Maeve's Dance Recital

My godchild, Maeve, had her dance recital this evening a Chabot College in Hayward. She attends dance lessons at Yoko's in Fremont.

I have never been to a dance recital before. All I knew were piano recitals because of James. When I was his age, I took piano lessons, too, and I had my share of piano recitals. But a dance recital was totally different. I didn't realize that it was a BIG production, with all the dancers of the studio performing multiple numbers.

Yoko's is an institution in Fremont. Most, if not all, of the children of people we know who took dance lessons went to Yoko's. Like I said, I have never been to a dance recital, or even seen what goes on inside a dance studio. So when we got invited to watch Maeve's recital, I was just blown away. The performances from all the dancers were just amazing. And the tiny-winny ones were just so cute and charming.

The recital ran for more than 2 hours. Normally, you wouldn't find me watching a play, or ballet, or anything of this sort, but I truly enjoyed this dance recital. It was something new to me, and I am looking forward to next year.... that is if my godchild will continue dancing.

Passing The Test

A couple of days ago, the wife suggested that we go up to the city on Friday and have dinner there. Since she was already there, it was just James and myself who had to get there. I didn't have a problem since San Francisco was just a BART ride from my 19th Street station in Oakland. My problem was James.

James didn't drive, and he was coming from the house. Originally, he and his BFF, Coby, had planned on watching a movie around noon on that day. On the way from the movie, James would be dropped off at Fremont BART for a ride to Oakland, where I would meet him. However, Coby had tennis practice in Santa Clara, and won't be headed back to Fremont not until (very) late in the afternoon. So the whole planned was quashed.

I thought to myself that somehow I needed to "test" my son and see if he was ready to be a little independent. So I devised a plan and presented it to him. The plan was for him to take the bus to BART, then the train ride to Oakland, alone. He didn't hesitate. He said he could do it, so I proceeded to map out the details.

After some research, the plan was for him to walk to the closest bus stop, on Mission & Driscoll, and take the 3:15pm #215 bus to Fremont BART. From there, he would take either the 3:45pm or 4:00pm train to Oakland, where I would meet him at the 19th Street station. I gave him the BART ticket I purchased the day before, and gave him exact change for his bus fare. I even calculated the time he needed to leave the house in order get to the bus stop, as planned.

Today was the day. At around 2:45pm, he left the house and walked, passing through Hopkins Junior High School on Driscoll. I was able to track him because of the Life360 mobile application installed on his cellphone. He texted me and said that he was at the #215 bus stop next to Hopkins and would wait there instead of proceeding to the Mission stop. I didn't know of the Hopkins stop so I doubted. He took a photo of it and sent it to me. And yes, it was a #215 stop.

I went on Google maps to check. There was a bus stop by Hopkins, but the next bus won't arrive till 4:06pm. It was 3:10pm then. I searched and found the Mission stop, and the bus would arrive at 3:25pm. I immediately called James and told him to proceed to the Mission stop so he could make the 3:25pm trip. I waited. Before I could send him a text to tell me if he was able to get on the bus, he calls me and tells me so. Perfect timing. I checked Life360, and I saw his location to be close to the BART station.

The next call I got from him was when he was on the platform waiting for the Richmond train. So far, so good. Everything going as planned.

The trip to Oakland was about 40 minutes. From time to time, I would track his whereabouts. Each time, we was getting closer to Oakland. Once he arrived at the 19th street station, the plan was for him to get out of the station and meet me under a big electronic sign next to US Bank, just outside the station on 20th & Broadway. Since I knew what time the train would be arriving, I decided to just meet him inside the station instead. So I logged off, packed up, and headed out.

Barely 5 minutes from when I got to the station, I saw James walking, earphones on, headed towards the turnstiles, as expected. He was relaxed and didn't show any sign that it was his first time travelling alone. I was so happy and proud of him. You can imagine how relieved I was. I knew that he could do it. He passed the test.

I went in and met up with him before he could even enter the turnstiles. We both took the escalator down to the bottom platform for our ride to San Francisco. We waited for more than half an hour, and met up with the wife just outside the Montgomery station. From there, our next stop was Hops & Hominy.

Field Day: The Tear Down

As in any event, Field Day 2013 had to end. With about an hour or so left to operate, some club members began tearing down the sleeping tents, canopies, tables, and chairs used for dining. All other equipment, gear, and paraphernalia no longer in use were also set aside and loaded on the different vehicles for transport.

With a few minutes left, the only one that remained standing and in operation were the 3 tents. The 40m and 20m stations were pounding out the last few contacts on CW, while the 15m station was dishing out the final exchanges in SSB. By 11am, it was all over. QRT !!!

40m Phased Array Vertical Antenna

As some club members began dismantling their equipment, I helped bring down the 40m phased array vertical antenna. I also tore down the tent James slept in the night before. As the various equipment were packed and moved out of the 20m tent, I assisted in moving them towards the parking lot for loading.

With fewer people helping out with the tear down, the process took longer than in past years. It was past noon by the time we took down the 40m antenna. There was still the 15m and 20m yagis that needed to be dismantled. By then, James and I had to meet up with the wife for lunch.

At a little past 12:30pm, I excused myself, and we headed home, tired. Pooped.

CQ Field Day, KU6S

CQ Field Day, CQ Field Day. Kilo-Uniform-Six-Sierra, Kilo-Uniform-Six-Sierra, Field Day.

These were my first few phrases over the 20m band as soon as the clock struck 11:00am, Saturday. The other 3 tents came to life as well as each laid claim over the already crowded airwaves to listen for stations calling in across North America. It was the official start of Field Day 2013. I will spare all the gory details. It was a 24-hour event so I don't think anyone would want to read about it. But I will share with you some highlights of the day.

I was the captain of the 20m station, and I was the first SSB operator for the day. About 15 minutes or so into the hour, I noticed someone at the right corner of my eye snapping photos of me as I called CQ. Since I had my hands full calling stations, listening out for them, and logging their callsigns and exchanges on the laptop, I didn't have time to glance over to see who it was. After a while, this person called my attention and introduced himself. He was a photographer for some local paper, whose name I hardly understood. I was oblivious to what was going on because I was focused on the task at hand. A couple of days later, I saw my picture in the Oakland Tribune (print) and Mercury News (online), including a short video where a club member of mine, Bernhard, was interviewed right inside the 20m tent, with me, in action, in the background. It was quite interesting.

Aside from the usual HF (3.8 MHz, 7 MHz, 14 MHz, 21 MHz, & 28 MHz), VHF (144 MHz & 54 MHz), and UHF (440 MHz) bands, we also operated a satellite station. Like last year, this station had always drawn the biggest crowd because of the unique contacts it had made with the International Space Station (ISS). The only time we were able to make contact with ISS was when the satellite orbited our side of the earth -- literally across the horizon from where we were. Now that was just fascinating.

During the day, we had a couple of distinguished guests. They included Fremont's fire chief and the vice mayor. Based on the rules of Field Day, our club gets 100 points for each of these visits. A few Boy Scouts, some members of the local 4-H club, and guests of other hams also paid us a visit. Each one tried their hand at establishing a contact (a two-way communication) with another station. At the end of the contact, each guest operator was given a certificate acknowledging the contact they've made during the event.

At around 1pm, we all took a break and had lunch. We broke tradition by having a BBQ lunch, instead of the usual potluck dinner. In past years, we would have dinner at around 5pm. We noticed that the wind would pick up around that time and the temperature would dip. It was just an unpleasant experience. Imagine trying to hold down your paper plate while you ate, especially if there was less food on it to hold it down. With this new BBQ lunch, it wasn't windy and the temperature was just perfect.

As the day went by, the number of visitors dwindled, including the operators. By night fall, there was just enough operators and back ups at each station to keep things humming. Dinner was provided for those who were around at that time. After about 9pm, my son, James (he was there in the late afternoon) and I went home to pick up some stuff we needed, as we planned on spending the night at the park that evening. Before we headed back, we took a little detour for a late night grub.

James headed to his tent, while I proceeded to the 20m tent. I prepared my chair, which I planned to sleep on, and placed it at one side of the tent. Operators came and went till about past 2am Sunday morning. I was half asleep, so I knew who was operating. Unfortunately for them, they had to bear with my snoring whenever I dozed off. I guess they were just too kind to complain or tell me about it.

I had wanted to operate as much as I could. Since I was the 20m captain, I had to make sure we had enough operators to keep the station running all the time. If there was no one else operating, then I would step in. Fortunately, or unfortunately, we had more than enough operators. The band condition on 20m (14 MHz) was not as great as we expected or had been in past years. Normally, the 20m band would be open and full of activity for most of the 24 hours, but it wasn't the case this year.

At around 3 in the morning, I rose and tried to get on the air. I scanned the band, and no one was out there. No CQs. No nothing. So I went back to sleep. The next thing I knew, I heard people talking outside the tent and the surrounding background was getting brighter. It was 6am. After a while, Bernhard came in and operate CW (morse code). He made a number of contacts, but the band continued to be bad.

Later in the morning, one of the club members brought coffee. Then,  a run was made for some McDonald's breakfast. It was the perfect nourishment to operate the remaining hours, and prepare for tear down after. More on that later.

Field Day Prep

It's the fourth weekend in June and it's that time of the year when all ham radio operators across North America gear up and have fun. It's Field Day 2013.

GMRS operating tent

This event is sponsored by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), and is participated in my amateur radio operators from the US and Canada. The purpose of this activity is to test ham radio operators on emergency preparedness, by setting up and operating a two-way communication station without using any commercial source of power. The intent is to simulate a ham's (and their team's or club's) ability to put up an operating station using alternate sources of energy, such a generators, batteries, and solar panels, to name a few, and communicate with other hams (stations) across the US and Canada with a similar set up.

As you all know, for us here in California, the threat of the BIG ONE always loom over our heads, and is
said to be probably worse than the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Of course, we don't want that to happen, but it's something we cannot control. However, we can manage and control something else. And that is communications. When such a disaster occurs, you'd expect power and communications, such as cellphones and landlines, to be down and inoperable for up to 72 hours. The only ones who can provide this vital resource -- communication, are the ham radio operators.

3-element yagi for 20m

The other aspect of Field Day is to try and contact as many hams across North America as possible. So, it becomes a "contest" of sorts, but not really. There are rules governing Field Day, including when, where, and how equipment is set up and utilized. There are alot of rules, but I will spare you the details.

Friday is set up day. My group, South Bay Amateur Radio Association (SBARA) will operate from Lake Elizabeth, Central Park in Fremont, and we've done so for many years. It is also the only time that the city of Fremont allows anyone to camp and/or sleep at the park for 2 nights.

Set up began at around 10am. All equipment, such as radio gear, tents, and even food provisions, were unloaded from multiple vehicles. By around 1:30pm, all the equipment were set up at the operating tents, as well as the sleeping tents. Most of the antennas, such as the 2-element for 15m, phased array for 40m. and the inverted-V for 80m, were likewise up. The 20m three-element yagi was all assembled as well, but have yet to be raised. That we did after a relaxing lunch of sausages, hot links, salad, and fresh fruits.

By 5pm, all the stations were tested and running well, except for the 15m station that had some issues. It appeared that the radio was not driving the linear amplifier for the latter to produce any power. When evening fell, the problem had not yet been resolved.

Operating & sleeping tents

Late in the afternoon, the club's special satellite station was set up and tested. As always, it performed flawlessly. Unlike last year, we wouldn't be able to communicate with a live body from the International Space Station (ISS). Everyone had a blast last year when we were able to. For this year, we will have to settle for an automated relay that will confirm our contact with the ISS. This will be done digitally, by computer, using VHF/UHF radio.

It was a long day, with a lot of pushing, pulling, lifting, and getting down on all fours. For someone not used to it, it can take its toll. My body aches allover.

I have my tent all ready. But I had seconds thoughts of spending the night at the park, Besides, it wasn't necessary since the event doesn't officially start till tomorrow, Saturday. I left the park at around 10:30pm so I can get a much-needed rest because the weekend will be 2 very long days.

Room for Change

At the start of last school year, I was anxious to get the year over and done with. My discontent over my son's school had grown over the years that I couldn't wait for the day he graduates and finally leaves. I envisioned the day that I can breathe a big sigh of relief and say, "It's over!!!". And I also wished that we, parents of this graduating class of 2013, would have an "exit interview", as one would have when leaving an employer. At this interview, we would have an opportunity to provide school officials with some constructive feedback on what worked and what didn't, and provide possible solutions.

As graduation drew near, my anxiety grew even more. I was itching to tell it all and say whatever it was I had been holding back all these time. But I had to be a little more patient. I have gone this far and waited this long, and I didn't want to jeopardize and cause undue reaction from anyone, if you know what I mean. But as soon as that ceremony ends, no one can stop me from talking.

Nine years ago, we were all gungho about this school. It was something new to most of us, and that new experience was always exciting. Through the years, I would endorse this school to anyone I knew. As a matter of fact, school administrators have publicly acknowledged that I was their #1 spokesman because a good number of parent applicants they've interviewed said that I recommended the school to them. But as the years went by, things changed.

In the span of 9 years, alot of things have happened. In fairness, they're mostly good. But the not-so-nice ones were the most irritating. Often, I'd scratch my head in disbelief. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason for how things were. But you just moved on. But these bad habits just grew each year, and the magnitude had become worse. The irritation just became more frequent. There were times I would even question myself whether or not I was unreasonable, or if there was something I missed. But if you have others who feel the same, then I guess I'm not losing it.

For those who know me or have followed my posts, I am all about fairness, equality, and justice. I get really annoyed and PO'd if any of these are violated. And there have been numerous violations in this school. Am I unreasonable?

Now that my son has graduated, I did have a big sigh of relief. But, somehow, I lost that desire to even talk about this school. I am just glad that it's over, and I will leave it at that. I figured that whatever I say will be an exercise in futility. I will leave everything in the same state, and let those left behind deal with it. Maybe it works for them. Who knows.

With all fairness, my son's stay had been great. If I had another child, I will still probably send him/her to this school. I think it's still the better school compared to the other parochial Catholic schools in the area.

The largest stumbling block of this school is change, or lack of it. For the years we've been there, very little has changed, if at all. With the old guards leaving and new blood coming in, there is hope.

I have a godchild who's an incoming first grader, and she has a younger brother, my other godchild, who will probably go to this school as well. My desire for change is for them. I want them to experience equality, fairness, and justice, and just have a grand learning experience. Am I asking too much?

Author would like to acknowledge Calibre Business Integration for the use of the photograph in this post.

Trouble When BART Goes Offline

I take BART to and from work. In the last 7 years that I have taken BART, I've had my share of delays and super cramped trains. Sometimes such delays occur when you are in a rush to get something done, like picking up my son at his after-care facility before it closed, or getting to a school event before it started. But nothing compared to what I, and probably most of the passengers, experienced this afternoon during the rush hour commute.

At around 4:15pm, I got a text alert on my cellphone informing me that there was a train delay on the Fremont line because of a medical emergency at the Hayward station. After about 10 minutes, another alert came and, this time, the delay had escalated to a major one of 20-30 minutes. I just wished that by 5, the status would have changed and that everything would be back to normal for the ride back home. Of course, it wasn't so.

I was at the 19th Street station minutes before the 5:15pm train arrived. It appeared business as usual, but I didn't hear any confirmation. Then, an announcement about further delays was made over the public address system. The train rolled in, as scheduled, and we were on our way.

When we got to the San Leandro station, we were told that we had to off-board at the next station, Bay Fair, to get another train that would eventually take us to Fremont. Why our train couldn't go all the way to Fremont still remains a mystery to me. It is a train, on the same track, so why the difference? Go figure.

As we left San Leandro, we were told that the train we were on can no longer proceed to Bay Fair, and that it was heading back to San Leandro. We should then off-board, and take another train that would take us to Bay Fair, and, hopefully, Fremont, too. Of course, this situation didn't just apply to our train, but to all the other trains headed to Fremont. So you can imagine the mass of people getting on and off San Leandro, trying to get to Fremont. It was a scary, to say the least.

Trying to get on the already crowded platform didn't look like the right thing to do. And it would be impossible to even get on a train. So I headed outside the station and waited for a bus to take me to Bay Fair. From there, hopefully, I can catch a train to Fremont. There were a number of BART passengers who had the same idea so we were all bunched at the bus stop.

The bus took a little tour of inside San Leandro so it took a little while. Given the situation we were in, I think no one minded. Once we got to the Bay Fair station, there was a sea of humanity. I could not imagine where all these people came from. And I guess everyone was trying to get back towards Fremont.

With this chaos, there was not a single BART official who told the passengers what to do or expect. I heard other passengers saying that there were buses that were shuttling riders to the Hayward and South Hayward stations. And you'd see masses of people lining up along parked buses, but no one really knew if they were the right shuttles. I fell in line, too, as I tried to sort things out. Then, an announcement was made at the platform saying that trains were back on track and would be running as scheduled.

The few that heard this, me included, dashed back inside the station and headed for the platform. In about 3 minutes, a Fremont train arrived and I got seated. Initially, they announced that the train wouldn't stop at Hayward, but later changed. It was the first train that did stop, and we had a brief look at what the commotion was all about. From what I saw, it appeared that the "medical emergency" was an apparent suicide. But it was never confirmed. I tried listening for it on the evening news, but I didn't hear anything, or I must have missed it.

Generally, riding BART has been good. But if there is a problem, expect the worse. What else can I expect next?

A Regular (Father's) Day

Today we celebrated Father's Day. Unlike Mother's Day, our day was a little low key, at least for me. I'm really not into these kinds of celebration. To me, everyday is special and something worth thanking for, and I don't need a separate day to thank my wife, mother, or father, or even my grandmother or grandfather. But that's just me.

I think the only one benefiting from all these special days are businesses -- flower shops, retail shops, restaurants, and the like. It's a good reason for them to jack up their prices, offer special discounts to lure in more shoppers, or make you wait for a table. But it's all good. It's how our society chooses to behave.

On occasions like these, we typically find a good place to eat -- somewhere we don't go often. For today, I really didn't make any plans. I know I have been craving for a good steak, but I just do not want to join in the chaos and pandemonium that this day brings. We tried calling some of the local steak houses around town, but none of them were open except for dinner. So that was easy. In the end, we settled for our favorite Chinese place in Palo Alto.

Earlier in the day, we heard mass at 11, and the priest gave all dads in attendance a special blessing.

I still crave for that steak. Now, I seriously have to plan for it. And I'm going outside my comfort zone -- San Francisco. What better place to enjoy a succulent, juicy steak than in the city. I'll let you know when that happens.

Author wants to acknowledge Happy Father's Day 2013 Clip Art Free for the illustration used in this post.

At Last, A Grill

After some procrastination, I finally decided to get a grill. With the official start of summer just around the corner, I felt it was necessary to get in the action and enjoy the season. And what better way to it is by cooking and eating al fresco at my very own backyard. I have the space to set up dining for up to 14 people, seated comfortably at a long table. Maybe more.

It's been a while since I last enjoyed the art of grilling. Maybe 3 years? Since we moved from Union City, I never bothered to replace the grill I had disposed. It was old and was beginning to rust anyway. A new one was in order.

I missed grilling. Aside from it being a much healthier cooking alternative, it also gives me the opportunity to cook outdoors and host a casual get-together as well. Somehow, "BBQ-ing" (grilling is the more appropriate term) has been a good excuse to gather friends for a relaxing day of good conversation, excellent food (and drinks), and great company. And I just plan on doing that.

Since I have been out of touch on the latest and greatest in grilling equipment, I did a little research. From what I've seen, nothing much has changed from the last time I looked at any of these. There are great, tried-and-tested equipment out there, and there are the so-so, mediocre ones. Knowing that I wouldn't be grilling 300 days of the year, I wanted something that would do the job when I need it, without breaking the bank. We are in the Bay Area after all, and once that sun sets, it gets a little bit chilly and cooking outdoors is probably not going to be enticing at all.

I finally settled for a Kenmore gas grill (do I hear boos?), which looks sturdy and decent on print. In person, it's actually not bad at all. For a few hundred bucks, I think I can live with it. Why not a Weber? It was my first choice and no doubt probably one of the best and most reliable grills out there. But again, I don't think I will give justice to it, knowing that it will probably be under a cover more times that it is used. It's like having a Porsche 911, but only using it every other Sunday to go to church.

This grill was purchased online, and you already know the story about how we brought it home.

This afternoon, I put it together. I had asked my assistant (my son, James) to help me out because, at this age right now, I want him to be exposed to putting stuff together. I wanted him to experience building something from scratch because, sooner or later, he will have to do something similar. Unfortunately, his mind was somewhere else. His body was telling him that he needed to follow, but the brain was not cooperating. So I excused him. The next thing I know, we was asleep.

For the next hour or so, I built the darn thing. And when he woke up, it was done, and he helped me move it to the backyard. He then tidied up the place, and discarded all the card board, plastic wrappings, and styrofoam.

Now, it's ready.

Author wishes to acknowledge Kenmore for the photograph used in this post.

A Day Off of Chores

I took today off hoping to chill. But it never happens. Whenever I take off, my day ends up to be more tiring and stressful than a typical work day, like today. Since there were a number of things that needed to be done, today was a good time to do them, instead of doing them on the weekend.

First on the list, both James and I needed to have our bloods drawn for testing. He just had his annual physical a few days prior, while I had mine a few backs back, so mine was long overdue. We planned to start at 8, but we got to the clinic about 45 minutes after, so the lab was quite full. But we managed to get things done in about an hour or so. Then, it was breakfast at McDonald's at a little past 10am. We had to fast for the blood-drawing, which meant no food after 12 midnight the day prior. Thus, the late breakfast.

By 11, we were at the Uhaul depot to pick up the cargo van I rented. You see, I ordered a gas grill online, and I had to pick it up. I knew the box was big and heavy, and wouldn't fit in my car. And I don't want to pay $80 for a delivery either. So, I rented the van. In all, I spent under $50 for the van, which gave me a decent $30 savings. The box was huge. Bigger than what I envisioned. And HEAVY. When we picked it up, the merchandising clerk helping us was unusually tiny. He even asked me to help him load it in the van. Huh???

Off-loading it at the house was interesting. Between James and me, we didn't know if we could even lift the darn thing. Somehow, we managed. We then dragged it a few more feet inside the garage. Trying to bring the box inside the house was out of the question. The only way we could clear the garage (for parking) was to remove the contents of the box, piece by piece. And that's what we did when we got back from all our errands. After the drop-off, we went back to Uhaul and returned the van.

After lunch, we headed to Milpitas for our date with Wendy, our haircutter, who we see each month. James
wanted to try a new do, with a buzz cut, but not as close as mine. He wanted to try this cut for the summer because it would be easy to manage and keep him cool at the same time. I suggested that he keep it when school starts, but he wasn't to keen on the idea.

From Wendy, we made a quick trip to the pharmacy to pick up the wife's medication, before heading home. It was past 5pm.

Barely rested, James and I took off again just past 6 for a quick bite at an old favorite -- the taco truck at Irvington (near the Post Office), for some tacos and quesadilla. From there, we got coffee at Starbuck's, then drove across the street where James joined me at the my monthly SBARA ham radio club meeting. It was 7:30pm. James was a familiar fixture, having brought him to some of my meetings over the past couple of years.

The meeting ended past 9, and we wanted something to give us a little fill. So we went to AutoMall Parkway and got snow bubble (with tapioca) drinks -- green apple for him and lichi for me. Very refreshing and quite filling. By the time we got home, it was past 10pm.

Certainly, a very long, tiring day off.

Author would like to acknowledge UHaul, Tapioca Express, and Yelp for the use of the logos photograph in this post.

Slow Week

The first half of the work week was uneventful. Nothing interesting has happened. For the most part, BART had been on schedule whenever I was on it. I ran into the regulars, including the street musician at the 19th Street station in Oakland, and the fruit vendor standing just outside the Fremont station during the afternoon commute, as well as the homeless transients on board and the hooligans who don't pay the fare and jump the turnstiles at both my stations.

Aside from the NBA finals and reruns of Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, there was nothing else on TV either. The only other program I tune into is the 11pm news on ABC.

To think that there are a thousand and one other things I could be doing -- things that I have pushed aside and promised to do when I get the spare time, like prepping sixteen 31-foot long AWG#16 stranded copper wire as ground radials for my ham radio vertical antenna, or editing the 200+ photos I took during Bishop Barbers visit to St. Joe a couple of weeks ago, or just trying to keep this blog up to date. Somehow my lazy side has gotten the best of me.

Well, here's hoping for a more interesting second half of the week. It's Father's Day on Sunday after all.

Sunday's International Festival

This morning, after the 11am mass, we attended St. Joseph parish's International Festival 2013, which was held at the sprawling lawn between the Dominican Mother House and the back of the old Mission church.

This was the second year of this church fundraiser, which brought together the various cultures that comprise the parish, through food and entertainment. Food and beverage stalls were situated at the perimeter close to the entrance, with a sprinkling of craft and service stalls further back. There were some game booths for children and some sort of souvenir/toy booth as well.

Throughout each day, there was a variety of entertainment for festival goers to enjoy. It included cultural songs and dances, as well as performances from local talents and some members of the parish. On the day we were there, we witnessed a taekwondo demonstration by Nile, who happens to be the older brother of James' classmate, Ashley, herself a taekwondo practitioner, plus a bird show.

The weather was perfect. It was hot, but not as hot as it was the day before. Although we weren't there, I could just imagine how it was, considering how the weather was all around the area. There were large tents spread around the lawn, with a larger one right in front of the mini stage used for all the entertainment. These tents provided the much needed shade under the blazing sun.

We attended last year's event, and I thought that this year's was much better. It looked like it was well prepared, logistically, and had more booths and entertainment. Even the attendance seemed to have improved from the previous year. One thing that I thought was missing was an ice cream booth. It would have been a big hit, especially on a hot day like both days were.

This festival could only get better each year, with more food & drink booths, and entertainment. Looking forward to the next one.

Getting (a) Physical

Now that my son, James, has graduated from junior high, there are a few more requirements we need to complete for his high school at Bellarmine. One of this is the submission of a completed health form, including vaccination history. So a few days ago, he went for his physical with Dr. Go.

James had not seen Dr. Go for a couple of years. I guess we've overlooked this and missed on having his annual medical check-up before school started. It's a good thing he has not had any illness or injury that would have required us to visit the doctor (or hospital). Our bad.

Since our move from New York, and our change in health insurance over the past years, somehow our current health provider does not have a complete history of his vaccinations. We do, however, have a certified copy of it from the previous provider, which I had to provide the current in order to keep their records up to date. I  also need a copy to turn in at Bellarmine.

The physical examination went well. He received a clean bill of health from his physician. As part of preventive healthcare, he was given a couple of vaccines, the names of which I totally do not remember. He also was administered a TB skin test, which later came out negative. Dr. Go completed his health form and affixed her signature, as well as on the vaccination history. He also received a certification from his doctor that he was fit to do any sport he wishes in high school.

With this done, all that is needed is to mail the documents, and we can mark this requirement "Done".

More than 30 Years

I was educated by the Jesuits in the Philippines. I spent my elementary and high school years at the Ateneo de Manila University. It is the premier educational institution in the Philippines, as far as I am concerned. Pardon my bias, but it is true. I am damn proud about it. And so are the thousands of others who have graced its hallowed walls.

I am from the high school Class of 1983, and we're a pretty tight bunch (now, I'm dating myself). We have a sprinkling of alumni here in the Bay Area, but we all live separate lives and hardly connect. So whenever an alumnus from out of state or out of the country visits, we pull all stops and take the opportunity to meet, reunite, and reminisce the good old days. And that was what we did when Chris flew into town from Virginia on business.

Chris informed us of his trip more than a month prior so we could seek out as many alumni that we know of and plan a reunion of sorts. We managed to get confirmations from everyone who we were able to contact, but despite the weeks in advance notice, things came up at the last minute and a few were unable to make it. In total, we had 8, and missed 4-5 others. It was a pretty good turn out considering it was a Thursday.

This mini reunion was held yesterday at Tribu Grill in Union City, a local Filipino restaurant, owned by a fellow Atenean from the Class of 1984. Typical of any such gathering, food kept flowing. We teased about the food we've been ordering since they were mostly dishes that would make you die early (joke), because they were high in fat, rich in cholesterol, and bathe in grease. Truly artery-clogging. They're always good with ice cold beer.

Throughout the night, we had lots of good laughs, as we brought back memories from our high school days. There were a few guys that I have not seen for more than 30 years. Do you believe that? 30 years !!! And all this time, we've lived within 15-20 miles of each other. It's amazing how we were able to remember the section (we had about 9-10 classes of 40+ students per grade, which we called "sections", and each section had a name) we were in during prep (or kindergarten) and first grade (some 42 years back!!!), including the names of our teachers. We talked about some of the most stupid things we've done as high school kids, and remembered those in our class who have passed.

We were noisy that night. For once, I wasn't conscious enough to consider the other diners around us. I typically am because I just don't want to inconvenience others. But I hope they understood. It was rare that you're able to gather a bunch of men, most of whom had not seen each other for over 30 years. Time went by so quickly. The next thing we knew it was past 9pm, and we were being handed the check. A sign telling us it was time to leave.

As much as we wanted to continue the conversation at a Starbuck's next door, most decided to call it a night. It was a Thursday after all, and the next day was another work day. But we just couldn't say goodbye fast enough. For another 20 minutes or so, we huddled at the parking lot for some more chit-chat. It was past 10pm when we finally said adieu.

It was a fun night. I'm glad to see everyone. I wished the others could have made it. I hope we don't wait another 30 years before we see each other again.

One Big Fight !!!

Note:  Author would like to acknowledge Mr. John Formoso for the use of the photograph on this post.

Deja Vu: Yearend School Board Meeting

I prepared this post on the evening of, but decided not to post it just yet. It's not that I have written anything libelous, but it might  touch on some sensitivities, which may (or may not) result in unnecessary actions or reactions. It's human nature. I have learned to be political and patient at the same time, in order to maintain peace and not create any tension or aggravation. But frankly, I don't really care. Someone has to say something so others will know things are not always kosher. 

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I attended my last St. Joseph school board meeting this evening. This meeting almost had the same result as last year's. Deja vu. But I'm glad it was over.

For the last year, I had been patient. Keeping mum. Trying to be respectful. I was curt. Direct. I am not the type that wants to hear myself talking. It's not my character. I spoke if I had something good or productive to say. But to simply speak for the sake of it, or to sound intelligent, nope! Not my style.

I tried introducing new measures -- to change the mind set. But I didn't get the support I had hoped. It was shot down and beset with preconditions. Change is the hardest thing that this board (and school) can accept. It refuses to. I don't know why. I'm not the only one who sees it. Most do, including those who are new to the school and community. Sometimes, you need to step back to see the whole picture.

I don't want to go into any details. The past is the past. No matter what I say or do, it won't bring back what has taken place. I don't even want to volunteer any suggestion or provide any comment, especially if those who mattered are not receptive -- to change. I don't want to waste their time, nor mine, ranting or providing constructive criticism that won't lead to anything productive.

But let me share these, and tell me what  you think.

We (the board) have a constitution and by-laws that govern our very existence. Yet, we select only those
that we wish to apply to ourselves. We are suppose to observe strict parliamentary  procedures. We require a formal declaration of motions to approve agendas and minutes of the meetings, but we cannot properly nominate and vote officers to the board. Each year we need new board members, but no one publicly tells the community that we do so. Is this board a secret society?

In the last meeting, we had 2 guests -- school parents. They witnessed how bad the election process was, and how we couldn't get our act together. Shameful, to say the least. The gentleman to my right had a blank stare (probably in disbelief), and left immediately after the meeting. And you're wondering why no parent attends our board meetings?

Last year, ITBS scores were amazing. We suggested posting the scores on the school's website, as a way of advertising the school. Then, we found out later that the idea was rejected by those who had authority. This year, there was a concern about low enrollment,, and everyone who had a comment or two were asking what could be done about this? Well, if the powers that be had acted on the suggestion from last year, then they probably wouldn't be asking that question.

Here's another. The school went through the rigorous process of re-accreditation from WCEA and WASC for another 6 years. And we got it. Another promotional opportunity that could be easily posted on the website. Did we??? Of course, we didn't !!! So, you're wondering why we have a low enrollment this year??? What's interesting is that the 2 nearby Catholic schools had also been re-accredited and they have boasted about it on their respective websites. I believe one of them has a full enrollment. Should I say more?

From what I understand, the school board is an advisory arm of the school. But at the end of the day, it is the school administrators who make the final call. And I'm OK with that. But what irritates me the most is the lack of accountability and seemingly strong resistance to change. We know what worked and didn't. Let's learn from it, take the necessary corrective actions, and move forward. That is the only way to succeed.

Would I go back next year, my last term? As I have said in the last meeting, I am undecided. And I will decide before the start of the next school year.

Fair enough?

By the way, I informed the appropriate authorities of my displeasure in last year's election proceedings. Did you think anything was done about it? Certainly not !!! Now, why would you think things will change???

New Oakland Bishop Visits St. Joe

The Most Reverend Michael C. Barber, SJ is the new bishop of the Diocese of Oakland.

Yes. He is a Jesuit.

Prior to his new role, then Fr. Barber was an "ordinary" priest, who headed the Spiritual Formation at St. John's Seminary in Boston. One day, fellow Jesuit and current Pope, Francis, called him up and told him that he had been chosen to lead Christ's flock in Oakland. He wanted to make sure that he was the "Fr. Michael Barber" the Pope had chosen because there were 2 others with the same name, and who were Jesuits as well. But there was no confusion. No error made. It was him.

On May 25, 2013, Fr. Barber was ordained bishop, then installed as the fifth Bishop of Diocese of Oakland in a solemn and ancient ritual at the Cathedral of Christ the Light. Seating at the Cathedral for this event was limited, but my wife was fortunate enough get a ticket and witness it in person. The ceremony was also broadcast live by EWTN, the global Catholic TV network, so I was able to witness the event as well.

Last Sunday, at the Mass of Corpus Christi, Bishop Barber officiated mass at St. Joseph, the second parish he visited after being ordained bishop. It was the 6:30pm youth mass which he presided at. As expected, the church was filled to the rafters. There were about 7 priests in attendance, including Fr. Manny and Fr. Jun, the parish's pastor and associate pastor, respectively, plus a slew of altar servers and assistants. My son, James, was one of them, and he was responsible for holding the bishop's crosier. And I was requested to take photographs of the event.

As his photograph that evening, I saw him up close as he was preparing at the sacristy. Dressed in his full vestment, he introduced himself, extended his hand, and greeted me as he walked out. I have never met nor seen him in person, until that day, but I saw how warm and humble this man is. I've met and photographed the past 3 Oakland bishops, including the administrator, and I can see the difference.

Since this visit was special because of Corpus Christi, the time spent with the bishop was a bit longer than in past visits by any of the bishops. After mass, Bishop Barber carried the Blessed Sacrament as it was processed to the Old Mission church, stopping first at the side court yard for prayers and Gospel reading. The procession continued to the side, down the ramp, and up the front steps of the Mission for two more stops, before ending at the altar for the final blessing.

The entire ceremony lasted for almost 2 hours, but no one complained. After he changed to street clothes, Bishop Barber stepped out of the sacristy and into the church to greet some well-wishers. We managed a brief exchange of pleasantries, which included describing our Jesuit connection, plus a couple of photographs for posterity.

It was a long night, but a truly memorable one.

Last Hoorah: Class of 2013 Picnic

If you thought the graduation was the last event for the Class of 2013, you got it wrong. There was one more. And personally, I think this was one of the most fun activity we've ever had that I can remember. We had a picnic at Lake Elizabeth at Central Park in Fremont.

It was a gorgeous Sunday. The sun was out and was quite hot. We couldn't have asked for a better weather. The huge task of organizing this event rested on the shoulders of Vicky D. She was assisted by my wife and a few other moms. But it was Vicky who did the heavy lifting.

We had reserved picnic site "D", which happened to be on the far end of the galaxy. No matter where you parked, it was quite a trek, especially if you had a load to bring. A portable cart surely came in handy. But no one seemed to mind because it was just a relaxing, fun day all around. If I counted correctly, I believe we only missed 4 families due to prior commitments. Each family contributed a certain amount, which basically took care of most of our food, such as burgers, hotdogs, sausages, chicken, and buns, and all the fixings, plus more, as well as the deposit for the use of the facility.

In typical fashion, everyone brought something to complete the whole picnic experience, from side dishes, drinks, and appetizers, to BBQ utensils, table clothes, water balloons, and even a volleyball net. We practically had everything we needed, and much, much more. But I think we ran out of water balloons because of some naughty and playful moms and dads.

Families started trickling in just after 11am. At 12, we started up the grill. By 12:30, most have arrived, and food was just about ready. Meanwhile, the kids were all over the place. Some played catch, while the others simply chilled and chatted. One of the dads decided to be playful, and started tossing water balloons. Then, the kids joined in. You could hear screams and shouts as water balloons burst and cold water doused unsuspecting victims. Soon after, it was time for lunch. There was just more than enough food for seconds, even thirds.

After lunch, everyone settled down in small groups and chatted. It was a perfect time of a little siesta after a
big meal. A couple dragged their picnic chairs just a bit out of sight, under a tree, and and snoozed. For some, it was time to bring out the booze to get a little buzz. Bottled margarita and beer were the alcoholic beverage of choice that afternoon.

By mid afternoon, most were up and about, and began snacking. Some of the dads took to the field and started a game of volleyball. As one parent commented, after all these years, she never knew that the dads could play volleyball. I played, too, and we all had a blast.

Unfortunately, we had to cut things short and leave earlier that everyone else because of another event that we had to go to right after. The new bishop of Oakland was presiding at the 6:30pm mass at St. Joe, and my son was alter serving, while I would be taking pictures. We left the park at 3:30pm.

It was a fun afternoon among friends. It's sad that it's probably the last one. If it weren't a logistical nightmare to organize, we should have done it more frequently over the course of the 9 years we've been together. But I'm glad we had it, even for this one last time.

Thanks again, Vicky. Take one more bow.

James' Graduation Party

My son, James, graduated 8th grade, and we threw him a little party. This party was quite unique because none of his friends and classmates were invited. Instead, his guests included people whom he grew up with since kindergarten, and have, in one way or another, influenced and have shaped him into who he is today. As parents, it was our way of thanking them.

The party was held at the Le Cirque Room of James' favorite French brassiere, Left Bank, at Santana Row. It is his go-to brunch place, especially for their Saucisses Maison Grillees (grilled homemade garlic pork sausages) and Moules Frites (steamed mussels & fries). He has a discriminating palate, if I may say so.

The weather was fantastic -- not too hot, not too cold, with a soft, gentle breeze. The Le Cirque was actually a covered patio, which was just perfect for the brunch. The colorful interior decor added vibrance to the ambiance.

As the guests arrived, appetizers were served, which included ahi tuna tartar, crab salad, and assorted pates. For brunch, a choice between salad and onion soup, for starters. For the main entree, there were steak & eggs, salmon, chicken with saffron, and their version of eggs benedict and french toast (my favorite). And for dessert, chocolate cream puffs and mango panna cotta. Yum !!!

The guests were a mix of school, church, and really close family friends. In attendance were the parish priest (Fr. Manny), James' kindergarten teacher (Sister Jane Marie), and piano teacher (Sister Andre Marie). There was also his "mom" away from home -- Laura, who runs the school's after-care program, and the rest of her crew, teachers (Joanne in 5th and Neil in 8th), and school office staff (Cathy and Diane). Of course, there were the close friends (whose identities will remain anonymous -- wink, wink), plus our "god family" (Rhyan, Bing, Maeve, Ryle & Mama Siony).

It was an enjoyable afternoon of great food, wonderful conversations, and excellent company. It was unfortunate that not everyone was able to make it due to conflicting schedules. It was graduation weekend after all.

Congratulations, son. Wishing you all the best at Bellarmine, and beyond.

The Finale: Graduation

Graduation Day. 5:30pm. St. Joseph church.

This was the moment we were all waiting for. The final activity at St. Joe. This time there were no other students, except for a few 7th graders who handed out the program, and helped with the sound system and other logistics. The church was filled with family, friends, and supporters.

Unlike the Baccalaureate Mass, the Graduation ceremony was a little livelier, less subdued. As the kids processed one pair at a time, you can see in their faces a sense of relief -- a sense of joy that this day had finally arrived, and everything seemed surreal. There were more smiles and their marches was more natural.

The graduates were seated on the platform just below the altar table, facing the audience. Like in the mass earlier in the day, they wore their blue toga, including all the special recognition pins they had received. We did have an official photographer and videographer, and both made sure this all important ceremony was captured well. This pretty much eliminated the paparazzis from taking pictures that would have disrupted the proceedings.

Awards for academic excellence, including recognition by individual subjects, were handed out. There were 3 students who gave graduation speeches, but only one of them made most of the students and parents shed a few tears, me included. It was not only well written, but it was spontaneous and it came from the heart. The speech wasn't made to please the egos or sound forever grateful to those that ran the school, unlike the other 2. Am I ranting? More of it later.

Another segment of the ceremony included a "recognition" given by a high school to an incoming freshman from the class for some reason that I have now forgotten. Why this "recognition" was even included in the ceremony was something I COULD NOT understand because it didn't add value.

Then came the ceremonial handing of the diplomas. With only 33 students in the Class of 2013, the entire ceremony lasted less than an hour. The next thing we knew, they were processing out of the church and into the parish hall, where a simple reception of cookies and juice were served.

Now, my rant.

Why there were 3 graduation speakers, I don't know. Why not 2, as in past years? Why not 4 or 5? And why was there a graduation speaker who had been in the school for only the last 3 years? What does this say of the more than half of the class who had been with the school for 9 years since kindergarten? At least, recognize some seniority, right? Well, I can be a graduation speaker even if I joined the school on my graduating year as long as I butter-up and thank every Tom, DIck, and Harry in the school, and proclaim how great they all are. Mind you, I'm not the only one asking. Even the students were.

So what's up with this "recognition" given by one high school? If you listened closely to the introduction for this award, it sounded like all high schools gave this recognition, only to find out that only ONE did. Why the special treatment? It looked like everyone else who isn't going to this high school was "inferior" because their high school of choice did not give out such an award. Honestly, who cares about this award? This "recognition" should have not been made during graduation. Instead, it should have been given during a morning assembly because it was not a St. Joe recognition that was being handed out.

What was ironic was that the graduating students received their recognition pins (for participation in extra-curricular activities) during a regular morning assembly. They should have gotten these pins at the graduation ceremony itself so that they get FULL recognition for it, in front of their families and friends, instead of the other students, who probably cared less about it. How can anyone miss that? It is not rocket science. Only common sense.


Let me make this clear. I don't have any issues with the recipient. It could have been anyone. It could have even been my son. What I find inappropriate was the whole "recognition" activity itself.

Then, there is this whole other issue about why students don't qualify for an academic excellence award despite having excellent grades, simply because their ITBS scores did not meet a certain threshold??? Now, that is BIZARRE and UNFAIR. If you're overall average grade is A- or better, you should qualify for an academic excellence award. That's it. No other criteria or condition. The student worked hard throughout the year to earn that grade. To include another factor, such as the ITBS score, in the mix is totally unfair. ITBS test was taken at the start of the school year and, to me, it is not reflective of anything because of the fact that some kids test better than others. But it doesn't mean they are smarter. So if you woke up on the wrong side of the bed or you got nervous taking this test, you are doomed. Truly mind-boggling.

Aside from these peculiarities and inconceivable nuances, the graduation ceremony went on smoothly.

Congratulations, Class of 2013.