Thoughts and Ramblings of Life in US and the Philippines(Marinduque) and other miscellaneous topics close to my Heart.
Welcome to Marinduque-My Island Paradise
If this is your first time in my site, welcome! If you have been a follower, my heartfelt thanks to you, also. Help me achieve my dream, that someday, Marinduque will become a world tourist destination not only on Easter Week, but also whole year round. You can do this by telling your friends and relatives about this site. The photo above is Mt Malindig in Torrijos. Some of the photos and videos on this site, I do not own. However, I have no intention on the infringement of your copyrights. Cheers!
Saturday, June 30, 2018
Another Writing Goal Achieve in My Hubpages Account
I have a writing account on Hubpages.com for a couple of years but had been inactive for the last two years. I have written 32 hubs but only 12 are featured. The 20 hubs are not featured because of low traffic and readership. HubPages is a user generated content, revenue-sharing website founded in 2006. The company acquired its main competitor, Squidoo, in 2014 and moved from a single-site to a multi-site business model in 2016. Last year it was purchased by Maven of Seattle, WA.
I always wanted some of my hubs be included in the vertical network sites recently created by Hubpages to attract more traffic.
Last year Hubpages started hosting articles according to topic. This is good for attracting more traffic as Google does not love general content as much as it used to. In general the more traffic the more Adsense dollars income for the writer.
The other day I received three letters that three of my hubs have been selected for the network site Exemplore (one).* and for LetterPile** (two). The first letter is as follows:
Congratulations, Chateaudumer!
One or more of your articles were selected for a vertical site in the HubPages Network — way to go! Only the highest quality articles are selected for the new sites.
The following articles have been moved to Exemplore*:
Encounters With Aswangs, Witches, Goblins, and Ghosts in the Philippines
Hi David! We loved reading about the Aswangs and we are now genuinely spooked! We only made a few changes to this article, otherwise, you are an excellent writer. We are excited for both the community on Exemplore and people seeking information on Aswangs to read your article. Great work, keep it up! Looking forward to your next submission.
Now is a great time to check that your articles have About the Author biographies added — they are a great way to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise to your readers. We strongly recommend it!
If you have questions, feel free to email us at team@hubpages.com.
Cheers,
The HubPages Team
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
This is the second letter:
Congratulations, Chateaudumer!
One or more of your articles were selected for a vertical site in the HubPages Network — way to go! Only the highest quality articles are selected for the new sites.
The following articles have been moved to LetterPile**:
Our Love Story and 60th Wedding Anniversary
Now is a great time to check that your articles have About the Author biographies added — they are a great way to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise to your readers. We strongly recommend it! If you have questions, feel free to email us at team@hubpages.com.
Cheers,
The HubPages Team
The 3rd hub moved to LetterPile is:
My Bucket List: 101 Things to Do Before I Die
Here's a list of the Hubpages Network Sites:
https://hubpages.com/community/List-of-Hubpages-Network-Sites
*Exemplore is the site for mystics. It covers advanced ancient civilizations, animal guides, astrology, auras, cryptids, dreams, fortune telling and tarot, healing and magic, paranormal, paganism, and UFOs.
** LetterPile is a literary site. The menu lists the following classification and subjects: books, correspondence, creative writing, newspapers/magazines, poetry, quotations and writings
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Choosing the Right College/University for Your Child
Choosing the right college/university for your child is not easy and require advance planning. It is essential that your child attends college that he/she likes. Ditas and Carenna visited and toured three of the seven Sisters Colleges last week. They visited Mount Holyoke, Smith and Wellesley Colleges all located in Massachusetts.
Here are the photos taken during their visit. Ditas fell in love with the Smith College campus and wants to do her undergraduate studies again.
Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA
Smith College, Northhampton, MA
Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA ( west of Boston)
The Seven Sisters was a name given to seven liberal arts colleges in the Northeastern United States that are historically women's colleges. Five of the seven institutions continue to offer all-female undergraduate programs: Barnard College, Bryn Mawr College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and Wellesley College. Vassar College has been co-educational since 1969. Radcliffe College shared common and overlapping history with Harvard College from the time it was founded as "the Harvard Annex" in 1879. Harvard and Radcliffe effectively merged in 1977, but Radcliffe continued to be the sponsoring college for women at Harvard until its dissolution in 1999. Barnard College was Columbia University's women's liberal arts undergraduate college until its all-male coordinate school Columbia College went co-ed in 1983; to this day, Barnard continues to be an all-women's undergraduate college affiliated with Columbia.
All seven schools were founded between 1837 and 1889. Four are in Massachusetts, two are in New York, and one is in Pennsylvania.
There are seven factors to consider when choosing the right fit of college/university for your child: Geography, Size, Setting, Type, Family Input/Recommendation, Costs and Availability of Scholarships and Financial Aid. For more details read the following:
https://www.petersons.com/blog/colleges-and-universities-choosing-the-right-fit/
It is never too early to plan choosing a college/university that will be the right fit for your child. If you are now looking for a college/university for your child, Good Luck and Have Fun in your search!
Personal Note: The David B Katague Family have chosen the following universities for their four Children based on the above 7 factors:
Dodie-UC Berkeley-BS in Geography; UC Davis-Law Degree
Dinah-Sacramento State U-BS and St Mary's College-Para Legal Studies
David III-UC Davis-BS in Agricultural Economics and Carnegie Mellon U-Master's Degree
Ditas-UC Berkeley-BS in Arts and Communications and USC-Master's Degree in Government Relations
Macrine and I list the following universities for our Education:
Macrine-BS in Commerce(UST-Philippines), AA in Nursing (Contra Costa College, Richmond, Ca) and BS in Nursing/Public Health- Holy Name University, Oakland, CA
Me-BS in Chemistry (UP, Diliman, QC, Philippines), MS and PhD in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, U of Illinois, Chicago and UC Berkeley-Certificate in Business Management
Here are the schools where our five grand Children Graduated:
Ian-BS ( Sacramento State University)
Philip BS in Sociology( UC Santa Cruz)
Elaine BS ( University of Oregon)
Alix BS in Computer Science( Cornell U-New York)
Marina BS in Kinesiology (CA Polytechnic U, San Luis Obispo)
Carenna ???????? We will see and hopefully I will still be alive and kicking when she graduates from college! Carenna is familiar with UC Berkeley and has toured Stanford U in Palo Alto just recently besides the three colleges mentioned in this blog.
Here are the photos taken during their visit. Ditas fell in love with the Smith College campus and wants to do her undergraduate studies again.
Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA
Smith College, Northhampton, MA
Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA ( west of Boston)
The Seven Sisters was a name given to seven liberal arts colleges in the Northeastern United States that are historically women's colleges. Five of the seven institutions continue to offer all-female undergraduate programs: Barnard College, Bryn Mawr College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and Wellesley College. Vassar College has been co-educational since 1969. Radcliffe College shared common and overlapping history with Harvard College from the time it was founded as "the Harvard Annex" in 1879. Harvard and Radcliffe effectively merged in 1977, but Radcliffe continued to be the sponsoring college for women at Harvard until its dissolution in 1999. Barnard College was Columbia University's women's liberal arts undergraduate college until its all-male coordinate school Columbia College went co-ed in 1983; to this day, Barnard continues to be an all-women's undergraduate college affiliated with Columbia.
All seven schools were founded between 1837 and 1889. Four are in Massachusetts, two are in New York, and one is in Pennsylvania.
There are seven factors to consider when choosing the right fit of college/university for your child: Geography, Size, Setting, Type, Family Input/Recommendation, Costs and Availability of Scholarships and Financial Aid. For more details read the following:
https://www.petersons.com/blog/colleges-and-universities-choosing-the-right-fit/
It is never too early to plan choosing a college/university that will be the right fit for your child. If you are now looking for a college/university for your child, Good Luck and Have Fun in your search!
Personal Note: The David B Katague Family have chosen the following universities for their four Children based on the above 7 factors:
Dodie-UC Berkeley-BS in Geography; UC Davis-Law Degree
Dinah-Sacramento State U-BS and St Mary's College-Para Legal Studies
David III-UC Davis-BS in Agricultural Economics and Carnegie Mellon U-Master's Degree
Ditas-UC Berkeley-BS in Arts and Communications and USC-Master's Degree in Government Relations
Macrine and I list the following universities for our Education:
Macrine-BS in Commerce(UST-Philippines), AA in Nursing (Contra Costa College, Richmond, Ca) and BS in Nursing/Public Health- Holy Name University, Oakland, CA
Me-BS in Chemistry (UP, Diliman, QC, Philippines), MS and PhD in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, U of Illinois, Chicago and UC Berkeley-Certificate in Business Management
Here are the schools where our five grand Children Graduated:
Ian-BS ( Sacramento State University)
Philip BS in Sociology( UC Santa Cruz)
Elaine BS ( University of Oregon)
Alix BS in Computer Science( Cornell U-New York)
Marina BS in Kinesiology (CA Polytechnic U, San Luis Obispo)
Carenna ???????? We will see and hopefully I will still be alive and kicking when she graduates from college! Carenna is familiar with UC Berkeley and has toured Stanford U in Palo Alto just recently besides the three colleges mentioned in this blog.
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
Taking Care of Your Aging Parents
When I was growing up in the Philippines in the late 1930's, my yaya (nanny) told me that a child who take care of his(her) aging parents is blessed and will certainly go to Heaven when he( she) dies. I was not able to do this, since I was in the US when my parents were in their senior years. Our youngest sibling was the one who took care of our aging parents and she is blessed!
Today, as I witnessed my younger son takes care of her Mom, reminds of the above paragraph. My heart is full of gratitude of what my son is doing for her Mom. I hope you go directly to Heaven when its your time to say Good Bye in Planet Earth.
The following link discussed the tips on sharing the care of your aging parents.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/youre-sharing-care-aging-parents
The following are tips for those caregivers to their aging parents
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-shore/elderly-parent-caregivers_b_823443.html
https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/local/info-2017/resource-guides.html
Last, but not least is the link for tips if you decide to take care of your aging parents at home.
dailycaring.com/5-top-caregiving-tips-for-keeping-aging-parents-at-home/
This blog is also a call for David's other siblings to help If at all possible in the care( emotionally if not physically) of their Mom. I know you have your own lives with its problems and complications, but a regular telephone call is sometimes what your Mom only wants.
To all our friends and relatives who calls every now and then to inquire on Macrine's Health status, thanks a million again for your concern.
Here's a video that touched my heart and I can really identify on the subject of taking care of your aging parents.
https://youtu.be/0HxL--f7Fsg
Sunday, June 24, 2018
Wesley and His Lola Macrine
The latest photo of Wesley Lazarte Chalfin
Wesley is the son of Elaine and Alex Chalfin. Elaine is the oldest daughter of Fe Jambalos, Macrine's younger sister. Wesley has a younger sister, Samantha. ( see video of her feeding the chickens in Amoingon below).
Samantha
This is from Wesley’s kindergarten journal. It says:
In Winter break I went to Folsom and I went out to dinner and I went to Lola Macrine’s. She was so excited.
Wesley and her Lola Macrine's during her 81st Birthday Celebration, Fair Oaks
https://www.facebook.com/lazarte/videos/10214037075576554/?t=0
Lolo David and Lola Macrine sending their hugs and kisses to you Wesley and sister Samantha! Visit us soon!
Wesley is the son of Elaine and Alex Chalfin. Elaine is the oldest daughter of Fe Jambalos, Macrine's younger sister. Wesley has a younger sister, Samantha. ( see video of her feeding the chickens in Amoingon below).
Samantha
This is from Wesley’s kindergarten journal. It says:
In Winter break I went to Folsom and I went out to dinner and I went to Lola Macrine’s. She was so excited.
Wesley and her Lola Macrine's during her 81st Birthday Celebration, Fair Oaks
https://www.facebook.com/lazarte/videos/10214037075576554/?t=0
Lolo David and Lola Macrine sending their hugs and kisses to you Wesley and sister Samantha! Visit us soon!
Friday, June 22, 2018
Photos from a Recent Wedding Reception at Chateau Du Mer
Chateau Du Mer has hosted a number of wedding receptions since it was opened to the public several years ago. The following is a typical example of a romantic and lovely wedding reception both in the beach house and Hall. The photos were taken by Toby Jamilla during the Luzares-Montalban wedding reception at Chateau Du Mer Beach House and Conference Hall just recently.
I have the permission of the bride and groom as well as the photographer to put the following photos in my blogs. Congratulations to the Bride and Groom! What a Romantic and Lovely Wedding Reception.
The Beautiful Bride the Night Before the Wedding in the Bedroom of the Beach House
The Groom's Party in front of the Stairs of the Beach House(Conference Hall in the background)
The Bride's Family in front of the Beach House( Amoingon Beach in the background)
The bride inside the Beach House. Notice the Capiz shells Door.
The next four photos were taken in the Conference Hall during the Wedding Reception Ceremonies
Chateau Du Mer is opened all year round. For more information and rates call:
SIONY JAMBALOS –(Boac) 042-332-1754
DAVID B KATAGUE (US)-916-961-3365
E-mail: tagaboac@comcast.net
I have the permission of the bride and groom as well as the photographer to put the following photos in my blogs. Congratulations to the Bride and Groom! What a Romantic and Lovely Wedding Reception.
The Beautiful Bride the Night Before the Wedding in the Bedroom of the Beach House
The Groom's Party in front of the Stairs of the Beach House(Conference Hall in the background)
The Bride's Family in front of the Beach House( Amoingon Beach in the background)
The bride inside the Beach House. Notice the Capiz shells Door.
The next four photos were taken in the Conference Hall during the Wedding Reception Ceremonies
Chateau Du Mer is opened all year round. For more information and rates call:
SIONY JAMBALOS –(Boac) 042-332-1754
DAVID B KATAGUE (US)-916-961-3365
E-mail: tagaboac@comcast.net
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Ten Years of Personal Blogging this Summer
Next month will be my 10th year of personal blogging. I can not believe, I have attained this achievement.
According to the article below 95% of bloggers give up between 31 to 33 months. This applies to both Lifestyle Blogging (LB) and Personal Blogging (PB).
For details about Lifestyle and Personal blogging read the following: https://www.writelaughdream.com/the-blog/personal-vs-lifestyle
I have been doing Personal Blogging since the summer of 2008. As of today I have written more than 2000 articles on almost all subjects based on my life experiences. Total page views from my 8 blogs is now over 3 million viewers. I have about 100 viewers daily(total) and more than 500 comments as of today. My most commented blog with over 250 comments is http://lifeinus1960present.blogspot.com/.
In addition to my blogs, I have also a writing account with Hubpages.com ( Owned by Maven). I have written 32 Hubs(long articles) but only 12 are featured as of today. Twenty of my articles are not featured due to low traffic or readers. I will appreciate if you also visit my Hubpages.com account in addition to my blogs.
I do not write about politics, religion or sexual topics except on a few cases. These three subjects are controversial and attract more viewers, readers as well as comments. However, since I do not earn my living on my blogs, the number of viewers/readers is not my primary goal. My goal is to receive comments from my blogs. Knowing that readers like my blogs by clicking LIKE or sharing it in their Face Book page makes me happy. So here is the primary reason why I am still blogging for almost ten years as of this month.
I enjoy writing and blogging exercises my aging brain. Receiving positive comments( i.e., informative and/or inspirational) on my blogs is an ego boost!
For details why 95% of bloggers quit read the following: http://feveredmutterings.com/95-percent-bloggers-give-up
For details on how I started blogging read the following: https://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/2014/01/blogging-has-saved-my-life_4.html
I hope you continue reading my blogs. Have a Great Summer wherever you are in this Planet Earth!
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