Elena Maeda Chellan Visits Lolo in Fair Oaks, California

Elena is only two weeks old. Elena is Yuka's new baby.  I think the last time I hold a baby was two decades ago. I felt I might dropped her. But I did not! Yuka is Macrine's niece, the oldest daughter of Jean Jambalos Maeda. 
 

Yesterday, Yuka and Alex ( Chellan) with their two kids and Ashley came to visit me. They brought with them Filipino dishes from the Peenoy Grocery Store in North Highlands. The food was delicious and I will have food for the next two days. Thank you again for your visit and the Pinoy goodies. Here are more photos of their most welcome visit. 

They invited me to hang out with them this summer in their big house in Roseville. Alex is free for 4 months and can drive me back and forth. The company that Alex work, is one of the few companies in the area that grant 4 months paid paternity leave.  I promised I will hang out with them before Alex 4 month paid leave expired.

After Ditas moved to Washington DC, I will need some company every now and then. Looking forward for hanging out with them in the near future. It felt good to be remembered, visited and loved.

 

Posthumous Awards for David E Katague III from the TSA, Sacramento

Yesterday was a rainy day here in Fair Oaks. It was an appropriate day for the presentation of a Plaque and the American Flag in memory of David's 17 years employment with the TSA, Sacramento International Airport. The award was presented to me by three of David's former coworkers, Gilbert Galam, Stephen Terry and Krina Tommei.  The three told Ditas and I of David's kindness, empathy and mentorship to his younger coworkers as well as the humorous side of his personality. It was emotionally satisfying to hear that Macrine(RIP) and I had raised an offspring that had empathy for others. David's E kindness ranged from buying new shoes for his younger coworker, and giving a Power Tie for another coworker to wear for a meeting in Washington DC. 

I mentioned to the group of David's plan to retire early in the Philippines and his dislike for his former supervisor. I hope that Galam, Terry and Tommei be not in trouble at work because of my mentioning David's frustration at work. I am personally aware of David's dislike for his supervisor. He told me that the reasons he plans to retire early, is his frustrations of the bullish and racist behavior of his supervisor. He described to me when he was still alive that his boss bullies him every now and then. They will have heated discussions on politics and other topics. David told me his boss is a fanatic Trumpist. He lend him his book authored by Mary Trump, "Too Much and Never Enough". David told me his boss believes the book is all Fake and the events described in the book is propaganda. I hope that by mentioning David's frustration at work can improve the morale, communication issues and working conditions at the TSA in the Sacramento International Airport. Galam,Terry and Tommei should not be blamed for this information that I have personal knowledge of. 

 

The badge reads( Memorialized Credentials): An employee of the Transportation Security Administration dedicated to protecting the transportation infrastructure of the United States. This badge is presented to his family in honored memory and recognition of service to the traveling public and the Transportation Security Administration. 

Signed by David P Pekoske, Administrator of TSA, Badge # M000535

The Plaque also contains David's 10 and 15 years anniversary pins and a US Memorial Pin from the US Department of Homeland Security plus two small Eagle Pins(see photo above). The top pins are DHS agency service pins. The bottom ones are TSA service pins.

 

The badge in the plaque signed by David P Pekoske, the TSA administrator are called “memorialized credentials”

 

The Plaque is displayed in our living room with the other Plaques of Recognition and Commendations Awards that Macrine and I had received during our professional career. The framed American Flag is now displayed in his bedroom.

Ditas and I are very thankful for Galam, Terry and Tommei visit and presentation of the Plaque and American Flag to honor David's memory and service to his country. This posthumous award presentation and visit is an occasion, I will always remember.   Here are more photos of their visit.

Thanks again Gilbert Galam, Stephen Terry and Krina Tommei for your visit and the posthumous awards for David E-my youngest son. More Power to you in your work at the TSA, Sacramento International Airport.
 

Meanwhile, yesterday there was another momentous day in my life. I received my second booster shot of Moderna Covid-19 vaccine at CVS. My arm is sore today, But I am ok and feel good that I have more protection from the sub variant virus emerging in the East Coast. Also Happy Earth Day to All my Readers all over the World.

 

Dodie, Ruth and Carenna Tour of the Keukenhof Gardens, Netherlands

Dodie and Ruth first week( of six planned) European vacation this year was in the Netherlands. They were joined by Carenna ( Ditas daughter) visiting the Garden of Europe, famous for its tulips for a tour of the garden the other day. 

Since pictures are worth more than a thousand words, I will say no more.

 

Here are some of the photos I copied from Dodie's Face Book page.

Dodie is my oldest son. He retired early and enjoying the life of a retiree with spouse Ruth Carver. https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/dkatague

 Here's a brief summary of the Keukenhof Gardens from Wikipedia.     

Keukenhof (English: "Kitchen garden"; Dutch pronunciation: [ˈkøːkə(n)ˌɦɔf]), also known as the Garden of Europe, is one of the world's largest flower gardens, situated in the municipality of Lisse, in the Netherlands. According to the official website, Keukenhof Park covers an area of 32 hectares (79 acres) and approximately 7 million flower bulbs are planted in the gardens annually. Keukenhof is widely known for its tulips, it also features numerous other flowers, including hyacinths, daffodils, lilies, roses, carnations and irises.

Keukenhof is located in the province of South Holland, south of Haarlem and southwest of Amsterdam in the area called the "Dune and Bulb Region" (Duin- en Bollenstreek). It is accessible by bus from Haarlem and Leiden train stations as well as Schiphol. Though its grounds are open year-round for private affairs and festivals, Keukenhof is only open to the general public for a world-renowned 8 week tulip display from mid-March to mid-May, with peak viewing arriving near mid-April, depending on growing season weather, which varies annually. In 2019, 1.5 million people visited Keukenhof, equivalent to 26,000 visitors per day. By comparison, the Rijksmuseum receives an average of 8,000 visitors per day, the Efteling receives 14,000.

Meanwhile here's a red and a yellow rose from my garden here in Fair Oaks, CA

 

 

The Office of New Drugs (OND), CDER, FDA

Me and some of my FDA Co-Workers, Silver Spring, MD 1991

This is Part 2 of the series on Federal Agencies that have touched my personal life. Part 1 that I briefly discussed the other day was the Bureau of Census(BofC), Department of Commerce.  The BofC just appointed Ditas my youngest daughter as Associate Director for Communications.    https://usa.inquirer.net/98432/fil-am-appointed-to-a-top-u-s-census-bureau-post

This posting is about the Office of New Drugs (OND) and the Division of Anti-Infective Drug Products. I was with the Anti-Infective Drugs Products for 12 years from 1990 to 2002. I started as a Review Chemist and retired as a Chemistry Team Leader. The 12 years of my professional life with the FDA was the happiest, most productive, most challenging and rewarding job in my professional career.    

https://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/2021/07/our-fda-years-1990-2002-for-storyworth.html

For Details visit this site:

https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/center-drug-evaluation-and-research-cder/cder-offices-and-divisions

The Office of New Drugs (OND) ensures that safe and effective drugs and biologics are available to the American people. OND includes eight review offices with 27 review divisions. OND’s role is twofold: review applications and make an approval decision; set guidance and policy to ensure an efficient review process. OND reviews drug applications, interacts with the pharmaceutical industry and ultimately decides whether the benefits of a drug outweigh the known risks.

What We Do:

• Provide regulatory oversight for investigational studies during drug development.
• Make decisions regarding marketing approval for new (innovator or non-generic) drugs, including decisions related to changes to already marketed products.
• Provide guidance to regulated industry on a wide variety of clinical, scientific, and regulatory matters.
• Communicate with the pharmaceutical industry to achieve the common goal of more efficient drug development.
• Oversee the 21st Century Review initiative, which is a set of performance standards CDER follows when conducting drug reviews. The goal of this initiative is to make the drug review process organized and integrated, and ensure all decision makers are heard.
• Update and maintain the Drugs@FDA database, which contains information about FDA-approved brand name and generic prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) human drugs and biological therapeutic products. The database includes most of the drug products approved since 1939.
• Maintain and update information about current drug shortages, and answers frequently asked questions about drug shortages.
• Maintain a searchable database of post-market studies and clinical trials for drugs and biological products.
• Regulate OTC drugs.
• Regulate drug labeling for human prescription drugs to ensure they contain essential scientific information needed for the safe and effective use of the drug.

 Here are more pictures of my FDA years

Here's the organizational chart for the Office of New Drugs

https://www.outsourcedpharma.com/doc/reorganization-office-new-drugs-corresponding-changes-translational-sciences-pharmaceutical-quality-0001

 

The Bureau of Census and the 2020 Census Post Data Analyses

My previous posting about Ditas and Carenna moving soon for Washington DC, has solicited a few responses from previous friends and relatives telling me that if Ditas needs anything during her transition period, they are there to help. Thank you for your welcome and promised help for Ditas and Carenna. I told Ditas to get in touch with some of you, if she needs help and after she has settled down in her new position-her Dream SES Job.  

Meanwhile the above frame will be on her office wall at the Census Headquarter in Suitland, MD. Her official title is Associate Director for Communications, Bureau of Census, Department of Commerce. Here's another press release.

https://www.research-live.com/article/news/us-census-bureau-names-media-director/id/5097792

This is a 2-part posting on Federal Agencies closed to my heart. First is the Bureau of Census of the Department of Commerce and the second will be the Center of new Drugs, FDA.

My youngest daughter Ditas professional career is devoted to Census work here in California and now appointed as the Associate Director of Communications at its headquarters in Suitland,Maryland.  Ditas will lead the internal and external communications activities, including media relations, congressional and intergovernmental affairs, customer service, internal communications, stakeholder engagement, and web and new media services. 

Here's the organization chart of the Bureau of Census

https://www2.census.gov/about/orgchart.pdf 

Note that there are six associate directors. I am very proud of her accomplishments.  I am indeed a very proud Filipino-American father.

 For details on post census Data Analyses read:

https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022/2020-census-estimates-of-undercount-and-overcount.html 

 A Blessed Good Friday to All and a Happy Easter in Advance!