A Visit with Father Constantino Nieva-Macrine's Uncle

Father Tino, Rene and Genny Nieva, Bing Carrion, Me and Macrine

Three weeks ago, prior to our return to US, we visited Macrine's uncle, Reverend Father Constantino Nieva( Retired) in Metro Manila. Tito Tino ( that is the name that Macrine and I call him) is now under the care of Macrine's first cousin Bing Carrion. Tito Tino is afflicted with expressive amnesia or Alzheimer's disease. This affliction started about 4 years ago after his retirement as a parish priest in Long Island, New York.

Father Nieva's career parallels mine. I first knew of him at the University of the Philippines in Diliman in 1952. He was then President of the UP Student Catholic Action(UPSCA) and in Law school while I was also president of UPSCA, Iloilo Chapter. In 1953 when I transferred to Diliman, our friendship grew and he introduced me to his niece, Macrine Nieva Jambalos, and the rest is history. Fr. Tino finished Law school, but decided he wanted to be priest, after one year of practicing corporate law in Manila. He finished seminary school and decided to go to Rome ( Vatican), Italy for his Ph.D in Theology. After his Ph. D graduation, the Nieva Clan in Boac, Marinduque wanted him to return to the Philippines. But Tito Tino had other plans. He wanted to stay in US . During this time, he would visit us during his vacation from his parish duties in the State of New York. He was happy of being a parish priest until he retired about 5 years ago. We visited him in his parish house in Long Island two years before his retirement, when he was hospitalized for prostrate surgery. At that time, we were still residing in Maryland.

He retired in the Philippines in 2006. His Alzheimer's affliction started about 4 years ago. When we visited him about 3 years ago, his memory was not that bad and he could still talk. In our last visit three weeks ago, he could not talk, but would gave you a stare and a half smile as if he remembers. Fr. Tino is having good care at the Bing's Carrion residence. Bing informed us that her only regret is that two of Fr. Tino older sisters who are still alive and residing in Manila and Marinduque had never visited him. We will continue to pray for Fr. Tino's health. We also gave our thanks to Bing Carrion for taking care of our uncle, the Rev Fr. Constantino Nieva (Retired) of Boac, Marinduque. The photo above was taken three weeks ago.

We are Poor in Gold but Rich in Pleasant Memories

Our life is not rich in terms of dollars or pesos, 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 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 and most challenging 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 Ph.D graduation 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 the happiest and most productive years in my professional career.

Sixth, Macrine and my involvement with the activities of the Filipino-American Community in the Washington, D.C., Kansas City, Missouri, Modesto and Pinole, California areas 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. Our involvement with the Marinduque International, Inc medical mission projects since 1996 to the present are memories we will never forget. The letters of Appreciation and Thanks that Macrine and I received from the Office of the Governor in Marinduque in 2009 regarding our efforts in promoting tourism in the province, we will always treasure. The publication of my two articles in HULIQ News about Eco tourism in Marinduque in 2010 was indeed memorable and unforgettable.

Indeed, we are not rich in GOLD or SILVER, but in MEMORIES.
The front yard of our Retirement Home in Marinduque-Chateau Du Mer

For details of the above accomplishments and activities, visit my blog sites at
http://theintellectualmigrant.blogspot.com or http://lifeinus1960present.blogspot.com

Recent Photos of Orchids in the Gardens of Chateau Du Mer

A dark Yellow Vanda
A dark pink Vanda
A Small light yellow Phaelonopsis
A reddish Vanda
A pinkish-white Vanda
Another favorite Vanda
My twin blue Princess Mikasa
One of My Favorite Vanda

The above photos are some of the orchids blooming in the gardens of Chateau Du Mer from January to April, 2011. I hope you like them as much as I do! I have a dozen more plants that are blooming, but it will just be too boring to publish them all in this blog. Your comments will be appreciated.

Joys and Pains of Running a Beach Resort in Marinduque

Center Stage of the Conference Hall-Ready for a Wedding Reception

A closer view of the Conference Hall

Entrance to the Conference Hall

The Conference Hall

The third Bedroom with Three Double Deck Beds-The Room is Air Conditioned

The Second Bedroom with Two Single Beds

The Master Bedroom with the Queen Size Bed

The Beach House after Completion of the Bottom Floor as the 3rd Bedroom

Early Evening in the Main House-so Quiet and Calm

The front yard of the Main House

The landscaping in the front yard of the Main House

The driveway from the main house to the national road

In 2005, three years after my retirement from FDA, Macrine and I started constructing a beach house with no intention of opening it to the public. Two years later we decided building a multi-function Hall by the side of the beach house.
(Note: The main house-our retirement home was built in 1999-three years before our retirement).

However, in 2008 after numerous inquiries and urgings from friends and relatives, we decided to open both the Beach House and Function Hall to the public. I then created a website( www.chateaudumer.com) and a blogsite ( http://chateaudumer.blogspot.com).
Just this year, I posted a video on YouTube titled Chateau Du Mer-Marinduque. Since then, the hall had hosted more than 40 wedding receptions, seminars, parties, and community prayer meetings and picnics. The beach house on the other hand had less than fifteen guests, mostly from abroad ( US and Europe).

So, what are the joys of running a beach resort and conference center. First of all, Macrine and I enjoyed meeting strangers which afterwards become our friends. Second, I love hearing positive comments about the resort, such as: your garden is so beautiful, the landscaping is perfect and I feel like I am in the Garden of Eden in this place.
It was indeed a joyous moment, when one day, one of our young guests during a wedding reception informed me, that our retirement house ( which was built earlier) is her dream house and that someday, if God permits she will have a similar one constructed.

This Holy week, a van load of tourists from Manila stopped by and requested to take pictures of the beach house and conference center area. One of the tourists had seen my website and wanted to see the place in person. She commented the place is as beautiful as the pictures in the Internet. Last, but not least, the conference center is the only Hall in the whole province of Marinduque that can accommodate more than 300 attendees in doors and up to 500 attendees outdoors. This resort is also providing permanent employment for two local residents and temporary employment to four local residents, which help the economy of this 3rd class province.

So what are the pains of running Chateau Du Mer Beach Resort and Conference Center?
First, there are unique physical maintenance problems, since the compound is exposed to salty air and breezes almost all year round. Most of the fixtures even stainless steel had to be cleaned and rusted almost every year. Repainting and repairing equipments are common. Just recently, the water pump did not work. I had to replace it immediately at the costs of $400. Wood borers and mites attacked most of the wooden and bamboo structures as well as furnitures. If you know of a chemical that will kill the wood borers and mites( not termites), please let me know.

Second we have problems with the recruitment of reliable and honest personnel. Since 2008, we had already two managers. One we caught stealing. The current one is honest but super sensitive.

Lastly, the resort income is only enough to pay for the taxes. Hopefully as the economy improved more tourists will visit Marinduque and more young people will hold big wedding receptions; the resort will then earn enough to pay for both maintenance expenses and taxes and might even earn a little profit. But I am not depending my livelihood on this project. We build the place for our personal enjoyment. Our relatives called the place "Macrine's and David's Follies" in their old age.

Above are some recent pictures that I took of the main house, the conference Hall and the Beach House. Hopefully you visit one of my sites, in case this is the first time you have heard of Chateau Du Mer. Comments are appreciated.
Here's a short video of Chateau Du Mer Beach Resort and Conference Center

Recent Photos of Flowers in the Gardens of Chateau Du Mer

Saint Joseph Purple Cane Shrub
Bird of Paradise
Violets Shrubs
Zinnias and Wild Impatience
Yellow Bells and Red Dwarf Bougainvilla
Euphorbias
Light Pink Petite Hibiscus
Close-Up of Orange Easter Lily
A Dwarf orange Orchid
A Yellow Hibiscus with a Red Center
The above photos are some of the flowers blooming in the gardens of Chateau Du Mer from January to April 2011. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! Happy Gardening to ALL!
Here's a short video of Chateau Du Mer Beach Resort and Conference Center

Photos from our Recent Stay at the Bellarocca Resort , Marinduque

Above are some of the photos I took during our recent visit and overnight stay at the now world famous 5 star resort in Buenavista, Marinduque, Philippines-The Bellarocca Resort and Spa, last February 13-14, 2011. This visit was in connection of Marinduque International Inc, post medical mission R&R activity.
The Bishop of Boac after Mass
Anne Miles (President of MI, Inc-2010-2011) and I arranged for this visit which included a Catholic Mass by Bishop Rey Evangelista of the Diocese of Boac and a Valentine Dinner Dance. This is a day that will linger in my memory!



The above three photos were taken during the Valentine Dinner Dance.
The resort gave us a 50% discount on our accommodation but not on meals and other amenities. It was a visit to remember. The place is beautiful and the view of Mt. Malindig and the Marinduque mainland from our bedroom as well as from all public areas of the resort was mesmerising and breath-taking.

Senior Momentitis

Am I suffering from "senior momentitis" or I am indeed getting senile?. Last month while still snowbirding in the Philippines, I had an attacked of "senior momentitis". A specific case was when I misplaced my reading glasses. I thought I left in the computer cafe or maybe in the bank. So, I called both places and my glasses was not there. So I empty my bag and low and behold, my glasses was hiding at the bottom. Note that I had searched my bag twice before calling the cafe and the bank, but my glasses was not there ( I did not empty my bag though). So is there normal for my age group? I bet it is!

Currently, I have still a clear memory of past events in my life. My mind still get ideas on various subjects, I want to write in my blogs. I just wish though that someone invent a computer or typewritter that can type my thoughts or write an article without me sitting down in front of the computer.( I hate taperecorders) Even perhaps, a machine that can type my dreams while I am asleep. But I know this is asking too much.

Sometimes in my sleep, I get ideas of subjects I want to write, mostly related to my past experiences, childhood memories and professional achievements. Just recently, I vividly remember a "bullying event" during my freshman year in high school. This event I had already described in one of my blogs( my autobiography). I wanted to write about it again, but when I woke up, I felt it was too painful to write about it. But it reminded me, how I felt a couple of years ago, when a number of news articles were published about teenagers committing suicide due to bullying.

Now back to the sublect of senior moments. As one gets old, it is normal to suffer from this aging process. However, to insure that this is not going to an advance stage, one must use his or her memory on a daily basis. In my case, I read and write. I play computer games that require memorizing. As the saying goes, USE it or LOSE it! Good Day to ALL!
Below is a hilarious video about senior moments from Comedy Central.