Jeepney Press: Moving on the 101st Issue

読む “YOMU” means to read in Japanese よむ by Dennis Sun (Editorial)

Moving On To The 101st Issue

“There is no such thing as destiny; just men like you who, just when the world needs them, just answer the call.” - The Politician

I’LL BE REAL HONEST WITH YOU; after publishing 100 issues of Jeepney Press, I got to the point where I don’t know what to write anymore. The more I want to squeeze my brain cells for creative juices, the less drops of ingenuity and imagination come out. What do you say after 100 issues? Well actually, it turns out, a lot!

Life goes on, so they say. There are always new stories to say. New words to write. New tales to tell. New characters to cast in this always evolving Filipino diaspora in Japan. And yes, new issues to publish.

I usually wait until I finish all the pages before I start writing. I make use of what available spare time I’ve got until the deadline in order to make a wonderful editorial. It could be from a few hours of writing to a few days of writing and rewriting to craft something that can inspire our readers, and, hopefully, entertain, as well.

To this end, our readers are always the inspiration. Each one of us learns new lessons every day in our fascinating Japan journey. In Jeepney Press, we share our stories to others. The struggles. The dreams. Realities. And hope.

I am actually writing this in the middle of Typhoon No.19, Hagibis, in Tokyo. I have never seen so much panic buying in life since the March 11 Tohoku earthquake. People got scared as the media pictured Hagibis as the most powerful and violent typhoon to come to Japan. While people were very frightened and petrified experiencing the disastrous heavy rainfall and violent winds, suddenly, an earthquake further increased the anxiety of the already startled people. So, I was nervously checking on the condition of Mount Fuji. Please, not today. But in these times of crisis, beyond the suffering, shiver and suspense, we also experience a community that look after each other, especially among us, Filipinos.

We, in Tokyo, have prepared ourselves stocking on water, food, and other emergency supplies. Shops closed, and transportation curtailed, most people stayed at home. While most of my friends around Tokyo were bingeing watching the news on TV, and Netflix, I occupied myself trying to finish this issue. And as I wrap up drafting this piece, it grew eerily quiet outside. No sound of the wind. No drop of rain. The silence was deafening, but at the same time comforting. Hopefully, it would be a day that ends like any other day--simply, with a silent night! But there will be those who would have struggled with the wrath of the strongest typhoon in 60 years. We pray for them to overcome the challenges of the days ahead. We are always a resilient bunch. We will go to bed and we rise to a brand new day.

And so, let us remind ourselves, that when endings come, these endings, whether good or bad, bring with them an opportunity for new beginnings, as well!