I Learned a New Term this Week-Filipino-Baiting or Pinoy Baiting

 I learned a new term this week-Filipino-Baiting or Pinoy-Baiting.

While watching a video of Kulas, Kyle Jennerman, Becoming Filipino, the term Filipino-Baiting caught my attention.   So what is Filipino-Baiting. Here's what Wikipedia says:

Pinoy baiting is the act engaged by non-Filipino individuals, usually celebrities or YouTubers, who post content online with the intention of getting the attention of Filipinos, by acting surprised, giving superficial and insincere praises, and other forms that gives supposed recognition to the Philippines or its people.

Such actions and subsequent responses by Filipinos have been criticized as a form of cultural cringe, and that Filipinos should not constantly require validation from non-Filipinos about themselves or their country. 

 

Here's an excerpt from one article on Filipino baiting from thebureauasia.com that attracted my attention.

"Lately, reaction videos have become very popular, and as more and more tourists visit the Philippines, more and more reaction vlogs come out praising the beauty of our country.

The Filipinos’ reaction to these vlogs is pretty phenomenal: hundreds of “likes” in a couple of hours, to even thousands in a couple of days.

Of the numerous vloggers on YouTube who have created vlogs about the Philippines, and of the many vloggers who have reacted to these videos, almost all of them have mostly Filipino subscribers.

% bufferedIt seems that putting “Philippines”, “Filipino”, or any variation thereof guarantees the vlogger instant “likes”, if not subscribers.

Exaggerated reactions, like “Oh my God, visiting the Philippines (or just watching the video) changed me!” or “I wasn’t expecting that” or “I’ve never seen anything more beautiful” also contribute to the vloggers’ subscriber base.

It’s gotten so out of hand and overboard that a foreign vlogger called Finding Tom has already called out both the vloggers themselves and the people who’ve started following them just because they reacted to the Philippines in a positive way (but with obviously exaggerated reactions).

He’s even coined a word for this – “Pinoybaiting”.

At first it was okay, and I have to admit to clicking “like” in a few videos.

Later on, I realized that these vloggers were just catering to the Filipinos’ need for recognition and were just fishing for as many “likes” as they could get.

It’s now become embarrassing to see fellow Filipinos fall over themselves to subscribe to these foreigners and praise them for “promoting the Philippines to the rest of the world!”

For details visit:

https://thebureauasia.com/2020/06/24/how-to-get-a-thousand-likes-in-minutes-the-art-of-pinoybaiting/

https://www.google.com/search?channel=fs&client=ubuntu&q=what+is+Pinoy+baiting

 

Beneficiary of Some of Ditas Fine Wine Collections from the Navarro Vineyards

The Wines are: Sauvignon Blanc (3 bottles), one bottle each of Blanc de Noir, Verjus, Chardonnay, Reisling, Gewurztraminir and Muscat Blanc. There was one dessert wine, a 2013 Prager Sweet Claire Reisling. The wines were from 2019, 2020 and 2021 Harvest.
 

Ditas has several dozens of assorted fine wines from Navarro Winery ( 2019, 2020 and 2021 Harvest). She does not want to ship it to Washington DC, so the other day she gave me ten 750-ml bottles of assorted white wines ( see photo above). I already consumed one bottle and it was delicious and worth its price. I am very thankful for the above gift. Now I can enjoy a glass of wine daily during dinner for at least 2 to 3 months. A glass of wine helps me sleep well with no side effects( hangover) in the morning.

For pricing see the link below.     

 http://www.meetmendocino.com/navarro-vineyards/

 Navarro Vineyards

• 5601 Highway 128
  Philo, CA 95466
• 707-895-3686
• www.navarrowine.com

 

Navarro Vineyards is one of the original Anderson Valley tasting rooms. Still a family run operation, the tasting room is open daily. There is no charge for tasting and no reservations are required. With advance notice, tours can be arranged for small groups. Picnic tables are available in the summertime on the tasting room deck and in the adjacent vineyard under a grape trellis. Pick up some simple picnic supplies from the deli case including artisan cheeses from their sister property, Pennyroyal Farm,and locally smoked salmon. Buy a delicious bottle of wine and relax under the arbor!

Dog-Friendly, Family-Owned, Sparkling Wine, Vineyard, Winery

Amenities

• Pet-Friendly: Yes
• Handicapped Access: Yes

 

 Pricing:

https://www.navarrowine.com/shop/wines

Personal Notes: Drinking Wine reminds me of the two TV series with wine-making as plots, The Promised Land (ABC) and Los Herederos de Las Tierras( Heirs of the Land) on Netflix that I binged and enjoyed recently.  

 

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.

 

The 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 Visit 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.   

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!

 

Leif, Carenna and Ditas will be Moving to Washington DC Soon

 

Ditas and Carenna- Leif is at home-he was not allowed at this Party in Washington DC. 

I am super proud as the aging Father and ex-Federal employee of Ditas Katague with this news today. She will be moving to Washington DC in the end of June to work for the Federal Government. This is her SES dream job. Of course her pet dog, Leif will be moving with her as well as Carenna. Carenna will be enrolling at the Elliot School of International Affairs, George Washington University. I will miss their frequent personal visits but we could always text or video call using my new cell phone with the What's App  application that Ditas recently downloaded.  

Good Looking Leif moving to Washington DC soon-in an airplane?

Again, my congratulations! A very, very proud father, indeed!

Here's the official announcement:

From: BOC BROADCAST (CENSUS/DIR) <boc.broadcast@census.gov>
Sent: Monday, April 11, 2022 11:28 AM
Subject: Staff Announcement: Ditas Katague, Associate Director for Communications

 

To: All Staff 

From the Desk of Robert L. Santos, Director . . .

 

I am pleased to welcome Ditas Katague to the U.S. Census Bureau as the new Associate Director for Communications. 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. 

 

Prior to joining the Census Bureau in 2022, Ditas was director of the California Complete Count – Census 2020 Office, the outreach and communications campaign that worked to ensure a complete population count of historically undercounted Californians. This built on her experience leading the state’s decennial census outreach efforts in 2000 and 2010. In 2000, as chief deputy campaign director for the Governor’s Census 2000 California Complete Count campaign, she led a groundbreaking multilingual, multimedia outreach effort that resulted in a mail-in return rate that outpaced the national rate. She also served as chief of staff to the California Public Utilities Commission, where she improved public participation and access to the energy and telecommunications utility rate and regulation process.  

 

Ditas also served on the Census Bureau National Advisory Committee on Racial, Ethnic, and Other Populations from 2012 to 2018, including three years as its chair.

 

Ditas is an expert in multiethnic outreach and civic engagement. Since 1998, she has served on the Sacramento Center Advisory Board for the Sol Price School of Public Policy, University of Southern California. She holds an M.P.A. from the University of Southern California and a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley. 

 

Please join me in welcoming Ditas and thanking her for being willing to serve the Census Bureau and our country. 

 

Meanwhile enjoy this photo of my first cacti bloom in my backyard

 

Here's the organizational Chart of the Bureau of Census showing 6 Associate Directors below the Director and Deputy Director for your information.
 

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

 

 

 

Lessones in Life: What I Learned this Week as A Senior Citizen

 

My 87-year old body is aging fast, but my mind is still active and enjoy blogging!

This week, my oldest daughter Dinah along with Ian her son has been helping me clean the patio and the garage with David E accumulation and collection.  We had more toxic and electronic waste  disposed. I am thanking both of them for this assistance. The house and patio is now 100% cluttered free. The garage will need more work. We have not touched the storage shed.

This week, one of my charged cards( Visa) was rejected by DoorDash. When I called the DoorDash Help Desk, they suggested that perhaps my using my Desk Top instead of an i-phone or i-pod was the culprit. Since I am very dependent on DoorDash for my grocery, food and other needs, I finally accepted to have my current cell phone updated. My old cell phone was obsolete( 3G) and need to be changed. 

Dinah and I were able to purchase a Consumer Cellular, 5G Motorola Moto G Pure ( a smart phone powered by Android) for $80 and only a $20 per monthly fee from Target with auto pay.  This is a better buy than what I had with AT &T previously.  Incidentally, the clerk in Target was super helpful compared to AT & T who employed high-pressured sales tactics. If you want a simple phone and you are a senior citizen, Target is the place for you.  You get Senior Discounts if you are a member of AARP. 

I am super happy with my new cell phone. I can do Facebook and E-mail if I want too. I can take pictures and I can order food via DoorDash or in Amazon. But because the screen is small I still prefer my desk top computer with a 48" screen monitor so I do not need my reading glass.  I can also text via voice, so no typing is needed. Ditas downloaded the What's Up Apps, so I could call text or video call Carenna from the Netherlands.

Anyway, back to my charge card rejected by DoorDash. When I used my primary Visa card in Target it was rejected. So I used another visa Card( I have 2 charge cards). I called the fraud Number of my primary Visa Card and I learned they block my card as they suspected someone was trying to use my card to purchase goods on line. The fraud people are good and doing their job. They will issue me a new card and I will get it in 3 days. Now I know why DoorDash rejected my charge card. It is not related to my desk top usage versus an i-phone/i-pod use as suggested by DoorDash.

Another lesson I learned this week. When I needed cash or deposit a check, I just go to the ATM and bingo in a few minutes I got my cash. Normally there are no lines on the ATM. The other day, I needed cash and my card was rejected twice. Luckily, there was no line inside the bank and a live person was able to help me immediately. When I used my card it was rejected again and the clerk said my card had expired. He asked me if I received a new card. I said not that I know of. The clerk glanced at my open wallet and saw a red card. He said there is your new card. I used it and it worked. I saw the amusement/smirk in face of the bank clerk. I feel so stupid. The clerk ask me if I want the old card destroyed. I answered with an emphatic yes!. Lesson learn, destroy old cards after you received the new one.          

So my dear readers, these are my new experiences this week. I hope you have a great sunny and not a rainy day. Aging is not easy especially if you live alone, but life must go on!

Note: I am thinking of getting a kitty cat for company instead of a dog. Comments anyone?

Meanwhile here are two photos of my back patio after Dinah and Ian finished the clean-up. Thanks a million Dinah and Ian for your hard work and help. 

Back Patio as viewed from the Sliding Door of My Bedroom

Before the clean-up, there was hardly no space even for walking. All Of David E excersize equipment ( thread mill and weights) were either moved to the garage or hauled to the Dumps. Anyone interested on the thread mill? It's free but you have to haul it from my garage.  

 

 

Celebration of Life: David E. Katague III-Catered Lunch for April 9

This a reminder that tomorrow there will be a catered lunch here in Fair Oaks in honor of David E.   The house rug has been vacuumed and shampooed and ready for the celebration of life.

E

The Three Davids with Macrine ( Fair Oaks, Ca), 2019

Tomorrow, Saturday, April 9, at 12:30 PM a catered lunch in honor of David E will be hosted and funded by my niece from Mountain View, Elaine Lazarte Chalfin. Lanie ( Elaine) is the oldest daughter of Fe Jambalos ( Macrine's sister) and works as Operation Manager at Apple, Inc in Palo Alto, CA. Thanks a Million, Lanie.

I am looking forward for the catered lunch. David E joined his Mom in heaven on March 17. The 9th day would have been March 26th. This date would have been also the 86th birthday of Macrine. However due to scheduling conflicts this celebration was postponed for April 9, Saturday at 12:30PM.  I hope all of you invited via E-vite can attend.

It is customary in the Catholic Philippines to celebrate the 9th Day and 40th Day anniversaries after Death. This custom is based on the pre-colonial folk belief that the soul of the departed enters the spirit world on the ninth day following death. This is followed by another celebration ( Masses and Rosaries)  on the fortieth day after death to acknowledge the waksi, or death anniversary, when the soul is believed to end its earthly wandering and ascend to the afterlife.

Meanwhile this picture of former President Bill Clinton reminds me of David E. The following photo showed Macrine's hand extending for a hand shake with Bill. The inset picture showed our beautiful formal outfits for that memorable event in 1994.  

This is David E favorite autographed picture of Bill and Hilary still hanging on his room here at the house.  

David E dancing with his Mom at the Fil-Am Gala Ball, Washington DC, 1999

David and Our Pet Cat(on a long leash) ready for his first day at OMB in our backyard in Hammonton RD in Colesville, MD

Also meanwhile, Dinah helped me get a new cell phone. Thank you, Dinah for updating my cell phone usage and knowledge. Attached are two condolences cards photograph I took using my new cell phone from the Donor Services and David's E employer(TSA). Its blurry but readable.

Again my heart felt Thanks to the Chalfins for hosting a catered lunch for David E. Hope to see all of the Katague and Jambalos clan here in Northern California.

 

Celebration of Life: David E Katague III via Photographs-Part 4

Young David E-a Typical Filipino-American Teenager

This is a continuation of David E celebration of Life via his photographs.

David E with our Chow Chow, Miko

David M.S, Degree Graduation, Carnegie Mellon University

David and His Helicopter

David E has the record for the greatest number of stolen bases in the League

Squaw Valley Bicycling and Skying

Elementary School Days

David pampering his nephew, Philip Katague- son of Dodie, South Lake Tahoe

David and a colleague during his Washington DC years at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), White House-Clinton-Gore Administration

MS Graduation Photos from Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA