My life story starting with my childhood years in the small town of Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, Philippines up to my retirement from the United States Food and Drug Administration, Center of New Drugs in 2002 and beyond. Some of the photos and videos in this site, I do not own. However, I have no intention in infringing on your copyrights.
💚A stomach massage, or abdominal massage, involves gently applying pressure and performing circular motions on the abdomen to promote digestion, relieve constipation, and reduce stress. Key techniques include clockwise circular motions around the belly button and performing "I love you" or L-shaped strokes, moving from the right rib cage, across the body, and down to the left hipbone. Benefits extend beyond digestion, including improved lymphatic drainage, enhanced sleep, better posture, and reduced muscle tension.
A pleasant side effect of Abdominal Massage: Experiencing a mild tingling sensation and even an erection during a gentle stomach massage is considered normal for some people. There are clear physiological reasons why this can happen, especially during full-body massage sessions.
Physiological Explanations
•Nerve Stimulation: Gentle massage of the abdominal area can stimulate nerves that run through the abdomen and pelvis. These nerves are interconnected with those that supply the genitals. Stimulation or increased blood flow in this region can trigger tingling sensations and, occasionally, reflexive erections even without direct sexual arousal.
•Parasympathetic Relaxation: Massage often induces a deep state of relaxation by activating the parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) nervous system. This relaxation can also increase blood flow throughout the body, including the pelvic and genital regions, which can inadvertently cause a pleasant tingling feeling or an erection.
•Erogenous Zone Contact: The lower abdomen and groin areas are close to erogenous zones. Mild stimulation — even if non-sexual — can trigger pleasurable sensations and physical responses due to the sensitivity of nerve endings in these areas.
It is normal for the pleasant tingling or even arousal sensations to intensify when the buttocks are massaged, and this is a common, natural physiological response. The buttocks and the surrounding gluteal region are rich in nerves and blood vessels, and massage stimulates these, often leading to heightened sensations that may spread to the pelvic or groin area.
Why Sensations Intensify During Buttocks Massage
•The gluteal muscles are closely linked with pelvic nerves and blood flow, so stimulation here often produces tingling, warmth, or even arousal.
•Massage increases circulation to the lower body and pelvis, which can lead to involuntary erections and pleasant sensations, especially when deep relaxation is achieved.
•This is a physiological—not necessarily sexual—response, and it happens to many people during professional massage, regardless of gender or intent.
Should This Be Mentioned to the Therapist?
•Most professional therapists are well aware that these responses can happen and generally treat it as a routine occurrence.
•Communicating openly is always welcomed in professional settings. If experiencing embarrassment, anxiety, or if the sensations become distracting, mentioning it briefly to the therapist is perfectly acceptable. This allows for reassurance and can help set a comfortable tone for future sessions.
•Blood Flow and Sensations: Massage improves blood flow and oxygenation in the tissues, which can cause tingling or “pins and needles” sensations as previously under-stimulated nerve endings become activated. This increased blood flow can also explain why pleasant sensations sometimes radiate to the loins or upper thighs.
Meanwhile , My Phrase of the Day:
Finally, Harvest Supermoon Tonight
Last night's Supermoon rising behind the Pyramids captured by Omar El-Sayed Photography. ⛛
The Moon looks massive because of a telephoto lens effect. When photographers use a very long focal length (often 400mm, 600mm, or even 800mm+), it compresses the distance between the foreground (like the pyramids) and the background (the Moon).
This compression creates the illusion that the Moon is huge compared to the landscape — but in reality, it’s just the result of perspective and optics.
💚Personal Note: Because of my Stage 4 CKD, I am susceptible to constipation. A gentle stomach massage is very helpful.
NAD and the Anti-Aging Hype: Can a Molecule Really Turn Back the Clock?
In the 10/05/25 issue of the San Francisco Chronicle, a fascinating article dives into one of the hottest wellness trends of 2025 — NAD, short for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. It’s being promoted as an “anti-aging miracle” molecule — but what’s real, what’s hopeful, and what’s hype?
Here’s the break down.
🔹 What Exactly Is NAD?
NAD is a coenzyme found in every cell of your body. It helps turn food into energy and supports DNA repair, immune function, and cellular communication. In short — NAD keeps your cells running smoothly.
But here’s the catch: as we age, our natural NAD levels decline sharply. That drop has been linked to fatigue, slower metabolism, and even the development of age-related diseases.
🔹 Why Everyone’s Talking About Boosting NAD
The wellness industry now markets NAD supplements and IV infusions as a way to “recharge” your body. These treatments claim to:
Revive mitochondria (your cells’ powerhouses)
Enhance DNA repair
Boost metabolism and energy
Reduce inflammation
Potentially slow aging
It sounds amazing — and some early animal studies support the theory. When researchers boosted NAD levels in mice, their metabolism, endurance, and cell repair improved.
However… what works in mice doesn’t always work in people.
🔹 What the Science Says — and Doesn’t Say
Human studies are still in early stages. Some small trials found that NAD precursors — such as nicotinamide riboside (NR) or nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) — can raise NAD levels in the blood.
But there’s no solid proof yet that this translates to slower aging or longer life.
The Chronicle article also warns that NAD infusions, sold for hundreds or even thousands of dollars, lack strong scientific backing. Doctors say the claims often outpace the evidence.
🔹 Proceed With Caution
Experts urge balance. Here’s what we know so far:
NAD supplements are not FDA-approved for anti-aging.
Long-term effects are still unknown.
People with cancer, kidney, or metabolic conditions should consult a doctor before trying them.
IV NAD treatments, while popular in wellness clinics, carry potential risks without proven benefits.
In short: NAD may hold promise, but it’s not a guaranteed path to eternal youth.
🔹 The Smarter Way to Protect Your NAD
The best-proven ways to keep NAD levels healthy are surprisingly simple:
Regular exercise
Good sleep
Healthy diet (especially one rich in antioxidants)
Managing stress and inflammation
These natural habits support your NAD cycle far more safely — and cheaply — than any infusion.
🔹 Final Thoughts
The San Francisco Chronicle article reminds us that NAD research is exciting but still unfolding. Scientists agree it’s a key player in aging biology — yet translating that into practical anti-aging treatments will take time and rigorous studies.
So for now, be curious, not credulous. NAD might one day help extend our “healthspan,” but for today, the real secret to longevity still looks a lot like common sense.
Meanwhile, here are some photos of my bougainvillea blooms both from the Philippines ( CDM beach house) and my THD patio here in the US.
Orchids and Bougainvilleas in the Front Yard of Chateau Du Mer, Marinduque, Philippines
Do you see one of my Pet Cats- That is Batman enjoying the nice autumn weather this week
My Bougainvillea at My Back Patio has been blooming for the last 4 months in my Patio/Catio here at THD, Walnut Creek, CA, USA
Finally, A Personal Experience on Aging:
A week ago, I attended a party celebrating the 88th Birthday of a Friend- A Filipino American. There were several Filipino-American guests in their late 70's and late 80's. I was the only one over 90 years old. One of the guests told me, I look like I am 10 years younger than my biological age and asked me my secrets. I told her, I have regular whole body weekly massage, play bridge and mahjong 5 days a week, watch out my diet and just have a positive attitude in general. In December, I will be 91 and hopefully still standing here on Planet Earth.
And Last night's Supermoon rising over Yosemite National Park
While it looks otherworldly, this effect was achieved through a long-exposure composite and careful alignment of natural light. A breathtaking example of creative astrophotography meeting perfect timing.
This article is inspired by the recent Earthquake in Cebu, Philippines of Magnitude 6.9.
The Philippine archipelago was formed as a result of the collision of the Eurasian Plate on the west and the Pacific Plates in the east, which subsequently also formed the Philippine Plate. In other words, the entire archipelago was born out of earthquakes.
Earthquakes are so common in parts of the archipelago that it became a part of ancient Filipinos’ mythology. There are at least five deities in Philippine mythology that were said to cause earthquakes. The Ifugaos have a god, Kolyog, who is believed to be responsible for earthquakes. Kolyog is considered by Ifugaos as the spirit of earthquakes.
Panlinugun, a Visayan deity, is considered as the god of the Underworld and of Earth and is believed to cause earthquakes.
Lakanapi is a fire god known to ancient Kapampangans as a dragon serpent that moves in the veins of the Indung Tibuan, the mother earth goddess, causing her to move and produce earthquakes.
Dumakulem, a god in Tagalog mythology, is known as the sky god who creates mountains. Ancient Tagalogs believed that whenever there was an earthquake, Dumakulem was creating mountains. It is remarkable how ancient Tagalogs associated earthquakes with the creation of mountains, which is scientifically true.
These various mythological beliefs point to the fact that ancient Filipinos are no stranger to frequent earthquakes, which they have incorporated into their rich cultural heritage. As scientific knowledge advanced, these beliefs gradually faded.
In a span of only 50 years, the Philippines has had thousands of earthquakes with significant magnitude that was recorded. I remember some of the worst earthquakes that devastated the Philippines as follows:.
1990 Luzon Earthquake: It was late Monday afternoon and people were just preparing to go home from work when tragedy struck: a magnitude 7.8 earthquake shook Luzon, with its epicenter in Nueva Ecija. Its effects were most felt in Baguio, Cabanatuan, Dagupan, and La Union.Baguio suffered the most damage – the earthquake collapsed 28 buildings, damaged roads, and caused landslides that blocked Kennon Road and Marcos Highway, the two main roads to access Baguio from the capital. It virtually cut off Baguio from relief, and the only way to go in was by air.
People were buried alive inside collapsed high-rise buildings, including the Hyatt Terraces Plaza, Baguio Park Hotel, and Baguio Hilltop Hotel. Some survivors in these buildings were miraculously rescued two weeks after the earthquake – after international rescue teams left the site assuming there were no more survivors.
In Cabanatuan, a six-storey school building collapsed during class hours, taking the lives 154 people inside. Dagupan City also suffered extensive damage, with 90 buildings having cracks or fractures, and another 20 collapsed buildings. In La Union, 100,000 families were evacuated when several villages sank due to liquefaction. In total, the 1990 Luzon Earthquake took 2,412 lives and affected an area of 20,000 square kilometers.
1968 Casiguran Earthquake: Casiguran is a municipality in Aurora Province, 200 kilometers from Manila. On August 2, 1968 at 4:19 A.M., a magnitude 7.3 earthquake jolted the province, but most of the casualties were in Manila. According to Phivolcs, the earthquake killed 270 people – one in Aurora, Quezon, one in Guagua, Pampanga, and 268 in Manila.
1976 Moro Gulf Earthquake: On August 17, 1976, at ten minutes past midnight while people were sound asleep, a magnitude 8.0 earthquake rocked Mindanao. Its epicenter was detected in the Cotabato Trench, which generated a tsunami. According to PHIVOLCS, the tsunami was responsible for 85 percent of deaths, 65 percent of injuries, and 95 percent of missing persons.
The tsunami flattened towns and villages along the 700 kilometers of coastline bordering the Moro Gulf in the Celebes Sea. It swept away people, animals, and property. The 1976 Moro Gulf Earthquake is remembered as one of the worst disasters in the Philippines owing to the high number of deaths, injuries, and missing persons it caused. A total of 4,791 people died, 2,288 went missing, and 9,928 were injured. Another 93,300 were left homeless.
2013 Bohol Earthquake1976 Moro Gulf Earthquake
On August 17, 1976, at ten minutes past midnight while people were sound asleep, a magnitude 8.0 earthquake rocked Mindanao. Its epicenter was detected in the Cotabato Trench, which generated a tsunami. According to PHIVOLCS, the tsunami was responsible for 85 percent of deaths, 65 percent of injuries, and 95 percent of missing persons.
The tsunami flattened towns and villages along the 700 kilometers of coastline bordering the Moro Gulf in the Celebes Sea. It swept away people, animals, and property. The 1976 Moro Gulf Earthquake is remembered as one of the worst disasters in the Philippines owing to the high number of deaths, injuries, and missing persons it caused. A total of 4,791 people died, 2,288 went missing, and 9,928 were injured. Another 93,300 were left homeless.
2012 Negros Oriental Earthquake. On the afternoon of February 6, 2012, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake shook the islands of Negros, Cebu, and islands in the Western Visayas Region. The earthquake caused major landslides and huge cracks on highways, killing at least 52 people in Negros Island and Cebu Province. While the human fatalities are relatively low compared with other earthquakes of the same magnitude affecting densely populated areas, the damage it dealt to the infrastructure and surrounding geography was calamitous.
In addition,here's a list of notable earthquakes of magnitude 6.7 or greater in recent years including the most recent one:
1.2025 Cebu earthquake (magnitude 6.9): The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) initially reported a magnitude of 6.7 before upgrading it.
2. 2024 Caraga earthquake (magnitude 6.8): Occurred in the Caraga region.
3. November 2023 Mindanao earthquake (magnitude 6.7): A deadly offshore quake.
4.December 2019 Mindanao/Davao earthquake (magnitude 6.8): A fatal quake that killed 13 people.
5. July 2022 Luzon earthquake (magnitude 7.1): A powerful quake felt in Manila that killed 11 people.
6. July 2021 Luzon earthquake (magnitude 6.7): A deep earthquake off the coast of Luzon.
The Silent Giant Beneath the Philippines: The Manila Trench
Hidden beneath the western waters of Luzon lies one of the most dangerous earthquake zones in Asia: the Manila Trench.
This subduction zone stretches over 1,000 km along the seafloor, where the Eurasian Plate is diving beneath the Philippine Sea Plate. For centuries, it has remained eerily silent, with no record of a massive rupture in recent history.
Scientists warn this silence is not safety — it’s a sign of pressure building. The Manila Trench is capable of generating a megaquake (Magnitude 8.5–9+), along with a devastating tsunami that could strike the Philippines, Taiwan, southern China, and beyond.
To put this in perspective:
The Japan 2011 Tōhoku earthquake (M9.1) came from a similar trench and triggered a tsunami that killed nearly 20,000 people.
If the Manila Trench ruptures, simulations suggest tsunami waves over 10 meters (33 ft) could hit Metro Manila’s densely populated coasts within minutes.
The scariest part? No one knows when it will rupture — but when it does, it could be catastrophic.
Preparedness is everything. Governments, communities, and individuals must recognize the threat and strengthen early-warning systems, evacuation drills, and coastal defenses. Nature may be silent, but its warnings are written deep in the Earth.
Moreover: A TICKING TIMEBOMB: In the Philippines, an expected massive earthquake named “The BIG one” is predicted to cause a 7.8 magnitude earthquake. - The West Valley Fault System moves every 200-400 years.Last recorded movement was in the year 1658. -Phivolcs
The earthquake is predicted to hit Metro Manila from the West Valley Fault, which is 100 km in length (Phivolcs). Metro Manila is the capital, economic, financial, and educational center of the country. It is also the most populated region.
PHIVOLCS is estimating a death toll of around 51,500 from the Big One: 33,500 from the quake itself, and around 18,000 additional deaths from fires, along with 100,000 injured. -GMA News
PHIVOLCS also expect residential buildings, around 12% to 13% would sustain heavy damage. The 10- to 30-storey buildings around 11% heavy damage, and then 30- to 60-storey buildings, 2%.
Finally, I was 14 years old when I personally witnessed and experience the following earthquake. It was in my province of birth. The impact of this earthquake still lingers into my memory even today.
The 1948 earthquake, known locally as the Lady Caycay earthquake, was a magnitude 8.2 event in southwest Panay, Philippines, on January 25, 1948, and is the second-strongest earthquake in the nation's history. It caused significant destruction, particularly in Iloilo City and Panay Island, resulting in damaged historical structures like the Jaro Cathedral's belfry and the Oton Church, and triggering a tsunami. The event led to widespread damage, a significant death toll (including tsunami victims), and population displacement, even while the nation was still recovering from World War II.
Key Details
Date & Time:January 25, 1948, at 1:46 AM.
Magnitude:8.2 Ms.
Epicenter:Southwest of Panay Island, between the municipalities of Anini-y and Dao (now Tobias Fornier) in Antique province.
Nickname:Lady Caycay earthquake.
Impact
Destruction:Widespread damage was reported across Panay and neighboring islands.
Damage to Structures:The historic Oton Church was severely damaged and demolished, and the five-story belfry of the Jaro Cathedral collapsed.
Tsunami:The earthquake also triggered a tsunami that caused some deaths.
Fissures:Eyewitnesses reported large fissures in the earth that sprayed water and sand.
Loss of Life and Injuries:Reports indicate at least 27 deaths and many injuries, with other figures stating a total of 74 deaths, including those from the tsunami.
Economic Impact:The disaster resulted in approximately £100,000 (or $3.5 million in 1948 currency) in damages.
Population Displacement:Many people were displaced, leading to migration and reshaping the demographics of affected areas.
Cultural Heritage:The destruction of historic churches and landmarks resulted in significant heritage loss.
Context: The earthquake struck at a time when the Philippines was still recovering from the devastation of World War II, which contributed to the limited availability of accounts and intensity data.It was the second-largest earthquake in the country's recorded history.
Personal Note:During the Party of Greg Atienza in Concord-
I met a couple of Filipino-American Seniors. The Lady senior asked
me where currently is my residence. I told her in Walnut
Creek in an active Senior living Community. She asked me,
if there are a lot of Filipino-Americans here at THD. I told him,
I am the only one. She gave me a look of surprise and
commented, you must be rich? She later asked me of the
current rental rates here at THD. I willingly obliged since If
I refuse to answer specifics, she might think, I am rude.
Anyway, My Food for Thought for the Day: Why
Am I the Only Filipino-American Resident here at THD? I
⛛ 
