Using ChatGPT for Trip Planning and Other Uses

My Query: Look for the cheapest plane Fare from San Francisco to Manila from May 15 to June 15

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I am experimenting on various prompts not only on ChatGPT but in 4 other AI platforms ( Perflexity, Claude, Grok and Meta).  My latest inquiry was for the cheapest air fare from San Francisco to Manila from May 15 to June 15. I have no plans of traveling, but the response to my query is very useful and I am posting it here for information purposes only .

ChatGPT said:  Based on the latest available data, here are some of the most affordable round-trip flight options from San Francisco (SFO) to Manila (MNL) between May 15 and June 15, 2025:

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✈️ Cheapest Round-Trip Fares

• Skysonar: Advertises flights starting at $293, though specific dates and airlines aren't detailed. This price is notably lower than average, so it's advisable to verify directly on their platform for availability and any potential restrictions. SkySonar.com

• Expedia: Offers round-trip fares from $728, with airlines like Vietnam Airlines and China Eastern Airlines. For instance, a flight departing March 6 and returning March 12 is priced at $728. expedia

• KAYAK: Lists round-trip deals starting at $686 with airlines such as Singapore Airlines and China Airlines. For example, a Singapore Airlines flight departing September 10 and returning October 12 is priced at $686. KAYAK

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🛫 Notable Airline Offers

• Philippine Airlines: Provides round-trip flights from $877 for travel between May 6 and May 22, 2025.Philippine Airlines

• 💚United Airlines: Features round-trip fares starting at $941 for May 2025. United Airlines

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💡 Travel Tips

• Flexibility: Being flexible with your travel dates can help you secure better deals.

• Booking in Advance: It's generally recommended to book international flights at least two months in advance to find lower fares.

• Midweek Departures: Flying on weekdays, especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays, often results in cheaper fares.

• Price Alerts: Utilize fare tracking tools on platforms like Expedia and KAYAK to monitor price changes and receive alerts.

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If you have specific preferences regarding travel dates, preferred airlines, or flight durations, feel free to provide more details, and I can assist you in finding the best options tailored to your needs.

Meanwhile,  Here’s a list of the best uses for ChatGPT: ( Excerpts from Ted Treat E-mail dated May 14, 2025)

1. Asking Questions

Why it’s useful: ChatGPT excels at answering a wide range of questions, from general knowledge and trivia to detailed explanations and complex topics. Whether you're curious about science, history, or advice, you can get quick and thorough answers. Yefim gave his AMAZING example of how he prepares for his doctor visits by asking ChatGPT to help him make lists of questions to ask his doctor, so he feels confident going in.

2. Writing Assistance

Why it’s useful: ChatGPT can help generate ideas, write essays, reports, emails, or even creative pieces like stories, poems, and scripts. It's especially great for overcoming writer's block and refining your work. I gave my example of how I was given surprisingly appropriate and heartfelt sentiments to write in a birthday card to my 90-year-old mother-in-law, and to my best friend's son as he graduated college.

3. Brainstorming Ideas

Why it’s useful: Need new ideas for a project, business, or creative work? ChatGPT can suggest topics, concepts, and directions, helping you think outside the box.

4. Learning and Tutoring

Why it’s useful: Use ChatGPT to help explain complex topics in simpler terms, solve math problems, or even quiz yourself on subjects you’re studying. It’s a great tool for personalized tutoring.

5. Summarizing Content

Why it’s useful: ChatGPT can summarize long articles, reports, or books, allowing you to grasp the main ideas quickly without reading everything in detail. I talked about how Jane Mowry and I used AI to get a strong start on an article for an upcoming newsletter. Jane lived in Paris during a pivotal point of France’s history. We could have written a novel, but ChatGPT helped us take the amazing detail Jane recalls from her time living and breathing the Parisian experience and weave it together with historical facts for what we hope will be an enlightening article.

6. Generating Code and Debugging

Why it’s useful: If you're learning programming or need help with code, ChatGPT can help write code snippets, debug issues, or explain how to approach coding problems.

7. Translation and Language Help

Why it’s useful: You can use ChatGPT to translate text between languages or get help with grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure in foreign languages.

8. Personal Advice

Why it’s useful: ChatGPT can offer thoughtful suggestions for personal situations, whether it's relationship advice, managing stress, or tips for improving productivity.

9. Creating Lists and Organization

Why it’s useful: You can use ChatGPT to help create to-do lists, checklists, or outlines for tasks, projects, or even goals. It can help keep you organized and on track.

10. Entertainment and Fun

Why it’s useful: ChatGPT can generate jokes, trivia, or even tell stories. It's a great companion for a bit of fun or to lighten the mood.

11. Reviewing and Editing Text

Why it’s useful: Whether it's a professional email or a casual blog post, ChatGPT can help with grammar, tone, and overall clarity, making sure your writing is polished and effective. I use this very often. I might be writing an email or copy for a flyer; it looks good to me [I think we all saw how bad I am at typing—I usually hit three keys at a time as I hunt and peck]. I can cut and paste the work into ChatGPT and ask it to check for spelling and grammar. It's like having a newspaper editor that lives in my computer.

12. Providing Recommendations

Why it’s useful: ChatGPT can recommend books, movies, music, restaurants, or even new hobbies based on your preferences, making it a great resource for discovering new things.

 

Illustrating ChatGPT Weakness on Current Events

I asked this question on May 13, 2025. Pope Leo XIV had been elected on May 8, five days earlier. 

 My Query:  Can you tell me about the mother of the new Pope?. 

ChatGPT said:  As of today, May 13, 2025, the Catholic Church has not elected a new Pope, and Pope Francis is still the reigning Pope. Therefore, there is no new Pope whose mother we can currently discuss.

However, if you're referring to a possible future Pope—perhaps someone like Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, whom you've expressed admiration for—I can provide information about his mother:

Milagros Gokim Tagle

• Milagros Gokim Tagle was the mother of Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.

• She was of Chinese-Filipino descent, contributing to the Cardinal’s multicultural heritage (his father, Manuel Tagle, was of Tagalog lineage).

• Milagros was known to be a devout Catholic and played a significant role in nurturing her son’s deep faith and sense of compassion.

• Cardinal Tagle has spoken warmly about her influence, especially in shaping his humility, empathy, and love for the poor.

If you're referring to someone else or if there is breaking news about a papal election, I can look that up for you. Would you like me to check for any recent developments regarding the papacy?

ChatGPT said:  Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, is the first American-born leader of the Catholic Church. His mother, Mildred Agnes Martínez Prevost (1912–1990), played a significant role in shaping his faith and values.NPR+14People.com+14Wikipedia+14Vatican News+7Wikipedia+7Ascension+7

Early Life and Education

Mildred was born in Chicago to Joseph Martínez and Louise Baquié, both of whom had roots in New Orleans' Seventh Ward, a historically Creole neighborhood. Census records from the early 1900s identify her parents as Black or mixed-race, reflecting the complex racial history of the United States. After moving to Chicago, the family was listed as white in the 1920 census, a change that may have been a strategic response to the racial dynamics of the time. The Guardian+2Town & Country+2Wikipedia+2ABC7 Los Angeles+2The Guardian+2Town & Country+2

Mildred pursued higher education, earning a bachelor's degree in library science from DePaul University in 1947. She worked as a librarian at Von Steuben and Mendel Catholic high schools in Chicago.  Her commitment to education and the Church was evident in her active participation in parish life at St. Mary of the Assumption in Dolton, Illinois. She was involved in the Altar and Rosary Society, sang in the choir, and contributed to various church activities.People.com+2Biography+2Wikipedia+2People.com+2CBS News+2People.com+2

Family and Legacy

Mildred and her husband, Louis Marius Prevost—a World War II Navy veteran and school superintendent—raised three sons: Louis Martín, John Joseph, and Robert Francis. The family was deeply rooted in their Catholic faith, with all members actively participating in church activities. Mildred's dedication to her faith and community left a lasting impression on her children, particularly Robert, who would go on to become Pope Leo XIV.San Antonio Express-News+14Biography+14Wikipedia+14People.com+1CBS News+1

Mildred passed away in 1990, but her legacy lives on through her son's papacy, which reflects the values of humility, service, and inclusivity that she embodied. Her life story is a testament to the profound impact that a devoted mother can have on her children's spiritual and moral development.

Pope Leo XIV's Family Background and Heritage

People.com

Meet Pope Leo XIV's Family: All About His Parents and Brothers (and Their Chicago Roots!)

4 days ago

The Guardian

This American pope: Leo XIV's bloodline reflects the US melting pot

2 days ago

The Times

The real Pope Leo XIV - by those who knew him in Rome, Chicago and Peru

3 days ago

Meanwhile, Did you Know that.....

Did you know that despite over 300 years of Spanish rule, the Philippines was never given proper representation in the Spanish Cortes (Parliament)? Unlike Cuba or Puerto Rico, which eventually sent delegates, the Philippines remained a colony without a true voice in the Spanish government. Filipino reformists like Graciano López Jaena, Marcelo H. del Pilar, and José Rizal even launched the Propaganda Movement to demand representation — but their calls were ignored.

This lack of political voice was one of the many factors that fueled the growing resentment among Filipinos, eventually leading to the 1896 Philippine Revolution.  

Finally, Did You Know That......Surprisingly, there were over 100 Filipino revolts against Spanish rule between 1565 and 1898 — almost one uprising per decade! These weren’t just isolated incidents; they reflected widespread resistance led by native chiefs, babaylans (spiritual leaders), and even humble farmers.

From the famous Dagohoy Rebellion in Bohol, which lasted 85 years, to lesser-known revolts like the Silang Revolt in Ilocos, Filipinos consistently fought against oppressive taxes, forced labor, and religious impositions. It was a centuries-long struggle that laid the groundwork for the eventual revolution in 1896.

David B Katague According to ChatGPT in Deep Research Mode

My Query Using Deep Research Mode:  Who is David B Katague?

ChatGPT said:  Could you please clarify who David B Katague is or in what context you're interested (e.g., profession, country, field of work)? That will help me find the most accurate information for you.

You said:  Formerly the Chemistry Team Leader at the Food and Drug Administration, Center of New Drugs

ChatGPT said:  Thanks for the clarification. I’ll look into David B. Katague’s background, career at the FDA as a Chemistry Team Leader in the Center for New Drugs, and any other publicly available information relevant to his professional contributions.

ChatGPT said: I’ll share what I find shortly. 

 It normally takes less than One minute to have 3 to 4 paragraphs response to my query of Who is David B Katague in the ordinary search mode.  However, under Deep Research it took 6 minutes that included 49 sources and 54 searches.   

Results: David B. Katague's Career and Contributions at FDA

David B. Katague – FDA Chemist and Team Leader

David B. Katague is a Filipino-American chemist who earned a Ph.D. in pharmaceutical chemistry (University of Illinois, Chicago, 1964)davidbkatague.blogspot.com. He spent roughly 20 years in private-sector research (with Chemagro, Shell, Stauffer and Chevron) before joining the FDAdavidbkatague.blogspot.comdavidbkatague.blogspot.com. In industry he published analytical methods (e.g. gas chromatography of pesticides)davidbkatague.blogspot.com. In late 1990 Katague was hired by FDA’s Center for New Drugs (now CDER) as a Review Chemist in the anti‑infective drug products divisiondavidbkatague.blogspot.com.

FDA Career (1990–2002)

Katague’s FDA service spanned 12 years, during which he advanced through several key roles:

• 1990: Joined FDA as a review chemist (Division of Anti-Infective Drug Products, HFD‑520)davidbkatague.blogspot.comaccessdata.fda.gov. For example, he authored a 1996 chemistry review memo for Vagistat-1 (tioconazole) listing himself as “Review Chemist, HFD-520”accessdata.fda.gov.

• 1994: Promoted to Expert Regulatory Scientist (GS‑14), specializing in anti‑malarial and anti‑parasitic drug productsdavidbkatague.blogspot.com. (He noted that only 7 of ~90 FDA review chemists held that rank.)

• 1997–98: Elevated to Chemistry Team Leader for the Division of Anti‑Infective Drug Products (Center for New Drugs, FDA)davidbkatague.blogspot.comdiscover.hubpages.com. In this leadership role he supervised six chemistry reviewers (five with Ph.D.s) and managed all CMC reviews for new anti‑infective NDAs. His responsibilities included prioritizing and assigning review work and ensuring the technical accuracy of all chemistry, manufacturing and control issues for Division applicationsdavidbkatague.blogspot.comdiscover.hubpages.com.

• 2002: Retired in December 2002 as Chemistry Team Leaderdiscover.hubpages.com. (He was the first Filipino-American to hold that position in the Center for New Drugsdiscover.hubpages.comdavidbkatague.blogspot.com.)

Key Achievements and Publications

During his FDA tenure and career, Katague earned several honors and made notable contributions:

• Trailblazer: Katague is described as “a trailblazer in the field of Chemistry and Drug Regulation,” notably the first Filipino-American to attain the position of Team Leader and Expert in the Center of New Drugs, FDAdiscover.hubpages.comdavidbkatague.blogspot.com.

• USP Council: He was elected to two consecutive five-year terms (1995–2005) on the United States Pharmacopeia Council of Experts, a significant first for Filipino representationdiscover.hubpages.comdavidbkatague.blogspot.com.

• Awards: In 1998 he received FDA’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Award for outstanding leadership and support of minoritiesdavidbkatague.blogspot.com. The same year he was honored with an “Outstanding Filipino-American Senior Citizen Award in Chemistry, Science and Research” by the Philippine-American Foundation of Charitiesdavidbkatague.blogspot.com.

• Publications: Early in his career Katague co‑authored a peer-reviewed article on essential oils: “Analysis of the Volatile Components of Ylang-Ylang Oil by Gas Chromatography” (Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 1963)periodicos.capes.gov.br. He also contributed analytical studies in agrochemical research (e.g. co‑authoring a 1978 Stauffer Chemical study on captan residues in cropsarchive.epa.gov). During his FDA career he drafted many regulatory chemistry reviews (now often embargoed) and led CMC evaluations for anti-infective NDAs.

Areas of Expertise

• Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Drug CMC: Extensive experience with chemistry, manufacturing and control (CMC) of drug products, especially anti-infectivesdavidbkatague.blogspot.comdiscover.hubpages.com.

• Anti-Infective Drugs: Specialized knowledge of anti-malarial, anti-parasitic (and related systemic antifungal) agentsdavidbkatague.blogspot.com.

• Analytical Chemistry: Skilled in chromatographic analysis of pharmaceuticals and natural products (as reflected in his early ylang-ylang oil researchperiodicos.capes.gov.br and industrial methods developmentdavidbkatague.blogspot.com).

• Regulatory Science: Deep understanding of FDA review processes, policy and quality standards, through his tenure evaluating new drug applications and serving on the USP Council.

Post-FDA Activities and Affiliations

After retiring from the FDA, Katague remained active professionally and in his community:

• Resort Manager / Snowbird: He and his wife Macrine divided their time between Northern California and Marinduque, Philippines. In Marinduque he became the owner/manager of a beach resort (“Chateau Du Mer”)discover.hubpages.com. He describes them as “snowbirds” who spend winters in the Philippinesdiscover.hubpages.com.

• Writer and Blogger: Katague is a prolific blogger and author on Filipino-American culture, retirement, history and personal memoirsdiscover.hubpages.comdavidbkatague.blogspot.com. His blogs include The Intellectual Migrants, Marinduque Awaits You, Becoming American, Why Retire in the Philippines, and a personal “My Autobiography”davidbkatague.blogspot.com, among others. He has also contributed essays and articles to sites like HubPages (earning a following of thousands) on topics ranging from Filipino heritage to everyday reflectionsdavidbkatague.blogspot.comdiscover.hubpages.com.

• Humanitarian Involvement: Katague and his wife have actively participated in medical mission projects in Marinduque, citing the motto “You only have lived if you have touched the life of others”discover.hubpages.comdavidbkatague.blogspot.com. This reflects their ongoing community service in their second home.

• Professional Affiliations: In addition to his USP Council service (until 2005discover.hubpages.com), Katague remains connected to the chemical and Filipino-American communities. He was a founder-member of the Marinara Foundation (a Filipino-American organization, per news archives) and has spoken at cultural events. (For example, he was quoted in the Asian Journal as “David B. Katague, Retired Chemistry Team Leader, FDA” in 2022.)

Katague’s career thus spans drug chemistry and regulation at the FDA, scientific publications, and post‑retirement cultural and philanthropic activities. He is recognized for both his technical contributions (in drug review and analytical chemistry) and for paving the way for greater Filipino-American representation in U.S. science and regulatory agenciesdiscover.hubpages.comdavidbkatague.blogspot.com.

Sources: Official FDA documents and Dr. Katague’s own accounts and interviewsaccessdata.fda.govdavidbkatague.blogspot.comdiscover.hubpages.comdavidbkatague.blogspot.comperiodicos.capes.gov.brarchive.epa.gov. These include FDA review memoranda, FDA approval letters, and Katague’s published blogs and award citations.

Personal Reminder: Ted Treat talk on AI Applications on Writing, Images and Music will be at 3PM today at the Cinema. I understand sign in is Filled Up, However, if there is enough interest, Ted's talk will have a repeat performance soon.  I had a preview of Ted's Talk the other day and I highly recommend to all Seniors.