Jeepney Press #123 May-June 2023 Issue

Pahayagang pinoy sa japan

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 retur ned 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 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 confir m 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 2023

publisher

ASIA VOX LTD.

IRENE SUN-KANEKO

editorial & creative director

DENNIS SUN

Editorial Board

Contributors

Glen Atienza

Je Plantilla

Neriza Saito

Karen Sanchez

Anita Sasaki

Wayne Sun

Warren Sun

Yellowbelle Duaqui

Loleng Ramos

Alvin Tagle

Alma Reyes

Lita Manalastas-Watanabe

Richine Bermudez

Lala Lopez de Leon

Mae Grace

Jerry Sun Arenas

Jasmin Vasquez

Alma Fatagani-Sato

Arnel Sugay

Marnie Chan

Chris Yokoyama

Geraldine Limpo

Joey Manalang

Dennis Fernandez

Liza Barte

Cover design and art: DENNIS SUN

by Dennis Sun editorial

Life travels swiftly. Wasn't it just a few years ago that we were locked up indoors, working from home, avoiding public transit, and donning masks everywhere we went? It felt like a scene from a post-apocalyptic lm, and “WE” were in it. As much as we wanted to be in movies, this was just not the right one. For a time, we thought the virus would wipe out the entire globe. But it was our trust in humanity that kept us alive.

After a lengthy time of stagnation and gloom, I was eager to travel again when some countries began to open their doors in December. The incidence of covid infections in the Philippines was quite high at the time, and I was concerned. I reasoned that visiting Bangkok, my adopted home city, would be far safer. As a result, I spent my winter vacation there. Air travel has once again become exciting!

Travelers all across the world are emerging from the ashes of the epidemic. I checked Facebook to see how my friends are doing. Travel has truly recovered! After two years of postponing plans and deferring dreams,

YOMU means to read in Japanese

my friends are back to traveling as if there would be another lockdown...or another outbreak.

So, what exactly is the post-covid phenomenon? It's known as revenge travel, or the sweet and pleasant travel with a vengeance. We're all prepared to pay the price now, even if it's double the pre-covid price.

When I traveled to Bangkok, my hotel stay and plane ticket cost twice as much as I was accustomed to paying. To make matters worse, the Japanese yen has gone very weak against most currencies. Outside of Japan, everything became prohibitively costly. This is the primary reason why some of my Japanese friends choose to stay and travel in Japan. Most of them used to leave Japan since it was cheaper outside of Japan back then.

With the weakening of the Japanese yen, Japan has become an a ordable favorite tourism destination for Southeast Asians, especially Filipinos. I see so many groups of Asian tourists whenever I go out in Tokyo. I occasionally wonder if I'm still in Tokyo because I can hear Chinese, Thai, Indonesian, Vietnamese, and Tagalog here and there.

I think revenge travel is a way for people to make up for lost time and realize how short life is. People want to spend more time with their friends and family, go outdoors to enjoy nature, and try new things. People are investing their money into experiences instead of things. After everything we have been through, there's not much fear of the unknown remaining. People will go out there to enjoy their lives, and have some revenge travels to do. So, to quote the Japanese, "Itterasshai!" and safe travels to all.

"Of all the books in the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport."

Art by Dennis Sun

A Place to Heal

By RD Aquino

It has been a few months ago since one of my friends talked about a place called Sayama Lake. He said it could be a nice alternative to my usual jogging route along the Kurome River in Higashikurume City, in the west suburbs of Tokyo. I was then looking for a nearby place to just walk my day’s stress and maybe, re ect. But it was only at the beginning of Japan’s Golden Week ( rst week of May) that I have nally decided to give it a go.

Sayamako or Sayama Lake is located in the city of Tokorozawa in Saitama Prefecture. It is about an hour drive or train ride from the Tokyo Station. Since I live close, it took me just around 30 minutes that includes a 16-minute train ride and the rest on foot. I love walking and jogging especially now that the weather in Japan is perfect.

I had an idea of what to expect since I have googled the place before. And as what I have read, it is part of the Yamaguchi Reservoir which has been in service since 1934. It is one of two lakes in the area that o ers beautiful natural sceneries, the other being Tama Lake in Higashi Yamato City. They say that if you are lucky, you can see Mt. Fuji on a ne day from morning until noontime. But I only went there for my

afternoon jog, so I have only seen the sunset view of the lake. And after spending about an hour there, I can say –it o ers one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen in Japan.

It was not crowded when I went there. There were some bikers and joggers as well. I also saw bird watchers and photographers who have set their gadgets ready which I thought was foretelling of the splendor that I was about to witness. The sun was just about to set when I walked to the Sayama Ground. The left side o ers the strikingly magni cent lake view while the right side o ers a panorama of the city naturally framed by the lush greenery.

The photos of Sayama Lake I saw online were beautiful but what you actually see in person are just way more incredible. In fact, I was completely dumbfounded as the sun started to set. With my favorite playlist on my ear pods giving the perfect score, I took that moment to just witness God’s perfect creation. The changing hues of twilight, the sun’s re ection on the water and its movement, the foliage surrounding the area, and that perfect breeze carrying spring’s sweetest scents make the experience a real heaven for nature lovers.

And as for someone whose heart is broken? It was the perfect place to heal.

The Japanese Psychology of Masks

deciding if you should or should not wear a mask outside your home? Since the government removed the mandate of obligatory mask wearing a few months ago, I was quite curious to see how Japanese would diligently respond to the announcement.

Expectedly, at that time, more than 90% of the locals could be seen still hanging on to their masks, indoors and outdoors, whether while walking on the streets, riding a bicycle (really?!), inside stores, supermarkets, restaurants, train stations or inside trains.

I had started taking o my mask when walking outdoors (and absolutely while riding my bike), but admittedly, still put it on sometimes inside the train, especially when packed. At the two language schools where I teach, mask-wearing appears to be still the

by Alma Reyes

TRAFFIC

rule of the day (as of this writing). Similarly, I have opted to still wear it when having my one-on-one private lessons at a café (for being guilty of becoming Japanese, out of respect).

Yet, I remove it when the lesson is over. Recently, I have seen more people getting the hang of doing away with masks, but this percentage may have risen slightly to just 30%. Above all, many Japanese STILL wear masks outdoors while walking on the streets (and while on their bicycles), which I nd utterly incomprehensible.

Japan is known worldwide to be mask lovers. Japanese have been accustomed to mask-wearing even before the COVID-19 pandemic as a precaution against cold and hay fever. Thus, while many Karens of the world screamed out of the frying pan into the re during the lockdown peak in 2020 for refusing to be succumbed to the mask syndrome, social media went berserk in front of poker-faced Japanese who just shrugged o the chaos as ridiculous. On top of that, Japanese are well reputed for their austere adherence to cleanliness and public hygiene. The minute notion of sitting next to an infected person (even from just a cold) can trigger escalated stress. School children who su er from a cold, runny nose, or excessive sneezing are often advised to stay home (and equally for teachers).

The dilemma, therefore (if it were put to such), of wearing or not wearing a mask is not simply a matter of allegiance to government regulations or exercise of personal judgment. For Japanese, this issue is a re ection of civic responsibility. “Ki wo tsukau” is a fundamental attribute of Japanese social decorum. It is one of the cultural traits I particularly respect Japanese people for, although disproportionate practice of it could be overbearing sometimes. The expression entails displaying consideration for the other person’s feelings or disposition above one’s own. It is a golden etiquette that

© Alma Reyes

Are you one of the residents in Japan who goes through an “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe” when

foreigners can learn from. I have asked many Japanese about their sentiments on mask-wearing, and many have expressed such reluctance to cause inconvenience to the other person if they remove their masks. Doing as others do in the collective spirit of belonging in the society has always been the Japanese mantra of a peaceful daily life. An outsider is never regarded as a peer. “I want to take o my mask sometimes, but I feel bad that other people might think I am being impolite, or I might make them uncomfortable, and so I just keep it on,” “I think wearing a mask shows you are clean, decent, and have manners”—are some common points of view. An extreme opinion was also heard, “Actually, wearing a mask has become convenient in hiding my facial expression, so I don’t have to show the other person what I really feel.”

Other Japanese have claimed virus-unrelated reasons: “I prefer to keep my mask on so I don’t have to wear make-up.”

“Wearing a mask helps protect my skin from the sun or the cold.” For some, wearing a mask can imply protecting oneself or others from hay fever or a cold; thus, nobody could really demonize them for being conservatively stuck-up.

As for the ubiquitous sight of mask-wearing while walking ALONE outdoors or riding the bicycle, this eccentricity can only be rationalized by habit. Alternately, some Japanese nd it cumbersome to put on and pull down their mask time to time depending on where they are, thus, keeping it on regularly solves the fussiness.

Notwithstanding the current global situation of mask-wearing being almost invisible in many countries, many Japanese still restrain from foreign travel, and some have probably developed acute paranoia towards non-Japanese

whom they believe may be more prone to the infection than them. Is it still a wonder why many Japanese su er from stomach or intestinal pain when they travel abroad? We all know that bacteria has given a lot of merit to immunization, so virtually, the greater exposure one has to germs, the less probable feasibility he would be infected. It would be a spectacular sight to witness that day when all Japanese would have nally given up their dearly beloved health-protection and social etiquette armors. After all, if there is anything that Japanese are most comfortable in, it is being guarded in their own shell that keeps them secured to a safe zone only they can trust.

Rakugo (Japanese Art of Storytelling)

There are many kinds of Japanese traditional art of storytelling and the one that I’m very fond of is, the Rakugo. It is a comical storytelling wherein the story is narrated as a conversation among two or more characters. The storyteller switches from one character to another by changing his voice, facial expressions, actions and accent, without rising from his seat. The monologue would usually lasts for about 30 minutes with a punch line as an ending.

The storyteller (referred to as the rakugoka), usually wears a traditional Japanese kimono with a formal jacket (haori) and sits (Japanese style known as seiza) on a cushion placed on an elevated platform on the stage (koza). The person who wants to become a rakugoka needs to go on training for two to four years. He becomes a rakugoka, if he passes the apprenticeship and with his master’s permission.

Performers usually have only two kinds of props: (1) a foldable fan (sensu) which is used to represent long objects like chopsticks, cigarettes, etc. and (2)

a long hand towel (tenugui), used to represent at items like book, notes, etc. Rakugo is believed to have originated from the stories used in Buddhist sermons to educate the common people about spiritual principles. Each story comes in three parts: the prelude, the main story and the closing punch line. The storylines are often humorous but there are also serious, miserable or even scary stories.

Rakugo is usually performed in entertainment halls called yose. Nowadays, you can watch it on local television. Some of the rakugo programs on television, comes with a movie like visuals and if you try to watch it on the internet like YouTube, it may even have an English subtitle for you to understand the story.

Some stories maybe di cult to understand since they involve puns or wordplay. But, there are a lot of stories that I think can be enjoyed even with a limited Japanese language ability, like –Rokusyakubo, Gonsuke Sakana, Hatsutenjin, and Shinigami just to name a few.

I think it’s very good way to learn and brush up your Nihonggo.

KUSINA

Easy and delicious, seasonal recipes ni Chris Yokoyama

Hello, mga KababayanI It is your Tita Chris again sharing my easy version recipe for Tai Meishi.

This month’s recipe is a delicious and healthy Tai Meishi which is a Japanese dish that consists of broiled sea bream served with simple toppings. It is perfect for those rainy days of June and is packed with nutritious ingredients. It’s a quick and easy recipe that’s sure to impress your family and friends.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups rice

• 1 whole sea bream, cleaned and scaled (about 1 kg)

• 20 inch burdock (Gobo)

• 1 knob of ginger, peeled and sliced

• 1 tablespoon sake

• 1 tablespoon soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon mirin

• Salt to taste

• Kelp soaked in water (a stock to be used in cooking)

For the toppings:

• trefoil (mitsuba)

• sliced ginger

Instructions:

1. Wash the rice (wash and rinse, 3 times) and then add the following ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon sake

• 1 tablespoon soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon mirin

• Salt to taste

• 3 cups Kelp stock

2. Rinse the sea bream inside and out, and pat it dry with paper towels. Season the fish with salt inside and out.

3. Broil the sea bream.

4. Clean and pencil slice the gobo, soaked in water with salt to prevent discoloring.

5. Spread the sliced gobo and ginger evenly on top of

the soaked rice in a cooking pot.

6. Place the broiled fish on top.

7. Cover, cook over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Once boiling, cover & simmer for 20 min.

8. Turn off the heat (do not open the lid yet) and let it steam for another 10 minutes.

9. Remove the fish on top and let it sit for a few minutes.

10. Flake the fish and remove the spines

11. Lightly toss with a rice paddle to mix.

12. Place the tai-rice into a bowl. Sprinkle with mitsuba and sliced ginger. Serve with miso soup on the side.

Enjoy your delicious Tai Meishi! I would love to hear what you think of this recipe once you have had a chance to try it out. And, if you have any favorite recipes you would like to share, please feel free to send them my way. Thanks for taking the time to read my article and I hope you have a fantastic month of June.

Konnichiwa mga kababayan. Isang mapagpalang araw po sa lahat. Sa dami natin dito sa Japan sigurado marami-rami din tayong mga naranasan na makapagbibigay aral o impluwensya sa ating buhay kung saan karamihan dito ay hindi pa natin talaga alam at ni minsan ay hindi pa natin ito nakita, naramdaman o naranasan. Kaya sabay-sabay po nating gunitain ang mga bagay na masasabi natin sa ating mga sarili na "benkyou ni narimashita".

Bisa - alam nating lahat na isa sa pinakamahirap na mapasa-atin ay ang magkaroon ng bisa at kung ano-anong paraan ang ating ginawa para lang tumagal tayo dito. Kailangan din nating alagaan at ingatan ito dahil sa hindi natin inaasahan pwede itong mawala sa isang iglap lamang.

Pamumuhay - simple at hindi natin masyado nararamdaman ang agwat ng mayaman o mahirap. Ramdam natin ang pantay-pantay na trato o antas ng buhay.

Kapaligiran - kapansin-pansin paglapag na paglapag natin mula sa eroplano at paglabas ng paliparan ay ang malinis na kapaligiran. May organisadong pamamaraan at panuntunang makikita sa paligid maging sa mga mamamayan. At kahit saang sulok na kanayunan ay malinis, iniingatan, pinagyayaman at

Benkyou Ni Narimashita

pinahahalagahan ang likas na yaman.

Kaugalian / Nakasanayan - isa sa mga kaugalian ng mga Hapon ang kilala at binigyang pugay ng buong mundo ay ang kanilang disiplina. Napapaloob na dito ang paggalang, kalinisan, kasipagan at dedikasyon sa trabaho o sa anu mang bagay na pinahahalagahan nila at marami pang iba.

Pagkain - alam natin na masarap talaga ang pagkain dito kaya nga kinikilala sa buong mundo maliban sa kalidad, lasa, serbisyo at dedikasyon ng taong gumagawa nito. Maraming kwento, pinagdaanan o naranasan bago nila ito maipasa sa merkado. Simple lang kung ating titingnan ngunit sa lingid sa ating kaalaman ay ang pinanggalingan nito.

Edukasyon - dito masasabi natin na "parang" hindi naman importante ang edukasyon dahil pag nag-aapply ay hindi naman masyado ito tinitingnan bilang isang dayuhan. Ngunit ang Japan ay isang bansa sa buong mundo na may kapitag-pitagang edukasyon. At marami sa mga kababayan natin lalo na ang may mga anak dito ang mas malawak ang karanasan at kaalaman ukol dito.

Kabataan - kung mapapansin natin ang mga kabataang Hapon ay isa sa pinakamaswerte sa buong mundo dahil talagang binibigyan halaga ang bawat yugto ng kanilang kabataan. Halimbawa ang Shichi San Go, ang Siejin no Hi at

iba pa kung saan pinaghahandaan ng mga magulang o pamilya. Mapapansin din natin na lubos ang suporta ng mga magulang sa anumang gusto o kurso na tatahakin ng kanilang mga anak sa abot ng kanilang makakaya. At mismong mga kababayan nating may mga anak na din ang makapagsasabi nito.

Pamilya - ibang-iba o naiiba sa atin ang turingan dito sa bansang Japan. Sa Pilipinas, mas maraming pamilya mas masaya ngunit dito hindi man lahat ay karaniwan na mas pinipilit nilang lumiit ang mga mundo nila dahil "mendoksai" daw o abala din para sa kanila.

Libangan - kung mapapansin natin ang mga Hapon grabe kung makapaglibang kaya nga marami ang pachinko, bars o clubs (omise), karaokehan, kapehan (co ee shops), kainan (restaurants) pasyalan halimbawa ay FujiQ, Disneyland and Sea, Universal Studio, Teamlab o iba pang klase ng mga museleyo, Hotels, Hot Springs sa kung saan-saan, mga parke o koen at marami pang iba. At ang mga Hapon kahit matatanda na ay hindi mo makikitang nakaupo lang hanggat kaya pa nila kahit sa beranda ng bahay naggagarden, nag-aalaga ng aso, pusa o ano-ano pa.

Kamatayan o pagluluksa- ang mga Hapon ay handang mamatay. Isa sa dahilan kung bakit nag-iipon o pinaghahandaan ng mga Hapon maliban sa kanilang pagtanda kung saan may inilalaan silang pang "Rojin o Nursing home" dahil mas naging normal na sa kanila na hindi ang pamilya nila mismo ang mag-aalaga taliwas sa ating nakaugalian ay ang oras ng kanilang kamatayan "ososhiki at ohaka”. Dahil napag-usapan at ayon sa aking nabenkyo ni narimashita; magkaiba pala ang seremonya ng namatay kang Budista sa Kristyano dito sa Japan. Mula sa abo kapag ang namatay ay Budista ang paglalagay ng iyong buto ay dalawahang nag-alalayang dahan-dahan o ingat na ingat ang paglalagay nito at ang wari chopsticks ay hindi na pwede gamitin ng iba. Sa namatay namang Kristyano ay isa-isa at pasa-pasa ang chopsticks at pagdating sa ohaka o libingan, wala nang seremonya mula sa Monghe kaya makakatipid.

Kayo po mga kababayan, ano-ano po ang mga bagay na masasabi nyong "benkyou ni narimashita"? Lahat ng ito ay pwede po nating iwasan, tangkilikin, pagyamanin o isabuhay depende sa kung ano ang magiging magandang epekto nito sa ating buhay.

Hanggang sa muli po.

Salamat

ni Karen Sanchez

Kay Elohim na sa akin nagbigay buhay

Sa aking mga magulang na naging tulay

Upang sa mundong ito ay gumabay

At sa akin ay walang sawang nagmahal, bumuhay

Sa aking mga kapatid na naging inspirasyon

Kung paano ang lumaban at bumangon

Sa araw-araw na ang buhay ay may hamon

Sinisikap na sa bawat pagsubok ay makaahon

Sa minamahal ko na palaging nandiyan

Walang-wala na o may mayroon man

Nagmamahal, nagpaparamdam

Malapit o malayo man

Sa mga taong nagtiwala at tumanggap

Sa oras ng ligaya at paghihirap

Kaibigang hindi nagpapanggap

Salamat sa pag pakikinig at pagyakap

Para sa mga taong may galit diyan

Dahil sa inyo ay marami akong napatunayan

Marami akong aral na natutunan

Na hindi lahat ay dapat pagkatiwalaan

Kaya salamat sa lahat, salamat

Minsan sa isang session ng

English speaking group ng mga Japanese sa Nara, sinabi ko na ang mga

Filipinong technical intern trainees na kilala ko ay mga bata pa, talented at well-educated.

May lisensiyadong professionals tulad ng mga engineers (civil, mechanical, computer). Ngunit bilang trainees sa Japan, maaaring hindi akma ang academic background sa trabahong ginagawa.

Meron din namang mga bata pang Filipino na dumating sa Japan para magtrabaho na ayon sa kanilang gustong propesyon tulad ng mga English assistant language teachers at engineers na naka-assign sa Japan mula sa company nila na nakabase sa Filipinas.

Impluwensiya sa mga komunidad

Sa Shiga, ang mga batang technical intern trainees ay may magandang ambag sa ilang komunidad ng mga Filipino doon. Sa mga

ni Jeff Plantilla ISANG ARAW SA ATING BUHAY

church-based na komunidad, ang mga batang technical intern trainees ay naging active sa misa, recollection/retreat at ibang religious activities.

Dahil sa kanilang talent, may tumugtugtog ng gitara o ibang instrumento at kumakanta sa choir sa misa. Pag may mga social activities, sila ang kumakanta at sumasayaw, at tumutulong sa mga gawain. May magaling sa computer at nakakatulong sa paggawa ng mga report at sa paggamit ng computer at projector sa mga activities.

Ang komunidad ang kanilang naging sandalan sa kanilang pamumuhay dito sa Japan. Nagkaroon sila ng mga Ate at Kuya, minsan ay Nanay at Tatay sa komunidad.

Nagdala sila ng tulong at saya sa mga komunidad.

Dating role ng mga estudyante

Ang ganitong role ng mga batang technical intern trainees at mga professionals sa mga komunidad ay siyang ginagawa ng mga estudyanteng Filipino noong sila pa lamang ang mga batang Fiipinong sumasama sa mga komunidad ng mga Filipino.

Nakakatulong ang mga estudyante sa mga pagsusulat, sa pag-aayos ng mga reports, sa paggawa ng marami pang gawain sa komunidad.

Ang ilan sa mga estudyante ay nangangailangan din ng komunidad para sa kanilang research. Kaya't naging bahagi ang komunidad sa kanilang pag-aaral sa Japan (masteral at doctoral courses).

Bagong salta

Mula nung 2017, nagkaroon ng bagong mga batang Filipino na dumating sa Japan bilang estudyante na nag-aaral ng Nihonggo. Pagkalipas ng ilang taon, nag-aaral naman sila sa senmon gakko para sa caregiving course. Marami din ang nakapasa sa caregiving exam at nagtrabaho sa caregiving institutions.

Ang kaibahan nila ay ang kanilang kahandaan sa pagtatrabaho sa Japan. Ang pag-aaral ng Nihonggo ang una nilang ginagawa, bago ang pag-aaral sa senmon gakko. Ang kaalaman nila sa Nihonggo at yung natutunan sa senmon gakko ay malaking advantage sa kanilang pagtira sa Japan.

Nakakaya nilang sila lamang ang magsama-sama. Maaaring ito ang dahilan kung bakit hindi sila masyado malapit sa mga komunidad. Mas handa silang mamuhay sa Japan ng nagsasarili dahil sa kakayanan nilang mag Nihonggo.

At kung sila ay magkatrabaho na, maaaring hindi na sila involved sa komunidad sa weekends para may sarili silang oras sa pagpapahinga.

Pagbabago ng sitwasyon

Dumadami pa rin ang mga Filipino sa Japan dahil sa technical intern trainees, yung mga nag-aaral para maging careworkers sa Japan, ang mga assistant language teachers at maaaring iba pang trabaho.

Nguni't kung ikukumpara ang

pagdami ng mga Filipino sa mga mula sa ibang bansa, mas marami ang dumarating na Vietnamese, Sri Lankans, Nepalese, Chinese at iba pa. Mas malaki ang porsiyento nila sa non-Japanese labor force ng Japan.

May malaking pangangailangan ang Japan sa mga workers. At kaya patuloy ang recruitment ng mga workers mula sa iba't-ibang bansa.

Pero bakit hindi natin magamit nang husto ang pagkakataong ito?

Malapit lang ang Japan sa Filipinas. Maayos ang pangkalahatang kalagayan ng seguridad at mga pasilidades sa Japan. May social at religious support ang mga Filipino mula sa mga kababayang narito, sa kanilang komunidad at sa simbahan (Katoliko, Protestante, at iba pa) na puwedeng takbuhan kung kailangan. Meron ding mga non-pro t organizations (NPOs) na tumutulong sa mga hindi Hapones kasama ang mga Filipino.

Alam din natin na marami ding lugar sa Japan na walang komunidad ng mga Filipino, simbahan o NPO. Pero maganda pa rin ang sitwasyon sa Japan para sa mga gustong magtrabaho dito.

Ang tanong, bakit hindi kasing dami ang dumarating na mga Filipino kumpara sa galing sa ibang bansa sa Asya?

Ano kaya ang dahilan?

Ayaw magtrabaho sa Japan?

May mga Filipino nurses na nakapasa sa nursing exam ng Japan sa ilalim ng

Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA). Nag-aral sila ng ilang taon para sa exam (sa Nihonggo) kaya’t hindi biro ang kanilang pagsisikap na maging nurse sa Japan.

Pero may ilan akong nakilalang ganitong nurses na wala na sa Japan.

Ang nakilala kong umalis ay nakapagtrabaho na sa ospital sa Japan. May 2 dahilan na lumalabas. Isang dahilan ay tungkol sa trabaho bilang nurse. Hindi nila nakikita na magiging maayos pa ang kanilang career bilang nurse sa Japan. Hindi nila nakikita na mapo-promote sila o may matutunan pang mataas na kaalaman o kakayanan. Kumbaga, routinary work ang ginagawa nila araw-araw. Dahil dito, mas gusto na nilang umalis sa Japan.

Ang pangalawang dahilan na nalaman ko ay tungkol sa dati nang plano na magtrabaho bilang nurse sa ibang bansa. Nagpunta sa Japan, nag-aral ng ilang taon, nakapasa sa exam, at nagka-trabaho pero nung dumating ang visa papuntang Amerika, umalis na.

Meron din namang iba na ayaw nang tumagal sa Japan pagkatapos ng ilang taon ayon sa kontrata dahil sa ibang bansa na gustong pumunta.

Sistema ng pagpapadala ng workers ang problema?

Meron ding sinasabi na ang problema ay ang sistema ng pagpapadala ng workers sa Japan. Matagal at maraming requirements bago makatanggap ng workers ang Japanese companies. Kung gusto man ng mga companies ang mga Filipino workers pero hindi naman sila

makakarating sa tamang panahon, mapipilitan silang kumuha sa ibang bansa na mas mabilis magpalabas ng kanilang manggagawa.

Hindi ba tayo ganun ka-organized kaya mabagal ang processing ng mga dokumento para sa ating workers?

Kahalagahan ng mga non-Japanese workers

Maraming ikabubuti ang pagdating ng mga non-Japanese workers sa Japan. Unang-una, ang pangangailangan sa kanila ng mga kompanyang ayaw pasukan ng mga Japanese workers. Dumarami na rin ang mga Hapones na nagre-retire at kailangan ng kapalit lalo na para sa mahihirap na trabahong mahalaga sa ekonomiya ng Japan. Nagkukulang ng workers ang mga maliliit na kompanya.

Mahalaga ang mga Filipino workers na dumarating sa mga komunidad dahil ang mga residenteng Filipino ay nagtatandaan na rin. Ang mga bagong dating na Filipino ang maaaring magbigay sigla sa mga komunidad na ito.

Kung dati ay tinutuligsa ang labor export policy ng pamahalaan, ngayon ay ipinaglalaban na ang kalayaang magkapagtrabaho sa ibang bansa.

Sana ang Japan ay mabiyayaan ng marami pang mga kababayang manggawa.

MOVING ON ni Jasmin Vasquez

Iba ang Buhay kapag may Relasyon ka kay Jesus

Kung noon napakagulo ng aking buhay at pag-iisip, maniwala ka at sa hindi, ngayon ay unti unti ng nagiging maayos ang aking buhay.

Kapag pala maayos ang relasyon mo sa Panginoon, lahat ng bagay sa iyong buhay, kahit ano mang klaseng problema ang dumating sa iyong buhay ay hindi ka Nya pababayaan.

Siguro kung magiging Christian nation ang Japan, mababawasan na ang mga suicidal incident lalo na sa mga batang mahihina ang loob na ang palaging gustong gawin ay tapusin na lamang ang kanilang buhay. Parami na rin ng parami ang mga taong pumapatay. Ilan ito sa mga bagay na siguradong unti unti ay mawawala kung lahat magiging Kristiyano. Mga kabataan na nabubuntis at tinatapon ang kanilang sinisilang na anak. Lahat ng iyan ay ilan sa mga layunin ng mga namumuno sa mga Christian Group.

Kamakailan lamang nagdaos ng concert evangelism ang group ng Jesus the Gospel sa Suwa Kohan Park stage sa tapat ng Suwa Lake. At naimbitahan ang inyong linkod na umawit. Mayroon din mga special guest from Singapore na nag handog ng awit, mga kapwa Pinoy at Hapon na nag perform, umawit at sumayaw kasama ang mga cute na mga youth.

Kung aalalahanin ko lamang ang aking mga nakaraan, sa lahat ng mga trials ko sa buhay, kung iyong iisipin ay hindi madali, ngunit dahil alam kong kasama ko ang Panginoon, kaya nalampasan ko lahat ng mga problema sa buhay. Paano na lamang kung wala si Jesus sa aking buhay.

Ako’y nag research how many Christians ang meron dito sa Japan na unti-unting tumataas muli. Ngayon, humigit-kumulang isa hanggang dalawang milyong Hapones ang mga Kristiyano (mga isang porsyento ng populasyon ng Japan), at ang mga simbahan ay matatagpuan sa buong bansa ng Japan.

Tulad ng bansang Korea, walang imposible na tumaas ng tumaas pa ang bilang ng mga Kristiyano, lalo pa ngayon na ibat-ibang group ng Kristiyano ang meron ngayon sa Japan.

Ako lamang po ang umawit ng Tagalog, ngunit may mga Japanese na marahil ramdam nila ang aking inaawit kaya naman sila din ay napapataas ng kanilang kamay habang pini feel nila ang aking awit. Ito ay isang tanda na open sila na tanggapin si Jesus sa buhay nila. Nakakagulat pero talagang iba si Jesus pag kumilos walang imposible sa Kanya.

Imagine, wala ng batang mapapariwara ang buhay, wala ng taong papatay at magpapakamatay dahil na depress sa buhay. Lahat puro pagmamahalan na lang kung lahat tayo ay magiging Christian.

Pag dumating na ang Rapture, tayong lahat ay maliligtas. It occurs in the parousia: "those who are alive and remain unto the coming (παρουσία) of the Lord, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air" (1 Thessalonians 4:15–17, KJV).

Iba ang buhay kapag may relasyon ka sa Diyos, palagi kang ligtas at matuwid ang buhay. Palaging may mabuting direksyon at desisyon sa buhay.

EVERY GISING IS A BLESSING

ni Anita Sasaki

Summer na po, sakay na po sa jeepney para mahangin ang biyahe natin! Aalis na po puno na … sakay, sakay sakay na! Liliparin ang ating mga buhok sa masarap na hangin.

Meron akong kuwento tungkol sa isang taong nag “mountain climbing “. Golden Week po ngayon dito sa Japan. Kaya marami ang kanya kanyang travels. Pasyalan dito at doon. Itong nag mountain climbing siyempre ready-ing ready po. So akyat na siya. Sa lahat nang madaanan niya at meron siyang makitang bato, pinupulot niya ang bato at inilalagay niya sa backpack niya. Ganoon palagi. Ngunit nang malayo at mataas na ang ang kanyang inaakyat, dahandahan bumabagal at hinihingal siya. Sa dahilan bumibigat ang kanyang dala. Halos di na siya makaakyat o makalakad. Hangang siya ay natutumba na at napapahinto. HIRAP NA HIRAP NA SIYA.

Itong kuwentong ito ay ihahalintulad ko sa ating buhay dito sa mundong ito. “It’s like our journey in this world. Our pilgrimage in this life.” Parang pag meron tayong mga galit, puot, takot, selos, problema, inggit dahilan sa away sa ating mga mahal sa buhay gaya nang pamilya, kaibigan, ka trabaho, suliranin sa hanapbuhay, negosyo at kung ano ano pa. Tayo ay nag kikimkim sa ating mga puso nang sama nang loob, galit. Mga BASURA ang ating nilalagay sa ating puso, dibdib. Kaya dapat lang ITAPON natin lahat nang mga ito sa ating puso. Kailangan natin magpatawad at humingi din nang kapatawaran sa

ating mga NASAKTAN o NAKASAKIT SA ATIN. Una sa lahat, dapat tayo MAGPAKUMBABA. HUMILITY.

Meron din akong napapansin, bakit tayong mga babae, ang bibigat nang ating bitbit na bags. Ito sarili ko din karanasan. Noong nagtatrabaho pa ako, ang bigat nang bag ko. Nandoon ang mga notebooks na sinusulatan ko nang mga nakausap ko. Parang diary po. Meron make up, pencil case at baon pa sa work. Kaya naging dalawa pa ang bag ko at yong isa pang lunch box or mga chichiriya. Ang tanong BAKIT?

Kung minsan dapat naman natin buksan at linisin ang ating mga bags dahil halos marami ay mga basura. Tulad sa ating buhay, dapat natin alisin ang mga BASURA tulad nang galit, tampo, selos, inggit, takot (fear), kasakiman (greed), pera o mga bagay bagay sa mundong ito. Mga bagay na dapat itapon o alisin sa ating mga puso dahil ito ay pabigat sa ating buhay.

Palagi ko sinasabi na - Lahat nang mga bagay na nakikita o nahahawakan, ang mga bagay na ito ay nawawala. Ngunit ang hindi nakikita at nahahawakan ngunit nararamdaman, ayan po ang panghabangbuhay o pang walang hangan.“

“Whatever you touch or see are things that has an end but what you cannot see or touch that is the one that is eternal.”

Maiba naman po tayo nang usapan. Ngayon buwan nang Mayo ay buwan nang isang taong mahalaga sa ating lahat. Dahil walang tao na walang INA.

LAHAT TAYO AY NAGING TAO DITO SA

MUNDO DAHIL SA ATING MGA INA, INAY, NANAY, INANG, MAMA, MOMMY, MUDRA at iba ibang tawag po sa kanila. Sari-saring kwento meron sila. Merong masaya at malungkot. Merong nagbenta siya nang laman, upang mabuhay lang ang kaniyang mga anak. Lalo kung mag-isa lang niya tinataguyod ang kanyang mga supling. Kaya hindi dapat natin batikusin ang inang dumaan sa buhay na ganito.

Sabi nga nila sinungaling ang ina dahil pag siya ang nagluto ng pakain at sinabi niya, “Mga anak kain na kayo.” Pero tatawagin siya ng mga anak niya para sabayan sila. Ang sagot nang ina ay “Sige na busog pa ako.“ Pero andoon sa kusina umiinom nalang nang mainit na tubig. Dahil hindi sapat ang niluto niya. Basta nakakain ang mga anak niya ok na siya.

Meron din mga inang inaalagaan na nang anak dahil matanda na o kaya ay may sakit na. Minsan meron gusto ang ina, ngunit hindi pansin nang anak. Dahil na rin sa pagod sa trabaho at sa sariling pamilya. Kung gagawin man nang anak pero ang mga mata ay nangungusap at naka-sibangot.

Ang ina ay hindi na nakakapagsalita, o hindi na makakita. Masakit ito at nararamdaman ito nang matandang ina. Malakas ang damdamin nang ina at meron tayong kasabihan: HINDI MAN NAKIKITA NGUNIT NARARAMDAMAN ITO. Ang PUSO NG INA ay maraming nakatusok na palaraw o “swords“. Sabi nila ang puso nang INA kung ang anak ay 3 tatlo i multiply nang 2 dahil ang anak ay mag aasawa. Plus kung ilan ang mga magiging mga anak at mga apo. Dagdag pa ang asawa, biyenan at ang mga sariling mga kapatid o ang kabuuan nang pamilya.

Ayan po ang palaraw na naka tusok sa puso nang isang INA REGARDLESS OF COLOR, RACE AND RELIGION.

IALAY NATIN ANG BUWAN NG MAYO PARA SA MAHALAGANG TAO NANG ATING BUHAY - ANG ATING MGA INA. Kaya sa lahat nang mga INA SA BUONG MUNDO BINABATI NAMIN KAYONG LAHAT. DAKILA KAYO at MAHAL NA MAHAL NAMIN KAYO. HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

Walk with me: Pinto Art Museum, Antipolo

By Lala Lopez de Leon

April 18, 2023

Santorini? Nope, this is Antipolo’s unique contemporary art museum that is now fast gaining fame as an arts and culture, and in fact, tourism destination.

Pinto Art Museum, within an awe-inspiring complex of art spaces and gardens, houses the collection of Filipino neurologist and patron of the arts Dr. Joven Cuanang,

who began collecting works of Filipino artists in the late 1980s, and founded the museum in 2010.

Upon entrance into the rst hall, I couldn’t help letting out a clearly audible “Wow”! I’m gawking at a vast space with a concentration of works of purely Filipino contemporary artists, and I have never seen so many, all at once!

Many of the works exhibited exude the dark and sinister side of men and society. It was by no means intentional, as it so happened that we were still reeling from the political upheaval of the late 1980s.

Pinto Art Museum is, in my view, a fantastic venue to start to get to know the Filipino as an artist and perhaps see through their works the sentiments of the Filipino as an everyman: how he views his life past, present, and future.

Pintô | Your Door to Philippine Contemporary Art (pintoart.org)

Photos by Lala Lopez de Leon

Wisdom from the Old Pink Tree

At forty years old, I have come to learn precious lessons that only experiences gained through time can teach. Among these are the following:

CRISIS TESTS RELATIONSHIPS

I learned that the depth of a relationship can only be tested by crisis. People who are there for you during crisis to help or even to just listen or sit with you as you gure things out are priceless. Keep them. While so many others you know have ghosted or stayed away from you during crisis, they chose to bear su ering with you during di cult times. These people are your people. These are the relationships worth ghting for. Your worst period has revealed who they are.

THE REAL GIVERS

The wealthiest and most beautiful people you know are not necessarily the kindest. Just because they obviously have resources doesn’t mean they are going to throw you a helping hand if your boat is sinking. Usually, it is the people who know su ering because they have gone through hard times – even if their resources are scarce -- are the ones who will do something to help you. Choosing friends should therefore not be based on beauty, wealth or popularity but based on character.

ENDINGS HURT BUT THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL AND NECESSARY

Like cherry blossom season, there are things that are simply meant to end, be it a precious friendship,

a life well-lived, a beautiful romance, or a business partnership. While it is usually painful when things don’t last, it is only when things end that new things can begin. So, even when it hurts, let it be.

FINDING “THE ONE”

Every love story is unique. Every person in a ourishing romantic relationship has a special story to tell on how he or she has nd “the one”. But while others found their special someone during traveling or work, I have ascertained that nding my person took place when I was ill. During the time when I was weak, in need of help and vulnerable, this person showed up despite all the personal hassle to take charge of my recovery. He loved and cared for me at my worst. When you are cared for at your weakest –as you endure others who chose to leave and ignore your su ering – you will feel loved the most.

YOUR WORST ENEMY

During your worst period, the feeling of betrayal is stronger when people simply watch your pain without o ering help. Unfortunately, this could come from people you love and care about, whom you might have expected in the past to care for you when the time comes that you have fallen ill or facing trouble. Your worst enemy does not come from your established foes, who might surprise you of their kindness during a di cult time. Your worst enemy is someone you used to care about and thought highly about.

About the Author

Yellowbelle Duaqui was a former Japanese government scholar who attended Sophia University in 2008 to 2011 and Tokyo University of Foreign Studies in 2008. She is currently a lecturer of Sociology at De La Salle University

Manila. She is an author, researcher, teacher, and an advocate for children. In loving testimony to her time spent in Japan as a student, she has published a poetry book titled Verses from the Old Pink Tree in Amazon Kindle. To those interested, you may click this link: https://www.amazon.com/VersesOld-Pink-Tree-Filipino-ebook/dp/B 09PDHL4F5

On the Road to

Celebrating Busy Bessie’s 20th Anniversary As A Caterer

This year’s Golden Week in May meant 9 straight days of holiday in a package for some, but not for someone like BESSIE VICENTE, Kansai’s Master Chef in her own right. I’ve always wanted to feature her in my column but never got around to doing it because she was always on the go. Aside from working for a food processing company, she accepts catering jobs for parties and events, food festivals or lunch deliveries for companies where many Filipinos work.

When she announced that she would be holding the 20th anniversary celebration of her catering service at the end of May, then I took the chance.

Before doing the interview, I had a relaxing drive to the countryside with my family on Golden Week and as our eyes feasted on the lovely owers and the majestic mountains along the road, I remembered our annual summer vacations in Baguio decades ago. I really love the scent of roses and gladiolas and the fresh

fruits and vegetables that we always brought home as souvenirs. My mother’s Kare-Kare and my father’s “Caldereta“ couldn’t have been more savory without those Baguio vegetables! And to complete the exquisite dining experience, there must always be steaming freshly cooked rice (harvested from my aunt’s farm) on our dining table! My sister, Alice usually tells us, “Let food be thy medicine” because she strongly advocates balanced nutrition as the secret of longevity!

The rst time I tasted Bessie’s caldereta and Kare-Kare, I was overwhelmed because it was exactly like how my parents cooked it. Nonchalantly, I asked “Ano’ng sikreto mo?“ She giggled and whispered something!! “Sabi na nga ba, ehh“, I answered back.

Bessie was born in Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur, where the Spaniard Juan de Salcedo landed and planted a big wooden cross in a town that has

“LET FOOD BE THY MEDICINE... AND MEDICINE BE THY FOOD.”

(Hippocrates)

become famous for Bagnet, Empanada and sukang Iloko and Balatinaw rice.

In this town of hardworking Ilocanos, Bessie spent her younger days with her big family. Her father passed away when she was only a teenager. ”Lumaki akong mahirap, kaya laging ipinaaalala ng mga magulang ko na dapat ay masipag lagi para di magutom.”

Young Bessie helped her mother peddled goods in the market to support their family. From then, she knew many ingredients for cooking. By this time, she was visibly interested in culinary arts, and the rst dish she cooked as a teenager was Pinakbet. The family moved to Sta. Rosa in Laguna where her sister opened a grocery store.

Bessie enrolled at Adamson University and took up Political Science because she wanted to be a lawyer. In school, she used to join oratorical contests. She also took some subjects in social sciences at nearby PNU under Prof. Rene Romero. In 1999, she visited her sister Venus, who is married to a Japanese. She owned a small store selling Philippine products in Osaka.

On Bessie’s second visit, she met a Japanese man who soon became her partner. They opened a restaurant in Osaka but had to close it after 5 years. In reality, it was the catering service that was closest to her heart. As word spread on how delectable Bessie’s dishes are, orders came from all places, from private home parties, to church and community events, to consular gatherings and so on. She was the caterer at the retirement party for Prof. Mamoru Tsuda at the Osaka University Campus in Minoo in 2013.

Bessie has all praises for Labor Attache

Elizabeth Marie Raquel Estrada, who is a food connoisseur herself. LabAtt Beth knows exactly what food goes well together. When former Labor secretary

Silvestre Bello III came to Osaka, Bessie served her specialty Pinakbet and Bagnet! There was also a time when she went to deliver to as far as Takamatsu City in Shikoku because the customer de nitely wanted to try Bessie’s dishes.

What are Bessie’s basic ingredients for the success of her catering service. It’s

something inherent to her — faith in God, hard work, humility and a healthy lifestyle. Like what her mother taught her, she uses fresh and natural ingredients and de nitely no additives like MSG and knows where to buy good meat for her caldereta! Asked about what she brought home as souvenirs for her family in the Philippines - frying pans, Sea Food Instant Noodles, Mikan oranges and Fuji apples! But most of all, she is quick to say that her children are her fortress and source of inspiration and maybe it’s her youngest son, who is now a student in Nagasaki University taking up law who makes her even happier.

I asked her who she idolizes among the famous chefs in the Philippines. Of course, Glenda Baretto of the world renowned Via Mare Restaurant and hats o to the rst winner of Master Chef Philippines and a fellow Ilocano, JR Royol, who is now the host of GMA 7From Farm to Table.

As the 125th Anniversary of Philippine Independence approaches, we remember some of our national heroes who also had their favorite Philippine dishes. Jose Rizal (Tinolang Manok and Ginisang Munggo), Bonifacio (Lechon Manok sa Saha ng saging), Pio Valenzuela (Kare Kare), Lapulapu (Sinigang na Isda sa Mangga) and Gabriela Silang (Pinakbet).

And who knows, a hundred years from now, the heroes of the millennium, our OFW’s in Japan would also mention Bessie’s caldereta, Pancit palabok or Kare Kare as their comfort food from the Bagong Bayani ng Bayan- Busy Bessie who delivers delights!!!

STOP. LOOK. LISTEN. AND LOOK AGAIN. TeamLab’s Multi-Sensory Artistic Spaces

by Geraldine Limpo

One of the rst skills that I learned about appreciating works of art is that of (truly) looking. Paying attention to each element that makes a composition and sensing how colours trigger certain emotions, stock knowledge and memories helps signi cantly in the manner I comprehend art. Recently, my husband and I attended two art exhibitions that not only appealed to our sense of sight, but also required engaging our entire bodies. The experiences are unforgettably awe-inspiring!

TeamLab Planets (1-6-16 Toyosu, Koto Ward, Tokyo) requires one to navigate a labyrinth of dimly-lit narrow hallways that lead visitors to a variety of light- ooded rooms with visual displays often accompanied by synchronized music. The rooms are divided into two clusters; the ones belonging to Water are negotiated barefoot. I recall feeling uncertain about my footing as I walked

down an incline that led to a pool of water that reached my calves. “When was the last time I walked barefoot in a puddle of water that felt strangely cool and at the same time enjoyable?”, I asked myself as I smiled at giggling teenagers who splashed each other with water. The room that I struggled most in was called Fall in the Black Hole. Having dried my wet feet, I plunged my legs into a soft bed of beads and quickly lost my balance. Suddenly, I became hyper-aware of my body, thought quickly about my centre of mass and the deliberateness with which I should make each step. There were several of us in the same room, and my balance was in uenced not only by the careful placement of each leg into the soft oor, but also by the movement of everyone else. Instinctively, in attempts to stay upright, we all seemed to create some distance with one another.

In the room called Wade in the Koi Pond, I stood with eyes trans xed to coloured digital carp that appeared beneath the surface of the water as each morphed into owers. The experience was heightened by instrumental music synchronous to the visual spectacle.

The other set of rooms were classi ed under Garden; these were also enjoyed barefoot. Top of mind, I instantly remember four. Onto the interior dome of the rst room were projected colourful owers that bloomed as they glided across the surface. Aptly, this room was called Floating in the Falling Universe of Flowers. The beautiful visual imagery resonated with the falling sakura owers when the wind blew them o the branches of cherry trees, bringing me a sense of melancholy.

Big plastic spheres were scattered around another room called Expanding 3D Existence. They changed colour when touched. As there were several of

us playing with these spheres at the same time, it was fun to see the quick changes in colour. Moreover, the colours and the placement of these spheres quite magically changed my perception of the room’s size and shape.

About 13000 orchids hang from the ceiling of the room christened Floating Flower Garden. As our group of about fty people entered the area under the hanging orchids, the owers reacted by descending into our space. The owers moved according to our movements underneath them, so that the distance between the blooms and I, having chosen to lie down on the oor, allowed me to encounter the blossom rather intimately; in other words, eye-to-eye. Almost instantly, I began thinking about the rationale behind this concept. I wonder if I had, through this experience, just been encouraged to evaluate how respectfully I regard owers (and plants

art without harming it. Ovoids of di erent sizes change colours in the section entitled Resonating Microcosms in the Camellia Garden. Some were allowed to be touched and my friends and I played with them, observing that they change colours when touched.

The same concept (human movement in uencing nature) can be seen on Oike pond where motion-sensor oating lamps blink and change colour. When there is no human movement nor wind detected, the blinking of the lamps was slower.

The relationship between movement and natural elements is celebrated in a light sculpture entitled Dissipative Birds in the Wind. The visual imagery in yellows, greens, blues and reds is in uenced by the birds that y about the area. It reminded me that the apping of birds’ wings a ects the air around it. When no birds y, there is no light seen on the tall structures that stand above the pond waters.

generally). After all, aren’t they sentient beings like me?

Thousands of LED lights installed in the room called In nite Crystal Universe played tricks on my perception of space. They ickered and changed colour and inspired awe. Some visitors used the downloadable app to in uence the pattern of this 3D light universe, injecting even more fun into the already enjoyable experience.

TeamLab Botanical Garden (1-23 Nagaikoen, Osaka) is a complementing exhibition, this time outdoors in an open-air park enjoyed in the nighttime. The big idea is to transform nature into

These two art exhibitions (Planets in Toyosu and Botanical Garden in Osaka) creatively explore how technology delivers multi-sensorial digital art. They are body-immersive; that is to say, the human body engages with the works of art and in uences it in turn. This is markedly di erent from how we consume the classical forms of art (painting and sculpture) wherein the art a ects us but we do not a ect art (in other words, the audience can never a ect painting or sculpture by looking at it). The principle of being body-immersive seems to suggest the absence of a boundary between art and its audience. In the room Fall in the Black Hole, the boundary between the self and others is also dissolved. It became instantly instinctive to observe the movements of the other persons in the room in guring out how to navigate the soft oor of beads that sunk with each step.

These digital universes, perfectly

instagrammable, were created by a talented collective of international artists and architects, programmers and animators, mathematicians and engineers who call themselves TeamLab. Founded in 2001, this art collective is interested in exploring the relationship between the self and the world, and in new forms of perception by combining art, science, technology, design and nature. Their creative works that call our attention to how light shapes our sense of reality are exhibited in permanent and temporary installations worldwide. Their artform engages not only our eyes, but also our entire bodies.

The TeamLab exhibition entitled Existence in Perception opened at Shoshazan Engyoji in Himeji a few days ago and runs till December 3. Next month, there will be another unveiling at the Himeji City Museum of Art; Existence in an In nite Continuity is open from June 22 to Jan 21, 2024. With some luck, I may visit these too.

ADVICE NI TITA LITS Take it or Leave it!

IsabelitaManalastas-Watanabe

Dear Normita (from Koiwa):

Maswerte ka, dahil hindi lang sa last (Spring 2023) issue ang sagot ko sa iyong katanungan tungkol sa franchising business. Binuo na ni Tita Lits ang kailangan pang malaman mo (at lahat tayong mga OFWs sa Japan), kung papaano ka/tayo matutulungang magkaroon ng franchise sa Pilipinas.

Itong information below, ay galing derecho sa Bank of Commerce (BankCom), isang a liate ng San Miguel Corporation (SMC). So tingin ko, safe bet kang mag-save thru BankCom para mag-qualify ka (o ang iyong bene ciary sa Pilipinas) kung dahil man lang sa untarnished reputation of SMC.

SIKAPPINOY ASENSO

Helping Filipino migrant workers return home to a secure future

Bank of Commerce seeks to create a sustainable positive impact in the lives and families of OFWs. This program was designed for Overseas Filipinos and their families who would like to have their own business for retirement or once they return home to the Philippines. This program will enable them to generate revenues and savings to fund a business investment for a nancially stable future.

OFWs can select from any of the following SIKAPPINOY ASENSO variants:

SIKAPPINOY “Saver”

• This program is for OFWs who want to build savings for the purpose of acquiring a franchise

• Bank of Commerce will endorse the OFW to U-franchise for client assessment and franchise selection

• Once OFW has been assessed and a franchise is selected, he/she is endorsed to Bank of Commerce for

account opening

• OFW will open two (2) Sikappinoy Accounts : one account for the remittance and the second account for settlement (refer to list of Document

• Requirements below). If OFW, has an existing Bankcom account, he/she will only need to open a Sikappinoy account for franchise fee settlement

• Bank of Commerce facilitates the account opening and enrolls the OFW account in the eBanking facility (Bankcom Personal)

• Using the eBanking Facility, OFW will program auto-debit payments to his/her Sikappinoy Account to save-up for the target franchise

• Once the franchise fee amount is reached, OFW shall coordinate with Bank of Commerce to nalize the franchise application

• Once the franchise application is approved, OFW settles the franchise fees with franchisor through debit & credit arrangements with Bank of Commerce

SIKAPPINOY “Express”

• This program is for OFWs who already have savings and interested to immediately acquire a franchise

• Bank of Commerce will endorse the OFW to U-franchise for client assessment, franchise selection and application

• Once OFW has been assessed and the franchise application is approved, he/she is endorsed to Bank of Commerce for account opening

• OFW will open two (2) Sikappinoy Accounts : one account for the remittance and the second account for settlement (refer to list of Document Requirements below). If OFW, has an existing Bankcom account, he/she will only need to open a Sikappinoy account for

franchise fee settlement

• Bank of Commerce facilitates the account opening and enrolls the OFW account in the eBanking facility (Bankcom Personal)

• Using the eBanking Facility, OFW send the franchise fee to his remittance account and shall coordinate with Bank of Commerce to arrange for settlement of the franchise fees with franchisor

SIKAPPINOY “Access”

• This program is for OFWs who would like to apply for a back-to-back credit facility for the franchise acquisition

• Bank of Commerce will endorse the OFW to U-franchise for client assessment, franchise selection and application

• Upon approval of franchise application, OFW will :

- Open two (2) Sikappinoy Accounts : one account for the remittance and the second account for settlement (refer to list of Document Requirements below). If OFW, has an existing Bankcom account, he/she will only need to open a Sikappinoy account for franchise fee settlement

- Submit an application for the back-to-back loan

• Bank of Commerce facilitates the account opening and back-to-back loan

• Once account is opened, Bank of Commerce enrolls OFW account in the eBanking facility (Bankcom Personal)

• Bank of Commerce releases the loan to the OFW

• OFW shall coordinate with Bank of Commerce to arrange for settlement of the franchise fees with franchisor

Franchise Opportunities for OFWs

Bank of Commerce has a special partnership with U-Franchise to provide OFWs and their families over 200 franchising opportunities in different business categories.

For more information, visit: https://www.ufranchiseasia.com

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1. One valid photo-bearing ID (PASSPORT IS YOUR BEST ID)

2. 2x2 Photo

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4. For Asenso and Express programs, OFWs should submit a Bank Statement as proof of Sufficient funds for acquiring a franchise

Hintay pa tayo ng kaunti. Baka magbisita sa atin sa Japan ang BankCom SIKAPPINOY ASENSO TEAM. Kung magpapa-seminar sila, huwag kalimutang dalhin ang ORIGINAL PASSPORT NINYO JUST IN CASE MAY PA-FILL UP NA INFORMATION FORM AS A FIRST STEP SA INYONG PANGARAP NA MAGKAROON NG FRANCHISE!

Tita Lits

by Mae Grace

AMAZINGgrace!

Ajisai and Haiku

While some of us may dread the coming rains in June, there are those who simply cannot live without them. They are the hydrangeas or ajisai in Japanese. They bloom everywhere in the rainy months of June and July. Their beauty so ethereal like no other.

There are over a hundred varieties of hydrangeas of various colors in Japan and written accounts of them can be traced as far back as the 8th century which makes hydrangeas endemic to the Japan soil. An old Japanese folklore, in fact, tells of an emperor who fell in love with a woman and o ered hydrangeas to appease her from his lack of a ection. Thus, hydrangeas then were regarded as a symbol of deep emotions of apology not to mention gratitude for forgiveness and understanding received.

The Japanese people’s love for the hydrangeas could not be more emphasized as temples, parks, gardens and even mountains have been dedicated to planting solely a huge part of them to hydrangeas. At one of the hydrangea parks I visited a few years back, I was so fascinated at a little white mailbox located right in the middle of the hydrangea blooms that I asked a park attendant what it was for. He beamed and enlightened me: “Ah, this mailbox here is for haiku writers. You see, so many haiku poets get so inspired when gazing at the hydrangeas that they are compelled to write haiku poems to express their deep emotions at that moment. This is where they drop their poems.”

Awesome! Here are some examples of fascinating haiku’s that celebrate the poets’ deepest admiration for the hydrangeas:

Symphony of hue

Explosive purple splendor

Hydrangea in bloom

- Lucy King

Ajisai ya! (Hydrangea!)

Yabu wo Koniwa no (In grove, being little garden)

Betsu zashiki (The detached room)

- M.Basho

Hydrangea

Bloom and Buddha

Calm in the rain

- Hidenori Hiruta

Misty rain

In a eld of life

Fire ies glow

- Hidenori Hiruta

The Year I Turned Forty: My Cancer Journey by Yellowbelle Duaqui

Like most of my friends, the pandemic relegated me to a work from home set-up. As a college lecturer in one of the country’s top universities, that would mean holding online classes every day or recording lecture videos for asynchronous sessions. I had to spend many hours developing online content, along with house work.

I was several weeks away from turning 40 years old that time; and I thought I was doing ne with my daily routine, my working up to the late hours, and waking up early to begin teaching. This went on until I felt some weakness in my body, with my face almost falling face down sometime in September 2022. I immediately went to my doctor who asked me to do laboratory tests. The blood work revealed my hemoglobin was below normal range and my white blood cells were elevated above normal levels. The doctor was puzzled. “It seems there is something in your body that your antibodies are ghting against,” the doctor remarked. I was put on iron supplementation right away. I was also asked to do a trans-vaginal ultrasound, having a history of abnormal uterine bleeding in the past.

The trans-V revealed the presence of cervical polyps. And so I undertook a polypectomy by the last week of November 2022. The sample taken from the procedure was then brought to the laboratory for examination. When I returned to my OB-Gyne in December 2022, she revealed the shocking nding that I had endometrial endometrioid

adenocarcinoma. Then the doctor spoke in a sober tone, “We need to save your life. You need a major surgery immediately to remove the cancer cells from your body.” My OB Gyne also referred me to another OB Gyne who was an Oncologist at the same time. An OB Oncologist specializes in treating female reproductive disorders, particularly cancer.

That December would perhaps be the darkest December in my entire life. I felt the world crash on me, literally and guratively, with the overreaching implications of my disease on my body, my nances, my job, and my personal dream to build my own family. As a child, I dreamt of becoming a mom and a wife. I liked children. I longed to build a loving family of my own, coming from a

background of separated parents and growing up with my younger brother under the care of our kind grandma. The cancer diagnosis meant an end to my dream. I spent my nights in prayer, trying to discern God’s will for me. I was in grief, at the same time I noticed changes in my body that worried me –the prolonged and heavy menstrual bleeding that worsened months prior to my cancer diagnosis.

Several days later, I did a videocall with a team of doctors. One doctor o ered egg harvesting. Even women with cancer cells can still carry a baby, albeit with considerable risk. If I wanted a baby, they explained that I might still be able to have it via egg harvesting, surrogate pregnancy, and delaying the eventual hysterectomy and oophorectomy. But most of them, in the end, concurred that the safest option is to not delay the surgery any longer, which means not having a baby anymore.

My Christmas and New Year passed by in silence and prayer. With my body seemingly going on a downhill with my plunging hemoglobin levels and elevated white blood cells, I resolved by January 2023 to undertake the major surgery at once to save my life. I trusted science for its objectivity and methods and surrendered my fears and doubts, even the pain from my broken dream to have my own child, in God’s hands. The priority was to stop the spread of cancer cells from my endometrium. Its contained nature and the early detection made the doctors believe that I had a ghting chance at survival. The surgery proceeded successfully on January 30, 2023

. I spent my February 2023 healing from the surgery. Even laughing or coughing caused me so much pain on the surgical area. A carer assisted me in getting up from bed and dressing

up my wound. At this point, I received the biopsy result, staging my cancer to Stage 1A, the lowest stage, which has a high survival rate. But the cancer cells had already started to invade my myometrium from the endometrium, where they originated. This means, according to the OB Oncologist, that the decision to undergo immediate surgery was correct. Delaying it further to have a baby would have been very dangerous for me, as the cancer cells would have spread more.

But due to a considerably big tumor, the OB Oncologist asked me to undergo four sessions of brachytherapy, which meant infusing radiation via a cylinder to the target area. It was a highly uncomfortable procedure, but the pain was tolerable. My entire March 2023 was devoted to one session of brachytherapy per week. As of this writing, I have spent the month of April 2023 resting to fully recover.

No one is really fully prepared once a critical illness like cancer hits you. Your social security, life insurance policies, and even your employer won’t be able to readily help with the onset of the disease. It will be you and your oncologist and your personal savings, PhilHealth or HMO (health maintenance organization) coverage, your family support, and your closest friends who can help you deal with it. The processing of documents and ling of claims will take time and it shall be done after you’ve completed surgery, brachytherapy, and/or chemotherapy in other cases.

Most importantly, it was prayer that became my most powerful weapon against cancer. I know that God gave me an extended lease on life for a special reason. May I be able to pursue the raison d’etre for my second life for the greater glory of God.

Glen Gypsy ’s “Realize that everything connects to everything else.”

– Leonardo Da Vinci