Our Arrival in the United States

 Mila and I arrived in the States at different dates.I arrived first, on Dec.29, 1968 while Mila arrived 3 months later on March 11, 1969. San Francisco is our both Port of Entry.

Going Back To Memories

 Before we got married and  when we were still dating.

Our college graduation pictures.

Going Back To Memories

 December 24, 1968 -  Our Wedding Day

At St. Andrews the Apostle Church, Bel-Air Makati, Philippines. A simple wedding that Mila and I decided, officiated by her uncle, Monsignor Emilio Bularan and attended by close relatives only.

Mila was 24 and I was 27. We met at work at Philippine Refining Company in March 1965. She was working as Chemist at the Main Laboratory and I as Supervisor at the Quality Control Dept. It was a 3-year courtship with some ups and downs, but ultimately love prevailed !

Happy, Healthy New Year 2021 !!

 1-2-2021  Happy, Healthy New Year 2021 !!

I'm glad Year 2020 is over but the pandemic is still with us, and in fact in it's raging mode ! We haven't seen our 3 grandchildren from Little Rock since Christmas of 2019. Even our granddaughter Payton here in Dallas, we see here maybe once a month. Here is the Christmas card we sent our friends and relatives. The picture of Mila and me was still from December 2018, our 50th Anniversary in Barcelona, because we did not have time to "pose" together. 

March 4, 2016 - At 75, Three Quarters of a Century

On Being 75  !!!

On this 75th birthday of mine, we were on flight to London with Mila and a friend. Last year, Mila asked me what I want for my 75th birthday and without hesitations, I responded that I want to see and visit London, Paris & Rome.
This birthday brings with it mixed emotions and lot of memories.

Most people have two or three birthdays in their lifetime that stand out. I've had three; at 28, when I became a father. Having a child entailed a lot of responsibilities, not to mention sleepless nights when your kids are little. At 65 when I retired, when even after three months, you're still making a lot of adjustments, i.e. like waking up in the morning and no more job to go to. Eventually, I realized that actually this is a good time in my life to spend with my wife the years to come.

At 75, it's really with mixed emotions, having felt I have lived life to the fullest and still with good health to enjoy even more years. Our two children have their own families and the four grandchildren are giving my wife and me enormous joys and happiness and that give us incentives to enjoy life even more.

At 75, I am filled with gratitude for the many blessings and a joy for life's victories already accomplished and now I can celebrate again, again and again  !!!

8-7-14 Our Beloved Baxter Went to Rest !!

Aug.7,2014- A Very Sad Day- Our Beloved Baxter Went to Rest !!

      Baxter was just a month short of his 17th birthday when he went to rest. Mila and I missed him so much. He was a very loyal companion.

In above picture, he will not stay put, so I have to pin him between my two legs. At age 2 to 6, his most notable act when he was playing with me was, he will bite on his rope, I will raise it up in the air with him hanging onto it. That's how strong were his teeth were !! He was a very smart dog. Actually he was Ana's dog, when Ana was in Texas Tech in Lubbock. Ana and her friends found him as a 6-month old puppy, left at the apartment building. He was already house broken. Ana taught him to ring a small bell, when he wanted to go out to do his "business". After 8 months, when Ana became very busy at school then we took Baxter home. Baxter is a mixed Dachshund/Beagle.

When I give him treat for being a good boy, I will command him to roll over. But when he saw a treat in my hand, without me telling to roll over, he will do it right away so he can get the treat sooner.

He was a well-traveled dog. He was always with Mila and me whenever we visited Ana and family. He had been to Huntington, West Virginia where Ryan was born. When Trey was born in 2007, we traveled to Louisville,Kentucky.

He was always well until 2010, when he was diagnosed with nerve sheath tumor in his front right armpit. The tumor grew to a golf ball size when he had surgery. A year later, the tumor showed up again and he had surgery. In 2013, when the tumor recurred, we decided and the vet agreed that he was getting old for a 3rd surgery. All this time, his appetite and well-being were alright, which we thought will last "forever".

In 2014, was when we noticed that old age was now with him. He started developing severe arthritis and medication kept him going although his gaits were now slowing. Then he was diagnosed with a leaky valve in his heart, when he was coughing . 

On Aug.7, 2014, with the advise of his longtime vet, we decided to let Baxter "go to rest". Mila and I had a very hard time accepting this decision, but we cannot bear to see him suffering anymore.

Baxter, you had been a loyal companion to us for 16 years !!! You rest now buddy !!!

2014- New Year and New Happenings

January 5,2014-  Our Myka turned 4 years old.

April 21-25,2014-  Barkada Reunion2 at Las Vegas.

This time only 3 of us made it, Ted Medel/Carmen,Tessie Centeno/ Caloy and me/ Mila. We stayed at Luxor Hotel. We still had a good time.