I woke up very early (5:30AM) this morning. I remember that today is exactly 15 years after my retirement from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Silver Spring, MD. I feel that my mind is not as alert compared to the previous years prior to my retirement. In addition, I also missed my interaction with my fellow workers and my Chemistry reviewers that I had supervised.
However, today I feel very happy and accomplished as I reminisce my life and career. It is rich with pleasant memories, but not with Gold or Money.
The following are the reasons why I feel very accomplished although not rich in gold, pesos or dollars and how it was attain.
My life is not rich in terms of dollars or pesos, or material possessions( luxurious villas or mansion here or abroad) but in pleasant memories and accomplishments.
How was this attained?
First, I grew up in the 1940's in the midst of the Japanese-American War in the Philippines. My father at that time was a Dental Officer for the Philippine-American Guerrilla Forces in Panay and Romblon Islands. Thus, I did have a lot of contacts with American GI's from all parts of the US. These contacts initiated and triggered my desire and ambition to someday see and visit the US. ( I had no desire or dream to reside in US at that time)
Second, my elementary and high school years were also filled with accomplishments. I graduated with honors in 6th Grade and valedictorian in my high school class. Except for a bullying incident in my freshman year, I had pleasant memories of my elementary and high school years.
Third, my college years at UP, Iloilo and Diliman, Quezon City were also filled with scholastic achievements. I received the Fernando Lopez Scholarship in Iloilo for attaining the highest grade in the whole university. In Diliman, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry missing 0.02 points to graduate CUM LAUDE(with honors).
Fourth, my graduate school years at the University Of Illinois in Chicago were also filled with pleasant memories. Those years were the hardest years of my life. Those years started with seeing my first snow in US, followed by raising three children ( my 4th child was born after my graduate school years) while a graduate and teaching assistant and culminated with my doctorate degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry in 1964.
Fifth, my professional career working as a chemist for 20 years for three private companies and later for the federal government (FDA) for another 12 years ( as team leader) were unforgettable. My years in FDA were filled with awards and challenges. My 12 years in FDA was the most productive years in my professional career. My superiors informed me that I was the first Filipino-American Chemistry team leader in the Center of New drugs in the history of the US Food and Drug Administration.
Sixth, Macrine ( my spouse of 60 years) and my involvement with the activities of the Filipino-American Community in the Washington, D.C., Kansas City, Missouri, Modesto and Pinole, California were memories that we will treasure and will never forget as long as we live.
Last, but not least were the civic, social and humanitarian projects that Macrine and I had been involved since the early 1960's here in the Philippines and US. Our involvement with the Marinduque International, Inc medical mission projects since 1996 to the present are memories we will never forget.
Indeed, my wife and I are not rich in GOLD or SILVER, but in MEMORIES, ACCOMPLISHMENTS and Personal Relationships.
For details of the above accomplishments and activities, visit my blog sites at
http://theintellectualmigrant.blogspot.com or http://lifeinus1960present.blogspot.com
NOTE: Happy Halloween to ALL!
No comments:
Post a Comment