Alex Eala: More Than a Tennis Player-Part 1 of 2

I have been following the remarkable rise of Alex Eala, the young Filipina tennis player who has captured the imagination of Filipinos not only in the Philippines but around the world.

Her tennis accomplishments are impressive. But I believe there is another reason why Alex Eala has become so popular among Filipinos and Filipino-Americans.

Alex Eala represents us.

Her popularity is, in many ways, a cultural expression of a Filipino nation that has spent generations working, migrating, sacrificing and trying to earn recognition in a world dominated by much larger and more powerful countries.

The Philippines has been described as a labor-exporting nation. Millions of Filipinos work overseas as nurses, doctors, engineers, seafarers, caregivers, domestic workers, teachers, technicians and professionals. They leave their families and their homeland not because they do not love the Philippines, but because they want to build a better future for themselves and their families.

Filipinos have become part of the workforce of the world.

We take care of the sick. We care for the elderly. We build ships.

We work in hotels and restaurants. We teach. We work in technology and business.

And yet, despite the enormous contributions of Filipinos around the world, we sometimes feel that our country and our people do not receive the recognition they deserve.

That is why Alex Eala's success feels personal.

When she walks onto a tennis court carrying the Philippine flag, she is not simply playing a tennis match.

For many Filipinos watching her, she is carrying something much bigger.

She is carrying our national pride.

She is carrying the dreams of Filipino parents who want their children to succeed.

She is carrying the hopes of young Filipinos who want to prove that they can compete with anybody in the world.

And perhaps most importantly, she is showing that a Filipina can stand on one of the biggest stages in international sports and say, in effect: "We Filipinos belong here, too."

Why Her Success Feels Different

Filipinos have always celebrated people who bring honor to the country.

We celebrate our boxers, singers, beauty queens, basketball players, weightlifters and other athletes. When a Filipino wins internationally, millions of Filipinos celebrate as though they themselves had won.

I remember how Manny Pacquiao became more than a boxer. His victories became national celebrations.

Alex Eala is creating a similar feeling, but in a different sport.

Tennis is a global sport dominated historically by countries with much greater resources, facilities and tennis traditions.

For a Filipina to rise through that system and compete successfully against the world's best is something Filipinos can take enormous pride in.

And perhaps there is something else.

She is young. She is Filipina. She is confident. And she is succeeding on her own terms.

For an older generation like mine, this is particularly gratifying.

The Filipino-American Connection

As a Filipino-American, I experience Alex Eala's success somewhat differently.

I left the Philippines many decades ago and eventually became an American citizen. Like many Filipino immigrants, I have lived much of my life between two cultures.

I am proud to be an American. But I have never stopped being Filipino.

That is one of the interesting things about being a Filipino-American. We may live thousands of miles from the Philippines, but something happens whenever a Filipino succeeds internationally.

Our Filipino identity suddenly becomes very visible.

When Alex Eala wins, Filipino-Americans in California, New York, Hawaii, Texas, Nevada and other parts of America can celebrate together with Filipinos in Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Davao and every corner of the Philippines.

Distance disappears. For a moment, we are all simply Filipinos cheering for one of our own.

Recognition and Dignity

I recently came across an idea that I found particularly interesting: Alex Eala's popularity can be understood as a cultural expression of a labor-exporting nation's hunger for recognition and dignity under global capitalism.

That may sound like an academic statement, but I think there is a very human truth behind it.

Filipinos have spent generations proving themselves around the world.

We have become successful professionals, entrepreneurs, scientists, educators, artists, entertainers and athletes.

But there remains a deep desire to be recognized, not merely for the work we perform, but for who we are.

We don't want the world to know Filipinos only as hardworking overseas workers.

We want the world to know that Filipinos can also be champions.

We can be innovators. We can be scientists. We can be artists. We can be leaders.

And yes, we can be world-class tennis players.

Alex Eala gives that aspiration a human face. More Than 120,000 Fans

It therefore does not surprise me that Alex Eala has attracted such a large and passionate following, reportedly more than 120,000 fans.

Those followers are not all tennis experts.

Many are simply Filipinos who have found someone they can cheer for.

They see their daughter. They see their granddaughter.

They see the Filipino child who dreams of doing something extraordinary.

And for Filipino-Americans like me, perhaps we see another message:

Our heritage does not have to limit our dreams.

We can carry our Filipino identity into the wider world without being embarrassed by it.

In fact, we can make that identity part of our strength.

Alex Eala and the Filipino Dream

Every immigrant understands the meaning of a dream.

I came to America many decades ago as a young Filipino who wanted to build a life through education, hard work and perseverance. Like many immigrants, I learned that success does not come easily.

You have to prove yourself. You have to adapt. You have to work harder.

And sometimes you have to overcome the invisible barriers that come from being different.

That is why I look at Alex Eala with admiration.

Her journey is not my journey, of course. Her world is completely different from the world I entered more than six decades ago.

But the underlying Filipino spirit is familiar:

Work hard. Stay humble. Never give up. Make your family proud. And when you succeed, remember where you came from. That is a Filipino story.

Why I Will Be Cheering for Alex

At 91, I have witnessed many Filipino achievements during my lifetime.

I have seen Filipinos succeed in America and around the world.

I have watched Filipino-Americans become doctors, scientists, engineers, educators, business leaders and professionals in virtually every field.

But I still get a special feeling when I see a young Filipino carrying the Philippine flag onto an international stage.

Perhaps it is because I know how much that flag means to people like us.

It represents a country that may not be one of the world's richest or most powerful nations, but whose people have enormous talent, resilience and determination.

Alex Eala is still writing her story.

Whatever happens next in her tennis career, I believe she has already accomplished something important.

She has made millions of Filipinos feel proud to be Filipino.

And perhaps that explains why her popularity goes far beyond tennis.

She is not simply playing for rankings, trophies and prize money.

For many of us, she is playing for something much deeper:

the Filipino dream of being seen, respected and recognized as equal participants in the world.

And as a Filipino-American who has spent most of his adult life in America but has never forgotten his roots in the Philippines, I will be proudly cheering for her.

Mabuhay, Alex Eala! You are not playing alone.

Millions of Filipinos around the world are playing and dreaming with you.

In the News This Week:

US media is feasting on Alex Eala because they have discovered an unimaginable magnet. The moment her US Open night session on Louis Armstrong was announced, get-in prices doubled from $200 to $400. At the DC Open, 80% of all ticket requests were just one question: "When is Alex playing?"

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐲𝐩𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞. 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐖𝐇𝐘?

𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬.

𝟏. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐭. In a world of loud athletes, Alex is different. She wins and says "thank you." She loses and says "I will learn." She speaks so well calm, gracious, thoughtful, whether she's talking to ESPN, the Filipino press, or a kid with a tennis racket. She never forgets to say "Philippines" in every interview. She represents the flag so well, you can't help but be proud of HOW she carries it, not just that she carries it.

𝟐. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭. For a Filipina to be prime time at the US Open, on the front pages of US media - it's historic. Tennis isn't even our national sport, yet here she is, forcing America to watch us.

𝟑. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭. 4M+ Filipinos in the US, millions more worldwide. We've waited for someone to make us pack a tennis stadium. Now we have her. When she plays, we all show up.

𝟒. 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬. Rafa Nadal Academy at 13, far from home, quiet grind, no shortcuts. Maliit pero palaban. We see our own story in her.

This is why it's a proud moment. She doesn't just give us wins, she gives us more reason to shine, and more reason to fight.

Because that charming girl with the humble smile who speaks so beautifully for our country? 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐨.

Paz Barrido Balleza Katague: My Mother, Her Life, Her Values, and Her Legacy

The other day, I wrote about what my Father Had Taught Me. Today's, blog is a detailed and updated repost of my old -PreAI article on what my Mother Had Taught Me.   

A Tribute to My Mother, 1909-1988

There are some people whose lives deserve to be remembered not because they became famous, but because of the values they quietly passed on to their children.

My mother, Paz Barrido Balleza Katague, was one of those people.

I have written about my mother several times in my blogs over the years. I have written about her frugality, her remarkable ability to calculate numbers in her head, her family background, her generosity, and the many lessons she taught me during my childhood in Iloilo.

But as I approach my 92nd year, I find myself looking at her life differently.

The older I become, the more I appreciate the woman she was.

This is my attempt to bring together what I remember about my mother and what I have learned about her life and legacy over the years.

Her Early Life in Barotac Viejo

My mother was born on January 14, 1909, in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, Philippines.

She was the youngest and only daughter of Alfonso Vencer Balleza and Estefania Demit Barrido. She had two older brothers, Jose and Modesto.

The Balleza family was one of the prominent landowning families in Barotac Viejo and neighboring towns such as Banate and Ajuy. The family owned rice and corn lands, coconut plantations and fish ponds.

My maternal grandparents died while my mother was still in high school. Because of this, she was placed under the care of her older brother, Modesto.

For a period, she lived with the Modesto Balleza family in Iloilo City. Their large house was located across from St. Paul Hospital and near Assumption College.

My mother attended Assumption College but did not finish high school.

During her senior year, she met my father, Dr. David Jamili Katague, and fell in love.

She eventually married him in 1929. Years later, she told me that one of the reasons she decided to marry was because she wanted to escape the strict control of her older brother.

At the time, I did not fully appreciate what that decision meant.

Today, I understand it much better.

My Parents

My father had graduated from the University of the Philippines with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1929. He also passed the Philippine dental board examination that year, placing second nationwide.

My parents established their home in Jaro, Iloilo City, where my father operated a dental office on the first floor of their two-story residence on Arguelles Street.

After several years without children, they adopted a son, Rodolfo.

Then, in 1934, I was born. Eventually, my parents had seven children:

David, Erico, Myrla, Agnes, Efren, Ruben and Amor. I was the oldest.

Our family eventually moved to Barotac Viejo when World War II reached the Philippines. That small town became the place where I spent much of my childhood and where many of my most enduring memories of my mother were formed.

A Quiet Woman with a Remarkable Mind

My mother was a very reserved woman, the exact opposite of my Father.

She was not a person who liked to give speeches or tell people how important she was.

But she had something that impressed me even as a child, a remarkable mathematical mind.

Although she did not finish high school, she could add, subtract and multiply numbers in her head with extraordinary speed. I remember one incident particularly well.

A vendor came to our house selling farm products. The vendor quoted a price of three items for one peso.

My mother immediately calculated the amount and said something like:

"Here is eight pesos. Give me two dozen." I was amazed.

She had calculated the ratio in her head almost instantly.

Looking back, I realize that my mother possessed a practical intelligence that did not necessarily require a college education.

She understood numbers. She understood money. And, most importantly, she understood value.

The Lesson of Frugality

Perhaps the most important lesson my mother taught me was frugality.

She believed strongly in saving. She reportedly set aside about ten percent of the family's farm income.

She was not interested in unnecessary luxury. I remember that she would never leave food on her plate.

She would tell us: "If you don't finish your food, God will punish you."

That childhood lesson stayed with me. Even today, I have difficulty leaving food on my plate.

But her lesson went beyond food. She was teaching us not to waste. Don't waste food.

Don't waste money. Don't waste opportunities. And don't take what you have for granted.

Those lessons have remained with me for almost a century.

From Farm Income to the Katague Building

My mother and father worked together in managing their properties.

After my father received back pay for his service as a Dental Officer during World War II, my parents had an opportunity to invest.

My father apparently wanted to spend some of the money on a car. My mother persuaded him to save it.

That decision eventually helped them acquire commercial property in Iloilo City.

They built what became known as the KATAGUE BUILDING on Iznart Street, near the Iloilo Provincial Capitol and the YMCA.

For our family, that building represented something more than bricks and concrete.

It represented my mother's philosophy: Save first. Spend wisely. Invest for the future.

When my parents died, the building and other properties eventually became part of our family's inheritance.

The Katague Building itself eventually disappeared. The property was sold, the old building was demolished, and a newer structure took its place.

Buildings disappear. Properties change hands. But the values behind them can survive for generations.

A Mother Who Was More Generous Than I Realized

As a child, I mostly thought of my mother as a strict and frugal woman.

As I grew older, I began to understand another side of her.

She was also generous. One of the most important examples was her donation of approximately 15,000 square meters of land for Barotac Viejo National High School.

Today, when I think about that gift, I see it differently.

She could have kept that property for herself and for her children.

Instead, part of her land became an educational institution.

That may be one of her most enduring legacies.

A commercial building can be demolished. A piece of land can be sold.

But education can continue from one generation to another.

That is a legacy I am particularly proud of.

My Mother's Balleza Heritage

My mother's story is also an important part of my own family history.

Through her, I am connected to the Balleza and Barrido families of Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.

Over the years, I have researched my maternal ancestry and have written about the Balleza family in my genealogy articles.

I learned that the Balleza family had deep roots in the Barotac Viejo area and that there are now Balleza descendants scattered throughout the Philippines and around the world.

My mother therefore represents more than my immediate family.

She is one link in a much longer chain of ancestry.

And because I have become increasingly interested in genealogy in my later years, I now realize how important it is to preserve these stories.

If we don't write them down, they can disappear.

May 14, 1988

My mother died on May 14, 1988. That date is still easy for me to remember because it was Mother's Day season, and because losing a mother leaves a permanent empty space in one's life.

As of 2026, it has been 38 years since her death. Yet I still remember her.

I remember her sitting at home. I remember her calculating numbers in her head.

I remember her insisting that we finish the food on our plates. I remember her concern about saving money.

I remember her quiet personality. And I remember the lessons. That is one of the mysteries of memory.

A person may be gone for decades, but certain memories remain remarkably fresh.

What My Mother Taught Me

My mother taught me many things without giving formal lectures.

She taught me: Frugality. Saving for the future. Not wasting food. Responsibility.

The value of education. The importance of family.

And perhaps most importantly: Live within your means and appreciate what you have.

These lessons have followed me from the Philippines to America.

I brought them with me when I immigrated to the United States in 1960.

They stayed with me through graduate school. They stayed with me during my scientific career.

They stayed with me during my years at the FDA. And they are still with me today.

Looking Back at 91

When I was young, I did not fully understand my mother. That is probably true of most children.

We see our parents through the eyes of children.

Only later, after we have lived through our own struggles, responsibilities and disappointments, do we begin to understand them.

Now, at 91, I can look back at my mother's life with a much greater appreciation.

She did not have the educational opportunities that I had.

She did not travel the world. She did not have a professional career.

She never used a computer or smartphone. She certainly never imagined artificial intelligence.

Yet she possessed something that remains valuable in any generation: common sense, discipline, perseverance and wisdom.

Those qualities never become obsolete.

The Mother Behind the Man

Sometimes I think about the long journey my life has taken.

From a small town in Iloilo... To the University of the Philippines... To graduate school in America...

To a career in science and pharmaceutical chemistry...To the U.S. Food and Drug Administration...

To retirement...To becoming a blogger...And now, at 91, to using artificial intelligence as a writing partner. It has been quite a journey.

But before all of that, there was a boy growing up in Barotac Viejo who had a mother named Paz.

She helped shape that boy. Her lessons became part of the man he eventually became.

And perhaps that is the greatest legacy a mother can leave.

A Final Tribute to Mama Pacing

We called my mother Mama Pacing. I have written many times about her, but I don't think I can ever write the final version.

Every time I remember something new, another story comes back.

That is why I continue to write about her. I am not writing only for myself.

I am writing for my children, my grandchildren, my two great-grandsons, my relatives, the Balleza family, and for future generations who may someday wonder about the woman who came before them.

My mother died 38 years ago. But through memories, photographs, family stories, genealogy and these blog posts, she is still part of my life.

And perhaps that is what writing can do for the people we love.

It gives memory a permanent home. Mama Pacing, thank you for teaching me that a simple life can still be a meaningful life.

Thank you for teaching me to save. Thank you for teaching me not to waste.

Thank you for teaching me the value of education.

And thank you for giving me the roots from which my own long journey began.

You are gone, but you are not forgotten. Your oldest son, David

Related Blog: 

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2018/11/a-tribute-to-my-parents-prayer-of-st.html

Lastly, My Quotes of the Day: 

“A river cuts through a rock not because of its power, but because of its persistence.”

Anonymous

 

“Wake up with determination and go to bed with satisfaction.”

Anonymous

Four Generations, Four Hours, and a Lifetime of Love-Part 1 of 2

From Left to Right: Dinah ( my daughter), Elaine (my Grand Daughter), Me and Beau ( my great grand son) 

Today was one of the happiest days of my life this year.

Sometimes happiness does not come from a major accomplishment, a big celebration, or an expensive trip. Sometimes it comes from something as simple as holding a little child in your arms, kissing him gently on the head, and looking into his eyes.

Today, I had the privilege of spending about four hours with my great-grandson, Beau Joseph.  And those four hours were worth every minute of the four-hour drive.

My Little Guapito

The last time I saw Beau was in October of last year. He was only about four months old then. Today, he is 13 months old, crawling, smiling, observing everything around him, and beginning to show his own little personality.

When I looked at him today and called him “Guapito” - my little handsome boy, he looked at me with an expression that seemed to say:

“Who is this old man looking at me with such a loving gaze?” I could not help but smile.

I was able to hold him in my arms for a few precious minutes and kiss him on his head for a few seconds. Those few minutes may sound insignificant to someone else.

To me, they were priceless. At my age, I am very conscious that every opportunity to hold a great-grandchild is a gift. I don't take these moments for granted anymore.

I was happy. I was grateful. And I felt incredibly blessed that I am still able to make the trip, hold him in my arms, and enjoy his presence.

Four Generations in One Photograph(see cover photo)

The photograph accompanying this post is especially meaningful to me because it represents four generations of our family.

There I am, the great-grandfather. Beside me is my oldest daughter, Dinah, Beau's grandmother.

In front of us is my granddaughter, Elaine, Beau's mother. And then there is little Beau Joseph, my great-grandson.

Four generations. One family. One photograph.

When I look at this picture, I realize that I am not simply looking at four people. I am looking at a small piece of our family's history.

I came to America as a young Filipino immigrant many decades ago. I could never have imagined then that one day I would be sitting at a restaurant table with my daughter, granddaughter, and great-grandson. The restaurant we dined for lunch was Art's Place in Rohnert Park, CA. I highly recommend it if you loved Italian food. 

Life has taken me from the Philippines to America, through graduate school, a long professional career, marriage, raising children, retirement, and eventually becoming a great-grandfather.

And now, here I am  still making memories with the fourth generation. That is something I deeply treasure.

Here are some more photos at the Restaurant during Our Lunch Time

We went to a Children Play Ground  Nearby after Lunch to Enjoy the Sun and More Visit Time

Proud of Elaine and Kyle

Beau is the son of my granddaughter Elaine and her husband, Kyle Joseph, my grandson-in-law.

They currently live in a suburb of Portland, Oregon. About three months ago, they accomplished something that makes me especially proud of them: they purchased their own home in a good neighborhood.

For a young married couple today, buying a home is not easy.

Housing prices are high. Interest rates can be difficult. The cost of raising a family continues to increase. Many young people across America find it increasingly difficult to achieve the dream of homeownership.

That is why I am particularly proud of Elaine and Kyle.

They have good jobs, they have worked hard, and they have demonstrated financial discipline and good judgment. They have been able to establish a home of their own during the early years of their married life.

As a grandfather, there is a special kind of satisfaction in watching your grandchildren become independent adults and build their own families.

Their success becomes your happiness.

Four Hours Together

Today, I spent only about four hours with Beau and his family after making a four-hour drive.

Some people might ask whether such a long drive is worth it for only four hours together.

My answer is simple: Absolutely.

I was able to reconnect with Beau. I was able to spend time with Elaine.

I was able to see my daughter Dinah. I was able to visit with Kyle.

And most importantly, I was able to see my great-grandson growing up.

He is no longer the tiny four-month-old baby I remember from October.

He is now crawling, looking around with curiosity, and beginning to understand the world around him. Children grow so quickly.

That is why I have learned that we must treasure these moments while they are happening.

We cannot save them for later. We cannot put them in a box and open it again.

Once a moment is gone, it becomes a memory. And today, I made another beautiful memory.

Tired, But Happy

Tonight, I am tired from the four-hour drive home. But it is a very special kind of tired.

It is the tiredness that comes after doing something that makes your heart happy.

As I sit and think about today's visit, I keep returning to those few minutes when I held Beau in my arms and kissed his little head.

I know that someday he may not remember that moment.

He may not remember that his great-grandfather drove four hours just to spend a few hours with him. But I will remember it.

And perhaps, many years from now, when Beau is a grown man with children of his own, he may look at this photograph and realize that he was loved by four generations of his family.

That is what family means to me. It is not only about our names or our genealogy.

It is about love that travels from one generation to another.

A Blessing Across Four Generations

As I look at this photograph tonight, I feel an enormous sense of gratitude.

I am grateful for my daughter Dinah. I am grateful for my granddaughter Elaine and her husband Kyle.

And I am especially grateful for little Beau Joseph, my APO SA TUHOD - my great-grandson.

At 91 years old, I know that life has given me much more than I could have imagined when I was a young man growing up in the Philippines.

I have experienced the joys and sorrows of life, the challenges of immigration, a long career, marriage, raising children, becoming a grandfather, and now becoming a great-grandfather.

Today reminded me once again that the greatest wealth we accumulate in life is not money. It is family, memories, and love.

The four-hour drive was long. The four hours I spent with my family went by much too quickly.

But the memory of today will stay with me for a very long time.

Thank you, Beau, my little Guapito, for giving your old great-grandfather one of his happiest days of 2026.

And thank you, God, for giving me the strength and opportunity to make the journey.

Four generations. One photograph. Four precious hours. A lifetime of love.

Personal Note: I have another great grandson, two months older than Beau. His name is Graham and the son of Dinah's son, Ian.  

Dinah and I plan to visit him this coming September 25th. That is a Friday, so If you can sub for me at our Bridge Game that Day, let me know.   

Love, Crypto and Sardinia: The Billionaire Wedding That Is Making Headlines Around the World

Brendan Blumer and Salvatore “Tore” Spano - A Modern Love Story in Sardinia

I recently read about a wedding that will take place in Sardinia, Italy, on September 5, 2026. At first, I thought it was simply another extravagant wedding involving billionaires and celebrities.

But the more I read about it, the more I realized that there is a much bigger story here.

The couple is Brendan Blumer, a billionaire entrepreneur in the cryptocurrency and blockchain world, and Salvatore “Tore” Spano, a 40-year-old entrepreneur from Olbia, Sardinia.

Their wedding is already being described by Italian media as the “wedding of the year.”

And I can understand why.

From Iowa to the world of cryptocurrency

Brendan Blumer was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1986. His career is an interesting example of how dramatically the business world has changed during my lifetime.

He started his entrepreneurial journey very young, reportedly creating a business selling virtual items used in online games. He later moved to Hong Kong and became involved in technology and real estate.

His big breakthrough came when he co-founded Block.one and became involved in blockchain technology. The company's EOS project became one of the largest cryptocurrency fundraising stories of its time, raising more than $4 billion through its token offering.

Today, Blumer is chairman of Bullish, a company focused on financial services for the digital-asset industry.

This is a remarkable journey for a young man from Iowa.

When I was growing up in the Philippines, nobody had heard of cryptocurrency, blockchain or digital assets. Even the personal computer was still science fiction.

Today, a young entrepreneur can build a fortune from technology that did not even exist when I was a young man. That is how quickly our world has changed.

Then there is Tore Spano

What makes this story even more interesting to me is that this is not simply a billionaire traveling to Italy to have a glamorous wedding.

Salvatore “Tore” Spano is from Olbia, Sardinia, the very place where the wedding celebrations will take place.

According to Italian reports, Blumer and Spano met several years ago in Hong Kong through their professional connections. Spano was then working in the fashion and luxury business.

It was reportedly Spano who introduced Blumer to Sardinia.

Apparently, Blumer fell in love with the island.

Eventually, he purchased Villa Yamani in Romazzino, a spectacular property overlooking the Mediterranean, reportedly for more than €160 million.

So, in a way, this is not just a billionaire's destination wedding.

It is a homecoming for one of the two men.

A wedding fit for the billionaire age

The wedding celebrations are expected to extend over several days.

Italian newspapers have reported that the festivities will involve some of the most beautiful locations in northern Sardinia, including Romazzino, Olbia and San Pantaleo.

There have also been reports of performances by major international entertainers, including Lady Gaga and Coldplay, as well as Italian and international stars such as Laura Pausini, Giorgia, Kygo and Rita Ora.

Some of these reports have not been officially confirmed, so I will leave the final verdict to September 5.

But even if only part of what has been reported is true, this will certainly be an extraordinary celebration.

One report describes a private event involving about 300 guests in San Pantaleo, with the local businesses and restaurants participating in the festivities.

It is certainly a long way from the weddings I remember growing up with in the Philippines!

Sardinia - the perfect setting

I have always been fascinated by Italy. It is a country where history, food, architecture, art and beautiful landscapes seem to come together naturally.

Sardinia is particularly beautiful. The Costa Smeralda, or Emerald Coast, has long attracted wealthy and famous people from around the world. But I find it fascinating that the people arriving today are different from the billionaires of previous generations.

Yesterday it was oil, steel, automobiles and traditional industry.

Today it is technology, artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, blockchain and digital finance.

The fortunes have changed. But the attraction of the Mediterranean has not changed.

A different kind of marriage story

There is another reason this wedding caught my attention.

Brendan Blumer and Salvatore Spano are two men getting married.

For someone of my generation, growing up in the Philippines in the middle of the 20th century, this would have been almost unimaginable.

Society has changed enormously during my lifetime.

When I was young, homosexuality was rarely discussed openly. Families often kept such matters private. Marriage was almost universally understood as being between a man and a woman.

Today, in many parts of the world, same-sex couples can marry openly and celebrate their relationships with their families and friends.

I believe this is one of the great social changes I have witnessed during my long life.

I am not writing about this wedding to tell my readers what they should believe.

I am writing about it because it tells us something about the world in which we now live.

People want to love. People want companionship. People want someone with whom they can share their lives.

Those desires are universal. Love is Love!

From extravagant gifts to charitable giving

There is one detail about this wedding that I particularly admire.

According to Italian reporting, Blumer and Spano have apparently asked their guests not to give traditional wedding gifts.

Instead, guests have been encouraged to make charitable donations to several causes, including an animal shelter in Olbia, a brain research institute and a children's hospital project in Sardinia.

That caught my attention. A wedding involving enormous wealth could easily become a celebration of excess.

Instead, directing some of that generosity toward people, children, animals and scientific research gives the celebration another meaning.

Money can buy a beautiful villa. Money can buy a yacht.

Money can bring famous entertainers to a private party.

But money can also help somebody who needs it. That, to me, is the more beautiful use of wealth.

What does this story mean to me?

At 91, I have lived through an extraordinary period of history.

I was born in the Philippines when the world was still recovering from World War II.

I went to the University of the Philippines. I came to America in 1960.

I witnessed the arrival of the television age, the space age, the computer age, the Internet and now artificial intelligence.

I have watched societies change in ways that my younger self could never have imagined.

And now I am reading about an American-born technology billionaire marrying an Italian man from Sardinia in a celebration involving some of the world's most famous entertainers.

What a journey humanity has taken.

The wedding of Brendan Blumer and Tore Spano may appear at first to be simply another story about billionaires, celebrities and luxury.

But I see something else. I see love crossing borders, cultures and generations.

I see the extraordinary wealth created by a new digital economy.

I see an Italian island continuing to attract people from every corner of the world.

And I see another example of how much society has changed during my lifetime.

In the end, it is still about love. 

We can talk about the €160-million villa. We can talk about cryptocurrency.

We can talk about Coldplay, Lady Gaga and other celebrities.

We can talk about the hundreds of guests and the spectacular parties.

But when all the lights are turned off and the celebrities go home, two people will still be left together.

Brendan and Tore. And that is what a wedding is ultimately about. Not the flowers.

Not the music. Not the champagne. Not the celebrity guests. Not even the money.

It is about finding someone with whom you want to spend the rest of your life.

As someone who was married to my beloved Macrine for 63 years, I know that a long marriage is not built by money or a spectacular wedding.

It is built day after day through love, patience, trust, forgiveness, companionship and the willingness to stay together through the good times and the difficult times.

That is something that neither cryptocurrency nor billions of dollars can buy.

And perhaps that is the greatest lesson of this extraordinary wedding in Sardinia.

In a world that is changing faster than ever, love remains one of the few things that never goes out of style. This certainly sounds as the wedding of the year. Love is Love!

AI Impressions on This Posting:

I think this angle is much stronger for your blog than simply reporting the celebrity wedding. It connects the story to your own 91 years of observing social change, your immigrant experience, your marriage to Macrine, technology, wealth, and the changing world. That makes it distinctly your story rather than another entertainment article.

One factual caution: because the wedding is still one week away, I would keep words such as “reportedly,” “expected,” and “according to Italian media” around the celebrity performers and some logistical details. The Italian press itself notes that portions of the program remain confidential. 

If you publish it, I would also recommend a beautiful Sardinia/Costa Smeralda cover image rather than a photo of the couple alone. This would immediately communicate the combination of love, Italy, wealth and Mediterranean beauty.

Moreover, I think this could make a very interesting blog post for your worldwide readers, especially if you do not make it simply a “celebrity wedding” story.

What makes it interesting is the combination of love, enormous wealth, cryptocurrency, Italy, changing social attitudes, and the meaning of marriage. It also gives you an opportunity to reflect, in your own voice, on how different the world is from the one you knew when you were growing up in the Philippines.

In addition, I checked the latest Italian reporting, and the wedding is indeed being widely reported as an extraordinary event planned for September 5, 2026, in Sardinia. Brendan Blumer is a technology entrepreneur who co-founded Block.one and now chairs Bullish. Bullish describes him as an early blockchain investor and entrepreneur who began building technology businesses while still in high school. 

Salvatore “Tore” Spano is a 40-year-old entrepreneur from Olbia, Sardinia. Reports say the two met through work in Hong Kong several years ago, when Spano was working in the fashion/luxury industry, and that Spano introduced Blumer to Sardinia. 

The scale of the celebration is extraordinary. Italian media report events around Romazzino, Olbia and San Pantaleo, with approximately 300 guests expected for one of the celebrations. Names such as Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Laura Pausini, Giorgia, Kygo and Rita Ora have been associated with the festivities, although some of these reports remain unconfirmed and should be described as rumors rather than established facts. 

Blumer has also reportedly purchased the spectacular Villa Yamani in Romazzino for more than €160 million, adding another fascinating dimension to the story of an American-born entrepreneur who found a second home in Sardinia. 

One detail I particularly like for your blog: the couple reportedly asked guests to make charitable donations instead of giving traditional wedding presents, with beneficiaries including an animal shelter in Olbia, a brain-research institute and a children's hospital project in Sardinia. That gives the story a more meaningful dimension beyond luxury and celebrity. 

The Cards We Are Dealt: What More Than Six Decades of Bridge Have Taught Me

“We can’t control the cards we’re dealt, but we can choose how we play them.”

When I saw this quotation recently, accompanied by a wonderful illustration of playing cards with human faces, I immediately thought about my own life with the game of Bridge.

I have been playing Bridge since my graduate-school years at the University of Illinois in 1960. That means Bridge has been part of my life for more than six decades.

Over those many years, I have played Bridge in many different settings. I have played it simply for fun at parties and social gatherings, and I have also played Competitive Duplicate Bridge, where every decision can make a difference.

But perhaps my most treasured Bridge memories are those of playing with my beloved wife, Macrine, for many years.

For me, Bridge was never just a card game.

It was a social activity, a mental exercise, a competition, a way to meet people, and, most importantly, a way to spend time with people I cared about.

Bridge and the Hand We Are Dealt

The quotation says something very simple but very profound:

We cannot control the cards we are dealt, but we can control how we play them.

Isn't that also a good description of life? None of us chooses the hand we are dealt in life.

We don't choose our parents, our birthplace, our childhood circumstances, our opportunities, our disappointments, our successes, or many of the unexpected events that come our way.

But we do have some control over what we do with the hand we receive.

That is one reason I think Bridge has taught me so much about life.

Sometimes you receive a beautiful hand and everything seems to go your way. Other times, you look at your cards and wonder, “What am I supposed to do with this?”

Life can be exactly the same. The important thing is not always having the best cards.

It is knowing how to play the cards you have.

Bridge Has Taught Me Patience

One of the first lessons Bridge teaches is patience. You cannot rush the game.

You have to listen carefully during the bidding, observe the cards that are played, think about what your opponents may have, and wait for the right moment to make your play.

Sometimes the best decision is not to do anything immediately.

I have found that this is also true in life.

As we get older, patience becomes even more important. We learn that not every problem needs an immediate reaction. Sometimes it is better to pause, think, listen and then act.

A Bridge player who becomes impatient can easily make a mistake. So can a person in life.

Bridge Has Taught Me Trust

Bridge is also a remarkable game of trust.

You have a partner sitting across the table from you. You cannot see your partner's cards. You have to trust the bidding, the signals and the decisions your partner makes.

And your partner has to trust you. That makes Bridge very different from many other card games.

You are not playing alone. You are playing as a team.

My years of playing Bridge with Macrine made this lesson particularly meaningful to me. We learned to trust each other at the Bridge table, just as we learned to trust each other throughout our marriage.

Of course, there were times when one of us made a mistake!

And I suspect that each of us occasionally thought the other person had made the wrong decision. But that is part of Bridge and part of marriage.

You make a mistake, you learn from it, and you move on to the next hand.

You don't spend the rest of the evening arguing about the previous hand.

That is another good lesson for life.

Bridge Requires Planning

Bridge is also a game of planning. Before playing a single card, you need to study your hand and think about how you are going to play it.

Once the dummy comes down, the declarer has to make a plan.

What are my winners? Where are my losers? Which suit should I develop?

Should I draw the opponents' trumps immediately, or should I wait?

What cards have already been played? What cards are still outstanding?

A good Bridge player is always thinking several plays ahead.

Life also requires planning. We make plans for our education, our careers, our families, our retirement and our future.

But, just as in Bridge, our plans don't always work out exactly as expected.

Sometimes the cards change the plan. And sometimes life changes the plan.

We have to adjust.

And Then There Is Memory

Another reason I have enjoyed Bridge for so many years is that it exercises the memory.

A good Bridge player tries to remember what cards have been played and what cards remain in the opponents' hands.

You remember the bidding. You remember the opening lead. You remember which cards have appeared in each suit.

You try to reconstruct the distribution of the unseen cards. This is not always easy, especially as we get older!

But that is one of the reasons I believe games like Bridge can be excellent mental exercises for seniors.

When I sit down at the Bridge table, my brain has to wake up.

I cannot simply play cards automatically. I have to concentrate. I have to remember.

I have to calculate. I have to anticipate. And sometimes I have to admit that my memory isn't quite what it was when I was younger!

Social Bridge Versus Duplicate Bridge

I have enjoyed both social Bridge and Duplicate Bridge, but they are very different experiences.

Social or party Bridge is primarily about having fun.

You may be playing with friends, relatives or acquaintances. There is conversation, laughter, food and sometimes a little teasing. Winning is nice, but enjoying everyone's company is usually more important.

Duplicate Bridge is much more competitive. In Duplicate, the same hands are played by different partnerships, and your score is compared with others who played the same cards.

This creates a fascinating situation. You may have a terrible hand, but everyone else playing that hand has essentially the same problem.

You are being judged not simply by the cards you received but by how well you played them compared with other players.

That brings us back to the quotation. You cannot control the cards. But you can control your decisions.

Skill and Luck

Bridge is one of those fascinating games where skill and luck both matter.

You can be dealt a wonderful hand and still play it badly.

You can also be dealt a difficult hand and find a way to make the best possible contract.

Luck determines, to a significant degree, the cards that come to you.

Skill determines what you do with them.

In Duplicate Bridge, the element of luck is reduced because other players are playing the same hands. That makes the game an even better test of skill, judgment and partnership.

Still, the cards themselves can certainly determine what opportunities are available to you.

That is what makes Bridge so fascinating. You never know what the next hand will bring.

Bridge and Mahjong

I have also enjoyed playing Mahjong, particularly Philippine Mahjong, and I have introduced the game to some of my fellow residents at THD.

Both Bridge and Mahjong are wonderful social and mental games.

But I see an important difference in the way I experience them.

In Mahjong, the luck of the tiles you draw can play a very significant role, although experienced players certainly develop considerable skill in reading the game, remembering discarded tiles and making strategic decisions.

Bridge, in my experience, places an especially strong emphasis on partnership, bidding, planning, memory, communication and careful reasoning.

And that combination of skill and luck is precisely what keeps bringing me back to the Bridge table.

Bridge Has Kept Me Connected

Now, many years after I first learned Bridge at the University of Illinois, I am still playing.

Today, Bridge is an important part of my life at The Heritage Downtown.

I play with fellow seniors, and I have even had the opportunity to help organize Bridge games here.

At our age, social connections are extremely important. A Bridge table brings four people together.

For a few hours, we are not thinking about our age. We are thinking about the cards.

We are bidding. We are counting. We are remembering. We are competing.

We are laughing. And sometimes we are complaining about our partner!

But when the game is over, we shake hands, smile and look forward to the next game.

That is the beauty of Bridge.

The Greatest Bridge Lesson

After more than 60 years of playing Bridge, I think the greatest lesson I have learned is not about bidding or card counting.

It is about acceptance. You will not always receive the hand you want.

You will not always have a good day. You will not always win.

Sometimes you will make a brilliant play. Sometimes you will make a terrible mistake.

Sometimes your partner will surprise you. Sometimes you will surprise yourself.

But there is always another hand. That is perhaps the most beautiful lesson of all.

Don't dwell too long on the hand you just played. Learn from it and get ready for the next one.

Life works the same way. We cannot go back and change the cards we were dealt.

But we can learn from the past, appreciate what we have, remain patient, trust the people who are important to us, make the best plans we can, and continue playing the hand in front of us.

Looking Back

When I look back at my life, I realize that Bridge has been present through many chapters.

I first played it as a young graduate student at the University of Illinois in 1960.

I played it during my professional years. I played it socially with friends.

I played Competitive Duplicate Bridge. And I played it with my beloved Macrine.

Those memories are now part of my personal history. Today, as a senior, I am grateful that I can still sit down at a Bridge table and enjoy the game.

Perhaps that is why the quotation in the picture speaks to me so strongly:

“We can't control the cards we're dealt, but we can choose how we play them.”

After more than six decades of playing Bridge, I would add one more thought:

The objective is not always to win every hand. The objective is to play every hand as well as you can and enjoy the people sitting around the table.

That is true of Bridge. And I believe it is also true of life.

The cards we are dealt are not always within our control. But how we play them is up to us.

And there is always another hand waiting to be played.

AI Impressions on this Posting:

That makes the quotation in this image especially meaningful for you. You have more than six decades of experience with Bridge, going all the way back to your graduate-school years at the University of Illinois in 1960.

In fact, your Bridge story could make a wonderful blog post because Bridge, for you, is much more than a card game. It has been a lifelong companion, through your years as a graduate student, your professional career, retirement, and now your life at THD.

The message in the image, “We can’t control the cards we’re dealt, but we can choose how we play them”, also fits remarkably well with the philosophy you have expressed in many of your writings about aging and life itself.

There is a natural theme here: Bridge is a game, but life is also a game of Bridge.

You don't choose the cards you are dealt. In life, you don't choose your birthplace, your parents, the circumstances of your childhood, unexpected opportunities, disappointments, illnesses, losses, or even how long you will live. But you can choose how you respond to the hand you have been given.

And your own life provides a compelling example. From Iloilo to the United States, from the University of the Philippines to the University of Illinois, from graduate school to a career in pharmaceutical chemistry and the FDA, and now to your active senior years at THD, you have certainly played many different hands.

Your Bridge experience at THD adds another wonderful dimension. You are not only playing the game; you are helping keep Bridge alive among fellow seniors, including organizing games and introducing Philippine Mahjong to your community.

That could become a very personal and inspirational essay titled:

“The Cards We Are Dealt: What 66 Years of Playing Bridge Has Taught Me About Life”

I think this would resonate particularly well with your worldwide readers because the lesson is universal: we cannot always control what happens to us, but we can control how we play the hand.

AI Overview:

Bridge has a way of showing us who we are. You don’t get to choose the cards you’re dealt.

Sometimes the hand is beautiful. Sometimes it’s awkward. Sometimes you make the perfect bid. Sometimes you wish you could reach across the table and take it back.

But you can’t. What you can do is decide what happens next. Learn from the hand. Adjust. Trust your partner. Stay curious. And play the next one a little better.

That’s one of the reasons I love this game so much. Bridge isn’t about being perfect. It’s about solving the puzzle in front of you, together.

Finally, From Victor Mollo:

Every hand teaches us something. And then the cards get shuffled, and we get another chance.

Luck may influence a single hand, but great bridge players know how to create their own opportunities.

Victor Mollo's witty observation reminds us that skill is about putting yourself in the best position for favorable outcomes. Through sound bidding, careful planning, and thoughtful play, what looks like luck is often the result of preparation and experience.