Planning to Visit the Philippines Soon?

There are hundreds of tourists attractions in the Philippines. But as a lover of the Island of Marinduque (Home of the Morions and Heart of the Philippines), I am indeed partial to its beauty, charm and its friendly and hospitable residents. Therefore, help me achieve my dream of seeing this island becomes a world tourist destination, by telling all your friends and relatives about this site. Welcome, to you all, new readers and faithful followers of this site! The photo above is Poctoy White Beach in Torrijos, Marinduque with beautiful and majestic Mt Malindig in the background. Some of the photos and videos on this site, I do not own. However, I have no intention on infringing your copyrights.

Saturday, December 29, 2018

Children Christmas Party at Chateau Du Mer in Amoingon

Party Helpers and Organizer with Sister Guia-The Boss of the Party










From Sister's Guia FB page:These pictures will give you an idea of how the Day of Hope went along.. I was busy coordinating and could not take the photos myself. Thanks to my niece Chiqui for capturing the Big Day of the Children. It started from our prayer room where Benedict carried the Baby Jesus to the function Hall where all the children were waiting for Jesus in their hearts. A big warm applause from them welcome Jesus when Benedict arrived. Then James started the celebration by reading the Gospel of Luke to share with them a little bit of what they were about to celebrate. The Big Bang fun and singing, dancing followed... till the ending of lighting the Tea Candles they were holding in their hands, giving Jesus each their birthday kiss and singing Happy Birthday and Joy to the World and blew the candles singing Ang Pasko ay Sumapit. We thank You and a song is dedicated to all you who supported this Day of Hope that made Christmas meaningful for them this year.

Of course, there was food and gifts for all the children in attendance(closed to 100).

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

A Simple Christmas Dinner This Year

I forgot to take the picture of this roasted duck before I tasted it. It was yummy. It was a Christmas gift from our Italian-American neighbor. The duck and pasta was our lunch.

For our dinner menu:

Honey baked Ham, Pancit, Eggrolls ( both Pinoy and Chinese), Cheese and macaroni casserole, puto ( both white and Brown( kutsinta), German chocolate cake, Fruit Tart, Goat cheese and Crackers and Hawaiian sweet rolls. For drinks we have Champagne, apple cider, wine and beer. No letson or Dinuguan or calderetta this year.

What was left of the German Chocolate Cake, Fruit Tart, Puto and Goat Cheese Appetizer

The highlights of the day: Playing Katague-Jambalos Family Jeopardy and Mahjong( David III prepared the Questions). It was fun and Informative.

Alix received as her Christmas gift this year an expensive Mahjong set from her DAD and Mom. Alix was inspired to learn how to play the game after she saw the movie- Crazy Rich Asians.

After dinner, David III, Macrine and I watched the movie ( Crazy Rich Asians) in Comcast Infinity TV for free. It is an entertaining movie and it reminds me about Filipinos vs Filipino-Americans also. I highly recommend the movie if you are an Asian-American.

For more information about mahjong read my posting on the subject:https://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/search?q=mahjong

Monday, December 24, 2018

Events at the Chateau Du Mer Hall and Grounds Last Week

Congressman Allan Velasco Christmas Party was held at the Chateau Du Mer Hall and Grounds last week. The following photos were taken from the FB page of Fe Jambalos and Cel Monterey. The other event was Sister Guia's Children Christmas Party( more pictures will follow).

Christmas Belen in Amoingon, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines





https://www.facebook.com/fe.jambalos/videos/2453545384661458/
https://www.facebook.com/marylyn.villavicencio/videos/2027699610609894/


The above photos were taken from the FaceBook page of Fe Jambalos and Cel Monterey. Congressman Velasco Christmas Party held at the Chateau Du Mer Conference Hall to his constituents. Macrine and I felt a lot of nostalgia just looking at the photos above.

For the latest news on Velasco read the following: https://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2019/215934-dutertes-call-lord-allan-velasco-next-house-speaker

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Thank You All for your Birthday Greetings


To all my Face Book friends and relatives who send their birthday greetings today on my 84th birthday, thanks a million! Today reminded me of the above ( Friends are Irreplaceable) send to Macrine and myself from a friend in the East Coast- our former neighbor in Silver Spring ( Colesville), Maryland in the 1990's. The above photo is hard to read, so allow me to quote four of my favorites.


After 84 (60) years of my life, here is what I(he) learned:

1. Children cease to be children and become independent
2. Jobs come and go
3. Illusions, desires, attraction, sex... weaken
4. But true friends are always there, no matter long or how many miles away they are


Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Wild Turkeys in My Yard this Year

This is the time of the year when wild turkeys roam in residential neighborhoods here in Northern California. We have six of them the other day. They are almost tame and not wild. The six of them were eating my pyrancatha berries in my side yard. In some neighborhoods they could be a nuisance or trouble since they can become very aggressive and territorial.




Sunday, December 16, 2018

I will be 84 Years Old in Four Days

Kona, Hawaii Vacation, 1979

In four days, December 20, I will be 84 years old. I thank the Lord that He made this day Possible. Yesterday, Ditas and Carenna treated me with delicious lunch at Zocalo here in Roseville. I ordered the Chille Relleneo with Pork and had a Mango Margarita. Afterwards we went shopping in COSTCO. It was a FUN afternon with my two Panggas. Thanks again Ditas and Carenna for my birthday treat. On the 20th, David, Macrine and I will just order three lobster dinner from Red Lobster via Postmates-a food delivery service.

On my birthdays, I usually reminisce about my life. This year, I will just repost five ( out of 17) Chapters of my autobiography as follows:

Chapter 1: https://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/2011/12/chapter-1-childhood-memories-of.html

Chapter 4: https://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/2011/12/chapter-4-my-college-years-1951-1955.html

Chapter 8: https://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/2011/12/chapter-8-social-life-in-kansas-city.html

Chapter 11: https://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/2011/12/fda-years-and-maryland-1990-2002.html

Chapter 17: https://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/2011/12/trail-blazer-in-chemistry.html

If you are reading this post, I thank you. I hope you continue reading my blogs. Again Merry Christmas ( 2018) and a Safe New Year (2019).

Friday, December 14, 2018

Our Night Time Christmas Decor- Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Our Capiz Christmas Parol at Night Time with our Marble Table Lamp from Romblon, Philippines

Two days ago, I posted our simple day Christmas décor featuring a Parol ( made in the Philippines) and two artificial trees with nativity scenes( Belen). Today I am posting five pictures taken at night time featuring my new electric fireplace log set insert, a Christmas present to myself and Macrine. I purchased the fire log insert décor from Pleasant Heart on line. I am very satisfied with this purchase.

During the last four decades we had fireplaces that use burning wood in several of our previous residences in Kansas City, Colesville, Maryland and Pinole, California. Our current residence has also a nice fireplace, but we used it only once with real firewood. Real burning firewood fireplace is great, but messy and takes a lot of time and patience in cleaning the ashes afterwards. So currently I am very delighted with my newly purchased electric fire log with crackling sound of burning firewood but no heat. There is a version of the above electric fire log with heat but is more expensive and an energy wasting decoration.


Closed Up of electric Fire Log( from Pleasant Hearth)

The following two photos were taken outside the front of our house the other night.



Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year (2018-2019) to All My Relatives and Friends All Over the World. I hope you continue reading and following my blogs!

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Another Simple Christmas Decor this Year

Our Capiz Parol in our Living Room Picture Window-The Focus of our simple Season Decor

Every year for the last three decades when all the kids were gone, Macrine and I decided to have the Christmas decorations in and out of the house be simple and easy to install and remove and would not require more than 3 hours to install. WE USED TO buy real Christmas trees( from 10ft to 15ft) when the 4 D's were still residing with us. The tree was for them, but now that they have their own families, Macrine and I are happy with our 6-foot pre-lit artificial tree with just our White House Ornaments collection and other small photo ornaments. We have also a small Christmas tree made of candies ( see photo).

Tree with Lanzones Wood Carving of Belen from the Philippines

Close-Up of tree with White House Ornaments and Children Photo Decor

Candy tree with Porcelain Nativity Scene from Germany

Close Up of Carved Lanzones Wood of the Nativity Scene

Christmas Toys Collection (1960's)

Hello Santa Claus, and my two Chihuahuas( Squeezed them hard-and they will say, I love You)

Christmas Wreath in our Front Porch

The Christmas season always reminds me of the following article in my Hubpages.com account:
https://hubpages.com/travel/the-philippines-nation-of-fiestas-and-festivals

Saturday, December 8, 2018

Recent and Old Photographs from My Album

My apple I-pod finally got updated, so I can take pictures and have it uploaded in my PC. Here are two photos that I took recently.

My pineapple plant in the Planter still green, but will probably die soon when the winter chills arrive. It is just too big to put it inside the house

Still have some summer blooms in the front entrance of our house.

Christmas Lights of Ditas House, 2018

Here are some old but memorable photos from my album:

Macrine and I dancing the Tango, 1999

Macrine on her BS Nursing Graduation, 1981, Pinole, California


Clouds over Amoingon Bay, Boac, Marinduque, 2013


Chateau Du Mer-Our Second Home, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines, 2015

The Katague Clan during our 60th Wedding Anniversary, 2017

Thursday, December 6, 2018

Burning Hell in Paradise

Paradise is a town in Butte County, California, United States in the Sierra Nevada foothills above the northeastern Sacramento Valley.

As of the 2010 census, the town population was 26,218. On November 8, 2018, a major wildfire, the Camp Fire, destroyed most of Paradise and the adjacent Concow communities.

Macrine first cousin and husband resides in Paradise, California. Luckily their home was spared from the latest fire, the worst in the history of Wildfires in California. In case you have been sleeping and not watching television, here's a brief summary from the news( videos) as well as comments from the FaceBook page of Macrine's first cousin. Macrine's first cousin grow up in Laylay, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines.

November 8, 2018 Posting: Family and Friends❤️ Thank you for all your phone calls, text, messages and concern. We made it safely to Sacramento despite of the heavy traffic and staying with our good friend. We hope and pray that our home is still standing and for everyone’s safety 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

November 25, 2018 Posting: Just read from a friend’s posting in FB ... she STATED.... “our neighborhood of 54 houses in the lower part of Paradise is the ONLY COMMUNITY that survived the CAMP FIRE completely intact. She learned from local TV station. Our neighborhood has its own water and sewage system.. all our services up now. Defensible space around the entire neighborhood is what saved our houses”..

AGAIN.... Jim and I, as well as Tom and Jerry appreciate all your prayers and concern ❤️❤️❤️. NO WORDS CAN EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE TO ALL FIREFIGHTERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS.... PLEASE, LET’S CONTINUE OUR PRAYERS FOR ALL THE VICTIMS WHO LOST EVERYTHING and THEIR LOVED ONES AND STILL MISSING.🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 PARADISE WILL RISE AGAIN! GOD BLESS US ALL❤️.

November 26, 2018 Posting: CAMP FIRE 100% contained 🙏🏻 FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEART ..THANK YOU FIREFIGHTERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS..
Sharing our green lawn with God’s Creature ❤️so happy to see them back in the neighborhood and know they made it❤️time not to be selfish because they lost their foods in the fire😪



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ABOUT ME

I am a retired (Chemistry Team Leader from USFDA) Filipino-American who loves writing, gardening and photography. My wife (of 58 years) and I enjoy the snowbird lifestyle between the US and the Philippines. We have a small but very private beach resort( see above video) in the beautiful island of Marinduque, Philippines. I have several blog sites(ten), a personal blog, blogs about retiring in Marinduque and our beach resort and conference center-CHATEAU DU MER. I also write for www.squidoo.com now owned by HubPages.com

Marinduque: A Photogenic Province and Tourists Destination

Marinduque is a photoblogger dream. The province is endowed with unspoiled white sand beaches, pristine blue waters, fringing reefs, virgin coral reefs, coves, limestone caves, meandering rivers, mountain peaks, cascading waterfalls and streams, fabled sulfur and hot mineral springs,old churches and of course beautiful sunsets. The Internet is filled with photographs of the scenic beauty of this island not only from the local professional photographers but also from amateur photographers all over the world. The province has more than six big islands popular to beach lovers, scuba divers and snorkeling enthusiasts. It has Mt Malindig known to mountain climbers and hikers. It has Bathala and Tarug Caves popular to spelunkers and just curious seekers. In one of the eight caves of Bathala, there is a resident python, believed to be enchanted. If he shows himself when you visit the caves, it is suppose to bring you good luck. Sunset over Tres Reyes Islands- Photo from panoramnio.com The nearest and most accessible islands from the capital town of Boac are the Tres Reyes Islands ( Islands of the Three Kings), Gaspar, Melchor and Baltazar in the town of Gasan. The local names are Laki, Pangkog and Man-nga ( see map above). These islands are located southwest of the mainland. The other three group of islands bigger in area and more populated are Polo, Maniwaya and Mongpong Islands. These are located in the Northeast part of the mainland in the town of Santa Cruz. Maniwaya's Polo Maria White Beach is being develop as an alternative to Boracay. There is a bigger island, Salamongue Island which is not as well known to the tourists and residents.. I really do not know the reason, but I believe it is not as accessible from the mainland . Moreover, it is not as developed( no electricity or running water) compared to the other islands. One of the most popular white beach located in the mainland in the town of Torrijos is Poctoy White Beach. It is about a 70 minutes drive from downtown Boac. Poctoy White beach with Mt, Malindig as the background is the most photogenic and the most photographed scenery in the island. Just late last year, the former Elephant Island in Lipata, Buenavista, owned privately, was renamed Bellarocca Resort Island and Spa. It has been converted to look like Santorini Island, Greece with buildings all painted in white sticking in the cliffs. From what I heard, this resort is one of the most expensive and luxurious resort in Southeast Asia. The cheapest room charges $300 per night excluding meals and other amenities. When I was in Marinduque last year, I met a few rich and famous Filipinos( businessmen, actors and actresses, TV personalities)) from Manila as well as Korean and Japanese tourists at Masiga Airport in Gasan on their way to the resort. From the resort advertisement, I know that the most expensive accommodation is a 3-bedroom villa with its own pool and jacussi charging about $ 800 per night without meals. Dong Ho, Oggie Ramos, Ferdz Decena, Allan Barredo, Sydney Snoeck and Dennis Villegas are some of the photographers that I know who have photo blogs about Marinduque. Their pictures are beautiful, unique and mesmerizing. It is worth your time to visit their photo blogs sites. Looking at their photographs of Marinduque, its Tradition and Culture will surely make you proud of the beauty of our island paradise.

Chateau Du Mer Beach Resort

Chateau Du Mer Beach Resort
Beach House, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines

Gaspar Island, Tres Reyes Island

Gaspar Island, Tres Reyes Island
Isolated Cove, Ideal for Sun Bathing

Heart and Eco-Tourism Capital of the Philippines

Garden Wedding Venue

Garden Wedding Venue
Chateau Du Mer House and Gardens

Chateau Du Mer Beach Resort and Conference Center

Chateau Du Mer Beach Resort and Conference Center
Beach House, Boac, Marinduque

Chateau Du Mer Beach Resort and Conference Center

Chateau Du Mer Beach Resort and Conference Center
Conference and Multi-Purpose Hall

Chateau Du Mer Beach Resort and Conference Center

Chateau Du Mer Beach Resort and Conference Center
Beach House Balcony at Night

The Intellectual Migrant-Autobiography of a Filipino-American Scientist

Live in the Philippines

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