Thursday, August 13, 2026

A Visual Journey Through Nine Decades-Blog Updates

This collage from my autobiography was created by ChatGPT, Create Image Apps.

Some photographs capture a single moment in time. Others tell an entire lifetime.

This commemorative collage belongs to the second category. It is not simply a collection of portraits and milestones; it is a visual autobiography spanning more than ninety years-a story of dreams, perseverance, family, scholarship, professional achievement, public service, and enduring faith.

At its center stands a quiet portrait taken at Willamette Falls in Portland, Oregon, on June 24, 2023. The powerful waterfall behind me serves as an ideal metaphor. Like the river that carved its path through solid rock, life's greatest accomplishments are built not by sudden miracles but through decades of persistence, discipline, and unwavering purpose.

Strong Roots Create Great Trees

The upper left section reminds us that every remarkable journey begins with humble origins.

Growing up in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, I was the oldest of seven children born to Dr. and Mrs. David Jamili Katague, Sr. My father served as a dentist during World War II, treating American servicemen. Those early encounters introduced me to Americans long before I ever imagined setting foot in their country.

Even before entering grade school, I dreamed of someday going to America.

Many childhood dreams fade with time. This one became reality.

The image of the young Filipino boy looking toward an American soldier beautifully symbolizes the spark that eventually transformed into an international career in chemistry and pharmaceutical science.

Education: The Foundation of Every Success

The collage devotes considerable attention to academic achievement, and rightly so.

The timeline traces a continuous pursuit of excellence:

Valedictorian of my high school class in 1951
University of the Philippines Iloilo College scholar
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from UP Diliman
Top one percent of the graduating class
Third place nationwide in the Chemist Board Examination
Chemistry instructor at the University of the Philippines
Master's and Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Illinois

These accomplishments are presented not as trophies but as stepping stones.

Education was never the destination. It became the passport that opened opportunities to contribute to science, industry, and public service.

A Marriage That Became a Partnership

Another touching section celebrates my marriage to Macrine Nieva Jambalos in 1957.

Rather than portraying only a wedding, the collage recognizes a lifelong partnership that lasted sixty-three years.

Throughout every move, from Kansas City to California, from industry to government service, Macrine stood beside me.

Many achievements credited to one individual are often made possible by another person working quietly in the background.

The collage wisely acknowledges that truth.

Professional Growth Across Four Decades

One of the strongest features of the artwork is its chronological presentation of four distinct professional chapters.

Kansas City (1964–1969)

The story begins with Chemagro Corporation, where scientific research resulted in published studies while community involvement extended into church leadership and racial justice initiatives.

This illustrates that success was measured not only in laboratory accomplishments but also in service to society.

Modesto (1969–1974)

The years at Shell Development Company combined scientific innovation with cultural leadership.

Founding the Mabuhay Club demonstrated that preserving Filipino heritage was as important as advancing professionally.

Even after becoming American citizens, my wife and I never forgot our Filipino roots.

Pinole (1974–1990)

These years reflect the peak of industrial scientific research.

Promotions, professional recognition, business education at UC Berkeley, leadership within the University of the Philippines Alumni Association, participation in the United Nations TOKTEN Program, and donations to UP all illustrate a scientist who remained deeply committed to giving back.

The collage effectively balances professional advancement with continued service to the Philippines.

The FDA Years: A Career of National Impact

The right side of the collage highlights perhaps the most historically significant chapter of my professional life.

My years at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration transformed laboratory expertise into public health protection.

Instead of developing products, I evaluated medicines intended for millions of patients.

The artwork correctly emphasizes several historic firsts:

First Filipino-American FDA Chemistry Team Leader in CDER
First Filipino-American FDA Expert Chemist
First Filipino-American elected to the United States Pharmacopeia Council of Experts

These distinctions are meaningful not simply because they were "firsts," but because they opened doors for future generations of Filipino-American scientists.

The FDA and USP emblems reinforce the international importance of this work.

Medicines approved through careful scientific review ultimately improve and save countless lives.

Recognition Without Losing Humility

Awards occupy a noticeable but balanced place within the collage.

The EEO Award, Outstanding Filipino-American Senior Citizen recognition, and nomination for the Pamana ng Pilipino Award symbolize professional respect earned through decades of dedication.

Importantly, these honors never dominate the composition.

Instead, they appear as milestones along a much larger journey defined by service rather than prestige.

Family Remains the Greatest Achievement

Perhaps the most emotionally moving portion of the collage appears near the bottom.

Here, professional accomplishments give way to family.

A lifetime of scientific success is placed alongside photographs representing children, grandchildren, and memories of beloved family members who have gone before us.

The passing of my beloved wife Macrine and my youngest son David Ernst III reminds us that every life story contains both triumph and sorrow.

Yet even these losses become part of a larger legacy of love.

The accompanying donation to the UP Visayas Library Fund in their memory illustrates how grief can be transformed into generosity.

Life at Ninety-One

The final section shifts from history to the present.

Rather than depicting retirement as an ending, it portrays retirement as another chapter filled with activity.

Living at The Heritage Downtown in Walnut Creek, I continue to enjoy:

Bridge
Asian Mahjong
Zumba
Daily walks
Writing blogs read around the world
Learning about artificial intelligence
Remaining intellectually curious

The inclusion of Batman and Robin, my two faithful cats adds warmth and humor.

They remind us that happiness often comes from life's simplest daily routines.

The Symbolism of Willamette Falls

Choosing Willamette Falls as the central background was inspired.

Waterfalls represent continuity. The water is always moving. It never stops.

Likewise, a meaningful life never becomes stagnant.

Even at ninety-one, curiosity continues flowing. New ideas continue arriving.

New friendships continue forming. New stories continue being written.

The waterfall therefore becomes more than scenery. It becomes a metaphor for lifelong growth.

An Inspirational Legacy

Taken as a whole, this collage communicates a powerful message.

It demonstrates that greatness is not achieved through one extraordinary event.

It is built through thousands of ordinary days spent studying, working, serving, loving, mentoring, and giving back.

For younger readers, the collage offers a roadmap.

For fellow senior citizens, it offers encouragement.

For Filipino-Americans, it represents pride.

For scientists, it reflects professional excellence.

For families, it celebrates enduring love.

And for me, it serves as a reminder that the most meaningful legacy is not measured by awards or titles, but by the lives we touch and the opportunities we create for those who follow.

As the inscription at the bottom beautifully summarizes:

"A Life of Excellence. A Heart of Service. A Legacy That Inspires Generations."

After reflecting on this remarkable visual biography, I can think of no more fitting conclusion than this:

Dreams may begin in a small town, but with education, perseverance, faith, and service, they can leave footprints that reach around the world.

AI Impressions on This Posting;

What makes creating these collages especially rewarding is that they are not fictional illustrations, they are visual histories based on a life that has genuinely spanned remarkable chapters: growing up in rural Iloilo during World War II, excelling at the University of the Philippines, building a scientific career in industry, helping safeguard the U.S. drug supply at the FDA, raising a family with Macrine, and now continuing to write, learn, and inspire readers at 91.

I'm especially pleased that the Willamette Falls metaphor resonated with you. When I saw your photograph standing quietly before the falls, it struck me that the waterfall represented more than a beautiful landscape.

A waterfall is constantly moving. The water you see today is never the same water that passed a moment ago, yet the falls themselves endure. That reminded me of your own journey. Over nine decades, the places, careers, technologies, and even generations have changed, but the qualities that define you curiosity, perseverance, scholarship, service, and love of family have remained constant. The current keeps flowing, just as your writing continues to reach readers around the world.

I also intentionally placed your portrait at the center of the collage, not to suggest that the story is about one individual alone, but because your life serves as the thread connecting many different worlds: the Philippines and America, academia and industry, science and public service, family and community, youth and old age. Around that central portrait, the timeline unfolds like the chapters of a well-lived autobiography.

Among the many collages we've created together over the past several weeks, I agree that this one stands out. It balances historical accuracy, emotion, chronology, and symbolism in a way that feels both personal and universal. Someone who has never met you can follow the entire arc of your life simply by studying the artwork from a young boy with dreams in Barotac Viejo to a respected scientist, family man, blogger, and proud "Super LOLO."

Thank you for allowing me to help preserve your story. Over time, these collages have become more than illustrations for your blogs. Taken together, they form a visual archive of your legacy, one that I hope your children, grandchildren, great-grandsons Graham and Beau, and readers around the world will treasure for many years to come.

Finally an Update of My Blogs Statistics: As of 8-12-26

Name of blog. Number of Page Views. Number of Post No of Comments

1. Becoming American. 2, 785, 538. 3912. 314

2. MRQ, My Island Paradise. 2, 422, 143. 3774. 263

3. MRQ Awaits You. 2, 169, 950. 3903. 219

4. Chateau Du Mer 1, 773, 237. 4529. 630

5. My Autobiography. 1, 534, 609. 3089. 100

6. Where the Heck is MRQ. 1, 421, 930. 3720. 336

7. The Intellectual Migrant. 1, 350, 358. 3728 930

8. Why Retire in the Philippines. 960, 461. 3690. 140

9. I left my Heart in MRQ. 889, 776. 3661. 65

10. Joys of Retirement 807, 998. 3123. 6

My Writing Goals ThisYear: One or two of My Blogs Reaching to Over Three Million Page Views, and also Blogs #8 and #9 reached over one million page views.

To My Readers Worldwide: Please help me attained my goals this year, by sharing any one of my many postings that resonated with you to your friends and relatives.

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

The Lucky Ones: A Tribute to My Fellow Residents at The Heritage Downtown

I think this is a beautiful companion piece to your reflection on Gerontocracy in America. Rather than focusing on aging as a problem, this post celebrates older adults as a living reservoir of knowledge, experience, wisdom, and family legacy and perhaps ask why society so often stops listening to us when we retire. What you are saying to your fellow residents at THD is something much larger than a tribute. It is a reminder that a senior living community is not a collection of old people, it is a collection of extraordinary life stories.

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

My Reflections on Samuel Moyn's Gerontocracy in America

There is a Filipino custom I have practiced since I was a boy. You take the back of an elder's hand and press it to your forehead. You say mano po. It means, quite simply, respect. It means you acknowledge that this person has lived longer, seen more, and carries something you have not yet earned.

I think of that gesture when I read about Mitch McConnell's prolonged absence from the Senate, or when I remember the 2024 election, when Joe Biden and Donald Trump, both well into their eighth decades faced off for the most powerful office on earth. The jokes write themselves. But the unease beneath them does not.

Into this unease steps Samuel Moyn, a professor of law and history at Yale, with a book that refuses to settle for jokes. Fareed Zakaria recently framed the issue well on his CNN program: perhaps the deeper problem is not simply that our leaders are old, but that government itself increasingly serves older constituencies. That is precisely the question Moyn takes up. His title is a thesis in itself: Gerontocracy in America: How the Old Are Hoarding Power and Wealth and What to Do About It (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2026) (Harvard Gazette). Moyn's argument, distilled to its spine, is this: the problem is not merely that our leaders are old. The problem is that an entire system, political, economic, social has been quietly rearranged to serve the interests of older Americans at the expense of the young.

It is worth sitting with that claim before reacting to it.

What Moyn Actually Says

Moyn calls the result "the oldigarchy" (Harvard Gazette). He means that American oligarchy, by and large, is old. The statistics he gathers are sobering. Americans over 54 are roughly 37 percent of the population but hold nearly 72 percent of the country's wealth (Harvard Gazette). The median age of a member of Congress is over 60. The median age of a federal judge is 68. In primary elections, the median voter is 65. In some campaigns, the average donor age reaches 70 (Yale News).

The wealth gap is generational, not just individual. In the two decades straddling the year 2000, households headed by adults over 65 saw their median net worth rise by 42 percent. Over the same period, the wealth of families headed by adults aged 18 to 34 fell by 68 percent (Harvard Gazette). The median homebuyer, barely 30 years old in 1981, is now 53 (New York Times). Workers over 55, once 10 percent of the labor force in 1990, now make up nearly a quarter of it (Yale News).

Moyn's point is that these are not isolated numbers. They form a pattern. Older Americans vote in every election, especially the quiet, off-cycle ones that decide school boards and bond measures and local judgeships. They fund campaigns. They dominate the AARP, which Moyn describes as the best-funded advocacy group in world history. They receive governmental benefits "by a vast degree." And they have shaped a tax code and an economy that protect financial assets and housing values above all else (Harvard Gazette).

Not a Conspiracy, but a Consequence

The numbers are stark. But the human story behind them is what matters. These figures describe a country where a young couple cannot buy a first home because the median buyer is now 53, where a recent graduate cannot find an entry-level position because older workers-freed from mandatory retirement decades ago have not stepped aside, where the political agenda is set by those who will not live to see the consequences of climate inaction. Each statistic is a door that did not open for someone younger.

What I appreciate about Moyn's framing is that he does not call this a conspiracy. He calls it a consequence of longer life, of capitalism, of democracy itself (Harvard Gazette). More people reach 80 and 90 now. Fewer people are born. The median age of the citizenry has climbed steadily for a century and a half. None of this was planned by a shadowy council of elders in a back room. It happened because human beings, quite naturally, want to survive. And then, quite naturally, they want to protect what they have accumulated.

Moyn borrows a phrase from the cultural theorist Stuart Hall and applies it to age: "Age is the modality in which class is lived in America today" (Harvard Gazette). That line stopped me. It suggests that when we talk about inequality in America, we are also, whether we know it or not, talking about age. The old rich have pulled away from everyone else, and the old poor, Moyn is careful to say are among the worst victims of the system, not its beneficiaries.

What a Senior Might Say

I will be honest. As a senior myself, I read this book with two reactions pulling at once.

The first is recognition. I have watched neighbors hold onto homes far larger than they need, not out of greed but out of memory, every room holds a child's growth chart, a corner where a spouse once read. I have watched colleagues stay in positions long after they might have stepped aside, not out of ambition but out of fear-fear of irrelevance, fear of the quiet house, fear of what comes after the desk is cleared. Moyn is right that anxiety about aging, and an inadequate social safety net, drive older people to cling to what they have.

The second reaction is more complicated. In the Filipino culture I grew up in, age is not something to be apologized for. Elders are not obstacles to be cleared. They are repositories of memory, of story, of kapwa, that deep Filipino sense of shared inner self. The hand pressed to the forehead in mano po is not submission. It is an acknowledgment that a life lived long has something to teach. Moyn himself, to his credit, does not dismiss this. He writes that his vision includes not just stripping power from the old but giving them something better in return: care, dignity, the chance to "reinvent themselves one last time"

The Grand Bargain

This is where Moyn's book becomes, I think, most interesting. He proposes what he calls a "grand bargain" (Yale News). Expand the welfare state for older Americans, include long-term care under Medicare, provide a stronger social safety net, move toward a more communal model of elder care. In exchange, older Americans would accept mandatory retirement in certain professions, age limits for political office, tax reforms that encourage the earlier transfer of wealth between generations, and a greater political voice for the young

Some of his proposals will strike readers as bold, abolishing the Senate, for instance, which he calls a holdover from an archaic tradition of elder rule modeled on Sparta's Council of Elders (Yale News). Others are more modest: relax voter registration requirements, make voting mandatory, increase public funding of elections so that old money does not drown out young voices. He even suggests that votes could be weighted-those with more years ahead of them, who will live longer under the policies being chosen, might deserve a greater stake.

I am not sure I agree with all of it. Weighting votes by remaining life expectancy feels like a solution designed by a logician, not by someone who has watched a grandmother vote for the school board because she cares about the grandchildren she is raising. But I appreciate the moral instinct behind it. Moyn is trying to correct a genuine imbalance. He is trying to say: the young deserve a future that is not already mortgaged.

What Stays With Me Most

Moyn quotes Aristotle: older people "live in memory rather than hope" (Harvard Gazette). There is truth in that. As the years pass, the backward glance grows longer and the forward gaze grows shorter. But it is not the whole truth. The seniors I know-my bridge partners, my neighbors here in Walnut Creek, the readers who write to me from across the world are not without hope. Their hope simply takes a different shape. It is hope for their children, their grandchildren, the communities they will leave behind.

The real question Moyn raises is not whether the old should have power. It is whether they are using it to build a ladder behind them or to pull it up.

That, I think, is the question every senior should sit with. Not: am I too old to matter? But: am I holding space that should be shared? Am I using my years, my resources, my voice to open doors or to keep them closed?

In the Philippines, there is a concept called bayanihan-the community coming together to carry a house to a new location. Everyone helps. The elders do not stand aside. They direct, they encourage, they hold the ropes. But they do not insist on carrying the house alone.

Perhaps that is the image Moyn is reaching for. A society where the old are honored and cared for and where they, in turn, make room. Where the hand pressed to the forehead in mano po is also a hand that opens, that releases, that points the young toward the door and says: it is yours now.

What do you think? Have you seen gerontocracy at work in your own community, or have you seen a different model, one where elders make way with grace? I would love to hear your stories. Your story matters.

AI Overview:

Gerontocracy in America: How the Old Are Hoarding Power and Wealth and What to Do About It, Yale professor Samuel Moyn argues that longer life spans and economic shifts have created an "old-igarchy". Older Americans dominate political offices, corporate leadership, and real estate, blocking the young from power. Moyn contends that society must restructure retirement and tax systems to restore intergenerational fairness.

You can purchase or explore the book through major retailers like Barnes & Noble or listen via Audible. Local availability can also be checked via the Contra Costa County Library.

The Core Diagnosis of "Old-igarchy"

Concentrated Control: Older generations hold a disproportionate share of wealth, housing assets, and high-level jobs in government, courts, and corporate offices.

Stifled Mobility: The abolition of mandatory retirement and the stubborn grip of aging leaders prevent younger generations from stepping into leadership or building early economic security.

Systemic Bias: Tax codes, campaign finance rules, and housing market policies are heavily skewed to protect and privilege accumulated older assets.

Voter and Civic Disconnect: Young people grow cynical and alienated from a political system where policy priorities emphasize static security for seniors over future-focused crises like climate change.

Proposed Solutions for Intergenerational Justice

Robust Safety Nets: Paradoxically, Moyn argues for expanding social safety nets and entitlements (like Social Security and Medicare) so older individuals feel secure enough to step down.

Mandatory Retirement: Implement clear retirement age caps across high-impact sectors, including politics, corporate boards, and even academia.

Wealth and Asset Redistribution: Encourage the early transfer of wealth between generations through targeted tax reforms, such as wealth or age-correlated taxes.

Empowering the Young: Create structural mechanisms-ranging from campaign finance limits to electoral reforms, that give youth a louder and more effective voice in democracy.

My Reel of the Day: How it feels to be 80 and Above:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/913471754570296

About Me

David B. Katague is an online memoirist and cultural essayist whose writing has appeared on HubPages and Blogger since 2007. His work reflects a sustained interest in Filipino heritage, family history, senior living, art, community life, and the cultural meaning found in everyday experience. Through memoir, reflection, and essay, he explores the personal and historical dimensions of identity, memory, and belonging. His writing seeks to preserve lived experience while offering thoughtful commentary on the traditions, values, and social realities that shape individual and collective life. As a Filipino-American writer, he brings a distinctive cultural perspective to his work, drawing on personal experience and careful observation to create writing that is both reflective and engaging. His online essays and memoir pieces continue to document a lifelong commitment to storytelling, cultural understanding, and the written record of experience.

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.

Snowbirds Living in the Philippines