Dear loved ones,

            Pleasant Greetings from Manila, Philippines! A week after my New Jersey sojourn and back in SAC, CA, I flew directly to Manila by PAL105 from San Francisco on October 8, then settled at my El Jerdin del Presidente 9J condo unit with the best balcony view of Bohol Ave. (Sgt. Esguerra), QC, especially with its active nightlife scenes.

The following days were a series of meet-ups with friends and relatives over lunches and dinners, and catching up on free movies like The Kingsman, Seven Sundays, Last Night, and Thor (The Ragnarok); meeting with Architects couple Tess and Chito Santiago for the floor plans of our proposed 5-storeys building on Padre Faura St. (near Paco Park) for expansion of our business operations. To help negotiations on this project are our lawyer Atty. Salian and CPA Ms. Doray for a business meeting over lunch at the new Ceda Vertis Hotel located at the Ayala complex, QC. In that area too, inside Landmark in Trinoma, I discovered the Out Mary Mother of Hope Chapel, which became my refuge / hang-out place attending the daily 11:30 AM Mass, then after praying at the Adoration Chapel. Many of my local friends are amazed how I discovered the Church (it is so huge) they did not know existed. It was opened only in late May 2017, so everything is modern, cold, comfortable pews, and state-of-the-art audio / video amenities. I feel so blessed to become part of the congregation!!! M y regular eating places after Mass is Via Mare, Italiani’s, or French Baker.

One of my missions is to accompany my husband Gerry to the U.S. Embassy to give up his Green card, to change for a Non-Immigrant U.S. visa. He was the only person seeking that status, that the clerk made sure to ask: “Are you willing to give up the benefits and privileges of U.S. citizenship and not claiming any further benefits?” to which we answered ‘No, definitely not!”. The reason for giving up: ‘Could not find a stable job’, since Gerry was definitely enjoying the perks and benefits of running our international shipping business, aside from the blessings of helping our countrymen improve their lives and their families earning US dollars for the Philippine economy.

Our trip to Bohol was a major highlight of my Pinas travel since it allowed me to visit my family – my brother Kuya Rudy / Salia, and clan, visit my parents graves in the Cloma Mausoleum in Panglao. I was accompanied by husband Gerry and C/E Julito Fuego, our new FSAC Crewing Manager. After we checked in at Kew Hotel in Tagbilaran, we had dinner at Juli and wife Geraldine home, who served Lechon, many seafoods, and many delicious food array. The following day, we had bonding over lunch with the Mijares (Salia’s) family. Then we toured around new beautiful sights in Panglao, like the Be Grand Hotel with its 5-star amenities, nice view and beach, at the Tawala side of Henan Resort. We had snacks of coffee and blueberry cream pie. For dinner, C/E Efren and Zenaida Cloma were host at their home, who served another Lechon, native chicken, seafoods, and many more; in addition, we had a live entertainer of 2-men guitars who performed vocal and danceable tunes to the enjoyment of everyone, including the diamond ladies teachers. It served as Reunion with my contemporaries. Fun the entire evening of songs and dances!!!

Other highlights for the month:

·      Continuous planning on the proposed expansion of FSAC business operatgion. SEC approval for the Name  of the new holding Company: Starshine Corporation (my choice name);

·      Gerry and I, invited by Capt. T. Palenzuela, attended dinner-dance for the New Governance Installation of the BCBP Manila Chapter; were introduced as guests from the Sacrmanto/ San Fancisco Chapter, greeted by BCBP Pres. Abellana, and many others. Gerry and I enjoyed ballroom dancing as exercise with our DI partners that Gerry referred to me as the Dancing Queen thereon; Venue was The New World Hotel in Malate, Manila.

·      Nordic Ventures sponsored me to attend the Nordic Ambassadors Luncheon: Corporate Sustainability, held at Shang-rila The Fort Hotel in BCG on Oct. 26; Got to visit The Green Energy Exhibit at the Lobby with many European/USA/ASEAN companies – grand time for Networking!

·      Meet-ups, lunches, bonding with Ms. Agnes R. at Robinson’s Magnolia; lunch with Redgie and Cecille Caballero at Via Mare (they introduced me to Landmark church – much Thanks!); lunch with Cruz family (Gammy, Grace, Gustav, and Jannine) at Italiani’s;

·      Our favorite Sunday morning breakfast place is Lin’s Kitchen (across Hi-top) on Bohol Ave., serving all Congees, siomai, chicken feet, siopao;

·      I was disappointed, upset, and sorry to lose the plants that I cared for more than 20 years. Apparently, the FSAC staff do not share my value for love of Plants, and care for other living things; they are just self-absorbed on themselves; well, time for detachment, letting go, and moving forward! St. Thomas Aquinas, Pray for me!

Much love and Best Regards!!!

SUSAN BG

Dear loved ones,

            Pleasant Greetings from Montclair, New Jersey, USA! I am on my periodic visit to my daughter Sarah’s family to bond with them, especially with my 15 year old grandson MAX who calls me Mama Sue. Actually, I took good care of him for 8 days while his mom was on field work in Dublin, Ireland as Project Manager of Bristol Myers Squibb.

The month was a series of birthday celebrations of Love babies (made in December). Celebrants include: Sarah – September 7; Mama Mary/Blessed Virgin – Sept. 8; Fr. Aldrin B. – Sept. 8; Fr. Cormac L. – Sept. 12; myself – Sept. 20, and many more. For Fr. Cormac, after Mass, his Mommy Fe L. hosted breakfast at Coco’s Restaurant with 10 ladies and Fr. Giovanni. On my birthday, Fr. Cormac offered special intentions at his 12:00 noon Mass, then we had lunch at Red Lobster with Tita Philomena S. and Ate Fe L. where the crew sang the Birthday song as I blew candle on ice cream cake. Later, Sean and I watched American Assassin movie, followed by dinner at Visconti’s in Palladio, Folsom. With all the greetings of best wishes and gifts, my birthday was truly memorable!!!   

For my health insurance coverage, I returned back to Kaiser Permanente from Anthem Blue, where I was covered several years ago, so I chose doctors with the help of our friend Dr. Edna Tanegra. Effective Oct. 1, I will be busy adjusting to my new coverage.

Significant impressions on my MAX visit: He is a very high-functioning ADHD kid, with very photographic memory, needs minimal supervision, and does all tasks that he had been trained well, especially on maintaining personal hygiene. On our 1^st night together, he expressed appreciation that I was there to take good care of him, followed all the routines that his Mom listed as guide / reminders. On Wednesday when his Speech Therapist Ms. P. came, he was very focused and cooperated well. At the end of their session, Ms. P. gave feedback, that MAX was so focused and did very well in their exercises, showed me the remarks on their worksheet: ‘Excellent, 100%”. I am just sad that with the current situation of Max going back and forth on schooldays, he is moved like a puzzle. There is no consistency, no regularity / permanency that affects his self-confidence! I am really sad about this!!!

Sean followed me to New Jersey on Thursday, so we spent time visiting  our relatives Francis and Tita Dompor family in Clifton, went shopping to the Mills, New Jersey Gardens Outlets in Elizabeth, sightseeing;

Other highlights for the month:

·      Continuous planning on the proposed expansion of FSAC business operations, consistent with the idea of Yorozu San and company;

·      Our parish has moved the weekly Coffee Joe to Sunday after Mass to allow parishioners social interaction. We shared table with our new Musical director Aaaron, who truly use his artistry in piano and voice to make people look forward to our Masses. Good decision Fr. Aldrin!

·      I continue with my support to our Vocations ministry where I suggested that my monthly donation be allocated as follows: 50% goes to Diocesan Vocations (c/o Fr. Jovito); 50% for St. Mel’s distributed to: 30% for Sem. Benjamin Condon, and 20% for other Ministry projects;

·      Our Opus Dei resumed meeting where Fr. Turlock is back to hear Confessions, Recollection, Meditation, and Deidre’s talk;

·      When Sarah arrived from Ireland, we spent Saturday enjoying and relaxing at the Six Flags Adventure Park in Jackson, New Jersey. Sean and Eric took all the breathtaking thrill rides, while Sarah and I settled for the less-risk rides like cable car, Hall of Justice, Houdini, while I went alone on the Ferris wheel.

Much love and Best Regards!!!

SUSAN BG

Dear loved ones,

            Pleasant Greetings from Sacramento, CA, USA! August always bring surprises: the summer heat, parties and fiesta celebration, vacations, and many more. Normally, I would have been on my mid-year Pinas visit, but my daughter Sarah requested me to postpone my trip as she requested me to spend time with them in NJ this September. Thus, I have scheduled my Pinas trip to October – November instead, GOD wills!

Since many families are on out-of-town vacations, there were no big events happening on our area, except for the regular routine. In our monthly BCBP, we had as sharer our couple classmates in CLP10 who experience a wonderful transformation in their married life; after the storm, they are now back as a happy coupe – glad that a miracle was happening during our CLP! After our Denny’s breakfast, we had our Action Group meeting at Raley’s planning for our 1^st Family outing set on Sept. 16 to be held at Mather Regional Park, potluck.

My early morning walks along RC Parkway was made more exciting with the Site development project of the extension of our home site. I am amazed and awed at the abundance of resources: equipment, manpower used in the project, which result to speedy accomplishment of objectives and goals – a Project Manager’s Dream. On site are a dozen moving equipment: Excavators, Graders, Tampers, Planers, Water Sprinklers, Dampers, running after one another to accomplish the tasks at hand. America is truly the greatest in in resources and can accomplish all their Projects as planned. This fascinating Project inspires me to go about my daily 1-hour walk as I watch the swift progress of Work on the Development.

I am also focused on my health maintenance as I had my quarterly blood tests; the results prompted my doctor to make some adjustments on the dose of my medications. I am continuously working hard on the discipline of my diet, exercises, and medication. It is always a struggle to maintain a balanced life: physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, and by the Grace of GOD, I trust that we can achieve this; Much Thanks!!!

Other highlights for the month:

·      Continuous Two-way Communications with all family members; Gerry, Sarah and Sean always checks up on me;

·      I attended the monthly meeting and apostolate for the St. Mel Vocations Ministry. I continue my lifelong apostolate to support the vocation of Priesthood: 3 seminaries in Pinas; Fr. Robert Barron’s Mundelein Seminary in Illinois, and the St. Mel Vocations Ministry;

·      I am glad of the announcement that Fr. Cormac Lacre (from Bohol) is assigned as 2^nd priest at St. Mel Church effective September 1. It is an answered prayer for me;

·      Movies watched for relaxation were: The Hitman’s Bodyguard, starring Ryan Reynolds and S. Jackson – comedy / violent action thriller, with some family redeeming values; with the lack of interesting movies, this was the only movie watched for the month, and also with Sean always out-of-town;

·      Tragedies and natural disasters happened around the world, like terrorist attacks in Europe and strong typhoon in America, like the Harvey in Texas and Louisiana; It is amazing how people reacted to help the victims – physical assistance, donations, Prayers, and any form of Support kept pouring in immediately! It is wonderful how GOD moves in His mysterious Ways to touch people’s lives!  Truly, GOD is GREAT!

Much love and Best Regards!!!

SUSAN BG

Pleasant Greetings from Sacramento, CA, USA! The summer month of July brought 3-digit temperatures to the high of 110s, so came out the Capri pants, short sleeves and light clothing, and relaxing days at the gym and walks on the parks.

We’re all excited to celebrate the 4^th of July: started with morning Mass at St. Mel to thanks GOD for all the Blessings for America, sing GOD Bless America, breakfast at Black Bear Diner; visited Fr. George Snyder at his new parish as Pastor  of S

t. Claire Church in Roseville (from Redding, CA). Fr. George toured Sean and me around his 15-acre sprawling Romanesque beautiful church. Definitely, he will be kept busy by the parishioners of 7,000 families. After taking photos around which I shared on FB, we went for lunch at Golden Koi Japanese/Chinese buffet Fr. George specified. Then, Sean and I went shopping at Galleria; after short rest, we proceeded to Hagan Park in Rancho to watch the colorful fireworks; took midnight snacks at Denny’s, before heading home. It was a thoroughly busy day, and worth the fun and excitement, especially since Sean just got the good news of his promotion at work! We maximized our time as Sean is always out of State work assignments, especially on week-ends.

My regular activities with Opus Dei went on smoothly; our monthly BCBP gathering came with the usual group photos, followed by our Action Group meeting at Raley’s Natomas to discuss plans and programs for implementation. Likewise, we held a going away/ despedida party for Jojo I. who decided an early retirement from his IT position for a leisurely life in Pinas – how exciting and admirable!

The month was highlighted by the Bruno Mars Concert at Golden 1 Center, called 24K Magic World Tour 2017. Sean managed to get VIP tickets which afforded us VIP entrance, freebies, reception amenities of food, drinks, shopping; the big surprise was our seats – we got middle aisle seats, 5^th row from the stage giving good view and room for dancing the entire show; we got to appreciate the colorful pyrotechnics feature and good recording of the entertaining performances. The front act was the Jabawockeez (male group with some Pinoys) wonderful choreography with their songs; Bruno Mars was a Total Entertainer with his amazing voice and the choreography of his entire band – Entertaining Performance for 4 hours, and all the Dancing!!!

 

Other highlights for the month:

·      Continuous Two-way Communications with all family members; Gerry, Sarah and Sean always checks up on me;

·      I attended the monthly meeting and apostolate for the St. Mel Vocations Ministry giving 3 checks starting June 2017; It had been my lifelong apostolate to support the vocation of Priesthood; I support 3 seminaries in Pinas; Fr. Robert Barron’s Mundelein Seminary in Illinois, and now the St. Mel Vocations Ministry;

·      Movies watched for relaxation were: Spiderman – Homecoming; With Sean being out of town most week-ends, our bonding time had been minimized;

·      On my grocery shopping at our nearby Raley’s, I dropped my black wallet and thought that I had lost it. When I returned to Raley’s the following morning, the supervisor retrieved it from their Lost and Found section, and I got the wallet back and all the contents inside. I truly have Faith in the American culture and system – so GREAT!

Much love and Best Regards!!!