Dear Loved Ones,

Pleasant Greetings from Sacramento, CA! Glad to have settled back after my month-long holiday in Pinas (Feb. 21 – Mar. 21), and thank God for the memorable experiences, reconnecting with family and friends, beautiful memories, and accomplishing most of the objectives set for the trip!

On our monthly Catholic Lunch Club held on March 19 at the Radisson, the guest speaker was Patrick Coffin, Host of Catholic Answers Live. While I was absent, my friend provided me an update on the talk. Mr. Coffin brought the audience for a bracing ride across the landscape of the Catholic sexual ethic. He examined the topic from a wide array of angles with humor and enthusiasm – and with a total absence of moralizing. Human life – What does the Church really teach? It was very interesting how he presented Pope Paul’s landmark encyclical, whether you were for it or reject it.

Dateline Pinas: As continuation of my Pinas sojourn, following were part of my hectic activities:

Mar. 1 – Spent the day at Fairview Shipping office, updating on emails, completing/ sending out my Feb journal, attending to business matters, filed for retirement from Pag-ibig (2^nd time around), etc;

Mar. 2 – Applied for and got my Sr. Citizen card at the Q.C. Hall in order to avail of discounts such as free movies, and 20% discount on most anything. Likewise, had a meeting with Atty. Joseph Entero who was busy for his 50^th golden day;

Mar. 3 – Appointment with my dentist Dr. Ariel S.; Gerry and I went to Lunch at the BlockSM with classmate Sally and mutual friends Pablo Golecruz and wife Nice (Sally’s HS bf). We last saw Pablo as our cord-wedding sponsor in June 1974; now based in USA,he was also Gerry’s classmate & CE UST graduate and here to file for retirement too, what a small world!

Mar. 4 – Lunch-Meeting at Via Mare with Nordic VSC Board Arlene, Ozone, Gerry. Business and personal updates: Arlene is blooming in her lovelife with Norconsult based in Baguio, Ozone, a top SN Aboitiz honcho plans to be in Australia; the world is wide open out there!

By 4:00pm, I had dinner with kumare Cora who was celebrating her birthday, at Banana Leaf, NEDSA; we both availed of our Sr. discounts;

Mar. 5 – At FSAC office for more business updates;

Mar. 6 & 7 – more week-end activities in church, movies, malls, and eat-outs in Fairview;

Mar. 8 – With Gerry, to Bohol via PAL, stayed at Kuya Rudy’s place, visited other relatives;

Mar 9 – 11 – Started days walking by the seashore, went to Mass, then more walking / breathing in fresh air / clearing up the lungs / savoring in favorite sceneries of my childhood (bancas floating along the sea / fishermen bringing in fresh catches / wind rushing through tree leaves; afternoons, went to Tagbilaran – indulged in therapeutic Nuga-best Korean body Massage (did during our entire stay); Kuya’s amenities include ‘magic jack’ so I talked with Sean and Sarah (both in U.S.) on phone easily; high-tech talaga!

Mar 12 – Went on Loboc River Cruise, dinner at floating resto, danced with children along the cruise, culminated with concert of the (Australia / China government-funded) Loboc Youth Ambassador Band (6:00-10:30pm), amazing experience!

Mar 13 – Alona Beach Night Strip (set-up is like the French Riviera): Live bands by the beach, buffet dinner, painting / tattoo artists, while Gerry went night swimming in the beach. Colorful sceneries! There are Internet Cafes, BPI Bank branch, eCasino, Travel agencies, 5-story hotels, etc. I could not imagine these modern amenities available here now – Panglao is so progressive, with so many European, Asian tourists around, many have settled here!

Mar 14 – After fulfilling my Sunday obligations and watching Pacquiao fight, went to my Kuya-owned Panglao Cockpit Arena, to satisfy my lifetime curiosity. From Spanish tradition, ‘sabong’ is a male Filipino passion (now include females). Gerry explained the excitement/intensity/shouting involved in the game. It seems that all the town males, including foreigners (Germans, Japanese, etc.) were in that area, with their cars and motorcycles (3 – 7pm), completing 50 sultadas. Seeing all the peso (1,000s, 500s) bills flying around after each round, Gerry estimated there was half a million economy circulating that afternoon – the most honest game. Awesome experience, but with all the smoking and beer-guzzling, it’s not for me!

Mar 15 – As I attended to family matters regarding soil properties, Gerry with Efren, went dolphin-watching and island hopping (Balicasag and others). He truly enjoyed the entertainment by seamen families we had helped; ‘nabayot’ expressing their appreciation.

May 16-17 – Conferred with lawyer, relatives, and continued with our Panglao, Bohol beautiful experiences!

Mar 18 – 21 – Back in Manila, continued meeting with friends, Grace at UP for Sarah’s TOR.

Lunch with my kumare Tess Santiago, who just returned from a vacation in Australia with husband Chito; culminated with her pasalubong shopping at Landmark for me. Thanks so much! Back to Sac on the 21^st via Delta, thank GOD!

Mar 25 – Sean’s Birthday- Lunch @ Mizu and dinner @ home with family and friends.

I am looking forward to join the International Business Experience trip of my MBA students to Europe on April 10-24, 2010. Itinerary includes visit to London, Brussels (EU Headquarters, US Comps.(Xerox, TNBEV, P & G), Frankfurt, Koblenz, Rudesheim (EU Central Bank, Deutche Boerse), Berlin, Potsdam, etc.

Attached are 4 photos of my Pinas and Bohol trips. Let us continue to pray for our country and people. Peace and Joy to You and God Bless Us All!

Much love and Best Regards!!!

SUSAN BG