Jeepney Press 91 January-February 2018

PAHAYAGANG PINOY SA JAPAN 在日フィリピン

人 向 け マ ガ ジン

ジープニー プレス

Celebrating The Journeys Of Filipinos In Japan January - February 2018

Cover Photo: Leah Fe Cabatic-Asubar

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

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Jeepney Press is published online bimonthly by Asia Vox Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright 2018

JEEPNEY PRESS Asia 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

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

Cats Enjoying the Snow Photo by: Leah Fe Cabatic-Asubar

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CONTENTS

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018 06 YOMU Editorial

by Dennis Sun 08 Pinoy In Japan

by Ryan Yu 10 Kwento Ni Nanay

by Anita Sasaki

12 Isang Araw Sa Ating Buhay

by Jeff Plantilla 16 Life Is A Journey

by Glen Gypsy

17 Advice Ni Tita Lits

by Isabelita Manalastas-Watanabe 18 Signpost

by Karen Sanchez

20 Meeting The Nicest Person

by Herbert Benzon 22 Moving On

by Jasmin Vasquez

24 Kapatiran

by Loleng Ramos 26 Musings Of A Gardener

by Rogelio Agustin

28 On The Road To:

by Neriza Sarmiento-Saito

Life is like a blanket of snow.

Be careful how you step on it.

Every little step will show.

Photo by Dennis Sun

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JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018

EDITORIAL by Dennis Sun anuary. The first month of the year. As the year commences and the slate is still clean, January is immaculate. Pure. A time to start again. For new beginnings.

All the action was done during December. Come January, everyone is exhausted. Too much parties and fun celebrating the end of the year and the Christmas holiday season. Gone back home to your country to visit the family? Met a lot of friends and former classmates? Enjoyed the shopping sprees? January may be pure but it can be pain, as well. I hear your wallet whining and your credit card complaining!

You spent so much during December and you feel all the pain of bankruptcy during January? People are poor in January. A bad month for salesmen.

January is super cold! This is not the best time to go out for meeting and holding activities. Nobody wants to go out. Even the Filipino communities all around Japan are silent during this month. There are less postings in the Facebook Timeline, as well.

Except perhaps for their selfies during the sudden snow storms.

YOMU means “to read” in Japanese.

lates to men. Unfair, you think? And so how about the women? Well, a month later, if you belong to the male species and received any chocolates, you are obliged to return the favor. So if you think you are lucky getting so many chocolates, think again. You need to buy all those women cookies because they are waiting desperately for their presents. If you don’t reciprocate, you’ll find yourself in bad company. Awful game, isn’t it? It’s all about Japanese commercialism.

This year, let’s all move on. Whatever happened last year is history—good news or bad news. Let’s focus more on thinking about the present. Think about the NOW! Take a look around you and just appreciate what you have. Who you have. Focus on the positive things no matter how many negative things and difficult people lurking around you. Then you will be ready for new possibilities.

You can begin a beautiful life and move forward with a brilliant heart day after day!

Now, let go of the past. Move on. And enjoy the rest of the year!

Object Illustration by Dennis Sun

In Japan, I guess, January is for those entering adulthood as they turn 20 and say good-bye to their teen years. They wear their best suits and kimonos and invade the city halls and ward offices to be officially recognized as adults. And gain their independence?

After January comes the season of hearts, and chocolates in February. Valentine season is when women in Japan give choco-

"Whatever you decide to do, make sure it makes you happy."

— Paulo Coelho

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018

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Pinoy in Japan

RYAN YU Assistant Language Teacher, Chiba come from Binondo, Manila.

I've been living in Japan since 2011.

Even though it has been several years already, I’m still coping on how to adjust living here.

When I first came to Japan, I started working at an obento factory for about 6 months which was a totally new experience!

It was hard but there was nothing much for me to choose from. I didn’t know too many people so I just took it from there. Then, I moved to Chiba prefecture with my boyfriend and started working as an English ALT (Assistant Language Teacher).

The first couple of years were tough being a Pinoy ALT but as time moved on, I kind of enjoyed teaching English to Japanese students!

Living in Japan is hard enough. Adjusting and knowing a new and totally different culture all by my self with no one to guide me is quite a difficult feat. Not too many people around me can speak English well enough to communicate.

I’m still working as an ALT now in the same city. Despite the several years that passed by,

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I’m still trying to find my place in this land of the Rising Sun. I still look for different ways to make me happy here aside from having many Filipino friends. But most of my

how you can plan ahead and set appointments and not worry about it being cancelled on the last minute.

But, I also miss the slow paced life in the Philippines, the food and the people that are most precious to me.

Japan is great. But for me, nothing still beats the real home in the Philippines.

Pinoy friends are also busy working. I have discovered how to enjoy life being alone in Japan.

My plan for the future is to go back to Manila and put up a business together with my boyfriend, now my fiance.

I love the nature in Japan and how the Japanese respect nature. I love how they blend culture with nature. The buildings, the temples, their kimonos. I also love the efficiency of things here. I love

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KWENTO NI NANAY

by Anita Sasaki

God's ways are not our ways.

I’ve learned that when God allows things to happen to you, even if you disagree with it, HE intends it for a greater purpose. And all the hurt and sacrifices will be worth it. Like St. Joseph who was afraid at first, when he found that Mary was pregnant. But because he was obedient to the Lord, he said yes to the calling to be Jesus’ earthly father. With his yes, Joseph played a key role in the salvation of mankind.

This is the story of how we started our group, CASTLE, Christian Association Serving Traditional Laymens Evangelization.

Remember when Joseph awoke, he did as the angel had commanded him and took Mary, his wife.

Mathew 1:24 More than 2 decades, when we started our group, we were just like a place where our Kababayans come and tell their woos or shall I say problems. My husband owns a snack or omise in Tokyo which had been operating for 35 years. But when he married me, a Filipino, I had no knowledge or experience in this line of business. It was entirely different line of work I had in the Philippines. I was a rice supplier to several mining offices in Baguio City and Mountain Provinces like Benguet Consolidated Inc., Philex Mines, Benguet Exploration Corporation, Black Mountains, Lepanto Mines, to name a few.

I was dumbfounded when I started our group. The

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walks of life.

Nevertheless, I worked hard and devotedly did what I should do and surrendered to God. And God didn’t fail me. Opportunities opened. Officers and members come and go.

responsibility was huge, entirely different of what I used to do. I thought I couldn’t handle it. I had so much questions in my mind. Would they listen to me?

How would I lead them? What if I fail? Since the members and officers came from different

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That’s why don’t fear when God calls you to do something beyond what you think you’re capable of because HE is the God who enables and equips!

Our prayers should be “Jesus, use me. Use my gifts. Use my knowledge …. Use me.”

ni Jeff Plantilla Ang Committee on Population and Family Relations ng House of Representatives ay nagkaroon ng public hearing para sa 6 na bills tungkol sa divorce at dissolution of marriage sa Pilipinas.

Naganap ang public hearing sa Philippine Embassy sa Tokyo nung ika-25 ng Nobyembre 2017. Ito daw ay pangalawa pa lang na public hearing tungkol sa mga bills na ginanap sa labas ng Pilipinas. Bago ang public hearing sa Japan, dumaan ang Committee members sa Hong Kong.

Tulad sa Hong Kong, iniharap ng mga Kongresista ang mga bills sa mga Pilipinong nakatira sa Japan. Ang mga grupo ng mga Pilipino na naimbitahan ng Philippine embassy na magbigay ng kanilang komentaryo sa mga bills ay ang mga sumusunod: Filipino Migrant Center (Nagoya), Philippine Assistance Group (PAG) (Tokyo), the Network of Filipino Social Development Workers in Japan (NETFIL), the Philippine Community Coordinating Council (Kansai), Kanagawa Philippine Pastoral Parish Workers ENCOM (Yokohama), Philippine Society in Japan (Nagoya), NPO Filipino Nagkaisa (Shizuoka), Gabriela-Japan and the KAFIN Migrant Center.

Ang public hearing ay pinangunahan ni Committee Vice Chairperson Rep. Ma. Lourdes R. Aggabao (4th District, Isabela), kasama sina Deputy Speaker Gwendolyn F. Garcia (3rd District, Cebu), Deputy Speaker Pia S. Cayetano (2nd District, Taguig), Rep. Emmi A. de Jesus (Party List, Gabriela), and Rep. Aniceto D. Bertiz III (Party List, ACTS OFW).

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Ang malaking isyu ay ang halos walang tugon sa 7 na bills sa mga problema ng mga Pilipino dito sa Japan tungkol sa divorce.

Mga Problema at Proposals

Naghanda ng position paper ang Philippine Community Coordinating Council (PCCC) upang maipaliwanag ang mga problema na kaugnay sa mga bills at upang ilahad ang ilang proposals na tumutugon sa mga problema.

Ang mga problema ng mga Pilipino dito sa Japan ay ang mga sumusunod: a. Divorce by agreement – sinasabing mahigit sa 90% ng mga divorce ng Hapones ay sa pamamagitan ng ganitong paraan. Pipirma lang sila sa rikon todoke (divorce application form) sa city hall at divorced na. Napakadali ang sistema.

Dahil sa ito ang kalakaran dito sa Japan, maraming Pilipinong nagkadivorce ay malamang na divorce by agreement din ang naging paraan.

Ang dalawa pang paraan ng divorce sa Japan ay ang divorce by arbitration at divorce by court decision.

Ang problema, ang divorce by agreement ay hindi kinikilala ng batas ng Pilipinas (Family Code of the Philippines).

Kailangang ang divorce ay desisyon ng korte, hindi papel na galing lamang sa city hall; b. Fake/fraudulent divorce – dahil ang divorce by agreement ay napakadaling kunin, may mga kaso ng fake o fraudulent divorce na apektado ang mga dayuhan tulad ng mga Pilipino. Ang city hall ay nag-a-approve ng divorce application form (rikon todoke) nang hindi sinisigurado kung ang hanko o pirma ay tunay.

Maaaring nakawin ang hanko o isulat ng iba ang pirma para makompleto ang rikon todoke. Kapag ito ay

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018

na-approved na, mahirap nang bawiin ang divorce (maaaring korte ang pupuntahan); c. Epekto sa visa at sa anak – malakas ng epekto ng divorce sa mga dayuhan. Kung spousal visa ang gamit, ang divorce ang dahilan para maputol ang pagpapatuloy ng visa. Pangalawa, lalo na sa fake o fraudulent divorce, maaaring ilagay sa divorce application form na ang Hapones na asawa ang mag-aalaga sa anak. Dahil dito, mailalayo ang anak (o mga anak) at hindi na muling makikita ng magulang na dayuhan o Pilipino. May mga kasong ganito sa mga Pilipino dito sa Japan na hindi na makita ang anak, at napipilitang umuwing mag-isa sa Pilipinas; d. Epekto sa Pilipinas ng divorce – ang divorce ay kailangang kilalanin sa Pilipinas sa pamamagitan ng pagpapatunay sa korte na meron ngang ligal na divorce na nakuha na umaayon sa batas sa Pilipinas. Ito ang judicial recognition of divorce decree. Kung mapatunayan sa korte sa Pilipinas na tama ang divorce, mapapalitan na ang “married” status sa civil registry sa Pilipinas ng “divorced.” Nguni’t kung divorced sa city hall (divorce by agreement) ang nakuha, maaaring hindi ito kilalanin.

At kaya hindi mapapalitan ang status ng “married” sa record ng gobyerno sa Pilipinas; e. Diborsyado na hindi makapagpakasal muli – marami sa mga Pilipinong nadivorced ang hindi makapag-asawa muli dahil ang civil status sa gobyerno natin ay “married” pa rin.

Gusto man nila, nahihirapan sila dahil sa pangangailangan ng judicial recognition of divorce decree.

Ang position paper ng PCCC ay naglista ng ilang proposals tungkol sa pagbabago sa batas (Family Code) at bilang tugon sa mga problemang inilista: 1. Payagan ang anumang uri ng divorce ng mga Pilipino na ayon sa batas sa bansa na kinunan ng divorce. Ibig sabihin, kung nasa batas ng

Japan ang divorce by agreement, kikilalanin ito sa Pilipinas; 2. Palitan din sa batas ang mga salitang “judicial decree of absolute divorce o divorce decree” ng “certificate of absolute divorce.” Kung divorce certificate lang, ang divorce na makukuha sa ibang bansa ay hindi kailangang isang desisyon ng korte.

Basta’t ayon sa batas ng bansa, ang “certificate of absolute divorce” ay dapat kilalanin. Ibig sabihin, puwede na ang certificate ng divorce

by agreement (rikon todoke) na mula sa city hall dito sa Japan; 3. Payagan ang Pilipino na mag-umpisa ng pagdi-divorce – kasabay sa pagpayag sa “certificate of absolute divorce,” ang Pilipino ay puwede nang magfile ng divorce papers sa city hall man o sa korte dito sa Japan;

4. Isama sa sasakupin ng pagbabago ng batas ang mga na divorced na bago pa ang pagbabago sa batas. Ibig sabihin, yung mga divorced na ngayon ay masasakop ng hinihiling na pagbabago sa batas sa darating na panahon; 5. Hindi na isama ang divorce sa sistema ng “judicial recognition of divorce decree.” Ang divorce papers ay puwede nang iparehistro sa civil registry o sa Philippine Statistics Authority nang hindi dumadaan sa korte;

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6. Bigyan ng kapangyarihan ang Philippine Consular Office sa bansa na kinunan ng divorce na tumanggap at mag-ayos ng mga divorce papers para maipasa sa Philippine Statistics Authority at nang mapalitan ang civil status na “married” ng “divorced” nang mas mabilis at hindi magastos na paraan.

Ang mga proposals na ito ay hindi halos tinalakay sa 7 na bills. Ang

dahilan ay hindi issue sa mga bills ang “judicial recognition of divorce decree.”

Kung tutuusin, sang-ayon pa ang mga bills sa kasalukuyang sistema ng “judicial recognition of divorce decree.”

Magandang pagkakataon na nasabi ng mga Pilipino dito sa Japan ang kanilang kalagayan tungkol sa divorce at re-marriage sa mga Kongresista. Sana ay mabago din ng mga Kongresista ang kanilang bills upang mabago ang kasalukuyang batas tungkol sa pagkilala sa divorce mula sa Japan.

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

Moving company? Cable and internet connection?

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

English and Japanese OK!

03-5292-2340

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

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

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www.nishimachi.ac.jp

by Glen Gypsy Change the course. Find another way.

Take a rest.

But never give up!

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JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018

Take It Or Leave It!

by Isabelita Manalastas-Watanabe Dear Tita Lits, Recently po, ang dami kong mga kaibigan at kamag-anak na bumibisita sa Japan. Sa Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka at Fukuoka.

Meron po silang observation na hindi ko tuloy alam kung ano ang masasagot ko. Since medyo related ang trabaho ninyo sa Japanese economy, baka meron kayong mas magandang explanation. Eto po ang tanong nila. Bakit daw po napakaraming homeless dito sa Japan? Sa yaman po at dami pa ng mga trabaho sa Japan, bakit meron pang mga homeless?

Wala po bang ginagawa ang gobyerno ng Japan para tulungan sila? Paano nila na su-survive matulog sa labas during winter season? Hindi ba sila namamatay sa sobrang lamig sa labas?

Marami pong salamat!

Lucy Saitama

Dear Lucy: Noong last na pagsimba ko nang Sabado, 6 pm mass sa Franciscan Chapel sa Roppongi, Tokyo, punung-puno ang simbahan.

Normally, nakakaupo kaming mag-asawa kapag Saturday mass, pero last time, nakatayo kami hanggang matapos ang misa. Iyon pala, ang daming mga visitors sa chapel – mga tourists from different countries. Wine-welcome kasi palagi before the final blessings ng pari, ang mga visitors, asking them to tell their names and where they are from, at pinapalakpakan ng mga parishioners as a sign of welcome.

Ang dami from the Philippines!

Noong time na nagsimba kami, isang group of more than ten, magkaka-pamilya, at iyong isang group naman, ay magkaka-opisina sa Pilipinas. Mayroon ding mga friends, mga couples.

Possible that these visitors may also have seen iyong madaming homeless doon sa Shinjuku station, sa Yoyogi Park sa Tokyo. Itong dalawang lugar na ito ay dalawa lang sa maraming lugar kung saan ang daming natutulog na homeless, at iyon lang so far ang aking mga nabisita at nakita first hand kung papaano ang situwasyon ng mga homeless doon.

Actually, may financial support na pwedeng ibigay ang mga local ward offices sa mga mahihirap na nakatira sa kanilang ward. Kailangan lang i-prove na destitute talaga sila, at

talagang nangangailangan.

Problema lang, mayroong paper work na dapat i-accomplish siyempre. Maraming mga homeless na walang registered home address, walang telephone, walang ID. Itong mga ito ay ilang impormasyon lang ang normally kinakailangan kapag mag-pi-fill up ng any governmental application form. So itong mga homeless, posibleng hindi kinayang mag-qualify.

From various readings I have done, sinasabing mayroon ding homeless by choice. Tipong napagod na sila sa very rigid and regimented rules of living/working in Japan. Mayroon namang nawalan ng trabaho, tapos naging homeless for a while (mga walang pamilya at pamilyang uuwian), at iyon nga, wala ng mga papeles na mai-present kung saan ang kanilang residence, etc., to qualify for assistance, or to apply for work. Marami ding may mental/ psychological problems, at mga alcoholic.

Pero napansin din kaya ng iyong mga friends/kamag-anak, na generally, napaka-peaceful ng mga homeless? Nandoon lang, matutulog sa train station.

Generally, polite and quiet sila. Hindi namamalimos, or humihingi ng pera. Kina-umagahan, nililigpit nila ang kanilang mga gamit para hindi maka-abala. Tapos, maglalatag na naman sila pagdating ng gabi para matulog. Kahit iyong mga nasa park, malinis ang kapaligiran ng kanilang tents/tarpaulin (normally colored blue). Nabubuhay sila sa

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018

pamumulot ng nga recyclable items, na ibinebenta pagkatapos.

Parang may peaceful co-existence sila with the police, na hindi naman nang-ha-harass sa kanila. Nabasa ko na hindi ganoon ka-simple na i-evict sila sa park, kunwari. Dapat ay may prosesong gagawin katulad ng pag-e-evict sa nakatira sa mga apartment buildings.

May nabasa ako na may mga individuals from different countries calling themselves Tokyo Spring Homeless Patrol helping the homeless at Shinjuku’s East Exit, giving them food, clothing, and other vital necessities.

May regular ding onigiri brigade ang Franciscan Chapel Center. Volunteer parishioners prepare onigiri and deliver these early morning sa mga homeless in Tokyo.

Magpasalamat tayo sa ating Poong Maykapal, dahil napaka-lucky natin, na kahit hindi tayo mayaman, may nakakain tayo sa araw-araw, at higit sa lahat, may bahay at mga mahal sa buhay na uuwian.

At sana, malampasan na naman itong napakalamig na winter this year ng mga homeless sa Japan, ng hindi sila nagkakasakit. At sana, magkaroon ng mas malaking effort ang gobyerno ng Hapon na ma-reintegrate itong mga homeless na willing and able to go back to the work place, and to their normal lives.

Tita Lits

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By Karen Sanchez

“No, I'm fine.” And the next day, they will quit work.

As a Filipino, we do love our own, and some want to grow or succeed on their own. The test of patience, sacrifices and hard works just to make sure that our loved ones are secure in their lives. And this We will open the book. Each pages are is about love that we are blank. We are going to put words on giving to the people in our them ourselves. The book is called life. Sometimes, we give opportunity and its first chapter is everything we have and 2017 was not really a good year for me compared to the nothing left for ourselves.

New Year's Day. - Edith Pierce The happiness and satisfacother years. I lost my good friend unexpectedly. One of tion that we see on our loved my friends was confined, too. one's face is enough to ease Today, I close the door to the tired days at work. the past, open the door to I argued with many people because as an employee in the future, take a deep Love month is still here and I Japan before, and as a breath, step on through want to open up our minds and start a new chapter in business owner, I cannot that this is one of the biggest consider the “hasta manana” my life. issues and no one can define habit, “ningas- kugon”, you but yourself only. We are “palakasan” system and Happy 2018 everyone or living here in this world with Filipino time that we are should I say "Akemashite "love". Biologically speaking, used to. I am really amazed Omedetou Gozaimasu" every man was made by the of how Japanese love their and "Manigong Bagong Taong 2018 po, mga kaba- work and how precious time act of "making love" and most of our parent, of is for them which I and our bayan!!!” course, fell in love. Not all kababayans adapted. I always compare the quality ended that well, but we must Everyone is tough in their own way. I know that some of work and the punctuality be thankful that we were born. of us have their own fights, of Japanese people to us.

How they manage their time struggles, burdens, good Talking about love, it is such with their family, work and and bad experiences a huge or weird thing I know. before. But we are so lucky friends. I wonder why most I myself don't know how and of our kababayans living to have this life that we are here in the Philippines are so what will happen in my love enjoying right now. We have our chances to move contented and don't want to life. I still don't know to whom I will end up with and forward, to go on and start learn. They are confident who I will be with until I get enough for what they have a new life, business, to old. Seeing my mother and and what they know.

They travel from one country to sister heart broken still told me “Don't compare another, to live our life to makes me believe that the fullest that some could because you are in the not afford to do. This is our Philippines.” I said “Yeah, and nothing in this world is permanent. All is a constant you don't want to learn?” moment to do things what

The New Beginning

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we wanted to do before, that we did not achieve in past days or years. Reading our columns and our stories today is a proof that we are still here in this world, living, fighting and strolling for our own or the needs of others especially to the people who are so precious to us and we treasure most.

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018

change. Everything will end up either in good or in bad way.

who is always there for me and never leaves me through thick and thin.

self and being kind to others is one genuine proof of LOVE.

Love is like a roller coaster, too. Sometimes, you are at the highest level and sometimes you're at the lowest part that makes you frown and want to end your own life. It makes you feel frustrated and depressed. But one thing I make sure, we will all be falling in love over and over and over again. We don't stop searching, finding and trying just to make us feel loved. We will forget the past and start a new chapter of our life.

When I get hurt and betrayed by a friend or someone, I always think that one day, they will remember me, miss me and love me because being true to your-

Again, Happy New Year and Happy Valentine’s Day to all!

May our Lord GOD bless our 2018 :-)

In every downfall, mistakes, heartbreaks and tears we shed, we learn something.

We get stronger than before as we move on. To be successful is not easy. Only you, yourself know how strong you are and what you feel inside. Honestly, when I am lonely and alone, when I'm in pain and struggling in something, all I do is cry and pray. From the moment I lived on my own, the only one I trust is GOD. I always pray for whatever He wants for me. I embrace it with all my heart. When I get disappointed, I consider that is not for me and there is something better waiting.

And for more than 10 years deciding on my own, I learned a lot of lessons in life which made me who I am today. What I am today is not about being rich, famous or something but being me as whole. My contentment today is what I owe to GOD

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by Herbert Benzon

Meeting the nicest have an optimistic disposition. I’m always careful not to seek an end to trust.

December 22, 2017. I arrived at Coron, a small town in the northernmost tip of Palawan. Traveling with my two Japanese friends, I always find it the perfect opportunity to build my courage to talk to more strangers.

“Sir Herbert, dito po yung banka niyo! Harold po pala, tour guide niyo, cook, photographer, alalay, all-in-one na po! Hehe.” We met our boat crew who will help us explore the wonders of the island.

My friends mumbled, “Genki desu ne!”

Harold, 21 (same name as my oldest brother), never hesitated to share his stories to us. “May isang asawa na po ako, malapit na maging tatay pero hindi pa po kasal kaya kayod to the max!” I kept translating what he said to my friends. Seriously, Harold? No holding back? “Naikwento mo na ang buong buhay mo?!” I didn’t know how I would feel at that moment.

After our first day tour, “Sir, baka gusto niyo ng city tour? – wala pong bayad. Message niyo lang po ako tapos hintayin ko kayo sa labas ng hotel niyo. I want you to enjoy your stay, Sir!” That was the moment I fell in love with Coron.

Believe it or not, in our three-day tour in the island, we’ve shared a lot of stories and life experiences. Numerous talks about our families, work backgrounds, love life and even baby names, as he will soon be a father. Things that only best friends could talk about. Who would have thought this could happen. At the end of our three-day tour, we did things that seemed unreal.

Over and above the incredibly clear waters, prehistoric rock formations, uncrowded white sand beaches and thriving marine life, when I think back to my vacation in the Philippines, Coron always comes up as one of my top memories! It’s not just the places we see…but the people we meet. Congratulations, Harold for your new born baby boy! See you the soonest!

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person in Coron

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By Jasmin Vasquez

Paalam Kaibigan

oooot!!!! Isang message mula sa isang kaibigan ang gumising sa aking mahimbing na tulog. “ Jas, parang pamilyar sa akin pero hindi ako sure sa pangalan na nabanggit sa news. Noong aking basahin isa-isa.

Ako ay natulala, isang panaginip ba ito? Hindi ako naniniwala kayat nagtanong tanong ako. Nanood ng mga news.

Sunod sunod na sa tv news, sa dyario at sa social media. Kanya kanyang version ng balita. Hindi ako makapaniwala, ni hindi ako makakilos. Hindi ko lubos na maisip na sa ganito hahantong ang kanilang mga buhay.

Kani-kaniyang version at haka-haka. Ang iba nga ay nangungutya, nanghuhusga na para bagang kilalang-kilala nila yung mga taong sangkot sa insidente. Na akala mo ay pagkalinis-linis nila, at ganoon kadali silang magsabi ng masasakit na salita patungkol sa pagmamahalan ng dalawang taong nagkaibigan. Mali man o tama ang kanilang pag-iibigan, wala tayong karapatan para kutyain ang bawat isa sa kanila sapagkat wala tayong alam kung ano ang kanilang mga pinagdaanan sa buhay at kung bakit umabot sa malagim na trahedya at naging dahilan ng kanilang kamatayan. Ang iba pa sa kanila ay minsan ng naging kaibigan at grupo sa pag akyat sa mga bundok sa ibat-ibang lugar.

Hindi nyo na ginalang o nirespeto ang kanilang kamatayan, abot-abot pa ang masasakit na salita ang inyong binitawan.

Kaawa-awang magkasintahan na hindi na nila maipagtanggol ang kanilang mga sarili dahil sila ay sumakabilang buhay na.

Saksi ang maraming tao, mula sa buong Nagano, Yamanashi at mapahanggang Tokyo sa wagas nilang pagmamahalan. Hindi ito basta laro dahil umabot na ito sa punto ng

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pangakong pakakasalan ang isat-isa. Mahirap pigilan ang puso kapag ito ay pinana ni Kupido. Makapangyarihan ang puso kapag ito ay tumibok, madalas nitong matalo ang isip.

Kaya’t sino nga ba tayo para husgahan ang kanilang relasyon. May mga dahilan ang bawat bagay sa mundo kung bakit nangyari ito.

Hindi lang pala sa sarili nating bansa, bagkus ay dito rin sa Japan ang maraming balita na may dagdag bawas. Mga fake na balitang wala namang sapat na basehan upang ikalat sa buong paligid. Masakit bilang isang banyaga na kutyain ang sarili mong kababayan higit lalo pa na ito ay iyong kaibigan. Palabasing masama dahil ito ay isang dayuhan. At dahil sa kapangyarihan ng media na magkalat ng kwentong tulad nito, mabilis tayong mag comment kahit hindi nyo naman alam ang buong story ng kanilang buhay.

Two weeks bago ka nawala, inaaya mo pa ako uminom, nag set ka ng petsa Jan 27 ng gabi ngunit sabi ko sayo hindi ako pwede dahil may lakad ako. Pero panay pilit mo na wag na ako tumuloy sa lakad ko, bandang huli napag-usapan natin na Jan 28 na lang tayo uminom. Ngunit umagang umaga Jan 27, pagtapos ng work ko sa kaisha (nighshift) bigla ka tumawag: “Hello, magkita tayo sa Komagane, kain tayo. Samahan mo ako, may kukuhanin kasi ako kay Melba. Sagot ko sa kanya, “Sige intayin mo ako mga isang oras mahigit ang byahe ko mula kaisha (Shimoujo hanggang Komagane). Noong andoon na kami, kumain kami sa Gusto (restaurant), kwentuhan, laki daw ng pinayat nya kasi 3 months na syang panggabi at nahihirapan syang matulog kaya malaki ang nabawas sa timbang nya kaya pumayat sya. Mukha naman ok sya kaya, di ko naman masyadong halata na may pinag dadaanan syang problema. Dati rati naman nag o-open sya sa akin ng problem nya. Nagpapatulong lang syang humanap ng murang second hand na gulong ng sasakyan nya, sabi ko sige pag meron call ko sya. Pagtapos iniwan nya ako saglit para kuhanin yung aso kay Melba, pagbalik nya binayaran na yung bill then naghiwalay na

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kami. Hindi ko alam na iyon na pala ang huli naming pagkikita.

After one week, Feb 4, 10am nangyari na ang insidente. Lahat halos ng mga kaibigan ay na shock sa balita. Feb 9, cremate ang bangkay nya. Feb 10 ng gabi 8pm till 4am ay pumunta kami ni nanay sa kanyang lamay.

Maraming tao, nag misa ang isang Pilipinong Pari at pagtapos ay nagdasal ng Rosary.

Maraming naglamay, nakiramay, patunay na maraming nagmamahal sa ating kaibigan.

Nang nakausap ko ang kanyang mga magulang, nakakalungkot isipin na hindi na nila nakita ang labi bago ito sunugin dahil hindi na pumayag ang mga pulis na ito ay buksan. At ayon din sa kanila, hindi pa alam kung ano talaga ang buong pangyayari na naganap sa loob ng bahay na iyon dahil wala namang nakakita, kahit mga imbestigador ay wala pang saradong sagot sa mga pangyayaring naganap. Wala din palang pinagkaiba ang balita dito sa Japan at sa Pinas. Kahit wala pa kompletong istorya ay kung ano-anong hakahaka ang pinagsasabi.

“UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN” Those special memories of you will always bring a smile If only I could have you back for just a little while Then we could sit and talk again just like we used to do you always meant so very much and always will do too The fact that you’re no longer here will always cause me pain But you’re forever in my heart Until we meet again

Pagkauwi, derecho pasok na ako sa trabaho. Nagkataon na pang araw ako kaya kahit walang tulog derecho sa work.

Nakakalungkot isipin na sa isang iglap ay bigla kang nawalan ng isang kaibigan. Na ang daming tanong sa iyong isipan bakit nangyari ito. Ngunit ano man ang dahilan, Diyos lang at ikaw ang nakakaalam.

Salamat kaibigan sa mga oras na kami ay iyong sinamahan. Sa pagpasyal natin at pag-libot sa Mt Fuji. Sa pag luto mo mg leche plan, alam ko pag special sayo ang isang tao, pinagluluto mo nyan. Salamat na sa tuwing may UTAWIT sa Nagano ay palagi ka andyan para mag take ng picture sa amin, sa mga events na palagi ka support. We will miss you. Paalam kaibigan. Rest in Peace.

Photo: Marisol Punzalan Kudo

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KAPATIRAN

ni Loleng Ramos QUADRAGESIMA Kapatid! Bihilya? Pagtitika, Pangilin?

Ayuno? Lent. Kuaresma. Paano ka nag-hahanda?

Inabutan mo ba iyong kapag Biyernes Santo, bawal na maligo, magpatugtog, kumanta, sumayaw, humalakhak? Sabi ni nanay, “Bawal mag-ingay. Patay ang Diyos ngayon, sa linggo (Easter Sunday) pwede na”. Si nanay ko talaga.

Kapag lumabas ka dati ng Biyernes Santo, parang ghost town sa EDSA. Lahat ng tindahan sarado. Siguro ang mga tao nagtitika kaso siksikan sa Baguio, sa Batangas, Cebu, hay ay ay!

Hindi naman holiday ang Holy Week, holy days!

Para sa marami, mabigat ang Lenten Season kase madami ka dapat isa-alang-alang. Mas madali na ipagwalang bahala na lang ang kahulugan at kahalagahan ng banal na panahon na ito. Kaya nga sa ibang bansa, nandyan ang Strove Tuesday o Fat Tuesday. Nagpi-pista ang mga tao sa pancake na gawa sa mga makahulugan na sangkap na dapat iwasan kapag Lent. Nandiyan din ang mga Carnival tulad ng Mardi Gras na ipinagdiriwang sa pamamagitan ng ingay, at pagpapakasaya sa iba’t-ibang paraan. Ginagawa ang mga kapistahang ito bago ang pakiki-isa ng mga tao sa ipinahihiwatig ng panahon ng Kuaresma, katulad ng paglimot muna sa mga paborito nating pagkain o aktibidad. 40 days nga lang ang Lent, ang 325 and ¼ days ng bawat taon, nasa sa atin na kung paano natin gugugulin. Umpisa ng Ash Wednesday, pwera ang mga araw ng linggo, hanggang sa Holy Saturday ang Lenten Season. Sa mga araw na ito, bigyan natin ng pagkakataon ang ating sarili upang mag-nilay-nilay, mangumusta sa kalagayan ng ating kaluluwa.

Makipag-usap tayo kay Lord Penitensiya. Pagpapakita ng pighati at pagsisi sa mga kasalanan. Nakapanood ka na ba ng nagpapalatigo habang bumubuhat ng krus? Nagpapapako?

Napakahirap siguro gawin iyon ano?

Nagagawa nila iyon kase taimtim sila sa

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paghingi ng tawad sa Diyos. Lahat naman tayo maraming kasalanan at naghihintay lang si Lord na mag-sorry tayo. Sabi dati ng pari sa akin, sa pagkakatapos daw ng isang kumpisal, merong choir ng angels na umaawit sa saya, kase sa ginawa nating pag-amin sa ating mga pagkakamali at pangakong pagbabago, natanggal ang nagawa nating mga harang na naghihiwalay sa atin sa Diyos.

Abstinence o Pangilin, iiwasan ko muna ang chichiriya, kaya ko kaya?

Kahit na mag-sale ng tsokolate pagkatapos ng Valentine, hindi ako magpa-panic. Konting tikom ng bibig huwag muna maki-tsismis, wala munang karne, sigarilyo, alak o kahit bawas lang muna, naku pagkatapos ng Lent, mukhang papayat din ako. Ang Fasting o Ayuno, mas mahirap. Isang beses ka lang kakain sa isang araw o tuluyang tubig lang sa buong araw.

Pero dapat mataimtim, walang halong OA o para ka namang lantang gulay o tumabingi ang mukha sa hirap, dapat iyong ikaw lang ang nakaka-alam ng mga sakripisyo mo. Ang hirap ano?

Pero kung madali, hindi na penitensya.

Marami pa ding paraan para maipakita natin ang ating pagbabalik loob kay Lord ngayong Lent. Magbigay ka ng oras para sa “a friend in need”, iyong nabugbog na asawa o natanggal sa trabaho. Makipagbati sa naka-away mo, sa asawa mo. Alalahanin mo ang paghihirap ng iba, katulad ng mga kapatid natin sa Syria, sa Congo, sa Pilipinas. Lahat tayo may kanyakanyang problema sa buhay pero kung maibabahagi mo ang sarili mo sa iba, para ka ding si Simon na nakibuhat sa pasan na krus ni Lord. Pagkatapos ng Kuaresma, hindi lang ako mag-e-egg hunting, simbolo ng bagong buhay, kakain ulit ako ng tsokolate! Happy Easter, Kapatid! Sana masayangmasaya ka sa pag-salubong mo kay y Lord at sa isang new lif

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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: Borg Meneses Hair & Make-up: Vela Mua Art Direction: Dennis Sun

Winter into Spring “Anyone who thinks gardening begins in the spring and ends in the fall is missing the best part of the whole year; for gardening begins in January with the dream.�

- Josephine Nuese

Musings of a Gardener

by Rogelio Agustin It’s another new year to start thinking again or rather start dreaming of what to do in the garden. The winter felt longer than usual with many freezing cold days and some days with too much snow. From a self-proclaimed gardener like me, it’s not unusual anymore.

Whether it is all about climate change or global warming, at the end of the day, life goes on in the garden. And the same for us in this constantly changing world.

I was away from my garden most of the time this winter (and so with most of last year) and I could only worry and imagine how my garden would survive after inches of snow that would last for a couple of weeks.

Nothing happens anyway when we worry so when I finally saw my garden, it is still full of dried branches and leaves. It kind of looked dead but when I looked carefully, life is slowly showing up again. In fact, I left some of my succulents outside the house where temperatures would go down 2 digits below zero. But they did survive as they did for the past years. The tulip bulbs have pushed the top soil with their leaf buds, and the daffodils have grown a few inches from the

snow getting ready for spring.

My garden looks so barren and dry as of today. But under the cold and dry ground, there is life, waiting to be born again after enduring the freezing winter. As I always say, the garden teaches me a lot of lessons in life. When we experience life’s challenges like a long freezing winter, just like the plants, we need to be still and save our energies because the right time will come like spring and we will come back to life and bloom with pride like the spring flowers do.

The western new is year is far over, but the Lunar new year just started which is actually a Spring Festival.

It may still be too cold to call it a spring, instead of worrying about the cold, look around and you will be surprised at how slowly life is coming back from a dark and cold winter.

Happy spring to all!

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Neriza Sarmiento - Saito's On the Road to:

MGA MUSIKERO SA MAYNILA

(with Osaka University, Minoo Campus Students majoring in Filipino) Did you know how the different animals in the "ETO" years or the Chinese Lunar Calendar came to be selected? Myth says that the Jade emperor ordered all animals to come to his birthday and it was also announced that those who win the race across the river will be included in the Zodiac calendar.

The cat requested the rat to wake him up for the race. But in his excitement, the rat forgot his promise and headed for the river alone where he met the ox and asked that he be carried on his back.

So, he took the first place followed by the ox. Tiger came in third followed by the rabbit who hopped from one stone to stone. Dragon came in 5th, with the horse next.

The snake who was hiding in his hoof came in seventh. The sheep, monkey and rooster came in together in a raft. Number 11 was the dog and the last was the sleepy pig! Because the rat did not fulfill his promise to the cat, they became enemies for ages and that was the reason why the cat was not included in the Zodiac!

2018 is the year of the Earth Dog which comes once only in 60 years for those born in 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 and 2018.

This year is also predicted to be a profitable but exhausting year. The theme for this year is Action!

I would say that 2018 did not start right for me. My mother passed

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away on New Year's Eve! We were devastated, but at the same time relieved that she would no longer suffer from the despicable Alzheimer's disease. At the eulogy, I mentioned how she loved her work as a teacher, and with our father instilled in us values of humility, hard work and self-discipline. A touching message from one of her students said that "Her smile was one of the most important part of our school memories." That student is now a prominent official in the Philippine Embassy in London. Consul General Senen Mangalile and who is also the Dean of the Consular Corps there, the first Filipino to be honored with that position.

My mother was also my inspiration why I chose the teaching profession! For more than 30 years, there is no other career more gratifying than seeing your former students reach their pinnacle of success or that they become better than what you are or that they can contribute good things for humanity.

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In Osaka University's Gogekisai last year, several plays in different languages were presented. My second year class presented "Ang mga Musikero sa Maynila", an adaptation of Brehmen Town musicians. It was conceptualized, written and translated by the students themselves under the direction of Yu Nishimura, whose nickname is Moana. The character of the "Kalabaw" was played by Sae Tajiri (Natalie), Honoka Hirata (Victoria) as Aso, Saya Koizumi (Sofia) as Pusa, Ayano Kokugan (Gabrielle) as Tandang and production manager, Natsuko Watanabe (Nachan), Mana Mishima (Maria) and Shoko Sawada (Rachel) were Mga Itik. Chikako Ono (Emma) and Fuka Maeda (Cathy) were Magsasaka while Risa Inoue (Lily) and Ryoko Numano were the Mga Magnanakaw.

The only male students, Taiga Ueto (Lio) was the emcee while Ryosuke Saka (JJ) helped his other classmates with the subtitles, lights and background images.

For several years now, our students in the Philippine Studies Program have participated in the annual University Drama Festival featuring plays from over 20 language departments. For

more than 30 years also since the establishment of the Department of Philippine Studies where renowned experts in Philippine Language and Culture taught like Dr. Mamoru Tsuda, Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera, Dr. Nick Tiongson, Dr. Rose Torres Yu, Dr. Lilia Antonio, Dr. Rolando Tolentino, Dr. Joi Barrios, Dr. Galileo Zafra and Dr. Joey Baquiran. At present, the members of the faculty are Prof. Masanao Oue, who was recently awarded the Dangal ng Wika Award by the "Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino" for his work in the promotion of Filipino language in Japan, Prof.

Satoshi Miyawaki, Prof. Gyo Miyahara and Dr. Edgar Samar, visiting professor from Ateneo University.

Perhaps, not so many Japanese are aware that there are many young Japanese who have genuine interest in our language and culture. Many of them have graduated several years ago and are now making their own names in fields they have chosen. Getting admitted into a state university is not so easy. They had to pass rigorous tests, study Filipino for four years, take a half year or one year leave to study in UP or Ateneo, write and defend their thesis in Filipino then finally graduate and get employed in some international centers, business establishments with ties to the Philippines. Some are in the Foreign Ministry, or others are in the mass media, or in publications.

So, for several years now of teaching in this university, I find every class a joy to teach because there is always some-

thing new that I learn from each of them. The class of "Ang mga Musikero sa Maynila" worked diligently on their assigned tasks, submitted assignments on time, interacted and discussed enthusiastically with one another and displayed a genuine interest for anything Filipino. They even visited events for Filipinos, went to churches where Pinoys

convene and tried Filipino dishes with gusto!

I was surprised to learn that Taiga's teacher in High School was my former student whom I nicknamed Taddy about two decades ago. Taiga said that he was inspired by Taddy that is why he enrolled in Osaka University.

Yu Nishimura, who is from Kyoto, has become acquainted with members of the Kyoto Pag-asa Community during their Christmas Party. Natalie, Lio and Lily joined the Undokai (Sports Festival) of the PCCC two years ago. JJ, who is from Saitama,

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learned how to cook Filipino dishes like adobo, pancit and turron and they cooked and sold some at the university's summer festival. Nachan, Emma and Rachel learned how to dance Itik-Itik just by watching on you tube. Rachel, from Gifu, who is too shy to act said that the play made the bonds of friendship with her classmates stronger.

Miranda and Cathy, who are both from Kumamoto, were so excited when they realized they could do the play. Jazmin, who was always quiet, felt a sense of achievement after acting in the play.

Emma was so thrilled when the teachers praised their great performance. Maria, although it was difficult, she danced the Itik itik with sports shoes. For Victoria, her greatest achievement was learning many Filipino words!

Gabrielle was shy to ask her classmates for help but she realized how cooperative everyone was! Jessica was always fun to be with, her classmates said. Last summer, she travelled to the Philippines with her father!

Honestly speaking, at the final group presentation of my students, I was sad not to see them in the classroom again but at the same time confident that when they graduate, they can contribute something to society.

And I will be waiting for the next batch of students next school year with more enthusiasm!

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An Invitation

I would like to invite everyone to attend PAG (Philippine Assistance Group) Annual Charity Ball.

It’s a dinner party with a RETRO theme from the 70’s and the 80’s.

Proceeds of the event will benefit and assist our less fortunate kababayan in Japan through the PAG Assistance Fund.

It’s on the 17th of March, 2018 on a Saturday.

For more details, please cotact any PAG member.

Thank you and hope to see you all!

Eleanor Fukuda PAG Chairman

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