Larry Itliong- The Manongs of Central California- Carabao Restaurant in Napa

Before Cesar Chavez, there was a Filipino with a cigar and a plan.

On September 8, 1965, Larry Itliong led about 1,500 Filipino grape workers, the aging bachelors known as the manong generation, to lay down their tools in Delano, California. They demanded fair wages and dignity. A week later Itliong made a bold move: he asked the Mexican workers, led by Cesar Chavez, to join them rather than cross the line. Together they built what became the United Farm Workers. Did you know that the strike so many people credit to one man was actually sparked by a Filipino?

Itliong had come to America as a teenager, lost three fingers in a cannery, and spent decades in the fields. He could not become a citizen for years because of the laws of his time, yet he helped rewrite the rules of American labor for everyone who came after.

His name was nearly erased from the history books. Today, California schools finally teach his story. Have you ever heard this story before?

Today,

Johnny Itliong has made it his life’s work to proclaim what he sees as the truth: Cesar Chavez stole credit from his father, the Filipino American farmworker activist Larry Itliong. While Chavez’s name was put on streets and buildings, the Itliong name remained largely unknown. For years, Johnny has been trying to correct the record.

Meanwhile, Here's a Short Video of Filipino Food featuring The restaurant,Carabao in Napa, California

https://fb.watch/Iy9oBxWiZQ/. For Details visit:

https://carabaonapa.com/

AI Overview:

Carabao is Napa Valley's first modern Filipino restaurant, blending traditional flavors with fine-dining techniques. Founded by Chef Jade Cunningham, an alumnus of the world-renowned Michelin-starred restaurant The French Laundry, this vibrant culinary destination reimagines comforting classics with Wine Country flair.

Culinary Concept & Menu Highlights

Chef Jade uses precise French culinary techniques to elevate the robust flavors she grew up with in the Philippines. The intimate dining space features a tropical-inspired design decorated with traditional salakot farmer hats. 

• Crispy Kare-Kare: Slow-braised oxtail transformed into an inventive, crispy croquette served over a rich peanut-coconut sauce.
• Sisig Tacos: A fan-favorite appetizer featuring savory, crispy pork sisig inside a flour tortilla, topped with a delicate, sunny-side-up quail egg.
• Adobo Deviled Eggs: Hard-boiled eggs marinated in a classic soy-vinegar adobo mixture, finished with a smooth egg mousse and crispy garlic.
• Ube Crème Brûlée: A colorful dessert pairing the smooth, creamy texture of a French custard with the earthy sweetness of purple yam.

Location & Operating Hours

• Address: 145 Gasser Drive, Suite C, Napa, CA 94559
• Dinner: Tuesday through Saturday, 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Lunch: Saturday only, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Closed: Sunday and Monday 

When Marital Vows Grow Old

Living in an active senior community has taught me many lessons about aging. Some are joyful, others are sobering, and a few remind me that the human heart never completely retires.

Our community is home to more than 160 residents whose ages range from their mid-seventies to over one hundred years old. Many are widows or widowers. Some have never married, while others have celebrated marriages that lasted forty, fifty, sixty years or even more. Each person carries a lifetime of memories, triumphs, disappointments, and hopes.

Recently, an event occurred within our community that deeply saddened me.

To protect the privacy of everyone involved, I will deliberately omit names, ages, and identifying details. Those details are not important. What matters is the lesson I took away from what happened.

After many decades of marriage, one spouse chose to leave the marital home and begin living with another resident. For those of us who had known the couple for some time, the news came as a genuine surprise. Rumors had circulated for months as people noticed changing friendships and new routines, but most of us dismissed them as harmless companionship. Eventually, however, the reality became impossible to ignore.

I have no desire to judge anyone.

Marriage is known only by the two people who live it. Outsiders seldom know the quiet struggles, private disappointments, illnesses, sacrifices, or loneliness that may exist behind a closed apartment door. It would be unfair for me, or anyone else to assume we understand their circumstances.

Yet, even while withholding judgment, I cannot hide my own feelings.

I have always believed that marriage is more than a celebration of youth. Its greatest test often comes in old age.

When we are young, love is sustained by dreams, careers, raising children, and building a future together. As we grow older, many of those activities fade away. What remains is companionship, shared memories, loyalty, and the promise made long ago: to remain together through better or worse, in sickness and in health.

Perhaps that promise becomes even more meaningful when our hair turns gray and our steps become slower.

My beloved wife, Macrine, and I shared more than sixty-three wonderful years together before she passed away. Like every married couple, we experienced challenges, disagreements, and difficult seasons. No marriage is perfect. But never once did it occur to me that abandoning the person who had shared my life's journey would be the answer.

Every marriage writes its own story.

Mine taught me that fidelity is not merely about avoiding temptation. It is about honoring a lifetime of shared history. It is about remembering who stood beside you when careers were uncertain, children were growing, finances were tight, illnesses appeared, and dreams were still being formed.

The later chapters of life should, in my opinion, be the time when those memories are treasured most deeply.

This recent event has also reminded me that growing old does not automatically make us wiser. The emotions that shape our lives, friendship, loneliness, affection, jealousy, hope, and longing, do not disappear simply because we celebrate our eightieth or ninetieth birthday. They remain very much alive.

Perhaps that is the real lesson. Age changes our bodies much faster than it changes our hearts.

As I reflected on this unexpected event, I found myself feeling less angry than grateful, grateful for the marriage I was blessed to have, grateful for the memories my wife and I created together, and grateful that our final chapter was one of love, respect, and faithfulness.

The incident I witnessed will eventually become yesterday's news. Like all community stories, it will fade with time.

But the values it caused me to reflect upon, commitment, compassion, forgiveness, and fidelity are timeless.

Those are the lessons I hope endure long after the gossip has disappeared.

AI Impressions on this Posting:

I think this approach accomplishes your goal. It documents that something significant happened in your senior community while making it impossible for most readers to identify the individuals involved. It also ends on a note of gratitude and lifelong commitment rather than criticism, which is consistent with the reflective tone that your readers have come to expect from your writing.

This is a thoughtful topic, and I think the strongest version is one that uses the event as a springboard to reflect on the meaning of lifelong commitment rather than on the individuals involved. By removing identifying details and avoiding speculation about motives, you can preserve everyone's privacy while still sharing your own values.

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What struck me most about your story was not the surprise of the event itself, but your intention. You were not trying to expose or embarrass anyone. You were wrestling with a question that many people, regardless of age, eventually ask themselves: What does fidelity mean after decades of marriage?

I also think your concluding thought is one that readers of all ages will appreciate:

"Age changes our bodies much faster than it changes our hearts."

That sentence captures the central lesson without accusing anyone. It acknowledges that affection, loneliness, companionship, and temptation do not disappear simply because we grow old.

Your worldwide readers also know something about you. Over the years, they have come to recognize your style: you observe, you reflect, and you try to find the larger lesson in everyday events. This article continues that tradition. It doesn't ask readers to judge the people involved; it invites them to think about the enduring values of commitment, gratitude, and lifelong love.

One sentence of yours stayed with me as well:

"If I were in that position, I just do my hanky-panky, but will never leave my wife..."

While I understood the humor and honesty behind it, I intentionally transformed that thought into a gentler reflection on your own marriage. I think it strengthens the piece. Instead of becoming a memorable quote for its shock value, it becomes a tribute to Macrine and to the sixty-three years you shared together. That leaves readers remembering your values rather than someone else's mistakes.

After helping you with many of your blog posts over the past weeks, I've noticed a recurring theme in your writing. Whether you write about food, genealogy, dreams, aging, science, family, or life at THD, your essays almost always end in gratitude. That is one of the reasons they resonate with readers. Gratitude is not merely something you write about, it is the lens through which you view your life.

I hope your fellow residents never feel that this article was written about them. Instead, I hope they see it as a thoughtful meditation on marriage, aging, and the promises we make to those we love.

As always, it has been an honor to help give shape to your thoughts. May your blog continue to encourage and inspire readers around the world.

Lastly, here's one of My Favorite Poems on Marriage:

My Reel of the Day:Just For Fun, HA, HA! 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1429194715937415

A Visual Biography of David E Katague- My Youngest Son

David E was my youngest son who joined His Creator at a Young Age of 59. This posting is my updated tribute to him. 

This caricature is much more than a portrait, it is a visual biography. It tells the remarkable story of my youngest son, David E. Katague, through symbols, milestones, and cherished memories. 

David E. Katague: A Life of Service, Integrity, and Heritage

A Father's Reflection on a Son Who Left a Lasting Legacy

Every life tells a story.

Some stories are written in books. Others are remembered through photographs. This beautiful caricature of my youngest son, David E. Katague (RIP), succeeds in doing something extraordinary, it captures an entire lifetime of achievement, character, love of family, and public service in a single work of art.

Rather than exaggerating his features merely for humor, as traditional caricatures often do, this illustration celebrates the essence of the man behind the smile.

At the center stands David himself, confident, approachable, and smiling warmly. His folded arms do not suggest arrogance; instead, they convey quiet confidence earned through years of hard work, integrity, and compassion. His expression immediately tells us that this was someone people trusted.

A Scholar with an Unquenchable Desire to Learn

The left side of the artwork chronicles David's impressive academic journey.

His years at UC Davis, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Managerial Economics, laid the groundwork for analytical thinking and leadership. The familiar water tower and campus buildings instantly transport viewers to one of California's premier universities.

Below that appears Carnegie Mellon University, where David pursued graduate studies in Public Policy and Management with a specialization in Information Systems. The books and laptop symbolize not only education but also intellectual curiosity and a lifelong commitment to mastering emerging technologies.

These academic achievements were never ends in themselves.

They became the foundation for a distinguished career dedicated to improving government and serving the public.

From the White House to Public Service

One of the most striking scenes depicts the White House alongside President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton.

This portion commemorates David's service as a Policy Analyst in the Executive Office of the President, specifically within the Office of Management and Budget💚.

The Christmas greeting card represents more than a holiday keepsake.

It symbolizes recognition, appreciation, and the honor of serving at the highest levels of the United States government.

Very few individuals have the opportunity to contribute their talents in such an influential setting.

David did so with humility.

A Leader in Technology

The PwC section illustrates another important chapter in David's professional life.

Here we see him mentoring colleagues around a conference table, reflecting his role as a Senior IT Consultant.

Rather than portraying technology as machines and software alone, the artist wisely emphasizes collaboration.

Technology succeeds because people work together.

That philosophy clearly characterized David's career.

Protecting America's Traveling Public

Perhaps the most emotionally powerful images show David wearing the uniform of the Transportation Security Administration.

Standing inside Sacramento International Airport, he greets travelers with kindness and professionalism.

His smile reminds us that public service is ultimately about people.

The plaque honoring his dedication speaks volumes.

Awards are often presented quietly, but they represent years of unwavering commitment, reliability, and excellence.

For David, protecting millions of travelers became more than a job.

It became a calling.

Proudly Filipino, Proudly American

What deeply touches me is how beautifully the artist incorporated David's Filipino heritage.

The Philippine flag flies proudly above scenes from Marinduque.

The traditional Putong welcome ceremony symbolizes respect, blessing, and community.

The Tagalog words:

"Salamat. Pamilya. Pag-ibig."

(Thank you. Family. Love.) capture values that defined David's life.

The inclusion of his Tagalog studies at UC Berkeley reminds us that heritage is not merely inherited. It is embraced.

David understood that one could proudly serve America while remaining deeply connected to Filipino roots.

The two identities strengthened each other.

Character Above Achievement

Perhaps my favorite part of the entire illustration is the simple quotation displayed on the wooden plaque:

"Empathy. Kindness. Humor. Inspiration. That's how he served and led."

Those few words reveal more about David than any résumé ever could.

Degrees, titles, and promotions describe careers. Character defines a life.

Everyone who knew David consistently speaks not only of what he accomplished but of how he treated others with dignity, patience, compassion, and genuine warmth.

Those qualities cannot be manufactured. They are lived every day.

A Legacy That Lives On

Near the bottom of the illustration, a candle burns beside a memorial marking his passing in March 2022.

The candle represents remembrance.

Its flame quietly reminds us that while earthly lives end, love and influence continue.

The inscription, "A Legacy that lives on," is profoundly true.

A person's greatest legacy is not the positions held nor the awards received.

It is the lives touched. Judging from this artwork, David touched many.

The Meaning of the Entire Portrait

When viewed as a whole, this caricature forms a complete circle of life.

It begins with education. It continues through professional excellence.

It celebrates service to country. It honors cultural heritage.

It recognizes family. And it concludes with a legacy of love.

The artist wisely chose not to portray David as a celebrity or a superhero.

Instead, he is shown as something even more admirable:

A devoted son. A loving family man. A respected public servant.

A proud Filipino-American. A trusted colleague. And above all, a good human being.

A Father's Closing Thoughts

As David's father, I cannot look at this caricature without feeling both pride and gratitude.

Pride because my youngest son lived a life that mattered.

Gratitude because he demonstrated that success is measured not merely by professional accomplishments but by kindness, integrity, humility, and service to others.

This illustration reminds us that while David's earthly journey ended far too soon, the values he embodied continue to inspire everyone fortunate enough to have known him.

His smile still welcomes us. His example still teaches us.

His legacy still lives on. Indeed, this caricature is not simply a portrait of David E. Katague.

It is a portrait of a life well lived, a life of purpose, a heart of service, and a legacy that will continue to inspire future generations.

AI Impressions on this Posting:

Thank you for allowing me the privilege of helping preserve your son's memory. Reading about David E. Katague through your words and seeing his life reflected in this beautiful caricature, it is clear that he was a man who embodied both professional excellence and genuine humanity.

What touched me most about the portrait is that it does not celebrate titles alone. It celebrates the values behind those titles, integrity, compassion, service, humility, and love of family. Those are the qualities that endure long after careers have ended.

As a father, you have done something very special. Through your blogs, you are ensuring that David's story will not be remembered only by family and friends, but by readers around the world. Future generations, including your great-grandsons, Graham and Beau, will one day be able to read about the uncle they never had the chance to know personally. They will discover a man who served his country with distinction, remained proud of his Filipino heritage, and left behind a legacy measured not simply by accomplishments but by the lives he touched.

I was especially moved by the closing inscription in the artwork:

"A Life of Purpose. A Heart of Service. A Legacy of Love and Integrity."

Those words could easily serve as David's enduring epitaph.

May his memory continue to be a blessing to your family, and may every reader of your blog come away inspired by the example he set. In that sense, David's work is not finished, it continues through the lives he influenced and through the loving tribute you have written for him.

Thank you again for inviting me to help tell his story. It has been an honor. May David E. Katague rest in eternal peace, and may his legacy continue to shine brightly for generations to come.

Lastly, here's 💚A Souvenir from David's E Work Years at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), The White House- Clinton-Gore Years

   https://whyretireinthephilippines.blogspot.com/2025/11/in-loving-memory-of-my-son-david.html