Jeepney Press March-April 2022 #116 Spring Issue

Celebrating The Journeys Of Filipinos In Japan

Pahayagang pinoy sa japan

116 ISSUE

Art & Design by DENNIS SUN

ジープニー プレス

在日フィリピン人 向 け マ ガ ジン

March - April 2022 2022年3月-4月

Celebrating The Journeys Of Filipinos In Japan

Pahayagang pinoy sa japan ジープニー プレス

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.

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publisher ASIA VOX LTD.

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DENNIS SUN Editorial Board Contributors

Cover design and art: DENNIS SUN

Glen Atienza Jeff Plantilla Neriza Saito Karen Sanchez Anita Sasaki Wayne Sun Warren Sun Yellowbelle Duaqui Loleng Ramos Alvin Tagle Alma Reyes Lita Manalastas-Watanabe Richine Bermudez Lala Lopez de Leon Mae Grace Jerry Sun Arenas Jasmin Vasquez Alma Fatagani-Sato Arnel Sugay Marnie Chan Chris Yokoyama Geraldine Limpo

contents 06 Yomu Editorial / Dennis Sun 08 Kusina / Chris Yokoyama 10 On The Road / Neriza Saito 12 Traffic / Alma Reyes 14 Isang Araw Sa Ating Buhay / Jeff Plantilla 16 Life Is A Journey / Glen Gypsy 17 Sumayaw Ka Sa Tugtog / Geraldine Limpo 18 Take It Or Leave It / Lita Manalastas-Watanabe 22 Dondake! / Karen Sanchez 24 Amazing Grace / Mae Grace 26 O-higan / Alma Fatagani-Sato 27 Accountability Partner / Arnel Sugay 28 Kwento Ni Nanay / Anita Sasaki 30 Walk With Me / Lala Lopez De Leon 32 Moving On / Jasmin Vasquez 34 Sakura Trivia / Geraldine Limpo 36 The Leader and the Future I Want

UP School of Economics

ATTENTION:

All alumni of the UP School of Economics now living/working in Japan.

Would you like to be part of our community viber (called Pusong UPSE Community Viber) and connect with UPSE alumni all over the world?

Please check out below link and register.

PUSONG UPSE Membership Form link.

Patuloy ang pagtibok ng Pusong UPSE

https://bit.ly/PusongUPSEmember

VISA PROBLEMS??

VISA CHANGE VISA EXTENSION PERMANENT BUSINESS ELIGIBILITY KOSEKI JAPANESE CITIZENSHIP

TAWAG LANG PO SA AMIN PARA MATAPOS NA AGAD ANG PROBLEMA NATIN!

Mr. Ishikawa - Hinoshi, Tokyo Visa Lawyer (Gyouseisyoshi-Lawyer)

OK VISA OFFICE

090-2908-5088 (SB)

editorial by Dennis Sun

読む YOMU means to read in Japanese

Habang tinatamasa natin ang mainit na panahon na dulot ng tagsibol, gumagala ang ating isipan. Sariwa at malamig-lamig na

simoy ng hangin. Nagdadala ng nakalalasing na amoy ng namumulaklak na mga puno ng plum, sakura, magnolia, at peach. Mga iba’t-ibang halaman na namukadkad ang mga bagong berdeng dahon.

Mga ibon na masayang lumilipad-lipad, naghahanap ng pagkain para sa kanilang mga chikiting. Ang sikat ng araw na nagpapainit hindi lamang sa katawan, kundi pati na rin sa ating kaluluwa.

Tagsibol! Spring! Haru! Ang panahon na nagdala sa atin mula sa malamig at mapanglaw na taglamig patungo sa panahon ng pagbabago at pag-asa.

Parami ng parami ang mga taong lumalabas sa kanilang mga bahay. At habang palapit na tayo sa dulo ng pandemya, lumiliwanag na ang tagos ng pag-asa sa mundo.

Hindi magiging kaaya-aya ang tagsibol kung hindi naging marupok ang taglamig.

Nagiging malakas tayo bilang tao dahil sa mga pagsusubok na dumaan sa ating buhay. Kung hindi tayo minsan nakatikim ng kahirapan, hindi magiging malugod ang kasaganaan.

At dahil sa ating kalakasan, nakikita natin na meron pang pag-asa sa mundo.

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Kay gandang makita na ang magulong nakaraan ay unti-unti ng nailalagay sa maayos na katayuan.

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KUSINA

Easy and delicious, seasonal recipes ni Tita Chris Yokoyama

Hello again, mga kababayan.

It’s springtime, the best season of the year. People start going out for Hanami or cherry blossom viewing parties. Why not try this easy recipe, should I say pina sosyal na embutido. Your family and friends will surely love this.

Easy All-American Bacon Wrap Meatloaf Ingredients for 8 servings Ingredients A: 1 kilo of mix ground pork and beef 1 cup panko or loaf breads (soaked in 1/2 cup milk) 1 onion, chopped 1 egg ¼ cup chopped carrot 1 clove garlic, minced 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon dried basil or thyme ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon paprika or chili powder (optional) 1 teaspoon shoyu (hidden umami)

Directions: STEP 1. Mix all the INGREDIENTS A in a large bowl until thoroughly combined; pat the mixture into a bacon lined 9x5-inch loaf pan.

STEP 2. Preheat oven to 175 degrees C. STEP 3. Bake meatloaf in the preheated oven until firm and no longer pink inside for 30 min. to 1 hour.

An instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the center of the meat loaf should read at least 70 degrees C. STEP 4: Remove from oven, flip in a flat baking pan with rim sides. Drain the meatloaf, set aside the drippings.

STEP 5: Mix all the INGREDIENTS B in a bowl, this is your glazed mixtures. Spread the glazed to the meatloaf; return to oven and bake until brownly good, about 15 more minutes.

Serve it cold and it’s easier to slice. You can make a gravy sauce by heating the drippings of the meatloaf in a sauce pan and add a little flour as a thickener, mix, add some water and bring to boil.

Add oyster sauce or any liquid seasoning you want.

Simmer until it thickens. Voila!

Note: If you wish to freeze, bake as directed for one hour, remove from oven and cool. Refrigerate until well chilled, wrap, label and freeze. To reheat: unwrap meat loaf and bake 30 min. at 175 degrees C. Top with the glazed mixtures and bake additional 15 minutes.

Ingredients B: 2 tablespoons ketchup 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 2 tablespoons honey 1 teaspoon cumin powder or garam masala About 20 pieces of bacon (lining for the loaf pan that serves as wrap)

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Neriza Sarmiento - Saito's

On the Road to

The OSAKA ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL 2022 “ Suddenly, the sun rose To the scent of plum blossoms Along the mountain path ... “

by Matsuo Basho (Translated by: R.H. Blyth)

The plum blossoms are the harbingers of spring, like emissaries that give an anticipatory sign that the most awaited cherry blossoms are on its way.

In Osaka, the 17th Osaka Asian Film Festival was held from March 10-20 with the largest number of entries, according to the Programming Director, Mr. Sozo Teruoka. Three of those were from the Philippines: BIG NIGHT directed by Jun Robles Lana, (in Competition); WHETHER THE WEATHER IS FINE directed by Carlo Francisco Manatad, (Spotlight) and YOU AND ME AND THE ENDING directed by Irene Emma Villamor.

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At the Awarding Ceremony on March 20th, the Most Promising Talent Award went to Mr. Kasho Iizuka, Director of “The Angry Son“, a story of a Filipino-Japanese High School student in Ota City, Gunma prefecture, his life with his single parent Filipina

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mother and their heartwarming life together in Japan in spite of identity issues.

I started to feature Filipino films in my column in 2016 with the film “Walang Forever“ starring Jericho Rosales and Jennylyn Mercado. We had the interview with Dan Villegas and Antoinette Jadaone at a room adjacent to the ABC Hall.

Incidentally, also in the cast of “Walang Forever ” were the lead actors of “You and Me and the Ending“ Kim Molina and Jerald Napoles.

One of the most notable experiences I had was in 2017 at a press conference after the screening of IZA CALZADO’s film “Bliss“. I asked her “How did your father, choreographer and director Lito Calzado influenced your life as an actress.“ IZA was in tears

appreciation.

In 2018, on my way to watch the screening of Neo Manila, I chanced upon Mikhail Red, the son of Raymond Red, one of the country’s prominent film directors who used to be one of our students at the PHSA in Makiling.

And in 2019, I went to interview the cast of “Tanabata’s Wife“ starring Mai Fanglayan and Miyuki Kamimura. It was really worth going there in spite of an injured foot after a bicycle accident.

And this year, 2022, after two years with the pandemic, I was able to watch a film again. “You and Me and the Ending“ starring real life couples Kim Molina and Jerald Napoles.

when she answered, saying that her father was very instrumental in her acting career and would be very happy in heaven to see her come to Osaka because they used to visit here in her childhood. Mr. Ben Wintle, who is now her husband told me later that my question meant so much to her.

On Awards night, Iza was awarded the Yakushi Pearl Award for Best Actress. That same night she called to say that she would give me the bouquet she received as a token of

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As Mr. Tsuneyuki Kamikura, the Chairperson of the Executive Committee for the Promotion of Moving Image Culture, said that the OAFF will herald the arrival of spring and that the interaction of different Asian countries through the film and cinema will continue to bloom through the years.

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by Alma Reyes

TRAFFIC Fortune Plums

While the world watches in despair and anxiety as dark images of war and suffering flicker before our eyes, sometimes, we can’t help but close the curtains and seek another path of resilience, perhaps, by calling the early rush of spring.

Plum blossoms play exactly that role—to transcend between the harsh winter and hopeful spring. In fact, I caught my first glimpse of plum blossoms in late December last year at Atami Plum Garden. The spacious park, opened in 1886, is known to reveal Japan’s earliest plum blooms. You can find about 60 plum varieties and over 460 plum trees scattered all over the premises. Last February, I took the chance to savor these delicate flowers at the Ikegami Plum Garden, where around 370 plum trees had already begun to show their pink, white, and yellow fragrant blooms.

to be planted facing northeast, the direction that invites misfortune, to ward off evil spirits. In these times of continuous turbulence, we may need heaps of plums to last throughout the year.

Ume may appear as second fiddle to the sakura, but they have long existed for centuries. They were regarded as the preferred ornamental flowers during the Heian period until sakura became prominent. Like the sakura, they also come in several varieties: yae-ume with five petals and shidare-ume, the weeping plum branches. Plums are said

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©Alma Reyes

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ISANG ARAW SA ATING BUHAY ni Jeff Plantilla

May nagsabi sa akin na panoorin ang isang pelikula tungkol sa ilang Hapones na nanirahan sa Filipinas. Sa una, hindi ako interesado sa pelikula. Pero nung ginugel ko na, nalaman ko na may malalim na kahulugan ang pelikula.

Facebook post Pagkatapos kong mapanood ang trailer ng pelikula, nagdesisyon ako na i-post ang isang mensahe na panoorin ng mga tao ang pelikula sa isang maliit na sinehan sa Kyoto.

Ito ang aking post: “Nare No Hate” (なれのはて) a film about 4 Japanese retirees living in a poor community in the Philippines.

Mapapanood sa Demachiza, https://demachiza.com/.

"They are supposed to be the losers who have fallen into the slums of the Philippines, but they seem to be living a life that is somewhat freer, more piercing, and less painful than the winners who die lonely in Japanese nursing homes and hospitals.

Think about the reason." Kota Ishii (journalist). Ito ay mula sa website ng “Nare No Hate” – online translation.

Ito ang mga comments sa aking ipinost:

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“Un hindi pa po nakakapanood dyan kung manonood kayo isama nyo asawa nyo dahil napakalaking

aral sa atin lahat ang full story nila. True to life story” Nagulat ako. Meron na palang nakapanood ng pelikula sa mga Filipino!

At hindi lang yon, yung asawa niyang Hapones ang nagyaya sa kanya na manood ng pelikula.

May iba pang comments: “This movie might make us understand the meaning of the expression, ‘Blessed are

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the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of God is theirs.’

Poverty is not only having less material things. There is a more serious poverty than that which most people (especially in Japan) fail to see.”

“What is life? What is happiness? I will let my Japanese students think while watching this.”

“Me Sir si …. Ha! Ha! Thanks po but I'm not sure if I like it coz they only show the bad

part of the Philippines. What about the rich and famous?

The ones who married Japanese men and became Cinderella stories?! I know that there's a lot po.”

May sagot ako dito sa huling comment: “Yun siguro ang wala pang movie, sa TV docu lang meron para sa mga magagandang lugar sa Filipinas. Ito [Nare no Hate] naman ay may positive point din sa ating mga Filipino dahil we survive. Kahit mahirap - mas masaya hindi palaging stressed. Kaya nga sabi nung journalist na Hapones alin ang mas maganda - may pera pero malungkot sa rojin home sa Japan o walang pera pero mas masaya sa Filipinas?

Pag-iisipan dapat ito ng mga manonood. Kaya positive para sa atin.”

Sagot naman sa comment ko: “Sir! Pag matanda na siempre mas masaya kasama family.

Kahit konti food masarap kumain po if surrounded ng love. Pano po yung ibang pinabayaan ng sariling family, masaya pa rin ba? Just a thought. Pero I agree na positive yung mahirap pero maligaya buhay!”

Sagot ko naman: “Tama…, yung walang pamilya o hindi na maganda ang relasyon sa pamilya ang istorya yata ng movie. Bakit sila pumunta sa bansang iba ang kultura at salita? Baka may hinahanap sila. Kaya malalaman yan pag napanood ang movie.”

Comment ng isa pa:

“Also tell stories about pinays doing well in japan”

habang naglalakad – banggang sinasadya.

Sagot ko:

Tingin sa “Nare no Hate”

“I agree …, visit “Filipinos in Kansai: We are here!” for such stories http://pcccwestjapan.blogspo t.com/”

Maaawa ka sa 4 Hapones na pinili ang Filipinas kaysa sa Japan. Pero, mapapansin mo rin ang kanilang desisyon na tumira sa Filipinas kahit naghihirap sa buhay. Paano mo gagamitin ang natitirang panahon sa iyong buhay?

Matanda ka na, paano na ang buhay mo?

Magpapakalungkot ka ba sa isang rojin home – may pagkain, ocha, ofuro at tahimik (o sobrang lungkot) na lugar? Ito ay kung may malaki kang pension. Paano kung wala kang malaking pera at sa Japan ka mananatili? O, pupunta ka ba sa isang “slum” area sa Filipinas at doon uubusin ang natitirang sigla nang may saya kahit konti?

Dagdag ko pa: “Eto pa, Filipino athletes naman sa Japan: https://issuu.com/sunny12sun ny12/docs/jp114/s/14205340” “Nare no Hate” Ang pelikulang ito ay isang documentary. Hindi isang gawang istorya. Ito ay video ng 4 na Hapones na piniling mabuhay sa Filipinas – kahit alam nilang wala silang maayos na trabaho doon – walang maayos na pagkakakitaan.

Kaya ang mahalagang tanong ay ito: Kung ikaw ay isang Hapones, bakit mo pipiliin ang hirap ng buhay sa Filipinas sa kaginhawan ng buhay sa Japan?

Dito lalabas ang pagkakaiba ng Filipinas sa Japan. Ang Japan ay masyadong practical na lipunan – lahat ay nakahanda – para sa ngayon at para sa kinabukasan. Kung hindi ka makasabay – talo ka.

Ang Japan ay isang stressful society – makikita mo yan sa mukha ng mga kasabay mo araw-araw sa train; mararamdaman mo yan sa kanilang pag-iwas na madikitan mo kahit konti lang na hindi sinasadya; mapapansin mo yan sa mga taong babangga sa iyo

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Hindi natin dapat ikahiya ang kalagayan ng ating mga kababayan sa Filipinas na nasa mga lugar na sinasabing mahirap. May kaligayahan silang nadarama na hindi nabibili ng Yen sa Japan.

Gusto nilang umunlad tulad nating lahat, at nagsisikap sila para sa ikabubuti ng kanilang pamilya. Ito ang nakikita kong isa pang kahulugan ng “Nare no Hate.”

PS Sabay na ipinalabas sa Demachiza ang “Nare no Hate” at ang movie version ng buhay ni Hiroo Onoda (isang “Japanese straggler”) sa Lubang island sa Occidental Mindoro.

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Glen Gypsy’s

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"There are always flowers for those who want to see them."

- Henri Matisse

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“Sumayaw ka sa tugtog” goes one of our Filipino sayings. How many of us remember the adjustments we had to make to acclimatize to living in Japan?

1 Wearing the same type of clothing all year round in the tropical weather of the Philippines will not work here in Japan. Instead, we observe koromogae, or the seasonal changing of clothes traditionally on the first days of June and October. This calls for scheduling a weekend to bring out clothing items for the next season from cabinets and such storage places, and gathering clothing items of the past season to send to the cleaners and store them thereafter (often with moth repellents). Extra work for us, Mommies, but this also means we have different looks for different seasons (which is cool!)

2 Learning to bow, a local sign of respect, by bending from the waist (not just tilting the head forward). Sooner than later, don’t we notice how we bow too during telephone conversations?

3 Do we all remember instances of family members pounding on the bathroom door while we were bathing because they had to do a number 2 (on the toilet bowl) but cannot because most toilets in Philippine homes are inside the barthrooms? This is no longer the case because the bathroom and the toilet are usually in different spaces within a Japanese home! Little wonder how we can now spend as much relax time as we need soaking in the ofuro in peace and quiet without anyone pounding on the door.

4 How many of us recall the nightmare of cleaning up after painting or carpentry work inside our homes in the Philippines? Reform in Japan is impressively efficient!

Naglalatag ng plastic ang mga trabahante to protect living spaces before commencing work, and they clean up afterwards too! Gone are the days of Inday running the vacuum cleaner or basahan on every square inch of the house to rid it of debris and dust.

5 How many days did it take me to understand how to segregate waste and properly dispose each type? Let me be honest and say that it took my family three days and a trip to the municipal hall. While we instantly understood the difference from moeru gomi from moenai gomi, there were so many new habits to build! Milk cartons had to be emptied, washed and folded; their caps disposed separately. I took these cartons to the nearby su-pa together with cans, dead batteries, cleaned and dried plastic containers that were disposed per type in designated bins. My stressed-out Pinoy brain kept thinking then: bakit ako nag-aaksaya ng tubig at panahon sa paglilinis ng ibabasura ko lang? With time; however, we all got used to the waste disposal system and realized how this system shortens the recycling process.

Besides the language barrier that may be overcome with serious study of the Nihongo and shameless conversation practice, it’s relatively easy to adjust to daily lifestyle in Japan because Filipinos and Japanese share similar customs:

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Sumayaw Ka Sa Tugtog ni Geraldine Limpo

1 We take off our outdoor shoes and change into slippers or walk barefoot inside our homes in the Philippines, similar to genkan etiquette. The objective is the same: keep dirt and dust from entering the residence.

2 Our travel luggages, often overweight, are filled with omiyage.

3 Binalot is our local equivalent to obento.

4 Back home, we receive a gift by handing something back, a la okaeshi.

5 We have salutations to seniors and persons who we consider important (such as customers in shops). Tagalogs add po at the end of sentences. In Nihongo, we append the suffix -san or -sama.

And the lists go on.

Living in a different country from our homeland is bittersweet. We shed some old habits and learn new ones so we can harmoniously coexist with neighbours and new friends. Fortunately, when we pay close attention, we notice many similarities. It can be fun learning new physical and social landscapes when we keep a healthy sense of humour, so then we can move according to the rhythm of this country we now call home.

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Take it or Leave it!

ADVICE NI TITA LITS Isabelita Manalastas-Watanabe Dear Tita Lits: Sino po iboboto ninyo this coming May 2022 elections?

Rosarito Sakae, Nagoya Dear Rosarito: This is the shortest ever question I have received in my many years of writing this advice column in Jeepney Press!

Your question is actually, the most difficult question I had to respond to. My answer to you cannot be in only one sentence or a few words (like naming my personal

choice).

I have an office in Sakae, Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken. I do remember that during the last presidential election, at least one of my senior staff, originally from Mindanao, understandably was for our current President Rodrigo Duterte (Du30). I recall that there was one Filipino organization in Nagoya (or Gunma? - can’t recall) whose members were die-hard Du30 supporters. They wanted him to win as they sincerely believed that he is the answer to our country’s many problems and woes.

They raised funds voluntarily for Du30, and wrote to our Nagoya office for a donation. My senior staff communicated with our Tokyo HO if a donation can kindly be approved. The Tokyo HO President’s advice was to stay neutral and not openly support any candidate.

When Du30 won the election and visited Japan during the early year/s of his presidency, I was one of the hundreds of Filipinos/OFWs who queued up for a standing only, full-capacity venue for the opportunity to meet in person our arguably one of the most-admired Presidents (during at least his first year in power). I was seated almost in the front row with some friends. OFWs cheered and clapped when he arrived with a big number of top ranking Philippine officials. That was how popular our President was. But this is not what I wanted to really focus on.

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The President arrived around 2 hours late for the meeting. To ensure that the audience will not get bored, or worse, leave (as some came from very far prefectures outside of Tokyo), the organizer/s decided to show an official video about the Philippines. People became quieter and focused their

attention on the video. When in one portion, our Vice President Leni Lobredo appeared/talked, suddenly there was some big noise. I looked back at the audience as I thought they were cheering for our VP. But no! I realized they were booing her! I was really surprised and shocked, to say the least, at how we Filipinos can be so rude, and so disrespectful of our top government officials, and to our second highest ranking official at that! I lost my cool at this lack of courtesy of my co-OFWs, and told a friend seated next to me, that I could not take this, and I would like to walk out of the room.

You know what my friend said? “Do you want your company to lose its clients?” I sat down.

This year’s Presidential election is, for me, a most interesting one. I have lived in Japan for around 35 years or so already, and I am not very much updated on what is happening in our country. Most of the “news” I get, I receive from my several viber groups (our family clan’s viber; a Jokers Group; Southern California Pusong UPSE; Pusong UPSE community; UP Econ ’74; JASHS 1970 Group; UPSEAA Community; etc.) and many individual friends, with different “colors” – red, pink, green, etc.

I am writing this Tita Lits column right now in Baguio, where I am staying and doing my telework, before I fly back to Tokyo on April 19.

Last night, Sunday, March 27, I had dinner with family and a friend, at Banana Leaf restaurant inside SM Baguio. It was the last day of the Panagbenga 2022 Festival, with the theme “Let Hope Bloom”. Beautiful theme, destroyed by a sudden big noise and shouting just outside of the restaurant after the finale (fireworks) of the festival was over. I had some problem with my right hip and could not stand up right away (senior na senior na kasi!) to see what is the noise about. I told my friend it may be a terrorist attack, or a bomb threat so we should rush out of the restaurant. Other customers at the restaurant also looked surprised and concerned. I told my friend to check, and maybe take a photograph of what is happening. She came back after a few seconds, saying it was a shouting match between BBM

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supporters and the Leni Pink camp!

There goes Let Hope Bloom. Now I am worried of possible violence when the election is just almost around the corner…

I did not know ‘Yorme”/Isko Moreno, current mayor of Manila. I just chanced at his YouTube interview by Toni Gonzaga, and I became so impressed about his life story – from rags, to richest, to being a most popular Mayor of Manila. (At siyempre, ang gwapo!). I told my family clan viber group that he can be a good president. I got a backlash from at least one family member, who wrote, “Auntie, di-mo ba alam na bomba star siya?” (I did not know this). I did more research on him and formed my opinion (maybe much too ambitious and too much in a hurry, to be in the highest position of the land?). I thought another stint as a Mayor of Manila is a sure win for him, then continue to do more good for the city, be a little bit more mature, and then be more ready and have a better chance at winning the presidency. Six years is not really a long time to wait for a young person like him.

relatively not as good in English as some of their other ASEAN neighbors.

But who cares? And so what?

to calm their nerves about the risk of being victims of kidnapping for ransom.

As to Ping Lacson, what I do know for sure is that he is probably the only one (I think the only one) among our senators/congressmen who never touched his pork. Ito yong pork barrel funds allocated and given to our Senators/Congressmen legally, to carry out their various projects nationwide and/or region/province-wide. It is a given that this pork worth millions of pesos will tempt anyone from abusing this ‘privilege’ at having huge funds at their disposal, purportedly, “to serve their constituents”. I heard from a reliable source, that a minimum of around at least 30% of the pork is lost, and end up to the officials’ pockets. Additional extra “income” for our elected officials, are the bribes that private companies are ready to give, in exchange for being awarded the contract for the various projects.

Oh – JP Ed-in-Chief Dennis Sun may not have any space anymore for my very lengthy response to the shortest (one-sentence question)ever received

by Jeepney Press.

Then, there is Paquiao. I admire him for his seemingly very honest intention of helping the poor. He was dirt poor one time, and wants to share his financial blessings. Even his own mother reportedly said that mauubos lang pera niya at hindi naman siguradong mananalo (at the embarrassment of her son during campaign sortie). Paquiao may not be as educated as all the other Presidential candidates, but he believes that he is the chosen one.

Unfortunately for Ping, the first survey on who people will vote for the next President came much too early, even before he could again try to clear himself of past things that still cling to his skin, despite the fact that he has already done his best, or has been successful already in clearing his name (e.g., Kuratong Baleleng incident, etc.). He ended up as one of those in the bottom of the survey results. That harmed him a lot. I know of several friends whose first choice was Ping, but later, after the survey results were published, decided to vote for their second choice.

Masasayang lang daw ang boto nila, kasi no way na mananalo si Ping.

I personally think that lack of high education (let that mean, speaking in very good English) should be a deterrent. Look at Indonesian Presidents – they always speak in Bahasa. Bahala na kung hindi maintindihan ng madlang people sa buong mundo ano sinasabi nila. Let those interested to hear and know more about Indonesia listen patiently to the consecutive/simultaneous translation of the speeches made, either within Indonesia or in international organizations like the U.N., etc. Indonesian people are

I can vouch that Ping is not corrupt, as I am privy to the fact of the saving and release from kidnapping from ransom of the son of one of my very good friends, who is in the Fortune Magazine’s list of the top 40 richest Filipinos. Ping declined the thank-you-money offered to him (in the millions, guys). Robina Gokongwei of the re-known Gokongwei family (she is in one of my viber groups), during a eulogy for her late father, made special mention of Ping. Maybe the many rich Chinese-Filipinos will be happy for a Ping presidency, if only

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Tito Dennis - just a little more information, before I conclude: 1. I like what a friend told me: “Vote for who your conscience dictates, no matter the chances of winning is, for your candidate”; 2. Vote for a candidate with no record of corruption, as being corrupt seems to be endemic in our system of government; 3. The right qualification (education and/or past training/accomplishments as a government official) should be of prime importance in making our choice; 4. Let us believe in Divine Providence, and pray that God will, at this time, pay more attention and give pity to our poor country, and thus, save us from disaster; 5. Whoever wins, as long as it is a clean and clear win, we, Filipinos should do our best to support him/her, respect him/her, and do our duty to contribute, no matter how small, to the betterment of our beloved Philippines, so we could be out of being ( again) the sick man of Asia.

May the best candidate who can do the best for our country and our people win!!!

(P.S. Sorry, Rosarito – I have actually not answered your question! I, however, continue to pray for Divine Providence - “Thy will be done”).

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DONDAKE

TOTOO BA???

Konnichiwa, mga kababayan! Kamusta po ang ating nagdaang mga araw na kinakalambag ng kung ano-anong mga kaganapan at kaguluhan?

Nawa po ay maging matatag tayong lahat at maging handa sa mga nagbabadyang giyera o "World War III". At sa dami nang nagsasabi ng sila ang nasa tama, ang tanong ay Totoo Ba???

Sa mundong ito na punong-puno ng pagbabalat-kayo at panloloko ay mahirap nang magtiwala ng basta-basta dahil base na din sa mga ating kanya-kanyang karanasang naloko na tayo ng minsan. Sa mga hindi pa nakaranas eh palakpakan po ninyo ang mga sarili ninyo at ipagpatuloy lang ang buhay at sana ay maibahagi nyo po sa iba ang inyong sekreto.

Bilang isang kasapi ng pahayagang ito, ako po ay nagpapasalamat sa walang sawang pagtangkilik sa aming mga akda. At muli, nais ko pong magbahagi bilang isang totoong kabayan na nagmamalasakit para sa kapakanan ng bawat isa sa atin.

Samahan nyo po ako sa aking artikulong ito. Umaasa po ako na kahit papano ay may makuha kayong aral o magandang bagay mula dito.

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Sa nalalapit po na eleksyon sa bansa natin ay nais ko pong

maging malawak pa ang ating kaisipan at sikaping suriing mabuti, magmatyag at makiramdam sa nangyayari sa kapaligiran at sa mundo ng pulitika sa ating bansa. Hindi po lingid sa ating kaalaman na talamak ang kurapsyon na isa sa dahilan kung bakit mahirap ang bansa natin at baon sa utang. Ginawa ng negosyo o palabigasan ng iilan kung kaya dapat maging maingat po tayong lahat sa pagpili ng mga iboboto natin nitong darating na halalan.

Nakakatawa man pong isipin na sa kakapanood ko ng mga palabas gaya ng Documentaries, Mysteries, gaya ng Aibo, Kazuki no Onna at Detective Conan at marami pang iba ay naging malaki ang tulong nito para sa akin para mamulat ako sa kung ano ba ang nangyayare sa mundong ating ginagalawan. Kung bakit laging magulo, ano ba ang puno't-dulo nito sa kabila na alam natin na ang dahilan nito ay pera at kapangyarihan.

Ngunit bago ko naintindihan ang lahat ay ilang taon ko din itong pinag-aralan at bago ko tuluyang maunawaan ay dapat isantabi ang ating nakagisnang mga paniniwala, kultura at kaisipan. Dapat maging malawak ang iyong isipan at matiyagang busisiin kung ano ba ang katotohanang matagal mo nang gustong malaman.

Alam ko marami ang magtataas ng kilay, ngunit nais ko lang ibahagi sa inyo mga kababayan ang aking natutunan na bumuo sa aking pagkatao at

March - April 2022

kung bakit talaga naging mapanuri at nag-iingat ang isang taong magtiwala kahit pa kapwa natin kababayan ito.

Sa simula, alam po ba natin na ang ating kasaysayan ay binago? Alam po ba natin na ang bibliya ay iniba? At alam nyo po ba ang totoong pangalan ng Diyos Ama at Kanyang Anak? Magugulat po kayo at magtatanong sigurado nang Totoo Ba? Ang ating Bibliya ay nagmula sa Torah pinakaunang libro o bibliya sa mundo at sa pagsasalin-salin depende sa pagkakaunawa at sa sariling ambisyon o pakay. Nabago at may mga inalis na bahagi ito at hindi na isinali sa bibliya ngayon. At ang totoong pangalan ng Diyos Ama at Anak ay tuluyan na ding napalitan. Sa kasalukuyan at riyalidad ng buhay bakit ang tao nagpapalit, binabago o tinatago ang tunay na pangalan? At bakit sa pagsasalin na iyon, dapat ba ito talagang baguhin?

Para po sa mas madali po ninyo itong maunawaan, maari po kayong manaliksik sa ating pinagmulan at sa tulong ng makabagong teknolohiya sa internet ay mas mabilis na po ninyo itong makikita.

Ganun din po sa pulitika. Dahil ang pulitika ay para ding relihiyon. Lahat yan mabubuti "daw" ang layunin ngunit kung maging mapanuri po kayo at hindi magbubulag-bulagan o mas may malawak na isipan ay mas madali nyo po ito mauunawaan. Naipamulat tayo sa mga maling kasabihan, katuruan, pananaw at prinsipyo ngunit ang tanong masaya po ba kayo? Nararamdaman nyo po ba na kayo ay buo? Masdan

nyo ang bansa natin, ang mga kababayan at pamilya natin sa Pilipinas. Kung napapansin ninyo kahit anong sikap natin hindi pa rin umaangat ang buhay nila. At marami pa rin sa kanila ay nakadepende sa ating mga nasa abroad. Bakit? Dahil mismo ang bansa natin ay hindi maganda ang sistema at ginagamit ang tulad nating mahihirap para lamang sa kanilang kapakanan.

Nasa Torah o bibliya na din ang patunay na ang bansa natin ay pinagpala. Ophir, ang ngayon ay Pilipinas. Ang bansang nag iisa sa mundo na may likas na yaman kung tawagin ay "Marmol". Na ang gamit na salita ng mga katutubo natin hanggang ngayon ay kaparehas ng nasa lumang librong Torah. At nananalaytay sa atin ang totong dugo ng Diyos Amang si YHWH. Pero nakakapagtaka kung bakit isa tayo sa pinakamahirap sa buong mundo at dahil iyon sa kurapsyon at sa koneksyon ng mga namumuno at nanakop sa ating bansa.

Kaya mga kababayan, kung ang bibliya ay nabago at marami ang naniniwala, sa palagay mo ba sa kasaysayan ng pulitika ay hindi ito pwedeng mangyare? Na ang totoong may mabuting intensyon ay sila ang napapasama at ang huwad ay syang naging tunay sa mata ng karamihan at lumalabas na tama. At iyon dahil sa kung ano ang naging impluwensya ng iyong pamilya, kapaligiran o karanasan.

Hanggang sa muli mga kababayan. Maging maingat po sa pagpili sa nararating na eleksyon dahil sa ating mga kamay nakasasalay ang kinabukasan nating lahat. Huwag basta-basta magpapaniwala sa sabi-sabi, propaganda, You Tube, tiktok at mga "Marites" sa iyong paligid at ugaliing itanong sa sarili Totoo Ba???

God bless us.

God bless the Philippines.

by Karen Sanchez My Winning Game I may be tired but I still tried I may have cried but my eyes are dried I sometimes may feel lonely but not empty And I accept this life's imperfection perfectly I am sometimes too fool so I fall But I rise up and stand tall Cause it seems I recovered that all And taught myself to be whole Abbah Yahawah is your name People don't know and no one’s to blame But your love is my winning game For this chaotic world that we are living Someone hid the truth before we came And changed your words to became them For those times they enjoyed their game But later their life is worst as in flame

Nasa Kamay Mo Ang Malaking Pagbabago Namulat tayo sa mundong ito na puno ng pagbabalat-kayo Lumaki tayo na marami silang sekretong itinatago Hanggang sa ang kasinungalingan ay nagmukhang totoo At pinaniwalaan, pinandigan at isinabuhay ng maraming tao Ngunit hanggang kailan ka magiging tagasunod Sa mga taong nagkukunwari na naglilingkod Akala mo santo sa pagpapanik-luhod Para ang mga sariling adhikain ay maitaguyod Marami nang nangyari, kaya dapat lang maging mapanuri Maging aral sana ang mga nagdaang nangyari Gawin mo ito hindi lamang para sa iyong sarili Kundi sa iyong kaanak na sa mundo'y matagal pang maglalagi Nasa kamay mo ang malaking pagbabago kabayan ko Damhin at imulat mo ang isipan at ang iyong puso At gumawa ng malaking kakaibang pagbabago Na pwede nating maipagmalaki sa buong mundo

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AMAZINGgrace Scentimental Spring

by Mae Grace

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Ah! The first day of spring! The buds are all waiting to break through so that they can become the beautiful flowers that they are meant to be.

Everything in spring reminds us that life is always getting reborn, we are given second chances, or we start another circle in the spiral of life. Ahh, who doesn’t love spring?

Finding one may not be easy but they are worth the sight. Para silang mga diamonds, rare and ethereal. Finally, the late bloomers that have double petals which we call Kanzan and similarly, the Yae Zakuras are so gorgeous they look just like a cheerleader’s pompoms made from nature.

Take a walk and take photos along as you go, or take quiet meditations as you gaze at the beauty around you. Remember, even the weeds are showing off such beauty that will blow your mind away. Have you ever wondered how the dandelions appear to imitate the golden glow of the sun?

Spring is for all the senses. Listen to the birds, excited na sila. Stand under a magnolia tree, and you would wonder where that lovely scent is coming from, so intense and yet, so heavenly. The sakuras are more subdued, you need to bury your nose deeply inside the flower to breathe in its mild scent.

Open your eyes to hundreds of varieties of this cherry blossoms that we all love. If you only knew one kind, take that challenge and start discovering species after species of Sakuras that can be found in parks near you.

Commonly known varieties are the kawazu or the early bloomers. They are normally dark pink in color and their trunks are narrow and short. The someiyoshino are those that we know so well by now. You would see them lined up in endless rows.

The shidares are the cascading variety, and are considered of great beauty.

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But I will tell you a secret. Hindi pahuhuli ang aking tanim na Sampaguita. It has now grown a lot of new buds and flowers that made people around it take a double step looking for the source of that heavenly scent coming from its wax-like blooms. Spring is for the soul, that seeks its joy after the cold and quiet of winter.

O-higan（お彼岸）By: Alma Fatagani-Sato The Higan is observed twice a year, which is usually from three (3) days before to three (3) days after the Spring/Vernal Equinox day (which is around March 21st) and the Autumnal Equinox Day (which is around September 23rd). The Equinox Day is when the length of day and night are almost the same.

During the Autumnal Equinox, you will see a lot of red spider lilies (higanbana) blooming near the graveyards. These flowers are often referred to as the ghost flowers, spirit flowers or flowers of the dead.

Buddhism was introduced to Japan during the Asuka Period (538 -710) but the observance of this holiday started during the reign of Emperor Shōmu of the Nara Period, the 45th emperor of Japan.

Higan is a Buddhist word that literally means “Distant Shore”, commonly referred to as the “Other shore”, which can only be reached after death. In Buddhism, crossing to the other shore is used to refer to the attainment of “nirvana” (freedom from worldly suffering and the beginningless cycle of repeated birth.

It is believed that “there is a peaceful world without suffering”.

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It is a very important Buddhist event where the family calls a Buddhist monk to

recite a sutra to soothe the spirits of the dearly departed ancestors, goes to the grave with some offerings which would include: • Rice cakes, a glutinous rice cooked then rolled and wrapped with red bean paste.

In Spring, it is called Botamochi, named after the botan (peony) flower. In Autumn, it is called Ohagi, named after the hagi (Japanese bush clover) flower.

• Incense which is lighted then the fire is put out by just waving your hand back and forth, then let the incense burn up until it all turns into ash.

• Buddhist beads (数珠), normally held in your hands while reciting the Buddhist chant.

• Pail and ladle (手桶と柄杓), to clean the gravestone and the surroundings with water.

• Bouquet of flowers Higan is similar to O-bon since it is all about paying respects to the ancestors. The Japanese people take death and everything about it seriously. Thus, it is observed in a very solemn and sacred way.

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Do you have an Accountability Partner? By Arnel Sugay In training workshops, I get to meet a lot of people. Usually, most participants start to warm up as the day progresses. When this happens, they freely disclose their challenges, if not frustrations, with me.

Some of the things shared with me pertains to leadership, health and fitness, and professional and personal goals. They bemoan the fact that they are multitasking and it is hard to focus and accomplish some of their aspirations.

I usually suggest that they get an Accountability Partner. When pressed for more information, I explain that an Accountability Partner is someone you trust and has your best interest. Your Accountability Partner is your cheerleader, supporter and adviser. Your Accountability Partner will help you achieve your goal.

When the goal becomes blurry, your Accountability Partner will provide you with guidance and clarity.

An Accountability Partner serves as a coach.

There should be transparency and high level of trust in the relationship. You and your Accountability Partner agrees to regularly meet, in person or virtual, to swap information relevant to your goal. You will talk about what you are doing that allows you to either move closer or away from your goal.

Before meeting with your Accountability

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Partner, you should already have a goal to present. This is not a goal in mind but a goal that has been well-thought of and it is written down. A very good guide to use in goal setting is to use the SMART principle.

(S-Specific, M-Measureable, A-Attainable, RRealistic and T- Time bounded).

A very good example of a SMART goal is “pay off my personal loan of $1,000 by the end of this year.”

“Increase newsletter subscription rate to 15% by December 2022.”

What traits should you look for in an Accountability Partner? Choose the following traits: 1. Honest. Someone who will tell you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear.

2. Mature. Find someone who will be happy for your small victories and will encourage you by giving you positive feedback or reinforcement.

3. Reliable. Look for someone who is committed in meeting with you on a Art by Dennis Sun regular basis for the feedback, support and guidance.

4. Understanding. Go for a good listener with the intent to understand you. You don’t need someone to critic you for taking a misstep.

Do you have an accountability partner?

Share your experience with me at arnel.sugay@gmail.com

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EVERY GISING IS A BLESSING

KWENTO NI NANAY

ni Nanay Anita Sasaki

Ang bilis nang mga araw. Panahon na nang mahal na araw. Panahon nang pag ninilaynilay. Pag-usapan natin ang mga bagay na madalas, nakapaglalayo sa atin sa Diyos.

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PRIDE - Ito pala ang root cause ng madalas nating pagkakasala. Pride, ito ay ang lagi mong iniisip na magaling ka, ikaw lagi ang tama, sarili mo lang ang iniisip mo. Pride ang dahilan kung bakit marami tayong nakakaaway. Pride ang ayaw natin ibaba kaya hindi tayo nagpapatawad. Pride ang dahilan kung bakit gusto natin tayo ang bida.

Kapag tumaas na ang iyong pride, hindi mo namamalayan, hindi mo na kailangan ang Diyos dahil ang lahat ng magagandang nangyayari sayo ay iniisip mo dahil sa sarili mong sikap at galing.

Sabi sa Bible, "God is opposed to the proud." Paano nga ba natin ma-correct ang ating pride? Simple lang pala, gayahin natin si Jesus, maging HUMBLE tayo.

Kapag may promotion, naging successful tayo, sa lahat ng blessing, huwag natin itong ipasok sa ating ulo at isipin na ito ay galing lahat kay Diyos.

But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and He will flee from you. - James 4:6-7 Marami ka pang matututunan kung mapapanood mo itong talk about PRIDE. Beware of Pride, be Humble: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfVM G5qT_Bo PRIDE IS EGO WHICH MEANS EDGING GOD OUT. IF YOU DRINK POISON, YOU DIE. IF YOU HAVE ANGER, RESENTMENT, YOU ARE PUTTING POISON TO YOUR HEART. SO YOU DIE. If you are very extremely angry, take your blood pressure and you are chemically high. So, it is literaly hurting you. Not them. So, who is hurt? It’s you who make a mess of yourself.

Transfiguration. It’s the Holy Spirit who will do the message. To share the word of my message. The change of heart and minds, habits, life style.

Are we changing for the better?

Nagbabago ba tayo? Kung tayo ay may sakit, o di kaya nahiwalay sa isang mahal sa buhay dahil sa kamatayan. If we are sick, separation due to death. Kakatokin tayo ni Lord thru sickness, death, bankruptcy. The pandemic should have changed us. What did we learn? LISTEN TO OUR LORD. PRAYERS PRAYERS IF WE ARE REALLY DOING IT RIGHT. DEEP PRAYER THAT CAN CHANGE YOU AND ME. ARE WE REALLY PRAYING? DASAL NG DASAL PAREHO PA RIN ANG ASAL. LISTEN = SILENCE WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT US. CONVERSATION IS TALKING & LISTENING. IN PRAYING WE SHOULD TALK AND LISTEN. THE BEST PRAYERS HAVE NO WORDS. KASI IT IS SAID IN TEARS. PHYSICAL PAIN. MY TEARS ARE MY OFFERINGS. DO WE HAVE A REGULAR TIME AND PLACE TO PRAY TO GOD? Sa aking pagkakasakit last year. It was 3 months before the year end. Grabe ang pain kong naranasan. Ipinaramdam ng DIYOS na walang kuwenta ang mabuhay na meron galit, puot sa puso. Tapos ang dahilan lamang ay ang material na mga bagay na hindi naman makapagliligtas nang ating kaluluwa. Hayaan na natin yan mga material na bagay na iyan lamang ang makapaghihiwalay sa atin sa Diyos. Iyan ang ginagamit ng ating kaaway upang tayo ay magkasira at mailayo sa ating Panginoon. Ika nga. “We may profit the world but lose our soul.“ NOW IT’S LENTEN SEASON. LET’S FAST AND PRAY. HOW MANY TIMES DO WE PRAY? REAL PRAYING. WE MAKE GOD BIGGER THAN OUR PROBLEMS, OUR SINS, OUR BLESSINGS. STAY ON. PERSEVERING PRAYERS. TEACH YOUR CHILDREN TO PRAY. DAPAT FRUITFUL PRAYERS. PRAY FOR OTHERS, TOO. INTERCESSORY PRAYERS. PRAYERS ARE POWERFUL. PRAY FOR OUR ELECTION, OUR LEADERS, OUR COUNTRY, THE WHOLE WORLD. THAT PEACE AND LOVE WILL REIGN. PRAY TO THE GUARDIAN ANGELS OF OUR ENEMIES. PRAY FOR ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING. REMEMBER …. PRAYERS CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS! “HINDI MO KAILANGAN MAGING MAYAMAN O MATAAS NA PINAG-ARALAN UPANG MAKATULONG SA KAPWA MO PILIPINO.”

March - April 2022

By Lala Lopez de Leon

Walk with me: Tokyo Station Marunouchi Area

March 21, 2022 – Spring Equinox Also called Vernal Equinox, it’s when we have equal amount of day and night, and which signals the beginning of Spring. I would like to think of today as an auspicious start to better and more hopeful days ahead.

I do pray the rest of the year would be kinder to all of us!

So happy that I got to spend today with one of my oldest and dearest friends, Rowena and her hubby Ishihara-san! A quick message or phone call of invitation to venture out – and for as long as time allows, we’re there with bells on!

Eager to see the Tokyo Flower Carpet 2022, which runs for three days only, we headed to Tokyo Station Marunouchi area, had a sumptuous lunch of Sushi at Hanamaru (5th Floor, Kitte Building / https: //www.sushi-hanamaru.com), and took a leisurely walk along that wide and long stretch of path right across the grandest and most beautiful inter-city train terminal Tokyo Station.

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Marc - April 2022

Using petals from about 50,000 Carnations of all colors, the artists depicted the masterpieces of Ukiyoe artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi, whose paintings of Kabuki artists are known classics. The ground on this side of Marunouchi has turned into a fantastic walk-through display of Hana-Kabuki.

Actually, I find the Marunouchi area the most charming, most enticing side of the aptly named Tokyo Station City.

There’s always something new and exciting going on this side, and it’s bound to keep everyone hooked, at any time, any season of the year!

MOVING ON

ni Jasmin Vasquez

Ganda ng kalikasan at pasyalan sana’y ating ingatan…

Napakaganda ng kapaligiran dito sa Iida, Nagano-ken.

Tapos na ang winter ngunit nananatiling malamig pa rin ang klima mula sa mga naiwang snow galing sa mga kabundukan. Napakasarap mag-bilad sa ilalim ng araw.

Tamang tama ang init para maibsan ang hampas ng malamig na hangin sa ating katawan.

Sa ngayon, bawal at nakakatakot pa rin pumasyal sa mga malalayong lugar dahil pa rin sa wala na yatang katapusang corona virus na iyan. At dahil sa nature lover naman ako, minabuti ko munang puntahan ang isa sa mga park na paborito kong tambayan. Ito ay ang “Myokin Park Camping Ground”. Ito ay matatagpuan dito sa Iida, Nagano-ken.

Sa ngayon ay hindi pa pinapayagan hanggang katapusan ng March.

Simula April 1 ay maaari ng buksan at makapag picnic na kayo. Pwede rin mag-,tayo ng tent at mag overnight dito. Sa totoo lang, sobrang relaxing dito. Kay ilog na pwede mong liguan kapag summer. Kay ihawan, may mga lugar na pwedeng kainan. At syempre may mga toilet pag tinawag ka ng kalikasan- hehehe.

Nice spot ito para sa mga group na kahit anong klaseng meeting, fellowship etc. Ganda ng kapaligiran. Yun nga lang paminsan

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may mga taong pasaway din na di maiwasan lumabag sa mga rules.

Katulad ng pagluluto doon sa may lamesa sa kubo. Kahit sinabi na bawal ay ginagawa pa rin. May mga lugar naman na tamang lutuan.

Pero kung may pwesto kayo malapit sa tent nyo doon naman ay pwede ding mag ihaw. Napakaganda ng lugar kaya sana ingatan at alagaan natin ang mga ganitong lugar.

Highly recommended ko ito pag gustong mag overnight, pero syempre dapat mayroon complete na gamit para sa camping. Saka libre naman dito di katulad sa ibang lugar magbabayad ka pa.

Tara pasyal tayo dito sa aming lugar. Mananatili itong maganda kung ito ay patuloy na maalagaan.

March - April 2022

SAKURA TRIVIA

by Geraldine Limpo

As temperatures rise across the Japan archipelago, cherry trees start to blossom beginning with those in Okinawa. Friends and families will soon gather under these trees, o-bento and o-sake (and in some occasions, karaoke system) in hand for ohanami. Here is some fun trivia regarding this much-beloved flower season: Do you know that: The first o-hanami celebrated the blossoms of the prunus which is the first flowering plant to blossom after the winter? In Chinese tradition, the prunus represents the virtue of resilience (that is to say, the blossom persists through the wintry cold). It was rightfully called ume-mi (literally translated: “prunus flower-watching).

Watching the spring cherry tree we fondly call sakura was made fashionable between the 8-11th century by the epic Genji no Monogatari (The Tale of Genji) which is believed to be written by a courtly woman.

Sakura blossoms live between seven and ten days only. This short life represents for many Buddhists the transcience of life (and beauty and youth). Thus, many meditate on life’s impermanence during ohanami. Consult the Japan Metereological Society for the sakura forecast (https://www.jma.go.jp/jma/en/News/sakura3.html) Shinto, Japan’s indigenous tradition, recognized spirits in living beings including natural elements such as trees. Imperial families of old Japan drank osake during ohanami, toasting to the spirits of trees.

There isn’t just one species of the sakura; there are more than twenty!

O-hanami during the evening is another special way of viewing the sakura blossoms. Light-ups in many venues across Japan including Ueno Park and Gion/Pontocho make for perfect dates! Here is one informative blog that enumerates some of the best venues for yozakura: https://jw-webmagazine.com/top-5-spots-for-cherryblossom-night-viewing-c5c509a2a26f/

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Here’s an easy (but tasty) recipe for obento during ohanami:

BAKED SUSHI

250g snow crab surimi 250g Norwegian salmon filet About 1/2 cup Japanese mayo, or just enough to bind the surimi and flaked salmon About 2 cups sushi rice cooked 2 tbsps furikake (and 2 tbsps seasoned seaweed flakes) Tobiko Fried onions Green onions Roasted Seaweed (nori) 1. Bake salmon at 210C for 10 mins. Shred. Let cool.

2. Shred surimi. Add cooled shredded salmon. Add Japanese mayo. Salt and pepper, to taste, if preferred.

Mix together.

3. Spread cooked rice on a 9x13 inch pan. Add furikake.

Add crab salmon mix. Add seasoned seaweed flakes.

4. Sprinkle tobiko on top.

5. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake at 180C for 25 mins.

6. Garnish with fried onions and green onions.

7. Place a teaspoonful of the baked dish on rectangular pieces of nori and eat like a temaki.

March - April 2022

Photo by Dennis Sun

The Leader and the Future I Want: Mga Pinoy sa Japan at ang Halalan TOKYO, Japan – Palapit na nang palapit ang eleksyon sa Pilipinas kaya naman kabi-kabilaang campaign rallies na ang nagaganap hindi lamang sa loob ng bansa kundi maging sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo. At maging dito sa Japan, aktibo rin ang Filipino community sa pago-organisa ng mga iba’t ibang aktibidad para sa kani-kanilang mga sinusuportahang kandidato.

Samu’t saring isyu, palitan ng kuru-kuro, at maging patutsadahan o palitan ng alegasyon ang nangyayari sa bawat kampanya. May kani-kaniyang rason kung bakit sa tingin natin ay nararapat ang ating kandidato para maging leader ng bansa.

Ang ilan ay tumitingin sa edukasyon habang ang iba naman ay nakatuon sa experience o track record.

Kaya naman kinausap natin ang ilang mga Pinoy mula sa iba’t ibang panig at larangan dito sa Japan hindi para tanungin kung sinu-sino ang kanilang mga napiling kandidato kundi para ibahagi ang kanilang opinyon sa kung ano nga ba talaga para sa kanila ang isang “good leader” at paano sila pumipili ng kanilang mga iboboto.

Tinanong din natin sila kung anu-ano ang kanilang mga pangarap at hangarin para sa bansa at sa kapwa Pilipino sa paparating na halalan. Narito ang kanilang mga sagot.

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Melissa Luce-Borja Legal Counsel in Tokyo From Cavite Ang magaling na lider may malinaw na plano, may konkretong estratehiya paano niya makakamit ang mga planong iyon, may diskarte, may pananampalataya sa Diyos at sa kanyang mga kababayan at higit sa lahat, marunong makinig sa mga konstruktibong kritisismo.

Ang batayan ko sa pagpili ng kandidato, 4 C’s.

Unang-una, competence. Kasama dito yung track record sa pamumuno. Ano ba ang napatunayan ng kandidatong ito. Kung dati nang nanunungkulan, natupad niya ba ang mandato niya sa mga nakaraang posisyon? Bilang ordinaryong mamamayan, ano ba ang kanyang napatunayan? Ang taong likas na matulungin at may puso sa pagseserbisyo, parating nandyan pag oras ng pangangailangan. Handang gumawa ng paraan.

Pangalawa, credentials. Ano ba ang educational background at karanasan sa pamamahala ng taong ito?

Pangatlo, creativity (sa Tagalog “diskarte’). Hindi kasi sapat yung magaling lang, kelangan resourceful din. Yung may kakayahan mag-isip ng iba’t ibang solusyon sa isang problema.

Panghuli, character. Kailangan natin yung kandidatong may integridad, may moral ascendancy na pamunuan tayong lahat. Someone who commands respect, hindi sangkot sa kahit anong issue ng pagnanakaw o pagbali ng batas.

Panalangin ko sana matuto na tayo sa leksyon ng kasaysayan at sa karanasan natin noong mga nakaraang eleksyon. Matuto na tayo pumili ng kandidatong tunay na naninilbihan sa atin at hindi gagamitin ang yaman ng bansa para lamang sa interest ng iilang kapamilya at kaibigan. We deserve a government that will embody our ideals and aspirations, ika nga ng ating Konstitusyon. Sa nalalapit na eleksyon, panalangin ko na gamitin natin ang ating konsensya sa pagpili ng kandidatong mamumuno sa atin. Our children deserve no less.

March - April 2022

Rogerson Dennis Fernandez Educator in Tokyo From Ramon, Isabela True leaders inspire people to do good and to become better so that they may inspire others to do the same. Sila ‘yung mga taong gagawa ka ng mabuti dahil nakikita mo ‘to sa kanila. They show how things should be done. They walk the talk. And they lead by example. True leaders live a simple life. They value human connections. They build on people more than anything, not just on material things.

I will vote for candidates who have established their moral integrity – those who have and will espouse consultation and participation, transparency, and accountability.

Dalangin ko ang isang Pilipinas kung saan ang mga Pilipino ay nabibigyan ng sapat na oportunidad para makamit ang kanilang mga pangarap sa buhay, isang bansang isinusulong ang kapakanan ng bawat sektor (lalo na ng mga mahihirap, mga katutubo, at mga may kapansanan), may mataas na pagtingin sa karapatang-pantao, at isang bansang ang bawat mamamayan ay aktibong nakikibahagi sa proseso ng pagsasabansa at naihahayag nang malaya ang kanilang mga kaisipan at saloobin.

Kim Christian Talens Cubillan Software Engineer in Tokyo From Surigao City, Surigao Del Norte A GOOD LEADER in my definition is someone who is proactive, advocacy-driven, disciplined, and most importantly he/she practices good governance on a daily basis.

Assuming every candidate has a superb credential, in choosing my candidate, I will always consider the intention behind every action. Doing things is easy but how you execute them and how it made impact to the people can really be observed if there is a heart placed into it.

It has always been a vision of mine since I was a kid, that my country would have fair, just, and equal opportunities for everyone, citizens are seen in the same footing regardless of culture, social status, and upbringing. That is why I plead to my fellow Filipinos, that let us be more vigilant and be objective when choosing the people that will lead our country. We all want a better future, right?

Then let us step up our game in selecting our future leaders.

Christian Ezekiel Fajardo Research Student at the University of Tokyo From City of San Fernando, Pampanga Para sa akin a good leader is a good listener. Siya ay laging bukas at handang makinig upang agarang matugunan ang mga isyu at pangangailangan ng kanyang sinasakupan.

Kredibilidad bilang isang lingkod-bayan ang isa sa aking batayan sa pagpili ng kandidato. Siya ay may mga konkretong plano at panukalang proyekto na nararamdaman at napapakinabangan ng lahat ng mamamayan.

Pangarap ko ang isang maunlad na Pilipinas kung saan ang lahat ay may pantay-pantay na oportunidad upang makapamuhay nang masagana at matiwasay. Hinihikayat ko ang lahat ng ating mga kababayan na suriin at piliin nang wasto ang mga kandidatong iboboto sa darating na halalan.

March - April 2022

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Roger Raymundo NPO Board Director in Chiba From Pampanga As a leader of a migrant Filipino organization and migrant worker myself, I believe that the coming 2022 national elections bares a seemingly unique strategic importance to the fate of OFWs migrant Filipino workers because of the current climate of impunity and widespread lies circulating on the internet to favor the most gruesome section of the Philippine political characters rallying behind the namesake and heir of the late dictator.

It should be noted that the dictator was the first president in the history of the Philippines to formally institutionalize the labor export policy in response to widespread poverty and joblessness as an effect of a crony-infested, authoritarian, and overly centralized government during the Marcos dictatorship that saw the Philippine economy plunging down the sewers and the national coffers plundered.

On the upcoming 2022 national elections, we would want to vote for future government leaders with clear practical solutions to address poverty and improve government structures to address the socio-political roots of corruption. Integrity and moral values that well-represent the Filipino pride, trustworthiness without stains of history of corruption and deceit. A candidate with clear tract record and moral integrity would definitely be at the top of our choices. The candidates that have already established and maintained political will to combat corruption and have shown steadfast programs to alleviate the lives of the common people notwithstanding whether they are in the government or as private citizens. Among the current selection of aspiring Presidential and Vice-presidential candidates, there are only a few who have really shown clear platform with regards to the plight of OFW’s. However, what is most important aspect of it, despite the platforms, are the candidate’s previous programs and tract records of defending and pursuing the wellbeing of overseas Filipinos and their families. Inspite the promises that we commonly hear among trapos during election

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campaign rallies and debates, the people could easily identify their hallow promises and incoherent blabbering because they were obviously nowhere to find during difficult times and calamities while busying their selves on election protests and peddling lies on the internet to condition the perspective of the people to their advantage. we will never vote for candidates related to or influenced by cabal of thieves and corrupt political dynasties!

We humbly ask our fellow Filipinos both at home and abroad to utilize their most sincere power of discernment come May 9, 2022. We must expose and fight the lies perpetrated by the uniting forces of thieves and trapos, historical revisionist and peddlers of fakenews! They must be exposed and dealt with the halls of Philippine justice system, but first we must not let them hold power in our government. The upcoming May 2022 polls is not just a fight for power, but genuine people power fueled by hunger of truth and freedom from poverty caused by the social ills that has been built by decades of trapos, dictators, and clan of thieves!

March - April 2022

Marie Joy Resurreccion Early Childhood Educator in Awaji, Hyogo From Castillejos, Zambales A true leader should be a good follower.

Siya dapat ay Isang huwaran: may integridad, tapat, may takot sa Diyos at pure ang PAGMAMAHAL. Ibinase ko ang pagpili ko dun sa taong may nagawa na at alam Kong may magagawa pa. Ikaw nga may RESIBO na. Hindi puro pangako, kung may plano at plataporma.

Unang una, maayos at mapayapang Araw ng Halalan sa Mayo 9. Dito kasi nakataya ang kinabukasan ng anak ko. Kaya dapat maging responsible sa pagpili ang iluluklok sa para sa anim na taong pamumuno sa ating bansa.

Esmie Takahashi Musician and Entrepreneur in Sapporo, Hokkaido From Malasiqui, Pangasinan A good leader inspires people. A good leader gives hope and brings out the best in people. Ang good leader ay makatao, marunong makinig, at masikap maghanap ng solusyon sa mga problema. At higit sa lahat, ang good leader ay isang mabuting role model. Dapat, they lead by example.

I choose candidates on how they treat people, ganun din sa track record, honesty, work ethics, vision, plans, strength, and attitude when confronted with crisis.

I wish for my country to have the prosperity it so deserves, to have a good leader. I also wish for Filipinos to be discerning voters.

March - April 2022

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Michelle Tecson Embassy Staff in Tokyo From Pateros, Metro Manila Ang magaling na leader, may malasakit o may puso para sa mga kababayan natin. ‘Pag ang leader may malasakit sa tao, ang tangi niyang hangad ang kabutihan ng tao, hindi niya pagnanakawan, siya ay magiging TAPAT at sisiguraduhin niya na AANGAT ang buhay ng mga taong pinagsisilbihan niya. Ang leader na may malasakit, ikaw ang uunahin, hindi ang sarili niyang interes.

‘Di sapat na ang leader ay may malasakit lang.

Importante na may kakayahan siyang mamuno na mapapatunayan sa mga nagawa niya dahil alam mo na gagawin niya uli ito at kampante ka na lalo pa niya itong pagbubutihin.

Ang magaling na leader mai-inspire niya ang kanyang mga taga-suporta na i-reflect ang values niya tulad ng pagiging mapag-malasakit at pagiging magaling. Magsisilbi siyang inspirasyon sa mga tao na kumilos at iangat ‘di lamang ang sarili kundi pati ang kapwa.

Ang pinili kong kandidato ang siyang alam kong magre-reflect ng mga values ko – katapatan, malasakit para sa kapwa, at may kakayahan; ng mga pinahahalagahan ko – pamilya at bansa; at ang aking mga hangarin para sa bansa.

Ang hangad ko para sa Pilipinas ay kung ano ang nasasaad sa Preamble ng ating 1987 Constitution: isang makatarungan at makataong lipunan na may Pamahalaan nakakatawan sa ating mga mithiin at mga lunggatiin, magtataguyod ng kabutihan sa bawat isa, mangangalaga at magpapaunlad ng aming kamanahan, at titiyak para sa ating sarili at angkanang susunod ng mga biyaya ng kalayaan at demokrasya sa ilalim ng pananaig ng batas at ng pamamahalang puspos ng katotohanan, katarungan, kalayaan, pag-ibig, pagkakapantay-pantay, at kapayapaan.

Para sa mga Pilipino, ang hangad ko magkaroon tayo ng malasakit para sa isa't isa at iboto natin ang Presidente na may malasakit din sa atin, may kakayahan, at magiging inspirasyon para sa atin na maiangat ang ating mga sarili.

Carmen Agnes Canafranca Wakamatsu Homemaker in Chiba From Lopez, Quezon Puro “M” lang naman ang gusto nating maging lider.

Maganda, matalino, masipag, matulungin, masunurin sa batas, mapagmahal, mabilis tumugon sa hinaing ng mamamayan, mapagpakumbaba, mapagkakatiwalaan. At higit sa lahat MATAPAT sa tungkulin.

Gusto ko ng pangulong taas-noo kong maipagmamalaki sa buong mundo. Pangulong may kakayahang tuparin Ang mga ipinangako. Competent, trustworthy, honest, and incorruptible. Sumusunod sa batas at laging handang makinig sa mga hinaing ng mamamayan. Bayan muna bago ang sarili. I wish that all Filipinos will seriously think that the future of our country depends on our votes.

Anna Meliza Tinio Software Engineer in Yokohama, Kanagawa From Antipolo, Rizal A servant leader. A leader who inspires people to action and someone who has a mindset of “it’s about the group and not about me.” Someone who appreciates people. Listens to them. Pushes people to grow and improve their skills. Creates opportunities for people to use those skills para umusad ang grupo. Yung tipong leader na laging may resibo sa mga nagawa pero pag inusisa mo ang resibo, di lang puro pangalan nila ang nakasulat. Laging group effort.

Importante rin ang isang leader na kayang ipaglaban ang prinsipyo, pero at all times, with respect and dignity pa rin.

Tapang na walang ingay at di galing sa pananakot.

Paano ako namimili ng kandidato?

Unang-una, yung walang bahid ng corruption. Ayoko nga nung kinupitan na ako, bibigyan ko pa ng trabaho for the next 3 or 6 years. Pangalawa, yung may solid at realistic na platapormang based sa pag-consult sa mga experts at sa taumbayan.

Pangatlo, yung sigurado akong kayang ma-implement yung nasa plataporma nila, kasi nga may track record na. Eto yung mga kandidatong marami nang nagawa, at lahat ay may resibo, pero hindi resibong self-serving. Sa dami kasi ng problema ng bansa, ayoko na mag-gamble sa “kaya namang gawin” kung meron namang mga kandidatong proven and tested na, regardless of availability of resources at budget.

Iba-iba man ang sinusuportahan, masasabing nagkakaisa ang mga Pinoy dito sa Japan na ang isang mabuti at mahusay na leader ay may malinis na hangarin para sa bansa. Lutang din ang katapatan, integridad, at track-record bilang mga mahahalagang katangian na dapat taglayin ng isang leader.

My wish for my country and for all Filipinos?

Ang sarap nga naman yung masabing nagkakaisa tayong lahat, gets ko ang appeal.

Pero bago tayo makarating jan, my wish is for us to be a nation of informed and empowered voters and after that, of informed and empowered citizens. Hindi lang tayo nakaasa sa mga elected officials, pero we also know what we need to demand from them. At tayo mismo, kumikilos para ipaglaban ang nararapat sa atin, para mai-angat ang bawat Pilipino.

Nakita rin natin sa kanilang mga kasagutan na ang pangarap para sa isang bansang payapa at maunlad ay nakasalalay sa isang tapat at mahusay na leader.

Pangarap ng bawat isa ang isang pamahalaang tunay na naglilingkod sa mamamayan, tapat at walang bahid ng korupsyon, at mahusay na nakapagbibigay-serbisyo sa bawat nangangailangan.

March - April 2022

Nakatutuwang isipin na napakalaking bagay sa mga Pinoy ang pagpili ng kanilang iboboto base na rin sa sagot ng ating mga nakapanayam. Katulad ng ating nabasa, malalim ang basehan ng mga botanteng Pinoy na ating nakausap sa kung paano sila namimili ng kanilang susuportahang kandidato. Marami sa kanila ang tumitingin sa kakayahang mamumo, sa karanasan, at sa mga prinsipyo o values na kaparehas ng sa kanila – mga bagay na pinahahalagahan nila sa buhay.

Kaya naman sa Mayo a nuebe, dalangin natin ang mapayapa at may integridad na halalan dahil dito nakasalalay ang kinabukasan ng ating bayang minamahal.

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Gawa ni Robert Alejandro