My Autobiography: David Balleza K(C)atague: June 2014

Monday, June 30, 2014

Photo Trip Down Memory Lane, 1982-1986

Ati-Atihan Dinner Dance, Richmond, California, 1982

Science Frontier Stamps, From the Pittsburgh Conference of Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1982

Rene and Genny Nieva Family Christmas Card, 1982

Me and Ditas. elected as the Pinole Valley High School Queen and the Richmond Unified District, 1982

Miko, our first Chow Chow Pet, 1983

Myrla (Nen) Katague Hilaga Family, Iloilo,PI,1983

Mama Pacing and Me, Iloilo, Philippines,1984

Macrine, Me and Baby Marla Nieva, oldest daughter of Yong and Debbie, San Bruno, California, 1985

Dinah's Wedding, San Pablo, CA, 1986

My Transfer of Knowledge through Expatriate Nationals( TOKTEN) Research and Lecture Grant Trip to UP in 1986 sponsored by the United Nations Development Program. TOKTEN is now known as the Balik-Scientist Program.

Stairs to the top Floor of Our First 2-story house in Pinole, California. We have purchased seven houses here in the US since 1969 to the present. All of them are ranch types ( one floor with and without basement) except for the one in the above photograph.

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Thinking of Refinancing You Home?

Thinking of Refinancing Your Home? You may be able to save some money!

Today's mortgage rates are very low varying from 2.75% to 4.5 % depending on the mortgage length of time(15, 20 or 30 years) or whether it is a fixed or adjustable mortgage loan. So if your mortgage today is 5% or higher, you may able to save some money , reduced your monthly payment or get some cash back on the equity of your home. But before you decide to refinance, do your homework first. Talk to at least four mortgage lenders and at least three major banks and compare. In my case I did my home work 4 weeks ago and today I have decided to apply officially from a major bank where I also have my checking account. I did also talked to another major bank where I have my money market account. In addition, I talked to another major bank where I also have a savings account.

I have also talked to five mortgage lenders and they are very persuasive. Hold on your ground until you finished your homework.

My first action was to talk to my current mortgage servicing lender. The best offer they can give me for a 20 years conventional fixed loan was 4.5% with zero closing cost or 3.99% with about $3,200 closing cost. I bargained for 4.0% with zero closing cost and they said no deal. So I started talking to the other lenders.

My next action was to talk to the biggest mortgage lender advertising its rates in TV. They are offering me a similar deal, but I did not like the mortgage specialist demeanor while we were talking. The mortgage lender is offering me 3.75% with about $4000 closing costs.

I then talked to three other major banks where I have my checking, money market and saving accounts.

Today I decided to go for a 20 year fixed loan at 4.125% with zero closing cost and only a flat fee of $150. With my application I have to pay ahead the cost of appraisal and credit report of $465 which will be refunded at closing. I could have chosen a much lower rate of 3.75% but I will to pay a closing cost of $4,600.

My application was painless and done via telephone, on-line and e-mail ( sending documents). To lock the interest rate, I have to send today, a copy of my home insurance, copy of my sources of incomes, a copy of my recent credit report, a copy of statement of my savings and money market accounts, and a bill from my current mortgage lender. Since I am retired and my primary sources of income are from my SS and pensions funds, I did sent a copy of my 1099 and 1099R to the mortgage specialist who will be handling my loan.

Since my income was not as high compared to when I was still working, I asked the mortgage specialist handling my application if I will have a problem qualifying for the refinancing loan. He said to qualify your income/debt ratio should not be greater than 49%. In my case, he said my income debt ratio is 39% and he predicts I will have no problem qualifying. The closing date of my application is scheduled for August 20. Assuming that my loan will be approved, I will be saving about $160 a month based on my current mortgage payment and the new loan. Closing Ceremonies will be done here at home by a local representative of the bank. I am looking forward to August 20th.

Applying for a refinancing loan on-line is not that time-consuming if you do your homework. Do not deal with mortgage lenders who have history of numerous complaints from consumers. You can checked the complaints as well as testimonials on line for almost all of the mortgage lenders and banks. Happy Refinancing and Save Money!

One last point: Be sure your new loan has also a no penalty provision for pre-payment.

Friday, June 27, 2014

Photo Trip Down Memory Lane, 1971-1976

Modesto Citizenship Party, 1972

Macrine and I showing off our Philippine Folk Dancing abilities with the Pandango Sa Ilaw( Dance of the Lights), Modesto, CA 1971.

Some of our Modesto, CA activities in the news, 1971

Bridge Night at SOS, our weekly activity, 1971

Macrine and I participating during the International Follies dancing the pandango Sa Ilaw,1971

The Katague Family enjoying a Flower Show featuring Camelias of the Central Valley of California, 1972

Macrine and Stan Ackers( coemployee at Shell and neighbor) sang a duet, Indian Love Call-a popular Broadway music by Sigmund Romberg, 1971

Visit to Fr Constantino Nieva ( Macrine's Uncle) in New York, 1971

Grand Tern Ball, Macrine with first Cousin Puchi Carrion, 1974

Visit with Jess Santos (a central valley Fil-American painter/caricaturist)Family in Ceres, California, 1974

Efren and Lourdes Katague Wedding, 1976

Erico and Helen Katague Wedding, 1976

Visit with youngest sister Amor( Knitz) Gregorio, Jaro, Iloilo, 1976

Knitz and Pol Wedding, 1976

Katague Brothers and Sisters with Mama Pacing, 1976

Photo Trip Down Memory Lane, 1981

Macrine trip to Corregidor Island, Philippines, 1981

The Malinta Tunnel, Corregidor Historic and National Park, Philippines, 1981

Macrine Trip to Benguet and the Mountain Province and Ifugao Rice Terraces, 1981

Macrine Trip to Mt Mayon Volcano, Albay

Macrine Trip to Pagsangan Falls, Laguna, 1981

Macrine Trip to Bacolod City, Negros Occidental with Mama Pacing, my youngest brother Ruben and his first wife Flocy, 1981.

Citas Reyes(childhood friend and second cousin of Macrine) and Macrine enjoying the Evening of Fun ( Dinner and Entertainment) at the Manila Hotel, Philippines, 1981

Macrine in her nurse uniform excited working as a nurse after raising four kids and staying at home as a full time MOM for 20 years.

Stauffer Chemical Company, my employer from 1970 to 1984 using my picture for it ads and advertising campaign to sell agricultural chemicals in US and abroad.

Dodie's Tour to Europe, Summer of 1981

My other picture working in the Laboratory used also by Stauffer Chemical Company for its advertising campaign to sell agricultural products all over the world.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

My Mortgage Payment Problem Solved by Talking to a Supervisor

Last May, after 11 years with Citi-Mortgage as my mortgage lender, I received a letter that my new lender and servicing agent to my home mortgage is now Greentree (GTS). I was told I will receive a letter from GTS. In the meantime, since I am paying my mortgage via automatic deduction from my Bank Of America (BA) account, I had to remove Citi-mortgage and changed it to Greentree Servicing by the end of the month.

Three weeks ago, I received a call from my new mortgage lender, Greentree Servicing that I was 10 days overdue on my payment and charging me interest. I was shocked and surprised because my payment are all set for automatic payment via Bill Pay in my Bank of America account (BA). Moreover, the day before, I checked on line my B of A statement and two payments were deducted from my account on May 30 and June 2, 2014 actually a double pay(a 13th month payment)and addressed to GTS.

I immediately call the 800 number of Greentree. After 3 minutes of recorded messages, I was able to talk to a live person. I explained my problem and a representative of GTS suggested I talk to BA, so they can send the documentation that they have sent the two auto payments to GTS on my account.

I went to our local B of A branch. After waiting for 30 minutes, I was informed they can not help me but give me the 800 number of the B of A on-line services. I called the 800 number and after two wrong extensions, I was finally able to talk to a live person in the name of Jonathan. Jonathan was very helpful. He said he will faxed the required documents of my two payments to GTS and in 5 to 8 working days, I should checked GTS.

In the meantime, I have received two auto calls and a letter from GTS that I am overdue and should settle my account. After 8 days, I called GTS and they said they have not received the fax from BA. I got the fax number of GTS.

I was upset so I called BA ( Bill Pay) again and I talked to a representative named Ita. She was helpful and while I was waiting in the phone she fax the document that I have paid and I did not hang up the phone, until she received confirmation that the fax went through. She said to wait for another 5 to 8 working days and call GTS. I learned from Ita that my payment was credited to a wrong account number instead of my new account number. I requested for the account number where my payments were sent.

After 8 working days ( this was already mid June), I called GTS. My account is still overdue and interest added. GTS had not received the two faxes. I got so upset and angry I demanded to talk to a Supervisor.

I talked to Jessica Smith. She understood the problem and asked me If I know the account number where my payment was sent. Luckily I had this information from BA. She said since this account is an active account, she will write a memo requesting that the two payments of May 30 and June 6 be credited to my account without waiting for another fax #3 from B of A and the overdue interest removed from my account. She said wait for 4 working days and checked GTS.

Yesterday was the 4 working days after I talked to Jessica. I called GTS 800 number and low and behold my account is now in order and I am one month ahead of my payments.( my May 30 and June 6 double pay accounted for). The computer says, My next payment is due August 6. Since I have another payment set automatically for July 1, I am one month ahead and hopefully will never hear again from GTS that my account is again overdue.

I called Jessica's direct number, but she is out of the Office. So I left a message thanking her. Lessons learned from this experience. Talk to a Supervisor. The person answering the 800 number has no authority to solve minor problems. They may be able to direct you to talk to the right department, but otherwise they are useless. The information they can give you is the same one that is in the company's computer. Only a supervisor can do some action as what Jessica did in my case. Again thank you Jessica for a job well done.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Photo Trip Down Memory Lane, 1977-1980

A souvenir photo after attending the silver wedding anniversary of Albert & Myrna Sotto of Catonsville, MD, 1977

Cruise to the Bahamas After the American Chemical Society Meeting in Miami, Florida, 1977

During the American Chemical Society(ACS) Meeting in New Orleans, LA 1977

Macrine enjoying the New Orleans Tour during the ACS Meeting, 1977

The 4's D's( Dodie, Dinah. David III and Ditas) school honors and awards, 1977

Macrine Graduating for her AA in Nursing from Contra Costa College, Richmond, CA, 1979

Hawaiian Vacation at Kona Villge, Big Island of Hawaii, 1979

Getting Ready to play tennis in front of our cottage by the Sea

Just relaxing after playing a good game of tennis
and a hearty breakfast

Macrine tennis outfit

Treated to a Luau and crowned with flowers

Me and two guests were properly attired for the the Evening Feast with Entertainment, Kona Village, Hawaii,

Getting ready for the Tour Around the Island

Dodie, UC Berkeley BS in Geography Graduation, 1980

At our 3256 Ramona Street Residence, Pinole, 1980

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: