My Autobiography: David Balleza K(C)atague

Friday, March 13, 2026

The Gentle Role Reversal of Life

The Gentle Role Reversal of Life

There is a quiet truth about life that we do not fully understand until we reach its later chapters: the roles we play slowly change. Parents become the ones cared for. Children become the caretakers. What once flowed in one direction begins to flow back the other way.

At 91 years old, I find myself reflecting on this natural reversal of roles.

For most of my life, I was the one behind the wheel, literally and figuratively. When my children were young, I drove them everywhere: to school, to sports, to doctors’ appointments, to family gatherings. I helped with homework, paid the bills, and made sure their needs were met. That is what parents do. We guide, we protect, we provide.

Back then, it never occurred to me that one day the direction of care would slowly turn around.

Today, I no longer drive. My computer skills, once good enough for email and blogging, are not what they used to be. Technology seems to evolve faster than my ability to keep up with it. But life has a way of providing balance.

The other day, my oldest son came by to visit and helped me file my income taxes online. What once would have taken me hours on my own now required his guidance and patience. As we worked through the forms together, I could not help but smile at the irony. Years ago, I was the one teaching him how to fill out his first forms, how to balance a checkbook, how to manage life’s responsibilities.

Now he was teaching me and doing the things for Me. I just wait and confirmed.

Every Sunday, my youngest daughter comes to visit. She helps with errands, picks up groceries, and makes sure everything is in order. These weekly visits are not just practical, they are a reminder of something deeper: love expressed through small acts of care.

In many ways, this is the natural rhythm of life. And I am looking forward to it.

Children spend their early years depending on their parents. Parents spend their middle years supporting their children. And then, in the later years, the circle closes as children begin caring for the very people who once cared for them.

At first, this reversal can feel uncomfortable. Many of us who spent decades being independent struggle with the idea of needing help. Pride whispers that we should still be able to do everything ourselves.

But there is another way to see it. This is not weakness. It is continuity.

It means the love and care we gave our children did not disappear into the past. It grew, matured, and eventually returned to us in another form.

When my son patiently helps me navigate an online form, or when my daughter runs errands for me on a Sunday afternoon, I do not just see assistance. I see the living evidence of the values we tried to teach them-kindness, responsibility, and family loyalty.

Life, it seems, is not a straight line but a circle. At the beginning, we hold our children’s hands as they learn to walk through the world. At the end, they hold ours to steady our steps.

And perhaps that is exactly how it was meant to be.

For my readers around the world who may be caring for aging parents, remember this: what you are doing now is not simply duty. It is the final chapter of a lifelong relationship. It is love coming home.

As for those of us in our later years, we should accept this care not with embarrassment, but with gratitude. After all, we once did the same for them.

And in this beautiful reversal of life, the circle is complete. I am a Lucky Guy!

Role reversal (

parentification) occurs when adult children take on the responsibility of caring for their aging parents, transitioning from being

cared-for to caregivers. This shift, often driven by physical/cognitive

decline or illness, involves managing health, finances, and daily tasks,

creating emotional, stressful, and sometimes resentful, yet profound, loving dynamics.

Key Aspects of Parent-Child Role Reversal

Definition: The shift from parent-to-child care to child-to-parent care, where the child becomes the primary caregiver and decision-maker.
Types of Care: This involves instrumental tasks (household chores, managing medication) and emotional care (offering support, managing anxiety).
Causes: Common triggers include Alzheimer’s/dementia, physical frailties, falls, or sudden health crises.
Emotional Impact: Adult children often experience stress, burnout, guilt, and grief, while parents may struggle with loss of independence, leading to conflict.
The "Sandwich Generation": Many caregivers are simultaneously looking after their own children and their parents, increasing pressure.

Navigating the Transition

Communication: Approach discussions with compassion and honesty to maintain the parent's dignity.
Setting Boundaries: It is crucial to set boundaries to prevent burnout and manage unhealthy enmeshment.
Self-Care: Caregivers must prioritize their own mental and physical health to sustain the caregiving role.
Support Systems: Utilizing support groups and professional care services helps manage the heavy burden.

This phase of life, while challenging, is also described as a profound opportunity to express love and care for those who once nurtured you.

Finally My Photos of the Day: The Original Frame Photo

and the AI copy:

Macrine and I - Our 25th Wedding Photo Anniversary Souvenir, 1982

Here's the Animated Photo by Meta AI

1060697303788573

Thursday, March 12, 2026

Filipinos Are Everywhere- The Modern Nomads

Filipinos really are everywhere, and the numbers now back up what many of us have long felt in our hearts and in our families’ stories.

Filipinos are frequently described as "modern nomads" or a "global nation" due to a massive, enduring diaspora where approximately 10 million Filipinos (roughly 10% of the population) live or work in over 190 countries.

This phenomenon is driven by a search for better economic opportunities, leading to a sprawling network of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) that spans the globe.

Filipinos in the Halls of Power

In New Zealand, Paulo Garcia made history in 2019 as the country’s first Member of Parliament of Filipino descent, becoming the first person born in the Philippines elected to another country’s national legislature. In 2024, Francisco Hernandez followed as the second Filipino-New Zealander MP, underscoring how the Kiwi-Filipino community has grown confident and visible enough to send its own leaders to Parliament. These milestones echo a broader truth: Filipino communities abroad are no longer just quiet workers; they are now visible in politics, media, academia, and business in many parts of the world.

How Many Filipinos Live in the United States?

In the United States, Filipinos form one of the largest Asian-origin communities and have been deeply woven into American life for more than a century. Recent analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data estimates that about 4.6 million people in the U.S. identified as Filipino in 2023, making them the third-largest Asian-origin group in the country and roughly 19% of all Asian Americans. California alone is home to more than 1.7 million Filipinos, followed by large populations in states such as Hawaii, Texas, Washington, Nevada, Florida, and Illinois. For many Filipino immigrants and their children, America has become the place where family stories of sacrifice, nursing shifts, and remittances back home are passed on to new generations born in U.S. hospitals and suburbs.

Where Else Are Filipinos “Everywhere”?

The United States hosts the single largest share of Filipinos abroad, but it is only one piece of a much bigger diaspora. According to estimates compiled by the Migration Policy Institute from United Nations data, about one in three international migrants from the Philippines live in the U.S.; other major destinations include Saudi Arabia (around 645,000), Canada (about 634,000), the United Arab Emirates (around 565,000), Australia (about 286,000), and Japan (around 275,000). Behind these numbers are very different kinds of journeys: long-term immigrants who become citizens in North America, temporary contract workers in the Middle East, caregivers in Europe and East Asia, and seafarers who spend most of their lives at sea rather than on any one country’s soil.

Selected countries with large Filipino communities

Country	Approx. Filipinos abroad (latest est.)	Notes
United States	About 4.6 million Filipino-origin people (citizens and residents) in 2023.	Largest Filipino community outside the Philippines, long history since early 1900s.
Saudi Arabia	About 645,000 Filipino migrants.	Major destination for contract workers, especially in construction and services.
Canada	About 634,000 Filipino immigrants.	One of the fastest-growing immigrant groups, many in health care and service sectors.
United Arab Emirates	About 565,000 Filipino migrants.	Concentrated in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, working in services, retail, and professional roles.
Australia	About 286,000.	Significant communities in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and Brisbane.
Japan	About 275,000.	Many in caregiving, services, and long-term mixed families.

These figures do not even fully capture Filipinos born abroad to Filipino parents, or those with mixed ancestry who may not always be counted in official statistics, which is why the popular phrase “Filipinos are everywhere” rings so true.

Why the Filipino Diaspora Spread So Widely

The global spread of Filipinos is rooted in a combination of economic necessity, government policy, and cultural values that prize education and family support. Since the 1970s, the Philippine government has actively supported overseas employment, which today sends workers into health care, shipping, domestic work, engineering, and information technology across the globe. For many families, an overseas job was the most realistic way to finance children’s schooling, buy a modest house back home, or help aging parents with medical care. In countless cases, a single overseas worker, like a nurse, seafarer, or caregiver—carried the financial hopes of an entire extended family, turning migration into both a personal sacrifice and a collective survival strategy.

From Invisible Workers to Visible Citizens

One striking change over the last few decades is how Filipinos have moved from being mostly seen as temporary workers to being recognized as permanent residents, citizens, and leaders in their adopted countries. In the U.S., Filipino Americans now include not just nurses and Navy veterans but also professors, tech professionals, judges, and elected officials at local and state levels. In places like New Zealand, the rise of leaders such as Paulo Garcia and Francisco Hernandez shows that Filipino communities are claiming a public voice, helping shape national conversations on migration, diversity, and identity.

Meanwhile, here's the AI Overview:

With over 10 million Filipinos (roughly 11% of the population) living or working in over 100 countries

, the global Filipino diaspora is one of the world's largest. Driven by economic opportunity, high English proficiency, and demand for services, they have become a vital global presence in sectors like healthcare, maritime, and domestic work.

Key reasons for the vast Filipino diaspora include:

Economic Drivers & Opportunity: Many Filipinos work abroad to provide better lives for their families due to limited, low-paying opportunities at home.
Major Workforce Sectors: They make up a significant portion of the global workforce, including up to 25% of all merchant marine crews and a large percentage of international nurses and healthcare workers.
Key Destinations: Top locations for Filipinos abroad include the United States (4 million), Canada, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Australia.
Cultural Impact: Known for hospitality and adaptability, Filipinos are often found in service and caregiving roles worldwide.
Long-Term Impact: Remittances from these workers are a crucial part of the Philippine economy, often contributing 8–12% of the GDP.

While the diaspora is often driven by economic necessity, it has created a vibrant, global community often referred to as "#GlobalFil

Finally, Here's one of my Favorite Guitar Concerto

https://fb.watch/FMvIPGpEM_/

The Concerto de Aranjuez is a famous guitar concerto composed by Joaquín Rodrigo in 1939. The concerto is inspired by the gardens at the Royal Palace of Aranjuez, a former Spanish royal residence in the town of Aranjuez, near Madrid.

The concerto has three movements: Allegro con spirito, Adagio, and Allegro gentile. The Adagio movement is particularly famous for its beautiful, evocative melodies that evoke images of nature and courtly love.

The concerto was composed during a time of great turmoil in Spain, and Rodrigo's work is often seen as a reflection of Spanish culture and identity. Despite struggling with illness and personal challenges, Rodrigo's music is known for its optimism and beauty.

The concerto's premiere took place in 1940, and it has since become one of the most beloved and recognizable pieces of classical music. John Williams' rendition with the Berliner Philharmoniker and Daniel Barenboim is a notable interpretation of this iconic work.

THD News: If you are wondering, what all the banging noise in the small Conference room in the Lobby: It will be the new office of Jenny. Jenny's old office will be taken by Jimmy ( I do not know his last name yet), the incoming newly hired Assistant General Manager. THD is expecting Jimmy here before the end of this month. Looking forward for Jimmy's interactions with us. I heard he will be in-charge of all residents services and perhaps a liaison to the Residents as well.

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: