My Favorite Coffee Table Books and the Juan Luna Paintings

The last couple of months I have posted articles on my ties and caps/hats collection. Today I will discuss some of my favorite Coffee Table Books in my collection. I have more than 70 Coffee books in my collection. The photo above is just part of my collection. Two dozens more of my coffee books are under the coffee table that is not pictured in this blog. Topics of my collection are in art, sculptures and painting, Gardening and Landscaping, Food and Nutrition, Travel, erotic art and photography. My ten favorite coffee books are:

1. Robert Mapplethorpe by Richard Howard and Ingrid Sischy, Bulfinch Press, 1988 ( 210 pages)

2. Erotic Art compiled by Phyllis and Eberhard Kronhausen, Bell Publishing Company, 1968 ( 250 pages)

3. Amorsolo ( Paintings) published by Filipinas Foundation, Inc, First Printing, 1975 ( 315 pages)

4. Japanese Eroticism, Text by Bernard Soulle, Crescent Books, N.Y., 1981 (320 pages)

5. 20th Century Masters of Erotic Art by Bradley Smith, Crown Publisher, 1980 ( 380 pages)

6. Augustin Pajou, Royal Sculpture, by James David Draper, Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY, 1998 ( 430 pages)

Marinduque from the Air

7. Marinduque, Heart of the Philippines by Dindo Asuncion, Published by the Provincial Government, 2004 ( 220 pages)

8. The Great Book of French Impressionism by Diane Kelder, Harrison House, NY, 1979 (450 pages)

9. The Complete Cartoons of the New Yorker, Foreword by David Remnick and Edited by Robert Mankoff, Leventhal Publishers, 2004 (520 pages).

10. American Painting, Introduction by Robert Rosenblum and Text by Donald Goddard, Beaux Arts Edition, NY 1990 ( 530 pages)

I should rotate this photo, but I will not so it is easier to read the titles of the books.

Note: I have two coffee table books authored and published by Macrine's first cousin, Bing Nieva Carrion Buck. I have more than 600 hard books and novels and more than a thousand pocket books. I have donated almost all of my pocket books to Goodwill and Salvation Army. I have more than 50 albums of photographs and 90% of my photos are in the web.

A note about coffee table books: A coffee table book is an oversized, usually hard-covered book whose purpose is for display on a table intended for use in an area in which one entertains guests and from which it can serve to inspire conversation. Subject matter is predominantly non-fiction and pictorial (a photo-book).

Pages consist mainly of photographs and illustrations, accompanied by captions and small blocks of text, as opposed to long prose. Since they are aimed at anyone who might pick up the book for a light read, the analysis inside is often more basic and with less jargon than other books on the subject. Because of this, the term "coffee table book" can be used pejoratively to indicate a superficial approach to the subject.

The late Dr. Teyet Pascual and his Collections of Paintings in his Condo in Makati, Manila

In 2005, I had an opportunity to purchase a coffee Table book of some of Juan Luna paintings collected by my former chemistry classmate, the late Dr. Eleuterio (Teyet) Pascual, Ph.D.( http://www.pressreader.com/philippines/philippine-daily-inquirer/20151101/282127815344995).

At that time he was selling it during our Chemistry Alumni Reunion and 50th Anniversary Party for P5,000. I thought it was expensive so I did not buy the coffee table book( it was about $125 at that time based on the pesos to dollars exchange rate). I am now regretting that I did not purchase the Juan Luna Paintings Coffee Table book. (http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/231631/fabulous-works-by-luna-and-19th-century-masters-repatriated/).

Anyway, here's a short video on the Juan Luna paintings that has never shown to the public.


One of the many well-known paintings of Luna is the La Bulaquena ( the Woman from Bulacan). Below is description of the painting from Wikipedia for your information if you are not Filipino and not familiar with Philippine culture and traditions.

La Bulaqueña, literally "the woman from Bulacan" or "the Bulacan woman", also sometimes referred to as Una Bulaqueña ("a woman from Bulacan"). This is the Spanish title of an 1895 painting by Filipino painter and hero Juan Novicio Luna. Bulacan is a province in the Philippines in Luzon island and its residents are called Bulaqueños, also spelled as Bulakenyos (Bulakenyo for men and Bulakenya for women) in the Filipino language.

This is a "serene portrait", of a Filipino woman wearing a Maria Clara gown, a traditional Filipino dress that is composed of four pieces, namely the camisa, the saya (long skirt), the panuelo (neck cover), and the tapis (knee-length overskirt). The name of the dress is an eponym to Maria Clara, the mestiza heroine of Filipino hero José Rizal's novel Noli Me Tangere. The woman's clothing in the painting is the reason why the masterpiece is alternately referred to as Maria Clara. It is one of the few canvases done by Luna illustrating Filipino culture. The painting is displayed at the National Museum of Fine Arts.

Air Plants, Coffee Books and White House Christmas Ornaments

The three items(photo above)were given to me by Ditas and Carenna on my 85th birthday: 1. Air plants(2 in driftwood): 2. A coffee book and 3. A White House Christmas Ornament.

This is my first time to have Air plants and looking forward to have them thrive and flower for me to enjoy.

Air Plants On My Birthday
https://www.ftd.com/blog/design/types-of-air-plants 

1. Air Plants true name are Tillandsia. The reason why they are nicknamed "Air Plants" is because they get the majority of their nutrients from the air around them. Wikipedia says:

Tillandsia is a genus of around 650 species of evergreen, perennial flowering plants in the family Bromeliaceae, native to the forests, mountains and deserts of northern Mexico and south-eastern United States, Mesoamerica and the Caribbean to mid Argentina. Their leaves, more or less silvery in color, are covered with specialized cells (trichomes) capable of rapidly absorbing water that gathers on them.

They are also commonly known as airplants because of their natural propensity to cling wherever conditions permit: telephone wires, tree branches, barks, bare rocks, etc. Their light seeds and a silky parachute facilitate this spread. Most Tillandsia species are epiphytes – which translates to 'upon a plant'. Some are aerophytes, which have a minimal root system and grow on shifting desert soil. Due to the epiphytic way of life of the plants the peculiarity arises that these bulbs do not lie in the ground, but hang in the air on branches.

How do you care for them?

1. Every one to two weeks, soak your air plant in room temperature tap water (or rain/pond water if you can find it) for 5-10 minutes.
2. After soaking gently shake excess water from your plant. ...
3. From the time soaking ends, the plant should be able to dry fully in no more than 3 hours.

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2. Addition to My Collection of Coffee Books

This is an addition to my more than 70 collection of Coffee Books

 For details on my coffee books collection read:

https://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/search?q=coffee+books 
*******************************************************
3. White House Christmas Ornament Collection

This was my most treasured gift that is added to my WH Christmas Ornament( #25)collection. For details on my Collection read:  

https://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/search?q=white+house+ornaments 

Meanwhile enjoy: Handel's Hallelujah

https://youtu.be/IUZEtVbJT5c

Reading a Good Book versus Watching Television

Decline of the American Book Lover-From the Atlantic.com

I finished reading a well written and engaging book just a few months ago.

https://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/2019/10/book-review-box-of-nolis-bones-by-felix.html

I enjoyed it very much and felt that it was better than watching a good television show.

THIS FEELING PROMPTED TO DO AN INTERNET SEARCH ON THE BENEFITS OF READING VERSUS TELEVISION WATCHING. 

HERE'S WHAT I FOUND in the Internet AND LIKE TO SHARE IT WITH YOU.   

Are Books Superior to TV? How They Affect Our Minds in Different Ways

There are also long-term effects from reading books. Reading keeps your mind alert and delays cognitive decline in elders. Research even found that Alzheimer’s is 2.5 times less likely to appear in elderly people who read regularly, while TV was presented as a risk factor.

Six minutes of reading can reduce stress levels by 68 percent, according to researchers at the University of Sussex. Reading beat out other relaxing activities, including listening to music (61 percent), drinking tea or coffee (54 percent), and taking a walk (42 percent).

There’s a perception that books are good, while TV is bad. Spend a day curled up with a book and you’re an intellectual, but spend a day watching your favorite show and you become a couch potato.

Similar to how candy gives you cavities and sun tanning is bad for our skin, it’s common knowledge that reading books is good for you. It increases your knowledge and makes you think. Watching television on the other hand kills off brain cells.

But why is that? Why can’t watching TV be just as educational as reading a book? For example, does watching the show Game of Thrones lower your intelligence, while reading the books does the exact opposite?

After all, there are all sorts of books. Some good, some poorly written. The same applies to shows as well. Is the situation as simple as categorizing books as good and TV as bad?

What Science Says About Books and Television

In 2013, a study was performed at Tohoku University in Japan. A team led by Hiraku Takeuchi examined the effects of television on the brains of 276 children, along with amount of time spent watching TV and its long-term effects.

Researcher Takeuchi found that the more TV the kids watched, parts of their brain associated with higher arousal and aggression levels became thicker. The frontal lobe also thickened, which is known to lower verbal reasoning ability.  The more hours of television the kids watched, the lower their verbal test results became. These negative effects in the brain happened regardless of the child’s age, gender, and economic background.

In the same year, a study was done on how reading a novel affected the brain. Gregory Burns and his colleagues at Emory University wanted to see the before and after effects of reading based on fMRI readings.

College students were asked to read Pompeii by Robert Harriss, a thriller based on the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Italy. The book was chosen due to its strong narration and a dramatic plot based on true events.

After reading the novel, the students had increased connectivity in parts of the brain that were related to language. There was also increased activity in the sensory motor region of the brain, suggesting that readers experienced similar sensations to the characters in the book.

Why These Activities Have Opposite Effects on Us

So far, reading’s looking pretty good compared to television. We can see that it calms the nerves, increases language and reasoning, and can even keep you mentally alert as you age. TV, on the other hand, has the opposite effect.
But we still haven’t gotten to why that’s the case.

Let’s look first at a study on how preschoolers and toddlers interact with their mothers during TV viewing versus reading a book.

The results found that watching TV resulted in lower amounts and quality of communication between the mother and child. During an educational TV program, mothers made few comments to their children, and if they did, it was unrelated to what their children said.

On the other hand, reading books together increased the amount and level of communication. Mothers were more likely to ask their child questions, respond to their child’s statements and questions, and explain concepts in greater detail.
Beyond mothers and their children, it’s not just an issue of the quality of the TV program or the book. It seems that the nature of the activities themselves is what’s causing the differences.

Television is designed to be passive. After switching to the show you like, you can just sit back and watch everything unfold without effort on your part. You’re less likely to pause to reflect on what’s happening. TV also presents ideas and characters on a surface level. Shows don’t have the luxury of describing or explaining situations in great detail, since they need to keep viewers visually entertained.

TV programs are fast-paced in order to keep people from switching.
Books, on the other hand, are a more proactive form of entertainment and learning. The reader has to concentrate on what’s being said and to think through concepts in the book. When we read, we’re forced to use our imaginations to fill in the gaps.

Books also have the advantage of being able to describe everything in greater depth. While television is mostly composed of dialogue between characters, books can walk readers through scenes, characters’ thoughts, and provide lengthier commentary.

Source: http://www.jumpstartyourdreamlife.com/books-vs-tv/

June 27, 2016 By Melissa

Meanwhile enjoy this piece of music-one of my favorites -Concierto de Aranjuez

Royal Palace of Aranjuez

https://youtu.be/KzEFQW9CXGc 

Ongoing Activities Led By Residents and the THD Library

THD is the community for you if you want to get involved with numerous activities for seniors both coordinated by THD management as well as its senior residents. One of the many reasons, why I chose THD is because I wanted to play bridge again after a hiatus of 2 decades.  The above photo listed all the activities led by residents with THD management blessings and encouragement.  

Patty Healy and I bid and made 6NT during one of our Wednesday Afternoon Games at Churchill's Pub 

I am involved with four bridge groups and one of the Mahjong led group. There is bridge here at THD every day. The Monday and Friday Group with 2 tables is coordinated by Lee Cruise. The other day, Lee asked me if I will coordinate the Monday Group beginning February and I send yes. 

On Tuesaday afternoon, there are 2 bridge group (one table each).  One is coordinated by Linda Bottom and the other by Jane Williams. On Wednesday there is one table coordinated by Phil Paris. 

On Thursday AM, there is one table for beginners coordinated by Lee Cruise.

Regarding mahjong, there two groups playing American Mahjong. On Thursday Afternoon, I lead a table of four playing Hongkong Style Mahjong. On occasion, I play Philippine style mahjong with Daughter Dinah and Susie Bramson. 

The other activities led and run by THD Activity Directors are: Aqua Fitness Exercises, Strength, Balance and Stretch Exercises, Zumba, Chair Volleyball, corn hole, ladder ball, movies, happy hour every Friday Afternoon, Trivia Party, shopping and lunch excursions, musical and art programs and Residents Talks and special education program on Television.

We have a decent book collection in our Library. If you have questions about the library, our resident librarian, Georgia White( 760-408-7979) may be able to help you. I took some photos of our library as well as the Bulletin Board with flyers of our current and coming activities.  

          

The library has a Mystery Book, Fiction and Non-Fiction, and Biographies Sections. There are several coffee table books on art, photography, history, national parks, geography, and sports. Your book donation is welcome. When I moved here at THD, I donated hundreds of books as well as more 24 coffee table books on art, photography, gardening, cooking, history, and sports. I was not aware THD has a library that may able to use books donated by its residents. I kept one coffee Table book, my son's book and of course my own two books( see photos below).      

 

My Newly Printed Blog Book-Chateau Du Mer Beach House and Conference Center, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines covering period from October, 2023 to January 4, 2024  

THD management had a meeting with Residents a couple of weeks ago, revitalizing and planning a new February issue of The Heritage Herald- Resident's Newsletter.  Gaylen Carson had the first meeting recently of a new activity here at THD-the Creative Writing Workshop.. There are several good resident writers and a retired journalist here at THD. I see no reason why we can't have an active monthly newsletter and Writing Workshop.   

Today's Six Trendiest Cities in the US

From My travel Readings This Week. I was not surprised that Oakland, CA is in the list. There are two Portland Cities in the list. One is in Maine and the other is in Oregon. I have been to the two cities and I agree with the author's listing the two cities in the top six trendiest cities in the US currently. The city of Tucson, AZ  was a topic of our meal time conversation the other day with a new resident ( BO) here at THD.  I was appointed the Greeter of BO who was a resident of Tucson before his move here last week,      

"People are attracted to certain cities for many reasons, from aesthetic appeal to a wide-range of culture, arts, and entertainment. Whether it’s well-established or up-and-coming, when a city ticks all the boxes it doesn’t take long for word to get around. The next time you’re looking for a fun new place to visit or maybe even a new place to live, you’ll want to consider one of these spots as you’ll quickly discover why they’ve become today’s trendiest cities in the U.S."

https://www.thediscoverer.com/blog/6-of-the-trendiest-cities-in-the-u-s/ZFKPahG9cAAI0D1H

1. Durham, North Carolina

Credit: Sean Pavone/ Shutterstock

Durham may best be known as the home of Duke University, but it’s becoming a 

destination that offers a lot more than Blue Devils basketball games. The city is a big 

draw for visitors of all kinds, with cool gathering places and fantastic restaurants.

 The buzzing culinary scene offers everything from regional favorites like juicy barbecue 

and biscuits to quirky treats such as black garlic ice cream. Much of the food is centered

 around the local farm-to-table movement, with chefs whipping up delectable dishes 

from the area’s farms and farmers’ markets.

2. Tucson, Arizona

Credit: dszc/ iStock

TIME magazine recently listed Tucson on its World’s Greatest Places 2023 ranking, 

calling it the “Soul of the Sonoran Desert.” While it was once a rough Wild West down,

 only drawing visitors for its proximity to Saguaro National Park, an increasing number

 of people have been discovering the delights of this great city.

Located a little over 110 miles southeast of Phoenix, Tucson offers everything from 

colorful adobe neighborhoods and hip boutique hotels to innovative eateries, a co-op

 that’s crunchier than any Whole Foods, and even a local bike shop that becomes 

a space for hosting Women, Transgender, and Femme workshops on Mondays. 

It’s easy to find sustainably grown, locally sourced seasonal food all year round, 

with farmers’ markets and farm stands throughout the area.

3. Boise, Idaho

Credit: Charles Knowles/ Shutterstock

Boise is one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. with a surge of millennials moving

 here over the past several years. Idaho’s capital offers lots of small-town charms with

 the amenities of a large city. It’s a gastronomic hotspot with everything from incredible

 coffee roasters and gourmet donut shops to fine-dining restaurants with tasting menus

 on par with what you’d find in big cities like Seattle and San Francisco. The revitalized

 downtown also offers outstanding shopping and a wealth of cultural attractions, including

 theaters, performing art centers, and museums. Plus, it’s a starting point for a host of

 outdoor adventures. The Boise River Greenbelt is a 20-mile trail that runs along the

 banks of the Boise River providing opportunities for walking, jogging, and biking right 

in the city, while Hulls Gulch Reserve offers roughly 150 miles of trails at the base

 of the foothills just north of downtown.

4. Oakland, California

Credit: JasonDoiy/ iStock

Oakland was once just the underrated city on the other side of the bay, with 

San Francisco stealing the spotlight, but in recent years, it’s been ranked on everything

 from the top underrated cities to visit in the U.S. to the best coffee cities, the best cities

for vegans and vegetarians, and the best foodie cities. Diverse and cosmopolitan, 

you’ll find a wide range of ethnic eats and an art scene that can rival its more well-known

 sister. It includes everything from high-end art galleries and laid-back collectives 

to performance venues on practically every street. Pop-up galleries happen all year 

long and buildings are splashed with colorful street art. You can even enjoy a little

 of Italy right in Oakland with rides in a traditional Venetian gondola offered 

on Lake Merritt.

5. Portland, Maine

Credit: Sean Pavone/ iStock

Portland is renowned for its striking natural beauty, laid-back outdoorsy lifestyle, and

thriving arts scene. It’s incredibly picturesque with cobbled streets and a setting along

 the island-dotted waters of Casco Bay. Locals and visitors alike enjoy everything from 

hiking, biking, and climbing to paddling and swimming. Plus, farm-to-table dining isn’t

 just a trend, it’s been a way of life here for decades. There are countless local 

entrepreneurs offering homemade or homegrown products, from coffee and beer

 to mittens. The Old Port is especially enticing with its many galleries, museums, 

coffee shops, and bookstores ending at the working waterfront.

6. Portland, Oregon

Credit: BruceBlock/ iStock

There’s another Portland that’s seriously trending, but this one is on the opposite coast.

 Located on both the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the shadow of Mount Hood, 

Portland, Oregon, offers everything from street art to farm-to-table cuisine. Plus,

 it’s about the same distance from the nearest surf break as the closest ski slope.

 It’s been named the No. 1 bike-friendly city by Bicycling magazine numerous times 

and locals also enjoy windsurfing, kayaking, and canoeing between the dozen bridges

 that span the Willamette.  Those who like to shop will find dozens of vintage stores

 and design-savvy boutiques, plus one of the world’s greatest bookstores is here:

 Powell’s City of Books is the largest independent bookstore on Earth, with around 

a million books spread across 8,000 square feet. It has its own coffee shop where

 many like to enjoy a cup while thumbing through the pages.

About the author: K.C. Dermody | Writer

K.C. Dermody is the author of 'Best Travel Guide for First Time Visitors to Ireland' and hundreds of travel articles online and in print. Currently living in Baja, Mexico, she's traveled the world, visiting over 40 countries to date. When she's not writing, she might be found snorkeling in the Sea of Cortez, paddling among whales in Newfoundland, or exploring ancient sites in Greece. 

Meanwhile, here are 12 things to always remember. 

Lastly, Did you know that....

There were over 200 Filipinos that fought in the American Civil War (1861-1865), serving on both the Union and Confederate sides! Many were sailors from Spanish-controlled Philippines, working on Spanish galleons or whaling ships, who jumped ship or were recruited—especially in Louisiana, a major port city at the time. Some Filipinos ended up in the U.S. Navy, while others joined land regiments, fighting in famous battles like Gettysburg and Vicksburg. Their stories remain largely hidden in history, but their contributions prove that Filipinos have been making an impact globally for centuries.

The Lopez Memorial Museum and Library

During my search for interesting and relevant sites related to my Javellana-Lopez ancestral roots, I found several sites that were interesting and informative. The first three sites I have already posted in my blogs: Stevan Javellana's novel, Without Seeing the Dawn, Old Families of Jaro, Iloilo and their Mansions and my Ties with the Katigbak Surname during the Japanese-American War in the Philippines. This 4th site is the Lopez Memorial Museum and Library, located in Pasig, Rizal, Metro Manila. Here's a summary from Wikipedia for your information and reading pleasure:

"The Lopez Memorial Museum (LMM) was founded on 13 February 1960 by Eugenio Lopez, Sr in honor of his parents, Benito Lopez and Presentacion Hofileña. Eugenio Lopez built the museum to provide scholars and students access to his personal collection of rare Filipiniana books, manuscripts, maps, archaeological artifacts and fine art.

Eugenio Lopez is known to many as a leading industrialist of post-World War II Philippines. With resources that came from sugar production, he pioneered in diverse fields of business including transportation (bus, taxicab and air transport operations), mass media (ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation and The Manila Chronicle), energy (MERALCO) becoming one of the first Filipino successes in business in a then largely American dominated economy.

A staunch nationalist, Eugenio Lopez believed that by preserving and promoting the Filipino heritage, his country men would eventually develop sense of national pride and enable the country to develop a unified spirit ultimately resulting in ensuring a strengthening of a collective national soul in the succeeding generations.

He died in July 1975 in San Francisco, California, USA, where he had lived in self-imposed exile since 1972, away from the oppression of martial law. He had led a full life as a leading industrialist and a media magnate, leaving behind him a legacy for the Filipino people.

Eminent historian Renato Constantino was Lopez Museum’s first curator, from 1960 to 1972. Engaged by LMM founder and prominent antiquarian Eugenio Lopez, Sr (Eñing), it was only logical that it would be under his watch that the museum acquired Juan Luna’s España y Filipinas, a seminal work much cited for capturing the image of a country patronizingly led up the rungs of evolutionary colonial tutelage. Such acquisitions complemented the Philippine rare books and antiquarian map collection amassed by Eñing, who in consultation with renowned collector and connoisseur Alfonso Ongpin, further acquired other seminal and technically astute works by Luna, Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, and Fernando Amorsolo. A second key acquisition phase was led by Eñing’s youngest son, Roberto Lopez who was inclined toward Philippine Modernism, thus improving this aspect of the LMM collection with works vetted under the supervision of art historian, Rod Paras Perez.

At present, the character of the Lopez Museum collection has cumulatively morphed with the institution’s shifting concerns. Today, one of the major challenges confronting LMM is the need to continually showcase segments of its permanent collection alongside contemporary Filipino creative expression couched within the frames of increasing inter-disciplinarity and merging communication platforms. It is in this light that curation brings the possibility of infusing context and sub-text to an otherwise private quest for personal roots and a shared locus for nationalist heritage.

The library collection consist with over 19,000 Filipiniana titles by about 12,000 authors, the Lopez Library houses an invaluable collection of Philippine incunabula, rare books, manuscripts, dictionaries, literary works in Western and vernacular languages, religious tracts, periodicals, newspapers, coffee table volumes, academic treatises, contemporary writing, maps, archival photographs, cartoons and microfilms. It remains a critical node in the small network of institutions devoted to ongoing Philippine scholarship produced locally and internationally.

Among its more important holdings are 21 rare titles of Philippine imprints dated from 1597 to 1800, 69 key titles from the 18th century, and 777 titles from the 19th century. The library’s rare books and manuscripts include those of eminent printers, Tomas Pinpin, Raymundo Magysa, Nicolas Bagay, Laureano Atlas, and Juan Correa. The library is home to the first edition of Belarmin-Lopez’s Doctrina Cristiana (Manila 1620) translated into Ilocano (Libro a naisuratan amin ti bagas), Pedro Chirino’s Relacion de las Islas Filipinas, as well as key editions of Antonio de Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas (Jose Rizal’s 1890 edition, Blair and Robertson’s 1904 edition, and W. E. Retana’s 1909 edition).

In addition to a huge aggregate of secondary works on the National Hero, Dr Jose Rizal authored by both Filipino and Western authors, the Lopez Library also serves as steward to 93 of Rizal’s letters to his parents, sisters, brother and brothers-in-law, among other objects which constitute the most priceless items in LMM’s Rizaliana collection.

Among other items worthy of note are a variety of dictionaries, grammar books, and LMM’s collection of devotional literature: sermons, novenas, accounts of the lives of saints that were used as tools in the propagation of Roman Catholicism during the Spanish colonial period. Equally important and indispensable are such primary sources as the manuscripts and personal papers of individuals such as Pablo Pastells, Gaspar de San Agustín, Eulogio Despujol, H. L. Legarda, Manuel Sastron y Piñol, and Justo Zaragosa.

Microfilm copies of the Philippine Revolutionary papers, commonly known as the Philippine Insurgent Records, American Consular Reports (1817–1898) from the National Archives, Washington, DC, USA. and several reels of the British Consular Reports, circa 1844–1898, together with the H. H. Bartlett collection from the American Philosophical Society Library, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, are among the significant additions to the library’s growing microfilm collection which also includes the Tribune (1925–1945), Manila Chronicle (1945–1972), Harpers Weekly, and other key periodicals which are already accessible through digitized versions ".

This place is on my bucket list of things to visit, the next time I will be in the Philippines.

My Father's Day Gift Turning to My Christmas Gifts and My Gift this Year

 

Ditas and Carenna gave me as my Father's Day gift last June- a subscription to StoryWorth Books. It is now published and happily converted into my Christmas gifts to my children and their Families. I am so delighted in how the book turned out in spite of some pictures not too clear ( as I expected).

https://welcome.storyworth.com/dad?tag=fathersday&theme=fathersday&affid=5&oid=44&source_id=google&sub1=Prospecting-DynamicSearch&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Prospecting-US+AU+NZ-DynamicSearch&source_id=google&sub1=Prospecting-US+AU+NZ-DynamicSearch&gclid=CjwKCAjwhaaKBhBcEiwA8acsHPy86TBaB5YWgjC40sxjTZVx33K7ieW-q2_Bo_WoQ2tq91TIJ6NIRBoCHRMQAvD_BwE

After completing 435 pages of writings ( my biography and other memories) and including 100 Black and White photographs, I ordered two copies at $39.99 each with free shipping. The two books, one for me and the other for Ditas arrived today. I am very pleased of now the book looked, although some of the photos are not as clear as I expected.

I have ordered 2 more books for Dodie and Dinah. It will be my Christmas present to them and their families.

I am planning to order another book with colored photos for my own library. It will cost me $99 plus shipping. It is expensive, but the book is about Memories. No amount of Money can buy Memories.

Meanwhile enjoy this:

This is what I got for my BD and Christmas from Ditas and Carenna. Love it very much. This is installed in my BR. The old version that David III gave is in our family room ( no screen).

Your guide to Alexa Now that you've set up your Echo Show 5, you can make video and voice calls to friends and family, read the news, display the weather, and set timers and alarms. You can personalize your Echo Show 5 to display photos using Amazon Photos. Make other nightstands jealous: customize your morning routine to wake up with lights that simulate sunrise and an alarm that plays your favorite song. Learn more about Alexa tips for the bedroom. Visit the Alexa guide for even more examples of things to try.

Video calling and communications Hands-free voice or video calling allows you to easily stay in touch with friends and family, and you can even designate a contact as your household’s 'Emergency Contact' (911 not supported). Use Group Calling to connect with multiple people at once or Drop In to instantly check-in with close contacts. Make Announcements to call family to the table or remind the kids to go to bed. Learn more about Alexa Communication.

Automate your smart home Take a look around and get peace of mind whenever you want. Securely access the built-in camera to remotely monitor your home anytime with the Alexa app or other Echo Show devices. Go to Settings > Camera > Home monitoring to enable. Turn on the coffee maker on your way to the kitchen, or dim the lights from the couch to watch a movie—all without lifting a finger. With your Echo Show 5, you can also schedule routines or even start them with your motion. Learn more about smart home. Set up Alexa Guard for free in the Alexa app to get mobile alerts if your Echo device detects the sound of a smoke alarm or glass breaking while you’re away. Subscribe to Guard Plus for even more help protecting your home, like an Emergency Helpline you can call with just your voice, and more. Learn more about Alexa Guard.

Hands-free music and video Catch up on today’s news highlights or ask Alexa to show you TV shows, and more. Watch shows or movies from Prime Video, Netflix, and other favorites. Discover more music from providers like Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and other favorites. Link with Fire TV devices to voice control movies and entertainment. Learn more about Alexa entertainment.

Alexa skills Skills are like apps for Alexa. Use skills to find recipes, play games like Song Quiz, Jeopardy!, listen to the news, and more. Just say "Alexa, help me get started with skills."