This is my response to the query regarding my activities after retirement for StoryWorth Book of Memories
The
first article I wrote on my Joys of Retirement was on May 10, 2008. I described in that post my feeling of getting lost and
useless after working for three years in the Philippines and 37 years in
the United States. My feeling of uselessness completely disappeared
after my wife and I started babysitting for our grand daughter, Carenna.
I commented that we love more our six grandchildren than our four
children, because our children are considered our capital investments
and our grandchildren are already our profits.
Carenna( my youngest grand daughter) and I starting to Nap after Checking My E-mails, 2004
After retiring from FDA as chemistry team leader from the Center of New
Drugs, I realized I have plenty of free time. I decided I had to learn
more about computer technology besides just e-mailing and word
processing technology. Through trial and error, I created my own
website, http://chateaudumer.blogspot.com . My goal was to advertise my beach
resort business worldwide. As a result of this endeavor, I was able to
attract clients from Europe and the United States and other parts of the World.
I also started paying all household bills on line through electronic
banking, shopping on line, chatting on line and playing games on line
specifically duplicate bridge, my favorite game since I was in college.
Just six months ago, I discovered the world and joys of blogging. I did
not realized that today there are 7 million bloggers in the world and it
started in 2003. At present I have 8 blog sites on topics ranging from
personal experiences, politics, education and other topics of the day. I
want to concentrate on the subject about Marinduque. My goal is to
promote Marinduque as a world tourist destination not only on Easter Week ( Moriones Festival) but also whole year round.
Our
first guests from Europe at Chateau Du Mer Beach House were two couples
from Southern France. They two men are physicians and their wives are a
psychologist and an English teacher. The picture above was taken at
Paradise Valley Resort in Cabugao, Gasan with the Engles on March 27,
2008. The French couples learned about the resort through my website.
My goal of advertising the beach resort through a website did not really
give me lots of traffic. I have more traffic on my 8 blog sites than on
my website, moreover, I found blogging relaxing and enjoyable.
Recently, I had my first article, Marinduque-Ecotourism Capital of the
Philippines published by www.huliq.com, making me a citizen journalist.
This was followed by two other articles on US National Parks and
Monuments and The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant revival.
Governor Carrion Inauguration in Front of the provincial Capitol
On August, 2008, Macrine and I received a Letter of Appreciation from the Office of the Governor as a results of my blogs promoting tourism in the province. The letter reads as follows:
Dave and Macrine Katague,
Peaceful Greetings from the Marinduque Provincial Government.
Having read your messages through the official website of the province,
we are very thankful and overwhelmed for promoting Marinduque as a
tourist destination not just in the country but also worldwide.
Indeed, Marinduque is a beauty not just because of its scenic spots but
also because of people like you who support and promote this province
and considers it their home. Hearing beautiful comments from people like
you enthuse me more to serve my people and gives me the strong will to
develop the province into a first class tourist destination.
In behalf of the people of the province, thank you very much and I salute you for making us proud of our province.
Jose Antonio N. Carrion
Governor
For the Governor: Signed by() Atty.Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco, Provincial Administrator.
Note:
Today, Velasco is now the Speaker of the House of Representatives of
the Philippines. The late former Governor was Macrine's first cousin.
Macrine and I had recently been involved with the distribution of relief
goods( rice and can foods) through the Roman Catholic Diocese of Boac to
victims of typhoon Reming. Reming devastated about 90% of the homes in
the island.
This picture was taken in Mogpog with Macrine, me, Bishop
Evangelista of the Diocese of Boac, Retired General Sarmiento, Thelma
Santos of MI, Inc and another volunteer during our rice distribution to
victims of typhoon Reming in the Island of Marinduque. The person on the
left is one of the thousands that receive 5 kilos of rice and can
goods.
At present, Macrine and I are still devoting our free time on our
favorite humanitarian project in Marinduque. For the last 12 years, we
have been involved with the medical mission in Marinduque. Visit,
www.marinduqueinternational.org for details.
Dave and Macrine in their tailored-made
matching Hawaiian Outfits enjoying their retirement years. Photo taken
at the backyard of Dodie's, (our oldest son) residence in Walnut Creek, CA.
May, I reiterate that the joy one gets from retirement is very specific.
Some enjoy their free time by learning new activities, getting involved
with humanitarian projects or spend more time with their grandchildren.
Others hate retirement. They missed their coworkers and interaction at
work. Others with no children or grandchildren spend their free time on
traveling, turning their hobbies into small business or more community
involvement. Those that retire and hate it, is believe to die early and
than those who enjoy their retirement years. I suggest you plan your
retirement as early as you can. The happier you are on retirement, the
longer you will live.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
EPILOGUE: We are Poor in Gold but Rich in Memories
Macrine and I, Christmas, 2013
Our life is not rich in terms of dollars or pesos, or material possessions (luxurious villas or mansion here or abroad) but in pleasant memories and accomplishments.
How was this attained? First, I grew up in the 1940's in the midst of
the Japanese-American War in the Philippines. My father at that time was
a Dental Officer for the Philippine-American Guerrilla Forces in Panay
and Romblon Islands. Thus, I did have a lot of contacts with American
GI's from all parts of the US. These contacts initiated and triggered my
desire and ambition to someday see and visit the US. ( I had no desire
or dream to reside in US at that time)
Second, my elementary and high school years were 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 only 0.02 points to graduate CUM LAUDE(with honors). I passed the National Board for Chemist taking 3rd Place.
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. I
was informed by my superiors in FDA that I was the first
Filipino-American Chemistry team leader in the Center of New drugs, Division of Anti-infectives in
the history of the US Food and Drug Administration.
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.
Macrine helping in the distribution of free medicines during MI, Inc Medical Mission, Mogpog. Marinduque, 2011.
Last, but not least were the civic, social and humanitarian projects that Macrine and I had been involved since the late 1960's here in the Philippines and US.
Our involvement with the Marinduque International, Inc medical mission
projects since 1998 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.
We are not rich in GOLD or SILVER, but in MEMORIES, ACCOMPLISHMENTS and Personal Relationships.
Meanwhile, enjoy this photo from my backyard
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