Dear Loved Ones,

            Pleasant Greetings from SAC, CA, USA! The month passed swiftly with hectic summer events around the Sacramento area with family and friends amid the intermittent hot and cold climates – Much Thanks GOD for all the Blessings!

In church were 1^st Communion activities, ordination of 3 new priests and several deacons including 2 Filipinos, Graduation activities, Mass celebration and potluck dinner on the Feast of our Opus Dei St. Jose Maris Escriva, fulfilling my Eucharistic Minister schedule, commitment to my Adoration Chapel duties, and many more contemplative missions. From the break of our Bible Study classes, I moved on to the St. Vincent de Paul ministry, doing charitable work.

I got invited to attend the breakfast meeting of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) at Denny’s Natomas, 3^rd Saturday of the month. Some members came all the way from San Francisco. The group seemed interesting and I intend to attend their monthly meetings. I met some younger friends from Rancho Cordova so that motivates me to carry on.

Sean and I enjoyed picking Peaches fruits, produce from our backyard tree, so many of them and so sweet. We also got upgrades for his truck: covers at the back to improve fuel mileage efficiency and bed / tailgate at Line-X; likewise, additional home furniture / accessories from Naturwood which went on sale.

On our Pinas side, Gerry is scheduled for an executive check-up next week and we pray that everything goes well, in preparation for our Pinas reunion next month. As senior citizens, we just have to be careful with our health and pray to enjoy more fruitful years ahead!

With the inauguration of our new officials in Pinas, we are hopeful that Peace and Prosperity will continue to reign and with the cooperation of all leaders, GOD will continue to bless our country! On the other hand, it seems that that the U.S. situation is going the other way, turning into a banana republic with the recent FBI decision to leave Hilary free from all her wrongdoings. We should learn from the decision of British BREXIT to minimize the influence of ISIS immigration, just like what Norwegians had decided for so long – avoiding membership to the EURO zone – maintaining its independence. Oh well, because they can afford to be independent and stand alone, being rich!

Other highlights of the month:

·      My sister and her husband, who are in their senior years, had some medical health issues, and needed some help; I am happy to provide assistance in any way I can, since their children are far from them. Anyway, their daughter called me to give attention to them, especially in this year of mercy and compassion;

·      Sean has always been on field work  to San Diego and San Francisco, so I get to enjoy driving his Chevy truck and my BMW; likewise attending to their preventive maintenance programs;

·      Had my regular blood chemistry tests, and everything seems normal thanks GOD! Continue with some medication, normal diet and regular exercise!

·      Movies watched – Me Before You, a heartwarming British drama that left the audience crying at the end; Now You see Me 2;  The Shallows, starring Blake (a lesson on knowledge and skills on evaluating Risk Management); Central Intelligence (starring Dwayne Johnson (amazing how he doesn’t age, still looks young after all these years); Independence Day 2;

Much love and Best Regards!!!

SUSAN BG

Dear Loved Ones,

            Pleasant Greetings from SAC, CA! Hope you had a meaningful Memorial day week-end, expressing gratitude to the people defending our freedom and democracy; marking the end of spring and the start of summer, turning on the Cool in our A/C system; the month of Mama Mary – celebrating the Flores de Mayo!

The month of May is dedicated to Mama Mary offering more Rosaries and flowers, receiving the Eucharist more often. On our Opus Dei group, I took care of arrangements for our venue, ensuring that the Recollection activities went smoothly; attendance was good. On our Bible study group, we culminated our topics on Bishop Robert Barron’s Untold Blessing - Three Paths to Holiness: Finding the Center, Knowing You are a Sinner, and Your Life is Not About You!  The discussions and sharing were personal and interesting!

On Mother’s Day, Sean gifted me to shop at Rack’s Nordstrom where I got 2 dresses and heeled shoes by Ivanka Trump. We continue to discover new restaurants every week, the latest is the Japanese Salt Sushi where they offered delicious baked scallops, grilled yellowfin fish, ramen; and the service was superb – highly recommended! Likewise, Sean and I scouted for a vehicle to replace his Nissan car which turned out to be a ‘lemon’, and we ended up bringing home a new red 2016 Chevy Colorado 1500 truck. Since I am used to driving truck in Pinas, Sean assigned me to break-in his truck for the standard 1^st 500 miles, so I am driving around in a macho-looking truck.

On our Pinas side, Gerry just arrived from a 5-days business trip to Japan, and is now back the very busy work – much Thanks GOD! We continue to pray for the success of our Pinas reunion – good health, fair weather, safety and protection for everyone!

I am hopeful for the Pinas election results: people got the president Duterte they wanted, and my VP Leni Robredo won; the balance would be interesting! The U.S. upcoming elections is exciting as Donald Trump is the last man standing in the GOP side while Clinton is still battling it over with Sanders. Sean and I had completed and sent back our primary ballots; as Republicans, we went for the one who will make America great again!

 

Other highlights of the month:

·      I am so glad that Fr. Cormac called me to ask if I had something to send for Pinas since he was visiting on June 6. It was an answered prayer as I wanted to send some medicine/ vitamins for my Gerry. Actually, he was not feeling well the past days and advised to take some medication. So, I sent 3 bottles through Fr. Cormac to be given to his nephew to bring to FSAC office. Much Thanks Fr. Cormac!

·      Sean is involved in a challenging court case in the agency he was auditing, in addition to his regular and field works; he had 4-days off this week as he had his Friday RDO and the long-weekend holidays!

·      Had my regular blood chemistry tests, and everything seems normal thanks GOD! Continue with some medication, normal diet and regular exercise!

·      The critical communications with Pinas banking contacts had been resolved, and we are now back to normal, complying with all the legal standards on  global monetary transactions;

·      Movies watched – ‘Capt. America – Civil Wars’ featuring the Avengers; Money Monsters, starring Jack O’donell, Julai Roberts; and X-men – The Apocalypse;

Much love and Best Regards!!!

SUSAN BG

Dear Loved Ones,

            Pleasant Greetings from SAC, CA, I've been kept busy in the USA; We are now in the middle of spring, cold in the mornings, warm at noontime, then cool in the evenings; however, there are days when the mornings are chilly with strong gusty winds; oh well, Much thanks GOD for all the Blessings!

I had been kept busy attending to my commitments – at home, in church, social ad community, continued visiting ‘doors of churches’, fulfilling corporal and spiritual works of Mercy, consistent with the recommendations of Pope Francis. I spent more time with my sister / family, lunch with them. Recently, when she was hospitalized at Mercy San Juan, visited her and cooked ‘arroz caldo’ for her as she requested. It was such nice happy feeling doing kindness for others, Thanks GOD!

Our planned Pinas reunion is smoothly going on and I enjoin family members to continue praying for its effective implementation, especially for good health, safety and protection for everyone.

I am immersed in the monitoring of two elections – Pinas and USA. Sean and I had completed and sent our ballots to the Pinas Consulate (must be in before May 9). I know we chose the winners: RORO for President and Vice President, 12 senators, and ANGKLA (No. 43) for party-list to support the concerns of Pinas Shipping industry. As to the US elections, I am stressed whenever the media on TV discuss about convention / electoral rules so I minimize watching TV, except when Donald Trump is on. I truly want to make AMERICA great again! 

Other highlights of the month:

·      On our Tuesday Bible study Group, we are discussing Bishop Robert Barron’s UNTOLD BLESSING, Three Paths to Holiness. These are: Finding the Center – JESUS, Knowing You Are a Sinner, and Your Life is not about YOU!

·      Sean had been on field work for longer period of time: 1 week in SFO, 1 week in San Diego, several days in Reno, and neighboring cities: living his American dream being young, male, and single, enjoying the perks and hard work!

·      Visited my primary care physician for the periodic medical, physical check-up to ensure that everything is functioning well, together with the normal diet and regular exercise!

·      Also resumed my Opus Dei activities, and updates with my convert friend Hanh. She is having some crisis in her family life and relationships; thus, asking / needing more prayers;

·      I had some critical decisions to make this month on my membership with Opus Dei whether I proceed to the next level of being a Supernumerary, and GOD helped me to discern that I had a special calling in life – to maintain my present balance of being wife, mother, grandmother, and my career in the international shipping business GOD gave us to help our countrymen families in Pinas. Much Thanks for the guidance!

·      The critical communications with Pinas banking contacts had been resolved, and we are now back to normal, complying with all the legal standards on  global monetary transactions;

·      Movies watched – ‘The Huntsman’, a dark movie starring Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Thieron, Emily Blunt, Jessica Chastain; and the 2 main characters were named Sarah and Eric; and The Jungle Book – full of life wisdom and common sense.

Much love and Best Regards!!!

SUSAN BG

Dear Loved Ones,

            Pleasant Greetings from Manila, Philippines (until March 6), before I went back to SAC, CA, USA! Likewise, Much Thanks GOD for the smooth PAL plane ride Manila to SFO, fetched by my loving son Sean. So wonderful to have such supportive family wherever I go, enjoying travels at this life phase!

Back to my American lifestyle, immersed in housework, ironing of clothes, gym activities, church rituals, catch up with TV shows, car maintenance, bill payments, and many more. The following day, Sean had to leave for L.A. for a week for Auditor work so I had a quiet contemplative ambience transitioning in America.

Our next agenda is our family reunion in Pinas in August 2016, so I started coordinating with Sarah to book our plane flights for the trip. We have to plan in such a way that Sean and I will arrive ahead of her and MAX in Pinas, then leave there later than them. Our reunion includes side trips to other destinations such as Bohol, hotel bookings, and many more, courtesy of their generous father – with lots of PRAYERS, we plan well, and let GOD do the rest, AMEN!

Other highlights of the month:

·      The 1^st Tuesday, I re-joined my EPIC Bible Study group where I was able to catch up with 2 more sessions before we went on recess for Holy Week. We will have another topic by Fr. Robert Barron on April 12;

·      On Sean’s RDO, we visited our Tax accountant to file for his 2016 returns, and Sean is expected to get a hefty refund, with myself listed as his dependent;

·      As preparation for Lent, Sean and I visited recommended pilgrimage churches with its Year of Mercy doors marked, among them, Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center, St. John Vianney Church, Holy Family Church, St. Mel Church, St. Rose Church, St. Joseph Church, Presentation of our Lady Church. This also served as our traditional Visita Iglesia in Pinas. So fulfilling mortification!

·      March 25 (Good Friday) was Sean’s birthday and he was out of town, so we had his birthday celebration on Easter Sunday. I attended all the Holy Week tradition activities at St. Mel’s on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, like live Stations of the Cross by the students – so moving! The Glorious Resurrection Sunday was followed by a movie ‘Batman vs. Superman, the Dawn of Future Past’, then birthday lunch!

·      Also resumed my Opus Dei activities, and updates with my convert Hanh on Good Friday;

·      Had some critical communications with Pinas contacts due to the recent dollar scam scandal involving RCBC official on the hacking of a big amount from a Bangladesh bank. They are now imposing strict measures on movement of global transfers. One has to be very careful on international wire money transfers transactions;

·      Movies also watched – ‘Allegiant’, the 3^rd book. Also resumed my Adoration chapel commitments and the reading of spiritual books, and Library duties;

·      I am so saddened by the death of Mother Angelica, founder of EWTN, and I join millions worldwide mourning for the loss. But, as Pope Francis said, since she left on Easter Sunday, she is now surely in heaven, AMEN! I am close following all the EWTN programs on her life, and accomplishments – such a role MODEL!!!

Much love and Best Regards!!!

SUSAN BG