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!

Sunday, May 31, 2020

Roasted Bone Marrow

When I was growing up in the Philippines, once in a while my parents would purchase bone marrow for our dinner(soup). It is one of the dishes, that I loved today.
Here are two photos of this delicious and rich dish( watch out for your cholesterol). 
 
 Here's my favorite recipe:

https://honestcooking.com/prepare-serve-bone-marrow/





Here in Sacramento, Ella Restaurant in downtown Sacramento listed it in their menu as follows:


Thursday, May 28, 2020

My Mini Garden This Year


Cacti in full Bloom-good only for 2 Days

Today, my tomato and pepper plants are starting to bloom. In addition my cacti are in pre-bloom and blooming stages. This year I started germinating ampalaya ( bitter melon ) as well as okra. The following photos need no explanation.

Tomato starting to Flower

Green Pepper starting to Flower
Ampalaya starting to Sprout


Single Cactus Pre-Bloom
 

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Recent Scam E-mails in My Inbox



The last couple of days, I received four e-mails ( same content) from four scammers threatening me that they will send videos of me to my friends and relatives if I do not pay ( bitcoins). I do not have a web cam in my PC, so I know this is a scam. Here's one of the e-mails.

"𝙸 πš”πš—πš˜πš , XXXXXXXX, πš’πšœ πš’πš˜πšžπš› πš™πšŠπšœπšœπš πš˜πš›πš. ( my previous password)

𝙸 πš—πšŽπšŽπš πš’πš˜πšžπš› 𝟷𝟢𝟢% πšŠπšπšπšŽπš—πšπš’πš˜πš— πšπš˜πš› πšπš‘πšŽ πšžπš™ πšŒπš˜πš–πš’πš—πš 𝟸𝟺 πš‘πš˜πšžπš›πšœ, πš˜πš› 𝙸 πš–πšŠπš’ πš–πšŠπš”πšŽ πšœπšžπš›πšŽ 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πšπš‘πšŠπš 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πš•πš’πšŸπšŽ 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚏 πšπšžπš’πš•πš πšπš˜πš› πšπš‘πšŽ πš›πšŽπšœπš 𝚘𝚏 πš’πš˜πšžπš› πšŽπš‘πš’πšœπšπšŽπš—πšŒπšŽ.

π™·πšŽπš•πš•πš˜, 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πšπš˜πš—'𝚝 πš”πš—πš˜πš  πš–πšŽ πš™πšŽπš›πšœπš˜πš—πšŠπš•πš•πš’. π™±πšžπš 𝙸 πš”πš—πš˜πš  πš—πšŽπšŠπš›πš•πš’ πšŠπš—πš’πšπš‘πš’πš—πš πš›πšŽπšπšŠπš›πšπš’πš—πš 𝚒𝚘𝚞. πšˆπš˜πšžπš› πš™πšŽπš›πšœπš˜πš—πšŠπš• πšπš‹ πšŒπš˜πš—πšπšŠπšŒπš πš•πš’πšœπš, πš–πš˜πš‹πš’πš•πšŽ πš™πš‘πš˜πš—πšŽ πšŒπš˜πš—πšπšŠπšŒπšπšœ 𝚊𝚜 πš πšŽπš•πš• 𝚊𝚜 πšŠπš•πš• πšπš‘πšŽ πš˜πš—πš•πš’πš—πšŽ πšŠπšŒπšπš’πšŸπš’πšπš’ πš’πš— πš’πš˜πšžπš› πšŒπš˜πš–πš™πšžπšπšŽπš› πšπš›πš˜πš– πš™πš›πšŽπšŸπš’πš˜πšžπšœ 𝟷𝟻𝟻 𝚍𝚊𝚒𝚜.

π™°πš—πš πšπš‘πš’πšœ πš’πš—πšŒπš•πšžπšπšŽπšœ, πš’πš˜πšžπš› πš–πšŠπšœπšπšžπš›πš‹πšŠπšπš’πš˜πš— πšŸπš’πšπšŽπš˜, πš πš‘πš’πšŒπš‘ πš‹πš›πš’πš—πšπšœ πš–πšŽ 𝚝𝚘 πšπš‘πšŽ πš–πšŠπš’πš— πš–πš˜πšπš’πšŸπšŽ πš πš‘πš’ 𝙸 πšŠπš– πšŒπš›πšŠπšπšπš’πš—πš πšπš‘πš’πšœ πšœπš™πšŽπšŒπš’πšπš’πšŒ πšŽπš–πšŠπš’πš• 𝚝𝚘 𝚒𝚘𝚞.

πš†πšŽπš•πš• πšπš‘πšŽ πš™πš›πšŽπšŸπš’πš˜πšžπšœ πšπš’πš–πšŽ 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πš πšŽπš—πš 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚎𝚎 πšπš‘πšŽ πš™πš˜πš›πš— πš πšŽπš‹ πšœπš’πšπšŽπšœ, πš–πš’ πš–πšŠπš•πš πšŠπš›πšŽ πšŽπš—πšπšŽπš πšžπš™ πš‹πšŽπš’πš—πš πšŠπšŒπšπš’πšŸπšŠπšπšŽπš πš’πš— πš’πš˜πšžπš› πšŒπš˜πš–πš™πšžπšπšŽπš› πš πš‘πš’πšŒπš‘ πšŽπš—πšπšŽ?? πšžπš™ πšœπš‘πš˜πš˜πšπš’πš—πš 𝚊 πš•πš˜πšŸπšŽπš•πš’ πšŸπš’πšπšŽπš˜ 𝚏𝚘𝚘𝚝𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚘𝚏 πš’πš˜πšžπš› πšœπšŽπš•πš πš™πš•πšŽπšŠπšœπšžπš›πšŽ πš™πš•πšŠπš’ πšœπš’πš–πš™πš•πš’ πš‹πš’ πšŠπšŒπšπš’πšŸπšŠπšπš’πš—πš πš’πš˜πšžπš› πš πšŽπš‹ πšŒπšŠπš–πšŽπš›πšŠ.
(𝚒𝚘𝚞 𝚐𝚘𝚝 𝚊 πšœπšŽπš›πš’πš˜πšžπšœπš•πš’ 𝚘𝚍𝚍 𝚝𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎 πš‹πšπš  πš•πš–πšπšŠπš˜)

𝙸 πš‘πšŠπšŸπšŽ 𝚐𝚘𝚝 πšπš‘πšŽ πšπšžπš•πš• πš›πšŽπšŒπš˜πš›πšπš’πš—πš. π™Ήπšžπšœπš πš’πš— 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πšπšŽπšŽπš• 𝙸 'πš– πšπš˜πš˜πš•πš’πš—πš πšŠπš›πš˜πšžπš—πš, πš“πšžπšœπš πš›πšŽπš™πš•πš’ πš™πš›πš˜πš˜πš πšŠπš—πš 𝙸 πš πš’πš•πš• πš‹πšŽ πšπš˜πš›πš πšŠπš›πšπš’πš—πš πšπš‘πšŽ πš™πšŠπš›πšπš’πšŒπšžπš•πšŠπš› πš›πšŽπšŒπš˜πš›πšπš’πš—πš πš›πšŠπš—πšπš˜πš–πš•πš’ 𝚝𝚘 𝟺 πš™πšŽπš˜πš™πš•πšŽ 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πš”πš—πš˜πš .

π™Έπš πšŒπš˜πšžπš•πš πš‹πšŽ πš’πš˜πšžπš› πšπš›πš’πšŽπš—πš, 𝚌𝚘 πš πš˜πš›πš”πšŽπš›πšœ, πš‹πš˜πšœπšœ, πš™πšŠπš›πšŽπš—πšπšœ (𝙸 πšπš˜πš—'𝚝 πš”πš—πš˜πš ! π™Όπš’ πšœπš˜πšπšπš πšŠπš›πšŽ πš™πš›πš˜πšπš›πšŠπš– πš πš’πš•πš• πš›πšŠπš—πšπš˜πš–πš•πš’ πšœπšŽπš•πšŽπšŒπš πšπš‘πšŽ πšŒπš˜πš—πšπšŠπšŒπš πšπšŽπšπšŠπš’πš•πšœ).

πš†πš’πš•πš• 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πš‹πšŽ πšŒπšŠπš™πšŠπš‹πš•πšŽ 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚊𝚣𝚎 πš’πš—πšπš˜ πšŠπš—πš’πš˜πš—πšŽ'𝚜 𝚎𝚒𝚎𝚜 πšŠπšπšŠπš’πš— πšŠπšπšπšŽπš› πš’πš? 𝙸 πššπšžπšŽπšœπšπš’πš˜πš— πšπš‘πšŠπš...

π™½πš˜πš—πšŽπšπš‘πšŽπš•πšŽπšœπšœ, πš’πš 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜 πš—πš˜πš πš—πšŽπšŽπš 𝚝𝚘 πš‹πšŽ πšπš‘πšŠπš 𝚠𝚊𝚒.

𝙸'πš– πšπš˜πš’πš—πš 𝚝𝚘 πš–πšŠπš”πšŽ 𝚒𝚘𝚞 𝚊 πš˜πš—πšŽ πšπš’πš–πšŽ, πš—πš˜πš— πš—πšŽπšπš˜πšπš’πšŠπš‹πš•πšŽ πš˜πšπšπšŽπš›.

π™ΆπšŽπš πš„πš‚π™³ 𝟸𝟢𝟢𝟢 πš’πš— πš‹πš’πšπšŒπš˜πš’πš— πšŠπš—πš πšœπšŽπš—πš πšπš‘πšŽπš– 𝚝𝚘 πšπš‘πšŽ πšπš˜πš πš— πš‹πšŽπš•πš˜πš  πšŠπšπšπš›πšŽπšœπšœ:

1Gyt*SBW7d5nz5EFFuZVvpnoM8uEMmWfjxH
[π™²π™°πš‚π™΄ πš‚π™΄π™½πš‚π™Έπšƒπ™Έπš…π™΄ πšŒπš˜πš™πš’ & πš™πšŠπšœπšπšŽ πš’πš, πšŠπš—πš πš›πšŽπš–πš˜πšŸπšŽ * πšπš›πš˜πš– πš’πš]

(π™Έπš 𝚒𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘 πš—πš˜πš πš”πš—πš˜πš  πš‘πš˜πš , πšπš˜πš˜πšπš•πšŽ πš‘πš˜πš  𝚝𝚘 πšŠπšŒπššπšžπš’πš›πšŽ πš‹πš’πšπšŒπš˜πš’πš—. π™³πš˜ πš—πš˜πš 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎 πš–πš’ πš™πš›πšŽπšŒπš’πš˜πšžπšœ πšπš’πš–πšŽ)

π™Έπš 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πšœπšŽπš—πš 𝚘𝚞𝚝 πšπš‘πš’πšœ πš™πšŠπš›πšπš’πšŒπšžπš•πšŠπš› 'πšπš˜πš—πšŠπšπš’πš˜πš—' (𝚠𝚎 πš πš’πš•πš• πšŒπšŠπš•πš• πš’πš πšπš‘πšŠπš?). πšπš’πšπš‘πš πšŠπšπšπšŽπš› πšπš‘πšŠπš, 𝙸 πš πš’πš•πš• πšπš’πšœπšŠπš™πš™πšŽπšŠπš› πšŠπš—πš πšžπš—πšπšŽπš› πš—πš˜ πšŒπš’πš›πšŒπšžπš–πšœπšπšŠπš—πšŒπšŽπšœ πšŒπš˜πš—πšπšŠπšŒπš 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πšŠπšπšŠπš’πš—. 𝙸 πš πš’πš•πš• πš›πšŽπš–πš˜πšŸπšŽ πšŽπšŸπšŽπš›πš’πšπš‘πš’πš—πš 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚝 πš’πš— πš›πšŽπš•πšŠπšπš’πš˜πš— 𝚝𝚘 𝚒𝚘𝚞. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 πš–πšŠπš’ πšŸπšŽπš›πš’ πš πšŽπš•πš• πšŒπšŠπš›πš›πš’ πš˜πš— πš•πš’πšŸπš’πš—πš πš’πš˜πšžπš› πšŒπšžπš›πš›πšŽπš—πš πš˜πš›πšπš’πš—πšŠπš›πš’ 𝚍𝚊𝚒 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚊𝚒 πš•πš’πšπšŽ πš πš’πšπš‘ πš—πš˜ πšŒπš˜πš—πšŒπšŽπš›πš—πšœ.

𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚟𝚎 𝟷 𝚍𝚊𝚒 πš’πš— πš˜πš›πšπšŽπš› 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚘 𝚜𝚘. πšˆπš˜πšžπš› πšπš’πš–πšŽ πšœπšπšŠπš›πšπšœ 𝚊𝚜 πšœπš˜πš˜πš— 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πš›πšŽπšŠπš πšπš‘πš›πš˜πšžπšπš‘ πšπš‘πš’πšœ 𝚎-πš–πšŠπš’πš•. 𝙸 πš‘πšŠπšŸπšŽ πšŠπš— πšžπš—πš’πššπšžπšŽ πš™πš›πš˜πšπš›πšŠπš– 𝚌𝚘𝚍𝚎 πšπš‘πšŠπš πš πš’πš•πš• πšπšŽπš•πš• πš–πšŽ πš˜πš—πšŒπšŽ 𝚒𝚘𝚞 𝚐𝚘 πšπš‘πš›πš˜πšžπšπš‘ πšπš‘πš’πšœ 𝚎 πš–πšŠπš’πš• 𝚜𝚘 𝚍𝚘 πš—πš˜πš πšπš›πš’ 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚌𝚝 πšœπš–πšŠπš›πš".

Meanwhile, enjoy this photo from my file:
Our lighted swimming Pool on a warm night


Example of Scam Letters

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Binge on the TV Series, Outlander, Season 1 to 5

Bored on Staying Home? Binge on the TV Series-Outlander!

I just finished watching Season 5 of the TV series- Outlander ( Starz). I enjoyed it so much that I am highly recommending this Series in case you have not viewed it. Season 1 to 3 is available in Netflix and Season 4 and 5 in the Starz  Channel. Season 6 is on the planning stage. Here's a summary of this series from Wikipedia.   

Outlander is a historical drama television series based on the novel series of the same name by Diana Gabaldon. Developed by Ronald D. Moore, the show premiered on August 9, 2014, on Starz. It stars Caitriona Balfe as Claire Randall, a married former World War II nurse who in 1945 finds herself transported back to Scotland in 1743. There she encounters the dashing Highland warrior Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) and becomes embroiled in the Jacobite risings. The first season of the television series is based on the first novel in the series, Outlander (also known as Cross Stitch).

The second season of 13 episodes, based on Dragonfly in Amber, aired from April to July 2016.

The 13-episode third season, based on Voyager, aired from September to December 2017.

The 13-episode fourth season, based on Drums of Autumn, aired from November 2018 to January 2019.

The fifth season of 12 episodes, based on The Fiery Cross, aired from February to May 2020. The series is renewed for a 12-episode sixth season to be based on A Breath of Snow and Ashes.

For details, awards and critics reviews read:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outlander_(TV_series)

 Meanwhile enjoy this from my file:


Thursday, May 14, 2020

It is Better to Give than to Receive


At the beginning of 2020, and at the start of the Covid-19 Pandemic, and until today, some of my FaceBook friends who adore Trump, commented that I get a life and stop all the nonsense to my sharing of articles, news and jokes of the Chaotic Leadership of our Stable Genius King DJT in handling this pandemic.

I have not responded to these comments ( posted in my blogs just recently), but it reminded me of the following article I posted a couple of years ago that sometimes it is better to give than receive. I am reposting it today in case you have not read it! You can give money, property or your time and expertise!

The first three in the list were my donations and the last one is from my mother, Paz Barrido Balleza Katague( Deceased) of Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, Philippines.

The DONOR WALL OF GRATITUDE

1. Money: Last May 7, 2014, Renan del Rosario, 1977 chemistry graduate and currently one of the advisers of the University of the Philippines Chemistry Alumni Foundation (UPCAF) treated me with a personal tour of the new Institute of Chemistry Teaching Building at the UP Diliman National Science Complex. It was one of the highlights of my 90-day snow birding sojourn in the Philippines three years ago. I was able to take photographs of the Donor Wall which included my name(see photo above). The Donor Wall is right at the entrance of the teaching building just by the side of the guard podium. That day reminded me of my student and teaching days (1952 to 1959) at the College of Chemistry now known as the Institute of Chemistry. I was only 24 years old when I first taught chemistry to pre-medical, nursing, and engineering students in the Fall of 1957.

Currently, I am a Life Member of the University of the Philippines Chemistry Alumni Foundation. I graduated from UP with a B.S. Chemistry degree in 1955. Immediately after graduation, I was appointed Assistant Instructor in Chemistry in my Alma Mater. A year later after I passed the National Chemistry Board Examination coping 3rd place, I was appointed to Instructor and held that position until 1959 when I decided to pursue graduate work in the United States.


The construction of a National Science Complex in Diliman, Quezon City started a few years ago which included a new Teaching Building for Chemistry. The first phase of government Funding was 200 million pesos and the second phase was 118 million pesos.

In the Fall of 2013, I had the opportunity to visit the construction site through the kindness of Renan Del Rosario, the Chairman of the UPCAF Board of Trustees that year. Fund raisings for furniture in the new building were undergoing also that year. That year, I also donated to the Foundation 10,000 pesos ( about $200) through Renan. I felt good about that donation. It was my way of saying thank you for the educational benefits that I had received from the University of the Philippines.( See my name listed in the Donor Wall in the above photo).


2. Property: Sometime in the middle of May, 1990, I donated several volumes of technical journals from the duplicate copies from Stauffer Chemical library that were about to be burned and discarded. I was able to salvage several volumes of hard bound copies of Journal of Chromatography, 1971-1976. Also included in my donation were dozens of volumes of hardbound copies of BioChemistry ,1969-1984. The value of the donation was about $1500. Shipping was arranged through the Commission on Filipinos Overseas ( CFO). On May 23, 1990, I received a thank you letter from Alfredo Perdon, Executive Director of CFO,as follows:

Dear Dr. Katague:

The Commission on Filipino Overseas acknowledge with thanks the donation of five boxes of technical journals to the Institute of Chemistry, University of the Philippines.

Your donation is a manifestation of the willingness of Filipino overseas to be actively involved in the development efforts of the country. Such participation through the Commission's “ Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino” or “ Linkapil” likewise serves to strengthen the linkages between Filipinos overseas and their countrymen.

Needless to say, these books will be a most welcome addition to the journal collection of the UP College of Science Library and will certainly be useful to the thousands of students in the said university. Best Regards and thanks you again for your donation.”


3. Time and Expertise: In January, 1986, I participated in the United Nations Development Program at the University of the Philippines in Diliman. The program was for two weeks of consultancy ( lecture and management of research) at the U.P. Natural Sciences Research Institute( NSRI). My round trip fare was paid by UN and I also received a substantial amount of per diem during my consultancy period of two weeks. It was satisfying to give at least two weeks of my "Know-how" to my Alma Mater. The program at that time was called TOKTEN ( Transfer of Knowledge through Expatriate Nationals). Today, it is called Balik scientist program. The program helps in the alleviation of "Brain Drain" from 3rd world countries like the Philippines. This experience made me feel good, because I have given back to my alma mater, even just two weeks of my time in the field of pesticide research and analytical residues method development.


4. Property: In the early 1950's my mother Paz Balleza Katague donated a piece of land (about 15,000 sq.meters) for the Barotac Viejo National High School, Iloilo, Philippines. The photo above is my sister (Amor Gregorio) and me posing in front of the sign at entrance of the school listing the names of the Donors. The biggest lot was from my uncle, Jose Balleza, older brother of my mother.

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Trump Lovers Reaction in MY FaceBook Page


For the last couple of months, I had been sharing in my FaceBook Page, some of articles, jokes and news about Trump and his handling of the covid-19 pandemic.  I have shared more than 15 articles and here's a few comments from Trump Lovers/Idolators/Supporters.

1. You anti Trump crowd automatically takes the opposite of his positions. He is our president/leader. Look up the long list of his accomplishments. Are you brave enough to acknowledge it? I doubt it. He is the best president we've had in a long time. Four more years !

2. I pity you DK, you should be ashame of yourself!

3. Get a Life!

4. Stopped this Nonsense 

5. Fake News!

6. Why? It is sad!

7. He saved thousands of unborn children!

The #3 comment was from a friend who died of heart attack 2 days after posting his comment. I hope the anti-Trump article from CNN was not the trigger.
My  Favorite Joke of the Decade

I do not answer to the above comments. However,  the more comments I received the more anti-Trump articles or jokes I will share in my FB page. 

Meanwhile enjoy this photo from my picture window I took the other day! 



Romancing the Virus

Friday, May 8, 2020

Today is Our 63rd Wedding Anniversary



No big celebration/party today unlike our 25th, 50th, 55th and 60th wedding anniversaries. Just a lobster dinner and champagne with David III. However, on this occasion. I am reposting my article from my Hubpages Account published during our 55th and updated during our 60th anniversary-three years ago.

https://letterpile.com/memoirs/our-love-story-our-coming-55th-wedding-
50th Wedding Anniversary, Chateau Du Mer, Marinduque, Philippines

*Personal Note: Jean Jambalos Maeda, Macrine's sister surprised us with Star Bread, Mango cake, Chicken tinola and flowers(for Mother's Day) today. Thank you, Jean for your thoughtfulness. 

Friday, May 1, 2020

The Month of May in the Philippines

Macrine and I dancing the Rigodon de Honor during the May Flower Ball and Dance culminating the whole Month of May Celebration of Flores de Mayo in the Philippines.

Today is May 1. It reminded me of an article I wrote 3 years ago on the month of May in the Philippines. I am reposting it case you have not read it!

"
Today is the start of the May Flowers Festival or the Flores de Mayo Festival in the Philippines. This Festival lasting for the whole month is in honor of Mary, the Virgin Mother. This is celebrated in all the towns in the Roman Catholic parish churches in the Philippines. However, the celebration of this Festival that I will always remember are the celebrations in my hometown in Iloilo when I was growing up and the one in Marinduque a few years ago when my mother-in-law was the Hermana. The Hermana was the over-all chairperson for the whole month of festivities which included a daily offering of flowers to the Virgin Mary along with the recitation of the Rosary. The month is culminated with a Parade and Dance participated by the whole town. During the Gala Dance, the Rigodon de Honor is danced by the prominent officials and matrons of the town.

The Santacruzan refers to the pageant on the last day of Flores de Mayo, held in honor of Reyna Elena and Constantine finding the True Cross in Jerusalem.

The following video reminds me of my childhood years in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo when My late mother was also very active with our local parish church.


The Sagala A Sagala is a religio-historical beauty pageant held in many cities, towns, and even in small communities throughout the Philippines during the month of May. One of the most colorful aspects of this festival, the pageant depicts the finding of the Holy Cross by Queen Helena, mother of Constantine the Great. Many movie and television personalities participate in the events and are featured in major sagala. This festival was introduced by the Spaniards and has since become part of Filipino traditions identified with youth, love, and romance. Prior to the Santacruzan, a novena is held in honor of the Holy Cross.

The procession itself commemorates the search of the Holy Cross by Reyna Elena and her son, the newly-converted emperor Constantine. After the Holy Cross was found in Jerusalem and brought back to Constantinople, there was a joyful celebration for thanksgiving.
Reyna Elena
Reyna ElΓ©na (Queen Helena) - the last member of the procession, she represents Helena of Constantinople who found the True Cross; this is alluded to by her attribute, a small cross or crucifix that she carries in her arms. This considerably prestigious role is usually awarded to the most beautiful girl participating in the pageant. In some communities, the identity of the woman who will portray the Reyna ElΓ©na is kept a secret until the day of the procession. ConstantΓ­no - the escort of Reyna ElΓ©na; traditionally a young boy representing the Emperor Constantine.

The procession is accompanied by the steady beat of the rondalla, playing and singing the Hail Mary ("Dios Te Salve"). The devotees walking with the procession hold lighted candles in their hands and sing the prayer as they go along.

After the procession, there is a pabΓ­tin that serves as a culminating activity for all the children to enjoy. A PabΓ­tin is a square trellis to which goodies (candies, fruits, small trinkets, etc.) are tied with strings. This trellis in turn is tied to a rope and is suspended on a strong branch or pole. Children then gather under the trellis as the it is slowly lowered. They then jump as high as they can to try to pick the goodies while someone jerks it up and down repeatedly until all the goodies are gone. It is customary for males attending the Santa Cruzan wear the traditional Barong Tagalog and that the females wear any Filipiniana-inspired dress. Pabitin is similar to the Mexican celebration of the Pinata.

This year celebration of the Flores de Mayo in the Philippines will probably be not as festive and peaceful because of the election on May 13. I just hope there will be no killings, murder and goons activities related to the election. But realizing the history of the elections in the Philippines dominated by family dynasties, vote buying, corrupt and greedy politicians, it will be a miracle if no killings will occur this month. I am praying and hoping for a peaceful election this year particularly in my second home-the beautiful and scenic island of Marinduque ".
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