It was such a pleasure catching up with Jane Brien the Director of Alumni Affairs for Bard College, on her recent visit to Santa Fe to connect with Alumni and supporters of Bard’s educational mission. I would also like to express my thanks to Malia K. Du Mont, the VP and Chief of Staff at Bard College, for helping put us together.
In the aftermath of the terrible shooting at former President Trump’s rally, I am reminded of my conversation on The Ask podcast with New York Times Opinion columnist and bestselling author David French about his book: Divided We Fall. A poignant mediation on a possible future United States plagued and ruined by politically fueled violence.
Kindness and acceptance of difference are increasingly lost and rare American virtues we must reclaim. E pluribus unum.
Thankful for my good health, the health of my parents, my sister, her children and husband, and the rest of my family. I miss Frankie so much but I am thankful he is at peace now.
Thankful for my friendships.
Thankful for the professional opportunities and experiences I have had over the past two years.
Life is sweet, rich, and it is always to be savored. 
It took me a minute, waddling in after my friend Natalya Karabelska, but I got there. ^_^
Whether you are a seasoned producer or someone brand new looking better to understand project management and production for the game industry, I could not more strongly recommend Andy Johnson’s Game Production courses on Maven.
He not only brings a strong command of the teaching materials but what made the difference for me (and this was crucial in my decision to sign up) is that Andy has seen it all over the course of his career.
From THQ, King, Stoic, and now over at SHRAPNEL as EP, Andy has had unquestionable real-world experience tackling complex issues related to project management for game production and brought that with him to this course.
I entered his Game Production 9 course with two years of production experience from Digimancy Entertainment. Still, I learned valuable lessons and tools that made me a better producer for my fellow developers. He was always ready and available to answer any questions we may have had weeks and even months after the course wrapped.
I appreciate the fireside chats he arranged with experienced game developers like Josh Ayala, CEO at Perfect Day Games, and Dan McAuliffe, studio head for Bungie.
Finally, another huge plus was connecting with the rest of the students in his course. I met some bright people and walked away with an expanded professional network and some good friends.
Dear Frankie.
We were not ready for you to leave us so soon. When your family sent me pictures of your body in repose outside the hospital, I didn’t want to believe them.
You looked so peaceful, as if you were taking a sweet afternoon nap. Like you would rise up from your slumber, stretch, yawn, and continue on with your life at any moment, and we would see each other in the Philippines again someday.
But you were gone. My heart and soul ran cold, and my world dimmed as your light left us. What followed was grief and tears for me, my mother, and my sister. Especially my mother, she wept and wept and cried out that just days ago, she’d been messaging you, and you assured her everything was fine and you were taking care of yourself.
Oh Frankie.
You were so much to us. I think back to the long stretch of life we shared together, beginning at our townhouse in Wack Wack, to my mother’s home in Baguio and then to our days around Greenbelt. You were everywhere in our lives. You cared for Simba and Chloe, you looked after my mother, you helped and protected my sister, and you gave me the companionship of a brother.
You celebrated our birthdays; we celebrated yours. All the joyous moments in our lives in the Philippines included you in the picture. And we shared in your grief when you faced the tragedies of life. We grew up together, Frankie, and when we left the Philippines, you became the Philippines for us.
Without you, our former home will never be the same for us. I wish your body had not betrayed Frankie. I wish you had not spent the last years battling for your life. I wish you could live longer and spend more time with your family and with us.
For the rest of my life, I will always think about what more I could have done to help you through these troubled times. This week, we lost a member of our little family. You were loved by us Frankie, you will forever be loved by us and remembered by us as a great and special soul.
My mother, sister and I will think of you for the rest of our lives with love and affection and of course with sorrow that we’ll never hear your voice again or experience the glow of you soft, gentle, and beaming smile.
My last message to you, was “I love you, brother.”
I love you now, and forever Frankie, my brother. 
I will miss you and remember you for the rest of my life.
