My Autobiography: David Balleza K(C)atague: August 2025

Friday, August 1, 2025

If Trees Can Talk- An Update

I am reposting this article I wrote several months ago, after I saw my youngest daughter paintings of trees as published in her Face Book page as follows:

Del Ray Artisans is with Ditas Katague and 7 others
at Del Ray Artisans.

17h Alexandria, VA

Come have a look at the “Lovely As A Tree” Art Exhibit (August 1–30, 2025), which explores the ways in which trees impact our lives and this earth.
Del Ray Artisans members bring aspects of this natural phenomenon to artistic life through painting, photography, ceramics, items created from wood and other mediums that flow from their prolific imaginations.
Join us for the opening reception on Friday, August 1 between 7-9pm to meet curator Robyn Seaton McGarry and many of the artists.

From My Readings the other day, I saw several photos of giant trees. I was so amazed by the beautiful photos of giant, twisted, and old trees, I am inspired to share it with you in this posting. The only label you have to keep in mind while looking at the following photos, is this Question. "If Trees Could Talk, I Wonder what stories It Could Tell". Here are the photos for your viewing pleasure.

Meanwhile here's the iconic Blood Dragon trees endemic in Socotra Island, Yemen

And the Rainbow Eucalyptus tree

The Rainbow Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus deglupta) is a striking tree known for its multicolored bark, which peels away in patches at different times, revealing bright green layers that gradually age into shades of blue, purple, orange, and maroon. This process is a natural adaptation that protects the tree from pests and disease while contributing to its unique, ever-changing appearance. It is one of the few eucalyptus species that thrive in tropical rainforests, particularly in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.

Lastly, here's my favorite Poem on Trees by Joyce Kilmer:

and the Ancient Tree and the Baobab tree endemic to African countries

The Shadowbrook Winery in Walnut Creek, CA

During our scenic drive to the top of Mt Diablo last month, we passed by Northgate Road. That was the first time I saw the sign of Shadowbrook Winery. I got curious, so I did some search and the following article is what I learned.     

Shadowbrook Winery in Walnut Creek up off Northgate Road is perfect destination if you don't want to drive up to Napa.

The wine, staff, service, and ambiance was awesome. They have a mixed menu of entrées and appetizers. 

Everything was clean and well appointed. The grounds were impeccable. Was really impressed over all. You do need an appointment. You can do it via OpenTable. 
For Details visit: https://shadowbrookwinery.com/

In Addition : I asked one of my favorite writing Assistant this question: What Do you know about the Shadowbrook Winery in Walnut Creek,CA.  Here's the answer.    
Here’s an overview of Shadowbrook Winery in Walnut Creek, CA — a standout destination in the East Bay:
🌄 About the WineryShadowbrook Winery is a family-owned boutique winery located in the foothills of Mount Diablo. It’s widely recognized as one of the East Bay’s most decorated wineries, with over 60 medals—including double golds—at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Yelp+12Walnut Creek+12SippnSunshine.com+12.
Founded in 2005 by local native Tim Jochner, who serves as the proprietor and winemaker, the winery emphasizes small-lot estate wines crafted from grapes grown on-site and nearby vineyards. He partners with UC-Davis–trained consultant Rick Tracy to elevate the wines’ quality and consistency YouTube+3shadowbrookwinery.com+3Napa Valley Life Magazine+3.
🍷 Winery & Tasting ExperienceSince opening its modern facility and tasting room, Shadowbrook offers a premium guest experience labeled “Close to Home, Far From Ordinary” LinkedIn+4shadowbrookwinery.com+4SippnSunshine.com+4. Their facility uses high‑tech equipment like Italian fermenting tanks with remote punch‑down, an optical sorter (one of only ~17 in the U.S.), and spinning barrel racks for barrel aging—enabling precision at every winemaking stage Walnut Creek+4shadowbrookwinery.com+4shadowbrookwinery.com+4.
Their tasting room features multiple distinct spaces:
Main bar and vaulted ceiling rooms with panoramic views of vineyards and Mount Diablo
The Verandah, with outdoor seating, fireplace, and fire pits
Fun-themed areas like the Mine Room, Lab Room, Diablo Room, and a scenic Observation Deckshadowbrookwinery.com+2LinkedIn+2shadowbrookwinery.com+2shadowbrookwinery.com.
Tasting options range from simple flight experiences at the bar (Triple Play, Meridian, Summit tastings) to private experiences of limited-edition or estate wines. They even offer a chauffeured Mercedes “Luxury Experience” packageSippnSunshine.com.
🍽 Dining & EventsDining at Shadowbrook blends contemporary French/American and crossover cuisine, with a prix‑fixe menu typically starting around $50 and special multi-course dinners up to $120/person. Seasonal events between summer and early fall are often themed with curated menus paired with wines Napa Valley Life Magazine+8OpenTable+8shadowbrookwinery.com+8. 
For the Food Menu read:
https://www.opentable.com/r/shadowbrook-winery-walnut-creek
ℹ️ Practical DetailsAddress: 1 Meritage Lane, Walnut Creek, CA 94598
Hours: Open Thu–Fri 4:00 pm–8:00 pm, Sat 1:00 pm–8:00 pm, Sun 12:00 pm–5:30 pmmapquest.com+9OpenTable+9SippnSunshine.com+9
Reservation required (via OpenTable or their website), with outdoor seating prioritized for views and ambience. All seating is first-come first-served, but reservations are essential OpenTable+1OpenTable+1.
Age restriction: Must be 21+; no children are permitted by policy Yelp+1shadowbrookwinery.com+1.
🏆 Wine Portfolio & ClubTheir portfolio includes varietals such as Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Merlot, and Rhônes blends, including limited release “Jon Rae,” “Diablo 905,” and vertical Cab tastingsmapquest.com+2OpenTable+2Napa Valley Life Magazine+2.
The wine club offers members 3 curated shipments per year, up to 25% discounts on wine and tastings, exclusive event invitations, and access to special seating areas like the Members BalconySippnSunshine.com+2shadowbrookwinery.com+2shadowbrookwinery.com+2.
✅ Why Visit?FeatureWhat Stands Out
Award-Winning WinesOver 60 medals, highly rated across varietals
Innovative WinemakingHigh-tech winery production blended with hands-on craftsmanship
Scenic & Stylish SettingGreat views of Mt. Diablo, stylish design, and multiple tasting spaces
Tailored Tasting OptionsFrom casual bar pours to exclusive private experiences
Chef-driven DiningElevated food pairing options enhance wine enjoyment

Meanwhile, here's a short video of Batman and Robin .


Lastly, my photo of the Day: The Modern Barong Tagalog 
The Barong Tagalog—often simply called "barong"—is the traditional formal shirt and recognized national attire for men in the Philippines. It is renowned for its light, sheer textiles, delicate embroidery, and its untucked, elegant silhouette.
Origins and HistoryThe roots of the Barong Tagalog trace back to pre-colonial times, evolving from the simple, collarless baro worn by both men and women in many Philippine ethnic groups.
Its modern form developed during the Spanish colonial era, when it combined native Filipino elements with Spanish influences, including embroidery and more formal cuts.
A popular but debated legend claims Spaniards required Filipinos to wear the barong untucked and made of see-through fabric to prevent hiding weapons—a story now largely regarded as apocryphal, though the style stuck and became a point of cultural pride.
Materials and DesignTraditional barongs are made from sheer fabrics such as piña (pineapple fiber), jusi(silk or banana), and abacá. These materials are chosen for their breathability—well suited for the tropical climate—and their refined appearance.
Embroidery is a hallmark, often featuring Filipino motifs: floral patterns like the sampaguita (jasmine), vines, leaves, or geometric designs. The craft of weaving and embroidering these fabrics is a respected art passed down through generations.
Modern barongs expand on tradition with diverse fabrics, innovative embroidery, and custom fits. Many designers now offer versions in vibrant colors or with contemporary cuts suitable for both formal and semi-formal settings.
Cultural Significance and UseThe Barong Tagalog is a symbol of Filipino identity, pride, and dignity—worn at state functions, weddings, national holidays, and significant family occasions.
It is considered a garment of honor, celebrated for both its visual beauty and what it represents: national pride, rich heritage, and a blending of local and colonial histories.
Today, the barong spans from classic and ceremonial styles to progressive, fashion-forward interpretations reflecting the dynamism of Filipino culture.
In summary, the Barong Tagalog is not just formal attire—it's a living symbol of Filipino heritage, artistry, and national pride.

Feature	What Stands Out
Award-Winning Wines	Over 60 medals, highly rated across varietals
Innovative Winemaking	High-tech winery production blended with hands-on craftsmanship
Scenic & Stylish Setting	Great views of Mt. Diablo, stylish design, and multiple tasting spaces
Tailored Tasting Options	From casual bar pours to exclusive private experiences
Chef-driven Dining	Elevated food pairing options enhance wine enjoyment

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:

Friday, August 1, 2025

If Trees Can Talk- An Update

Del Ray Artisans is with Ditas Katague and 7 others
at Del Ray Artisans.

The Shadowbrook Winery in Walnut Creek, CA

🌄 About the Winery

🍷 Winery & Tasting Experience

🍽 Dining & Events

ℹ️ Practical Details

🏆 Wine Portfolio & Club

✅ Why Visit?

Origins and History

Materials and Design

Cultural Significance and Use

Linkwithin

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Friday, August 1, 2025

If Trees Can Talk- An Update

Del Ray Artisans is with Ditas Katague and 7 others at Del Ray Artisans.

The Shadowbrook Winery in Walnut Creek, CA

🌄 About the Winery

🍷 Winery & Tasting Experience

🍽 Dining & Events

ℹ️ Practical Details

🏆 Wine Portfolio & Club

✅ Why Visit?

Origins and History

Materials and Design

Cultural Significance and Use

Linkwithin

Del Ray Artisans is with Ditas Katague and 7 others
at Del Ray Artisans.