An Unexpected Reward for Kindness and Compassion

This is a true story relayed to me from a previous co-worker/friend, who was jobless for a while. His wife has a distant relative couple( originally from the Philippines) with no children in their 80's. The couple needed help in their daily activities ( Assisted Living). Since he was jobless he volunteered to be their care taker and this is what he wrote.

" I know what kindness is all about. I experienced it firsthand. When I just got here in USA I encountered a challenging situation. Although I stood up my ground I did not antagonize the hostility. When he grew old my wife was obliged to care for him and his wife. I had to take good care of him when he was terminally ill. With kindness I put aside all my bad experiences with him. I took good care of him really good. Subsequently the rewards was so enormous".

Later on after 3 years, the childless couple passed away. When their Will was read, My friend was surprised that the coupled had given him and his wife, their house and lot in the hills of Oakland, Ca and quite a substantial amount of their savings. This was their payment to him for taking care of the couple daily living needs for 3 years, besides the monthly subsidy the couple was giving him for his services.

My co-worker and his wife did not have financial worries after they received the unexpected inheritance. They spent some of the inherited money to travel around the world. My co-worker and his wife are only in their mid-70's. They did not expect that the couple will give their assets after their demise, and since the couple have no relatives here in the US, they inherited not only the fully paid house and lot but also a substantial amount of savings. Again, this is a true story and not just a product of my imagination. 💚

Meanwhile, Did you now that The Philippine Trench, one of the deepest parts of the ocean, reaches depths of about 10,540 meters (34,580 feet) in the Emden Deep.

The trench is a result of the complex tectonic activity in the region where the Philippine Sea Plate is subducting beneath the Eurasian Plate.

Despite the extreme depths and pressures, unique and diverse marine life inhabits the trench, adapted to the harsh conditions.

The Philippine Trench has been a significant site for deep-sea exploration, providing insights into geological processes and deep-sea ecosystems.

To put it in perspective, the Philippine Trench is deeper than Mount Everest is tall, highlighting the vastness and mystery of the ocean's depths.

Lastly here is a photo of my amaryllis showing 2 blooms and a bud.

💚This is a similar story that happened to Michael Buble parents. A Filipina immigrant took care of Buble parents as they age. When Buble parents passed they gave their house to her. As a result the Filipina caretaker was able to bring her family from the Philippines to Canada for permanent residency.  

Michael Bublé is a Canadian singer and songwriter. Regarded as a pop icon, he is often credited for helping to renew public interest and appreciation for traditional pop standards and the Great American Songbook.

Gordon Ramsay on Filipino Food

World-renowned chef Gordon Ramsay thrilled Filipino food enthusiasts during his visit to Manila on January 20, 2025, where he announced plans to open three new restaurants in the Philippines.

Speaking to a full house of industry leaders and culinary students, Ramsay expressed deep admiration for the country, calling it the “Sleeping Beauty of Asia” when it comes to cuisine. He also declared that Filipino food is the next big thing poised to captivate the world's palate.

"Maybe a Hell’s Kitchen restaurant as well. So, so exciting," Ramsay teased, hinting at one of the possible concepts in the works.

When asked about his favorite Filipino dish, the Michelin-starred chef didn’t hesitate to say, “Sisig Tacos".

This announcement has sparked excitement among Filipinos, who eagerly await the arrival of Ramsay’s culinary expertise in Manila’s dynamic food scene.

Gordon Ramsay is one of the most celebrated chefs in the world, with a career spanning over three decades. Born on November 8, 1966, in Scotland, he initially pursued a career in professional football before an injury led him to the kitchen. Ramsay trained under legendary chefs like Marco Pierre White and Guy Savoy, eventually earning his own Michelin stars. Today, he boasts an impressive 17 Michelin stars across his restaurants, making him a global culinary icon.

Known for his fiery personality and perfectionism, Ramsay rose to international fame through hit TV shows like Hell’s Kitchen, MasterChef, and Kitchen Nightmares. His sharp critiques and passion for excellence have inspired chefs worldwide to push their boundaries and strive for greatness.

Interesting facts about Gordon Ramsay:

- He holds the prestigious title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his contributions to the hospitality industry.

- Ramsay is a marathon runner and has completed multiple Ironman triathlons.

- Despite his tough exterior, he’s a family man with five children and is deeply involved in charity work.

- He is known for his love of Filipino food, especially adobo, which he praised during his previous visits to the country.

Ramsay’s presence in the Philippines is not just about expanding his restaurants but also about sharing his culinary philosophy and inspiring the next generation of chefs. His commitment to quality and innovation continues to make him one of the most respected figures in the culinary world.

For Details visit the following sites:

https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/food-drinks/gordon-ramsay-filipino-cuisine-sleeping-beauty-asia-waking-up/

https://mb.com.ph/2025/1/20/exclusive-gordon-ramsay-talks-filipino-cuisine-comfort-food-and-global-trends?fbclid=IwY2xjawH-EeBleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHXOUkV-ccFf2e8wsfRS2gXQdVka5YyJd7NtDwPhfqeHTB2daaW4kJnW2lw_aem_97NSXdMbXzHyj6lQ8lxSnw

https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/1/21/gordon-ramsay-shares-the-key-ingredient-to-his-culinary-success-1645

Meanwhile, here's the latest photo of my 2 room mates, Batman & Robin

Lastly, here are some photos I took at our Annual Lobster Lunch at the WC Yacht Club Sea Food Restaurant, yesterday!

The Main Lobster, French Fries and Coles Slaw were a Gastronomic Delight!!!

Personal Note: To THD Movie Goers, Here's review of Our Movie Tonite-Widow Clicqout

ihttps://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/widow-clicquot-film-review-2024

Reviews of the Movie, A Real Pain

The Movie, A Real Pain is scheduled at our Cinema tonite, at 7PM. I am planning to watch it. It has excellent reviews and the music is almost all classical Chopin music.  The following are two of several 4-5 stars critics review. “A Real Pain” has earned the following two Oscar nominations:

Best supporting actor, Kieran Culkin

Best original screenplay

Read this review if you are not concerned about a Spoiler Alert! 

" A Real Pain is a lovely story of estranged cousins reconnecting after the death of their Polish grandmother by of taking a trip to Poland on a guided tour. The leads are played by Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin. Benji (Culkin) is a free spirit with a warm and honest sense of humor who is confident and funny, and while these traits are organic to his personality he uses these traits to cover up the pain and sadness that lies within him. David (Eisenberg) a father and husband with a career who is uncomfortable with emotion but has a big heart who cares deeply about his cousin. 

Although cousins they feel like great friends from childhood that took different paths and through a tragic event find the oppurtune time to reconnect. I related to both characters. Benji in that he is well practiced at masking his pain through humor so that he doesn't have to talk about it and David, in that although I'm not married and don't have kids I took the safe career path which provides a level of security but have found there's a longing for more from life. 

The setting of Poland is shot beautifully and the tour locations are appropriate in helping the characters grieve and deal w their inner turmoil. The side characters in the tour group feel like real people you would meet on a tour like this. Nothing in the film feels forced, especially there not being a contrived love story which often happens in films of similar themes and ultimately detracts from the central story. 

The glue of the film is the score. Instead of using contemporary pop music, the music is classical, primarily Chopin, is tonally perfect and doesn't overshadow the story but matches the mood of the characters melancholy. The movie perfectly bookends itself and doesnt have the typical tie up the bow ending. Eisenberg's direction, the acting (especially Culkin) and all other technical aspects of the film are superb and were handled w care. Theres a perfect blend of humor and inner sadness that looms over the central characters. I would recommend this film to anyone, especially families and most especially families of Jewish heritage. Hats off to Eisenberg on his directorial debut. 5/5

Here's Another Review:

 A Real Pain explores the concept of pain in a nuanced way: the pain of losing a loved one, the pain of dealing with a challenging family member, and the generational pain of having a family’s future stolen. The film captures how different people cope with these pains: David, Benji, the other tour participants, and even the tour guide, as they confront the events of the Holocaust, visit a Polish Jewish cemetery, and tour the Majdanek concentration camp. The message is clear: to cope with pain healthily, we must face it head-on in our own way. This journey of confronting pain is essential for building our resilience and strength.

Pain is what connects us to our humanity, reminding us that we are truly alive. During the trip, Benji recounts a painful memory: their grandmother once slapped him in a New York City restaurant because he arrived late for dinner. She had dressed up for the occasion, and the public slap left Benji feeling real pain. However, he acknowledges that this act of accountability, though hurtful, came from a place of love. Benji yearns for this kind of tough love from others, particularly from David. He craves someone who can hold him back from his impulsive tendencies, showing him care and affection in the process.

A poignant moment in the film occurs when David and Benji visit their late grandmother’s former house in Poland. The home is now owned by another family, and any traces of the Kaplans’ presence have long vanished. In a touching gesture, David places a stone in front of the house to honor their grandmother’s memory. However, the moment takes a humorous yet bittersweet turn when an elderly Polish man chastises them. He misunderstands their intention, believing the stone was placed maliciously to cause harm to the current elderly resident. Despite their efforts to explain the Jewish tradition of placing stones as a memorial to remember their deceased grandmother, the older man remains unconvinced despite his son’s English to Polish translation of their reasoning for having placed the stone there. Feeling awkward about the entire encounter, David and Benji decide to take the stone with them when they leave Poland.

In a beautifully symbolic gesture upon his return to New York, David later places the stone at the entrance of his Brooklyn home, where he lives with his wife and child. This act underscores the universal idea that “home is where the heart is.” While the memory of the family’s life in Poland has faded, their grandmother’s legacy endures. Her journey as an immigrant to America, striving to build a new life for her family while preserving her Jewish identity, continues to inspire her descendants, including David and Benji.

As the film concludes, the audience is left wondering about the futures of David and Benji’s relationship and their individual paths. The heritage trip and their shared memories of their grandmother seem to strengthen their bond. The film suggests that, despite their differences, family is ultimately the one thing you can rely upon in life. While Benji and David drive each other crazy, they also admire and need each other. The hope is that they will continue to support one another, bringing balance to each other’s lives with David finding more spontaneity and emotional authenticity, and Benji discovering greater stability and purpose.

Meanwhile, Did you Know That---- Hundreds of same-sex couples are tying the knot across Thailand today as the country becomes the first in Southeast Asia to recognize marriage equality. The landmark bill marks a momentous win for the LGBTQ+ community, which has fought for more than a decade for the same marriage rights as heterosexual couples. Under the legislation, passed by Thailand's parliament and endorsed by the king last year, same-sex couples are now able to register their marriages with full legal, financial, and medical rights, as well as adoption and inheritance rights. Lastly, the Ten Things People Learn too Late in Life!

Landscaping of the Main House of Chateau Du Mer- Philippines

Three weeks ago, my three grandchildren ( Philip, Alix and Marina)  enjoyed a one week vacation on my island Paradise in the Philippines - the Beautiful island of Marinduque-Heart of the Philippines. 

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2025/01/photos-of-my-grand-children-vacation-in.html

The Capital town of the island is Boac. This is the place where our retirement home and Beach House is located. From 2002 to 2020 my wife ( RIP) and I spent at least 3 months ( sometimes 4 months) every year during winter time here in the US. Thus, we called ourselves, snowbirds in the Philippines. 

In 2016, we spent for 4 months instead of our standard 3 months stay. I had enough time to maximize the landscaping of the Main House, Beach House and Conference Center. I had 2 gardeners helped maintained the landscaping of the 2-acre front, side and backyard of the main house. 

The following are some photos I took at that time. Note that there are no photos of the Beach house or Conference Center, as well as the inside of the Main House or the Conference Center. These are just photos of the front, side, and back of the main house.    

Driveway from the National Road

The View of the Main House- Side ways = North- South Direction  

Statuary of Saint Anthony de Padua guarded by two potted dwarf Kalanchoe Trees 

 Side of the Garage with the Virgin Mary Statuary and Succulent Flowering Plants  

Front Porch with two Lions Head Guarding the Entrance to the House

One of Several of My Dwarf Coconut Trees

Two of the Several Blooming Orchids

One of my Pineapple Plants starting to bear Fruits  

Two Herons Statuary Under the Tamarind Tree 

The Seven Dwarfs Statuary Under the Mango Tree

Another statuary by the Side of the House 

The back yard on the way to the Beach, Beach House and Conference Center.

For Complete details and photos of the Beach House and Conference Center visit:

https://theintellectualmigrants.blogspot.com/2021/08/photo-memories-of-chateau-du-mer-and.html

https://theintellectualmigrants.blogspot.com/2023/02/good-bye-chateau-du-mer-beach-house.html

Meanwhile, here are some most powerful Life Hacks for Men:

Lastly, here are some photos I took of the newly installed Fountain by the Side of the Fairmont Building as well as the new night lights installed in the Court Yard  and Swimming Pool Area.   Thank You THD for your beautification projects and newly installed outdoor furnitures and lighting projects.

 

The Night Lights add ambience and feeling of Security in this Gated Community for Active Seniors

Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery and Development

During one of our meal time conversations here at THD, a new resident asked me what I did prior to my retirement. I told her that prior to my retirement I was a Chemistry Team Leader in the Division of Anti-Infective Drugs Products, Centers New Drugs, Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Thus, I was involved with approval of new drugs and its development, primarily the Chemistry, Manufacturing and Control ( CMC) part of the development. https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2017/03/chemistry-manufacturing-and-controls.html

This smart newcomer then asked me what I know about AI ( Artifcial Intelligence) on drug discovery and Development. 

My answer was NOTHING or NADA.  Thus, this posting on my current google search on the subject.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has recently started to gear-up its application in various sectors of the society with the pharmaceutical industry as a front-runner beneficiary. This review highlights the impactful use of AI in diverse areas of the pharmaceutical sectors viz., drug discovery and development, drug repurposing, improving pharmaceutical productivity, clinical trials, etc. to name a few, thus reducing the human workload as well as achieving targets in a short period. Crosstalk on the tools and techniques utilized in enforcing AI, ongoing challenges, and ways to overcome them, along with the future of AI in the pharmaceutical industry, is also discussed. The article below highlights the following:

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  1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionized many aspects of the pharmaceuticals.

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2. AI assistance to pharma industries helps to improve overall life cycle of product.
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3. AI can be implemented in pharma ranging from drug discovery to product management.
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4. Future challenges related to AI and their respective solutions have been expounded.

Conclusion: The advancement of AI, along with its remarkable tools, continuously aims to reduce challenges faced by pharmaceutical companies, impacting the drug development process along with the overall lifecycle of the product, which could explain the increase in the number of start-ups in this sector.  The current healthcare sector is facing several complex challenges, such as the increased cost of drugs and therapies, and society needs specific significant changes in this area. 

With the inclusion of AI in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical products, personalized medications with the desired dose, release parameters, and other required aspects can be manufactured according to individual patient need . 

Using the latest AI-based technologies will not only speed up the time needed for the products to come to the market, but will also improve the quality of products and the overall safety of the production process, and provide better utilization of available resources along with being cost-effective, thereby increasing the importance of automation.

For Complete Details visit: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7577280/

Meanwhile,  here are the real luxuries in life, we all should aim for in our aging years.

And Lastly, My Food for Thought for Today

The Annual Lobster Lunch at the WC Yacht Club Sea Food Restaurant

Our Annual Lobster Lunch sponsored by the Walnut Creek Yacht Club Sea Food Restaurant is scheduled for this coming Saturday, Jan 25. It is fully booked with several names in the waiting list.  The prepaid price of $35 is discounted as a thank you and gift to THD residents from the Sweinberg Family that own and manage the restaurant.  The Sweinberg parents used to be Residents of THD.  They also sponsored the annual Corn Hole Tournament for THD residents during summer. 

Speaking of a $35 lobster lunch. I had a Lobster Dinner last Thursday with my son, Dodie at East Ocean Sea Food Restaurant at the Ignacio Plaza. It cost me twice as much, so the $35 prepaid price at WC Yacht Club is indeed a bargain.  Besides the Lobster, we had Calamari and Hot and Sour Soup. 

Dodie and I had Dinner at East Ocean last Thursday night. We were surprise to see John and Carol Larimore came at the restaurant. We were almost finished with our dinner, when the Larimores came in. However, we had a few minutes to chat and a photo shoot with them prior to our departure. Here are some photos of our lobster and Calamari Dinner and with the Larimore on our way out. Notice the to GO bag on the table-it's my snack time of the left from our dinner.  

     Whole Main Lobster in Scallion and Ginger Sauce

The Lobster in Ginger and Scallion  sauce was delicious. The Calamari was plentiful, a little bit hard for my teeth but was very tasty.  Price Range is a little bit on the High Side compared to nearby Chinese Restaurants.   

Meanwhile, here's the most recent review of the East Ocean Sea Food Restaurant. The range from

 4 to 5 stars.

1. SUPER happy East Ocean has my mom's favorite dish: Bitter Melon Beef! We also ordered BBQ Pork Fried Rice, a family favorite. Everything we ordered was delicious! "ding ho".

2. Just had a Doordash dinner order delivered from East Ocean. I have found my go-to place for dry beef chow fun -- finally! East Ocean does it right with plenty of rice noodles and the flavor is spot on. (Too many other places give you too much bean sprouts and not enough noodles). The tofu and vegetables and the radish cakes are executed quite nicely, too. Great meal -- thank you East Ocean! Everything we have tried so far has been fantastic.

3. In general, the food was pretty good and the portion was decent, but the price point was to me a little higher than what I'm used to when it comes to Chinese food. But below is my review of two items that we ordered: Fried Chicken in Garlic Sauce: very delicious, and the flavor profile reminded me a lot of Korean style sweet soy fried chicken. I especially loved how thin the breading was on the chicken, and how tender and moist the chicken pieces were. It was like an elevated version of general tso's chicken. While the portion was pretty generous, the price point to me was really high at $19. Honey Pepper Angus Ribeye Beef: tender beef chunks in savory sauce, loaded with veggies including peppers and onions. While no doubt that this dish was good, I am not convinced that it was worth paying $25 for. I would probably not order this again, and instead try their other beef dishes priced lower to get a sense of comparison.

4. Been here a few times. The food is always great but is a little more on the expensive side compared to their Alameda location. I had to crispy pork belly and soy sauce chow mein. The Sui Mai here is good as well.

5. Same owners as the Alameda East Ocean. One person in our group preferred to eat outdoors so a large table was setup for us. I was very surprised that the restaurant did not have a line at opening like most dim sum restaurants in the Bay Area. The indoors was small but over time it seemed to fill up more. The selection of dim sum was much smaller than what I was used to. Ha gow and siu mai were good. The pork buns and chicken buns were decent but I would've liked to have seen more meat. The salt and pepper calamari was amazing like in Alameda. The pork belly was very fatty but tasty. Fried meat dumplings (hom suey gok) and fried bean paste (gin duey) we're good. Turnip cakes were great. Service was very attentive for our large group. Maybe for the Walnut Creek area, the menu was sufficient but I like more variety. The food and service of what we had were good!

https://east-ocean-seafood-restaurant.restaurants-world.com/#google_vignette

Meanwhile, Last Sunday, I had a cravings for Tempura. Thanks to DoorDash, my Tempura cravings was  satiated by Hakashi Sushi. It was delivered right in my front door within 15 after I ordered it on-line. 

 Lastly, Did you know?

Sultan Kudarat of Mindanao was a powerful leader who managed to keep the Spanish at bay for decades. He formed alliances with other Muslim sultans and waged a series of successful guerrilla campaigns. Kudarat led one of the longest resistance movements against the Spanish.

His ability to unite the Muslim sultans and his strong military tactics kept much of Mindanao free from Spanish rule for over 30 years.