Jeepney Press / Karen Sanchez

DONDAKE: BATCHIRI

Happy New Year of the Tiger to everyone! Kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu!

Minasan, o-genki desu ka? I hope everyone is doing well and alright. May this 2022 will the best year for all of us and the universe.

Here we are again, reaching and trying to steal the few minutes of your day by reading our columns and being part of your lives from this moment.

From the new normal way of living, from the unexpected things that happened, from the hardships that we have been through, I could still say and many of our "kababayan" will agree with me for sure; that being here and living in Japan, "The Land of the Rising Sun" is perfectly, completely lucky, blessed or as they call it in Nihonggo as "Batchiri".

Beside this pandemic and after the earthquakes, typhoons, landslides and flooding in some areas in Japan as well as with our mother land Philippines, seeing the rainbow the day after these things happened was an awakening experience. That reminds us to focus on the right track and do not stop on moving and live life as we must have to.

Now, I can feel the cold wind blazing as winter season has come. People at this point are still at adjusting stage of the new normal life. What is important right now is, we can surely cope up and keep our lives with the help of our family, society, community and the Japanese Government which is "batchiri" for me (us) to overcome all of these challenges.

Everybody knows even in different countries that Japan is one of the most disciplined and governed countries in Asia. And we can prove it in terms of their help, response and action from the moment we stayed here and during this pandemic. In which, they are willing to reach out to secure their people. And with the cooperation of everyone for sure it won't take long to rise up and start for much better life here in Japan.

Living here in Japan is the best thing that happened to me and some kababayan I know. As Filipino migrants here, we are given the same privileges as the Japanese people. At this moment, schools, businesses and offices started to re-open. Almost 100% were vaccinated and more companies started to be on track and face this challenging moment on earth. Again with this new virus called OMICRON, still, we could see the positive perspective Japanese people have and by making their e orts to stabilize CORONA VIRUS and to prevent or secure the spreading of this new OMICRON VARIANT.

Although life isn't perfect, no one is perfect and it is okay not to be perfect. Imperfections give us lessons not to stay with that mistake but how to deal with it and be successful in finding ways or solutions for the better. In finding our own strength, our own resources, talents and to show how resilient Filipinos and Japanese people are.

Japan is a beautiful country. Japanese are more humble, loyal and fair. They are workaholic and generous but more cruel when you betray them. They never forgive and forget. The sleeping dragon inside is more powerful and scary. And they still practice the "hara-kiri" or honorary suicide or death when shame, honor and duty prevail in society. That is why they maintain this moral principle that the whole world knew about it.

From the World War II, they survived and had the courage to rise up and be one the best countries around the globe. From their government officials, I've always heard this "jibun no kuni mamoru, jibun de ganbatte" which shows that you must work and you must take responsibility to take care of this place where you are living as citizen of this country.

One thing I've known right now is you should be yourself. Don't bother if some people will not like you because no matter what you do, you cannot please everybody. Give what you have and what your heart and conscience want to. By these, blessings will come back and God will pay back the good deeds you did.

As New Year 2022 started, let us spread the love and enjoy life. Remember to take care of yourselves, for our loved ones and for the country ‘coz we are so blessed. Let’s be thankful to God. Look around you and you will nd all the reasons to say it’s "BATCHIRI".

God bless us all.

The Beginning of An Ending

by Karen Sanchez

It’s a new day and a new beginning

Where our life is more challenging

That these viruses won't stop on mutating

And we don't know

When it will end on spreading

In the day we have a morning

In the night we have an evening

Where our body rest as we are sleeping

Preparing ourselves for the next day routine

After the storm, we have sunshine

In sadness, we have laughter

Appreciate things that happen

‘Coz it will end and we will start new again

This is the natural cycle of the universe

We really don't know who came first

We don't know all that exist

But we could live life at its best

Karen Sanchez

Jeepney Pres