Jeepney Press 96 November-December 2018

Pahayagang pinoy sa japan Celebrating The Journeys Of Filipinos In Japan ジープニー プレス

在日フィリピン人 向 け マ ガ ジン

November - December 2018 2018年11月-12月

Cover Design by:

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.

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JEEPNEY PRESS A sia Vox Ltd.

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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

Cover design and art: DENNIS SUN

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 MARK WARREN DE LUNA Tokyo

CONTENTS

06 YOMU Editorial

by Dennis Sun 08 Life Is A Journey

by Glen Gypsy 10 On The Road To:

by Neriza Sarmiento-Saito

14 Isang Araw Sa Ating Buhay

by Jeff Plantilla

16 True Christmas

by Marilyn Rivera 18 Kwento Ni Nanay

by Anita Sasaki 20 Signpost

by Karen Sanchez 22 Moving On

by Jasmin Vasquez 23 Shouganai

by Abie Principe

24 Advice ni Tita Lits

by Isabelita Manalastas-Watanabe 25 Message from Tita Lits

by Isabelita Manalastas-Watanabe

26 Traffic

by Alma Reyes 28 Kapatiran

by Loleng Ramos

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2018

Art by Dennis Sun

Life is nothing without a little chaos to make it interesting.

- Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

- art by Dennis Sun

EDITORIAL by Dennis Sun “And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so?

It came without ribbons.

It came without tags.

It came without packages, boxes or bags.

And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before.

What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store.

What if Christmas, perhaps,

Christmas, for me as a child, was staring endlessly at our Christmas tree which shows herself only once a year. As a child, it made me wonder why suddenly there would be a big Christmas tree right in the middle of our living room. It suddenly grows to a tall adult tree in a single day and would live for about 3 months from the middle of November until the middle of January. I would be mesmerized by the glimmering and shimmering of the Christmas lights that cover the Christmas tree. Even though I am amazed of her beauty, I sometimes wonder how she can carry all those Christmas lights, Christmas balls, and other decors hanging around her branches. Thereupon, my admiration would turn to pity. I would remove the heavy decors on the small branches and hang them to the bigger branches. And day by day, the number of presents under the Christmas tree would increase and I would check how many presents were for me. And night after night until Christmas Eve, I would dream about opening all those Christmas presents. That was the Christmas I remember.

Christmas now has given me

several Christmas, gone were the giving and getting of gifts.

Nobody gave me presents anymore. Maybe I am too old for receiving presents. When I was a child, I depended on my parents to get me things I wanted. Now, I buy myself whatever I wanted. As I got older and more mature, I had to control my desires. As we live in small spaces in Japan, we really need to check what we buy and where to put it. Then, dispose those which become useless and unnecessary anymore. I try not to buy material things as much as possible. The many years I have lived in Japan, I have accumulated too much.

Little by little, piece by piece, and after several changes of residences, I try my best to give away some of my things I don’t need anymore or just directly throw them straight to the garbage. And this I have learned—that, it is so much easier to buy things, rather than to dispose of them.

We get attached to things that when we accumulate too many, they become like extra weight and baggage that we need to carry on our journey in life.

Many people think that the more they have in life, the happier they become. But little do they know that it’s adding too much load already to an endless and purposeless life.

This Christmas (and we can add New Year to that), I would like to remind myself again and again that I don’t need anything material anymore.

Just as we were born in this world with nothing, we will

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YOMU means “to read” in Japanese.

leave this world with nothing just the same.

I have always equated Christmas with gifts and presents. Before, I thought that if my family and friends love me, they would give me lots of presents for Christmas. And then, when I got older, I thought that if I love my family and friends, I should give them gifts, as well. I have a friend who annually requests politely to her family and friends, “No Christmas gifts please!” I don’t want to call her a Scrooge and I don’t think she is one. She told me she would rather give her children quality experience of bonding together. She also wanted to teach her children to put less value on material possessions. Another friend’s child has too many toys that I think the child couldn’t learn well from the play experience. I think the less the children have, the more imaginative they become with what they have.

So, their ability to focus and concentrate increases.

Perhaps, it’s about time we rethink the way we see and practice our Christmas gift tradition. We can only limit ourselves with a lack of imagination. But as always, let us always celebrate the holidays by sharing love with everyone and remembering the good in our lives.

~ Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet 07

Glen Gypsy’s

6 Ways To Give Your Mind A Break: 1. Stop stressing 2. Stop worrying 3. Give rest to the problems weighing you down 4. Lighten up 5. Forgive yourself 6. Forgive others - Germany Kent

08

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2018

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

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www.nishimachi.ac.jp

Neriza Sarmiento - Saito's On the Road to: The Rising Star of Global Medical Affairs with

DR. JOVELLE B. LAOAG FERNANDEZ, MD PHD, FPOGS Vice -President, Takeda Pharmaceuticals Company Ltd.

The Christmas Star better known as the star of Bethlehem was believed to be the guide of the Magi or the Three Kings in their search for the Holy Infant Jesus. It was believed that the rare Star was visually spectacular and that this triple conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn with the constellation Pisces was a phenomenon that happens only every 900 years.

DR. JOVELLE B. LAOAG FERNANDEZ, is not only a Star, but a luminary as well in the field of medicine where very few women have trodden. She is an Obstetrician-Gynecologist from Mangatarem, Pangasinan. After completing her residency training, she came to Japan in 1998 on a Mombukagakusho Scholarship and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. This involved advanced studies in Reproductive Endoctrinology, Infertility and Oncology. Her post doctoral studies was Molecular Biology.

After obtaining her Doctor of Philosophy degree, she got a license to practice medicine in Japan, one of rarest opportunities given to foreign women doctors and even something difficult to obtain even for Japanese female doctors.

In August this year, the name of a first Japanese woman doctor was in focus.

She was Ginko Ogino, who was born on March 3, 1851 in Saitama. In an inquiry involving cases of female applicants in a medical school, it was found out that only 30% were admitted in what others say as discriminatory. Dr. Ogino could have probably encountered the same, but she went through all the odds and opened her own ladies’ clinic. Even after she passed away in 1913, her legacy remained.

I met Dr. Jovelle in 1999 when she judged PCCC’s Ginang Kalayaan contest.

Charming, vibrant and full of life were my first impressions of her. With us, she never mentioned about her work. She was just there for the moment... to have fun… to talk and giggle with her kababayans. Little did we know that she

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became the recipient of the 2004 Heritage Award given by the President of the Philippines to Outstanding Filipinos and Organizations Overseas.

After 8 years in Japan, her husband who is also a physician and their 3 sons went back to the Philippines. Later, she joined Glaxo Smith Kline as Head of Medical Governance and Assurance. One day, as I was lining up at the PAL check-in counter in Manila, we crossed paths again. It was a pleasant surprise and our conversation lasted for hours until we boarded our respective flights ... to USA and Japan. But this time, just talking with her gave me some courage. Actually, I was going through some personal crisis at that time.

Perhaps it was the inner confidence of an empowered woman like Dr. Jovelle, that gave me the determination to go on and face the challenges ahead.

In 2015, there was a call from her telling me that she is now based in Tokyo, and will come to Osaka for business but would love to meet us again. “This lady never ceases to amuse us,” I told myself. Nonchalantly, she said that she is now with Takeda Pharmaceuticals Co, Ltd. but did not elaborate. I was to find out later that she is the head of a team of doctors and medical professionals.

In spite of her gregarious nature, she is very serious about her work and does everything with passion. In most pharmaceutical companies, someone like her who is very well versed in medical affairs is a rare talent to find or even to develop. Her job entails scientific expertise, business acumen, strategic insight and compliance related to the patients.

Anybody working under her team has to have at least a score of 800 or above in TOEIC, Takeda, being a global pharmaceutical company. English is a must because daily meetings are in English as well as fluency in Japanese. How is she able to handle an elite team of Japanese medical experts? “Of course, there are intercultural barriers, but I see to it that I listen to each member of my team and ensure an environment where they can develop their strengths and improve upon their weaknesses!” Her team regards her as a “change agent” and a leader who embraces challenges!

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opportunity to be granted a special physician license to practice medicine in Japan. I have to learn the Japanese language, history and culture. Of course, my family joined me after a year of stay in Japan and we stayed here for nearly 8 years.

What were your initial impressions of Japan on your first year of stay? Did those impressions change after living here for a while?

In Nov. 2018, they had a booth at a major medical congress in Kobe. They featured a robocon, an interactive tool that responds to questions and acts upon requests. In September, she spoke at the 4th Industrial Revolution Forum in China.

2018 became even more significant because of an award from the Healthcare Business Association (HBA) in May, the distinguished Rising Star Award in New York, with her husband and three children in attendance. It is a recognition of Dr. Jovelle’s outstanding contribution to the Healthcare Business that no other medical professional has attained and a strong message to women that having a family is not a hindrance to pursuing a career.

Just like any other Filipino global family, her extended family live in the USA, in Singapore and in the Philippines. After retirement, her parents decided to go back to the Philippines, where her other two other brothers are.

Dr. Jovelle’s physician husband is also involved in the stock market, while their two other sons are in an investment firm and another pharmaceutical company. The youngest son is a high school student in an American school in Tokyo but hopes to go to a university in

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the USA. So this Christmas, the Fernandezes will “not only be roasting chestnuts in an open fire” but will also have the traditional “Noche Buena”. And on Christmas morning, they will gather around the fireplace sipping hot cocoa and opening presents!

Q and A: When did you arrive in Japan?

This time, it was late 2015, specifically latter part of November.

Have you ever visited Japan before settling here for good?

I was here in Japan in 1998, and I am not here for good, at least for the moment. Since we already established our domicile in the US, we are planning to return there, with my 2 older ones already working there and my youngest plans to enter a US university after he graduates from high school at American School in Japan.

What were your reasons for coming to Japan?

In 1998, it was a program of the Japanese government - first was the monbukagakosho scholarship and then JSPS. This involved advanced studies in the field of Reproductive Endocrinology, Infertility, Oncology and post doctoral studies in Molecular Biology. I obtained my Doctor of Philosophy and had the

Apart from the obvious that Japan is one of the most advanced countries in the world, it has a deeply rooted culture and history that the Japanese are proud of. It is an enigma, as there is always something to explore, from the castles and temples to the advanced robotics and digital museums, and this country never runs out of surprises. Every time I travel outside Japan, I always miss the courtesy and politeness of the people here, and that they highly regard others around them. They are so disciplined!

What were you involved in before coming to Japan?

Before coming over in 1998, I finished my residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Philippines. Before coming over in late 2015, I was in the US working as head of Medical Governance and Assurance, Glaxo Smith Kline based in Philadelphia.

How did you get employed at your current place of work?

Interesting question - in my line of work, which is medical affairs, is a unique expertise in the pharmaceutical industry hence is a rare talent to find and develop. There needs to be scientific expertise, business acumen, strategic insight and compliance related to everything that we do. This is because all of our activities are geared towards the patients.

In which language do you communicate with your subordinates at work? Is Japanese language a necessity in your daily dealings at work?

Both languages - there is a requirement for anybody working in my team to have a very high TOEIC score - so I must say that my Japanese is not getting any better since my team mates have to practice their English. Takeda is a global Japanese pharmaceutical company, hence English is important. Japanese language fluency is a plus, of course.

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Do you have special plans for yourself and your family for Christmas?

It is all about the family. I will be back home to spend the holiday season in the US with husband and sons. We have a tradition of Christmas dinner (noche buena style, from Filipino tradition), gather in front of the fireplace while drinking hot cocoa during Christmas morning. Of course, open presents during that time which is always fun to do.

extended family, we make it a point to meet once a year wherever we can make it.

youngest son is with us in Japan and is in high school at ASIJ.

For my immediate family, my husband is also a physician and he is very much involved in the stock market and does volunteer medical work. My eldest son is

My maternal grandparents who raised me and my parents.

My grandfather taught me the value of perseverance, my grandmother taught me to treat everyone equally and remain

working at one of the largest US investment firms and my second son is working in another pharmaceutical company. My

humble. My father taught me to be responsible and my mother encouraged me to be the best I can be.

Do you have an icon?

Please tell us about your family in the Philippines and in Japan.

My parents decided to retire and went back to the Philippines and I always visit them every time I get the chance. My older brother, who runs his own business and my other physician brother are living in Manila with their families.

I have a sister who is a nurse and a brother who works at a medical device company both of them are in the US west coast. My 2 other siblings are in Singapore, youngest brother is working at a large multinational sportswear company and another sister is a pharmacist. For this

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ni Jeff Plantilla Uso sa Pilipinas ang mga salitang “move on.” Madalas itong binabanggit kapag nais na bitawan ang dala-dalang problema.

Sa iba, mabilis mag-move on.

Pero sa iba pa mahirap na basta na lang kalimutan ang sakit na sinapit.

Mga Kampana ng Balanggiga Usap-usapan ngayon ang pagbabalik ng mga kampana sa simbahan sa Balanggiga sa Samar na kinuha ng mga Amerikanong sundalo nung panahon ng giyera ng Pilipinas at Amerika (1899-1902).

Dahil ginamit bilang hudyat ng pag-atake ng mga Pilipino sa mga Amerikanong sundalo, ang mga kampana ay kinuha bilang war booties o war trophies.

Nguni’t bago kinuha ang mga kampana, umatake muna ang mga Amerikanong sundalo sa Balanggiga na may utos na lahat ng lalaking 10 taon ang gulang at pataas ay patayin.

Maraming namatay dahil sa utos na ito at ang bayan ng Balanggiga ay nasunog. Ang opisyal na nagbigay ng utos sa mga sundalo ay na-court martial dahil labag sa batas ng giyera ang utos niya.

Inilagay sa memorial ng mga Amerikanong sundalong namatay sa Balanggiga sa isang military base sa Cheyenne, Wyoming ang 2 kampana at isa ay idinisplay sa isang US military base sa South Korea.

Lumipas na ang 100 taon, pero hindi maka-move on ang mga beteranong sundalong Amerikano sa nangyari sa Balanggiga (kahit mas maraming namatay na Pilipino sa kanilang “howling wilderness”). Inabot ng 30

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taon ang pag-uusap bago pumayag ang mga Amerikano na ibalik sa Pilipinas ang 3 kampana ng Balanggiga.

Ano ang nangyari?

Ayon sa mga reports, imbes na balikan ang mga nangyaring patayan sa Balanggiga nung panahon ng giyera, tiningnan ang mas mahaba at mayamang relasyon ng dalawang bansa. Sabi nga, ang dalawang bansa ay naging “staunch allies” ng napakahabang panahon. Mas magandang pagtuunan ng pansin ang bagay na ito at ang kinabukasan ng pagkakaibigang ito.

Naisip din na ang mga kampana ay pag-aari ng simbahan ng Balanggiga.

Kaya’t simbahan ang dapat babalikan ng mga kampana.

Nauna nang ibalik sa Pilipinas ang isang kampana mula sa West Point Academy sa Amerika na kinuha sa simbahan ng Bauang sa La Union. Kaya, ganun din ang gagawin sa mga kampana ng Balanggiga.

Ibig sabihin, ang pagbabalik ng mga kampana sa simbahan ng Balanggiga ay pagdiriwang ng magandang samahan ng Pilipinas at Amerika.

Napakatagal nang natapos ang giyera ng Pilipinas at Amerika, kaya panahon na para maka move-on sa mga kampana ng Balanggiga.

Dotonbori Isa sa kilalang lugar sa Osaka ang Dotonbori. Isang lugar na may kanal na ginawa nung mga 17th century.

Ang kanal ay hinukay daw ng mga nahatulang kriminal at mga pinarurusahang Kristiyanong Hapones. Dahil sa hirap sa paggawa ng kanal, marami daw ang nagkasakit at namatay.

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Hindi malayo sa Dotonbori ang isang lugar na ginamit para parusahan ang mga kriminal dito sila pinapatay ng mga panahong yon.

At meron ding hakka (sementeryo) na malapit sa Dotonbori na maaaring pinagdalhan ng mga pinatay at namatay sa Dotonbori. Ang hakka na ito ay pinamamahalaan ng isang grupong Buddhist (Sennichizan Gohouen Koshoji). Hanggang sa ngayon ang grupong ito ay may otera pa rin sa Dotonbori area.

Naisip ng grupong ito na tulungang manahimik ang mga kaluluwang umiikot-ikot lang sa Dotonbori.

Naisip nila ang isang multi-faith religious ceremony. Tuwing Disyembre, may seremonya sa isa sa mga tulay sa Dotonbori na kasama ang pari na Shinto, Buddhist monk at paring Katoliko. Lahat sila ay nagdadasal sa pananahimik ng mga kaluluwa sa Dotonbori.

At dahil ito ay Disyembre, tuloy na rin ito sa isang misa na pang-Pasko. May mga kantang pang-Pasko at may konting programa pagkatapos ng misa.

Merong isa pang seremonya na multi-faith din na ginagawa tuwing Nobyembre sa kanal mismo ng Dotonbori bilang godo ireisai (joint memorial ceremony) para din sa mga kaluluwa.

Ang mga seremonyang ito ay tulong sa mga kaluluwang hindi pa natatahimik sa Dotonbori. Tinutulungan ng dasal ng iba’t-ibang relihiyon ang pag-angat ng kaluluwa tungo sa dapat nilang kalagyan - sa mga Kristiyano ito ay maaaring langit, o sa mga Buddhist pupunta sa jodo isang bahagi ng kalangitan.

Ang mga seremonyang ito ay dinadaluhan ng mga Pilipino sa Kansai. Sila ay bahagi sa mga pagsisikap na matahimik ang mga kaluluwa, kasama ang mga namatay na Kristiyanong Hapones.

Dapat banggitin din na taon-taon na ring pumupunta ang mga miyembro ng Sennichizan Gohouen Koshoji sa Bataan upang ipagdasal ang mga kaluluwa ng mga nasawi nung second World War – Pilipino, Hapones at Amerikano.

Kampana at Kaluluwa May mga bagay na pareho sa dalawang istoryang ito.

Una, parehong gusto na mga tao (Pilipino, Amerikano at Hapones) na makauwi na sa dapat lagyan ang tatlong kampana para sa Pilipino at Amerikano, at ang mga kaluluwa para sa mga Hapones.

Pangalawa, nais ng mga taong sangkot na maging lubusang mapayapa at maayos ang relasyon nila sa bawa’t isa - kasama na sa relasyon ng mga buhay at pumanaw na.

Isang aral sa dalawang istoryang ito ay maaaring ganito: mahirap mag move-on kung mabigat at napakasakit ang dinanas na problema. Nguni’t panahon ang siyang gagamot sa sakit na dinadala - kahit anong haba pa man ng panahong kailangang lumipas.

Sabi nila, hindi lahat ng panahon ay may bagyo.

Sabi din na pagkatapos ng dilim ng gabi, may umaga.

Sa pag move-on, iniisip ang paglipas ng unos, ang

magandang bati ng araw sa umaga. Sa Japan, ashita ga aru sa, palaging may bukas, sabi nga ng isang kanta.

Tayong lahat ay nakamo-move-on dahil sa pagsilang ng ating tagapagligtas.

Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon sa lahat!

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True Christmas Killing the Grinch in Us

by Marilyn Rivera

“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!

What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store?

What if Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!”

- Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

To most of us, BER – months automatically means Christmas time. In the Philippines, we start celebrating this yuletide season from September to December. Nobody else loves Christmas like we do. And we definitely know what to do during this time of year.

To make it evident that Christmas season is here, we now begin the countdown and hear Christmas music filling the air. We start to rack our bodegas to search for our favorite Christmas decors that we keep on hanging year after year. After putting out all we need, we now proceed to the technical part which is testing Christmas lights to make sure that nothing is flickering. After then we put our artistic skills to the test in decorating our Christmas tree and distribute each of the Christmas paraphernalia throughout our house on to their special spots in our living room, dining room, kitchen and bedrooms.

Decorating our home ignites more our Christmas spirit beyond 100% for the next four jolly months of the year.

Everybody has their own traditions every Christmas season. Aside from food like our traditional Noche Buena, Queso de Bola, ham, lechon, etc. We also keep Christmas

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traditions performing good deeds to the community.

Some of my friends’ families would pick an orphanage and celebrate with the kids and their staffs. Some would donate equipments to churches like seats, air conditioning units or financial assistance. Some would give Christmas gifts to random people knocking on their car door. And for most working employees, they give small tokens of gifts to their colleagues to express their love and appreciation. We love this period so much that we find ways to spread the love in our hearts touching others in any way we can.

More surprisingly, it sometimes makes our heart skip a beat finding out that some of the people we know as the most stubborn, cold-hearted and couldn’t care less of other people would be the most generous ones in the team, in your group of friends, or among your family. This goes to show that even if you perceive some people as having hearts that are two-sizes small; they would be the people spending more time, money and effort in finding ways on how to double the joy to people they do not even know. This is a special shout out to ChildFund, Unicef and Utawit. These organizations that I am part of taught me a very priceless lesson of changing children’s lives. That a simple act of kindness can go a long way. And when

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2018

these children grow up, they can do the same for other needy children. And these groups do not only do these deeds on Christmas period.

Giving does not carry a price.

The act of giving in itself is already a gift and does not need a tag price attach to it.

No need for fancy brands and hot items on sale. Because for most, it goes deeper than that. Some people would volunteer work and donate used items. Some would simply be kind and help their family on issues or co-workers at work. Some would donate blood. Some would send you emails or cards. And some would even stop what they are doing just to help someone with their grocery bags.

Christmas is not bounded by the time of year, not limited to your annual average spending, or to people you only know. The date December 25th signifies the day our Saviour was born.

That God gave His Son to us on this special and momentous day. And this act of love is embedded in what true Christmas means remembering, appreciating, celebrating, sacrificing, praying, healing, caring, saving, acting, hoping, cherishing, changing, loving and even forgiving. Christmas is truly in our hearts (Jose Mari Chan- Christmas in Our Hearts).

P h i l i p

D iz o n

T o r r e s

Facebook : Philip D. Torres Mobile (Philippines) : +63-91-7605-6366 Model: Irene Kaneko Photography: Borj Menesses Hair & Make-up: Vela Mua Art Direction: Dennis Sun

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KWENTO NI NANAY

by Anita Sasaki EVERY GISING IS A BLESSING!!!

Lumalamig na ang simoy ng hangin. Nadarama na ang Paskong parating. Pagsapit ng “BER” months sa atin sa Pilipinas, mga awiting pamasko ang ating maririnig sa radio, television, sa mga humaharipas ng mga jeepney, bus at maging ang mga tricycle o sikad. Mga nagagandahang, naglalakihang Christmas trees at decors sa mga malls at parks at maging sa ating mga kalsada, damang dama na ang nalalapit na pagsapit ng Pasko!

Dito naman sa atin sa Japan, lumalamig na. Winter season na… ahh magpapasko na nga!

Umpisa na ng mga “bonenkai” or year-end parties. Yan ang mga nadarama natin dito na magpapaalala na ang Pasko ay parating na.

Ngayon, iba na ang panahon… high tech, ika nga. Kasi ang pagbati ay dinadaan na sa TEXT, e-mail o e-message. Di tulad noon na Christmas cards ang pinapadala sa mail or courier.

Minsan, meron ako kinompose na message at dahil sa pagmamadali, instead of MERRY, I typed MESSY CHRISTMAS. Ito po ang nangyayari kung tayo ay nagmamadali. We give in to stress and pressure because of haste. Sabi nga, haste makes waste.

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To all our readers, families and friends...

I wish you all to have a MERRY not MESSY Christmas!!! More than that, I hope and pray that you will not only have a MERRY Christmas but a “MARY CHRISTMAS“… full of SIMPLICITY, PEACE, HOPE and LOVE. It’s Yuletide Season, the season for gift giving and receiving. We should not underestimate generosity and the tremendous effect it has on the receiver and the giver. May kasabihan na “little things mean a lot“ both from the receivers but also the givers as well.

Higit sa lahat, dapat paghandaan natin ang pagsilang ng ating Messiah. Di po ba pag darating na ang ating bagong panganak na sanggol, aligaga tayo sa paglinis nang ating bahay, pag ayos nang gamit para sa ating parating na sanggol. Kaya sa Paskong darating, ihanda natin ang ating mga puso na maging malinis para sa ating Messiah.

Masagana at Maligayang Pasko po sa lahat!!!

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

By Karen Sanchez

All About Love

Konnichiwa minnasan!

Minna genki desu ka?

is about accepting someone's flaw and imperfections. It is about making sacrifices. It is I am here again sharing my about striking to thick and thin talent, thoughts or something I and we learned to understand can do. Wishing and hoping and seeing the positive side of that you will like and enjoy the issue or situations. And reading this. Writing poems, sometimes whether it hurt you stories and articles is a the most, you will accept blessing. This is not just a everything just to be with hobby. Consider this as an someone you loved the most. outlet or a source of information that could help to 4. A parent love is figure out my life and how to unconditional and priceless. be responsible being able to They will do anything for us. touch the readers’ life, too. This They want the best for us. If is a privilege to tell whatever they can carry the burden we you want to say or to tell are carrying, they will. They someone you have in mind. sacrifice some things just to And because Christmas is give what their children wish coming l choose to talk about and nowadays when the "love". children want some gadgets such as cellpohones, laptops, Love is a very confusing thing tablets etc., the parents are here in this world. Anyone can making ways like pawning relate with this issue. There are their own things, using their some points or ideas I can share atm card, borrow money from with and I am hoping that it their friends or bank or loan could help everyone. May your companies just to buy that mind, heart and eyes be wide child wants. It shows that open to realize what you have parents will undergo anything and it’s worth of having it in your just to please their children but life. not all parent can do these when it comes to reality.

1. Love sometimes is a bitter-sweet ending. It ends 5. True love is about letting go. abruptly. It tends to be It is about accepting the fact short-lived and that is why most that some good things are not of us gone through our first love meant to last. And everything and so on but still can't find "the that you wish for your love one one". Sometimes we end up is all the best and happiness marrying the wrong one. that their hearts are longing for.

2. Love is about creating wonderful memories. We might 6. When you love, be ready to not end up together but all the get hurt. Be ready to embrace memories will remain forever pain because no one knows and in this case, the relationships what will happen next. This is turned into best friends or about being prepared for what God-mother or God-father to the love will bring to you. child of your "ex".

7. The best part about loving is 3. Love is about acceptance. It to have someone whom you

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NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2018

can share your adventures, plans or dreams which you are creating your good memories but sometimes these may fail.

The things you planned will not happen. But at least you explored things with your love.

8. It is the best feelings to have someone love you without buts and ifs. Just loving each other and don't care for who you are or what will other people will see and say.

9. Cherish someone's presence.

Make them feel loved and valued. Because the next we know they are already gone so you don't have any regrets if this may happen because you did all your best for the one you love.

10. The most and beyond is the love of GOD. This could not be measured. We may be in different religions and beliefs but everything in this world, GOD's love do exists. And if you bear this in your heart and mind, you will not be afraid of anything. GOD moves in mysterious ways. GOD knows how to control everything and when love hurts you, just pray to GOD for His blessing and everything will be alright.

Christmas is an evidence of how GOD loves us all.

Everything happens for a reason.

And for this season which “love” is in the air, I wish you a Merry Christmas! Let us spread the essence of love in every minute of our life. Because the joy is priceless and remember this quote: "What goes around, comes around."

O Pag-ibig

By Karen Sanchez

O pag-ibig na gustong makamit Napakailap, minsan napakasakit Ngunit di natigil at nagmahal ulit Lahat ay sakit ang kanyang kapalit O pag-ibig na hinahanap-hanap Ngunit ang totoo, minsan ay mailap Minsan sa maling tao ito nahahanap At ang madla ay hindi matanggap-tanggap O pag-ibig na handang magtiis Ito ay tanda na mahal kang labis At kahit pa may paghihinagpis Kailan man ay hindi lilihis O pag-ibig na sa puso nagmula Biyaya kang lubos sa aming nilikha Nawa'y manatili hanggang sa pagtanda Na animo'y si Jesus nanatili nang tuwina

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By Jasmin Vasquez

Gusto mo rin ba ng Snow?

Ang lamig lamig na! Grrrr‌ Dito sa Japan, ito ang buwan ng pinakamalamig ang temperature. Kung minsan ay umaabot pa ng negative degree C, lalo na dito sa aming lugar sa Nagano.

Madalas bukang bibig ng mga Pinoy sa Pilipinas na gusto daw makarating sa ibang bansa katulad ng Japan dahil gustong makakita ng snow at makapasyal sa maraming lugar.

Masarap daw dahil maginaw palagi unlike sa Pilipinas na napaka-init.

Naalala ko, ako ay napilitan lamang magpunta dito sa Japan dahil kailangan ko ng sapat na kita para mabuhay ng maayos ang aking mga anak. Hindi kasi sapat ang aking sinasahod sa aking pinapasukan para itustos sa aking mga anak.

Sobrang hirap, kasi nga single mother.

Nang lumapag ang eroplano sa airport ng Japan para lang akong tulala na sumasabay lang kung saan magpunta ang mga tao. Wala namang problema sa aking mga papeles kaya madali akong nakalabas. Andoon na aking sundo kayat dali dali akong sumama sa kanila upang makarating na sa lugar kung saan ako ay mamasukan.

At habang nasa byahe, nag observe ako sa bawat lugar na aming nadadaanan. Iba talaga ang simoy ng hangin sariwang-sariwa at napakalinis ng kapaligiran. Malayo pa lamang ay tanaw mo na ang napakagandang Rainbow Bridge na may mga ilaw na kumikislap. Ang daming naggagandahang mga gusali na doon ko naramdaman talagang nasa Japan na ako. Naiba na talaga o maiiba na talaga ang routine ng buhay ko simula sa araw na iyon. Dito pala sa Japan, hindi pwedeng pa easy easy ka lang dahil priority talaga ang trabaho muna bago ang lahat.

Isang umaga, ginising ako ng aking kasamahan sa trabaho para lamang makita ko sa labas ng bintana na umuulan pala ng snow. Katulad ng iba, tuwang tuwa ka dahil first time ka nakakita ng snow. “Wow ang ganda�. Dati sa movie or sa tv ko lang nakikita ang ganoon. Para kang paslit na gustong maglaro ng mga niyebe, magbatuhan kayo ng binilog

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na snow. Magpicture ng bongga.

Ang ganda ganda, ngunit habang tumatagal lalong kumakapal ang ulan ng snow. Hanggang sa andoon pagbukas ko ng pinto dahil ako’y lalabas, unang hakbang ko pa lamang ay dumulas na ako sa daanan. Mabuti na lamang at hindi tumama ang aking ulo. Andoon din na byahe kami papuntang Yamanashi, inabutan kami ng malakas na snow. Hindi kinaya ng gulong namin ang dulas ng daan sumalpok kami sa fence, mabuti na lamang at mayroong harang dahil kung minalas malas po ay mahuhulog kami sa bangin. Salamat sa Diyos at nakaligtas kami. Yun nga lang wasak ang sasakyan ko. Pero mas mahalaga ang buhay kesa sa car kaya salamat pa rin.

Sobrang lamig na sa labas ngunit pag pasok naman sa trabaho ay sobrang init dahil sa dami ng machine na inooperate namin para sa inspection ng mga power circuit board, dagdag pa ng malalaking heater dahil madaling ginawin ang mga matatanda sa aming trabaho. Pag uwi mo din ng bahay ay mapipilitan kang mag heater dahil sobra talaga ang ginaw. So, init lamig init lamig palagi at ang resulta KAZE. Panunuyo ng lalamunan, kakati ito, uubuhin ka sipon, halo halo na pananakit ng ulo etc. Magkakasakit ka dahil sa init at lamig o di kaya ay posibleng mahawa ka kung sino man ang nakakasama

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2018

mo sa araw araw kaya mabuting ikaw ay palaging mag pa flu vaccine. Ang hirap magkasakit dito lalo na kung katulad kong nag iisa lamang sa bahay. Wala kang mapaglambingan. Kapag ikaw ay naospital ay di ka pwedeng dalawin o bantayan ng iyong kaanak ng 24 oras. Maiiyak ka na lamang dahil ganito pala dito sa Japan. At yung dating tuwa mo sa lamig at snow na pinapangarap mo ay may kasama rin pa lang kapahamakan. Pag may tuwa ay may katumbas ding lungkot.

Ang dami ng nadisgrasya, nagbanggaang mga sasakyan kaya kung ako ang tatanungin kung pwede lang wag na lang mag snow. Buwis buhay ng doble dahil sa araw araw na byahe papunta sa work.

Maganda lang sa una at kung sandali ka lang dito sa Japan.

Ngunit kung pang matagalan, sobrang pag iingat palagi ang kailangan. Hindi lang doble kundi triple pa. Mapalad ang mga lugar na hindi nagkakaroon ng snow. Para sa akin ayaw ko ng snow. Ikaw, kayo, o sila kaya gusto pa rin ba ng snow?

Hanggang sa muli, maraming salamat po! God bless us all.

by Abie Principe

Ang Po at Opo

marami sa kanila, ginagamit ang “po” at “opo” bilang pagpapahiwatig na sila ay bata at ang kausap nila ay matanda.

Edad at hindi respeto ang nangungunang ideya sa Uumpisahan ko ang ating kanilang pananalita. Totoo usapan ngayon tungkol sa naman na hindi lahat ng kabataan ay ganito, pero dalawang kataga na talagang napaka-Pilipino. marami nga ay ganyan. Kaya ang napakagandang salitang Ito ay ang “po” at “opo.” “po” at “opo” ay naging sandata May nabasa ako sa sa giyera ng mga bata at Internet tungkol sa “po” at matatanda. Ngayon, dahil sa ako naman ay hindi na bata, “opo.” halos lahat ng nakikilala kong “Aside from pagmamano, you mga Pilipino, lalo na sa unibersidad, “po” at “opo” agad can hear them saying “po” ang ginagamit sa and “opo.” These are the pakikipag-usap sa akin. words that Filipinos use to Nakikita ko naman ang show their respect when aspetong paggalang, pero talking to elders and/or to minsan, nakikita ko rin and someone that they respect. aspetong nais lamang They usually punctuate or ipamukha na mas bata sila end a usual sentence in a kung ihahalintulad sa akin. conversation. Also, “opo” is Ang mga taong ganito, sometimes equivalent to malamang iniisip na hindi ito “yes” when answering halata, pero halatang-halata questions from a respected naman. Kung talagang respeto person or from an elder.” (http://tekapnoy.blogspot.com/ 2008/01/po-and-opo.html)

ang pinanggagalingan, dapat, kung halimbawa, sinabihan na ng “nakakatanda” na huwag nang gamitin ang “po” at “opo,” dapat sumunod ang “nakabata.”

Ginamit ko ang “quotations” dahil minsan ang mga feeling-bata ay nasa ara-san (malapit nang maging 30 taong gulang), at panay pa rin ang pag “po” at “opo.” Kung babasahin uli ang nabasa ko sa internet, nakatutok na sa elder at hindi respect ang paggamit ng “po” at “opo.” Minsan naman, intindihin dapat natin ang ating mga nakakahalubilo.

May mga tao na hindi gumagamit masyado ng “po” at “opo” o di kaya, ayaw na sinasabihan sila ng “po” at “opo.”

Sila naman ay hindi mga masasamang tao. Iba lang nga ang kinalakihan nilang kapaligiran. Hindi lahat pare-pareho ang opinyon ukol sa mga respectful at disrespectful na mga bagay. Kung totoo na nais nating magpakita ng respeto, dapat pakinggan natin ang sinasabi ng bawat isa.

Pag pasensyahan na at Ingles ang nakita kong website. Sa susunod, malamang mapa-pagusapan rin nating ang paglaganap ng Ingles. Pero sa ngayon, “po” at “opo” ang puno’t dulo ng aking isusulat..

Ang hinaing ng mga nakakatanda noon, hindi na raw gumagalang ang mga kabataan, dahil hindi na marunong gumamit ng “po” at “opo.” Sa ngayon naman, sa mga tinatawag na “millenials” madalas silang mag “po” at “opo,” pero ang isang pagkakaiba ay ang pagkawala ng aspetong paggalang, dahil

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2018

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Take It Or Leave It!

by Isabelita Manalastas-Watanabe In this issue, Tita Lits turned the plates around and she wanted our advice instead.

So we asked some people around.

Dear Jeepney Press: I really am bothered with the culture of impunity of young Japanese now. My husband and I, both seniors, normally take the train car where there is a silver seat for old, disabled, pregrant, disimpaired people, so we can have more chances of being able to sit. Many times, young people are the ones seated there and even if we stand in front of them (and I look them in the eye when they are not pretending to sleep, or have their eyes focused on their cell phones), wa effect pa rin. They don't seem to think that they have to stand to offer their seats.

Many old people, the usual way Japanese behave, just keep quiet about this, patiently standing and hoping that someone in those silver seats who are not supposed to be seated there, to stand up and vacate the seats.

I have in at least two attentions lost my cool, and called the attention of a young Japanese woman, and in another instance a young Japanese man, pointing to the sign.

On both occasions, they stood up, without

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saying anything. But my husband felt very uncomfortable with my, maybe to his Japanese mind, very aggressive behavior.

Actually, I did not quarrel or shout or raise my voice or even talk beyond max of 3 Japanese words, but with my hand at the same time, pointing to the old/disabled/ pregnant signage. I told my husband after getting off the train that if we do not teach the young Japanese to behave, then they will really be the downfall of Japan.

Should I keep my mouth shut, and behave just like the ever-patient, suffering old Japanese inside crowded trains? I think the Japanese rail authorities have realized this problem exists - saw one new signage in one train (I need to check which train) painted on the floor, in the area of the silver seats. Big bold sign and in dark red color (orange?). Ewan ku kung ma-konsiyensiya itong mga undisciplined young generation of Japanese. Sana...

First of all, the PRIORITY SEATS are designated for people with disabilities, expectant mothers, elderly passengers or those carrying infants. I think these seats can be used by anyone at anytime, but they should be given up if they are needed by these designated passengers.

The way I have observed it, most Japanese try to avoid sitting on the PRIORITY SEATS. Pero siempre, meron din mga pasaway.

The new generation of young Japanese sometimes don’t care. Lalo na yung mga hindi tinuruan ng mga magulang. Kaya minsan, meron mga pinagsasabihan na mga bata na ibigay ang seat nila para paupuhin ang mga taong may karamdaman o pangangailangan.

Tita Lits, if you have asked the young passenger to offer his seat to the needy and your purpose is to teach the youth, and to help the physically handicapped, I guess you are on the right path. You are also right that if nobody will teach them, the situation will become worse. I also “feel” you when you mentioned about your Japanese husband trying to stay out of the way.

Typically, Japanese would like to stay away from trouble. They would rather suffer inside and then let it all go away.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2018

I asked my Japanese friend Hiro about this. He said there is no law against the healthy people using the PRIORITY SEAT. All we could ask from everyone is to be more considerate and courteous.

That is what they were taught in school and from their parents. Matigas lang daw ang ulo ng iba.

Then, we came across the issue on the age of the elderly. Are you a senior at 50, 60 or 70?

We already know for a fact that so many Japanese senior citizens even at their 70s are still very much genki. Minsan, I offered my seat (non-priority seat) to some old people but they sometimes refuse me.

Feeling ko, I am trying to make them feel older and weaker. On another instance, I offered my seat to a woman who I thought was pregnant. She didn’t look happy and just left. My friend said maybe she wasn’t pregnant at all, but just fat.

Also, according to Koji, meron din daw issue of the hidden disabilities. Even though you can see some healthy looking person sitting in the PRIORITY SEAT, some of them have internal disabilities like heart, nerve, muscle and bone conditions that cannot be seen. Kaya minsan, we have to be careful when asking someone to give up their seats.

Tanong ni Nancy sa akin, “Should healthy people sit on the PRIORITY SEATS?” Healthy people should try to avoid sitting there. And we should always keep this in mind. We should always be kind and courteous to our fellow passengers and always ready to give our seats, PRIORITY SEAT or NOT, to those in need.

Home... that is where every Pinoy wants to celebrate Christmas. Home... wherever that is, in the Philippines, or in whatever country we live/work, and which we call as home.

Mine has always been in Pampanga, where my 85 year old mother, and soon to be 86 year old father, live. Only two out of 6 siblings are home - 4 of us are spread out in 3 continents, all longing to be home, but most always, could not. There is always the challenge of shelling out thousands of dollars/hundreds of thousands of yen, just for the airfare for a family of 4 or 5, and getting the permission of our employers for a long leave of absence, para naman masulit ang gastos ng pag-uwi, and to make the best out of being with family and friends back home.

I have lived and worked in Japan for more than half of my life, but somehow, I have always felt like a transient in my adopted “home”. When I see some beautiful house decors, for example, I think of where I will display them in my real home. My pigeon-hole condo in the center of Tokyo has all the basic necessities. I even had it done (interiors) by our one and only PhD Todai graduate and the first Filipino/Asian who passed the architecture licensure exam in Japan (in Japanese!). But I have not gone beyond the very basic things.

I go home very frequently to Pampanga - I sometimes tell people that I have an airline teiki-ken, as I have been averaging around once a month trip, mostly via Clark, avoiding the intolerable traffic to/from/within Manila. I continue to keep my discipline and office routine in my home office, but it is nevertheless like a vacation always, for me. In

fact, whenever I go, I feel like I am headed to a resort - always excited to see my Japan-motiffed retirement house close to Clark, and the trees, plants, herbs in my garden which I have planted myself, and which now bear fruits/are fully grown.

This year, as in previous years, I cannot, and will not, be home for Christmas. Christmas Day is not a holiday in Japan, remember? Japan is not a Christian country and despite the very beautiful “illumination” all over, it is just that - bright lights, but no warmth, no spirit of the Christmas we have known back home since we were little.

December is, and has always been, one of the busiest seasons for my company, Speed. Even those kababayan who do not remember their family from January to August, suddenly have a transformation when the “ber” months start. They probably start missing home during the ber months and decide to share some of their hard-earned money back home.

That, of course, works well for me, one of many of us in Japan who work on Christmas Day. December is one of the busiest months in my kind of business. Good to be very occupied and busy - I have less time to dwell on the loneliness when I hear the song “I’ll be home for Christmas”.

Lucky still for me, though, as in my family, it has always been New Year’s eve which is the one we celebrate as a family. It is on the evening of December 31 when we gather at my parents’ house to await the New Year.

My mother looks forward to Dec. 31 every year.

Every month starting from January, she keeps and saves coins which she then uses to throw from the steps of her kubo, to all

her children, her step daughters and sons, her apos, who scramble trying to pick up the most number of coins. What we pick up later on become our puhunan for our traditional “red dog” card game. There is always bingo game wherein cash prizes await winners. It is Ima who draws the numbers. Every Dec. 31, Ima also prepares games and the prizes for the winners. Of course, there is lots of food.

Ima traditionally did the cooking. Always an excellent cook, everyone looks forward to her culinary inventions, even the humble buro at mustasa. But with her advancing age, she has hesitatingly decided, from last year, to just have the food catered.

A few weeks ago, she called me, and said she may not put up this year her many beautiful Christmas lights and several parol in her kubo and garden where we always gather on New Year’s eve. I said no, please do not stop putting up those lights.

Around August this year, she also told me that she won’t anymore renew her driver’s license (yes, she still drives at 85). She said she sometimes feels dizzy and maybe she should stop driving. I insisted on her renewing her license, telling her it will come handy in case of an emergency. She followed my advice and got her license renewed.

I have always thought of my mother as the active one, someone who, some years ago, decided to travel and explore America alone for six months, even sleeping in NY’s Grand Central Station! when the friend who she was to meet and who was to host her for the night, did not show up.

had his nails done, to one whose routine is to have the tv as his company day in, and day out. He also repeats things he says, and could not sometimes recognize, and also forgets the names of his apos.

I will go home on Dec. 28, missing again my son’s birthday on the 21st, and my father’s, on the 23rd.

But life is like that, always a give, and a take. We can’t have everything, but we also receive a lot of other things.

This 2018, I have received gifts of friendship - a reunion in July with my co-alumni from the UP School of Economics, and in December, a reunion of my Jose Abad Santos High School (now known as Pampanga High School) batch mates.

There are health challenges for some family members, though, but our Manalastas Clan remains solid in our love for each other, and in praying together.

To my readers, and to all my kababayan in Japan, especially those who cannot go home this Christmas for any reason, let us just count our many blessings. Far from home, yes, but we are also able to share some of the blessings we have received from working in our adopted country. As the lyrics of one Tagalog Christmas song I heard said, “Ako pa rin ang inyong Santa Claus”.

Let us share to the lesser privileged, whatever we could spare, and bring joy to all, this 2019.

MALIGAYONG PASKO AT MANIGONG BAGONG TAON!

My father has changed a lot as well, from the Victor Vargas look-alike who dresses up smartly, even

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BY ALMA REYES

Rock Of Ages “Winter is coming”. So the Game of Thrones reminds us. Many people in Japan complain of all kinds of winter aches: backaches, headaches, hip bone aches, heartaches…some catch a cold or fall into lethargy.

What a dreadful season that makes people lazy, melancholic and buried under their futon all day!

Winter is not a favourite season among the elderly for sure—stiff fingers, neck, elbow joints, knee joints, and uncontrollable dry skin.

Looking over an aged mother almost bedridden for more than six years now, I have become quite sensitive to the physical and mental state of the elderly people. It must be utterly excruciating and frustrating to be over 90 years old with all your siblings laid to rest; relatives and friends diminishing, schoolmates all gone ahead of you, and your own children away from home.

Is there still a reason to live?

This question is truly painful to answer.

They say that Filipino caregivers are angels to the elderly. In Japan, caregivers from the Philippines are in demand (more than the locals) because they claim that Filipinos are very caring, gentle, patient and creatively communicative. Some are quite skillful in singing songs, throwing jokes and cheering up the elders. This ability, if it must be called it, stems perhaps from the Filipino tradition of the extended family, with typical homes, both in the city as well as in the provinces, consisting of grandparents being part of the household. Unlike in Japan, elderly homes are not quite common even in the city because the old customs never had a history of it. Married children naturally look after their aging parents, and even if

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they work full-time, seek helpers, home caregivers or nurses to care for their parents at home rather than send them to an institution. Naturally, financial setbacks play a huge hindrance; but more so, sending your own parents to an elderly care center may imply a notion of negligence or disability to be caring and attentive as family members.

In our household, we have had rounds of caregivers and nurses since my father needed both and a physical therapist to attend to him after a hip replacement surgery. After his death and my mother’s quite deteriorating health since then, recently, I have been feeling that my current life is constantly surrounded by caregivers and nurses. They have become members of our family household and indispensable to the care of my mother. When you are far away from home, it may not be surprising to feel your parent responding more to the caregiver than to you. The caregiver or nurse has become your parent’s guardian angel; an almost permanent companion who tucks your parent to bed, bathes her, feeds her, dresses her, medicates her, watches TV with her, stays by her in the garden, accompanies her to the hospital, and even prays with her. The lengthy period of entrusting your parent to a caregiver or home nurse can sometimes be confusing. As the child, you would want to do those chores the caregiver performs to rekindle the bond with your parent, but moments pass when you feel the child who “was” there for her during her active lifestyle, but not quite the child who is there in the present during her bedridden state especially when your parent turns to the caregiver, not you, for aid.

They say that age returns to childhood. As with Alzheimer’s

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disease patients, they often return to their childlike manners of forgetting how to tie a shoelace, how to hold a spoon, how to comb one’s hair, or how to count numbers. Hence, just like children, they develop the need to look out to a “parent-like” helper who would teach them these actions. For them, looking at their own child may just appear like relating to a sibling. Another way of looking at it, they say, is that an aging parent may feel embarrassment towards the children, reluctance to be pitied, or the insecurity of having to impose on the children for constant care.

If this is a realistic phenomenon on the process of aging, does not one wonder how life can be a long journey of irony? To be born as a child just to die as a child as well (if one loses the adult mental capacity in the end)? The construction of the human brain will always remain a mystery, and so does Nietzsche’s words “History repeats itself.” Humans strive in painstaking ways all their entire lives to prove their worth and purpose in work, relationships, endeavors and accomplishment of dreams until the day when all that could be forgotten by a single missing brain cell. An aging parent may fail to remember many minute details of your 20th birthday, your last travel together, the cake you baked for her 60th birthday or the day you left home, but she may successfully remember the last deeds you have offered to her while she lays in bed dreaming of her next life.

Caregivers and children build these lasting memories for the aged, and perhaps, this is the very simplistic essence of aging in grace and peace.

Yes, winter can be cold, shivering and silent, yet elegantly chaste before a white blanket of snow outside your window.

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KAPATIRAN by Loleng Last Christmas Wham! Wala na si George Michael ano?

Pero every Christmas, patutugtugin at patutugtugin pa din ang “Last Christmas” niya.

May favorite artist ka ba na pampasko? “All I want for Christmas” ba ni Mariah Carey o “Pasko na Sinta Ko” ni Gary V. o Sarah G.? Ako din meron, at miss na miss ko na silang makita ulit kumanta ng “Ang Pasko ay Sumapit” at “We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, ang babarat ninyo”.

Hindi ko alam kung ganito pa din sa atin ngayon, kase natatandaan ko ang mga paslit na Christmas Artists na ito na may mga dalang lata saka kung anong pangkalantog na patpat o kutsara na kahit Nobyembre pa lang ay nangangaroling na.

Napapag-saran sila ng nanay ko ng bintana kase ubos na iyong pinapalitan niyang barya na sampung piso (oo ang tagal na noon mataas pa ang value ng pera). Magaling sila magsikanta, acappela o walang instrument at kung meron man, traditional hahahah, galing talaga ng mga batang pinoy! Minsang malapit na ang pasko, gumawa ako ng cookies para sa kanila pero nilusob ako ng parang isang batalyon, ng magkakamukhang mga bata, sila-sila rin pala balik lang

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ng balik, pero ang saya ng pakiramdam ko, Pasko talaga!

Noong nagtatrabaho na ako sa atin, di ko na sila nakikita kase gabi na ako nakakauwi palagi at ang Christmas season, katulad ng marami pa sa buong mundo ay walang katapusang Christmas parties na dapat nag-uumapaw ang pagkain at inumin, sa nabigay na bonus naubos na lahat pang-aginaldo at exchange gifts, syempre dapat pustura din kaya bagong damit, sapatos, pati bag at accessories.

Ngayon nga ang mga pampasko sa mga bata kapag hindi electronics parang di nila appreciated ano? Ang gastos ng pasko at parang magulo, maingay, daming bargain, daming festivities, malungkot ang mga walang pera.

Noong pinagmuni-muni ko ito, nahiya ako!

Lahat naman tayo, alam natin ang istorya ng First Christmas di ba? Ang mga Magulang ng isisilang na Sanggol ay nagbyahe. May 90 miles o halos 130 kilometers raw ang layo ng Nazareth sa Bethlehem at may apat na araw kung lalakarin lamang pero kailangan nilang sundin ang batas na magparehistro sa bayan ng Padre de Pamilya na si Papa Joseph. Nang nandoon na sila, wala silang matuluyan dahil sa dami ng mga taong nagsidatingan din para sa census. Sa isang tirahan ng mga hayup, siguro maamoy at

malamig, iyon lang ang maaaring makapagpanganakan ni Mama Mary, dito na nangyari ang First Christmas.

Pagod, Hirap, Gutom, Lamig, Hiya.

Siguro kung mapera sila, hindi pwedeng hindi sila makahanap ng matutuluyan pero wala, siguro din masakit na masakit ang kanilang kalooban. Pero nang lumabas na si Baby Jesus, ano kaya ang naramdaman nila? Naalala mo ba ang pinakamasayang pangyayari sa buhay mo? Ganito kaya ang pakiramdam o maikukumpara kaya ang kaligayahan na makita ang Diyos, ang kanilang Anak?

Walang hinihingi sa atin ang Panginoon pero lahat ay binibigay Niya sa atin Bakit kaya ang Pasko, nasa huling buwan ng taon? Bakit sa tuwing pasko, kahit na naroon ang excitement at saya, ang katotohanang malapit na magtapos ang taon ay nakakalungkot din. Naniniwala ka ba na lahat ng nangyayari sa buhay natin ay may dahilan? Maraming bagay ang hindi dapat tingnan sa pisikal nitong anyo.

Napakalalim ang dahilan ng Pasko, hindi ito dumadaan sa buhay ng mga tao dahil umiikot ang mundo at dumadaan ang mga araw. Sa bawat tao ay isang personal na mensahe na nasa sa atin kung ating tatanggapin o babale-walain.

Ang kahirapan, ang kababaan, ang parang lahat tinatanong mo bakit ganito? Lahat ay may dahilan. Hindi mas maswerte ang iba dahil mas mataas sa buhay o mas maganda ang hitsura. Ganoon sila, ganito ka, ganito ako, lahat ay alam ng Diyos kase Siya ang may gawa. Kung may gusto kang mabago, isama mo Siya para mangyari ang gusto mo, marahil iyon ang dahilan kung bakit. Si Baby Jesus, sa kainan ng mga hayup nakalatag. Ang manger o sabsaban ay simbolo ng pagkain, ng tinapay. Di ba si Jesus ay ang Bread of Life, Siya ang pagkain ng ating kaluluwa, ang hindi namamatay nating sarili. Sa bawat taon dumadating ang Nagbigay sa atin ng buhay at ng buhay na walang hanggan. Paano mo Siya babatiin ngayong taon?

Maligayang Pasko kapatid!

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2018

Maligayang Pasko