Becoming American( formerly Life in the United States & the Philippines-1960 to the Present)
This title change is inspired by Kulas (Kyle Jennermann) blog-Becoming Filipino.
WELCOME TO MY SITE AND HAVE A GOOD DAY
Welcome to Las Vegas, Nevada- the Gambling Capital of US and the City that never sleeps! So, what has this city have to do with this site. The answer is none. I just love the photo, I took during our vacation to this city a couple of years ago. In this site, you will find articles from my autobiography, global warming, senior citizens issues, tourism, politics in PI, music appreciation and articles about our current experiences as retirees enjoying the "snow bird" lifestyle between US and the Philippines. Your comments will be highly appreciated. Some of the photos and videos on this site, I do not own. However, I have no intention on infringement of your copyrights. Cheers!
Last March 6, Barbara officially introduced Nisha her replacement to the residents at our happy hour. Nisha said she was born in London, England but have been a resident of Martinez, California for over 40 years. She told us she has 3 boys and have been in private business. I googled her and here's what I found from her LinkedIn page.
I was introduced to her briefly during her first day here at THD. My first impression is that she is a People Person and would have empathy to Senior Citizens. I am hoping that more improvements in our quality of life here at THD are in the horizons during her managership:
Speaking of Enhancement/Improvement of Quality of Life: My friends and Dinner Companions have the following suggestions:
1. Improve Monotony of Food Service by Featuring Monthly Special Dinners of Ethnic Foods
2. Organized a Resident Council to Improve Communication
3. Fixed the Bus, For More Excursions and Resident Participation
Meanwhile, May I remind you that Barbara's Farewell Party will be on March 27th. A special appetizers of Filipino Lumpia and Señorita Bread have been ordered.
I want to thank Barbara and Jenny and Upper THD Management the Improvements here at THD since my move here almost three years ago.
1. The installation of Sound Boards at Newton's
2. The addition of Always Available Food Items in our Lunch and Dinner Menu
3. The convenience of Paying rent via Door Loop
4. The Beautification of the Grounds and Improvement of Churchill Pub and Fireside Lounge
My Personal thanks to all the Staff: Servers, Kitchen Crew, Front Desk, Activity, Housekeeping and Maintenance Crew for making my almost three years of residency here at THD a happy one.
Lastly: to All Residents who read My Blogs: If you have Additional Suggestion that will enhance our Quality of Life, send them to me. I will be happy to relay it in person to THD Management or via my daily blogs.
America’s Culinary Cup- A New Cooking Competition Worth Watching
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Last week I watched the premiere of America’s Culinary Cup, the new cooking competition on CBS hosted by Padma Lakshmi. I have to admit something right away: I am not a food faddist. I don’t chase Michelin-star restaurants or follow the latest culinary trends. My heart still belongs to the comforting flavors of Filipino food I grew up with.
But even for someone like me, the first episode was entertaining, fast-paced, and surprisingly intense. This show is clearly designed to be the “Olympics of cooking,” bringing together some of the most accomplished chefs in the United States.
Below is a quick look at who the judges are and who the 16 contestants are in Episode 1.
The Judges: Three Culinary Heavyweights
Padma Lakshmi – Host and Judge
Padma Lakshmi is the creator, host, and executive producer of the show. She is best known for hosting Top Chef for 17 years, where she became one of television’s most recognizable food personalities.
Her qualifications include:
Emmy-nominated television host and food writer
Creator of the documentary series Taste the Nation
Longtime judge on Top Chef
Author of several cookbooks and memoirs
On America’s Culinary Cup, she evaluates dishes based on taste, creativity, presentation, and technique.
Michael Cimarusti – Fine Dining Master
Michael Cimarusti is one of the most respected seafood chefs in America.
Key credentials:
Chef-owner of the acclaimed restaurant Providence in Los Angeles
James Beard Award winner (Best Chef: West, 2019)
Known for sustainable seafood and refined technique
His restaurant has held Michelin stars since 2008 and reached three Michelin stars in 2025.
His judging style focuses heavily on technical precision and flavor balance.
Wylie Dufresne – Culinary Innovator
Wylie Dufresne is famous for pushing the boundaries of modern cuisine.
Notable achievements:
Founder of the experimental New York restaurant wd~50
Pioneer of molecular gastronomy in American cooking
James Beard Award winner (Best Chef: New York)
Known for science-driven cooking techniques and creative experimentation.
His presence adds a strong innovation and creativity perspective to the judging panel.
The 16 Elite Chefs Competing
Unlike many cooking competitions that feature rising chefs, this show invites already famous and highly decorated chefs. Many contestants have Michelin stars, James Beard awards, or international culinary honors.
Here are the 16 contestants introduced in Episode 1:
Buddha Lo – former Top Chef champion
Beverly Kim – Michelin-starred Chicago chef
Katie Button – James Beard–recognized chef
Kim Alter – award-winning San Francisco chef
Keith Corbin – Los Angeles chef and restaurateur
Rochelle Daniel – chef known for modern American cuisine
Diana Dávila – Mexican-inspired chef and restaurateur
Michael Díaz de León – Michelin-recognized chef
Sol Han – Korean-influenced chef
Russell Jackson – veteran chef and restaurateur
Matt Peters – Bocuse d’Or gold medalist
Malyna Si – rising fine-dining chef
Cara Stadler – Maine chef known for global flavors
Philip Tessier – Bocuse d’Or medalist
Emily Yuen – chef blending Asian techniques
Chris Morgan – Michelin-star chef from Virginia.
That is an impressive lineup, almost like assembling an all-star team of American chefs.
Episode 1: What Happened
The premiere began with a signature dish challenge where each chef cooked a dish that represents their culinary identity. Judges scored them on:
Taste
Creativity
Presentation
Technique
Each category was worth 15 points, for a total of 60 points.
After that first round, losing chefs faced a second challenge cooking classic American dishes like fried chicken, shrimp and grits, clam chowder, and beef stroganoff. Four chefs were eliminated in the premiere episode.
The high stakes are clear: the winner will receive $1 million, one of the largest prizes in culinary TV history.
My Personal Reaction
Even though I am not obsessed with gourmet cuisine, I found the show surprisingly enjoyable.
The chefs are clearly masters of their craft, and watching them cook under pressure is fascinating. The judges are serious but fair, and the production feels polished.
Of course, when I watch these chefs create complicated dishes with truffles, caviar, or sous-vide techniques, I sometimes smile and think about the simple foods I love most, adobo, pancit, and sinigang from the Philippines.
Food competitions may celebrate culinary innovation, but for many of us immigrants, the most meaningful food is still the one that reminds us of home.
✅ Final Thoughts: If the first episode is any indication, America’s Culinary Cup could become one of the most exciting cooking competitions on television. Even for viewers like me who are not culinary experts, it is fun, dramatic, and very watchable.
Meanwhile, My Photo Video of the Day: My New Dance Steps-The David Dance
In life we often hear the saying: “Behind every successful man is a woman.” Today we might say more broadly: behind every successful person is a supportive partner.
There is truth in that. Emotional support, encouragement, and stability at home can make a tremendous difference in a person’s ability to grow professionally.
But there is another truth that is talked about less often.
Behind many successful people is also a mentor.
And in my own life, I learned just how powerful that relationship can be.
The Early Years: Working Without a Guide
During the first twenty years of my professional life, I worked in private industry. I was diligent, responsible, and committed to doing good work. Like many employees, I followed the standard path:
work hard
receive periodic raises
occasionally move up a position
But something was missing.
Looking back now, I realize I did not have a mentor, someone who could guide me, challenge me, and help me see opportunities I might otherwise miss. Without that guidance, my career progressed, but slowly and predictably. I was moving forward, but not necessarily growing to my full potential.
It was not a failure. It was simply a lack of direction.
A Turning Point: Joining the FDA
Everything changed when I joined the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1990.
Soon after I started, I encountered something I had never truly experienced before in my professional life: a mentor.
This person was not just a supervisor issuing assignments. Instead, he was someone who:
took an interest in my professional development
encouraged me to expand my skills
helped me understand the larger mission of our work
trusted me with increasing responsibilities
For the first time in my career, someone was helping me see beyond the job in front of me.
What a Mentor Really Does
A mentor does more than teach procedures or policies. A good mentor helps you:
See possibilities They recognize strengths in you that you may not even see in yourself.
Navigate complex systems Large organizations can be confusing. A mentor helps you understand how decisions are made and how to move forward.
Build confidence Sometimes all a person needs is someone experienced saying, “You’re ready for this.”
Grow into leadership
The Result: A Different Career Path
Once I had that mentorship at the FDA, my professional trajectory changed.
My promotions came more quickly. My responsibilities expanded. I was trusted with larger projects and greater leadership roles.
Eventually I reached the position that would become the peak of my career: Team Leader, a first-line supervisory role.
I held that position until I retired in 2002.
Looking back, I realize that the difference between my first twenty years in industry and my years at the FDA was not just the organization itself.
It was the presence of mentorship.
Reaching the Peak of Competence
There is a concept sometimes referred to as the point where we reach our “peak of competence.”
For me, that point was leading a team. I was comfortable there. I understood the work, the people, and the mission.
Not everyone needs to climb endlessly up the ladder. Sometimes success means reaching the level where your skills, experience, and satisfaction align.
And for me, that level was Team Leader.
Why Mentorship Matters More Than Ever
In today’s fast-moving world, mentorship may be more important than ever.
A mentor can help younger professionals:
avoid common mistakes
develop leadership skills earlier
navigate complex organizations
maintain purpose in their work
And perhaps most importantly, mentorship creates continuity of knowledge, one generation helping the next.
Becoming the Mentor
One of the most meaningful parts of a career is when the roles begin to reverse.
At some point, the person who once needed guidance becomes the person offering it.
That is the quiet cycle of professional life: We are mentored. Then we mentor others.
A Personal Reflection
When I look back on my career, I realize that success rarely happens alone.
Behind success there may be:
a supportive partner
encouraging colleagues
and very often, a mentor who believed in us
In my case, that mentorship changed the direction of my professional life.
It helped me grow faster, lead better, and ultimately retire with the satisfaction that I had reached the best version of my professional self.
And for that, I remain deeply grateful, thankful and blessed.
For my readers around the world: If you are early in your career, seek out a mentor. And if you are already experienced, consider becoming one. Sometimes the greatest legacy we leave behind is not a title or a position but the people we helped guide along the way.
One Year before retirement, I mentored a younger Ph.D under my team leadership. I was not able to continue my mentorship, because I retired when I turned Sixty-Eight in 2002.
Meanwhile, Here's the AI Overview:
Mentoring is fostering genuine human connections that fuel long-term trust and growth. Unlike traditional top-down leadership, effective mentorship often utilizes "quiet coaching," where mentors guide through thoughtful questions and active listening rather than direct instructions. This approach encourages mentees to realize their own answers, navigate key career decision points, and eventually pay that support forward.
Core Attributes of Impactful Mentorship
The most effective mentors possess specific traits that empower their mentees:
Active Listening: Impactful lessons often come from those who take the time to truly hear a mentee's story and see their potential.
Silence as Space: By pausing after asking questions, mentors allow mentees the opportunity to think carefully rather than speaking impulsively.
Psychological Safety: Teams and individuals led by quiet coaches report improved trust and higher levels of independent problem-solving.
Gentle Guidance: Mentoring includes the "gift of time" to provide opportunities, make connections, and offer support while genuinely caring about the mentee's progress.
Strategic Benefits for Professionals
Mentorship is not merely transactional; it reshapes organizational culture and individual trajectories:
Increased Productivity: Studies indicate that teams led by quiet, introspective leaders can drive up to 28% higher productivity, especially when employees are proactive.
Independent Problem Solving: By replacing instructions with prompts (e.g., "What options do you have?"), mentors help mentees develop their own critical thinking skills.
Resilience and Grounding: Mentors model how to remain calm and authentic in the face of external challenges, providing a blueprint for navigating chaos with grace.
Finally, The new American dream, for some of its citizens, is to no longer live there.
Last year the U.S. experienced something that hasn’t definitively occurred since the Great Depression: More people moved out than moved in.
The Trump administration has hailed the exodus, negative net migration as the fulfillment of its promise to ramp up deportations and restrict new visas. Beneath the stormy optics of that immigration crackdown, however, lies a less-noticed reversal: America’s own citizens are leaving in record numbers, replanting themselves and their families in lands they find more affordable and safe.
The U.S. saw 675,000 deportations and 2.2 million “self-deportations” last year, according to data from the Department of Homeland Security.
A Wall Street Journal analysis of 15 countries providing full or partial 2025 data showed that at least 180,000 Americans joined them, a number likely to be far higher when other countries report full statistics.
Across dozens of interviews, U.S. expats described their motivations as a tangle of economic incentives, lifestyle preferences and disenchantment with the trajectory of America, citing violent crime, cost of living and turbulent politics.
California offers numerous stunning spots for wildflower viewing, depending on the season. Here are some top recommendations:
Southern California:
Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve: This reserve near Lancaster is famous for its vibrant orange poppies, typically blooming from late February to May. Don't miss the peak season from mid-March to late April.
Walker Canyon, Lake Elsinore: Known for its legendary super blooms, this spot features orange and purple wildflowers, usually blooming in early March.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: This desert park boasts spectacular displays of wildflowers, including desert marigolds, Biglow's monkeyflowers, and lupines, typically blooming from February to April.
Chino Hills State Park: This park features striking poppy fields and other wildflowers like violet owl clovers and silver lupines, best viewed in March.
Northern California:
Mount Tamalpais State Park: Towering redwoods and vibrant wildflowers, including blue-eyed grass and fairy bells, make this park a must-visit in May.
Mount Diablo State Park: With over 400 species of wildflowers, this park is a haven for nature lovers, typically blooming from February onwards.
Mount Tamalpais State Park: Towering redwoods and vibrant wildflowers, including blue-eyed grass and fairy bells, make this park a must-visit in May.
Mount Diablo State Park: With over 400 species of wildflowers, this park is a haven for nature lovers, typically blooming from February onwards.
Sunol Regional Wilderness: This park features a variety of wildflowers, including royal larkspurs and dove lupines, best seen in spring.
Edgewood County Park and Natural Preserve: This park is home to over 500 distinct species of wildflowers, including rare and endangered ones, blooming in spring .
Other notable mentions:
Carrizo Plain National Monument: Massive, remote wildflower fields with goldfields, phacelia, and poppies, typically blooming from March to April.Torrey
Pines State Natural Reserve: Features coastal wildflowers like wild heliotropes and popcorn flowers.
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve: Known for its breathtaking displays of brilliant wildflowers.
Figueroa Mountain Poppy and Lupine Fields: California poppy and sky lupine blooms from February to April.
Sunol Regional Wilderness: This park features a variety of wildflowers, including royal larkspurs and dove lupines, best seen in spring.
Edgewood County Park and Natural Preserve: This park is home to over 500 distinct species of wildflowers, including rare and endangered ones, blooming in spring .
Other notable mentions:
Carrizo Plain National Monument: Massive, remote wildflower fields with goldfields, phacelia, and poppies, typically blooming from March to April.Torrey
Pines State Natural Reserve: Features coastal wildflowers like wild heliotropes and popcorn flowers.
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve: Known for its breathtaking displays of brilliant wildflowers.
Figueroa Mountain Poppy and Lupine Fields: California poppy and sky lupine blooms from February to April.
Meanwhile, here's the AI Overview on the Above Topic:
Best Spots in California for Wild Flowers Viewing
California's wildflower season for 2026 is currently underway, with peak viewing transitioning from southern desert regions to northern grasslands and higher elevations through the spring
These resources highlight key locations and recommended viewing windows for California's wildflower season:
Meanwhile the AI Overview:
California's wildflower season for 2026 is currently underway, with peak viewing transitioning from southern desert regions to northern grasslands and higher elevations through the spring
