Jeepney Press 97 January - February 2019

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

January - February 2019 2019年1月-2月

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.

Disclaimer: Jeepney Press is not responsible for the transactions between its advertisers and their clients. Publisher does not endorse or make any representation or warranty, express or implied, with respect to any of the products or services advertised herein. We recommend that you independently evaluate all products/services before purchasing. Jeepney Press is not accountable for any claims on the articles in this magazine. They are purely the writer's idea and opinion.

The views expressed herein are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers'. Public and private parties approached by those claiming to work for or on behalf of Jeepney Press should call our office to confirm truth of any such claim, especially where money may be involved.

Jeepney Press is published online bimonthly by Asia Vox Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright 2019

JEEPNEY PRESS A sia Vox Ltd.

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

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

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

creative staff

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 New Year, A New Start

by Marilyn Rivera 18 Kwento Ni Nanay

by Anita Sasaki 20 Signpost

by Karen Sanchez 22 Moving On

by Jasmin Vasquez 24 Advice ni Tita Lits

by Isabelita Manalastas-Watanabe 26 Traffic

by Alma Reyes

28 Kapatiran

by Loleng Ramos

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2019

Art by Dennis Sun

Not all those who wander are lost.

- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

Painting by Dennis Sun

読む

よむ “YOMU” means to read in Japanese

by Dennis Sun We have 12 months in a year. And when January comes, it always means new beginnings and fresh starts. We embrace life with a new perspective. We give a fresh look into the future and await for all the wonderful possibilities that can happen.

On the first month of the year, we think of new goals to achieve. A perfect body with those incredible abs by enrolling in the gym. Or a better command of the Japanese language by taking a course in school. Saving more yen by skipping those café macchiatos at Starbucks every morning. Earning more yen by getting another part-time job teaching English. We can make so many goals. We may succeed or not.

But it all boils down to this question: Are we even willing to start?

People procrastinate. We have so many excuses. Today is not a good day. Maybe tomorrow. Next week.

Next month. Maybe when I get a salary raise. When my children grow up.

Starting is always the most difficult thing to do. Yet once we do, momentum takes over. Even when I am writing an article, the beginning seems always the most challenging thing for me to do. But once I begin to type a few sentences, everything eventually develops. Words end up into sentences. And sentences connect to more sentences.

Paragraphs are formed until, the whole article is finished.

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Having lived for a long time in Japan, I am always faced with situations when I sometimes cannot read the Japanese writings on the wall, on the menu, in the mail. So I tell myself to go to school and study Japanese. I have actually spent so much money learning Japanese many times, many years ago. Once I was so busy, so I just attended weekend classes.

And when I couldn’t go to school anymore, I took correspondence courses.

But the best way to learn is to go to school everyday and give priority to learning. I actually once gave myself a year of studying Japanese for 2 hours every night in school. I learned a lot. It’s been more than a couple of years past and I am itching to go back to school again and learn.

I don’t worry about not being able to attain perfection anymore. Sometimes, just thinking about the end goal, that perfect image of what you want to achieve, can be suffocating. Because I am not a native Japanese, I know it’s difficult to gain mastery of this language.

But so long as I continue to study, I know that my Japanese level is in a much better place than yesterday.

Whatever it is you want to do, just start.

Start and start, and start again. We may fail once, twice, thrice or more but we shouldn’t fear to stand up over and over again. Face your fears and focus on your future goals. Hey, it’s February already and though January is gone, you can always start again.

Remember, there is no dress rehearsal in life. You just do what you have to do.

Make mistakes. Make lots of mistakes. But learn from them. Go now, and enjoy!

07

Glen Gypsy’s

Enjoy the journey and try to get better every day.

And don't lose the passion and the love for what you do.

- Nadia Comaneci

08

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2019

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

Moving company? Cable and internet connection?

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

English and Japanese OK!

03-5292-2340

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

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

www.asiavox.com

Nishimachi is...

Academically rigorous.

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

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

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

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

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

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

090-2908-5088(SB)

Visit our campus and experience the warm atmosphere of Nishimachi!

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

www.nishimachi.ac.jp

Neriza Sarmiento - Saito's On the Road to:

ADOBO, PANCIT and SINIGANG with Mango Taro

and the Sophomores of Osaka University’s Filipino Language students Rolando Tolentino, Dr. Joy Barrios, Dr. Galileo Zafra and Dr. Joey Baquiran.

When my children were growing up, the quickest way to get them to the dinner table was to cook “adobo”. As soon as the rice is cooked, I would fry some more garlic and reheat the adobo in the casserole without covering it, so its delectable smell would reach the second floor and in a flash, my 3 boys would rush down the stairs! sponsored by Choya Umeshu in 1999. The TV crew also filmed my class in Osaka University where the students were rehearsing for a drama project.

On some faculty get togethers of the Philippine Studies Department, Dr. Lilia Antonio and the late Prof. Emmie Ueno and I Pancit guisado, whether it’s bihon, miki or sotanghon, was for special occasions especially on birthdays. It was also one of the first Filipino dishes that I introduced on an NHK TV program in the 1990’s with my eldest son who was in elementary school at that time, helping me in the kitchen. Pancit was also one of the dishes that my neighbors and friends liked.

Then, there was “sinigang na hipon. “ I was really proud of the presentation because I used a native palayok brought all the way from the Philippines by my good friend Lorly, former Administrative Officer of the Department of Tourism in Osaka. It was a program

10

used to bring some Filipino dishes that we shared with Prof .

Masanao Oue, who is very fond of pancit, Dr. Mamoru Tsuda and his wife Yolanda, then with Dr. Oscar Evangelista and his wife, Susan, and Dr. Rosario Torres -Yu and her husband, Rolly. Even during the time of other visiting professors like Dr. Nicanor Tiongson, Dr.

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2019

For more than twenty five years since then, that tradition is still practiced in our department.

Thanks to Prof.

Satoshi Miyawaki and his wife Takako, who love Filipino cuisine. Their home becomes the kitchen and dining room of the Filipino Studies majors during the Annual Drama Festival in November.

This year’s 2nd year students come from different parts of Japan.

Two of them are Japanese Filipino children, Manami Fukushima from Tottori and Chris Toda from Beppu in Oita. The other members of the class are Aoi Nakamura from Kobe, Miwa Matsui from Hiroshima, Nishio Eri from Ishikawa, Kana Nishikawa from Osaka, Kano Daiki from Ibaragi in Osaka, Mai Funioka from Kyoto, Haru Ogoe from Shiga, Honoka Moriyama from Okayama and Kaoru Kozawa from Hyogo. By coincidence, Kaoru, whose nickname in class is Conan, happened to be one of the students in Junior High School of Herbert Benzon, one of the officers of the Philippine Community Coordinating Council.

Kaoru said that Herbert sensei was a big influence for him to major in Filipino language.

For the Drama Festival in Nov. 2018, the class presented “MANGO TARO”, an adaptation in Filipino of the famous Japanese folktale Momotaro (The Peach Boy) that the students themselves wrote in Filipino. It was a combination of talent and hard work plus the ingenuity of the students.

Chris wrote the script based on Aoi’s ideas and from his classmates including the idea to include the “manananggal“ (Philippine vampire) in the story probably inspired by one of their lessons in the class of Dr. Edgar Samar. Aside from “mangga“, dalandan and sampalok appeared in the script.

Kana, the silent but serious hard worker, who also played the role of grandmother, together with the bubbly, Aoi, said that they had some difficulty translating some expressions from Japanese to Filipino. As manananggal, her make-up was superb!

Dai-Kun was effective as the timekeeper. Always keeping track of time and schedules and active on online meetings with the production members.

The artist in the group, Miwa, had splendid ideas for the set and props and it really turned out good.

Ice-cream lover, Mai, was as cool as a cucumber with her role as the narrator, so attentive to me as I coached her on pronunciation and voice training.

I was always worried about Haru, who looked so tired at rehearsals and couldn’t master her lines. She was busy with her club activity and part time job, and was commuting everyday from Shiga. But on performance day, I gasped in disbelief! She delivered her lines so well!

The director, Eri, did wonders with her cast. Soft spoken and with a quiet disposition, she

was far different from the stereotypical directors that I know. She got the best out of everyone and her background in directing during her ESS days was handy!

Honoka, played the role of the dog but her greatest contribution was being the production coordinator. Together with Kaoru, they helped plan the schedules and did a lot of decision making on matters that are related to the production while Eri concentrated on the artistic side. Quick thinking and strategic approaches on how to handle each member of the cast was really hard. But there was someone who injected a lot of humor on days when everyone was going through tough times.

She played the role of Lolo.

Manami, whose mother is a Filipina, always tell the class funny stories about her eating sprees and how she missed her mother‘s sinigang in Tottori.

Once, in class I couldn’t help laughing when she said that she cooked sinigang and put vinegar in it because she really wanted to eat it.

And so to end our classes for 2018 with something savory, we went to Ms. Malou Sato’s Crystal in Shinsaibashi with adobo, pancit and sinigang, Filipino soul food that will always be Mango Taro’s companions in his journey in all parts of the world.

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11

APIVA with the support of ACT Corp.

and various Fil-com groups, companies and the Philippine Embassy, Tokyo

ACT Corp.

タグシボル フィリピン フェスティバ ル

PHILIPPINE FESTIVAL

April 14, 2019 9:00AM-9:00PM ２０１９年4月14日 午前９時∼午後９時 Aoba Symbol Road, Aoba Park, Ryougae-cho, 2-chome, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka-Ken In cooperation with: PAHAYAGANG PINOY

FILCOM WINTER FUN

This winter of 2019, a winter charity bus trip was organized by the Peace Striders Running Club on February 10. The bus trip went to Naeba Snow Resort in Niigata Prefecture, a place famous for its unforgetable winter adventure in Japan. Naeba Ski Resort is located on the eastern slope of Mount Takenoko in Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture.

The trip was attended by many of the active members of the Filipino community. Ma’am Liway from POLO and Doc Sam from the Philippine Embassy came to join the winter fun. Among the activities were skiing, snowboarding, snow rafting, and many more.

It is fun to see the Filipino community bonding together during this cold season missing their loved ones in the warm Philippines. Thank you Peace Striders for organizing this event!

Photo credits: Bonbon Garbanzos

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2019

13

ni Jeff Plantilla Sa mga medyo relihiyoso, malamang na nakaranas na sila ng recollection o ang mas mahabang retreat.

Tinawag silang recollection at retreat dahil kailangan dito na lumayo sa pang-araw-araw na buhay at magbuhos ng panahon para pag-isipan ang buhay at ang kanyang relasyon sa Diyos sa isang lugar na tahimik.

Ito ang panahon na binabalikan ang nangyayari sa buhay.

Ang pagre-recollect at pagre-retreat ay magandang gawain para sa mga lider ng mga komunidad. Magandang paraan para makapag-isip tungkol sa kanyang sarili bilang lider at sa kanyang komunidad.

Komunidad at samahan sa Kansai

Nguni’t marami din sa mga komunidad at samahan na ito ay nawala na, o hindi na nagpatuloy ng activities.

Maraming dahilan, tungkol sa lider, at tungkol sa komunidad.

2 tanong Sa Leadership Formation Seminar ng Philippine Community Coordinating Council (PCCC) nitong nakaraang 19-20 ng Enero 2019, 2 tanong ang lumabas sa pag-uusap sa isang grupo ng mga lider.

Sabi nung isang lider, sa kanyang komunidad may nagtatanong: Kailangan pa ba ng komunidad? Kailangan pa ba ng lider?

Kung hindi maayos ang sagot sa 2 tanong na ito, maaaring magkaproblema ang komunidad o ang lider.

Ang unang komunidad sa Kansai ay lumalabas na itinatag noong 1974 sa Kobe. Ito ay ang Filipino Community in Kobe (FILCAK). Nasa Kobe din noon ang Philippine Consulate-General. Maraming activities ang mga Filipino na ginagawa noon sa Kobe sa pakikipagtulungan ng Consulate-General.

Ano ang sagot?

Sa sumunod na dekada, 1980s, nagkaroon ng mga komunidad at samahan sa iba’t-ibang lugar sa Kansai. Tuloy-tuloy na ang pagdami ng mga komunidad at samahan ng mga Filipino sa Kansai hanggang umabot na sa mahigit 50 ang mga ito na nasa Osaka, Hyogo, Kyoto, Nara at Shiga.

May alam akong isang lugar na may maraming Filipino pero ayaw nilang magtayo ng komunidad o samahan. Ayaw nilang may mga responsibilidad pa na gumawa ng activities.

Gusto nilang magsama-sama

Mabilis sagutin ang 2 tanong.

Sasabihin lang ng “siyempre oo,” “siyempre kailangan ang komunidad at lider.”

Nguni’t ang mas mahirap ay ang dahilan kung bakit kailangan ang komunidad at lider.

Iba’t-ibang uri ang mga komunidad at samahan, bagama’t marami ang tinatawag na church-based dahil sa mga simbahan nagsimula. May para sa kultura, at may para sa pamilya.

14

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2019

kung kailangan pero para lang magsaya, o gumawa ng isang bagay. At dahil walang komunidad, wala ding lider.

Meron naman akong alam na nagtayo ng samahan o komunidad at siya ay tumatayong founder. Pero nung nagkaproblema sa mga kasama, siya na rin ang nagsabi na ako ang nagtayo ng samahan o komunidad kaya magagawa ko ang gusto ko. Baliktad naman ito, may lider muna saka sumunod ang samahan o komunidad.

Nguni’t kung ang 2 tanong ay lalabas sa isang komunidad o samahan na matagal nang nakatayo, may mas mabigat at malalim na kahulugan ito.

Nagdududa na ba ang mga miyembro sa pangangailangan ng komunidad o samahan? Hindi na ba nakikita ang silbi ng lider?

Dahilan sa mga tanong Hindi natin maiaalis sa mga tao na magsawa kahit maganda ang kanilang ginagawa sa komunidad.

May napapagod na sa mahabang panahong paghihirap na gumawa ng mga activities taon-taon.

May nagbabago ang interes o nagugustuhang gawin.

Maaaring merong iba pang grupo na puwedeng lipatan.

Maaaring dahil lumaki na ang mga anak, may trabaho na sila, o may iba ng hanapbuhay kaya nagbago na ang tingin sa komunidad o samahan.

Pero, maaaring ang tunay na dahilan ay ang paglabo ng tingin sa pangangailan ng komunidad dahil sa pagod, pagtanda, pagkakaroon ng mga problema sa relasyon ng mga tao, at iba pa.

Maraming lider na ang tumatanda at nag-iisip na magretire sa pagiging lider. At sabay dito ang kakulangan sa mga papalit na lider.

May mga nagsawa na sa paghahabol sa mga miyembro para lang magawa ang mga activities.

Dahil dito, puwede na sigurong magpahinga na ang komunidad o samahan.

Bakit mahalaga ang komunidad?

Para saan ang komunidad? Ano ang dapat gawin ng lider? Ito siguro ang katulad na mga tanong.

Maraming dahilan kung bakit nagkaroon ng komunidad. Sa mga church-based communities, ang komunidad ay makakatulong sa pang-relihiyong pangangailangan ng mga tao. May nagtatayo ng komunidad para makatulong sa mga Filipinang nahihirapan na

mamuhay sa Japan na kasama ang asawang Hapones. Minsan ang problema ay domestic violence at kaya kailangan talaga ang komunidad na matatakbuhan.

May mga komunidad na tinulungang itayo ng NPOs ng mga Hapones, para sa mga pangangailangan ng mga anak (tulad sa pag-aaral, kalusugan at pagpapagamot), pag-aaral ng Filipinong magulang ng Nihonggo, at sa iba pang bagay.

Dahil sa komunidad, may mga masasaya at mahalagang gawain – picnic, Independence Day celebration, Christmas party, misa/recollection/retreat/religious service, fund-raising para sa mahihirap sa Pilipinas at sa mga kababayang may problema sa Japan, pagsali sa mga matsuri sa pamamagitan ng pagtitinda ng pagkain (bananaQ, turon, BBQ na baboy, pansit), pagsasayaw, at iba pa.

Pero sa kabila ng mga ito, bakit may nagtatanong kung kailangan pa ang komunidad?

para makapag-isip nang tahimik.

Mahalagang magrecollection o retreat upang masagot ang mga tanong nang hindi nagmamadali o sa harap ng maraming tao.

Ang komunidad ay dapat may buhay.

Hindi ito dapat nagiging dinosaur. Hindi ito dapat tumitigas na parang bato.

Dapat ang komunidad ay umuunlad nang ayon sa kalagayan at kagustuhan ng mga miyembro.

Ang mga lider naman ay dapat mag-isip ng kakaibang gawain na tumutugon sa bagong pangangailangan ng mga miyembro.

At mahalagang ang mga lider ay mabago din, at ang mga batang lider naman ang hahalili na maaaring kumakatawan sa mga bagong miyembro ng komunidad o samahan.

Totoong maaaring magsawa at mapagod ang mga tao sa mga gawaing taon-taong pinaghihirapan. Meron tayong sinasabing burn-out.

Postscript: Gumagawa ang Philippine Community Coordinating Council (PCCC) ng isang documentation report tungkol sa mga Filipino sa Kansai – sa kasaysayan ng pagpunta ng mga Filipino sa Kansai, at kanilang iba’t-ibang buhay, gawain at mga relasyon sa mga Hapones. Mababasa ang report mula March 2019 sa PCCC

At hindi ito dapat itago.

Talagang nangyayari ito.

blogspot: http://pcccwestjapan.blogspot.com.

May kasabihang, may magagawa kapag sama-sama. Nguni’t para saan ang gagawin?

Nguni’t mahalagang hindi kaagad sumurender. Mahalagang lumayo sandali

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2019

15

A New Year, A New Start Empower Your Mind with Positivity

by Marilyn Rivera

You have power over your mind, not outside events.

Realize this, and you will find strength.

– Marcus Aurelius Last year has a perfect ending. At the very last day, we composed our farewells with a celebration and closed it with a toss of well-wishes.

Smiles and laughter kept our memories alive and, alas, seal the year’s ending with a promise of a better year ahead.

The year of the Earth Pig is a year of positivity. We look forward to new challenges and new achievements.

This year does not only promise us better opportunities and full of new possibilities, but also fortifies our success on what we place before us.

Some say that our future is already set before us.

How true is that? Does it mean that poor people are destined to be poor, and rich people are really destined to be rich? No one can be destined to be poor or set to suffer in their life. No one can dictate who we are and, definitely, not dictate what we can become.

What can happen and will happen is what we set ourselves to be.

Every time that we make a decision is not a lottery game where our fate is printed in a ticket somewhere. We can master our life and change it as we willed it.

No one is a better author Keep your thoughts positive of our own books than us, and no one else is to Because your thoughts blame with our faults but become us. Nothing can hold us YOUR WORDS. back and stop us from doing what we want.

Keep your words positive What we do and what we Because your words set ourselves to do is our become call.

YOUR BEHAVIOR. Keep your behavior positive Because your behavior becomes YOUR HABITS. Keep your habits positive Because your habits become YOUR VALUES. Keep your habits positive Because your habits become YOUR DESTINY. ~MAHATMA GANDHI 16

I remember one golden nugget I wrote in one of my old journals. Reading it again was nostalgic.

This is from a neighborfriend in Papua New Guinea who was some decades older than me.

He was a retired engineer and once lived in Hawaii.

He decided to migrate with his son who was working then as a civil engineer for the Papua New Guinea government with my father. The

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2019

exchanges below are just one of our conversations through the years I was there for my yearly vacation.

Here, I was updating him with recent events in my life. And this one was about my application for a scholarship in my chosen university.

He asked me, “How can you be so sure that they will not accept you for the scholarship?” I said that there were obvious signs during my interview. Then he said, “Well, let me tell you, if there is one thing I learned from life is that that way of thinking lets you invite the negative energy and letting yourself do that makes you anticipate more that they will really not accept you. You should not underestimate the power of your mind.

How you think already tells you what you’ll get.

And that my friend is your own call. You should always keep a positive note. That way, you already have an advantage. Then, add prayer and you are way in the lead.”

I was accepted for the scholarship, his words still ringing in my head.

Our own mind empowers our destiny.

And it is not fate, but faith that will lead us to our success.

Facebook : Philip D. Torres

Mobile (Philippines) : +63-91-7605-6366 Model: Irene Kaneko

Photography: Borj Meneses Hair & Make-up: Vela Mua

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2019

Art Direction: Dennis Sun

17

KWENTO NI NANAY

by Anita Sasaki

EVERY GISING IS A BLESSING!!!

Meron akong magandang kuwento sa inyo. Ang kuwento nang paruparu. Ganito po ito.

Isang araw, may maliit na bukasan sa isang “kokon” (cocoon) UBOD. May lalake na nakaupo nang ilang oras at binabantayan ang paruparu na nagpupumiglas makalabas sa maliit na butas.

Ngunit wala siya magawa upang makalabas. Binantayan lang nang lalake ngunit hindi talaga makalabas ang pakpak nang paruparu para makasuporta sa katawan nang paruparu.

Kaya yung lalake ay nagpasyang tulungan ang paruparu. Kumuha siya nang gunting at ginupit ang maliit na butas nang kokon at nakalabas ang paruparu subalit lanta ang katawan. Maliit ang kanyang mga gusot na pakpak. Binantayan pa rin nang lalake ang paruparu at umaasa na lalaki ang mga pakpak para masuportahan ang katawan ng paruparu at lumakas.

Ngunit hindi ito nangyari. Sa halip gumagapang lang siya na tuyot ang pakpak at gusot gusot. At hindi na nakalipad. Dahil hindi naiintindihan nang lalake na ang pagpupumiklas nang kokoon na makalabas ay natural na proseso nang kalikasan upang makalabas sa maliit na butas para lumabas ang “ fluid “upang maging handa ang mga pakpak nang paruparu para siya ay makalipad.

Minsan kailangan natin sa buhay natin ang mga “struggles” o pagpupursigi o pakikibaka sa buhay.

Kung papayagan natin sa ating buhay ang wala man lang tayong

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pakikibaka o hirap, tayo ay magiging mahina, pilay ang katumbas natin at hindi tayo matututong lumipad. “We cannot spread our strong wings and fly or soar high“.

Humiling tayo nang LAKAS (STRENGTH). Ngunit ang binigay sa atin ay mga hirap, pakikibaka sa buhay, pero ito ang nagpa palakas sa atin. Humingi tayo ng KARUNUNGAN (WISDOM).

Ngunit binigyan tayo nang mga problema para ayusin. Humingi tayo nang KAUNLARAN (PROSPERITY). Ang ibibigay sa atin ay ang ating utak at lakas na pisikal upang mag trabaho o gumawa. Humingi tayo nang LAKAS NG LOOB (COURAGE).

Ngunit binigyan tayo nang mga hadlang upang madaig o para malampasan natin ang mga hirap at pagsubok. Humingi tayo nang PAGMAMAHAL (LOVE).

Pero binigyan tayo nang mga taong may problema para tulungan. Humingi tayo nang TULONG o PABOR (FAVOURS).

Pero ang ibinibigay sa atin ay PAGKAKATAON o OPORTUNIDAD. Wala akong tinangap na alin sa gusto ko pero tinanggap ko lahat nang kailangan ko.

Mabuhay tayo nang walang takot at ikumpara ang lahat ng mga balakid at alam mo na maaari mong pagtagumpayan ang mga ito. Sana nagustuhan ninyo ang kuwento nang paruparu. Maraming salamat po at sana meron tayong napulot na aral sa kuwento.

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

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.�

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

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

www.asiavox.com

English and Japanese OK!

03-5292-2340

By Karen Sanchez

Nihon No Sodachi to Kokoro

Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu!!! Happy 2019 everyone!!! Kamusta po mga kababayan? Napakabilis talaga ng panahon at heto bagong taon na naman.

Bagong buhay, bagong panimula, bagong pakikibaka at bagong pag-asa.

Sa pagpasok ng bagong taon, nais kong ibahagi ang isang katangian ng mga Hapon na malimit nating makikita, maramdaman o masaksihan bilang ibang lahi o bansa at ito ay ang kanilang "sodachi".

Ang Sodachi, growth o breeding ay katangian, karakter o kaugalian ng isang tao na hinubog o minana kung saan ay isinapuso na nila o "kokoro kara" ng mga Hapon.

At ito ay nakilala sa buong mundo dahil ipinamalas nila ito sa kung saang sulok man sila naroroon. Kung saan makikita ang kahalagan ng disiplina sa sarili na tumatak at hinangaan na bukod-tanging dahil sa kanila ay naging paksa minsan at napag-uusapan.

Sa ating mga kababayan na matagal nang nanatili, nag-asawa at nagkaanak na sa Japan, kung ating mapapansin mula sa bahay sa ating paggising, mapabata man o matanda at nasilayan mo ay mabilis kang mag sasabi ng “ohayo” o magandang umaga.

Sa pagkain ng almusal bago sumubo ay magbabanggit ang “itadakimasu" at "gochisomama deshita” pagkatapos kumain ay mga paraan ng pasasalamat sa naghanda o nagluto. At bago lumabas ng bahay ay magsasabing “ittekimasu” o aalis na po ako at sasagutin ng

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“itterashai” o mag-ingat ka.

Paglabas mo sa bahay lahat ng kakilala o kapit bahay ay babatiin mo ulit ng ohayo o magandang umaga at “sayonara” o good bye.

Pagdating ng eskwelahan, ganun ulit para bang walang kapaguran. At kapag ikaw ay nagtatrabaho ay ganoon din.

At ang kagandahan bago magsimula ang trabaho ay may tinatawag na,”chourei” o meeting lahat mula sa may-ari ng kumpanya, sa mga managers, supervisors pababa at nagpapahayag o nagtatanong kung may naging problema ba, may magandang nangyari ba o may dapat baguhin sa araw na iyon. At lahat ay pwede magtanong o magbigay ng kanyang opinyon. At mapapansin mo sa mga dingding o white boards ang mga paalala, babala o reminders tungkol sa tamang pag uugali at pang-abuso sa kanyang posisyon ay mahigpit na ipinagbabawal.

hindi inaantay ang kasama bago sumubo na akala mo gutom na gutom na at hindi man lang maantay ang kasama na nakapila pa minsan. Pagdating sa mga nagtatrabaho di mo makitaan ng dedikasyon basta sila pumapasok para sumuweldo o sa madaling salita ay "kyuuryou dorobo" o panay ang petiks sa oras ng trabaho.

Hindi ko sa nilalahat ngunit mas marami kang makikita nito pag ikaw ay nanatili dito sa Pilipinas.

At ang salitang "pwede na yan!" na kung sa Japan ay bagsak sa kuwalipikasyon talagang hindi na ito pinapasa upang maiwasan ang kasiraan o ang maaaring kapahamakang maidudulot ng isang maliit na bagay kung maituturing pero kapag ito ay pumalpak at nakasanayan na ay hindi na kayang baliin o ayusin pa.

Sa pamamalagi ko sa Japan ay marami akong natutunan na lubos kong ipinagpapasalamat sa Poong Maykapal. Ang pagiging manunulat ay isang pagkakataon at hamon sa aking Ang mga Hapon ay kahangabuhay na maging "optimistic at hanga sa pagpapahalaga ng flexible" o mas maging kanilang oras. Maagap at matiyaga, maunawain at mas mahal nila ang kanilang may malawak na pang-unawa o trabaho. At kung mapapansin pag-isip upang magkaroon ng natin halos lahat sa kanila ay positibong pananaw sa buhay. walang katulong maging sila ay mayaman o ubod ng yaman. At hangad ko na sa simpleng kaya o paraang ito ay Nakaugalian nila na gumawa makapagbigay liwanag o gabay ng gawaing bahay at maging sa inyo. nagmamay-ari ng hekta-hektaryang lupa ay Kaya mga kababayan, sa muling makikita mong "hands-on" sa pagsasaka at ang mga may- ari pagbabago ng taon, nais ko po kayong batiin ng Maligaya at ng kumpanya makikita mong Masaganang Bagong Taon sa naghahardin at naglilinis na ating lahat at nawa ay pagpalain malimit nang makita dito sa pa tayo ng Diyos, gabayan at atin. bigyan na lakas sa pagharap sa bagong bukas.

Sa araw-araw na pananatili ko sa mall, ako at si Hapon ay ang Hanggang sa muli! dami naming napansin, una ang table manner, karamihan

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When everything seems falling And your eyes don't stop on crying Just look up and see the clouds And remember GOD is there above

The Silver Lining

By Karen Sanchez

Photo by Dennis Sun

When your heart is at pain And feels like it’s cracking your brain Just look out your surroundings And see the beautiful created things When the rain is coming And your body is shaking Just look at your love ones And kiss, hug them one by one When your life is so uneasy And feeling so empty and lonely Close your eyes just imagine The word thing called silver lining

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By Jasmin Vasquez

Stress Reliever! Karaoke Time!

Dahil sobrang ginaw at maraming snow sa kabundukan ng Nagano.

Katulad ng nakagawian at nakahiligan ng halos lahat yata ng tao sa mundo - ang karaoke. Saan nga ba nagmula ang karaoke?

Trivia: The world's first karaoke machine, the Juke-8, was built by Japanese inventor and musician Daisuke Inoue in 1971. But it is Filipino inventor Roberto del Rosario who holds the machine's patent. He developed the Karaoke Sing-Along System in 1974 The word karaoke is derived from two Japanese words : 'kara' comes from the word 'karappo' meaning empty or void and 'oke' comes from the word 'okesutura' or orchestra.

Halos lahat ng tao, mapa matanda man o bata, may ngipin o wala, magaling man o hindi ay walang makakapigil at makakatanggi kapag tumunog ng ang karaoke, ang bawat tao ay handang umawit. Lalong lalo na tayong mga Pinoy, na para bang dito natin ibinubuhos palagi ang ating sama ng loob. Pangtanggal stress wika nga ng nakararami. It doesn’t matter kung ikaw ay nasa tamang tono o hindi, basta lang makaawit. This way the stress move out from our minds and be filled with joy.

Karamihan ay nagdadala ng makakain at maiinom upang

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masarap ang awitan at sayawan sa mga masasayang tugtugin. Yun nga lang ako ay palaging lugi sapagkat ako ay palagi lamang nilang alalay at driver. Dito sa Japan, bawal ang magdrive ng car ng nakainom ng alak.

Pag nahuli, tiyak o siguradong bayad ka ng 100 lapad na multa at pagkawala ng lisensya. Kayat marapa na sumunod na lamang ako sa batas kaysa naman ako ay magdusa sa kaparusahan.

trabaho habang ang ating mga pamilya ay walang tigil sa kakahingi ng pera na para bang pinupulot lamang ang pera dito sa Japan. Kung minsan ay maririnig mo pa sa kanila ang katagang “nagtatrabaho sa Japan, bakit walang pera”. Sana po ay maunawaan nyo din na sa inyo rin napupunta ang pera at sa mga gastusin dito sa Japan at Pinas.

Dahil malapit ang puso ko sa mga trainee, nagdaos sila ng kaarawan na aming ginanap sa isang karaoke house dito sa aming lugar. Tawanan, kulitan at syempre kaming lahat ay hindi maaaring hindi umawit. Lahat dapat kakanta. Halos walong oras kami inabot sa aming kasiyahan. Ang iba’y medyo marami na ang nainom.

Kung kaya kailangan ng awatin upang hindi gaanong malasing. At syempre ako lang naman ang hindi nakainom.

Katulad ng pag sundo ko sa kanila, ay isa isa ko na silang inihatid sa kanilang mga tahanan pauwi. Napakalalayo ng bahay nila ngunit ok lamang basta sila naman ay aking napasaya. Kailangan lamang ako ay mag ingat dahil inaantok na din ako. At sa awa naman ng Diyos ay naihatid ko sila ng safe sa kanilang mga bahay.

Hindi po namin pinupulot ang pera dito. Dugo at pawis at pag tatyaga po at sobrang hirap namin para lamang kami ay may maipadala sa inyo. Mas masakit malaman na ang iba sa inyo ay ginagastos lamang sa bisyo ang perang aming ipinapadala. Mapalad ang may mga pamilya sa Pinas na masinop at marunong magpahalaga sa perang kanilang naipapadala.

Bilang isang OFW ay kailangan nating paminsan-minsan na maglibang kahit sa ganitong paraan lamang. Upang maibsan ang sobrang stress. Na halos tayo ang magpakapagod ng sobra sa

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Kahit sa pamamagitan lamang ng ganitong simpleng kantahan ay naibsan ang aming kalunggkutan. At napawi ang mga stress sa aming isipan.

Salamat sa lumikha ng karaoke at may simpleng libangan ang mga mamamayan. At sa muli, maraming salamat at pagpalain tayong lahat ng Maykapal.

ANA HOLDINGS Purchases Stake in PAL Holdings TOKYO and MANILA, JAN. 29, 2019 - ANA HOLDINGS INC. (hereinafter "ANA HD"), parent of All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan's largest and 5-star airline for six consecutive years, will invest $95 million US dollars in PAL Holdings Inc. (hereinafter "PAL Holdings") and acquire 9.5% of PAL Holding's outstanding shares. PAL Holdings is the parent of Philippine Airlines Inc. (PAL), the Philippine flag carrier and the largest airline in the Philippines.

ANA HD will acquire the shares from Trustmark Holdings Corporation, which is owned by the Lucio Tan family and is the largest shareholder of PAL Holdings. In line with the Mid-Term Corporate Strategy for FY2018-2022, the ANA Group is expanding its international group network, which is considered its main growth pillar, and strengthening its partnerships with foreign airlines to provide further convenience to its passengers.

This purchase underscores ANA HD's belief in the dynamism of the Asian region and the great potential of the Philippines' multiawarded flag carrier and its confidence that the

Philippine air travel market will continue to serve as an economic leader for the ASEAN region.

Additionally, the investment by ANA HD heralds the dawn of a new era of growth for PAL, which has embarked on a full-scale expansion program that has seen its fleet and network grow to almost 100 aircraft and 80 destinations in four continents. This campaign has coincided with an emphasis on product transformation that saw PAL recognized recently as the World's Most Improved Airline for 2019.

Shinya Katanozaka, President and CEO of ANA HOLDINGS INC., said: "Asia is a key growth market and we believe Philippine

Airlines is in an excellent operational position to capitalize on both the strong uptick in air traffic growth as well as the vibrant, expanding Philippine economy. We look forward to expanding our business relationship with Philippine Airlines so we can continue to serve our passengers even better."

Jaime J. Bautista, President of PAL Holdings and Philippine Airlines, said: "We are honored and excited that a premier airline group such as ANA HD has decided to purchase shares in PAL Holdings. The Philippines and Japan have a long-standing relationship with complementary strengths. This week, in fact, we commemorate the 70th year of

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Philippine Airlines' service to Japan, dating back to the launch of our first Manila-Tokyo flight on January 26, 1949. It is a great privilege to celebrate this historic occasion by strengthening our ties with ANA, as we aim to build a relationship that is mutually beneficial with an eye to a more progressive future."

ANA operates 14 flights weekly on 2 routes to the Philippines and Philippine Airlines currently operates 84 flights weekly on 9 routes to Japan. The two carriers have codeshare operations on Japan - Philippine routes and domestic routes within Japan and the Philippines, linking a total of 16 Japanese and 11 Philippine destinations.

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Take It Or Leave It!

by Isabelita Manalastas-Watanabe Ano po ba ang magandang set-up?

Dear Tita Lits, Alam ko po na expert kayo sa financing kaya gusto ko pong humingi ng advice ninyo.

Kailangan po bang i-declare ng isang asawa ang kinikita nila sa bawat isa kung sila ay merong trabaho? Kung sakaling yung husband ang may work, at kung yung wife naman ay isang housewife lang, OK lang po bang tanungin ng isang wife kung magkano ang kinikita ni husband? At sino po dapat ang humahawak ng pera?

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Kung pareho silang may work, tama po ba na yung kita ng husband ay para sa kanilang pamilya, pero yung kita ng wife ay para sa wife lamang at hindi na dapat sabihin pa kay husband?

Naalala ko tuloy yung payo ng nanay ko nang buhay pa siya na huwag na huwag ko daw sasabihin sa asawa ko ang lahat ng mga savings ko.

I-sikreto ko daw yung iba.

Sabi ng BFF ko, yung pera ng asawa niya, pera nila. Pero yung pera niya, sa kaniya lang daw.

Narinig ko rin sa isang Pinay na yung utang daw ng asawa ko ay utang ko rin? Kaya kung mamamatay ang asawa ko, ako dapat ang magbayad sa utang niya? Totoo po ba ito? Eh kung hindi ko po alam na may utang siya at namatay siya, kawawa naman ako?

Sana po ay bigyan ninyo ako ng magandang advice.

Salamat po.

Nena Fukuoka

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Dear Nena: Di-naman ako expert sa financing pero may maibibigay din akong advice sa iyo: 1. Maraming hindi o ayaw mag-deklara ng kanilang kinikita. Pero ano naman ang titipirin – kaunting tax payment? E kung mahuling nandadaya, patay ang visa mo. Kahit na walang punishment, parang obligasyon nating magbayad ng buwis, para naman matulungan din natin ang host country natin, sa gastos para sa ating health insurance, pension payment, etc.; 2. Depende sa kumpanya sa Japan – mayroong companies na automatic na nag-de-deduct ng monthly ng withholding taxes from the salaries of their employees. If this is the case, normally, ang company na rin magpa-file ng income taxes for the company’s employees. At the end of the year, the company’s payroll accountant will make the necessary adjustments – pwedeng may ma-refund dahil sobra ang na-withhold na tax, or pwedeng magbayad din kung kulang ang na-withhold; 3. Maraming kumpanya na hindi ginagawa ang number 2. above.

Kanya-kanyang file ang mga empleyado; 4. May mga kumpanya din na nandadaya rin – hindi ni-re-report lahat sa labor office kung ilan ang mga empleyado, or kung talagang tama ang

binibigay na sweldo (tugma ba o hindi sa kontrata na ibinigay at pinapirmahan sa empleyado). Kasi nag-e-eskapo sila sa pagbabayad ng taxes; 5. Mayroon ding mga kumpanya na hindi ka i-e-enroll sa mandatory (required ng law sa Japan) na workmen’s accident insurance (100% ng insurance premium ay dapat bayad ng kumpanya), or hindi rin sa health insurance, pension plan, etc. Kasi nga hindi rehistrado ang ibang empleyado. Karamihan, cash ang bayad sa sweldo, at hindi ipinapasok sa bank account ng empleyado (para walang proof ng magkano ang sweldo, etc.); 6. Ideally, walang itinatago ang mag-asawa sa isa’t isa, including sweldo ng bawa’t isa.

7. Maraming mga Pilipino na kung ang asawa ay Hapon, ay malimit itago ang pagpapadalang pera sa pamilya sa Pilipinas. Kasi lahat yata tayo, ke employed or unemployed, talagang mahal natin at gustong tumulong sa ating mga mahal sa buhay. Kaya kahit kinupit sa pag-go-grocery, kukupitin kahit maliit na halaga lang, para may maitabi na ipadala sa Pilipinas. Walang kulturang tumulong ng pinansiyal ang mga Hapong mga anak, sa kanilang mga magulang o kamag-anak;

din kung kanya-kanya kayo ng pag-ma-manage ng inyong sariling sweldo, tapos pag-usapan na lang paano ang pag-se-share ng gastos – rent sa bahay; monthly food expense; etc.

10. Under Philippine law (Family Code), lahat ng kinita ng mag-asawa AFTER MARRIAGE, ay 50-50 share sila sa lahat ng kikitain, o bibilhin na property, o pagbabayad ng utang/loan; 11. Kung gusto mong mag-loan sa banko, kunwari para bumili ng real estate property (lupa; bahay at lupa) sa atin, i-re-require ng banko na kayong dalawa ng asawa mo ang pipirma (dual consent), kahit ikaw lang ang mag-lo-loan. Dapat pumirma kayong dalawa, panigurado ito ng banko, kasi kung magpalya ka ng pagbabayad, may responsibilidad na ang asawa mo ang magbayad.

Kung sakaling nabayaran na ninyo ang inyong loan, at unfortunately ay namatay ka, sa asawa mo mapupunta ang real estate na binili at ni-loan mo na loan ko-maker mo ang asawa mo. Ganoon din naman kung siya ang bumili ng bahay at lupa ninyo, kunwari, at ni-loan niya. Kapag namatay siya, sa iyo naman mapupunta ang bahay at lupa.

Sana nasagot ko ng husto ang mga katanungan mo, Nena.

8. Kung sino ang hahawak ng pera, nasa usapan ninyong mag-asawa iyan; 9. Nasa sa inyong usapan

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BY ALMA REYES Mothers will always be precious gems in our lives because children will always be first on their agenda.

They patiently listen even when there are a million chores to do. They smile even when the hardship is too agonizing. They never let you go hungry or stay sick without that special care. They go an extra mile even when the road is rocky. They forgive even when the hurt is so deep; and they’ll always be thinking of you in their darkest hour. My mother had always been the pillar in our family that held us together. Life without her is like a floating cloud that is seeking for a cradle. I miss you Mom so dearly, with all my heart.

At The Edge of Life In the still of the night Darkness without light As I lay to sleep So lonely about to weep Missing beloved family All oceans away.

Thoughts keep wondering When my life will be ending Only God will know The time I need to go I wish to join you up there With your heavenly care.

So cleanse my sinful heart Before I can depart Thank you dear God For your blessings I am glad Keep me there for eternity I hope with beloved family.

-Maria Araceli Herrera Reyes

Mom’s poem at 90 years old, during one of her lonely moments.

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Maria Araceli Herrera Reyes

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KAPATIRAN by Loleng Ramos Maitim na Tsokolate

Happy Valentine’s Day sa 14th kapatid! Sino ang kalahati ng puso mo? Meron ba o wala pa? Pero mas okay, sino-sino ang nasa puso mo? Hindi lang naman para sa “mag-irog” ang araw na ito di ba? Kundi sa lahat ng nagpapatibok ng puso, isama mo na sina nuno, lola, grandpa, mom and dad, kapatid, teacher, pet love, pero ang epicenter ng puso, si tart, sweetheart, darling, honey, mahal.

Huwag mo kalimutan batiin si Lord and Mama Mary hah?

Katulad din ng Christmas holiday, magastos ang Valentine, at least para sa mga gustong umalala nito. Ilang kahong tsokolate ang binibili mo? Ginto presyo naman lalo na iyong mga nasa chocolatier. Minsan nag-tunaw lang ako ng mga chocobars saka ko binuhos sa mga cute shaped molds, tapos eco- friendly na supot ko lang nilagay na may delicate ribbons, okay na! Mas importante naman ang thoughts kesa presyo di ba? Ano ang favorite mong tsokolate? Godiva ba o Choc Nut? Bilis ng sagot

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ah! Syempre Choc Nut! May ala-ala na kasama, iyong binili sa sarisari store nina Ka Denang tapos kunwari ilalagay sa freezer pero di pa matigas di na mahintay kainin, the best! Godiva naman, ang palagi ko lang na-aalala, ang mahal!

Pero iba talaga ang lasa ng tsokolate, masarap!

Kaya pala ang ibig sabihin ng “theobroma cacao” o ang puno ng cacao ay “food of the gods” sa salitang Griyego. Ito din kaya ang ambrosia na siya nga daw pagkain ng mga diyos sa Greek Mythology? Nectar naman daw iyon ayon sa istorya! Marami ding health benefits na nakukuha mula sa tsokolate, nandyan ang pampababa ng cholesterol, pampabata, maganda sa balat, sa puso, etc. pero meron itong kwidaw (caveat), ang lahat ng mabuti sa katawan na maaring makuha sa tsokolate ay nasa cocoa content nito kaya nga sikat ang dark chocolates kapag health benefits ang usapan, iyon nga lang, dahil sumarap ito dahil sa asukal at iba pang flavoring na halo, baka ang kabaliktaran o masama sa katawan

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ang makuha mo lalo na kung sobra ang kain.

Ang mga Aztecs (isang lahi ng tao sa Mexico noon) na siyang sinasabing nakadiskubre ng cacao ay iniinom ito bilang gamot, puro, kaya napaka-pait. Sa kanila din nanggaling ang salitang tsokolate o chocolate, mula sa kanilang bukabularyo (vocabulary) na “xocoatl”.

Sari-saring anyo, timpla, presyo, pero ang lahat ng chocolate products ay galing sa mga buto ng prutas ng cacao. Sa mga lugar na malapit sa Equator lang tumutubo ang mga punong ito at kung nakakapaglaway ang mga produkto na mula sa theobroma cacao, siya namang pangit ang istorya kung paano ito nakukuha. Sa Ivory Coast na siyang pinakama- laking producer ng cacao, halos ubos na ang kanilang kagubatan kase ginawa ng sakahan para matustusan ang kasakiman ng maraming korporasyon para sa cacao. Ang dating mayaman nilang biodiversity, sari-saring hayup at halaman na yaman ng kanilang bansa ay halos naubos na. Kasing lagim ng kamatayan ng mga

hayup na nawalan ng tahanan, ang mga taong nagtatrabaho para tumubo sa lupa ang theobroma cacao, maani ang mga prutas nito, maproseso ang mga buto para magawa ang mga tsokolateng Cadbury, Godiva, Hersheys, Lindt, etc., maliit na pera lamang para sa kanila ang kapalit.

Andyan pa ang child labor kung saan pati mga bata na dapat sanang nag-aaral ay nasa sakahan, at ni hindi nila alam ang magiging lasa ng mga buto ng cacao na iyon, hindi sila nakakakain ng mga tsokolate na gawa sa mga bansang Kanluran (West). Barya lamang ang sa kanila kung saan presyong ginto pala ang magiging halaga ng mga cacao beans na pinagtrabahuhan ng kanilang mga kamay.

Sa kagahaman ng mga negosyante sa end product ng cocoa beans, at dahil nakalbo na ang kagubatan ng mararaming bansa sa Africa na siyang top supplier nito sa mundo, marami na ring bansa ang patuloy na ring naglilimas na kanilang kagubatan para gawing sakahan ng theobroma cacao, kasama na dyan ang Brazil at ang Indonesia. Ang Nutella naman na palm oil ang ingredient ay siyang dahilan ng pagkaliit ng populasyon ng orangutan at Sumatran tigers. Kasama ng nanganganib dito ang ating Palawan na gustong gawing sakahan ng mga tusong

negosyante na may koneksyon sa gubyerno ang maraming gubat para sa Palm Oil tree. Sa Africa, elephant, lion, rhinoceros, zebra, giraffe, chimpanzees, gorilla, ilan lamang sila sa napakaga- gandang mga hayup na nawalan ng tahanan, nagutom at madaling nakatay ng mga poachers (illegal na manghuhuli ng mga protektadong hayup). Hindi pa kasama dyan ang matatanyag ng mga puno at iba-ibang uri ng halaman na naglaho na lamang. Buhay pala ng hayup, ng berdeng mundo ang kapalit ng mga “brown gold�, ang cacao beans...parang iba na ang tingin ko ngayon sa tsokolate.

Sa kung anong paraan natin mapapangalagaan ang mga hayup, ang kapaligiran, ang huwag sobrang pagtangkilik sa sobrang konsumerismo katulad ng over indulgence o sobra-sobrang pagnanasa sa kung anong bagay, pagkain, kung ano man, siguro kahit ito lang makakatulong para mabago ang mapangit sa masarap na tsokolate. Choc nut o Godiva?

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