Snowbirds Living in the Philippines : October 2017

Saturday, October 21, 2017

My Six Most Treasured Videos

The following six videos are my treasures. They are the videos that have touched my life!

Ditas, my youngest daughter, interviewed by Comcast, as California Director of Census, 2010

Carenna singing one of her original songs

Macrine's 80th Birthday

Chateau Du Mer, 2011

Carlos Avila, Macrine's Nephew

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Old and Recent Photos from My Album

Carenna In Red -First High School Homecoming, October, 2017. Carenna is 14 years old and my youngest grand daughter. She is the only daughter of my youngest daughter-Ditas

Carenna and Date-High School Homecoming, October, 2017

At our 60th Wedding Anniversary, May 8, 2017

Our Wedding Day, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines, May 8, 1957. Photo taken at the Residence of Macrine's parents-Bernardo Jambalos, and Elena Nieva Jambalos

My First Visit in New York City, 1960

Our First House in US with the 4D's, Platte Woods, Missouri, 1967

Me with Auring Aro and Virgie Aguilar, University of Illinois Cafeteria, Chicago, 1961

Macrine's BS Nursing Graduation, Pinole California at our Ramona Residence, 1981

Cadena de Amor Celebration, University of the Philippines,Diliman, 1953

Macrine's 81st Birthday at the Rehab Facility, Fair Oaks, Caliofornia, 2017

The David Jamily Katague Clan, 1946

Katague Clan-Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, Easter of 1949

Joys of Retirement

I have been retired from USFDA since 2002. At first, I feel I have lost my identity as an individual or have lost my contribution to society. However, within a few weeks all these feelings were gone. It started when my wife and I started baby sitting one of our grandchildren. As some economics professor states: "Your children are your capital investments, but your grandchildren are your profits. That is why you love your grandchildren more than your children". I really agree with the statement. Retirement also gives you lots of time to do things you like to do, such as your hobbies and of course travel. In my case, I turned my hobby of gardening and landscaping into a small business in the Philippines. This endeavor was planned about five years before 2002. That year my wife and I started construction of our retirement home in Boac, Marinduque , Philippines. The next year we built a beach house, followed by a Conference Hall two years later. Needless to say, planning and executing the landscaping was a challenge and very enjoyable. With the help of local labor, I not only enjoy the time gardening and landscaping, but also help improved the economic situation of the province by providing work and jobs to the local residents. With plenty of time, I have engaged into two specific activities as follows: First, I created a website for my small business. By trial and error, I created and design the website, www.chateaudumer.com I have never been a computer nerd or expert. But with plenty of time and patience, the fruits of my labor could be enjoyed if you visit the website above. The second activity, I have not done before was to utilize on-line activities, such as shopping, paying bills ( save you stamps) and playing computer games in the Internet. I really enjoyed playing duplicate bridge on line. You play with players all over the world and can chat in between games. But be careful, you are not spending too much time in the computer. It is very addictive. With a lots of time, my wife and I devoted more time on our favorite humanitarian project. For the last 15 years, we have been involved with medical mission to the province of Marinduque. For details please visit the website: www.marinduqueinternational.org As a summary, the joy one gets on retirement is very specific for an individual. Some enjoy their free time by learning new activities, getting involved with humanitarian projects or spending more time with their grandchildren. Others hate it, since they missed their former jobs and co-workers. Others with no children still enjoy retirement by traveling, turning their hobbies into business or more community involvement. Of course those that retire and hate it, is believe to die earlier than those that enjoy their retirement years. So, plan your retirement as early as you can. The happier you are on retirement, the longer you will live.