Celebration of Life(via photos): Macrine Nieva Jambalos Katague-Part 1

We are celebrating Macrine's life with photos from her early childhood up to  August 10, 2020. This is a 4 part series with about 10 to 12 photos per episode.  As they say, a picture is worth more than a thousand words. Here's Part 1(1938 to 1981). Posting these photos is part of my healing process.

Corregidor Island Tour, 1981

Macrine in Benguet, Mountain Province, Philippines, 1981

Macrine in front of Mount Mayon, Albay, 1981

Macrine enjoying Pagsanhan Falls, Laguna, 1981

Macrine with her nursing uniform and a coworker

Kona Village, Hawaiian Vacation, Hawaii,1979

Macrine's Nursing Graduation, Pinole, California, 1981

Citizenship Party, Modesto, California, 1972

Pandango Sa Ilaw-Dance of Lights, 1971

Other Social Activities, Modesto, California, 1972

Bridge Night- Sportmen of Stanislaus (SOS) County-1972

Macrine and Puchi ( her first cousin) Grand Terno Ball, SFO, 1974

Ditas Baptism with Ninang and Ninong, Gladstone, Missouri, 1965

Macrine and the 3 D's with Baby Sitter, Gladstone, Missouri, 1966

Hamilton Heights Swim and Country Club, Gladstone, Missouri, 1967

Trip to the Philippines, Manila Hotel Dining Room, 1970

Sister Guia -Admission to the Cenacle Sisters, Warrenville, Illinois, 1962

The Bernardo Jambalos,Jr Family, Boac. Marinduque, May 8, 1957

Our Wedding Entourage, Boac, Marinduque, Philippines, 1957

University of the Philippines Student Catholic with Fr. Delaney, 1952 

Macrine and her sister Guia, 1938

Meanwhile, enjoy these 2 pieces of music- favorites of Macrine

 

The Three Most Beautiful Gardens that Macrine and I Had Visited

The other day I just finished my 6-part series on Coping with Grief: Today, I decided to write on a subject that Macrine and I enjoyed-Gardens.  Macrine and I had visited several gardens in US and in the Philippines. But today's article is devoted to the three most beautiful gardens that we have visited in US and Canada.

Macrine and I visited Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC, Canada, in 2005

 

 

The Buchart Garden (Macrine reading garden sign-left on bottom of picture)

So it is time for a virtual tour of the three most beautiful gardens that Macrine and I had visited several years ago.

Perhaps in the near future when this Covid-19 is controlled you may be able to visit in person the following three gardens as follows: Buchart ( Victoria, British Columbia), Filoli ( Woodside, CA) and Longwood Gardens( Kenneth Square, PA-suburb of Philadelphia).

Macrine and I have visited Longwood Gardens twice but visited the other two only once. The gardens looked different during the various seasons, but for us spring time was our favorite season. It is the time when the gardens are most colorful.

The following are some of the photos I took of the three gardens. I hope you enjoy the photos as much as we did.

Buchart Gardens, Victoria, BC
    

https://www.butchartgardens.com/
Filoli Sunken Gardens, Woodside, CA   

 

 https://filoli.org/

 

Longwood Gardens, Kenneth Square, PA 

 https://longwoodgardens.org/

 

Honorable Mention: Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, Maryland

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g41434-d536488-Reviews-Brookside_Gardens-Wheaton_Montgomery_County_Maryland.html

Meanwhile enjoy this short video -Carlos Avila in the Piano( Macrine's nephew).

 

Where is Stinson Beach, California?

Recently, I had the pleasure of enjoying Stinson Beach, for 3 days and 2 nights courtesy of my sister-in-law. Her husband owned a 1-Bedroom Beach house, a few meters from the beach.  The other day, my KofC insurance agent, helped me filed a claim for Macrine's life insurance. When I mentioned to him, I had a nice break in my grieving process, with a trip to Stinson Beach, he did not know exactly where it is. I told him it is North of San Francisco in Marin County, Highway 1 near Bolinas Beach. He finally answered he knows now where Stinson Beach is located. Here's a brief summary from Wikipedia. In this blog I am attaching several photos that Ditas took during our mini break last August 20-22, 2020.   

Stinson Beach is a census-designated place in Marin County, California, on the west coast of the United States. Stinson Beach is located 2.5 miles (4 km) east-southeast of Bolinas, at an elevation of 26 feet (8 m). The population of the Stinson Beach CDP (census-designated place) was 632 at the 2010 census.

Stinson Beach is about a 35-minute drive from the Golden Gate Bridge on California's Highway 1. It is near important attractions such as Muir Woods National Monument, Muir Beach, and Mount Tamalpais. It has a long beach, and the cold water produces fog throughout the year.

Stinson Beach is a popular day trip for people in the San Francisco Bay Area and for tourists visiting northern California. Although most visitors arrive by private car, Stinson Beach is linked to Marin City by a daily bus service, and the network of hiking trails around Mount Tamalpais also reaches the town. The beach is one of the cleanest in the state, and sandy, unlike the rockier neighboring beach in Bolinas.

Meanwhile enjoy Anton Rubenstein-Romance-one of Macrine's Favorite

 

Coping with Grief: Marinduque International FaceBook Page-Part 6

As I continue my healing/grieving process, I am currently busy looking at old pictures of Macrine in my collection as well as condolences from FB pages of MI, Inc and Relatives announcing Macrine's passing on August 10, 2020.

I was surprise to learn that more than 7000* clicked the "LIKE", "LOVE" and "SAD" buttons in the MI, Inc FB page, but here's the proof. Could this be a mistake? 

This is the total LiKe Button, 6997 more....

The "SAD" Button -5092 and more,,,   

I did not photographed but there were 17 shares. Most of the names that shared I did not recognized. I can not believe that Macrine is that popular.

Anyway, again I am thanking all of you that sent condolences messages, via FB, E-mail,  sympathy cards, masses, and telephone calls. My lasting gratitude and special thanks to the four ( you know who you are) who donated  a total of $600 to MI, Inc in honor of Macrine's Memory.  May She Rest in Peace, Amen!!!
 

Macrine and I with Clemen Lardizabal Perez ( her classmate in high school) and older sister of Agnes Lardizabal Apeles- Past President of MI, Inc., CDM, Marinduque.

Medical Mission Dinner hosted by Carling and Liberty Ilagan Lardizabal Beach House in Ihatub, Boac, Marinduque,2008

Macrine's 81st Birthday Party, Fair Oaks, California 2017

 

Meanwhile enjoy this video of one of Macrine's favorite tagalog song,

 and Roy and Rosemary Rendition of Unchain Melody

*Later in the week, I learned that a friend paid $10 ad to boost the above page.

 

Coping up with Grief: Picking Up Macrine's Ashes and Kindness of Strangers-Part 5

Today, David and I picked up Macrine's Ashes from the Nautilus Society Office.  The cremation urn that I ordered last week also arrived today. Today my second one hour session with the grief counselor was again useful in my healing process.  In this article, I will also discussed two unexpected act of kindness David, Dodie and I experienced last week.

First, Dodie and I experienced an act of kindness from a stranger at the Lowe  Store at Columbus Parkway in Vallejo. Last Saturday on our way home from Stinson Beach, we stopped for a bathroom break at Lowe in Vallejo. When I got out of the rest room, I asked a female clerk if they have a drinking fountain.

She answered negative, but asked me if I want bottled water. I said yes. She immediately run to the other side of the store. In five minutes she had two bottled water, one for me and one for Dodie. I was willing to pay for it, but she said it was complimentary. 

Second, After we left the Nautilus Society Office, David and I decided to pass by the Peenoy Grocery Store near the McClellan Air Base in Watt Ave. When we arrived at the store there were about 2 dozens of pork barbecue sticks for Sale. A few minutes later another customer ( a Pinay and her Caucasian Hubby) purchased all of the Barbecue. I commented to the store owner, that David wanted 2 pieces of the barbecue and if they are cooking more. The owner said, that was their barbecue for the day. Later on, while the Pinay was checking out ( I was following her in the line, she pulled out 2 sticks from her bag and gave it to me. I was surprise but gave her a smile of gratitude she will always remember, I hope.  I also commented, that indeed, today is my lucky day!

In this article I am posting pictures of me and Macrine in my several barongs and a few of Macrine's party dresses and ternos as follows:

In front of our residence at 12808 Hammonton Rd, Colesville, MD

 

Christmas Tour of the White House during Clinton's Presidency

This is Macrine's most expensive Terno. It was tailored in Manila by a famous couturier. Curious of how much it cost? Read Part 2 of my Series on Coping with Grief. 

Meanwhile enjoy this music-one of Macrine's favorites