My Autobiography: David Balleza K(C)atague

Saturday, March 29, 2025

Most Recent Visit to Filoli- Part 1 ( the Historic Mansion)

Dodie and Ruth treated me to lunch and tour of the Filoli Gardens💚 last Thursday. Macrine ( RIP) and I love Gardens. Two of the most beautiful gardens that both of us have visited during our younger married years were the 💚💚Butchart Gardens in Victoria, BC and the Longwood Gardens near Philadelphia

Macrine with her sister have visited the Filoli Gardens several decades ago, but not me. So the last Thursday adventure was my first time, Thanks a million Dodie and Ruth. We went early in the morning and the Parking Lot was not full. By 1:00PM, the Parking Lot was full, it was time for us to return home. It was a fun Day. We brought my wheel chair but forget the Foot Rest, so I walked with my cane about half of the tour time. We took a lot of pictures so I am posting this in two sections- Part 1 and 2.

Part 1 will be mostly inside the historic Mansion and Part 2 will be the Gardens. Here are some photos inside the House, featuring antiques, crystals, silver and paintings and other antique collections.

The Filoli Historic House and Gardens is located 30 miles of South Francisco. Filoli is nestled on a slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains and surrounded by more than 23,000 acres of the protected Peninsula watershed. To the two families who live here, Filoli represented a desire to create a magnificent and enduring country estate. The first owner, William Bourn dubbed it Filoli ( pronounced Fie-low-lee), a made-up word drawn from the first two letters of his personal motto:

" FIght for a just cause; LOve your fellow man; LIve a good life."

An antique Ivory Mahjong Set

💚💚https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-three-most-beautiful-gardens-that.html

The booklet I purchased in the Gift Shoppe describing the highlights, history and activities sponsored by https://filoli.org/

Part 2 will be Photographs of the Gardens in my next Posting.

💚Here's the website for Filoli Gardens: https://filoli.org/

Lastly, yesterday was Happy National Respect Your Cat Day

Happy National Respect Your Cat Day!

Celebrated every year on March 28th, this day reminds us to honor our feline friends for the joy and companionship they bring to our lives. Cats have held a special place in human history, from ancient Egyptian times to modern-day lap naps. Show your kitty some extra love today—they deserve it!

My Tribute to Batman & Robin

Watch for The Continuation of this Posting:

March 30-Part 2 (Gardens)

March 31-Part 3 ( The Cashless Gift Shop)

Friday, March 28, 2025

The Most Popular and Talked Current TV Series- The White Lotus

The White Lotus

Genre	Dark comedy drama Satire
Created by	Mike White
Written by	Mike White
Directed by	Mike White
Starring	see cast list
Music by	Cristobal Tapia de Veer Kim Neundorf
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	3
No. of episodes	18
Production
Executive producers	Nick Hall David Bernad Mike White Mark Kamine
Producers	John M. Valerio Heather Persons Todd Brown
Production locations	Hawaii Sicily Thailand
Cinematography	Ben Kutchins Xavier Grobet
Editors	Heather Persons John M. Valerio Scott Turner
Running time	54–77 minutes
Production companies	HBO Entertainment Pallogram The District Rip Cord Productions
Original release
Network	HBO
Release	July 11, 2021 – present

I have watched this TV Series and enjoyed it very much. It has received numerous awards. Season 3 is on Episode 6 now and two more episodes is coming. Season 4 has been renewed and now in the planning stage. So, in case you have not heard of this award-winning TV mini-series, here's a summary from Wikipedia. The most talk subject in the series - https://time.com/7269550/the-white-lotus-incest-lochlan-saxon/

The White Lotus, through its fearless exploration of human relationships, continues to push the envelope of television drama. It invites viewers to reflect on the complexities of desire, memory, and identity, all while keeping them on the edge of their seats. As the series unfolds, one can only anticipate the further revelations and twists that will keep audiences captivated and eager for more. 

In exploring these themes, it becomes apparent that The White Lotus is not just a show about the opulent lives of its characters; it is a mirror reflecting the complexities and contradictions of human nature. Each episode peels back the layers of its characters, revealing the flawed, vulnerable, and ultimately relatable facets of their personalities. The narrative compels viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves and the world around them, challenging preconceived notions and societal taboos.

The White Lotus is an American dark comedy drama anthology television series created by Mike White for HBO that premiered on July 11, 2021. The series follows the exploits of the guests and staff during a week spent at a luxury global resort hotel chain. The first season was filmed and set in Hawaii, the second in Sicily and the third in Thailand.

The White Lotus was greenlit in October 2020 as a miniseries but was adapted to an anthology series by HBO in August 2021: its second season aired from October 30 to December 11, 2022, and its third season from February 16 until April 6, 2025, being delayed due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike. The series has been renewed for a fourth season.

The series has been acclaimed by critics for its writing, acting, humor, and production values and has received several accolades: it has won fifteen Primetime Emmy Awards – including for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series – and two Golden Globes, including for Best Limited or Anthology Series or Television Film. Jennifer Coolidge won several awards for her performance in the first two seasons, including two Primetime Emmys and a Golden Globe, while White won two Emmys for his writing and directing.

Accolades

The first season received 11 nominations at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards in the limited or anthology series categories. It was also nominated for nine Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards across eight categories, winning five. The series won the most Emmys across both ceremonies, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, Murray Bartlett for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor, Jennifer Coolidgefor Outstanding Supporting Actress, and Mike White for both Outstanding Directing and Outstanding Writing. Connie Britton, Alexandra Daddario, Jake Lacy, Natasha Rothwell, Sydney Sweeney, and Steve Zahn also received acting nominations.

The second season received 12 nominations at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards across five categories and 11 nominations at the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards across 10 categories, moving from limited/anthology series to drama series. It won four awards at the Creative Arts Emmys. For the Primetime Emmys, Coolidge won for Outstanding Supporting Actress. Other nominations included Outstanding Drama Series; F. Murray Abraham, Michael Imperioli, Theo James, and Will Sharpe for Outstanding Supporting Actor; Meghann Fahy, Sabrina Impacciatore, Aubrey Plaza, and Simona Tabasco for Outstanding Supporting Actress; and White for Outstanding Directing and Outstanding Writing for the episode "Arrivederci".

The series was included in the American Film Institute Awards top ten Programs of the Year list for 2021 and 2022. Other nominations include three Critics' Choice Television Awards (winning all), five Golden Globe Awards (winning two), and a People's Choice Award.

Meanwhile, here are the real luxuries in life!

Lastly, Did you know that.....

During the 1700s, the Visayas became a hotspot for human trafficking. Spanish colonizers and Moro raiders captured Visayan natives and sold them in Batavia (now Jakarta, Indonesia), where they were forced into slavery. 

These enslaved Filipinos were absorbed into Indonesian society, and some may have unknowingly started new bloodlines. Today, there could be Indonesians with Visayan ancestry without even realizing it!

The Visayas (/vəˈsaɪəz/ və-SY-əz), or the Visayan Islands(Visayan: Kabisay-an, Cebuano pronunciation: [kabiˈsajʔan]; Filipino: Kabisayaan [kɐbɪsɐˈjaʔan]), are one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Luzon and Mindanao. Located in the central part of the archipelago, it consists of several islands, primarily surrounding the Visayan Sea, although the Visayas are also considered the northeast extremity of the entire Sulu Sea. Its inhabitants are predominantly the Visayan peoples.

The major islands of the Visayas are Panay, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte and Samar. The region may also include the provinces of Palawan, Romblon, and Masbate, whose populations identify as Visayan and whose languages are more closely related to other Visayan languages than to the major languages of Luzon.

Thursday, March 27, 2025

Growing Up With A Nanny-I will be a Double Great Grand Daddy Soon

Attached is a true story of a Nanny in Ivory Coast, West Africa. The story struck a cord in heart during my childhood years of memories in the Philippines. I have a similar experience, but did not have a chance to repay her. This is my story. My photo below(Nonoy) and my younger brother Erico( Nening), Jaro, Iloilo, April 2, 1937  

From 1934 to 1941, I had a Nanny growing up in Jaro, Iloilo City. Philippines. I remember very well how she was so over-protective. I was not allowed to play outside as other boys of my age did at that time. When I was 2 years old, I had polio which had me partially paralyzed for almost 2 years; I was totally dependent on her. She was my second mother, but at that time, I loved her more than my biological mother. I called her Yaya!

When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and the Philippines in the first week of December, 1941, My Nanny went back to her own town. Our family moved from the city of Jaro to a small town- the ancestral home on my mother (Barotac Viejo, Iloilo). I remember, it took me a couple of months to recover from the initial shock of losing a Nanny. As I was growing up, I sometimes wish, that she may be able to join our household once more. But as fate dictate, the week after Japan bombed the Philippines in December, 1941 was the last time, I saw my Nanny. I had to learn to live without a Nanny who took care of me during the first 7 years of my life. I think it was a blessing in disguise, because, I learned to be independent and took care of my own needs growing up.

First Picture: Me at 2 years and 2 months old, 2nd: My Boy Scout Years, 1944-1946 and 3rd Photo-Graduation from Elementary School, 1947

( https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2017/11/my-boys-scout-picture-featured-in.html)

Here's a story of the French Boy who was able to Repay his Nanny from My Readings.

"A French man recently traveled to Ivory Coast in West Africa to find a very special person from his childhood—his nanny.

Many years ago, when the man was a little boy, he lived in Ivory Coast with his father. During this time, a kind and caring nanny looked after him. She fed him, played with him, and cared for him like a mother. The boy loved her very much.

After some years, the man's father retired from his job, and the family moved back to France. When they left, they lost contact with the nanny. There were no mobile phones or social media to help them stay in touch.

Now, 38 years later, the man still remembered his nanny. He wanted to find her and thank her for all the love she gave him as a child. So, he decided to travel back to Ivory Coast to look for her.

After searching, the man finally found his nanny! When they saw each other again, they were very happy and emotional. They hugged tightly, and tears filled their eyes. It was a moment of pure joy.

To show his deep appreciation, the man gave his nanny 10 million francs as a gift. He also arranged a monthly allowance for her, so she could live comfortably for the rest of her life.

Meanwhile, the above story reminded me of the award-winning Singaporean movie, Iloilo.

Set in Singapore, Iloilo chronicles the relationship between the Lim family and their newly arrived maid, Teresa. Like many other Filipino woman, she has come to this city in search of a better life. Her presence in the family worsens their already strained relationship. Jiale, the young and troublesome son, starts to form a unique bond with Teresa, who soon becomes an unspoken part of the family. But this is 1997 and the Asian Financial Crisis is beginning to be felt in the region and Aunt Terry ( Nanny/maid) was dismissed. She returned home to Iloilo- a Province in Panay Island, Philippines. Iloilo, incidentally is my birth province.  

Several years later, Jiale now an adult and a successful film maker went to Iloilo to search for his Nanny, Teresa ( Aunt Terry). He found her in one of the rural town in Iloilo alive but living in poverty.  Jiale had a happy reunion with His Nanny. He gave Teresa some financial assistance and invited her to visit Singapore to attend the premier of his award winning movie. He inform Teresa that his experience as a boy with her as his Nanny  was the inspiration for his award-winning movie.   

Iloilo received positive reviews at the Cannes Film Festival. The film was later awarded the Camera d'Or award, an award which recognizes the best debut feature film in the competition. It received six nominations at the Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards and won four: Best Film, Best New Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actress for Yeo Yann Yann.

Lastly, Did you Know That....

Long before the Spanish arrived, the Ivatan people of Batanes were already master builders and defenders.  They constructed idiang—massive stone fortresses perched on cliffs—to protect their communities from raiders and pirates. 

These fortresses weren’t just walls; they were entire villages, strategically built to make invasions nearly impossible.  Today, traces of these ancient strongholds still stand, proving that the Ivatans were warriors as much as they were survivors.

Personal Note: My Daughter Dinah, informed me a couple of weeks ago that I will be a double Great Grand Dad this May and July. Dinah's son, Ian's wife Sara is due this May with a Baby Boy. Moreover Dinah's daughter Elaine is expecting baby Beau David this July. Two great grand kids-another important milestone in my last stage of life. Meanwhile yesterday, would have been Macrine's 89th Birthday as well as Elaine's birthday also. Here's an old photo of Macrine, Elaine and Me taken a couple of years ago during Elaine's graduation.

    The short video below was taken 9 years ago today during Macrine's 80th Birthday

https://www.facebook.com/reel/10206575725928235

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Walking Canes, Sticks and Rollators

Highlights of My Professional Career

In my more than 40 years of professional career, I have experienced both working rank and file, as well as supervising the work of subordinates. I have worked in four private firms and the Federal Government, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where I retired. I enjoyed the challenges and difficulties of both types of job situations. This is the highlights of my work experience story.

My first job after completing my doctorate degree was a Chemist for Chemagro Corporation in Kansas City, Missouri. It was a subsidiary of Bayer Corporation, a German conglomerate. I worked for the analytical chemistry department comprised of about fifty people; half that number was either chemists or biologists. My specific task was to develop analytical methods for the detection of pesticide residues in plant and animal tissues. I worked on my own, similar to six other bench chemists, and we all reported to the same supervisor.

The firm sponsored my visa conversion from a student to a permanent resident, and I was able to legally work and reside in the United States with my family. The company generously took care of its employees. At the end of each successful year, everyone received a 13th month salary bonus. The employees and their families celebrated wonderful annual Christmas parties in a downtown Kansas City hotel, with dancing and free drinks for the whole night.

Inasmuch as I enjoyed and loved working for Chemagro for five years, I found a new job which offered a substantially higher pay. Due to my exemplary work performance, my supervisor preferred and lobbied for me to stay with the company. I had to turn him down because they could not match the package presented by my new employer. It was also a chance for me and my family to move and live in the US west coast, where the mild winter climate is bearable compared to the Midwest.

My next job was at the agricultural research division of Shell Development Company in Modesto, California. I was a Research Chemist, and again I worked individually, same as five other chemists who all reported to a supervisor. My specific duty was similar to my previous job. I worked for them for five years, until the company decided to get out of the pesticide business. They closed their research facility affecting the jobs of more than 200 employees.

My third industrial job was with the agricultural research division of Stauffer chemical company, located in Richmond, California. I was a Senior Research Chemist doing the same project as my two previous jobs. I worked for twelve continuous years for the company, with outstanding annual job performance. I became a Principal Research Chemist, the highest attainable non-supervisory position.

One day in 1986, my supervisor informed me that my job had been eliminated, and I had one day to vacate the facility. It was the most dreadful lay off experience in my life. I felt anger, sadness and humiliation to be dismissed from work with one day notice, after all the years of hard work invested for the company. This was an unforgettable incident and was the gloomiest point in my professional career.
The company terminated sixty research employees, who were upset of the bad news.

One of the chemists was distressed and expressed his outrageous anger by threatening the company and its workers. He told his supervisor of his intention to bomb and burn down the laboratory. He was immediately escorted by the security staff out of the building and into his car. He was informed to leave behind his personal belongings; they will be mailed to his residence. He was warned never to show up again near the company premises or risk getting arrested.

My supervisor was kind and allowed me to take my time to pack up my belongings. It took me two days to clear up my workplace, after toiling for a long period in the same jobsite. We were provided clerical help and office space, in preparation to look for another job, such as updating our resumes, and using the computer and copy machine. We were given six weeks of separation pay plus benefits.

Fortunately, with the help of a friend who is a Church parishioner, I found another job thirty days after leaving Stauffer chemical company. He hired me as a senior research chemist and as a group leader with two technicians to supervise. It was in the same field as my expertise in my previous three jobs spanning the last twenty one years. My new employer was Chevron Chemical Company, and which was located in the same area as my former employer.

This job gave me the introduction and basic knowledge of managing the work of subordinates. I worked for Chevron Company for four and a half years. The company decided to consolidate their research facilities in Texas, and lay off all its research employees. This time I had enough distress and agony from working, and eventually getting laid off from several private companies. To avoid going through any more miserable layoffs, I made a vow that I would never again work for a private company.

In my work experiences, there were noticeable and unavoidable jobsite occurrences. One can never miss the office romantic relationships between co-workers, both illicit and permitted. Though it was frowned upon, there was a boss and staff relationship, which was used as a ploy to get ahead in the company. Some relationships had chemistry, no pun intended, but some never worked out. Oftentimes, there was a sense of distrust among bench chemists for some workers who unjustly obtained preferred work assignments.

Some employees resorted to bribing superiors to get special privileges, such as being able to attend choice conferences and meetings in exciting venues or locations. Likewise, politics was always present at the worksites. It was during an era when various forms of harassment, equal opportunity and discrimination laws were not yet enforced in the workplace. Occasionally, an unexpected chemical explosion happens in a laboratory setting, where luckily no one got seriously hurt.

In the three private companies I worked for, I was able to publish scientific journals for some of the research studies and analytical methods which I developed for the respective companies of Chemagro, Shell Development and Stauffer.

After deciding and making a vow to avoid working in the private sector, I made my new goal which was either to work for the state of California, or the Federal government in Washington, D.C. Four months after I lost my job in Chevron, I was lucky and joyful to be hired by the Food and Drug Administration as a review chemist in the fall of 1990.

In 1994 I was promoted as an Expert Research Chemist with a GS-14 rating. My expertise was on Anti-malarial and Anti-parasitic drug products. In 1997, I was again deservingly promoted to Chemistry team leader, supervising the work of six Chemistry reviewers including five with doctorate degrees.

As team leader, I was responsible for prioritizing, assigning, and assuring the technical accuracy of all chemistry, manufacturing and control issues for all new drug applications submitted to the Division of Anti-Infective Drug Products, Center of New Drugs.

It was part of my responsibility to give advice, instruct and promote high morale and teamwork in my group. My work in the FDA is confidential, until the drug patent on the products I worked on has expired. There are manufacturing supplements that I have approved that are now open for the public in the Internet.

In 1998, I won the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Award. The citation reads, “For outstanding accomplishments in fostering the objectives of the EEO Program by hiring minorities and encouraging their professional growth while providing excellent leadership.” I have received numerous certificates of appreciation, awards in leadership and communications, commendation for teamwork and excellence in the accomplishment of the FDA mission. I have also received several letters of appreciation from private industry for my review work.

There are many good things working as rank and file while enjoying doing one’s job individually. It is a humbling, satisfying and productive experience, if one can work in harmony with one’s immediate supervisor. Working individually develops one’s skills in goal setting and scheduling. But in general, the financial rewards are less than a person who has supervisory responsibilities.

Managing the work of others has its challenges. Moreover, it develops one’s skill in handling and developing people, and the compensation rewards and benefits are better. Due to additional duties, responsibilities and leadership, supervisory work can be more stressful than working as a subordinate. However, supervisory jobs give one more personal growth and satisfaction, based on my personal experience. My work in FDA as a team leader managing the work of six scientists had been the happiest and rewarding work experience in my career in Chemistry. You might also like: