Celebrating The Journeys Of Filipinos In Japan
Pahayagang pinoy sa japan
ジープニー プレス
在日フィリピン人 向 け マ ガ ジン
May - June 2022 2022年5月-6月
117 ISSUE
Art & Design by DENNIS SUN
Celebrating The Journeys Of Filipinos In Japan
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 2022
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publisher ASIA VOX LTD.
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DENNIS SUN Editorial Board Contributors
Cover design and art: DENNIS SUN
Glen Atienza Jeff 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
contents 06 Yomu Editorial / Dennis Sun 08 Kusina / Chris Yokoyama 10 On The Road / Neriza Saito 12 Meet The Chef / Joey Mendoza 16 Isang Araw Sa Ating Buhay / Jeff Plantilla 18 Travel In The Time Of Covid / Geraldine Limpo 20 Take It Or Leave It / Lita Manalastas-Watanabe 23 Health Points / Marnie Chan 24 Dondake! / Karen Sanchez 26 Amazing Grace / Mae Grace 28 Rainy Season in Japan / Alma Fatagani-Sato 30 Kwento Ni Nanay / Anita Sasaki 32 Walk With Me / Lala Lopez De Leon 34 Moving On / Jasmin Vasquez 36 Cloud 9 / Richine Bermudez 38 Life Is A Journey / Glen Gypsy
UP School of Economics
ATTENTION:
All alumni of the UP School of Economics now living/working in Japan. Would you like to be part of our community viber (called Pusong UPSE Community Viber) and connect with UPSE alumni all over the world? Please check out below link and register. PUSONG UPSE Membership Form link.
Patuloy ang pagtibok ng Pusong UPSE
https://bit.ly/PusongUPSEmember
VISA PROBLEMS?? VISA CHANGE VISA EXTENSION PERMANENT BUSINESS ELIGIBILITY KOSEKI JAPANESE CITIZENSHIP
TAWAG LANG PO SA AMIN PARA MATAPOS NA AGAD ANG PROBLEMA NATIN!
Mr. Ishikawa - Hinoshi, Tokyo Visa Lawyer (Gyouseisyoshi-Lawyer)
OK VISA OFFICE
090-2908-5088 (SB)
読む editorial by Dennis Sun
『もし雨が降ったら、 中止になります。 』 “If it rains, it’s canceled.” That is the unwritten rule that is practiced by many Filipinos. If it rains, expect people to cancel. They would give a dozen of different reasons for not being able to come. But the truth of the matter is, they don’t want to get out in the rain.
“You pray for rain, you gotta deal with the mud, too. That’s a part of it.”
– Denzel Washington
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I wonder why Pinoys are afraid of the rain. Is it about getting wet? Getting your shoes and socks soaking wet? Your jeans and shirt dripping and drenched from the rain? They say, in the Philippines, when it rains, it floods! True, you don’t want to get stranded outside swimming in the middle of a muddy flood with so many things that you don’t want to know floating around you. There is actually a term for fear of the rain. It’s called ombrophobia where “ombros” means “storm of rain” and it’s a fairly common anxiety disorder seen in children and adults alike. For children, they would always associate heavy rain with heavy winds, thunder and lightning. So for some, even a light rain could trigger this fear.
YOMU means to read in Japanese
For adults, it could be a totally different story. Many of my Filipino friends still believe that if they get soaked in the rain, they would get sick the following day or so.
And because the major public transportation system is limited with jeepneys, buses and tricycles, where one ends up soggy wet from the rain and the dirty muddy water splashed from the moving vehicles, who would want to go out? I must confess, I was one of them when I was still in the Philippines. But when I came to Japan, it totally reversed to the opposite direction. I came to love the rain! Transportation is never a problem in Japan. And yes, there are very few people outside and I think that’s even one good reason to go out. Without the crowd. I visit museums in Tokyo regularly and they are always busy. So when the weather forecast is rain for a certain day, I would always look forward to go to a museum or art gallery so I can have an almost private viewing of the art collections.
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One of my Japanese friends loves going to huge parks when it rains. Parks are also almost totally empty when it rains. He said he loves being alone with nature and the rain. He doesn’t mind getting wet. He just sits down on the bench of a kiosk in the park, drinks coffee, reads a book in his waterproof Kindle, play a few games in his Iphone, eats his bento and goes back home. One of the usual things I do when it rains is I visit the nearby onsen in my neighborhood. It’s less crowded so you can enjoy the facilities even more. The rotemboro is a big plus where you can dip in the ofuro outside and have your face splashed and massaged by the rainfall. But what is so beautiful about this rainy season in Japan? For me, it’s the best time to view the Hydrangea flowers (Ajisai in Japanese). There are so many different varieties and they are almost seen all around Japan. There are even Ajisai Matsuri (festivals) at many different places. If you visit the temples, you would be sure to see Ajisai blooming abundantly. Kamakura would also be the great spot as hydrangea festivals are held at several temples during the rainy season. So this “wet” season, they call tsuyu in Japanese, don’t stay indoors. You’ve stayed too long at home during these pandemic. Go out in the rain and dance! Celebrate the rain! Photos by Dennis Sun
KUSINA Easy and
delicious, seasonal recipes ni Tita Chris Yokoyama
Roast Chicken ala Okinawan Ingredients 1 whole chicken A. 2 tsp. garlic granules or paste B. 2 tsp. powdered black pepper C. 2 tsp. salt or lemon flavored magic salt D. 1 tbsp. lemon or sikwasa (bottled) E. 1 tbsp. vinegar F. 3 tbsp. cooking oil 4 head garlic (for stuffing) STEPS: 1. COMBINE A to F. Rub over the chicken and under the skin. Marinate for 1 hour (if in a hurry) but much savory if marinated overnight or up to 2 days to ensure maximum taste. You want every inch covered in flavour. 2. STUFF the skinless garlic head into the chicken cavity. 3. ROASTING PREHEAT your airfryer with setting of 180°C and cook for 1 hour. Turn the chicken every 20 minutes until cooked. Brush it with butter or olive oil (optional) for a golden and crispy outcome. A resting time of 10 minutes after roasting will keep all of those juices in before slicing. Sooo soft and juicy inside.
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Neriza Sarmiento - Saito's
On the Road to
MEET and GREET with THE HONORABLE SiLVESTRE BELLO III Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
May and June are two significant months for Filipinos. May 1st being Labor Day and also the beautiful month of flowers and fiestas. June 12th is the commemoration of our Independence Day after 300 years under the Spanish regime. For these months, I would like to give tribute to all our global Filipino workers. When I was in my teens, my Aunt was assigned in a Philippine Government Office in Tokyo. Occasionally, she would send us packages full of “Made in Japan“ umbrellas, watches and clothes plus rice crackers that smelled of soy sauce with dried seaweeds that were totally unfamiliar to us at that time. Her hard earned money was sent to us for Christmas or
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birthdays. We knew she had to “tighten her belt“ to make ends meet. But she didn’t complain at all. She also traveled to Osaka for the opening of the Expo 70 in Suita and wrote to us how proud she was to see the Philippine booth shaped like a vinta and how people lined up to buy products from the Philippines, including fresh buko!
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52 years has gone under the bridge since then. Those memories flashed back as we waited for DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello 111 at the POLO office in Osaka last April 24th. I felt as if we were waiting for a member of our family arriving from the Philippines. As soon as the Secretary entered the room he smiled and remarked “Mabuti naman at masasaya kayo at nasa mabuting kalagayan. Pero napansin ko lang medyo matatanda na rin ang iba sa inyo!” He grinned and chuckled and that was enough to set the tone of the occasion. I said that I wonder if I should address him as our father, as he looked much younger than us but maybe “KUYA“ would be more appropriate. The rest of the evening was an occasion worth remembering. Had it not been for Consul General Voltaire D. Mauricio and Labor Attache Elizabeth Marie Raquel Estrada, ALA, Rosalie Turla Sajo
and Ms. Pilipina Dizon, the “Meet and Greet with the Secretary” would not have materialized. At first, he was hesitant to travel to Osaka, but upon knowing that part of the itinerary was a dinner get-together with the PCCC (Philippine Community Coordinating Council), Secretary Bello decided to go on with the trip. The lawyer turned human rights advocate went to Manuel Luis Quezon University and continued to finish a law degree at the Ateneo University. He was with several law firms including the Yulo and Bello law offices. He had served as Secretary of Justice under the late former Pres. Corazon Aquino and Pres. Fidel Ramos, and in the cabinet of Pres. Gloria Arroyo, Pres. Benigno Aquino. President Duterte was his roommate in YMCA for 6 years. In 2016, he assumed office as the new Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment. During the early years of his term, he had overseen the repatriation of many OFW’s as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic. “Yung iba nga sa kanila, sa mga 5-star hotels pa nag-check in. Siguro mahigit na 11 billion ang nagastos ng POLO at OWWA
roon.“ He went on to say that soon the OFW’s will see the reward of their hard work. By May 1st, the new OFW Hospital will begin to operate in San Fernando, Pampanga. He recalled that it all began after a chance encounter with business tycoon, Enrique Razon Jr. , the 3rd richest Filipino who upon hearing of a plan to open a hospital said “Ok na ba ang 600 million?“ and that was the start of more donations from other sectors like Gov. Pineda of Pampanga, Chairman Domingo, PAGCOR and others. Some are donating ambulances and dialysis machines. Soon, the Overseas Filipino workers and their families can avail of the services for hospitalization for free all because of the trust and respect, Secretary Bello has earned from the generous donors who believe in his passion to serve the OFW’s. The hospital was built on a 1.5 hectare land donated by the provincial government of Pampanga . As of this writing, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, has inaugurated the hospital on
May - June 2022
May 2nd and is now in full operations managed by the PGH. The success of this project can also be attributed to the trust and confidence of the business sector on our Secretary, who has also a good reputation in the business world having served as Board of directors for CAP Realty, Camp John Hay Devt. Corp and as a member the Board of Advisers of Philippine Airlines. The announcement of the opening of the hospital for OFW’s was well applauded by those present. An open forum followed with a request from the community on the easing of requirements that have to be submitted including Japanese translation of documents. Other English teachers suggested direct hiring to give more Filipino English teachers a chance to work in Japan. The open forum afforded many of us a chance to feel a sense of freedom from several uncertainties related to documentation, etc. Before the evening ended, there was a fiesta spirit as we all enjoyed the buffet of Philippine dishes prepared by our hosts, LabAtt Elizabeth Marie Estrada and her staff at the POLO office, our home away from home. Maraming salamat, po!
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by Joey Mendoza
Meet the Chef behind Philippine Food Fair at Imperial Hotel - Chef Mareve Pajarillo Inomata Chef Assistant turned-Sous Chef, Mareve Inomata talks at the Philippine Food Fair on promoting Philippine tourism with modern Filipino fusion cuisine. In April 2022, The Philippine Food Fair was held at Parkside Diner of the renowned Imperial Hotel Tokyo to celebrate the 65th Anniversary of the Normalization of Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Japan. The Philippine Food Fair was supported by the Philippine Embassy and Philippine Department of Tourism office in Tokyo. During the event, the Parkside Diner offered a special menu of modern and authentic Philippine cuisine that also caters to Japanese market and taste.
T he ma in dishe s i n clu d e d : 1. Ukoy with Chili mango sauce, garnished with vegetables - Crispy texture, deep fried vegetables shrimp, pumpkin, onions, carrots, etc 2. Pork Adobo with Coconut Cream and Lemongrass aroma - Slowly simmered pork with vinegar, garlic, bayleaf, black pepper, coconut milk, lemongrass leaves 3. Vigan Longanisa Burger topped with cream cottage cheese and a slice of pineapple, served with side dish sweet potato - Minced pork sausage marinated with spices. Dessert: Banana roll Turon with Coconut Mousse Refreshing Drink: Water lily made from Calamansi Juice
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All About Mareve Chef Mareve Pajarillo - Inomata hails from Manila, Philippines. She obtained a bachelors degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management, Cake & Wine licenses and certifications, and earned a Japanese Cuisine diploma from the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu Japan. She has worked in 5-star hotels, Michelin starred restaurants, and have organized various private dining events in Japan, and the Philippines. Most recently, Mareve was selected as one of the international chefs to cook for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics & Paralympics. She has also participated in various Philippine Embassy and Department of Tourism projects in Tokyo In 2021, she joined the Nakanojo Global Food Design Competition representing Philippines. Her entry food design “Suman”, using buckwheat, won the Platinum prize. As part of her advocacy, Mareve also aims to organize food events in Tokyo with proceeds going to charitable institutions in the Philippines. She invites everyone to join her in this endeavor.
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ISANG ARAW SA ATING BUHAY ni Jeff Plantilla Paano natin titingnan ang pagbabago? Tatanggapin o pipigilan? Ikagagalit o pag-iisipan? May mga bagay na nagbabago sa gusto man natin o hindi. Maraming bagay ang nag-iiba na labas sa ating kapangyarihan at kakayanan. Sa mga pagbabagong ito, ano ang magandang gawin? May pagbabagong ating hinahangad – at ito ay hindi para sa ating sarili.
Freak o unique? Natatandaan ko noon sa peryahan pag may pista sa aming bayan, may palabas tungkol sa kakaibang uri ng tao. May ipinalalabas na tao na mukha daw palaka, may tao daw na mukhang hayop. At yun ay ikinatutuwa ng mga taong nanonood. Nguni’t sino nga ba ang mga taong itong ipinalalabas sa peryahan? Sikreto yan ng negosyo at kaya sila ay nakatago.
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Yan ang tinatawag dati na “freak show.” Ginagawa nating kasiyahan ang kapansanan ng iba. Tinatawanan natin ang bagay na dapat ay inuunawa at tinatanggap na maaaring sakit na hindi karaniwan, o kapansanang hindi magagamot. Kung anuman ang kalagayan ng mga taong yan, hindi nila ito kasalanan at hindi dapat silang ituring na kakaiba o freak. Nguni’t sa ngayon nagbabago na ang tingin ng lipunan sa mga taong may kapansanan. Hindi na sila itinatago. Sila ay ipinakikilala na sa lipunan. Sila ay mas inuunawa na at sinusuportahan di tulad nung panahong nakalipas.
Music video para sa mga special children Masaya kong napanood ang music video ni Salvador Panelo na kinanta ang tanyag na kanta ni Sharon Cuneta,
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“Sana’y Wala nang Wakas.” Ang kantang ito ay isang composition ni Willy Cruz. Ang music video ay production ng Viva Records at mapapanood sa YouTube. Hindi galing sa pagkanta ang mahalaga sa music video na ito, kundi ang mensahe ng kanta. Ang orihinal na mensahe ng kanta ay tungkol sa pag-iibigan ng magkasintahang sumusumpang hindi mag-iiwanan. Ang mensaheng ito ay lalo pang naging makahulugan nang ialay sa mga special children. Kinanta ito ni Panelo bilang pagpapahayag ng pagmamahal sa anak niyang si Carlo na may down syndrome. Namatay si Carlo nung 2017 na 29 years old. Meron ding mga litrato sa music video ng marami pang special children kasama ang mga magulang na nagmamahal at nagmamalaki sa kanila. Nakakadala ng damdamin habang nakikita ang mga litrato ng mga bata at kanilang
magulang at kinakanta ang mga salitang ito: Walang hanggan ma’y hahamakin Pagka't walang katapusan kitang iibigin Sa mga magulang na walang hinahangad kundi ang kabutihan ng mga anak, tagos sa puso ang mga katagang ito: Kahit na ilang tinik ay kaya kong tapakan Kung iyan ang paraan upang landas mo'y masundan Kahit ilang ulit ako'y iyong saktan Hindi kita maaring iwanan
guardians.” Hindi madaling mag-alaga ng special children. Ang mga magulang ay hindi lamang nag-aalala sa paglaki at pag-aalaga sa kanila. Mas inaalala nila ang panahong sila ay wala na. Sino ang magbibigay ng “walang hanggang pagmamahal” sa kanila? Saan sila pupunta? Ano
pagtingin ng lipunan sa kanila. Mabuti at maaari nang ipakita sa bayan ang anak na special child. Makakatulong ang pagbabagong ito, kahit hindi lahat ng problema ay malulutas. May mahalagang impormasyong kasama ang music video tungkol sa mga special children:
Ang mga special children ay nangangailangan ng special care. At maraming magulang at guardians ang handang magbigay ng ganitong pagmamahal at higit pa, sabi nga ng kanta:
Kahit ilang awit ay aking aawitin Hanggang ang himig ko'y maging himig mo na rin Kahit ilang dagat ang dapat tawirin Higit pa riyan ang aking gagawin Ito ang isang mensahe sa music video: “Special children need special parents.” At iniaalay ang music video sa mga ito: ”Dedicated to all children with disabilities and their heroic parents and
disabilities (CWDs). Special education and therapy for CWDs are costly and inaccessible. 60% of CWDs were out of school in 2019, and therapy costs at least 15% of the monthly household income of CWD families, per studies of DSWD and PIDS. If CWD parents pass away or lose the abilities to provide care for their children, there are no public nursing homes or facilities dedicated to the care of the orphaned or abandoned CWDs.
‘Di lamang pag-ibig ko ‘Di lamang ang buhay kong ibibigay Sa ngalan nang pag-ibig mo Higit pa riyan aking mahal, ang alay ko ang mangyayari sa kanila? Kaya mabuti at nagbabago ang
May - June 2022
In 2018, Philhealth estimated that 1 out of 7, or 5.1 million Filipino children are living with
Para saan pa ang pagmamahal kundi para sa ikabubuti ng minamahal sa buhay.
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TRAVEL IN THE TIME OF COVID by Geraldine Limpo Time was when a three-day weekend provided enough stimulus for us, Singaporeans, to book discounted travel tickets during the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) fairs. Our passport allowed entry into almost every country in the world without the requirement of visas. Scoring good deals for accommodations were a cinch given online platforms such as booking.com that allowed a traveller to select a place to stay within one’s budget and needs. Besides hotels, there were bed & breakfast venues, rooms for rent, apartments to co-share (and couch surfing for the real adventurers). Checking-in took mere seconds online, and baggage drop at the check-in counters in Changi Airport was often quick because one could print out boarding passes and luggage tags at home. This left plenty of time to gleefully wade through the Duty-Free shops or enjoy a meal or snack in the various cafes after clearing immigrations and customs check. At the boarding gates, I simply flashed the passport photo page and boarding card. Once I located my seat on the plane, I propped my cabin bag into the overhead luggage compartment, put on my earphones to listen to music previously saved on my playlist, switched my handphone to airplane mode, and closed my eyes.
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No thanks to COVID-19, my travel rituals have changed. In November 2020 and April 2022, I could travel to Japan only with a single-entry business visa. This required my husband’s and Japanese business partner’s support and cooperation in preparing documents that were filed at the Japan Embassy along Nassim Hill. Unlike travels made before the pandemic, our Japanese business partner had to first apply for eligibility to invite a foreign guest. Written proof of this eligibility was one item in a dossier of documents submitted; another complicated paper itemized how each day is to be spent in meetings, trainings and what-not (the rules in November 2020 required the sponsoring Japanese company to always accompany their foreign visitor). Naturally, there were papers pertaining to each business entity too. Furthermore, there were notarized vaccination certificates, application form for a single-entry visa, round trip air tickets to print out. And of course, a processing fee to pay.
Furthermore, there was a PCR test to take 48 hours before departure date. This had to be booked online, paid for, taken with results picked up the next day. To make sure, I took a rapid antigen test hours before reporting to the clinic that administered the PCR test. There was no way that I was going to pay for a $136 test that I was going to fail! Online check-in was no longer sufficient. I had to queue with all the other travellers at Changi on counters that demanded to see the government-notarized certificate of mRNA vaccinations and boosters. The Duty-Free shopping experience is no longer as fun now that most stores have closed, and those fragrance and skincare shops that remained opened no longer offered product testing before purchase. I also lost count of how many times I sanitized my hands upon entering each outlet. Because of this, a new must-have is a tube of a good hand cream to counter the drying effects of alcohol-based sanitizing liquids and gels.
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After locating my seat on the plane, I wiped spaces around me that include arm rests, tray table and tv screen. Dining in economy class was never fun (it was, at best, decent on SQ); it is even less fun now. I’ve taken to packing my bag of snacks. Arriving at KIX took at least an hour longer than pre-COVID times. There were apps to download for contact tracing, tables that checked my vaccination records and travel documents (many of these were staffed by non-English speaking personnel), a saliva test to queue up for (and a vial to fill up). Passengers had to wait for results before finally lining up for immigrations, picking up bags from the carousel and clearing customs. By the time I reached home in Kashihara, it was well over midnight. All these precautionary measures are naturally understandable. Certainly, no one wants to contract the virus and be ill, or desire to spread the virus and feel burdened by one’s conscience. Nevertheless, travel budgets and rituals are changed. There are tests and visas to pay for, time set aside to understand travel demands for each destination (as rules for entry are different per country), beliefs to change (especially as vaccinations are now a prerequisite to travel). Thankfully, there are a few perks about travelling that come with the pandemic. One is social distancing. The other is better hygiene from almost everyone. The third: half- or nearly empty flights (which mean anyone flying economy class can possibly have a full row to himself ).
The fourth: quick access to tourist sites and restaurants. Fifth: significantly better cleanliness in public facilities and a quiet, more enjoyable pace in tourist sites due to fewer visitors. Singapore, like many other countries including the US and the UK, has opened her borders months ago for foreign travellers who are fully vaccinated. In addition, Singapore has lifted many regulations such as optional mask-wearing when outdoors unless in crowds and contact tracing. Some Japanese colleagues
have mentioned that Japan will be easing travel regulations month-end. Do I see myself travelling as often as I did pre-COVID? Perhaps so but with a few changes. First, I will select travel destinations based on medical preparedness. There are related websites and articles written for each country in the world. This selection also will involve the relative ease or complicatedness of travel. I refer to the list of requirements demanded for each country I wish to visit. Do I
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really want to bother our Japanese business partner every time I wish to visit Japan? Not really. Second, I will accept that travel preparations need a heck of a lot more time. Just checking and re-checking travel documents cause a degree of anxiety. Printing our vaccine certificates and flight itineraries is reassuring in case there is no wi-fi connection when these documents are demanded. Third, I must prepare for contingencies. Case in point: which local clinic do I go to in case I contract the virus? While travel insurance with medical coverage is de rigueur, locating a clinic that accommodates the medical concerns of a gaijin is quite challenging in Kashihara (Nara-ken) for example. Fourth: I should remember that different people react differently to pandemic environments. Not all my friends will be comfortable to meet in large groups, or be with a foreign traveller, or take the public transport, or be in certain erstwhile popular venues. Note to self: inquire about how people feel about catching up, and not feel offended when they prefer a virtual meeting. Related to this point is observing how commercial establishments are coping with the challenging situation; this includes sanitizing hands when entering a shop (albeit applying hand cream right away) and putting on plastic gloves and wearing masks when taking food from buffet counters. In a nutshell, travel during the time of COVID inspires consideration for other people. Will the travel situation return to how it was pre-COVID? We all wish so, don’t we?
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Take it or Leave it!
ADVICE NI TITA LITS Isabelita Manalastas-Watanabe
siguro, ay may kamag-anak, kaibigan, or kakilala lang, na namatay dahil sa covid. Cannot blame Ima - 88 years old na kasi. Remember my column published in the winter issue of Jeepney Press (JP)? https://issuu.com/sunny12su nny12/docs/jeepney_press_1 15/s/14693216
OWN A HOUSE FOR ONLY JPY10,700 - 12,000? Unbelievable? But it is true, and Tita Lits is here to help you accomplish your lifetime dream of a house for you and our loved ones in the Philippines! My 'Dear Tita Lits' Readers: These past almost six (6) months have been the most stressful for me during my 68 years of (mostly) blessed life in this earth. I rushed home on Dec. 21 last year, soon after the pandemic protocols were eased by the Philippine government. It was because out of 6 siblings in our family, 4 of us (including myself ) live/work overseas. My Ima (mother) cried saying, "Pota mate na ku, eko man akit deng ngang anak ku". She did not want to die not seeing all her 6 children, what with the uncertain situation of the covid infections where each of us,
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Ang daming napagod na readers sa horrifying experience ko sa pag-uwi (partly because of my mistake of assuming everything was normal in Japan, including bus and train schedules, etc.). Happy to report to you that when I flew back to Tokyo the day after the 'Pasiyam' of my Ima who passed away last April 30, 2022, and then flew to Manila again only a week or so, I found out lahat ng aking naging criticism and suggestions to the airport authorities were implemented!!! May nakakabasa din kayang mga Phil. government officials sa aking advice column? (Sana mayroon!). Anyway, sa pagod at stress ko sa mga health problems not only of my Ima but my immediate family, na-apektuhan din ang health
ko. I was always feeling very tired because of difficulty sleeping; lost my appetite; etc. In my family, lahat na-booster shot, and yet nagka-covid ulit ang marami. Oh, sorry, I am digressing from my topic. Last Apr. 24, 2022, a Sunday, Pag-IBIG Fund organized a webinar for Filipinos in Japan. (If you did not receive an invitation, please email our CulturaL Section, Philippine Embassy in Tokyo: Cultural Section <cultural@philembassy.net> and request that you be included in their mailing list. They have a lot of interesting and educational posts about covid situation in Japan and what to do in case you get infected, some webinars for OFWs, things about our history, culture, etc.) Two of my staff attended the webinar, and they reported back to our regular staff/compliance meeting what they learned about. Tita Lits decided to start with the basic information on Housing Loan. There are many Pag-IBIG services, including savings, but I know that all of us OFWs dream to have our own roof under our heads, kahit maliit lamang dahil iyon lang ang kaya nating bayaran.
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Sa next issue, I will do a part 2 – SAVING thru Pag-IBIG. I selected pertinent slides from the webinar, arranged them in such order na mas smooth ang flow ng information. I just lifted directly the slides from the webinar. (Thank you, Pag-ibig presentors/resource persons).
- Over the Economic Housing Limit up to P6M – 90% Who may apply? Members should have the following to apply: • At least 24 monthly membership savings (Pag-IBIG Regular Savings) • Not more than 65 years old at the date of loan application
Where can you use or what can you buy with a Pag-IBIG Housing Loan? Members can use the Pag-IBIG Housing Loan for the following: • Residential lot* or adjoining residential lots purchase (maximum of 1,000 sq.m.) • Residential house & lot, townhouse or condominium unit* purchase old or branch new, property mortgaged with Pag-IBIG Fund, adjoining houses/units inclusive of a parking lot • Construction of house • Improvement of house • Refinance an existing housing loan *plus cost of transfer
Apply for a Loan • Multi-Purpose Loan (MPL); • Housing Loan; • Housing Loan Interest Repricing. Apply for a Housing Loan How much can you borrow? • Desired Loan Amount; • Actual Need - Purchase of Lot and Residential Unit; Selling Price - Refinancing: Outstanding Loan Balance - House Construction and Home Improvement: Total Construction Cost. • Capacity to Pay - 35% pf your Gross Monthly Income • Loan to Appraisal Value Ratio - Up to the Economic Housing Limit - 95%
and is not more than 70 years old at the date of loan maturity
• Legal capacity to acquire and encumber real property in the Philippines • No Pag-IBIG Housing Loan foreclosed, cancelled, bought back, or voluntarily surrendered • If with existing Pag-IBIG Housing Loan or Short-Term Loan (STL), payments must be updated
May - June 2022
Gross Monthly Income Requirement and Monthly Amortization based on Loan Amount
Apply for a Short-Term Loan File your Multi-Purpose Loan or Calamity Loan via Virtual Pag-IBIG by simply uploading clear photos of your loan application and its requirements. You don’t need a Virtual Pag-IBIG account to apply. It’s safer, easier, and more convenient.
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Available to members with a Pag-IBIG Loyalty Card Plus or Landbank Cash Card Pag-IBIG Multi Purpose Loan • Educational Expenses • Health and Wellness • Minor Home Improvement • Other Purpose Now, with a 3-Year Payment Option Calamity Loan Convenient Ways to Pay your PAG-IBIG Housing Loan: • Virtual Pag-IBIG • Post-dated Checks • Collection Servicing Agreement (CSA) or via a salary deduction and remittance agreement with your company • Accredited Collecting Partners’ Outlets and their Online Payment Facilities • Auto-debit Arrangement (ADA) with Pag-IBIG’s partners (banks; non-banks) Enrollment Payment Partner in Japan AUB (Asia United Bank)* VENTAJA* *Above are two of several choices. Both are partnered with SPEED Money Transfer Japan K.K. *Feel free to call Tita Lits, or Henry, Aloy or Joshua @ Tel. 03-6869-8555. Tita Lits
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May - June 2022
Health Points By Marnie Chan FASTING “Eat when you are hungry. Sleep when you are sleepy.” - is said to be the most spiritual teaching considered, bar none, by renowned giant sages like the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, and old Joe Biden. [And this is when you sing Sesame Street’s “One of these things is not like the others…”] Hi and welcome back. How’s that for reader engagement, huh? On to the crux now… Fasting is the most important thing you can do for your health. On the polar opposite side of things, snacking and continued eating are the two worst things you can do for your health. Mom forced fed us as kids, not because we were hungry but because it was lunch time or dinner time. So much for the “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” mantra. Really? Do you really wake up hungry in the morning? Or, are you eating out of habit? Here’s a helpful hack [in these days of hacking everything]: in order for you not to feel hungry for breakfast the morning after, keep your carbs down [as in 20 to 30 grams] for your lunch and dinner the day before. Now, should you still feel that tiny tug of a feeling that you are hungry for breakfast, here’s what science has to say: the cortisol hormone peaks at 8 o’clock in the morning. Do not confuse this cortisol spike with hunger. It is nothing but a hormonal shift that you get. The rule of thumb is “Do not eat when you are not hungry.” Simple enough? When you fast, your body is simply eating your own fat. You are not starving it. Well, kinda… you are depriving it of
May - June 2022
sugar and carbs. And when you do this appetite goes away. You won’t feel hunger fangs anymore. Lunch becomes your first meal of the day while dinner becomes your last. No snacking. We are trying to fix insulin resistance this way. That’s like an 18-hour window of fasting. If you can pull this off, I shit you not, you are going to see some amazing results.… especially with your brain. You are going to grow new brain cells. Your cognitive functions, your memory, your focus, your attention, your ability to think creatively are all going to improve. Your mood will feel spectacular. You will feel happier just because your brain is healing. Your immune system is going to get stronger. You will actually grow new immune bone stem cells in your bone marrows. Inflammation goes away. You start feeling rejuvenated. You start healing faster. The following was secretly and divinely codified and encrypted for the elect 1%. If you can decipher it, then, blessed art thou. However, if you can not… oh well, **ck ‘survival of the fittest’… “Health and loss weight effortless. Easy super. [Day A Meal One] OMAD to then comfortable more get you as 16:8 to progress then, fast hour 12 a with begin to is fasting intermittent start to way basic most the.” I wish you all good life! Marnie Chan #thehealingpowerofacupuncture
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DONDAKE
LAKAS NG BAWAT PAHINA Magandang araw mga kababayan. Kamusta tayong lahat? Sa mga oras na ito ay nakakabahala at nakakakaba ang mga pangyayaring nagaganap sa bansa. Maraming agam-agam, alinlangan at mukhang mas maraming natutuwa sa mga kababayan natin dahil nanalo ang mga binoto nila. Ang bawat araw sa buhay natin ay parang isang pahina na tayo ang magsusulat at tayo din mismo ang magdadala ng kwento sa bawat pahinang ito. Nasa ating mga isip at kakayahan kung paano natin ito isasalarawan at isasabuhay. Kaya kung nais nating bigyang halaga at ipamana o
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ipasa ang kwento ng buhay natin ay nasa atin ang papasya kung nais mong maalala ka sa kabutihan o sa masamang pamamaraan. Kung paano ka nanindigan sa prinsipyong iyong pinaniniwalaan na maaaring makakapagbigay inspirasyon sa iba. Isang paalala lang po na nawa sa bawat pahina ng buhay natin ay taglay niyo ang lakas na pwede nating maipagmalaki sa ating sarili, sa kahit kanino, sa buong mundo, habangbuhay maging sa ating pagwalay at mananatiling paalala sa susunod na mga henerasyon. Hanggang sa muli po. GOD bless us all.
May - June 2022
by Karen Sanchez
LABAN NG LABAN Laban ng laban para sa iyong kapakanan Tanging sarili lang ang mapagkakatiwalaan Lalo na kung alam mo ang iyong kakayahan At kung para rin ito sa iyong kabutihan Ano man ang iyong mga dahilan Kung dapat mo itong ipinaglalaban Lalo na kung ito ay katotohanan Siguradong wala kang katatakutan Laban lang ng laban ang labanan Sa mundong ito na puno ng kaguluhan Marami pang pagsubok ang pagdadaanan Kaya dapat manindigan at di ka panghihinaan Dahil kapag mahina ka ay talo ka At maari ka pang maninipula ng iba Lalo na ang mga taong mapagsamantala Kaya dapat may alam at lagi kang handa
May - June 2022 Photo by: JOHN TOWNER
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AMAZINGgrace Flowers of May by Mae Grace
May is the month to stay in touch with family and friends, and be drowned in an ocean of flowers and fiestas. Wow! That’s a lot of “f” words! But there’s one “f” word that doesn’t describe the month of May, and that is “forgettable”. May is always full of fun memories that we can always go back to again and again while reminiscing childhood memories and taking comfort in them. Stored in my memory bank were those days sa aming probinsya during summer breaks from school, where my siblings, friends and I would pick flowers indiscriminately from Nanay and Lola’s cherished flowering plants in the garden and offer them to the Blessed Mother every afternoon for our daily Flores de Mayo activities. The little chapel near our house would be full of little kids bringing flowers from home or from kind neighbors, singing and praying together with our big brothers and big sisters acting as our “teachers” in this daily Catholic devotion dedicated to Mother Mary. In Japan, spring is the best time to be awed by endless species and varieties of flowering plants, bushes, weeds and even trees and perennials blooming one after another, endlessly, without stopping. No wonder flowers always bring a sense of enchantment, joy and hope to a person’s heart and soul. Ikaw? Anong naaalala mo tuwing buwan ng Mayo?
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May - June 2022
Rainy Season in Japan By: Alma Fatagani-Sato
blooming hydrangeas (ajisai 紫陽花) and snails (katatsumori 蝸牛).
There are 2 (two) rainy seasons in Japan, namely: 1) Tsuyu 梅雨 (literally translated as plum rain), which starts around mid- June to end of July. During this season, the plums ripen and the season for plum picking begins, and as such, it was referred to as “plum rain”. The original spelling for tsuyu was the Kanji 黴雨 (which means mold rain). Since during this season, the humidity is quite high and therefore molds keep growing everywhere. But for poetical reasons, the Kanji 梅 雨 was preferred. However, before the Muromachi period (1336-1573), it is known as nagame 長 雨 (literally translated as long rain).
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2) Akisame 秋雨 (literally translated as autumn rain), which starts around middle of September until the beginning of October. Many people would think that during the rainy season, there is nothing really to look forward to when it comes to sightseeing. But in Japan, people are waiting for the rainy season to see the
them.
Hydrangeas can be found everywhere and anywhere around Japan. They come in many colors like pink, purple, blue, white and sometimes a combination of colors. They also come in many varieties. Although they usually are short-lived like the cherry blossoms of spring (which usually last for about only a week), their cheerful bright colors give joy and peace to everyone who looks at
Snails during the rainy season, a lot of the Japanese trapdoor snails come out. Some people may find it yucky since snails are practically slimy but others just enjoy looking at them while they move slowly. Some people also enjoy making a small, has to be white doll shaped like a Buddhist priest or ghost (depending on how you would view it) often made of either a paper or a cloth called teruterubozu てるてる坊主. It is usually hanged by the window and children would pray on it for a fine weather. It is believed to ward-off the rain. But for some who do not really like going out on a rainy day and view the blooming hydrangeas, visiting a museum or art galleries or even dipping in an indoor hot springs would certainly be a good option. For me, just relaxing at home reading my books, watching movies (either on TV or the net), or doing some handicrafts would be enough to spend a rainy day.
May - June 2022
EVERY GISING IS A BLESSING
ni Nanay Anita Sasaki
KWENTO NI NANAY
EVERY GISING IS A BLESSING TO ALL!! Ayan po ang palagi kong sinasabi pagkagising ko.
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Mayo na po! Buwan ng May Flower mga batang araw araw nagproprosisyon po may mga dalang bulaklak para sa ating mahal na Inang Maria. Sa bandang gabi naman ang ating Santacruzan- mga naggagandahang mga dilag sa kanilang mga magagarang gowns. Ito ang mga pinag kakaabalahan natin sa ating mga kanya kanyang barangay. Ngunit ngayon na meron pandemia, ay bigla po nabawasan ang mga kinasanayan po natin. Meron po itong mga kadahilanan. Baka binibigyan lamang po ng kaunting pag aaral. Kaya naging UNLIMITED STAY AT HOME po naman. Ngunit lahat ng bagay ay meron simula at katapusan. Kaya sa ating mga dalangin ay matapos na sana itong pandemia. Isa pang malaking ganap sa buwan ng Mayo ay ang ARAW NG MGA INA! Isang araw lang po ito na ibigay natin ang araw sa ating mga INA, NANAY, MAMA, MOMMY, INANG, MUDRA, at kung ano ano pang tawag natin sa kanila. Ngunit ang pinakadakila sa kanila ay ang ating Inang Maria! Siya ang nagbigay sa atin ng mga anghel sa lupa. Bago pa tayo isisilang ay meron na tayong mga ANGHEL SA LUPA. Ako, ina na rin ako, lola at lola sa tuhod pa, ngunit hinahanap ko at na mimiss ko pa rin ang aking MAMA. Pag siya ang pinag usapan hindi matatapos ang istoriya. Malimit kong marinig sa aming Papa kung gaano niya purihin ang aming ina. Natatandaan ko palagi niyang sinasabi The Best ang aming Mama. Dalhin mo sa kusina, at ipagluluto ka niya ng masasarap na pagkain. Dalhin mo siya sa salas or living room, hindi ka mapapahiya sa angking ganda, marunong makiharap at makihalubilo, “finesse“ ang kilos at magaling pa tumugtog ng piano. Siya ang nagturo sa amin magpiano. At dalhin mo siya sa inyong tahanan, the best wife and mother po siya at ang pinakamagandang katangian niya ay she is also the best daughter. Dahil hindi po niya iniwan ang kanilang sariling ina na may karamdaman upang sumama sa kanyang asawa sa Mindanao nuong gyera. Ayan po ang lagi kong nadirinig sa Papa namin. Very loving daughter po siya! Kaya po the best po siyang ASAWA, INA, ANAK at KAPATID. I WILL
NOT BE WHAT I AM TODAY IF NOT BECAUSE OF HER TEACHINGS. Ang pinaka highlights po natin ngayon buwan nang Mayo ay ang ating National Election. Dahil botohan na po nang ating Presidente, Bise Presidente at ang ating 12 senadores. At sa local government po naman ang ating bawat Mayors, Governors, Councilors at Board members ng ating mga lalawigan mula Luzon, Visayas at Mindanao. Kaya napakasayang panoorin ang bawat kampaniya, mga rallies, motorcades na meron pang mga kasamang artista. Nandiyan ang mga siraan dito siraan doon lalo na sa media. Nagkakagalit na mga magkakamaganak, at mga mag kakaibigan. POLITOKO DITO AT DOON. Ngunit hindi po dapat ganito. Masakit marinig, mapanood sa telebisyon, radio at lalo na sa media. Laganap ang mga siraan sa media lalo na mga blogs at iba ibang issues po. Kung minsan masasabi mo na sana wala nang mga cyber news o kahit na anong bagay na nababasa o napapanood sa internet, mga vlogs at iba pang nasa internet. Maski dito sa overseas. Sa amin Overseas Absentee Voters. Kung tama kaya ang amin mga address para sigurado makatanggap ng aming mga balota. Halos lahat ay excited bumoto. Kailangan ilabas ang boses ng mga Pilipino. To vote is our right. Manalo man o matalo ang ating napipisil na kandidato, at least inilabas natin ang ating gusto at may paniwala tayo sa kakayahan ng kandidatong gusto natin at sa kanya po natin ipagkakatiwala ang ating Inang Bansa. Kaya dapat ay ipag DASAL natin ang malinis at mapayapang halalan. May kasabihan “The Philippines and the Filipinos deserves the BEST“. Dito sa amin nasa overseas, nagumpisa na kaming bumoto mula April 10 hanggang May 9, 2022. Ipinadala ang aming mga balota. Punong abala ang aming embahada. Sila po ang pagod na pagod. Nang sumapit na ang last day May 9, 2022 nang botohan, excited at labis na pangamba ang halos lahat sa pag abang sa television, internet kung sino kaya ang nangunguna sa bilangan. SINO KAYA ANG MANANALO? Salamat sa Diyos wala namang marahas na naganap. Ngunit ang naging problema ay ang mga ibang tao sa parti ng mga talunan ang hindi matanggap ang kanilang talo. Dahil
meron mga nagrally at pilit ang kanilang paniniwala. Pero ang boses ng nakakarami ay maliwanag. Matatalino na ang mga Pilipino. Gusto na nila ang pagbabago at pagkakaisa para sa lahat. Pagkatapos marinig ang boses ng mas nakakaraming Pilipino dapat lahat ay mag samasama para sa ikauunlad nang ating Inang Bayan. Tapos na ang pa momolitika. Magkaisa, Magtulungan, Magmahalan. Tapos na ang awayan sa politika. Alisin na ang galit, puot, inggit sa ating mga puso. Gawin na ang nararapat na solusyon para bawat Pilipino ay maging maayos at maihaon sa kahirapan. Umpisahan natin sa ating mga sarili ang kailangang pagbabago para sa maunlad na hinaharap nang bawat isang mamamayan, para sa ating mga susunod na generasyon. Wala sa kulay… pula, berde, pinklawan, asul o puti. ANG PAGKAKAISA isigaw at gawin natin lahat para sa ating BANSANG MINAMAHAL AT BUBUHOS ANG BIYAYA NG DIYOS SA ATING LAHAT. At sa buwan ng Hunyo, atin din ipagdiriwang ang 124 taon ng ating KALAYAAN or The 124th ANNIVERSARY of the PROCLAMATION OF THE PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE sa June 12 at ang FATHER’S DAY. Kung meron ARAW NG MGA INA ay meron din tayong FATHER’S DAY OR ARAW NG ATING MGA AMA, TATAY, ITAY, PAPA, DADDY, DAD. Ang AMA, INA at ANAK ay para itong hinahambing sa isang TRIPOD Pag wala ang isa hindi ito tatayo nang maayos. The most common method for holding a pencil -- the same one you probably use for writing -- is the basic tripod grip. The thumb and forefinger form a triangle with the middle finger, with the form being supported by the ring finger and pinkie. At ang pinakahihintay ay ang pagpasok ng bagong naihalal na Pangulo ng Pilipinas sa June 30, 2022 na si President-elect, PRESIDENT FERDINAND R. MARCOS JR And vice-president-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio. “HINDI MO KAILANGAN MAGING MAYAMAN O MATAAS NA PINAGARALAN UPANG MAKATULONG SA KAPWA MO PILIPINO”
May - June 2022
By Lala Lopez de Leon
Walk with me: Minami-Aoyama May 15, 2022
In Minato-ku, Minami-Aoyama is undoubtedly one of the truly sophisticated areas in Tokyo. Among its many features, Minami-Aoyama is home to the Nezu Museum, which boast a proud collection of oriental and Japanese arts, and the Aoyama-Dori (Aoyama Avenue) that stretches from the subway Aoyama Itchome Station to Omotesando Station, lined with classy shops and luxury car showrooms. There is so much to explore in here, but what is definitely distinctive about Minami-Aoyama is that it is chic while oozing with Japanese culture both traditional and modern. Definitely one of my favorite places in the city! Today, I had to run errands, one of which is to have a set of old, hand-me-down jewelries repaired or reformed, if at all a Japanese goldsmith will agree to do them. An online search led me to a shop located at the backstreets of Minami-Aoyama. You see, along the main street are the usual fashionable shops. But behind them, is where you find the unexpected beauty!
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May - June 2022
With help from the app on my phone, I found the shop, but not without stopping every now and then to ogle the charming shops on the way. And with no clear intention to search them, I discovered a few of the popular and trendy spots that I have only heard about! A flower shop at a corner is one bright spot with its façade in vibrant yellow posts and a luscious lemon tree standing proud by it! Made me think of growing my own from seeds! Why not – it’s worth a try! My adventure today ends at Blue Bottle Coffee Aoyama. Any time is coffee time for me, even if it’s somewhat close to dinner time. The perfect spot to enjoy a nice cup of my preference: hot, freshly brewed coffee! Till then….walk with me…on my next adventure.
MOVING ON
ni Jasmin Vasquez
“Ang pagbabago at pag unlad ng iyong buhay ay magmumula sa iyong sarili.”
Ang takbo ng ating buhay ay paulit ulit lamang. Tulad ng isang halamang nagsimula sa isang punla, uusbong at mamumunga. Ngunit darating din ang panahon ng katapusan at ito’y malalanta, matutuyo at mamamatay. Ang buto ng bungang galing dito ay syang susunod na ipupunla para muli ito ay mamunga. Kung marami kang tinanim, ay marami kang maaani. Para sa susunod na mga taon na darating makikita mo kung gaano kalago ang iyong pinaghirapan. Ngunit kung ikaw ay hindi kikilos sa iyong buhay ay imposibleng umani ka ng marami. Sa halip, makikiamot ka na lamang sa ani ng iba at magpapaawa na bahagian ka ng kanila.
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May - June 2022
Hindi natin pwedeng iasa sa padasa-dasal lamang ang ating kapalaran. Totoong nasa Diyos ang awa, ngunit dapat nasa tao ang gawa. Kailangan nating magsikap. Kaya nga pinahiram ng Diyos ang ating buhay upang tayo ay kumilos at magsumikap. Marami sa atin ay wala ng ginawa kundi magreklamo ng magreklamo sa buhay. Kung iisipin mo mas mapalad ka kumpara sa maraming taong naghihirap. Hindi ba’t mas maayos ang iyong buhay kaysa mga taong andoon nakikipagsapalarang mailigtas ang kanilang buhay dahil sa gyera, sa gutom. Hindi bat mapalad ka ikaw ay malaya, at malayo sa kapahamakan. Mas makakakilos ka para magsikap sa iyong buhay ng sa gayon maging maganda kang halimbawa para sa iyong magiging pamilya. Gawin nating malago ang ating buhay. Upang pamarisan tayo ng nakararami. Huwag nating isisi lahat sa gobyerno kung ikaw ay naghihirap. Tandaan natin na magsisimula sa ating sarili ang ikauunlad ng ating buhay. Kahit sino pang tao ang mailuklok na Presidente ng ating bansa, may masasabi at masasabi kayong reklamo. Bakit hindi natin ibahin naman ang takbo ng ating pamumuhay. Subukan natin simulang baguhin ang ating sarili. Huwag na tayong tatamad tamad sa maraming bagay. Huwag nyong iasa lahat sa gobyerno kung kaya mo naman sa sarili mo magsikap. Nakakahiya pang malaman at makita kang nakikipag away sa
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social media dahil sa pinaglalaban mong kandidato na gusto mong maihalal. Balewala yan lahat kung ikaw mismo tamad ka at di ka marunong magsikap sa iyong sarili. Lagi nating tatandaan na bilang isang mabuting mamamayan na gustong mabago ang lipunang iyong ginagalawan, ito ay sisimulan mo sa iyong sarili. Sapagkat kung hindi ay nangangahulugan lamang na wala kang silbi sa iyong bansang ginagalawan. Sa buhay natin maaring mabago ang lahat. Kung dati ay madilim ang iyong pinagdadaanan, maaring bukas may magsisimulang liwanag mula sa bukang liwayway ng langit sa iyong buhay. Bigyan nating pagkakataong ibangon ang ating bansa. Baka sa pagkakataong ito ay gumanda na ang mundong ating ginagalawan. At syempre magsisimula iyon sa iyo, sa akin, sa ating lahat. Suportahan natin yung mga sa palagay natin ay maganda naman ang hangarin at kakahinatnan ng ating bansa. Tigilan na natin ang awayan sa pulitika, dahil tayo pa rin naman ang magsasama sama sa bandang huli. Maraming magkakaibigan at relasyon ang nasira dahil sa mga kani-kaniyang kandidato. Spread love not war. Simulan natin ngayon na. Magmahalan tayo at maging masipag upang tayo ay may marating na magandang buhay.
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Cloud 9 As covid cases plunge, people around the world have started planning their trips and vacation again and finally set themselves free from the confinement caused by the virus. The new normal is here, and the world is ready to dance with it. Are you?
My friend and I have always wanted to go up to the mountains to see a hidden treasure, an experience that is on everyone’s bucket list. We planned to finally make this happen during the Golden Week holidays. The process of planning the trip was not as bloody and as complicated as our other trips. This tour is accessible and available to everyone for as long as you arrive not later
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by Richine Bermudez
than after lunch. You need the whole day to enjoy this tour, and it is advisable to start it in the morning. Aside from the breathtaking view that awaits the tourists, what makes this trip special and exciting was the way to get to the top of the mountains. Their slogan fits this experience well: It’s not
the destination, it’s the journey! We started our odyssey at Ogizawa Station in Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture. We rode on an electric bus all the way to Kurobe Dam. Kurobe Dam is the tallest dam in Japan. It is 186 meters high and was finished in 1963. The scenery and the surroundings gave us an Alaska vibe; the water in the dam had some pieces of ice, while the
surrounding mountains were covered with snow. The next ride was the Tateyama Cable Car, which climbs a steep course underground at an altitude of about 500m in 7 minutes. The station after this will give an opportunity to enjoy the dramatic view of the Alps while relaxing on the tables
on the terrace. We felt like we were in Switzerland. It’s really a must-see view and a must-go place. The next ride was my super favorite of all the ropeway rides. It provided us a panoramic view of the Tateyama Mountains and the experience was unforgettable! We had mixed emotions while inside the ropeway, a little bit of excitement, being a bit scared and happy! It was one
May - June 2022
of the highlights of the trip. The ropeway was like a moving observatory deck that gave us the chance to have a full experience to marvel over the view of the northern alps. And the final destination is one of the best scenes I have ever seen in my entire life. It can compete with the view of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA. The feeling was surreal, the journey was incomparable! We felt like we could almost reach the gates of the heavens. Walking in the snow corridor of Nagano was a dream come true. It was cloudy at first, which made us a bit worried, but God knows how to surprise his children. After some time, the wind blew and moved the clouds away; and there the beautiful view of the snow walls welcomed us as if God said: Welcome to heaven, my children! The walls were 18 meters high and could reach 20 meters high depending on the snow that day. Seeing this phenomenon paved away the effort and the energy we used on the way. I can say that it was not my last time going there. I will still go back and re-enjoy the experience. After doing this tour, I can confidently say that I know how it literally feels to be on CLOUD 9!
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Glen Gypsy’s
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“The world is my canvas and I create my reality.” - Unknown
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