Jeepney Press 86 March-April 2017

PAHAYAGANG PINOY SA JAPAN

ジープニー プレス Celebrating The Journeys Of Filipinos In Japan 在日フィリピン人 向けマガジン

March - April 2017

PAHAYAGANG PINOY SA JAPAN

ジープニー プレス

在日フィリピン人 向けマガジン

JEEPNEY PRESS welcomes articles of interest on Filipinos in Japan. Please email any photos, drawings, and other materials that you would like to accompany the article.

Submissions can also be sent by postmail. Photos, drawings and other materials will not be returned unless sent with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Deadline is one month before publication. We reserve the right to edit or omit any submissions.

Disclaimer: Jeepney Press is not responsible for the transactions between its advertisers and their clients. Publisher does not endorse or make any representation or warranty, express or implied, with respect to any of the products or services advertised herein. We recommend that you independently evaluate all products/services before purchasing. Jeepney Press is not accountable for any claims on the articles in this magazine. They are purely the writer's idea and opinion. The views expressed herein are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers'. Public and private parties approached by those claiming to work for or on behalf of Jeepney Press should call our office to confirm truth of any such claim, especially where money may be involved.

Jeepney Press is published online bimonthly by Asia Vox Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright 2017

JEEPNEY PRESS Asia Vox Ltd.

Takadanobaba Bldg. 701, 1-26-12 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0075 Tel : 03-5292-2340 Fax: 03-5292-2341 e-mail: jeepneymail@yahoo.com website: http://jeepneymail.wix.com/jeepneypress

publisher ASIA VOX LTD. IRENE SUN-KANEKO editorial & creative director DENNIS SUN editorial staff

ROGER AGUSTIN Tokyo MIRIAM SUN-ARENAS, MD Philippines RENALIZA CHAVEZ Tokyo GLEN GYPSY Tokyo FARAH TROFEO-ISHIZAWA Tokyo MICHELLE G. ONG Osaka JEFF PLANTILLA Nara ABIE PRINCIPE Nagoya MARK QUIJANO Kyushu MARILYN RIVERA Philippines NERIZA SAITO Osaka ELENA SAKAI Tokyo KAREN SANCHEZ Kanagawa ANITA SASAKI Tokyo WARREN SUN Tokyo WAYNE SUN Philippines SALLY CRISTOBAL-TAKASHIMA Osaka ALMA REYES Tokyo JASMIN VASQUEZ Nagano LITA MANALASTAS-WATANABE Tokyo

creative staff

ARLENE ESPERIDA Tokyo JERRY SUN-ARENAS Philippines VAL AMOR C. PALO Tokyo JOSE MIGUEL PARUNGAO Philippines CHINO MANDING CADDARAO Tokyo NICK SANTIAGO Tokyo DANNY DUNGO Tokyo MARISOL KUDO Oita

PAHAYAGANG PINOY SA JAPAN

在日フィリピン人 向けマガジン

ジープニー プレス

6 Simply Sakuras

photo by Nick Santiago

8 Editorial: Simply Sakuras

by Dennis Sun

10 Sakura And I

by Irene Kaneko 16 Advice Ni Tita Lits ni Isabelita ManalastasWatanabe

17 Life Is A Journey

by Glenda Atienza

18 Isang Araw sa Ating Buhay ni Jeff Plantilla

20 Kwento ni Nanay ni Anita Sasaki

21 Shoganai

ni Abie Principe

22 Signpost

ni Karen Sanchez

23 Kapatiran

ni Loleng Ramos

24 On The Road

by Neriza Saito 04

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26 Under The Spotlights: Kryz Evanz

by Dennis Sun

28 Musings of a Gardener

by Rogelio Agustin

30 It Might Be You!

by Alma Reyes

32 Summer Escapade

by Alvin Tagle

34 Moving On

by Jasmin Vasquez

35 Kokoro Kara ni Carol Inagaki

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MARCH - APRIL 2017

Photo by Nick Santiago

MARCH - APRIL 2017

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by Dennis Sun Just like the Japanese, the Filipinos in Japan, after hibernating during the winter season and not seeing each other for some months, come together for HANAMI. Alam mo naman ang mga Pinoy, takot sa lamig. Pero kapag nag-snow, lalabas din sila para lang magpapikchur taking! After they have filled their Facebook with snow pictures during the winter holiday, Pinoys in Japan will paint their Facebook timeline into pink when spring comes! While the Japanese are busy enjoying their picnic, eating their onigiri and sipping their sake, the Pinoys get crazy taking their selfies with the sakura blossoms.

Magutom na kung magutom. Huwag lang palampasin ang magagandang shots ng mga bulaklak. Siempre, kasama sila. Solo. Another solo. At isang katerbang mga solo shots. Tsaka pagkatapos, isali na rin ang sankatutak na group selfies with the dabarkads. Parang mga tutubi itong mga Pinoy.

Daig pa nga kung minsan.

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Last year, nalathala sa news ang mga “undesirable tourists.�

Huwag na lang natin isulat kung saang bansa sila galing. Salamat na lamang at hindi mga Pinoy. Alam na siguro ng lahat. Naku, doon sa Ueno Park kung mayroon maraming mga sakura trees. Hindi pa sila nakontento sa mga shots nila, eh, nag-akyatan ba naman sila sa mga puno ng sakura na parang mga unggoy! Bawal po iyon!

Bawal din pong galawin ang mga sanga ng sakura trees para lang maisali sa pikchur! Hindi pa ba sapat na mayroon na silang dosenang litrato ng sakura? Huwag po natin tularan ang mga ibang tao na walang pakialam at galang sa kagandahan ng kalikasan. Huwag po natin dapat pitasin o hawakan ang mga bulaklak.

Sa mga matagal na sa Japan, alam na siguro ang mga rules sa pagtatapon ng basura. Always separate the the burnable and non-burnable wastes.

Hanapin ninyo yung garbage area. Siguradong meron yan. Magtanong lang kayo. Gomi no tokoro wa doko desu ka.

Hindi illegal ang uminom ng alcohol sa publiko.

Naku! Numero uno ang mga Hapon diyan.

Pabayaan niyo na lang sila. Bansa nila ito. Pero, sana tayong mga Pinoy, dapat palaging wellbehaved. Kasi alam po ninyo, ang maliit na pagkakamali ng isang Pinoy ay nagbibigay ng masamang larawan sa lahat ng mga Pinoy dito.

Naku, Inday! Sa bahay ka na lang mag-lasing! At kung gusto mong mag Celine Dion at Whitney Houston, doon mo iraos sa karaoke box.

Sa pag-reserve ng space para sa picnic during hanami, check ninyo kung ilang tao ang darating.

Baka kalahati ng park ay nakariserba sa inyo at tatlo lang kayong dumating. Aba! Private picnic party ang labas.

Sossy!

Let’s appreciate the beauty of the cherry blossoms and enjoy our hanami bonding with our friends while they are still here with us. Simply, the sakuras are just flowers, as we are simply human beings. We are not going to last here forever.

Photo by Nick Santiago MARCH - APRIL 2017

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by Irene Kaneko

Spring means only one thing: SAKURA! Between winter and summer, spring offers the best and most beautiful season. Pinoys fall in love with spring. Letʼs find out how each Pinoy falls in love with sakuras by the pictures they take.

Francis Avel Estolas

Avel’s origins come from Abra.

He came to Japan 6 years ago and lives in Tokyo. “When Sakura in Japan starts to bloom, for me, new beginnings also start to bloom. All the things that I planted from winter time, they all start to give meaning in my life.”

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Chie Kushida

Chie hails from Angeles City, Pampanga. She has been living in Japan for 15 years and lives in Tokyo. “Sakura or the cherry blossom is one of my favorite flowers in spring season and all seasons. It has been celebrated for many centuries and holds a very prominent position in Japanese culture. I feel blooming whenever I see the sakuras!”

Melinda Yamashita

Melinda comes from Paranaque. She has been living in Shizuoka for 29 years now. “We have a saying that life is beautiful but short, so enjoy it to the fullest. Just like sakura flowers, it's beautiful but life is short that's why I make sure to enjoy sakura viewing season at it's best.”

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Florence Yeye Liwanag

Yeye is from Alfonso, Cavite. She came to Japan 10 years ago and lives in Chiba.

“SAKURA. I love the radiant beauty of the Cherry Blossoms. During spring, HANAMI gives me the feeling of full positive energy.”

Charity Dangate Sato

Charity has her roots from Surigao del Norte. She has been living in Sendai for 18 years. “For me...... SAKURA means HOPE and the beginning of LIFE!!!!”

Ganzon Gan

Ganzon comes from Binondo. He has lived in Tokyo for a year.

“Sakura symbolizes the start of Spring season. It means the start of a new hope. A new beginning in life and renewal.”

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MARCH - APRIL 2017

Roy Camilo Tan

Roy’s origins come from Davao.

He came to Japan 20 years ago.

He lives in Yokosuka-shi.

“Spring for me, signifies the never-ending hope and chances for everyone to bloom and rise again at times of dormancy and failures. And Sakura is the nature's way to say: Life is good. Let's party!”

Dave Aguilar

Dave is from Hagonoy, Bulacan. He came to Japan 10 years ago and lives in Matsudo, Chiba now. “For me sakura means Happiness. Because during this season, people are reuniting and celebrating under the beautiful blooms of Sakura.”

Antonette Olin Collado

Antonette hails from Naga City, Bicol.

She has been living in Japan for 12 years and lives in Saitama. “We always look forward to the blooming of the cherry blossoms. Who can resist such a beauty?”

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Maria Lorraine Jayme Apigo

Lorraine hails from Davao. She came to Japan 15 years ago. She lives in Mizuho-shi, Gifu.

“Sakura symbolizes both beauty and mortality.

Life is beautiful but short. Let's enjoy it to the fullest by getting away from hatred and anger.”

Bon Urven Paye Dampor

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Bon has his roots from Pana-on, Misamis Occidental. He has been staying in Japan more than 3 years now. He lives in Shinjuku, Tokyo. “Sakura or cherry blossom season reminds me that everything in this world is temporary and that we always have a chance to renew ourselves, to awaken the strength within us and change for the better. To many, peak of winter is always a struggle but spring gives them the opportunity to look forward to a better season, a better tomorrow as inspired by the sakura. Blooming season is too short, usually lasting just 2 weeks, which becomes a visual reminder that indeed, life is fleeting.”

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Janeth Fuerzas Watanabe

Janeth has her origins from Davao City.

She has been living in Japan for 12 years and lives in Nagoya.

“The cherry blossoms or Sakura is one of the most captivating things about Japan.

My family is always fascinated by the beauty of sakura especially my photographer husband, Philip.”

Mariafe Vega Hirozane

Mariafe hails from Manila. and has been living in Tokyo for 23 years. “SAKURA is a time to go dating with my ever dearest husband. Kailangan, meron date every year! Ako, ang husband ko at mga sakura!”

Raquel Nakamura

Raquel comes from Manila. 23 years in Japan and living in Tokyo. “SAKURA - the Cherry Blossom Flower, for me depicts a renewal. Portraying the fragility and beauty of a short-lived life.”

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Take It Or Leave It!

by Isabelita Manalastas-Watanabe

Dear Tita Lits, Problema ko ay ang hindi paninigarilyo. Non-smoker po ako.

Tatay ko ay isang heavy smoker nang buhay pa siya. Alam na alam po namin kung nasa bahay na ang tatay dahil sa amoy ng sigarilyo. Bata pa ako, nagkaroon na ako ng asthma.

Napakahina ko po sa usok at amoy ng sigarilyo.

A little information on Tita Lits: Tita Lits was chosen as one of the Global 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the World in 2013, by the Filipina Women’s Network based in San Francisco, USA. She won under the Founder and Pioneer Category, basically due to the successful launch of Speed Money Transfer Japan K.K., of which Tita Lits is the President and Representative Director.

Tita Lits has 20 years of banking experience, heading the Asia Pacific, and also the Europe, Israel, and Africa region while at PNB. She was Deputy Director for Investments at the ASEAN-Japan Centre in Tokyo for 9 years, promoting Japanese investments to the ASEAN countries.

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Pumunta po ako sa Japan at nagtrabaho sa omise. Lahat po halos sa loob ng omise, staff man o okyakusan man, naninigarilyo. Nagtiis po ako para lang makaraos ang pamilya sa Pilipinas. Dito ko rin po nakita ang aking asawang Hapon. Alam niya po na mahina ako sa usok. Smoker din po siya.

Nang kinasal po kami, promise niya sa akin ay hihinto siya ng paninigarilyo pagka silang ng aming unang baby. 10 taon gulang na po yung baby namin at hanggang Dear Mina: After kong mabasa ang sulat mo, nag-search ako sa internet ng mga iba’t ibang studies tungkol sa smoking at saka sa secondhand smoke. Lahat ng mga advice nila ay parang dapat gumawa ng aksiyon kaagad, at hindi tulad ng case mo na mahigit ng sampung taon at ang laki na ng damage na nagawa sa buhay mo, sa buhay ng asawa mo, at sa inyong anak, at ngayon pa lang

ngayon, ay walang tigil pa rin siyang naninigarilyo. Lalo pa yatang lumala.

Nahihirapan na po ako. May allergy problems na po ang anak namin.

Lahat na po yata sa bahay namin ay umuubo lagi. Ang mga kurtina sa bahay ay amoy sigarilyo na. Yung beranda namin, puro mga tira ng sigarilyo niya.

Last year po, nagka bronchitis na ang asawa ko. Gabi-gabi, walang tigil ang ubo niya at kailangan niyang iduwa ang plema para makahinga siya ng mabuti. Ayaw niyang magpa-duktor dahil ipatitigil lang daw ang paninigarilyo niya. Wala po siyang balak tumigil. Matigas na po ang ulo.

Hindi ko na po tuloy alam kung paano ang gagawin ko. Mahal ko po ang asawa ko. Ano po ang payo ninyo?

Mina Kawasaki

hihingi ng tulong kung ano ang dapat gawin.

Dapat sana, noon pa lang nanliligaw sa iyo, naging firm ka na sa iyong pagsasabi sa kanya na ayaw mo ng cigarette smoke.

Kung sampung taon mo ng kinakausap ang asawa mo para mag-quit, ayaw pa rin, at kahit ngayong may sakit na siya dahil sa paninigarilyo niya, pero mas gusto niyang manigarilyo pa rin kaysa magpunta sa doctor and run the risk na masabihan siya ng doctor na huminto, ay talagang mukhang hopeless case na siya.

lamig kapag winter.

Compromise na ika mo ito – sige, manigarilyo siya hanggang matepok siya, pero huwag ka niyang isama at ang anak ninyo sa hukay. Secondhand smoke causes many illnesses, including cancer.

Maraming mga studies na ang ginawa at proven na harmful talaga ang secondhand smoke.

Sorry, at wala akong maipapayo pa. Pero kung gusto mong magbasa ng “How to Support Your Quitter”, please check out below link: https://smokefree.gov/un derstanding-smoking/hel p-others-quit/how-suppor t-your-quitter

Mukhang may beranda kayo. Mag-set ka ng rules na doon lang sa beranda Sige, good luck! ninyo siya pwedeng manigarilyo at hindi sa loob ng bahay. And be firm, kahit manginig siya sa

MARCH - APRIL 2017

Glen Gypsy Minsan Kailangan mag-isa Umupo Sa ilalim ng mga sakura Malamig man Ngunit nagpapa-init ang pag-ibig mong sa looban ko natitira pa Minsan Nan diyan ka sa tabi ko Malamig man Ay tiniis ko Minsan Sana nan diyan ka pa Kasama ang mga sakura Napakaganda Ngunit wala ka Minsan Parang sakura Minsan nandiyan Sa isang kisap-mata Biglang nalagas Parang bulang nawala na

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ni Jeff Plantilla Nagpapatugtog ang PAL ng airline theme song na may mga salitang “Pusong Pilipinas, Pusong Pilipino.”

Naisip ko na nationalistic/ makabayan ang kantang yon kahit na ang layunin ay para lamang sa turismo. Ano nga ba ang pusong Pilipino?

Pilipino sa Kansai

Sa March 25, 2017 ay magaganap sa Osaka ang isang event na pinangalangang “Kapihan at Talakayan sa Kansai.” Ito ang kauna-unahang event ng Philippine Community Coordinating Council (PCCC) na para sa mga Pilipino at Hapones.

Sa event na ito, sana ay masagot ang ilang tanong: Sino ang Pilipino sa Kansai? Ano ang kahulugan ng pag-iral ng Pilipino sa Kansai? Ano ang kanyang naibabahagi sa lipunang Hapones?

May isang presentation sa pangkalahatang istorya ng Pilipino sa Kansai at meron ding panel discussion ng 2 Pilipino na naninirahan sa Kansai at 2 Japanese-Filipinos (isa dito ay ipinanganak at tumanda sa Kansai, at isang kararating pa lang at nag-aaral sa highschool). Bawa’t isa sa kanila ay magsasalita tungkol sa isang bahagi ng kanilang buhay – trabaho sa

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kumpanya o unibersidad, pagiging estudyante ng isang bagong dating sa Kansai.

Meron ding special guest na baka siya ang pinakamatandang Pilipina sa Kansai o western Japan (kundi man sa buong bansa) na nanirahan sa Kansai ng mahigit sa 70 taon na.

Ang Kapihang ito ay isang paraan upang ipakilala sa isang maayos at buong paraan kung sino nga ba ang Pilipino sa Kansai.

Pusong Pilipino

Tulad ng kanta sa PAL, may tanong pa rin kung sino ang Pilipino sa Kansai.

Ano ang pusong Pilipino sa Kansai?

Hindi simple ang istorya ng Pilipino sa Kansai (at kahit sa ibang lugar din sa Japan). Maraming uri ang buhay Pilipino, minsan ay complicated ang mga buhay na ito.

Kaya hindi iisa ang mukha ng Pilipino sa Kansai, bagama’t maraming pinagsasamahan at pinagtutulungan.

Pero paano natin maipakikilala ang iba’t-ibang buhay ng Pilipino sa ating mga kababayan mismo at sa mga Hapones? Paano mauunawaan ang pusong Pinoy ng kabuuang lipunan ng Hapones? Paano mai-aayos ang paminsan-minsang negative image ng Pilipino mula sa mass media sa Japan at mula na rin sa atin?

Ang Pilipino sa Kansai

Maraming Pilipino sa Kansai ang inabot na ng 30 at mahigit pang taon ng paninirahan mula nung dumating sila dito ng dekada 1980s.

Marami sa kanila ay nakapag-asawa ng Hapones, nagka-anak at nagpundar ng pamilya. Itong buwan ng Marso, ang buwan ng saya at

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pagmamalaki ng maraming Pilipino sa pag-graduate ng mga anak sa highschool. Maraming naglagay ng photos at videos sa Facebook ng seremonya ng kanilang graduation.

Maraming tuwang-tuwa sa pagtatapos ng pag-aaral sa highschool dahil ito ay kanilang pinaghirapan bilang magulang.

Kaya ang Pilipino sa Kansai ay asawa at magulang sa maraming Japanese-Filipino families. Sa iba, sila ay matatag na nag-iisang magulang na iginagapang ang pagpapalaki at pag-aaral ng mga anak. Dapat hangaan ang single-mothers or parents na hinarap ang tungkulin bilang magulang kahit mahirap gawin.

Ang Japanese-Filipino families ang siyang dahilan sa pagkakaroon ng bagong henerasyon na Japanese-Filipinos. Maaaring dala nila ang “pusong Pinoy” – ang identity bilang Pilipino.

Kabataan

Sa ilang pagkakataon, lumalabas ang “pusong Pinoy.” Sa isang highschool sa Osaka, 2 kabataang Japanese-Filipinos ang nanguna upang mangolekta ng mga gamit sa baseball para ipadala sa Pilipinas.

Gusto nilang ipromote ang baseball sa Pilipinas. Kakaiba sa basketball na puwedeng gawin sa isang sulok ng bahay o sa kalye (isang gawang goal at maliit na rubber na bola lamang ang kailangan), ang baseball ay dapat gawin sa isang malaking lugar na may mga gamit tulad ng tamang bola at bat.

Sa mga kabataang ito, hindi lang

Invisible Filipino

pagpapadala ng mga gamit sa baseball ang gusto nila. Umuuwi sila sa Pilipinas kasama ang kapwa estudyanteng Hapones para magtrain ng mga kabataang Pilipino sa baseball. Kahangahanga ang mga kabataang ito na may grupong tawag ay Second Hand Project, at mga estudyante sa Kadoma Namihaya Highschool sa Osaka. Sila ay sina JB Vicente at Keith Micah Rillon, at isang Hapones na estudyante, Rui Miyabe. Tingnan ang Facebook account ng Second Hand Project.

Sa isang elementary school naman sa Kyoto ay magandang karanasan ang nangyari sa ilang JFCs. Dati silang nahihiyang magpakilala sa kapwa estudyante bilang JFCs. Nguni’t nung nangyari ang disaster ng Typhoon Yolanda, nagkaroon sila ng lakas na manguna sa paghingi ng tulong na ipadadala sa Pilipinas. Natuwa sila lalo nung makita nila ang photos na natanggap ng mga tao sa Tacloban ang tulong mula sa school. Sabi nung isang JFC na nung nagsalita siya na gusto niyang maging maayos ang buhay niya sa Japan at si Jose Rizal ang kanyang bayani, sinagot siya ng teacher niya na siya ay bayani na rin dahil sa kanyang ginawang pagtulong sa fundraising. Lumakas ang self-confidence niya tulad ng kanyang kapwa JFCs dahil sa karanasang ito. Hindi na sila nahihiyang sabihing sila ay mga JFCs. Ipinagmamalaki na nila ang pagkakaroon ng dugong Hapones at Pilipino.

Ang mga JFCs ang isang daan para maging visible ang mga Pilipino.

Ang kanilang pagpapahayag ng kanilang paging JFCs ang mahusay na makakabukas ng isipan ng mga tao, lalo na ang mga Hapones, sa iba’t-ibang uri ng buhay ng Pilipino sa Japan.

Ang mga blogs tungkol sa kilalang magkapatid na Maryjun at Yu

Takahashi (taga-Kyoto) ay nagpapakilala sa kanila na may tatay na Hapones at nanay na Pilipina. Ang Art Director ng Tokyo Opera Association na si Edward Ishita ay nagpapakilala rin bilang anak ng Pilipina. Sila ang imahe ng Pilipino sa Japan bagama’t sila ay Hapones din – “double” wika nga.

isang debotong Katoliko sa Osaka at ang buhay na kanilang dinanas mula nang lumipat sa Osaka mula sa Pilipinas ang mga magulang at kapatid niya pagkatapos ng giyera. May mas malaki din siyang layunin, ang itaguyod ang kapayaan sa relasyon ng Pilipinas at Japan. Makikita sa kanyang propesyon ang kanyang identity bilang JFC at ang kanyang relasyon sa Pilipinas.

Hindi mapipigilan ang pagtanda ng mga Pilipinong nagdesisyong gawin tahanan ang Japan at naging bahagi na ng lipunang Hapones. Ang pusong Pilipino ay magpapatuloy na titibok sa

lipunang Hapones sa pamamagitan ng mga anak na ngayon ay nagsisimula na ring tumanggap ng mahalagang bahagi sa lipunang ito.

Sila ang mukhang pampubliko ng mga Pilipino na hindi napapansin dahil bahagi sila ng mga pamilyang Hapones. Sila rin ang maaaring kumatawan sa mga Pilipino kung ipahahayag nila ang relasyon nila sa mga Pilipino at Pilipinas. Isang halimbawa dito ang opera ni Edward na pinamagatang "The Blessed Lord Ukon Takayama" at ipinalabas sa Japan at Pilipinas nung 2003. Malinaw ang paliwanag niya na ang inspirasyon sa operang ito ay ang kanyang nanay (Mommie Ishita) na

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KWENTO NI NANAY EVERY GISING A BLESSING!!!

Gusto ko po ibahagi sa inyo ang aking s a r i l i n g pinagdaanan nitong mga nakaraang buwan.

Noong December 2016, may balitang umabot sa akin na ang apo kong 23 taong gulang ay tinakbo sa ospital dahil ito ay na "comatose." Mataas ang blood sugar kaya yoon po ang naging dahilan. Siya ay naipasok sa ICU. Comatose at sinabing nilagyan na nang tubo sa leeg derecho na sa baga at di makahinga na. Nang sinabi na ganoon, sabi ko sa sarili ko ay wala na ito. Huwag naman po sana. Malampasan po sana niya ito.

Dasal lang ang alam kong gawin.

Pagkaraan ng ilang araw, siya ay nagkamalay na po. Ay, salamat sa Diyos. Doon naka-text na siya sa anak ko na naghihingi nang sorry: “Alam ko galit kayo lahat sa akin lalo na si lola.” Sagot nang anak ko hindi naman. Tapos gusto niya akong makausap at humingi nang sorry. Na kausap ko siya, iyak siya nang iyak at walang sinabi “Sorry po lola.“ Naramdaman ko na tapat ang kanyang paghingi nang tawad. Kaya sino ba ako na hindi magpatawad.

Nang pagkalipas nang Bagong Taon, dalawang beses siya inatake. Kaya nag desisyon ako na puntahan siya sa Mindanao. At na diagnose siya na may Lupus at ang kanyang 2 kidneys ay di na maayos. Dina-dialysis na siya at nag chemo na rin.

Lumuwas ako patungong Cagayan de Oro City at tumuloy na ako sa ospital. At natuwa siya nang makita ako. At yung araw na yon, inalis na ang kanyang oxygen. Kaya tuwang tuwa na ang mga magulang niya.

Pinuntahan ko siya dahil ang gusto ko ay personal kaming magpatawaran. Hindi natin alam ang buhay kaya mabuti na yung harapan ko siyang pinatawad at ako rin ay humingi nang tawad sa kanya.

Hindi natin alam ang buhay kaya humingi din ako nang patawad dahil sa nagalit din ako sa kanya.

Gawa nang pag aalala, hindi ko na alam ang araw at kinabukasan, pag simba ko sa aming bayan, pista pala nang ating mahal na Santo Nino.

Hindi ko na alam at sa tagal nang panahon na hindi na ako nakauwi sa aming probinsiya, di ko akalain na sa kapistahan nang Mahal na Santo Nino ako makakauwi. Inalay ko ang aking Misa para sa apo ko. At yong araw na iyon ay pinalabas na siya nang ospital. Laking tuwa niya at nang kaniyang mga magulang.

Nabigla sila na sinabing makakauwi na sila. Kinabukasan, laking pagkabigla nila nang na balita na ang Cagayan de Oro City ay nabaha dahil sa magdamag na ulan. Laking

by Anita Sasaki pasasalamat nila na nakauwi na sila kundi laking hirap nila sa pag bantay sa ospital sa ganoong baha.

Pasalamat talaga kami, nailigtas sila sa malaking sakuna. Ilang araw na walang tigil ang ulan. Nabigla kami sa biglang pinauwi na sila. Iyon pala ay inilayo sila sa sakuna.

At nang araw na bumalik sila for check-up, kinunan siya nang dugo at ang resulta ay bumaba ang kanyang "creatinine." At siya ay nabigyan nang maayos na kumpisal at pagtanggap sa ating komunyon.

Kaya ako ay umuwi na. Dahil ang misyon ko at dalangin ko ay "healing for the body and soul."

At makalipas ang ilang mga araw ay ibinalik siya sa ospital para sa dialysis niya. At ilang doktor ang tumitingin sa kanya. Malaking himala kong matatawag dahil nakita nila na hindi na niya kailangan ang mag dialysis dahil maayos naman na daw ang dalawang kidneys niya! Ito ay napakalaking HIMALA !

Dito ko nakita na walang imposible sa Diyos. Na ang panalangin ay napakalakas. At mayroon talagang HIMALA. At ang Diyos ang ating "DIVINE HEALER." Maniwala lang at huwag bibitaw sa KANYA. Just keep on praying, believe, trust and hope because the BEST is yet to come.

MIRACLES REALLY DO HAPPEN !

Photography: Marisol Punzalan Kudo 20

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By Abie Principe

My Town:

NAGOYA

Maraming nakakakilala sa iba't ibang lugar sa Japan. Ang pinaka-popular ay ang Tokyo, sinusundan ng Kyoto at Osaka. Kadalasan hindi kilala ang Nagoya. Minsan nga naiinis ako kapag may nagsasabi sa akin na bibisitahin daw nila ako sa Japan, saan banda daw ba ako ng Tokyo…

Ganoon?! Pero hindi naman dapat na magalit ako, karamihan talaga hindi alam na malaki ang Tokyo, hindi ito malapit sa Nagoya, at higit sa lahat, hindi lahat ng nakatira sa Japan ay nakatira sa Tokyo.

Naisip ko tuloy na pag usapan dito ang mga pros and cons ng Nagoya, para magkaroon ng idea tungkol sa aking syudad.

Mula noong ako’y dumating ng Japan, mahigit sampung taon na ang nakalilipas, sa Nagoya na ako napadpad. Medyo biased siguro ako, dahil hindi ako tumira sa ibang lugar sa Japan, sa Nagoya lang.

Bumibisita naman ako sa ibang mga lugar, at nakikita ko lahat naman ay may pros and cons.

Unahin na ang cons, ang Nagoya ay hindi kilala ng karamihan, kaya medyo mahirap mag explain sa mga kaibigan at kamag-anak na hindi ito malapit sa Disney, o sa Universal Studios. Ang Nagoya ay wala masyadong entertainment na appealing sa turista, ang mga sightseeing spots natin, hindi ganoon kadinadayo dahil nga wala sa tourist guides na ibinabahagi ng Japan Tourist Information Office.

So, ang pinaka-con talaga, hindi popular.

Pero sa tingin ko, itong pagiging hindi popular ng Nagoya ay maaring maging pro para sa aming mga taga-Nagoya. Una, hindi pa

kami inuunda ng sangkatutak na turista. Pangalawa, resonable pa ang mga hotels, hostels at business hotels dito, hindi pa naapektuhan ng overpricing na tulad ng Kyoto at ibang lugar sa Tokyo. Kaya kapag bumisita ang mga kakilala, maaring makakita ng hindi gaanong kamahalang hotel.

Pangatlo, lahat naman ng meron ang Tokyo, meron rin ang Nagoya, admittedly, on a smaller scale. Meron malapit na amusement park, Nagashima Spaland, at katabi noon ay ang outlet store na Jazz Dream.

Mayroong Nagoya Castle, Tokugawa Museum, Boston Museum, at iba't iba pang cultural areas. Mayroong Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Garden, isa sa pinaka- malaking zoo sa buong Japan.

Kaya kung minsan naantig ang damdamin ko kapag sinasabihan ako ng “Nagoya? Saan ba yun?”

Humihinga na lang ako ng malalim, at sinasabi ko na lang na mag enjoy sila sa kanilang first trip to Japan.

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By Karen Sanchez

Talentadong Kaibigan ko

A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. Proverbs 17:17 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that has it: wherever it turns, it prospers. Proverbs 17:8

Magandang araw mga kababayan!

Natapos na ang mga inaabangabangang pangyayari sa loob ng isang taon: ang Mahal na Araw, ang Pasko at Bagong Taon. At dahil bagong taon, panibagong pangyayari na naman at dapat ihanda na natin ang ating mga sarili sa mga darating na kaganapan sa ating buhay. At ngayon lang din ang araw na mga puso, mapalad ang mga taong may minamahal at nagmamahal ng tapat. At inaalay ko ang artikulong ito sa mga totoong kaibigan, yung tipong kahit pumuti na ang mga buhok natin ay mananatiling nandiyan para sa atin na tulad ng ilalahad ko sa inyo.

Likas na sa ating mga Pilipino ang madiskarte sa anumang paraan at larangan ng buhay. At marami din sa atin ang may mga iba't-ibang talentong taglay na nararapat lang ipagmalaki at hangaan dahil kakaiba, bihira at talagang pinaghihirapan. Gaya ko at ng mga kasamahan ko dito, talento namin ang maging isang manunulat, ang iba naman ay sa pag-aawit, ang iba naman ay sa pagsasayaw, arte at iba pa. At gaya ng aming Editor dito na si Sir Dennis ay ipinagmamalaki kong ipinakikilala sa inyo si Christopher "Chris" Pizarro, isang artist sa Manila. Nagtapos ng kanyang kurso sa Universidad ng Sto. Tomas.

Kakaiba ang taglay niyang talento dahil maliban sa pag guhit, pagpinta ay kaya din nyang gawin ang pag-uukit gamit ng mga natural na kagamitan gaya ng kahoy at iba pang maaari niyang magamit na kapag natapos ay wari mong buhay na buhay at makukulay ang mga ito. At dito, unti-unti siyang nakilala bilang isa sa magagaling na "koi artist" dito sa Pilipinas.

Sa simula, hindi masyado naging matunog ang kanyang pangalan, ngunit sa kanyang pagtitiyaga at pagmamahal sa kanyang talento o nakahiligang trabaho, sinikap niyang mapansin at makilala hanggang ang iilan na niyang mga tagahanga noon ay lalong

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humanga at ang ibang mahilig sa mga “paintings� ay napansin na siya at tinangkilik ang kanyang mga gawa maging sa ibang bansa ay unti-unti na ring nadadala ang kanyang mga obra.

Maliban sa malalapit na kaibigan, may iilang mga pulitisyan, mayayaman at kapwa mangguguhit din ang bumili ng kanyang obra. Nakakatuwang pagmasdan o isipin na ang dating simpleng taong abot-kamay ko noon ay sikat na ngayon. Nagkaroon na din siya ng mga obra sa mga gallery sa iba’tibang malls, kahit nagkaganun ang pagiging tapat na kaibigan at mabuting asawa at ama ay hindi nagbago at nanatili ang paghihimok o pagpapayo para sa ikakaunlad o pag-angat ng buhay sa gaya ko at ng iba pa, nang sa gayun ay hinde ka nananatili sa ibabang antas sa buhay.

Ang totoong kaibigan ay mahirap matagpuan. Lalo na kapag may inggitan na at mayroon isang di nagiging masaya kapag sa tingin nya ay nalalamangan na siya. At ang pagmamahal ng kaibigan kung minsan ay nasusubukan kapag tayo ay nangangailangan na. Minsan mas higit pa silang nakakakilala sa iyo at higit na nakakatulong kaysa sa mga kamag-anak mo. Sabi ng matatandang Haponesang nakakasalamuha ko at ayon din sa Bibliya ay higit daw na mas maigi kapag kaibigan ang kasama mo kaysa sa asawa o kapatid pagkat mag-away man daw kayo tiyak na magbabati at magbabati pa rin at manunumbalik ang relasyon bilang magkaibigan. Dahil kapag ang

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mag-asawa nag-away nang sobra ay mahirap nang maibalik ang pagmamahal o ang init nito kapag nagkasira na at maaari ding mauwi na lamang sa pagiging magkaibigan kayong dalawa. At ang tunay na kaibigan ay hinding-hindi ka ilalaglag o ipapahamak bagkus sila yung aakay sa iyo kapag ikaw ay nadapa at aahon sa iyo kapag nakikita kang nasa ibaba.

Sa makamundong buhay sa ngayon, minsan napapagod na rin ang mga katawang lupa natin. Minsan gusto na nating sumuko sa pakikipaglaban o pakikipagsapalaran. Ngunit kung makakakita o makakakilala ka ng mga taong tulad nila ay gumagaan ang iyong pakiramdam. At maghihikayat sayo na dapat ka lang lumaban at magpatuloy sa buhay.

Lahat ng tao ay may kanya-kanyang talentong taglay at ito ay isang pagpapala o regalo ng Diyos na may likha. Kailangan lang natin itong alamin o tuklasin dahil ang iba nito ay sadyang nakatago lamang at di pa natin ito napapansin. Ito ay isang biyayang dapat nating pagyamanin at minsan ito ang magbubuhay sa atin o mga pamilya natin.

Nagpapasalamat ako ng lubos dahil gaya ng mga kasamahan ko at ng kaibigan ko ay naibabahagi namin dito o sa mundo ang talentong mayroon kami at gaya ng kaibigan ko huwag tayo mawalan ng pag-asa dahil lahat ng pangyayari dito sa mundo ay sadyang nakatakda na ng di natin alam. Patuloy lang at panatilihin natin ang ating pananampalataya at nang tayong lahat ay pagpalain din.

Maligayang Bati Happy Birthday, kapatid!

Para yan sa akin kasi malapit na ulit akong kumain ng cake na may kandilang hihipan ko muna.

Alam ko ang wish ko ngayong taon, “Sana matandaan ko ang edad ko!”

Ha ha ha, sige hint na lang, nasa kalagitnaan ako ng 1 at 100. Naku ang tanda na ano? Sino????

Natatandaan mo ba noong una kang mag-diwang ng kaarawan mo sa Japan? Ako, basta kasya pa ang kandila noon sa birthday cake ko pero ngayon tama na isang malaki para maganda pa rin ang cake kapag hiniwa na, saka una sa lahat para hindi na mabulgar ang edad. Eto ang isang quote ng tanyag na manunulat na si Oscar Wilde, “A man’s face is his autobiography. A woman’s face is her work of fiction.”

Ano raw? Sa mukha daw ng isang lalaki, makikita mo ang istorya ng kanyang buhay, pero sa isang babae, ang istoryang kanyang ginawa sa kanyang mukha? Parang si Paolo Ballesteros baga.

Saka, di ba hindi naman importante ang edad?

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” Sabi yan ng kilalang legendary beauty at hollywood actress na si Sophia Loren. Ascending number lang o pataas na numero lang ang kasama ng bawat birthday, sa bawat pagdaan nito dapat mas naging makulay din at makahulugan ang buhay.

Natuto tayo, nakapagpasaya tayo at syempre dapat happy tayo. Kaya nga yata may

birthday, parang wake-up call sa bawat taon.

Hoy, gising!

Ano na ang nagawa mo? Sabi nga, para mas mabigyan mo ng kahulugan ang iyong buhay, isipin mo ito ng pabalik, mula sa dulo o sa katapusan, saka mo isipin at isagawa ang mga gusto mong mangyari sa panahong hawak mo pa ang iyong buhay.

Ngayong birthday ko, hindi ko lang tatandaan ang age ko, pag-iisipan ko pa kung ano ang mga nagawa ko na sa buhay at lahat pa ng mga gusto kong mangyari. Gagawa ako ng plano kung paano ko ito maabot at syempre susunod ako sa schedule, kase paano kung mabagsakan ako ng bulalakaw mamayang gabi sa paglakad ko pauwi?

Photos by Warren De Luna

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Neriza Sarmiento - Saito's

On the Road to:

Where Dream becomes a reality and reality becomes BLISS with MS. IZA CALZADO: "BEST PERFORMER" Osaka Asian Film Festival

Actress IZA CALZADO brought honor to the Philippines after winning the prestigious "Yakushi Pearl Award" as Best Performer in the 2017 Osaka Asian Film Festival. She starred in Director Jerrold Tirog's psychological thriller BLISS: The story of an actress who became comatose and crippled after an accident on location. Her dream of "getting respect in the industry" was shattered. But then, she found herself again in the center of a dream as Jane Ciego, trapped in her own home and in her dream. As Jane's mind is intertwined in surreal conjurings of her dreamlike state. The audience gets significant insights into her own psyche. The Osaka audience who watched the world premiere of this movie were remarkably impressed with Iza's performance.

As a young girl, I enjoyed going to the movies. Once a month, we would troop to the local movie houses, unmindful of "surot" bites just to see our movie idols on the larger-than-life screen. Seeing some of them in person at town fiestas or political rallies added sparks to our childhood days. Bert "Tawa" Marcelo popped up one day and cheered up my little brother with his trademark chuckle! On one fine day, while my grandfather was taking a nap, a dignified lady, accompanied by our local furniture maker, asked if she could take a look at my grandmother's antique dining table. Later on, he was told that it was the movie queen, Susan Roces! A visit on the scene of "Ibulong Mo sa Hangin" in my aunt's friend's house in Bustos, we watched Amalia Fuentes emote a scene after waking up from a dream.

Actually, that scene reminded me of this movie. "BLISS" is one of the 9 Films from the Philippines which qualified for screening at the Osaka Asian Film Festival held last March 3-12.

According to Director Jerrold Tarog, whose biopic "Heneral Luna (2015)

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became the highest grossing historical film in the Philippines, BLISS was more difficult to do. Tarog, who says that he is mostly self-taught, has received the Gawad Urian for Best Direction and Best Editing. He studied at the UPLB Rural High School and got a degree in music composition at UP Diliman.

No wonder, he did not only direct the Film but he also wrote the screenplay and did the musical score.

At the Q&A, IZA appeared onstage looking regal and composed like the British actress "Michelle Dockery" who plays “Lady Mary Crowley in Downton Abbey.” I was lucky to be chosen to ask a question so out of the blue I asked: “What are the influences of your father, the late director Lito Calzado, on your acting career? And, like Jane Ciego, is your mind set on receiving an award for your amazing performance in this movie?”

IZA was emotional and, in between tears, she replied, “Actually, coming to Osaka for this festival meant so much to me. We came several times with my father for his business when I was little. He taught me a lot about the movies and there was one thing he told me over and over again: PUT PASSION IN EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.” Iza's father is the Philippines' top rated

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actor, choreographer and director who started with the famous Bayanihan Dance Company and went on to direct "That's Entertainment" and other programs with his best friend German Moreno. He also acted in some movies like "Bang, Shang a Lang" and Dyesebel. In the 70's, he choreographed D'Sensations and other TV programs. Mr. Calzado passed away on November 11, 2011 of cirrhosis of the liver at 65 years old!

He received a posthumous award at the 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival for excellence as director and choreographer.

I asked her that question for the Japanese audience to realize the contributions of Filipino directors and filmmakers of the past in the present film industry of the Philippines. Mr. Ben Wintle, Iza's British boyfriend, also approached me to say thank you for that thoughtful question.

They are the following (title, director): 1. Patintero : Ang Alamat ni Meng Patalo, Mihk Vergara 2. Singing in Graveyards, Bradley Liew 3. Saving Sally, Avid Longoren 4. Baka Bukas, Samantha Lee 5. Apocalypse Child, Mario Cornejo

6. Birdshot, Mikhail Red 7. Tisay, Borgy Torre 8. Kita-Kita, Sigrid Andrea Bernardo 9. Bliss, Jerrold Tarog It will be very interesting to note that, the lead actress in Kita-Kita, Alessandra de Rossi is the sister of actress Assunta de Rossi, Director Borgy Torre is actor Joel Torre's nephew and Birdshot director Mikhail Red is veteran director Raymond Red's son.

According to Mr. Sozo Teruoka, programming director of the Osaka Asian Film Festival, the Filipino Film Industry has been so fruitful in recent years. He was responding to a question from the press as to why there were so many films from the Philippines. "The OAFF is well known over there, which is why there are so many entries.

Actually, if we were to judge on quality, about 20 films could qualify. It was difficult, so we invited only 9 this year."

Like her father, Iza looks at the brighter side of things. The award was indeed a reward for the hard work on the set.

She also has the infectious laugh like her Dad and keeps her feet on the ground. I never imagined getting a call from IZA herself the night she received the award: "You are heaven-sent. Thank you. I will leave the bouquet of flowers for you and I hope you will like it!!!�

Again, I asked myself: Is this a dream?

But, on the night of March 10, I had a precognitive dream. That someone was asking for my address to send me something. And on March 11, actress IZA CALZADO received the 2017

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OAFF's Yakushi Pearl Award for BEST PERFORMER! Congratulations IZA! Your parents in heaven would be so proud of the honor you gave to the Philippines.

MABUHAY KA KABAYAN!

(Special thanks to Mr. Sozo Teruoka Programming Director of the OAFF, Ms. Kayoko Nakanishi, International Press Coordinator and Ms. Tamaki Kurita of ABC Channel 6.)

Iza Calzado with Jeepney Press writer, Neriza Saito

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The Voice Under The Spotlights

by Dennis Sun

You’ve seen the person, but wait till he holds that microphone. Surely, he has an amazing voice.

But his gifts and wonders do not stop there. There is indeed something more beyond this voice under the spotlights. If you have heard of king-makers, he is a singer-maker!

Kryz Evans is the official name in his Facebook account but “Regz” is what most people call him. “Regz” was a name labeled to him because his voice tweets and soars like the songbird diva, Regine Velasquez.

Nag-stand-up comedian na siya, naging singer, naging comedian, naging host, naging manager, agent, kapatid, kaibigan, ate, kuya, at lahat-lahat na. Actually, ang talagang naka-discover sa kanya ay ang AEGIS Band which paved way for him to sing in bigger and more

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popular venues like Klownz, Library and Jeff’s Cafe sa Manila.

Bata pa siya, nagkaroon na siya ng karanasan sa business dahil meron talent agency prmotion ang kanyang nanay. Nang bitawan ng nanay niya itong kumpanya, siya na ang sumagop para matuloy ang business.

Pagkatapos magbakasyon sa Japan, bumalik siya para makapag-aral ng Nihongo at tuloy, dito na siya nagtrabaho.

Regz has been very active in promoting Filipino talent in Japan. You see him every now and then at different Filipino

community events.

Now, as he has already mastered his craft in singing and stage, he is concentrating on his business and passing his torch to help other singers and other entertainers be seen and heard.

Kryz believes on never stopping to reach one’s dreams in life. If he knows it’s not for him to handle, then, he knows there is always a door where he can leave. Until now though, he continues to learn and keep improving himself. He advices his fellow performers to always be humble. And although money is important, it is not everything for him.

For Kryz, it’s more about enjoying one’s life and giving the best.

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MUSINGS OF A GARDENER

Springtime Fever

by Rogelio Agustin

Ah, winter seems to be so long this year although I can feel spring is almost near in spite of the sometimes freezing mornings. The weather is erratic as usual and I actually felt sorry for some of the plum trees I saw in January that started to bloom, probably because of a few days of warm weather. Some of the Japanese magnolia trees near my house have just finished blooming in February.

But spring is definitely coming and my garden is showing the signs.

The yellow daffodils are in full bloom now, and in fact they have been in bloom for four weeks now as if they waited for my return when I was away for weeks. The winter daphne flowers are as fragrant as ever spreading the breath of spring in the garden. The Christmas Roses (Helleborus) bloomed unnoticed as they always bloom face down, but they are beautiful this year. The garden section of the home centers and the gardening shops are always filled with countless pots of ready

to plant spring flowers since January. Buyers likewise fill their carts with colorful varieties of pansies, violas, and primulas, and bags of soil as well. Gardening season has begun! I have already spent quite a fortune on a buying spree every weekend trying to fill my garden as fast as I can! Just the other day, I bought a few cases of potted flower at the garden shop and they asked me if I would want an official receipt for my purchase.

They must have thought I have a gardening store! But still they are never enough. I cleaned some parts of the garden and it opened more

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2017 MARCH - APRIL 2017

space to be filled. The problem is I can only spend a few hours in the day for cleaning and planting, so a lot of pots are made to wait until next week for replanting. But I know it is getting a bit warmer so they can survive the cold mornings.

As much as I hate spring because of the dreaded hay fever pollen allergy (kafun-sho), I cannot stay inside the house because I have to be in the garden. It still surprises me that my body forgets the allergy when I am out there, maybe it gives me some immunity for whatever reason!

A few weeks from now, Japan will be back from a gray winter to a colorful spring! Forget about the pollen allergy if you have it, go out and let’s enjoy and celebrate spring!

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alking across the hotel lobby and spotting the one and only suave idol Stephen Bishop sitting on a stool in the lounge bar was like flipping pages of memory lane when girls in the Philippines would scream crazy when Stephen went onstage.

“Mr. Bishap! Mr. Bishap!”, Stephen joked teasingly about how Filipinos would cry out to him in that unmistakable Filipino accent. Stephen was full of humor and casual ease during our relaxing chat that I could not stop laughing between his spontaneous comments.

Here are excerpts from our exchange of pleasantries, a day before his Billboard Live Tokyo concert last March 4th.

photo by Masanori Naruse

Stephen Bishop: Konnichiwa!

Alma Reyes: Ohhh (laugh) Konnichiwa…but I’m not Japanese.

SB: You’re not?

AR: No…but I’d let you guess…because it’s that one country where you have the greatest hits…”

SB: Ohhhhhh I know….Philippines!

AR: Yeahhh…(laugh) SB: But you don’t sound Filipino.

AR: I don’t?

SB: I know how Filipinos would go “Mr. Bishap! Mr. Bishap! Pleeease, photo! Pleeease, photo!” They just

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by Alma Reyes want photo here, photo there…everybody wants a photo!

AR: (laughing) So, you know Philippines very well.

SB: Oh yessss… so well! I’ve been to the Philippines ten times!

AR: When was the last time you were in the Philippines?

SB: Oh about two years ago. I was on an Asian tour—Hong Kong, Philippines—I went to Davao, Cebu.

I’ve been to Cebu two times I think.

AR: I know! I think you got more hits there than in the U.S.!

SB: I do! I do! I know so much about Philippine food,too. I even know balut.

AR: (laugh) Oh my God! Did you eat that?

SB: Oh yes I did! I have a balut story. Do you want to hear it?

AR: Of course!

Please, please tell me (laughing) SB: Okay, so, the first time I was in the Philippines was 1980. I was staying at a friend’s house in some rural place. It was late, like 11 at night. I was about to leave and there was this guy walking down the street “Balut! Balut!” you know, carrying ten baskets around him. So, I asked my friend “What’s he doing? Then, a guy walks out in shorts and goes “One balut pleease.” “What is that?” I asked my friend, and he said “It’s an aphrodisiac.”

AR: (laugh) So, you thought you needed it, right.

SB: (laugh) Yeah right. “Really?” I asked my friend. He said, “It’s a duck egg and you have to eat it in the dark.”

AR: (laugh) No, you don’t have to eat in the dark…

SB: Well, I bought it and ate it in the dark.

AR: (laugh) So it was good, right?

SB: (frowns) Good? It wasn’t good, it was terrible!”

AR: (laugh) But the soup is good.

SB: Soup? It’s an egg!

AR: No, just slurp the soup, it’s good (doing the slurp sound)!

SB: Eww…gross. So, I did end up touching myself all over, I was very aroused (laugh). I’m kidding.

AR: (laugh) I suppose that’s the first and last time then for you.

SB: Oh yeah, it was crunchy though.

AR: Haha. Maybe if you try it the second time around it would taste better.

SB: I don’t think so…

AR: It’s delicious when you slurp the soup, and you ate the chick?

SB: It was crunchy….it had the beak on it…

AR: You can see the eyes…

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SB: Oh, so gross…

AR: (laugh) I’m impressed though; some people only eat the yellow part.

SB: I ate it in the dark… (laugh) AR: (laugh) Why do you think “It Might Be You” is such a big hit in the Philippines?

SB: I really don’t know, but I have a story about that. So, after the show, I went to have a massage. I lay nicely on the massage bed, then the masseur would be massaging, then some girl would walk in and see me and suddenly, in the middle of my massage, say “Oh Mr. Bishap! Can you please sing It Might Be You?’ And, I

said “Huh? Now? I’m having a massage.” She’d say, “Oh pleeease, pleeease, sing It Might Be You.” So, I’m lying there on the massage bed and humming “Something's telling me it might be you, It's telling me it might be you…” Next day, I go back to the massage place and have another massage. There’s a different girl there so I think “Oh good, a different girl.” And, while I’m having a massage, another girl comes in and sees me, “Oh Mr. Bishap! Can you please sing It Might Be You?’ I said, “I already sang that yesterday.” And, she said “But it was for my friend. Can you sing it for me, too?” And so I would go again, “Something's telling me it might be you, It's telling me it might be you…”

And, that’s how It Might Be You is sung like an anthem in the Philippines!

AR: (laugh) Great story. You HAVE to go back to Manila! You have to!

SB: Not while “that guy” is in office!

Well, “Mr. Bishap,” even “that guy” is going to love having you back. Two years have gone like a real long wait, and this time, we’ll make sure your balut won’t be as crunchy!

Photos courtesy of Stephen Bishop’s Official Website

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E S C A PA D E 32

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by Alvin Tagle

Sunsets that take your breath away, magnificent, soaring limestone cliffs, pristine rainforest, long white sand beaches, mysterious cave systems, aquamarine seas -- no wonder Palawan has been consistently been named the best island in the world by prestigious travel magazines, and it has been the one perfect summer getaway for Filipinos and foreigners alike.

PALAWAN

tour to the Underground River with one of the tour agencies situated right outside the arrival area. The Underground River is a UNESCO World Heritage site. You navigate the river system while marveling at magnificent cave structures. Just let I spent 6 days in Palawan in your imagination run wild and create stories from the stalagmites and stalactites early March of this year that surround you. and was blessed with sunny weather and cool breezes. I flew into Puerto Further up, there is the town of San Vicente with the longest stretches of white Princesa, the gateway to the island. All the domestic beaches. It is as pristine as you can get.

We hardly saw any local tourists but there airlines fly to the city but I were groups of young European recommend to take the backpackers. A new airport is opening in earliest flight and book a

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San Vicente so better get there before it gets too crowded.

Lastly, there is El Nido -- the most popular tourist stop in Palawan. El Nido town can be quite busy but not without its charm.

Enjoy the food and drinks by the beach front and watch sunsets that rival the best in the world. It is also a jump-off point to various islands and lagoons, sand bars and limestone cliffs. El Nido has been photographed aplenty but pictures can never approximate the beauty of the islands.

Go and experience Palawan yourself and have a summer blast!

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By Jasmin Vasquez Kringggg!!! Kring!!! Tunog ng alarm na siyang gumigising sa akin sa araw araw, hudyat na kailangan ng bumangon at maghanda para pumasok sa trabaho. Hindi pa nakakabawi sa pagod ng nakaraang araw ngunit eto at kailangan na naman magbanat ng buto. Masarap pa sanang matulog pero hindi uso ang tamad dahil kapag hindi ka kumilos ay maraming magugutom sa mga umaasa sa iyo.

Maganda ang klima ngayon, tamang-tama dahil hindi na masyadong malamig, at hindi rin naman masyadong mainit. Ito ang panahon na palaging inaabangan

ng mga tao dahil nalalapit na ang "Sakura" o Cherry Blossom. Untiunti na rin sumisibol ang iba’tibang uri ng mga nagagandahang mga bulaklak. Dahilan kung bakit marami na rin ang nagsisimulang makaranas ng pollen allergy o tinatawag nilang kafunshĹ?.

Nagdudulot ito ng pangangati ng mata at ilong. Madalas na pag bahing at pagluluha ng mata dahil sa sobrang kati. Noong pagdating ko dito sa Japan ay hindi ko dinanas na magkaroon niyan dahil sa Tokyo hindi naman masyadong mahalaman dahil napapaligiran ka ng mga matataas na gusali. Hindi katulad ngayon na napapaligiran ako ng mga bundok at ibat-ibang uri ng mga halaman at bulaklak.

Kaya hindi maiwasan na danasin ko rin magkaroon ng allergy. Mainam daw na solusyon dito para hindi ka masyadong maapektohan ay ang palaging pag suot ng mask, pag inom ng green tea, regular na pagpalit ng filter o gumamit ng air cleaner. At kung masyado ng grabe, mayroon nang gamot na mabibili o maaring komunsulta sa duktor.

At syempre, dahil malapit na din

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pumasok ang Golden Week ng Japan, may ilang araw din itong red sa calendar, ibig sabihin, bakasyon grande naaaa! Puro tayo trabaho ng trabaho. Minsan lang may ganitong bakasyon kaya malayo pa lamang ay nagpa-plano na ang mga tao kung saan ba pwede pumasyal, mag relax upang makabawi sa mga pagod at stress na dumadaan araw araw.

Importante kasi sa buhay natin na paminsan minsan magkaroon ka rin ng time to relax, na minsan maiba naman ang ambiance mo.

Kung dati at nasa lugar ka ng puro building, na puro busy ang tao, pag may ganitong pagkakataon, punta

ka naman sa mga bundok na maraming adventure. O kung palagi ka naman at matagal ng nasa kabundukan, minsan need mong bumaba sa kabihasnan, enjoy the night life in Tokyo. Punta ka sa mga theme park para maiba naman at magkaroon ng buhay ang everyday living mo.

Tulad ngayon May 3, 2017, inaya ko yung mga trainee dito sa Nagano para maranasan naman nila ang makarating sa Tokyo

MARCH - APRIL 2017

Disneyland. Gusto kong magkaroon sila ng magandang alala habang nandirito sila sa Japan. Ako nga na kahit ilang beses ko ng narating ang Disneyland, iba pa rin ang sayang dulot nito kapag nararating ko, paano pa kaya sila na first time nilang mararating. At gusto kong maalala din nila na nakarating sila sa isang lugar na ako ang kasakasama nila. Nang sa gayon ay hindi nila ako makalimutan kahit sila ay bumalik na sa ating bansang Pilipinas. Uuwi silang baon ang mga ngiti at saya na minsan sa buhay nila ay may Ate Jasmin na naging bahagi ng buhay nila...

Taun-taon, umiikot ang ating mga buhay dito sa Japan na nakagawian na natin magtrabaho ng magtrabaho at puro trabaho na lang. Huwag nating kalilimutan na kailangan din nating bigyan ng oras ang mga sarili natin. Hindi masamang paminsan-minsan ay mag enjoy, magtanggal ng stress. Ramdamin din natin paminsan-minsan yung perang pinag-paguran natin. Huwag palaging sila na lamang. Dahil lahat tayo ay napapagod din at kailangan magpahinga. Kung ang mga machine o ano mang bagay ay kailangan ng break, time out o kailangan i refresh, tayo pa kaya na mga tao.

Kaya tara na, pasyal tayo mga kaibigan at regalohan ang sarili ng oras na pang pawala ng ating mga stress.

Ang hirap talagang maging friendly. Ngiti ka ng ngiti. Buti na lang, maganda ang smile ko. (Salamat sa dentista!)

Kailangan mong ngumiti kahit kanino. Para kang nangungumpanya.

Nanalo na nga si Duterte pero ako, tuloy pa rin ang pangungunpanya sa pagiging friendly.

ni Carol Inagaki

Minsan, naglalakad ako sa labas. Bigla akong may nakasalubong. Medyo malayu-layo pa siya ng konti.

Sarap ng ngiti. Full smile!

Kumaway siya. Kumaway din ako.

Pagsalubong namin, yun pala, yung nasa likod ko ang kinakaway niya.

Natawa’t napahiya lang ang beauty ko... kung meron pang natitira dahil nasapawan na ng hiya.

Pero, okay lang kahit napahiya ako.

Ngumiti rin siya sa akin at nagpa-sorry naman ako. Akala ko kasi magka-kilala kami. Eh kung magkakilala pa la kami at hindi ako nag-smile at kumaway, baka magalit pa siya sa akin.

Ah, basta! Friends or no-friends, friendly talaga ako by nature. Kilala man kita o hindi, I will smile at you! At kung hindi man tayo mag kaibigan, then, let’s be friends!

MARCH - APRIL 2017

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Model: Irene Sun-Kaneko Make-up Artist: Bianca Vela Photographer: Borj Meneses Graphic Designer: Dennis Sun Designer & Stylist: Philip D. Torres

Student? Just arrived in Japan? Lipat bahay? Bagong opisina?

Moving company? Cable and internet connection?

“Our Mission is You! Let us support your life in Japan.�

English and Japanese OK!

03-5292-2340

Only 1-min. walk from Takadanobaba Eki (Yamanote Line or Tozai Line) Very near Big Box and Donki

1-26-12-701 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

www.asiavox.com

Nishimachi is...

Academically rigorous.

A Pioneer... in English and Japanese language education in Japan.

Multicultural... with a student body of 390 children representing some thirty countries.

Small and intimate... which enables us to promote the optimal well-being and growth of each individual.

Co-educational and non-sectarian... Kindergarten through Grade 9.

Accredited... by the Council of International Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and recognized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Conveniently located... in a residential area of central Tokyo favored by the diplomatic and expatriate communities.

090-2908-5088(SB)

Visit our campus and experience the warm atmosphere of Nishimachi!

2-14-7 Moto Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0046, Japan Tel: +81-(0)3-3451-5520 Fax: +81-(0)3-3456-0197

www.nishimachi.ac.jp

May 27 : Woman of the Universe Beauty Contest at the Manila Hotel, Phils.

Aug 30 – Sep 3 : Woman of the Universe Beauty Contest in Fukuoka, Japan Sep 4 : 3rd World Class Excellence Awards 2017 Charity Dinner and Red Carpet tribute to the World Class achievers at Hotel New Otani, Hakata, Fukuoka, Japan at 6pm.

Interested Parties of Any Nationality, please contact +81 905 025 5991 email voaamusic@yahoo.com worldclassexcellence@yahoo.com

We offer Hair, Facial & Hilot (Full Body) Massage.

50% DISCOUNT on SELECTED SERVICES for NEW CLIENTS! CALL:

03-6885-8141 for more information and reservation

133-0057 Tokyo, Edogawa-ku, Nishi Koiwa 4-1-22 Takeda Bldg 6th Floor

Just 4 mins walk from JR KOIWA Station on Sobu Line (Ito Yokado Exit)

GET READY FOR

The only nationwide singing competition for Filipinos in Japan!

2017 Jeepney Press, Samahang Pilipino & Teatro Kanto in cooperation with The Philippine Embassy, Tokyo For the benefit of Gawad Kalinga-Sibol Child & Youth Development

1. Hokkaido

The Regional Qualifying Rounds

Samahang Pilipino ng Hokkaido

2. Iwate - Tohoku Region

Samahang Pilipino - Public Alliance Iwate Japan

3. Sendai - Tohoku Region Damayan & Kapatiran

4. Tokyo1 - Kanto

Samahang Ilocano, Ueno Area

5. Tokyo2 - Kanto

The UTAWIT Execom

6. Nagano - Chubu

Be the next Utawit Champion!

Filipino Community in Nagano Prefecture

7. Shizuoka - Chubu Filipino NAGKAISA

8. Nagoya - Chubu 9. Kyoto - Kansai

Mother Earth Connection Kyoto, Japan

10. Oita - Kyushu

Oita-Philippines Friendship Association

11. Fukuoka - Kyushu

Global Filipino-Japanese Friendship Association

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For sponsorships and regional participation, please contact joinakosautawit@yahoo.com for details.

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PAHAYAGANG PINOY SA JAPAN

Photo by Marisol Punzalan Kudo