Ditas Katague -Newly Appointed CID National Advisory Board Member

I am super proud to announce the latest accomplishments of my

 youngest daughter, Ditas. She was just recently added to the National 

Advisor Board of the Center of Inclusive Democracy(CID), USC Sol Price

 School of Public Policy    

Ditas Katague - National Advisory Board Member
Former Associate Director for Communications and Engagement at the U.S.

Census Bureau  Linkdin

Ditas Katague is a democracy strategist and institutional leader with 25+ years

building the trusted-messenger infrastructure that connects American institutions

to the communities they serve. She is the creator of the trusted-messenger ecosystem

model first piloted in California in 1999 (for Census 2000) and later scaled to national

federal operations, a framework now cited as a breakthrough approach to community

-driven communications and civic trust-building.

Ditas is founder and President of The Ditas Group, LLC, where she advises California

government, philanthropy, and civic-sector leaders on strategies spanning democracy

strengthening, election administration, and civic engagement. She currently advises

the California Democracy Partnership and is a primary architect of California's

proposed VOICES (Voter Outreach Information & Corps for Election Safety) program

, which would build a statewide trusted-messenger network, an Election Administration

Fellowship, and a multi-county Election Safety Corps.

She has been appointed by the President of the United States and three California 

Governors to lead institutions with budgets up to $267M and teams of 200+, including

Associate Director for Communications & Engagement at the U.S. Census Bureau, 

Director of California Complete Count Census 2000, 2010 & 2020, and Chief of Staff

to a CPUC Commissioner. She served as Principal Advisor for Community Outreach

& Engagement on California's VOTE SAFE Program and the 2025 Special Election 

(Proposition 50).

A first-generation Filipino-American, Ditas holds an MPA from USC and a BA from

UC Berkeley. She speaks frequently on the topics of political inclusion, data 

stewardship, Change Leadership, trust building & outreach to vulnerable populations.

Ditas is meditation and yoga teacher and an artist (www.grievingthruglee.com). 

She is also a first-generation, daughter of Filipino immigrants, and community 

organizer.

The Center for Inclusive Democracy (CID) at the USC Sol Price School 

of Public Policy is a leading nonpartisan research center focused on

 elections, voting behaviors, and electoral and political participation. 

Founded by political sociologist Dr. Mindy Romero, CID has been a 

driving force for more than a decade on dozens of national and multi-state 

research initiatives that harness big data to effect change. Its studies have

 been widely used to inform public policy at all levels of government, 

as well as empower local communities seeking to eliminate disparities 

in social and economic well-being of the electorate.

Meanwhile, PHILIPPINES, SPAIN CELEBRATE HISTORIC 

FRIENDSHIPDay

Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day, observed every June 30, honors the enduring ties between the Philippines and Spain and commemorates General Emilio Aguinaldo’s 1899 decree recognizing the besieged Spanish troops in Baler as friends rather than prisoners of war.

The occasion highlights the shared history and values of the two nations, with the Siege of Baler remembered as a moment that produced heroes on both sides.

Established through Republic Act No. 9187 in 2003, the celebration aims to strengthen the longstanding friendship between the Philippines and Spain.

Lastly, Here are the five biggest news stories making headlines today:

1. U.S. Supreme Court Issues Several Landmark Decisions
   The U.S. Supreme Court released a series of closely watched rulings
2.  on the final day of its term. Among the major decisions:
   • It struck down President Donald Trump's executive order seeking
   •  to end birthright citizenship.
   • It ruled that presidents may remove the heads of many 
   • independent federal agencies, significantly expanding
   • presidential authority.
   • It upheld state laws restricting transgender athletes from
   •  participating in girls' and women's sports.
   • It allowed mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to continue 
   • being counted in states that permit the practice. 
3. U.S. and Iran Prepare for New Peace Talks
   Following weeks of military confrontation, U.S. officials are preparing
4. for another round of diplomatic talks with Iran in Qatar. Iranian officials,
5.  however, have publicly disputed some of President Trump's statements regarding 
6. the negotiations, underscoring the fragile nature of the peace process. 
7. Violence Continues in Gaza and the West Bank
   Fighting continues in the Middle East. Israeli airstrikes reportedly
8. killed several people in Gaza, including children, while violence 
9. also intensified in the West Bank. International human rights 
10. organizations continue to express concern over the humanitarian
11.  situation. 
12. Stock Market Finishes Strong Second Quarter
    U.S. stock futures remained steady after a powerful market rally.
13.  The major indexes are on track to close the second quarter with
14.  impressive gains despite months of geopolitical uncertainty and
15.  inflation concerns. Investors are also watching corporate earnings,
16.  including those from Nike, later today. 
17. 2026 FIFA World Cup Knockout Drama
    The World Cup continues to produce surprises. Germany was 
18. eliminated in a penalty shootout by Paraguay, prompting veteran
19.  goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to announce another retirement from 
20. international football. Morocco also advanced after defeating the
21.  Netherlands in a dramatic shootout, while Mexico prepared for a
22.  key match against Ecuador. 

Finally, My Reel of the Day: Filipino Folk Dancing- Reminds me of My High school Years in the Philippines

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1522628192793220

When Is It Time? A Difficult Reality in Senior Living

Living at The Heritage Downtown (THD) for nearly three years has given me a front-row seat to the joys and challenges of growing older. Most of us here continue to enjoy an active lifestyle. We play Bridge and Mahjong, attend concerts, exercise classes, lectures, and excursions, and enjoy the companionship of fellow residents.

But occasionally, something happens that reminds us that aging is not always kind.

Recently, while walking to lunch, I saw a fellow resident gently holding a beautiful stuffed cat and trying to make it drink water. The toy looked remarkably lifelike from a distance. I quietly mentioned that the cat was not real, but she simply looked at me with a blank expression as I continued on my way.

A few days later, another incident caught my attention.

As organizer of our Monday Bridge group, I maintain a list of substitute players whenever one of our eight regular players cannot attend. A new resident had asked to be included, so I gladly placed her on the substitute list. Two weeks ago, I called her because we needed a fourth player. She never returned my call.

Several days later, she confronted me in the hallway and asked why I was preventing her from playing Bridge. I explained that I had called her recently, but she insisted her phone had not been working.

Neither of these encounters was humorous to me.

Instead, they made me pause and think about the difficult reality many senior living communities face.

As we age, some residents begin to experience memory loss or early dementia. At first, the signs may be subtle. They may forget conversations, become confused about recent events, misplace objects, or misunderstand situations. Family members may dismiss these changes as "just getting older," but sometimes they are the early symptoms of cognitive decline.

There comes a point when independent living may no longer provide enough support.

Assisted Living and Memory Care communities exist for a reason. They provide trained staff, structured routines, medication management, and specialized care designed to help residents remain safe while preserving as much dignity and independence as possible.

This raises an important question.

Should the management of an active senior living community become involved when they observe signs that a resident may no longer be thriving independently?

I believe they should.

Management is not there to diagnose medical conditions. That responsibility belongs to physicians and qualified healthcare professionals. However, management members are often among the first people to observe changes in a resident's daily functioning. They see residents every day. They notice repeated confusion, missed meals, unusual behavior, or increasing forgetfulness.

When these concerns become noticeable, management has a responsibility to communicate with the resident's designated family members or legal representatives. Together, they can encourage a medical evaluation and determine whether additional support is needed.

This is not about taking away someone's independence.

It is about protecting their safety, preserving their dignity, and ensuring they receive the care they deserve before a crisis occurs.

Dementia affects not only the individual but also families, friends, neighbors, and the entire community. The earlier it is recognized, the better the opportunities for treatment, planning, and support.

Growing older is a privilege denied to many. Growing older safely, with compassion and appropriate care, should be a goal we all share.

Perhaps the greatest kindness we can offer one another in a senior community is not simply friendship, but the courage to recognize when someone may need more help than we can provide.

Meanwhile, Last Photos of June, Welcome, July, 2026

It is hard to believe June is already behind us! Here is a post to celebrate the transition into the heart of summer: ​And just like that, June slips away into the memory book.

​Thank you, June, for the long, sun-drenched days, the vibrant golden hours, and the beauty of early summer. You brought the warmth and the inspiration, and now we hand the torch over to July.

​Welcome, July! Here’s to deeper summer days, new adventures under wide open skies, and capturing every beautiful moment along the way. Let’s make it unforgettable.