Residence, University of Illinois Staff Apartments in Chicago, 1962
 

My family ( Macrine(RIP) and 3 children at that time) resided in the Chicago area for four years from 1960 to 1964. We stayed at the University Of Illinois Medical Center Staff Apartments(photo above). During that time I was a part-time Instructor in Chemistry and at the same time pursuing my doctorate degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University.
University of Illinois, College of Pharmacy, Medical Center-my part time employer and scholarship sponsor during my graduate school years in Chicago.

My family favorite places at that time were the Lincoln Zoo and Lake Michigan. We also love the Chicago Art Institute and the downtown area department stores(Marshall Field and Sears). On several occasions, we have been invited for Thanksgiving weekends in Danville & Springfield, Illinois and surrounding towns. On a couple of Christmas days we have been lucky to be invited at the home of the late Pat and Patty Crowley in Wheaton, Illinois as well as in the homes of the Dean and Faculty members of the College of Pharmacy.

The Crowleys were very active leaders of the Christian Family Movement(CFM) at that time. Our fours years in Chicago is synonymous to our involvement with CFM. The Christian Family Movement (also known as CFM) is a national movement of parish (neighborhood) small groups of families that meet in one another’s homes to reinforce Christian values and actively encourage other fellow Christian parents through active involvement with others. CFM groups contain five to seven families and the adults meet two nights each month in each others houses.

At meetings the members of CFM use many different programs provided by CFM USA. Parents talk about what they have seen in their family or neighborhood and discuss these opinions on what they have seen through the life and teachings of Jesus. After these discussions they make plans on how they can act out the changes they talked about that will positively affect families in their community. 

The method used by CFM members is called the Observe/Judge/Act technique. Members say this method helps in such areas as “foster-parenting, prison ministry, refugee sponsorship, religious education and couple counseling.” Joseph Cardijn, the founder of the Young Christian Workers Movement in Belgium, was the first person to bring about the observe/judge/act technique (also known as the Jocist Method).
Simple Gifts-Pat and Patty Crowley
 

The Christian Family Movement had its first national seminar in June 1949 where it was represented by 59 delegates from 11 different cities. Pat and Patty Crowley were first elected to be the Executive Secretary Couple where they lead the movement for the next 20 years. CFM had become a nation-wide movement. This was shown through their first publication (ACT), its official recognition by the church, and the way that CFM groups from other cities were able to communicate with each other. The first CFM program was called For Happier Families and was dispersed to over 2,500 groups within the span of a year.

While we were in Chicago, we were very fortunate to be invited to their home along with other foreign students studying in the Chicago area. These social events were welcome by us, because we meet other students from other parts of the world; we have a lot things in common to talk about. Thus, after graduation, we made it a point to get involve with the local CFM group. We wrote the Crowley's of our impressions of America as students. It was published in the ACT MAGAZINE dated May, 1968 as follows:

" Not long ago we received an interesting letter from Dave and Macrine Katague. In the early part of this decade they spent four years as graduate students at the University of Illinois in Chicago. As native of the Philippines, they were in a strange city and a strange land. They would not have learned very much about it, had it not been for the hospitality extended by CFM groups as well as Executive Secretary Couple Pat and Patty Crowley. Reflecting upon their past experiences, Dave and Macrine Katague wonder about the attitudes of those who spent times in the States, but did not learn to know the people of our country." They write:

Our Impression of America

" During our first year in Chicago, we never received an invitation to participate in the hospitality program. Our name was probably buried in the list of foreign students or perhaps our foreign student adviser was sleeping in her job. During these first year of adjustments to the American way of life, we formed a very wrong impression of Americans. Asides from our daily contacts with fellow students in the school rooms or dormitories, our only other social contacts were people in the streets, subways, buses, department stores, supermarkets and other public places. These were all artificial contacts, giving us an impression that Americans are unfriendly, artificial, insincere, apathetic,intolerant and above all ignorant.The latter adjective was quite true, since the ordinary or typical American does not have the vaguest idea where the Philippines, Japan or even Puerto Rico is located in the map.
 

" However, in our second year, we began receiving invitation to spend a weekend in suburban homes as well as dinner invitations in city homes. At first, we were reluctant to accept the invitation, however with our adventurous spirit, we said yes. From then on, "we have the whole world in our hands". We are thankful to CFM, the YWCA and the Hospitality Center of Chicago for making our stay filled with pleasant memories.

"On the other hand what impressions could we have brought back to the Philippines, if our stay was limited to one or two years ( true for exchange visitors). How many visitors and exchange scholars brought home with them the wrong impressions and attitude towards the American people in general? I knew there were a few foreign students in the dormitories who were disillusioned about the United States. One of them was a former dorm mate from Chile. He received an invitation, but never did conquer his apprehension of accepting one.

" At present as couple leader of the first interfaith group in our diocese, we will do our very best to reciprocate, promote, and encourage hospitality programs to foreign students and scholars in our area. We believe that opening our homes and our hearts on weekends and holidays, is one of the best ways of promoting world peace and understanding. Let us then make it possible for foreign students and scholars get the true picture of America and its people. Let us give them the opportunity to share with us our way of life. Let us get busy as a group or perhaps join other groups in order that we can show to the future leaders of the world, how sincere, friendly and aware we are of other human beings in other parts of the world. This is one of the many ways we could be more Christlike, we believe".
This letter was published by CFM in their monthly magazine, ACT, for all their members worldwide.

This is another event in Chicago I will always remember: This is a true story on the birth of our second son( David III)-our third child in 1962. In order to save money, I moved the family from the University apartments to a student housing subsidized by the state. The government housing was about five miles from the university. I had to buy a second hand car from another graduate student, a 1957 Mercury Montclair. I remember I paid only $500 for it.

One night while Macrine was preparing thanksgiving dinner, she started labor pains. I was so excited,I did not realized I was driving about 70 miles in a 40 miles speed zone. So there goes the police car with the blinking lights and loudspeaker. I stopped by the side of the road, very nervous and blurted to the police " I am going to have a baby". The policeman looked at me and answered back," No you are not! your wife is ! Come follow me to the hospital". So we have a police car with his blinking lights and siren escorting us to the emergency room of the University Of Illinois Hospital.

Another memorable event during our Chicago Years is our First Thanksgiving Celebration. Here's an excerpt from my write-up in my blogs.

 

"It was November, 1960 when Macrine and I and our oldest son, Dodie(who was only 2 years old then) experienced our first Thanksgiving Celebration in the United States. That year, I was a graduate student of the University of Illinois at the Medical Center in Chicago. The Chicago Hospitality Center along with YMCA and Christian Family Movement(CFM) invites all foreign students in the area to spend a thanksgiving weekend to the homes of volunteers in small towns of Illinois away from the crowded city of Chicago. Some of my foreign student friends were reluctant and did not accept the invitation, but I had an adventurous spirit so with great anticipation, Macrine and I along with Dodie went with 12 other foreign students and their families to Central Illinois.

Our host for that weekend was Mrs. Johnston, a widow from Danville, Illinois. She lives alone and her beautiful bungalow house right in downtown Danville. We left Chicago in the morning, had thanksgiving dinner ( turkey and all its trimmings)in late afternoon. This was followed by a program in the evening at a local community center, where all the hosts met and socialized with other invited students from Korea, Iran, Mexico, Japan, Chile, South Africa, Egypt and the Philippines.

The next day we had a grand tour of the area, the farms and then to Springfield, the capital city of Illinois where we visited the Lincoln Library and Museum. The tour of the area and Springfield was the highlight of our two days break from our hectic schedules as a graduate students.

So, did I like the roasted turkey? Nope, that was first time I had turkey. In the Philippines we do not celebrate Thanksgiving and I had never tasted turkey before. I did not like the pumpkin pie either. What I enjoyed was the oyster stuffing, vanilla ice cream and the cranberries sauce".

Meanwhile enjoy this video of Michael Andreas-great great grandson of Franz Liszt playing Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu in his preteen years.

 

Crape Myrtle-Most Popular Landscaping Plant in My Neighborhood

 

The several varieties and colors of Crape Myrtles. They come either as a tree, shrubs or dwarf Plants. In Tagalog, crape myrtle is known as Banaba. It is not only planted as an ornamental but also for its medicinal( leaves) properties.

The Purple and Red Variety Across the Street from the House

The Light Pink Variety on my Next Door Neighbor to the East

My  Dark Red Crape Myrtle in my Front Yard

It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical areas. The leaves of the banabá and other parts are used widely in the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan as a tea preparation. Banabá herb is one of the 69 herbal plants promoted by the Philippine Department of Health (DOH). In Vietnam the plant's young leaves are consumed as vegetables, and its old leaves and mature fruit are used in traditional medicine for reducing glucose in blood. The seeds have narcotic properties.
Crape myrtles are chiefly known for their colorful and long-lasting flowers, which occur in summer. Most species of Lagerstroemia have sinewy, fluted stems and branches with a mottled appearance that arises from having bark that sheds throughout the year. The leaves are opposite and simple, with entire margins, and vary from 5–20 cm (2–8 in). While all species are woody in nature, they can range in height from over 30 m (100 ft) to under 30 cm (1 ft); most, however, are small to medium, multiple-trunked trees and shrubs. The leaves of temperate species provide autumn color. Flowers are borne in summer and autumn in panicles of crinkled flowers with a crêpe-like texture. Colors vary from deep purple to red to white, with almost every shade in between. Although no blue-flowered varieties exist, the flowers trend toward the blue end of the spectrum with no orange or yellow except in stamens and pistils. The fruit is a capsule, green and succulent at first, then ripening to dark brown or black dryness. It splits along six or seven lines, producing teeth much like those of the calyx, and releases numerous, small, winged seeds. (Wikipedia) Meanwhile, enjoy this video from my favorite 2Cellos band(Hauser & Sulic)
Note: Some ornamentals popular in the Philippines are: Kalachoche (Plumeria), Gumamela (hibiscus) and Adelpa (Oleander). I have collections of these ornamentals at Chateau Du Mer, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines
Here's the latest photo of my baby ampalaya in my backyard here in California

 

Our Love Story for My StoryWorth Book of Memories

This is a response to the query about our Love Story and First Year in US for my StoryWorth** Book of Memories. It is an excerpt from my article published in my Hubpages.com writing account-Our Love Story and 60th Wedding Anniversary

Toasting Champagne at Our 55th Wedding Anniversary

Our love story started in the early 1950's at the University of the Philippines, in Diliman, Quezon City. I was introduced to my wife via her uncle, the late Reverend Father Constantino Nieva(RIP). At that time, Fr Tino ( that's how we called him when he was still alive) was a law student and the President of the University of the Philippines Student Action (UPSCA). UPSCA was a student organization with both social and religious goals under the guidance of the Late Reverend Father John P. Delaney, a Jesuit priest and Chaplain of the University for Roman Catholic residents of the UP campus. Macrine and I love music. We joined the UPSCA choir and our friendship developed into true love. In 1955 when I graduated from the University, Macrine and I had separated, since she transferred to another university.

However the next year during my 22nd birthday, she surprised me with a birthday cake, that she baked from scratch. It was an orange-chiffon cake, the best tasting cake I have ever tasted. We got together again that day. On May 8, 1957 we got married in Boac, Marinduque, her hometown. It was a 3-day celebration. The whole town were invited. Two water buffaloes, 10 baby pigs and 100 chickens were slaughtered for the occasion. We settled at our new home in Quezon City, a gift from both our parents.

I was then teaching Chemistry at the University of the Philippines- my Alma mater. In 1959, I received a positive response from my application for scholarship to do graduate studies in Chemistry to the United States.

A year later, we were joyful to find out that my wife was in the family way with our oldest son. With all the blessings and major events transpiring in my life, I had completely forgotten about my personal vow to do graduate schoolwork in the US. One day I was surprised to receive a notice of an acceptance for a full teaching scholarship. It was from one of the applications I sent out before we got married. The comfort and serenity of our married life was about to be shaken.

I enthusiastically shared this good news with my wife, who wasn't too glad to hear about it. The thought of me leaving her alone with a child on the way, to go halfway around the world, distressed her. We had several long and unproductive discussions regarding this favorable opportunity. I had to postpone my trip a few times to appease her. I was torn between choosing my ambition to do graduate studies in the US alone, or staying with my wife in the Philippines.

I had to make a tough decision before the graduate school offer expired. In retrospect, I was thankful to and appreciative of my late father-in-law who intervened on my behalf. If not, I would have been stuck in the Philippines teaching Chemistry at the university, and would have never seen the fulfillment of my ambition. I was not aware that he had advised my wife to reconsider her decision, and let me go freely to pursue my dreams.

My wife later on informed me that without her father's advice, she would not have given me her full consent to leave her and pursue my studies. She was not aware of the importance of my personal vow to do better in life, in light of failing to obtain my Latin Honors in college.

Inasmuch as my wife was anxious with our impending separation, I was deeply saddened to leave her alone, but excited to go and fulfill my dreams. I went ahead to the US for my graduate studies, but I was totally unprepared for what was in store for me. It was my first trip away from my homeland, family and friends. I was going to live and study in the American Midwest, and I had to adjust to the western lifestyle, culture and cold winter weather without any friends or relatives to comfort me.

Wedding Day-May 8, 1957

Our First Year in the United States-Chicago, Illinois

During my first year in the US, the reality of living alone and studying in a foreign land negatively affected my drive and ambition. I was tempted twice to nearly quit school, leave the US and return to my family to the Philippines. Graduate schoolwork while teaching Chemistry was tough and demanding. I was miserably homesick, lonely and missed my wife very badly, especially during the Holidays and Christmas.

Moreover, the winters of Chicago were harsh, and can feel gloomy and depressing. It was difficult to tolerate the cold weather. I was accustomed to the tropical climate of the Philippines. In Chicago, I oftentimes asked myself what the heck I was doing in the US, with tears running down my face, and almost freezing on my cheeks and nose because of the frigid temperature. I could be happier and warm in my homeland, and be together with my cherished family.

The promise I made to fulfill my ambition, which was triggered by the one point I missed at the final examination in my Differential Calculus class, kept me going. I did my best with my work and studies. I never again considered quitting, and I was determined to finish what I had started. I finally made it, and I completed my Doctorate degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of Illinois in 1964.

A year after I left the Philippines, my wife and our first baby, whose birth I did not witness, joined me in Chicago, Illinois. Their presence provided me with inspiration and encouragement to fulfill my ambition.

The day after my Ph. D graduation was the start of my 25 years of professional career working for four private companies here in the US and then for another productive 12 years for the Food and Drug Administration(FDA). In 2002, I retired from FDA and started building our beach resort and retirement home in Boac, Marinduque, Philippines.

I also wrote an article in one of my blogs on my secret of a lasting marriage. An excerpt of that article is as follows:

 Our Golden Wedding Anniversary Photo, 2007

Several of our friends and relatives often ask me what one has to do for a lasting marriage. In other words is there a formula or secret for a lasting marriage? The question has no specific answer and may vary from one couple to another. However, I do believe that the couple must really be in love with each other unconditionally. So, when do you know that both husband and wife have attained unconditional love?

You are truly in love with your partner when you have totally accepted her or his faults, weaknesses and flaws. There is no perfect human being, so once you have attained this outlook in your married life, your are indeed truly in love with your partner.

Do I have a secret formula for a lasting and happy marriage? I have no secret except that there should always be an open communication between you and your partner. In the case of my wife of 63 years, I have accepted her flaws and she has accepted my flaws and weaknesses. In addition, both of us have recognized our strengths as well as our gifts and different personalities. Again there is no perfect human being, and no perfect husband or wife. 

Our communication skills are perfect, we even think of the same things at the same time. A couple of days ago, when both of us were sitting in the patio just relaxing, all of a sudden I asked her about our grand daughter. Macrine was so surprise because at that moment she was thinking of exactly of the same subject. She asked me if I was reading her mind. Couples who have been married for a long time have usually the same likes and dislikes. But this is not a guarantee of a long lasting marriage. Sometimes, it is better to have different things to do, perhaps even a different hobby so as not to suffocate each other every minute of your daily life.

Meanwhile enjoy Hauser's cello rendition of Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto #2

The background photography reminds me of our beach resort in the Philippines, Chateau Du Mer and other white beaches in the island.

About StoryWorth**

https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/27/cnn-underscored/storyworth-review/index.html

 

Actions to My Two Favorite Quotes for My StoryWorth Book of Memories

This is my response on the Query about my two favorite quotes for my StoryWorth book.

"You have truly lived if you have touched the lives of others" and "It is better to give than receive" are two of my favorite quotations. This posting is a reflection and response to the question of my favorite quotations for my StoryWorth book. Reflecting and acting to the first quotation is our involvement ( Macrine and I) with the Medical and Dental Missions for several years to the Island of Marinduque, Philippines. 

My action to my second favorite quotation was illustrated with my Donations of Money, property and expertise to the Philippines described also in this posting below.

Here's an excerpt from my article about our involvement with the medical mission from my Hubpages.com writing account.

Two similar quotations about touching the lives of others from the Web.

We have helped our less fortunate brethren with our time, effort and resources. We know we have truly lived because we have touched the lives of others.

My wife and I had devoted our time and resources to this humanitarian project since 1998. Our involvement in this humanitarian project has given us satisfaction and its one way of the many ways one can give back the good fortunes one receives while residing in the US.

Macrine showing off the newly purchased Mission T-shirts in front of our Conference Hall, Amoigon, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines

Dental and Medical Mission of Love

Macrine and I have been an active members of Marinduque International, Inc. (MI,Inc) for many years and have served for its seven bi-annual Medical and Dental Missions since 1998 in Marinduque, Philippines. MI, Inc is a non-profit organization based in the US. One of its missions is to provide free medical services to the impoverished residents of Marinduque, a small but beautiful island province in the heart of the Philippines. Our group is made up of migrants from the island now living in the first world, mostly in the US and Canada. Through hard work and skills, we have earned our good graces and fortunes from our adopted homeland and we have more than enough to share with our less fortunate country mates.

We are giving back to the community of our roots because it makes us feel good helping our compatriots. The more that we give of ourselves, the better we feel about ourselves. Whenever I work with the mission, I touch the lives of many of my poor countrymen living in the rural areas of the island. The organization motto is "Our mission is to help and together we will succeed". My medical mission involvement also projects my favorite quotation: "The time that you have really lived is the time you have touched the lives of others".

Our mission starts with fund raising by members mostly from our own pockets, friends and relatives. We recruit volunteer doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists and non-medical support staff to serve the missions, and they pay for their voyage to the islands. We procure and ship medicines badly needed by the islanders. Some of our members who own a place in the island, house the volunteers during the mission period. Others volunteers stay at the local hotels at their own expense but their whole week of food and local transportation is paid by Marinduque International. At the end of each mission we celebrate its success and thank the help of each volunteer as well as the local officials. It is also a time of reflection on all what we have shared of ourselves to our impoverished brothers and sisters.

The Dental and Medical Mission Servicing the Needs of 6000 Residents

The mission involves serving around 6,000 people from the six towns of the province who wait for hours in line under the sun, a difficult feat in a hot tropical humid setting, within a span of one week. About 40% of these patients from the interior of the province walked for 2 hours or more to reach the town center where the clinics are held. Most of these patients have never been seen by a physician in their lives. However, not everyone will be lucky to be seen by a doctor or provided free medicines. Many will return the next day to our new location to fall in line again and hope to be served for their needs. By the end of the mission a good number of people will never be served. It pains me to know and see the frustration of those who came hoping for help, only to be turned away due to constraints on our time, equipment and medicines.

Last February, it broke my heart when one patient had to be turned away when she was ready for a minor procedure on the operating table because surgical equipment was not available. It baffles me how the provincial government cannot provide a basic surgery instrument in its public hospital. We were on a mission to help and serve, but instead this patient had to deal with frustration, disappointment and anger.

During the mission I was assigned to the Pharmacy section, providing drugs and instructions to the patients. In the town of Buenavista, I had to break protocol and help a mother with her two sick young children. They were coughing and feverish, and were about to be turned away due to the limits in our time and medical volunteers.

I knew it was wrong and I could have been scolded for my actions, but I approached the mother, whispered to her to wait a little longer, and I could do something for her when the line has thinned down. Before closing time I waved for her, handed her vitamins, cough and fever medicines. She thanked me and showed me a smile that I will always remember as long as I live. On that day, I touched the lives of a mother and her two kids, and that was the day that I have really lived.

Macrine Welcoming Medical Missioners to Marinduque

Macrine and I welcoming medical missioners from US and Canada from ferry boat from Manila to Marinduque, 2011

I Cried and My Heart Melted Again

This 2011 Medical Mission of Love is not different from the previous missions that Macrine and I had attended since 1998. More than six thousand of the poor and the needy from the distant barangays in the province of Marinduque lined patiently from 4 to 6 hours just to see A PHYSICIAN and obtained free medicines ( cough syrup, multivitamens, pain medications, anti-acids and maybe antibiotics) for their aches and pains true or imagined. At the end of the day in each town, there are always about 200 to 300 more patients that have to be sent home since we do not have enough physician volunteers this year. This is the same case in our HOSPITAL operations. This year we had only 3 surgeons and 1 anesthesiologist. Thus we have to send a lot of patients home along with their disappointment and hopes that maybe in our next mission, they can be accommodated.

A hospital case that touched my heart and that made me mad: A patient was already in the operating table after the preliminary tests had been done the day before was sent home because of one basic instrument not available. I heard from the surgeon who stayed at Chateau Du Mer, that instrument he needed for the operation is a basic instrument, but the hospital does not have one. So where is the priority of our provincial and health officials?

In Buenavista, I helped in the repacking area section of the Pharmacy Department. At about 2PM, there were still about 200 to 300 patients waiting in line. The patients were told to go home, since there already 200 in line ahead of them and our physicians will not be able to see them. However, about 100 did not go home in the hope that multi-vitamens and cough syrup, and Paracetamol will still be given to them at the end of the day.

One middle-aged woman with her 2 kids ( Ages 3 and 5)started begging to the two of us working in the repackaging area very closed to the lines. She said her 2 kids are coughing and had fever and asked us if we can give her Paracetamol and cough syrup. I looked at her and the two kids and my heart melted and I shed a tear or two.

I stood up, talked to the Pharmacist-in-Charge that day and she told me "NO". She told me that If the others in line saw me giving the drugs only to her, if might cause a RIOT. I whispered to the woman to wait until closing time. By 4:30PM there will still around 10 patients waiting. At around 5:00PM there were still a couple of patients hanging around. But, I called the woman aside, give her a bottle of Paracetamol;, cough syrup and multi-vitamens along with the usual instructions. She thanked me an gave me a SMILE that still lingers in my mind today.

Here's my article REFLECTING/ACTING TO my second favorite quote of:

  It is Better to Give than Receive

There are several ways to GIVE. You can give, money, property or your time, knowledge and expertise. The following are three examples that I have  experience in giving. I am very proud of these deeds.

The DONOR WALL OF GRATITUDE at the UP Chemistry Building in Diliman. Q.C., Philippines

1. Money: Last May 7, 2014, Renan del Rosario, 1977 chemistry graduate and currently one of the advisers of the University of the Philippines Chemistry Alumni Foundation (UPCAF) treated me lunch and a personal tour of the new Institute of Chemistry Teaching Building at the UP Diliman National Science Complex. It was one of the highlights of my 90-day snow birding sojourn in the Philippines that year. I was able to take photographs of the Donor Wall which included my name(see photo above). The Donor Wall is right at the entrance of the teaching building just by the side of the guard podium. That day reminded me of my student and teaching days (1952 to 1959) at the College of Chemistry now known as the Institute of Chemistry. I was only 24 years old when I first taught chemistry to Pre-medical, Nursing, and Engineering students in the Fall of 1957 to 1959.

Currently, I am a Life Member of the University of the Philippines Chemistry Alumni Foundation. I graduated from UP with a B.S. Chemistry degree in 1955. Immediately after graduation, I was appointed Assistant Instructor in Chemistry in my Alma Mater. A year later after I passed the National Chemistry Board Examination coping 3rd place, I was appointed to Instructor and held that position until late 1959 when I decided to pursue graduate work in the United States.

The construction of a National Science Complex in Diliman, Quezon City started a few years ago which included a new Teaching Building for Chemistry. The first phase of government Funding was 200 million pesos and the second phase was 118 million pesos.

In the Fall of 2013, I had the opportunity to visit the construction site through the kindness of Renan Del Rosario, the Chairman of the UPCAF Board of Trustees that year. Fund raising for furniture in the new building were undergoing also that year. That year, I also donated to the Foundation 10,000 pesos ( about $200) through Renan. I felt good about that donation. It was my way of saying thank you for the educational benefits that I had received from the University of the Philippines.( See my name listed in the Donor Wall in the above photo).

2. Property: Sometime in the middle of May, 1990, I donated several volumes of technical journals from the duplicate copies from Stauffer Chemical library that were about to be burned and discarded. I was able to salvage several volumes of hard bound copies of Journal of Chromatography, 1971-1976. Included in my donation were dozens of volumes of hardbound copies of BioChemistry, Volumes 1969-1984. The value of the donation was about $1500. Shipping was arranged through the Commission on Filipinos Overseas ( CFO). On May 23, 1990, I received a thank you letter from Alfredo Perdon, Executive Director of CFO,as follows:

Dear Dr. Katague:

The Commission on Filipino Overseas acknowledge with thanks the donation of five boxes of technical journals to the Institute of Chemistry, University of the Philippines.

Your donation is a manifestation of the willingness of Filipino overseas to be actively involved in the development efforts of the country. Such participation through the Commission's “ Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino” or “ Linkapil” likewise serves to strengthen the linkages between Filipinos overseas and their countrymen.

Needless to say, these books will be a most welcome addition to the journal collection of the UP College of Science Library and will certainly be useful to the thousands of students in the said university. Best Regards and thanks you again for your donation.”

3. Time and Expertise: In January, 1986, I participated in the United Nations Development Program at the University of the Philippines in Diliman. The program was for two weeks of consultancy ( lecture and management of research) at the U.P. Natural Sciences Research Institute( NSRI). My round trip fare was paid by UN and I also received a substantial amount of per diem during my consultancy period of two weeks. It was satisfying to give at least two weeks of my "Know-how" to my Alma Mater. The program at that time was called TOKTEN ( Transfer of Knowledge through Expatriate Nationals). Today, it is called Balik scientist program. The program helps in the alleviation of "Brain Drain" from 3rd world countries like the Philippines. This experience made me feel good, because I have given back to my Alma mater, even just two weeks of my time in the field of pesticide research and analytical residues method development.

 Indeed, as Einstein quotes, The value of a man resides in what he gives.

 Meanwhile enjoy this video by Sulic and Genchev-Czardas

 

A Bountiful Okra Harvest from My Garden This Week

Today, I harvested a dozen of Okra from my 10 okra plants. I am very, very pleased. On the other hand my tomato harvest is meager. I have to pick up the half-ripe tomato, otherwise the blue birds in my yard will have the first taste. My ampalaya plants are starting to bear fruit. Here are some photos: 

My Okra Flowering along with my Ampalaya Vines

Meanwhile enjoy these photos of my blooming cactus and Mother Duck and her Babies of the Neighborhood staring at the plastic male duck decoy on my side yard.

Please stay cool as three digit temperatures are forecasted here in Northern California for the next three days. Yesterday 6.0 earthquake frightened me for about 15 seconds while I was in bed watching my favorite movies in Netflix.

 

My K(C)atague Ancestry on My Father's Side for StoryWorth

This is my response to the query on my ancestral roots on my Father's side for StoryWorth. This an excerpt from my articles in my blogs.

Don Manuel Javellana and Dona Gertrudis Lopez were my Great, Great Grand Parents

The David Jamili K(Catague) Family, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, 1956

I have enjoyed tracing my roots down to my great, great Grand Parents, Don Manuel Javellana and Dona Gertrudis Lopez. Most of the information of my ancestral roots I have read from the blog, www.javellana.wordpress.com. Most of the information regarding my ancestry were confirmed by several living relatives in the Philippines about two years ago. Other detailed information about my roots were verbally communicated to me by my father during my childhood years in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, Philippines.

I am so proud that in my veins are the blood and genes of the Javellanas and Lopezes from Jaro, Iloilo, Philippines. In this post, I am also discussing the origin of the Javellana and Lopez surnames.

My name is David Balleza K(C)atague, Jr. I was born in Jaro, Iloilo, Philippines on December 20, 1934. My Father was David Jamili K(Catague) and my mother was Paz Barrido Balleza.

My Father's father ( my grand father) was Roberto Catague( married to Consolacion Golez Jamili). Roberto was the oldest son of Marcelina Javellana who was married to Victoriano Catague. Roberto died when my father was still young. His mother remarried Ruperto, the younger brother of Roberto. Consolacion and Ruperto had eleven other children.

My father had two other brothers, Guillermo and Julio. The three brothers changed the spelling of their last name from Catague to Katague when my father was still in elementary school. My father was raised and sent to dental school by his rich aunt from Leganes, Iloilo. His reason was that he wanted his surname to be in the middle of the alphabet, because he does not want to be called early in class by a demanding teacher, who asked questions by alphabetical order. Strange reason but I believe this was true.

Marcelina Lopez Javellana was the youngest daughter of Don Manuel Javellana and Dona Gertrudis Lopez. Marcelina was also the youngest sister of Don Cristino Javellana, known as Capitan Tinong who was very active in the political and religious life and activities during his time( 1890's) in Jaro, Iloilo, Philippines. 

 

Cristino Javellana was the sixth of the nine children of Don Manuel Javellana and Doña Gertrudis Lopez. His other siblings besides Marcelina were Escolastica (married to Geronimo Jiz de Ortega), Petra (married to Sixto Golez), Quintana (born 1840), Narcisa (born 1842, married to Simon Grecia), Inocencia (born 1849, married to Juancho Jamora), Mariano (born 1851, married to Crispina Gamboa), Florentina, Cristeta, and Carmen (married to Miguel Jayme y Lopez).

The origin of the surname Javellana according to Wikipedia is:

Javellana is a family surname from the Philippines(1850s) who originated from Jaro, Iloilo City in the Visayas. The original name of the Family was "Kim Byong" and is of Chinese descent. Due to a mandate by the Spanish Government, ordered by Spanish Governor General D. Narciso Claveria (November 21, 1849) for the natives of the Philippines to adapt the Spanish naming system, they and a number of Chinese and Filipino families were forced to adapt new names.

The name they chose was derived from Avellana, the Common Hazel (Corylus avellana), which was further derived from the town of Avelino in Italy. The appended letter "J" to the name was in deference to their hometown, Jaro.


Corylus avellana, commonly called European filbert, European hazel or cobnut, is a deciduous, thicket-forming, multi-trunked, suckering shrub that typically grows to 12-20’ tall. It is native to Europe, western Asia and northern Africa where it is typically found growing in rich thickets, woodland borders, wooded slopes, hedgerows, clearings and along streams.
Javellana Coat of Arms
 

On the other hand, the name Lopez is indeed a surname of Spanish origin.
Lopez Coat of Arms
 

The Lopez surname was originally a patronymic, meaning "Son of Lope", Lope itself being a Spanish given name deriving from Latin lupus, meaning "wolf". The surname is first attested in Old Castile in the heart of Spain, where the name originated in Visigothic times; however, the name is not of Germanic origin. Its Portuguese equivalent is Lopes, its Italian equivalent is Lupo, its French equivalent is Loup (or Leu), its Romanian equivalent is Lupu or Lupescu and its Valencian equivalent is Llopis. López is the most common Spanish surname in the United Kingdom as well as in the Philippines.

The most well known Lopez in the Philippines was Fernando. He married another Javellana ( Mariquit). I remember my father mentioned when I was a teenager that both Fernando and his wife Mariquit were our relatives. For those of you who have not heard of Fernando Lopez ( I was a recipient of the Fernando Lopez scholarship during my sophomore year at University of the Philippines Iloilo in 1952-1953), here's his short biography from Wikipedia.

Fernando Hofileña Lopez, Sr.,a Filipino statesman was born on April 13, 1904 and died on May 26, 1993. He was a member of the influential Lopez Family of Iloilo. Fernando Lopez served as Vice President of the Philippines for three terms – under Elpidio Quirino (1949–1953) for the Liberals and Ferdinand Marcos (1965–1969 and 1969–1972) for the Nacionalistas and also the chairman of ABS-CBN Corporation from 1986 to his death 1993.

Lopez was born in Iloilo City, Iloilo. His parents were Benito Lopez and Presentacion Hofileña. He was the younger brother of Eugenio Lopez, Sr. The Lopez family was very influential and the richest family in the province.

Lopez studied high school at San Juan de Letran College, finishing in 1921. He then studied law in the University of Santo Tomas, earning his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1925. After passing the bar examinations, he did not go into private practice, but helped his older brother manage the family business.

In 1945, with no prior political experience, Lopez was picked by President Sergio Osmeña to be mayor of Iloilo City. In 1947, he ran for Senator and won the election.

Lopez was one of the founders of University of Iloilo and the FEATI University in Manila. He is a descendant of Graciano Lopez-Jaena of Iloilo. And who is Graciano Lopez-Jaena? Here's some information from Wikipedia.

Graciano López Jaena was born on December 18, 1856 and died on January 20, 1896. He was a journalist, orator, revolutionary, and national hero from Iloilo, Philippines, who is well known for his newspaper, La Solidaridad.

Philippine historians regard López Jaena, along with Marcelo H. del Pilar and José Rizal, as the triumvirate of Filipino propagandists. Of these three illustrados, López Jaena was the first to arrive in Spain and may have begun the Propaganda Movement, which was a movement based in Spain that advocated the reform of the then-Spanish colony of the Philippines and which eventually led to the armed Philippine Revolution that begun in Manila in 1896. The Propaganda Movement was a key step towards a Philippine national identity.

Meanwhile enjoy Handel's Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah-It reminds me my college participation with the UPSCA Choir in UP Diliman in 1952-53.

 

 

 

My Balleza Ancestry on My Mother's Side for StoryWorth

Funeral Services for Paz Balleza Katague( my mother), Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, 1988

I am posting this genealogy list of the Balleza clan from Barotac Viejo, Iloilo starting with Jose Balleza-my great, great grand father in response to the query about my ancestry from my mother's side of the family for StoryWorth . 

 

My sources are from the Facebook Page of Toto Brilliantes, Ed Ditching and Joerick Santiago.
 

BALLEZA TREE UPDATE!!! From the Balleza Clan FaceBook Page

"This is the First publication of Partial Tree Line of the BALLEZA Clan from Barotac Viejo, ILOILO.

ZERO Generation as you note is the Father the 3 MAIN Trunks of JOSE, PEDRO and VICENTE who is still to be Identified.

********************************************************************************************

Below is the Down line of JOSE BALLEZA( my great, great grand Father).

0 FATHER OF JOSE, PEDRO AND VICENTE BALLEZA -mto->

0.1 JOSE BALLEZA -mto->
0.2 PEDRO BALLEZA -mto->
0.3 VICENTE BALLEZA -mto->

FIRST Generation

0.1 SIBLINGS OF JOSE BALLEZA--mto-->Tupas

1.0.1.1 Candido Balleza -mto-> Engracia Vencer
1.0.1.2 Genaro Balleza -mto-> Anna Vencer
1.0.1.3 Talie Balleza -mto-> Celestino "Tinoy" Celera
1.0.1.4 Perpetua "Tuwa" Balleza -mto-> Alfonso Tupas, Sr.

SECOND Generation

1.0.1.1 SIBLINGS OF Candido Balleza--mto-->Engracia Vencer

2.1.0.1.1.1 Trinidad -mto-> Gleceria
2.1.0.1.1.2 Oben -mto-> Morita Causing
2.1.0.1.1.3 Hormesda -mto-> Norma
2.1.0.1.1.4 Rosario "Sayong" -mto-> Natividad Causing
2.1.0.1.1.5 Mariquita -mto-> Alfredo Brillantes, sr.
2.1.0.1.1.6 Corazon -mto-> Naro Dulos
2.1.0.1.1.7 Santiago Baldevino * -mto-> Angeles Colinares
2.1.0.1.1.8 Asuncion -mto-> "Iting"
2.1.0.1.1.9 Resurrecsion -mto-> Consolasion Barreto

1.0.1.2 SIBLINGS OF Genaro Balleza--mto-->Anna Vencer

2.1.0.1.2.1 Noel Vencer Balleza, Sr. -mto-> Edna
2.1.0.1.2.2 Adan -mto-> Carmelita Barretto
2.1.0.1.2.3 Alexander -mto-> Eva Barretto
2.1.0.1.2.4 Roberto -mto-> Liza Asong
2.1.0.1.2.5 Alfredo -mto->
2.1.0.1.2.6 Susana "Bughak" -mto-> Luis Malapitan
2.1.0.1.2.7 Henry, Sr. -mto->
2.1.0.1.2.8 Natividad -mto-> Robles
2.1.0.1.2.9 Clarita "Cariting" -mto-> Asuncion (son of Candido)

1.0.1.3 SIBLINGS OF Talie Balleza--mto-->Celestino "Tinoy" Celera

2.1.0.1.3.1 Fe Celera -mto-> Apen Ballesta
2.1.0.1.3.2 Judith Celera -mto-> Baldonado
2.1.0.1.3.3 Aristotle "Tiring" -mto-->Consuelo Legislador

1.0.1.4 SIBLINGS OF Perpetua "Tuwa" Balleza--mto-->Alfonso Tupas, Sr.

2.1.0.1.4.1 Felimon -mto->
2.1.0.1.4.2 Alfonso Tupas, Jr. "Ponsing" -mto->
2.1.0.1.4.3 Felicedad "Cedad" -mto-> Benjamin Causing Barlizo, Sr.
2.1.0.1.4.4 Tomas -mto-> Rita
2.1.0.1.4.5 Josefina "Suping " -mto-> Alejo Boquirin
2.1.0.1.4.6 Pepe -mto->
2.1.0.1.4.7 Soccoro "Qouling" -mto-> Tomas Boquirin
2.1.0.1.4.8 Apen -mto->
2.1.0.1.4.9 Alpie -mto->



********************************************************
This is my Ancestral Link;
 

MAIN TRUNK OF PEDRO BALLEZA MTO MARIA VENCER

0.0 Pedro Balleza-Maria Vencer (My Great Grand Parents)

1.0.1 Alfonso Vencer Balleza - Estefania Demit Barrido( my grand father and grand mother)
 

1.0.2 Manuel Rionda Balleza -
1.0.3 Juan Rionda Balleza
1.0.4 Quirico Asuela Balleza - Esperanza Rendon

SIBLINGS OF ALFONSO

2.1.0.1.1 Jose, Sr. "Peping"-settled in Barotac Viejo
2.1.0.1.2 Lolita Pacing "Paz" (youngest)- Dr. David Jamili Katague, Sr.) settled in Barotac Viejo( my parents)
2.1.0.1.3 Modesto(oldest)-grand father of Ed Ditching=settled in Iloilo City

SIBLINGS OF MANUEL

2.1.0.2.1 Vicente "Cente" -
2.1.0.2.2 Necitas "Citas" -
2.1.0.2.3 Juaning -
2.1.0.2.4 Evangeline "Eve" -
2.1.0.2.5 Alpeio "Alping" -


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
From Joerick Santiago-son of Sylvia Balleza (MD) Santiago

My First Cousins:
Tito Nonoy Danilo T. Balleza married to Tita Minda Ballila
Tito Toto Roberto T. Balleza married to Tita Norma Gallila
Tito Nene Jose T. Balleza married to xxxx
Tito Nono Ismael T. Balleza married to Tita Marlene
Tito Dodoy Nemisio T. Balleza married to Tita Republica Conzha
Tita Amelia T. Balleza married to Francisco Ly
Tita Baby Rosalie T. Balleza married to George Doligosa

My mom: Sylvia T. Balleza married to Edgardo J. Santiago

************************************************************

Children of Paz Barrido Balleza and David Jamili Katague

David Jr( Nonoy) mto Macrine Nieva Jambalos(RIP)( Boac, Marinduque)

Erico(RIP) mto Helen Esparagoza( Negros OC)

Myrla mto Leonore Hilaga( RIP)(Barotac Viejo)

Agnes mto Achie Ly ( RIP) and Dennis Galvin( Maryland)

Efren(Toto) mto Lourdes De Asis( Pavia)

Ruben( Dolce) mto Joy Escobar( Bacolod City)

Amor( Knitz) mto Apolonio Gregorio( Nueva Ecija)

****************************************************************

From Ed Ditching-Grandson of Modesto and son of Fanny (Estefania) Balleza(my Moms first cousin) and Simplicio Ditching

Thanks Toto Brillantes for adding me... and to Tito David David B Katague and Noel Balleza for making me aware of this group. My Balleza branch (as far as I can remember) is from Dr. Modesto Balleza who is married to my Lola Taciana Rey.( Barotac Nuevo)

My mother is Estefania (Fanny) Balleza who was the eldest daughter of Lolo Modesto with Tito Moderas (Modesto Jr.), Tito Alnico, Arnulfo (Nulfing), Diomedes (Diome), Tita Visi (Sis. Visitacion), Taciana (Nita Tolosa) and Lourdes (Bauson) who were her brothers and sisters. Only Tito Nulfing, Tita Nita and Tita Lourdes are still living.

My father is Simplicio Ditching from Victorias and Molo. My brothers are George, Sim (RIP), Dennis (RIP), Edwin, Arthur and Robert. So if you encounter any of these names, we are relatives. I don't have much memories of Barotac or Iloilo as we grew up in Bacolod. My only memory is a vacation we took in Iloilo and stayed at Lolo Modesto's house in Calle Real in front of the St Paul Hospital (I think it was later sold to the Vidal sisters and there is a pharmacy in the ground floor at present).

Based on the above information and ancestral trees the Barrido, Balleza and Tupas families of Barotac Viejo, Iloilo are related to me. 

The picture below are some of my relatives ( Balleza, Barrido, Tupas, Causing, Espanola married a Balleza) taken during the wedding of my sister, Myrla, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, Philippines in 1959.

Myrla (my sister) and Leonor Hilaga Wedding (1959) attended by some Barrido, Balleza, Causing, Espanola and Tupas Relatives, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, Philippines. 

In the picture: Mayor Luis Tupas, Raul Causing, Pablo Espanola, Jose Balleza, Paz Katague, my sister Agnes, brother Efren and Ruben, Mrs Hilaga, Mrs Hugo Tugbang, Mrs Nena Tad-y Balleza, Mrs Sayong Barrido, Mrs Jaranilla, Mrs Julio Katague and Fr Uvas(parish priest). I was working( Instructor in Chemistry) in UP Diliman when this photo was taken.

Meanwhile, enjoy Hauser's cello rendition of Ave Maria

 

An Event in My College Years that Changed My Life for StoryWorth

Macrine and I getting ready for My Ph,D Graduation in Chicago, 1964
 

This is my response to query, what event in my college years that change my life and inspired me for success for my StoryWorth Book **

This episode in my life occurred when I was in 3rd year college at the University of the Philippines, Diliman. Q.C., pursuing a bachelor's degree in Chemistry. One of the subjects, required for the degree was Differential Calculus. I took this course with the engineering students instead with my chemistry classmates , because of some schedule conflict with my other elective courses. To make the story short, on the final examination for this course, I scored only 69% less than 1% for a passing grade of “C”. I was given a “Condition” and have to take a retest to pass the course. The next day, I took the retest and passed it with flying colors with a grade of 75%. So what is the big deal? I passed, how did this affect my life and career? Because of the “Condition” grade that I obtained, I was not qualified to graduate with HONOR (CUM LAUDE), even though my grade point average for the four years qualified me for that honor. The fact that I did not graduate with HONOR although I have the grade point average devastated my ego, and my self-esteem. In my class of 20 original freshmen, only 15 graduated in four years and only one graduated Cum Laude. This shows how hard and difficult it was to graduate with honors at that time.

With my ego deflated, I made a personal vow, that no matter what, I will pursue graduate studies in the US to show to my professor and the whole world of my capabilities and to redeem my self-esteem. My ego and self-esteem went back to normal levels when a year later, I passed the Board Examination for Chemists, scoring 3rd place nationwide.

After graduation I was hired by my Alma Mater (UP) as Instructor in Chemistry. Two years later, I got married and have settled down in our home in Quezon City, a gift from my parents and my wife's parents. A year later, my wife was pregnant with our oldest son. I had completely forgotten my personal vow to do graduate work in US. I was very happy with my job in UP and enjoyed teaching.

One day, I received an acceptance for a full teaching Assistantship/Scholarship from the US, from one of several applications, I sent before, I got married. I have to decide. It took a lot of discussions with my wife and myself. Is my burning ambition my number #1 priority or my family and future child in my wife womb's? I can not decide, but thanks to my late father-in-law, I would have been stuck in the Philippines teaching at the university. I did not know that my father-in-law had advised my wife “To let me Go”. My wife later informed me, that without her father's advise she would not have given me her consent to leave her for my burning ambition. ( My wife did not know of my personal vow at that time)

So with a sad heart to leave my family, but with excitement to fulfill my dreams , I went to the US for graduate study. During my first year in the US, I was tempted twice to quit and return to the Philippines. I was very lonely especially on Holidays and Christmas, plus the winters of Chicago was bad for my body, that was accustomed to the tropical climate of the Philippines . I oftentimes ask myself, What in the “Hell”, am I doing here with tears in my eyes almost freezing in my face and my nose frozen because of the frigid temperatures of Chicago.

But my vow and burning ambition triggered by the 1 point I missed at the final exam in my Differential Calculus class kept me going, until I completed my Ph.D. Degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry in 1964. 

** https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/27/cnn-underscored/storyworth-review/index.html 

Meanwhile enjoy this video of Hauser Libertango