May 22, 2017

Whoa!  It's been years since I last wrote a Chronicle.  A lot has happened since then.  To enumerate:
1.  Ces and I moved back to San Bernardino City area from Las Vegas, living in San Bernardino, Highland, and Redlands.
2.  Ces accepted a two-year contract to be a reading recovery consultant for the Coalinga Unified in 2014.
3.  We created Westbridge Schools, a non-public school for students with special needs in Coalinga.  We will open in August, 2017 and serve Fresno County.

There's more to come!

Social Justice Project Does It Again

The Social Justice Project (SJP) once again came to the help of poor people.  When Typhoon Sendong devastated some provinces in the Philippines in December 2011, the SJP donated $1,200 to the typhoon victims in Negros Oriental through the Knights of Columbus Council in Dumaguete City.

When a 6.9 earthquake destroyed homes and businesses in the norther part of Negros Oriental in the Philippines, the SJP again donated $1,200 to purchase rice, water, and medicine for the victims of the earthquake in Guihulngan town.

SK Rudy Salanga (in blue shirt, above), Philippine Project Manager of SJP, spearheaded the aid provided the victims of the typhoon and the earthquake.  Through his leadership, the response of the SJP to both disasters were swift.  The victims received help when they needed it most.

I am proud to be the Executive Director of the Social Justice Project, a 501 c 3 non-profit corrporation in California.  I am ably aided by the expertise of a team of volunteers.  The SJP is comprised of the following gentlemen: Chairman of the Board SK Jack Mielke, Financial Secretary Tom Sanders, Board Members Bob Herness and Ted Williams.  The Philippine SJP Team is made up of Country Coordinator SK Eduardo Arreza, Project Manager SK Rudy Salanga and Financial Secretary SK Roque Fado.  No one gets paid in the SJP.  The overhead expenses of the organization are paid for by the volunteer themselves.

The SJP has been serving and helping the poor since the turn of the millenium in 2000.  Donors from around the world support the SJP through cash donations.  Visit www.socialjusticeproject.com to know more of this non-profit, public benefit organization.

The Wedding

Ces and I really feel sad after attending the wedding of our daughter Rhacel last night at the patio of a quaint hotel, The Farmer's Daughter in Culver City.  I felt blindsided when my daughter told me that I was not going to walk her to the altar.  Instead she asked a young male friend to walk her because she said she wanted to make it "young," whatever that meant.

Meanwhile, the widowed mother of the groom walked her son to the altar.

I don't know about you, but I am "old school."  I believe in honored tradition.   Some guests gave me a surprised look when they saw the friend walk my daughter to the altar.  After that I pretended to be in extreme pain with my lower back to give the guests reason to think that my inability to walk could have been the reason why I didn't walk my daughter to the altar.

Through the night, Ces and I did not want to show our inner pain.  We went through the motions of the happy parents of the bride.  God forgive me my thoughts.  God forgive me for being so sentimental.

Sigh.

May Rhacel and Ben, her husband, live a fruitful and happy life together!

New Life with Crown Ridge Academy

It has been three years and three months since I posted in the Chronicles. During that span of time, Ces and started a new life from retirement. We founded Crown Ridge Academy, a charter high school in the City of San Bernardino, CA. To date, the school is in its second year of operation with 160 students, 10 teachers, and four administrative staff members.

Its high school curriculum is enriched with special emphasis on engineering and biomedical science elective programs. The Academy inculcates in the minds of students, parents and staff that "Success is the only option." Its mission is to graduate every enrolled student from high school, become productive members of the community and proceed to college. To ensure this success, the Academy maintains small classes, provides individualized instruction and offers credit recovery.

The Academic Program Assistance (APA), Peers Always Learning System (PALS) and After-School Assistance Program (ASAP) are three programs that augment concerted classroom instruction and further ensures success at Crown Ridge Academy.

The old adage, "To see is to believe" applies here. Do feel free to visit the school any school day and see for yourself how the Academy operates. You may also check out http://crownridgeacademy.com.

A Gift of Love

I’ve always believed I was married on December 24, 1964. I was until I applied for my Philippine Social Security System Retirement in 2006. The system asked me to produce my marriage certificate. When I applied for one, no record showed of my marriage! Ahhhhhh…I’ve been single all these years!

So, I thought until Ces reminded me of out shotgun wedding ceremony before the Mayor of Whatever-that-town was in Rizal Province during a typhoon on November 20, 1964. Her aunt after having been told that we were seen coming out of a movie theater (lovers meet in movie theaters in the Islands), picked us up from our college newspaper office that literally stormy day and married us off because she was afraid of the repercussions of her failure to “watch” over her niece who was living with her. Actually, Ces and I went to a restaurant near a movie house to celebrate my birthday. We got married even before we kissed!

December 24 was our church wedding. Legally, we were married on November 20, 1964. So, for the first time in 43 years, we recognize that date because our dear friend Zeny Barlaan, who is also a client, gave us a gift of love. She made a down payment on a Hyundai Entourage Limited Edition family van and gave it to us as a gift! We will, of course, assume the monthly payment.

What a friend!

Surprisingly, this limited edition is a wonderful vehicle. It is fully automatic. Side doors electronically open. So does the hatch at the back. It has a six-disc stereo system and a surround sound DVD player. It drives very smoothly and picks up speed in no time at all. The ride is so comfortable one could forget the speed. That is why I always set the cruise control so I stop myself from overspeeding.

Look at the vehicle. The Hyundai Entourage 2008 Limited Edition

No Worries

A lot of people are sitting on edge about the U.S. Presidential Election tomorrow, November 4, 2008. They are worried about the economy. They dread the prospects of more abortion. Still others ponder black or white, young or old and man or woman.

Electing Obama/Biden or McCain/Palin appears to many to be crucial in making or breaking the United States. Passion is strong. What is a person to do?

Me? I entrust my decision to God. It is His will, not mine. If Obama wins or McCain does, the world will go on living, unless the Lord wills it differently.

If the polls are true, many despise the administration of George W. Bush. Yet, the United States lives despite the difficulties.

The reason? The Will of God! God will never put us in a position where His Grace will not save us. Put your faith completely in Him. There is a purpose for everything that happens. Everything happens ultimately for the greater glory of God.

Don't worry. Be happy because God loves you unconditionally.

The Taste of Salmon

Salmon was never close to my liking of seafood until I tasted the baked salmon of Barbara Dickinson, the Knight’s Lady of my friend and fraternity brother PGK Bill Dickinson. Barbara bakes the most delicious salmon I’ve ever tasted. It has no smell. No fishy after-taste. Just pure, heavenly, delicious taste. A taste I could not put my hands on!

I think Barbara should really do some catering with her baked salmon. She loves to cook. So does Bill. Together, they make a wonderful chef-couple. They, in fact, do a lot of cooking for the Knights of Columbus Council 4488. Barbara and Bill are both retired, but they could make baking salmon as hobby and make a lot of people happy. I’m certain that once you will have tasted their baked salmon, you will not want any other but theirs!

Rhan, Bill and Barbara Dickinson at a reception that featured Barbara’s famous baked salmon

What do you say, Barb?