Welcome and Mabuhay

If you love Marinduque and want to contribute articles to this site, please do so. My contact information is in my profile. The above photo was taken from the balcony of The Chateau Du Mer Beach House, Boac, Marindque, Philippines. I love sunsets. How about you? Some of the photos and videos on this site, I do not own. However, I have no intention on infringing your copyrights. Thank you and Cheers!

Tres Reyes Island view of the Marinduque Mainland

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Nostradamus Prediction for 2024 and the Book- The Fourth Turning


Citing his 1555 text "Les Propheties" ("The Prophecies"), the report said that Nostradamus predicted that the King may be abdicated and Prince Harry will potentially take over the throne. He said that the "King of the Isles" would be "driven out by force." and will be "replaced by one who will have no mark of a king."

An escalation in the war between Russia and Ukraine, a military conflict between China and Taiwan, and a highly disruptive cyberattack on U.S. critical infrastructure all present serious economic and national security risks as well. Source: Preventive Priorities Survey 2024.

https://youtu.be/9TLYqdB3Iv8?si=YahjAo5PDBbm_WCF

For Additional Details visit:

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2023/12/nostradamus-predictions-for-2024-what-the-famous-astrologer-sees-for-this-year.html

Related Topic, the Fourth Turning: https://youtu.be/xeVyfiP0cLk?si=NF-fmdtLJhe0U8YC


The visionary behind the bestselling phenomenon The Fourth Turning looks once again to America’s past to predict our future in this startling and hopeful prophecy for how our present era of civil unrest will resolve over the next ten years—and what our lives will look like once it has. 

Twenty-five years ago, Neil Howe and the late William Strauss dazzled the world with a provocative new theory of American history. Looking back at the last 500 years, they’d uncovered a distinct pattern: modern history moves in cycles, each one lasting roughly eighty to one hundred years, the length of a long human life, with each cycle composed of four eras—or “turnings”—that always arrive in the same order and each last about twenty years. The last of these eras—the fourth turning—was always the most perilous, a period of civic upheaval and national mobilization as traumatic and transformative as the New Deal and World War II, the Civil War, or the American Revolution.

Now, right on schedule, our own fourth turning has arrived. And so Neil Howe has returned with an extraordinary new prediction. What we see all around us—the polarization, the growing threat of civil conflict and global war—will culminate by the early 2030s in a climax that poses great danger and yet also holds great promise, perhaps even bringing on America’s next golden age. Every generation alive today will play a vital role in determining how this crisis is resolved, for good or ill. 

Illuminating, sobering, yet ultimately empowering, The Fourth Turning Is Here takes you back into history and deep into the collective personality of each living generation to make sense of our current crisis, explore how all of us will be differently affected by the political, social, and economic challenges we’ll face in the decade to come, and reveal how our country, our communities, and our families can best prepare to meet these challenges head-on.

Meanwhile enjoy this photo of the my Twin Orchid in the Garden of Chateau Du Mer, Philippines

https://youtu.be/FjPgSSUOq40?si=w3d5QP2vZYzuwTG2

I hope the bad prediction for 2024 will not come true.

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Common Homonyms and Phrases for Animal Collectives

Bonus Blog- Lately my bonus blogs on my FUN with the English language received more comments and positive reaction compared to my main blog for the day.  Continuing this trend my bonus blog for today is as follows: Again your comment will be highly appreciated. 

Homonyms are two or more words that have the same sound or spelling but differ in meaning. Homophones—which means "same sounds" in Latin—are two or more words, such as knew and new or meat and meet, that are pronounced the same but differ in meaning, origin, and often spelling. Homographs, meanwhile, are words that have the same spelling but differ in origin, meaning, and sometimes pronunciation, such as the verb bear (to carry or endure) and the noun bear (the animal with a shaggy coat).

Words that fall under any of these three categories often confuse readers and writers alike. But they need not perplex you: Understanding the meaning of these three grammatical terms and, especially, being able to recognize them can help clear up any confusion. A list of some of the most common homonyms, homophones, and homographs can help any writer use these words correctly and any reader or listener recognize them when they occur.


Here are a few examples: Homonynms, Homophones and Homographs

blew - past tense of blowblue - the color 
bread - baked food itembred - produced 
buy - purchaseby - near, throughbye - goodbye
capital - punishable by deathcapital - chief citycapitol - building where legislature meets
ceiling - top of a roomsealing - setting, fastening 
cell - compartmentsell - vend 
cent - penny coinscent - an odorsent - past tense of send
cereal - breakfast foodserial - sequential 
chews - gnaws with teethchoose - to select 
Chile- country in South Americachili - bean stewchilly - frosty
chord - musical tonecord - rope 
cite - quotesite - locationsight - view
 


https://www.thoughtco.com/homonyms-homophones-and-homographs-a-b-1692660

Lastly here are phrases for Animal Collectives:


The three phrases I love are: an escargatoire of snails, a pandemonium of parrots and convocation of eagles. What is your Favorite Phrase? Let me hear from you. 

Reference: https://www.wordgenius.com/names-groups-of-animals/ZbPuIJ4PlQAHAVCK?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2103690007

Meanwhile here are photos of Batman and Robin enjoying my CATIO


Lastly, Batman & Robin are my, Duo of Felines. My pair of Mousers and temporarily my two great grand kids and apartment companion.  

Another Story That Touched My Heart

A son took his father to a restaurant to enjoy a delicious dinner. His father is quite old and therefore, a little weak too. While eating, food occasionally fell on his shirt and pants. The other guests watched the old man with their faces contorted in disgust, but his son remained calm. 

After they both finished eating, the son quietly helped his father and took him to the toilet. Cleaned food scraps from his crampled face and attempted to wash food stains on his clothes, graciously combed his gray hair and finally put on his glasses.

As they left the restroom, a deep silence reigned in the restaurant. The son paid their bill but just before they leave, a man, also old, got up and ask the old man’s son, “Don’t you think you left something here?” The young man replied “I did not leave anything.”

Then the stranger said to him,”You left a lesson here for every son and a hope for every father.”

The whole restaurant was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop!

One of the greatest honors that exist, is being able to take care of those who have taken care of us too. Our parents and all those elders who sacrificed their lives with all their time, money and effort for us, deserve our utmost respect .



  • "The best way to honor your parents is to show them love and respect in their lifetime."

  • "Aging parents deserve to be treated with dignity, compassion, and empathy."

  • "The love between a parent and child knows no boundaries, transcending time and age."


♥♥♥"To care for those who once cared for us is one of the highest honors." - Tia Walker. Tia Walker's quote reminds us of the profound honor it is to care for our parents as they age. They have dedicated their lives to nurturing and supporting us, and now it is our turn to 
reciprocate that love and care.

By Pure Coincidence: Today, I got an invitation from A LOVE One to watch a play, that he is involve with and his wife in 2 weeks. I said Yes!  And here are beautiful roses I purchased the other day. 


Tuesday, April 16, 2024

How to Make a Succulent/Cactus Terrarium

 My Own Creation of a Cacti/Succulent Terrarium- It is a Work of Art if I may Say So!


There is another activity that was scheduled yesterday that I am interested in attending ( flyer above). However, because it is scheduled at the same time I play bridge, it is no brainer my bridge playing has the priority. It is about making a terrarium with succulents. Here's how to Create a Terrarium.

Instructions
  1. Add Gravel or Pebbles to the Bottom. Start by adding a layer of gravel or pebbles to the bottom of your vessel. ... 
  2. Add a Filter On Top of the Pebbles. Next, add a thin filter on top of the rock or pebble layer. ... 
  3. Layer In Soil. ... 
  4. Plant Your Succulents. ... 
  5. Add Additional Accent Plants. ... 
  6. Mist With Water.

Here's a video of how to make your own succulent terrarium

https://youtu.be/FGQyw_iP2TM?si=UkVi1vEIqC6wuRAT   

Meanwhile enjoy this photo of the first rose bloom here at THD I took last week.

Photo Taken April 10, 2024, THD Court Yard, Walnut Creek, California
  

Monday, April 15, 2024

Retirement Pinoy Pot Luck Party for Merlet Perlas

Merlet Perlas- the Honoree of the Retirement Pot Luck Party 

Dinah and I attended a Filipino Pot Luck Party to celebrate the retirement of Professional Nanny, Merlet Perlas from Mogpog, Marinduque, Philippines a couple of weeks ago. Merlet started her first baby sitting job about 45 years ago here in the US.  Her first baby client is now nearly 40 years old. I asked Merlet how many kids ( now adults with their own children) she had raised. She said more than 30. Her first job as a professional Nanny was with Macrine's niece, Zehara,  daughter of Charo Jambalos Levin, Macrine's youngest sister.  Her most recent job is with the grandchildren of Macrine's other sister, Fe Jambalos in Mountain View.

The party is typical of Filipino Parties, lots of food ( mostly filipino dishes) and conversations. Since it was Pot luck there were other dishes: Chinese, Vietnamese and other typical American dishes. There was even Spaghetti for the younger generations. Some of the guests were former clients of Merlet, bringing their own family. Majority of the guests were Macrine's Relatives. Macrine (RIP) was my wife for over 63 years. Macrine passed last August 10, 2020.    


The Main Table for the Dishes. There is another table for Fruits and Desserts. The yellow dish with red, yellow and green peppers is my favorite dish. It is called adobo na Manok sa Gata( Chicken Adobo in Coconut Curry). This was the only dish I partake with steam rice except for two Chinese egg rolls.( center of the table). There was Sushi, Baked Salmon, Barbecue Ribs, Pancit, Adobo, Sweet and Sour Fish and vegetables dishes and Fresh Fruits.  

I took some pictures during the Party.  Here are some photos for your viewing pleasure.    










The Fresh Fruits Table and Desserts






  

Danish Composer Jacob Gade and His Tango Jealousie

I attended last Saturday Great Performance, Faroe Islands and Denmark as part of Month of April Travel Series here at THD( see program above). The highlight of the evening presentation was Carl Nielsen, Symphony #4, The Inextinguishable.  The last 2 two minutes of the piece featuring a drum solo was to me, the most moving piece of music ever played. 


The program made me curious. So I searched for Danish most popular music.  I was shock and very much surprise to learn that the Tango Jealousie composed by Danish Jacob Cade was cited as the most popular light classical music from Denmark. 

I thought that the tango piece was originally from Argentina- The Land of the Tango. I am mistaken and this incident shows that you are never too old to learn new things.

The Tango Jealousie ( Jealousy) as well as La Cumparsita were the two tango pieces that my father  (RIP) used to teach us ( me, my brother and cousins) dance the tango when we were teenagers in the mid 1940's just after the Japanese- American War In the Philippines.  So today, I can still dance the Tango and of course the Cha Cha, the Rumba and the Jitterbug. 

Here's a video of the Tango Jealousie by the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, composed by Jacob Gade, conducted by Clemens Schuldt and performed by solo violinist, Christina Astrand.     

https://youtu.be/ELDZ67kkYfM?si=moyhLaZnKQGmRCiE

Here's a short biography of the composer Jacob Gade and the Piece Tango Jealousie from Wikipedia:

Jacob Thune Hansen Gade (29 November 1879 – 20 February 1963) was a Danish violinist and composer, mostly of orchestral popular music. He is remembered today for a single tune, Jalousie (also known as Jalousie "Tango Tzigane" and Tango Jalousie).

Recordings

In 1998 Dacapo Recordings published a record with a part of his works—some unpublished—performed by the Odense Symphonic Orchestra conducted by Mathias Aeschbacher featuring the soloist Bjarne Hansen on violin. Critics commented: «It is incredible that an unknown and so good music has been displayed because of the popularity of “Jealousy”».

Written to accompany the silent era blockbuster Son of Zorro when Gade was leader of the orchestra of the Palads Cinema, the tango premiered on 14 September 1925 and was an instant international hit including the Philippines👫. When talkies were introduced it was featured in numerous films.

Music composition

The royalties allowed Gade to devote himself to composition full-time for the rest of his life. Arthur Fiedler made the first recording of the piece with the Boston Pops in 1935, further increasing Gade's income. The royalties now fund a foundation for young musicians.

As a symphony composer Gade did not fare as well. In an interview two years before his death, Fiedler recalled that Gade came especially to Boston to thank him for the recording. Gade also presented Fiedler with a score of a symphony which Fiedler recalled as "one of the worst pieces of music I ever looked at".

Here's a video of the Tango Dance with The music Jealousy. The music and dance reminds me of many pleasant memories of my late father and my teenager years in Barotac Viejo. Iloilo, Philippines in the mid-1940's.  

https://youtu.be/a3MnLeeMGfU?si=YJvC_gvtFhcRnoHl

Again, I would never have thought in a thousand years that the Great Performance Presentation, Denmark here at THD would led me to many pleasant memories of my younger years because of Danish Jacob Gade, composition of Tango Jealousie.  The tune of Tango Jealousy is still linger on my memory...Thank You Galen for this Month Travel Series. I am hoping and lobbying that our June travel series would be the Philippines to celebrate Philippine Heritage Month here in the US.  

Sunday, April 14, 2024

Sharing My Youngest Daughter's Blog- Grieving Thru Glee

I'm still here - After an 8 year hiatus...

April 11, 2024

Hard to believe I hadn’t had an art opening since 2016! A lot has happened on my grief healing journey. Much has been spent on my career and raising my daughter. Solo parenting while career woman takes a toll on your body, mind and creativity. After a challenging few years as the Director of the statewide California Complete Count Census 2020 campaign, I retired in July 2021. I was enjoying retirement for a whole month, teaching yoga and then was pulled into consulting where I could travel at the same time. In August 2021, my daughter and I went to Croatia before she returned for her last year doing the International Baccaulareate. I went to Europe in February of 2022 to see my daughter in The Netherlands and then spent a wonderful month working on the organic farm at Esalen and practicing yoga, ecstatic dance and chanting. Finally, I un-retired, landing my dream gig in Washington DC, serving the President. After settling into un-retirement in a new place, I fell in love with our little neighborhood of Del Ray in Alexandria. It took my friend Elaine coming down from Maryland to show me this wonderful creative community within walking distance of my new home. I also have started teaching yoga and meditation again, right next door at the local YMCA. And finally, painting again. 

This small 12”x12” diamond shaped painting was a study for a larger 48”x48” painting that I will post next because that has already been accepted in another bigger art show in Old Town Alexandria. I volunteered at the gallery the evening before the Art Opening reception and saw that my painting had already SOLD!!! How exciting that was to first have a painting up and then to have it sell!


https://www.grievingthruglee.com/blog/2024/4/12/275-year-anniversary-42724-for-alexandria-va-and-big-opportunity-to-show-at-a-beautiful-gallery-on-the-river?fbclid=IwAR2O7cSe3Q4FhDeQ7BTaeC_fLX2zvCEgsqD5leTNQb7xDliryqqmNKGjASU_aem_AZ5lTZCInhvUk-2-xjGdO2sm1IpP2H9ciPX8KxGy97gg85rk6PZcxTW4D2hd_Nxj1BH77hP7APZznc2CTVCE5tNl


275 year Anniversary 4/27/24 for Alexandria, VA and big opportunity to show at a beautiful gallery on the river

April 12, 2024

Karma is a Map (DMV)

Riding this creativity wave, I returned to my larger format canvases. The earlier “study” was Karma DMV #1 and helped me get this vision out of my head and manifested on canvas. Arriving to the DMV (DC, Maryland and Virginia) area in July 2022, my daughter and I did a lot of driving around, exploring and getting lost. We embraced the “beginners’ mind” as we would drive in circles, even with the help of Siri, and we would listen to her playlists consisting mainly of Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo and Phoebe Bridgers. But after retiring in California, needing a break from the “mean girls” - the lyrics in the song resonated with me. Click onto the link to read more about this new painting that will be showing from 4/27-6/30 at the Canal Center. Opening is on Saturday, April 27 from 11 am-7 pm - 11 Canal Center Plaza, Alexandria. #grievingthruglee.com

Saturday, April 13, 2024

Is the Philippines Still a Good Place for Retirement?

 

Philippines Not in Top Ten Countries for Retirement, Dated 2020 

Are you planning to retire next year outside the US?  I have a number of friends who informed me that if Moron DJT( https://www.cbsnews.com/news/john-bolton-book-trump-revelations-the-room-where-it-happened/ ) gets elected, they will retire abroad. Is the Philippines still a good place to retire today? 💚💚

I did some search and here's the latest top 10 best countries for retirement from marketwatch.com dated February, 2020 based on housing, benefits/discounts, visas/residency, ease of fitting in, development, climate, health care, governance, cost of living and other factors. 

Ten best countries to retire abroad
1. Portugal
2. Panama
3. Costa Rica
4. Mexico
5. Colombia
6. Ecuador
7. Malaysia
8. Spain
9. France 
10. Vietnam

For details read: 

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/this-gorgeous-country-is-the-no-1-place-to-retire-abroad-and-you-can-do-it-on-just-2200-a-month-2020-01-02

Note: Personally, Marinduque, Philippines is still my number #1 Choice for Retirement.  https://whyretireinthephilippines.blogspot.com/search?q=place+for+retirement 

The following video was made 4 years ago. It is a nice ad for the Philippines, but is it still applicable today?  ðŸ’šðŸ’š 

💜https://youtu.be/XuTow8dbWno?si=dpUW8Slfy9xm-oGx

Related Article written in 2019: https://hubpages.com/health/How-to-Live-or-Retire-in-the-Philippines-for-Less-than-1-500-a-Month
Macrine and I enjoying the Sunset at Our Retirement Home in the Philippines
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