Jeepney Press 82 July - August 2016 by Jeepney Press

PAHAYAGANG PINOY

July - August 2016

e magazine

Cover Photo: Danny Dungo

PINOY JOURNEYS in JAPAN

PAHAYAGANG PINOY

e-magazine 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 2016.

JEEPNEY PRESS Asia Vox Ltd.

Takadanobaba Bldg. 701, 1-26-12 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0075 Tel : 03-3200-2559 Fax: 03-5292-2341 e-mail: jeepneymail@yahoo.com website: http://jeepneymail.wix.com/jeepneypress

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

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

creative staff

ARLENE ESPERIDA Tokyo JERRY SUN-ARENAS Philippines VAL AMOR C. PALO Tokyo JOSE MIGUEL PARUNGAO Philippines CHINO MANDING CADDARAO Tokyo NICK SANTIAGO Tokyo DANNY DUNGO Tokyo

PAHAYAGANG PINOY

e-magazine

Send us a word. Tell us what you like and enjoy or tell us what you want us to cover in Jeepney Press.

PAHAYAGANG PINOY

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WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;VE GOT MAIL! May 12, 2016 To Jeepney Press and all its staff, Maraming salamat po sa mga manunulat ng Jeepney Press. Ang dami pong magagandang nababasa tungkol sa buhay dito sa Japan. Napakaganda po nang bawat pahina. Very colorful! Buti na lang, nasa internet ang mga isyu ng Jeepney Press kaya mababasa ko siya kahit nasaan ako. Lagi ko pong binabasa kapag nasa densha ako papuntang trabaho. Nakaka-aliw po!

Hello, Thank you for my copy of this issue of Jeepney Press. I did a quick browse of the pages and appreciate all the springtime wonder. It's very uplifting. Florals abound! I'm saving my in-depth reading for another day, when I can sneak in some private time in my current hectic craziness called life.

Keep up the good work! Liza

Kudos to you Jeepney Press for pulling off another terrific job! Chona

JP July-August Issue cover photo was taken by Danny Dungo 04

JULY-AUGUST 2016

July - august 2016

06 SUMMER! by Dennis Sun 10 ISANG ARAW SA ATING BUHAY by Jeff Plantilla 14 SA TABI LANG PO! Laruan by Renaliza Rogers 16 LIFE IS A JOURNEY! by Glen Gypsy 18 ADVICE NI TITA LITS by Isabelita Manalastas-Watanabe 20 THE KYUSHU EARTHQUAKES by Mark Quijano 22 SOJOURNS by Chino Caddarao 26 MUSINGS OF A GARDENER by Rogelio Agustin 31 KWENTO NI NANAY by Anita Sasaki 32 SHOGANAI by Abie Principe 34 TRAFFIC by Alma Reyes 38 Philippine Festival Album 40 MISSING U: Butch Lao

42 MUSIKA by Jasmin Vasquez 44 YOLANDA: The Enka Diva 46 THE GARDEN OF HOPE by Marilyn Rivera 51 MARI KATO: An Interview by Dennis Sun 52 JEEPNEY-LICIOUS by Josie Nistal 54 SIGNPOST by Karen Sanchez 56 ARLENE ESPERIDA: COMIC INTERVIEW 60 ON THE ROAD TO... by Neriza Saito

JULY-AUGUST 2016 05

SUMMER! By Dennis Sun Photos by: Danny Dungo I have a love and hate relationship with summer in Japan. LOVE: Colorful hanabi (fireworks), beautiful matsuri (festivals), and delicious matcha (green tea) ice cream. HATE: It’s still hot, humid and suffocating! They say it’s not the heat that kills you but the humidity. It’s like stepping inside a sauna with your clothes on. You just want summer to end fast! When you are in Japan during summer season, you think this is the hottest place in the world. Old people die of heat stroke. And you the numbers keep growing as you see the figures surge on national TV. Even if summer lasts for only about 2 months in July and August, the heat becomes so unbearable you think it would last forever.

Having survived too many summers in Japan, I would like to give some adept tips to enjoying summer here.

Take lots of quick cold shower. That is how I conquered summer in the Philippines. Living in the university dorm during my student days, we didn’t have the luxury of an air conditioner. Yes, we had an electric fan trying its best to cool off our hot summer nights but, hey, it’s still hot air! I think it was the cold showers that I took about 5 times in a day that cooled off my body.

In the Philippines, it’s so hot that both men and women use umbrellas to shade themselves. In Japan though, only women do this. However, in Japan, both men and women use the folding fan to cool themselves. In the Philippines, though, you would be accused of being gay should you use a folding fan. But since we are all in Japan and Pinoys, let’s enjoy cooling ourselves with these beautiful folding fans and shade ourselves with these summer umbrellas! Who cares about being gay if we can cool ourselves down?

LIQUIDS

FASHION

You don’t have an excuse not to drink in Japan. There are vending machines in every street corner. And there are lots of convenience stores here and there, as well. What? You don’t have coins? Well, there are drinking fountains available in the train and subway stations and public parks. There is just no reason for you not to drink. And remember, water is still the best, the healthiest and the cheapest.

Wear less! Show more flesh! Wear shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, sunglasses, caps, hats, sunblock, handkerchiefs and anything loose. As they say in Japan, it’s a cool-breeze fashion!

SHOWER

UMBRELLAS and FANS

JULY-AUGUST 2016

Remember, once summer is over, next, you will be complaining about the cold winter. So, enjoy this short season and have fun!

Photos by Danny Dungo

alos 25 taon na ang nakalipas nung magkausap kami ni Fr. Francis Lucas, na isang pari sa Infanta Prelature sa probinsiya ng Quezon. Siya ang namamahala ng AM radio station (DZJO) ng Prelature sa bayan ng Infanta. Ang DZJO ay nagsisilbing paraan para makapaghatid ng mga balita sa mga malalayong barangay sa mga bayan ng Infanta, Real, General Nakar, Polillo, Panukulan, Burdeos, Patnanungan at Jomalig. Ito rin ay naghahatid ng mga personal na mensahe sa mga tao â&#x20AC;&#x201C; puwedeng makisuyo na mag-announce sa radyo ng mensahe para sa mga kamag-anak na nasa barangay na malayo sa bayan. Si Fr. Francis ay kasalukuyang Executive Director ng Catholic Media Network, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines na isang network ng mga Catholic radio stations sa Pilipinas. Noong panahong iyon, ang radyo ang tanging paraan para makakuha ng balita sa probinsiya; at sa kaso ng DZJO, ang radyo ang paraan para makapaghatid ng mensahe ang mga tao sa bawaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t isa. Inisip ni Fr. Lucas na dapat ay may isa pang radio station para naman sa probinsiya ng Aurora na sakop din ng Prelature. Humingi siya ng tulong sa isang Foundation para makapagtayo ng FM radio station. Sa tingin niya magandang paraan ito para magkaroon ng impormasyon ang mga tao sa probinsiya lalo na yung malayo ang lugar sa bayan.

JULY-AUGUST 2016

Nguniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ang tanong sa kanya ay ito: Bakit FM radio, hindi AM radio, para sa taong nasa liblib na lugar sa probinsiya? Ang sagot niya ay isa pang tanong: Why not the best for the poorest? Bakit nga hindi bigyan ng pinakamagandang pasilidad ang pinakadukha sa ating lipunan? Noon hanggang ngayon malaking problema pa rin sa ating bansa ang kahirapan. Marami pa rin sa ating kababayan ay hindi nakakatamasa ng ginhawa sa buhay. Marami pa rin ang nagtatawid-buhay araw-araw. Sila ang hindi nakakaranas ng mga bagay na karaniwan lang sa pang-araw-araw na buhay ng mga hindi mahihirap. Kaya nga: Why not the best for the poorest? Internet sa Bundok Kailan lang ay nagpalabas ang NHK World ng isang documentary tungkol sa proyekto ng isang Nepali sa mga komunidad na nasa Himalayas. Mga mahihirap na komunidad ang mga ito at tulad sa atin salat sila sa serbisyo ng kuryente, tubig, edukasyon at pangkalusugan. Ang Nepali na ito ay si Mabahir Pun. Isa siyang guro na may Masters Degree mula sa isang universidad sa America na

bumalik sa kanyang komunidad sa Himalayas. Napansin niya na marami sa mga kabataan sa mga komunidad sa bundok ay bumababa sa mga bayan para magaral. At marami sa kanila ay hindi na bumabalik sa kanilang komunidad pagkatapos ng pag-aaral. Sinabi niya na, imbes na sariling komunidad, iba ang napagsisilbihan ng talino at lakas ng mga kabataan pagkatapos makapagaral. Dito niya inisip ang kailangang suporta sa mga komunidad para matugunan ang kanilang pangangailangan. Kinumbinsi niya ang mga tao sa komunidad na pagtulungang ayusin ang mga paaralan sa kani-kanilang lugar. Nguni’t hindi pa sapat na merong classrooms at mga guro. Kailangang may mga makabagong kagamitan na makakatulong sa pag-aaral ng mga bata. At kaya isinunod niya ang pagkakaroon ng mga computers sa mga paaralan na makakakonekta sa internet. Nguni’t hindi maaaring gumana ang computer kung walang kuryente. Kaya kasama din sa proyekto ang pagtatayo ng mga solar panels at ibang makabagong paraan ng pagkakaroon ng kuryente. Paano naman makakakonekta sa internet? Kasama sa proyekto ang pagkakaroon ng internet signal sa komunidad. Naglagay siya ng mga “long-range wireless

links” para makakuha ng internet signal ang mga computers ng paaralan. Mga Prinsipyo Malakas ang mga prinsipyong nagtutulak kay Mabahir sa kanyang mga proyekto. Naniniwala siyang makakatulong ang agham sa mga mahihirap. Katuwang nito ang prinsipyong ang teknolohiya ay para sa lahat, at hindi dapat ipagkait sa mga mahihirap. Nguni’t ang mga prinsipyong ito ay mga tulong lamang sa mas mahalagang prinsipyong ipinipilit ni Mahabir na ipatupad – ang pantay-pantay na pagkakaroon ng pagkakataon ng lahat (equal access to opportunities for all). Pangarap niya na magkaroon ang mga tao sa komunidad sa bundok ng kakayanang malaman ang mga bagay na maibibigay ng internet. At dahil dito, pinapangarap din niya na magiging malikhain (creative) ang mga tao, lalo na ang mga kabataan, sa pagpapaunlad ng kanilang mga komunidad. At ang pagiging malikhain na ito ang siyang tutulong sa paggawa ng mga paraan para maka-angat ang kanilang pamumuhay sa kanilang komunidad. Kompleto ang plano ni Mahabir – mula sa edukasyon hanggang sa pangkabuhayan ng mga tao sa liblib na lugar. Ang kanyang gamit ay paniniwala sa kakayanan ng

Why not the best for the poorest?

mga tao sa komunidad at makabagong teknolohiya.

Kailangan lang na hindi limitado ang panaginip at lakas ng loob na sikaping matupad ang panaginip.

Ngayon, ang “wireless internet network” na gawa ni Mahabir sa Himalayas ay sumasakop sa maraming komunidad na hindi bibigyan ng serbisyo ng mga internet companies dahil hindi sila kikita. Ang “wireless internet network” na ito ayon sa isang report ay gamit ng mga komunidad para sa “e-learning, e-healthcare, local e-commerce, community discussions, money transfers and weather monitoring.” Tulad ni Fr. Francis, nanghingi si Mahabir ng tulong sa mga tao at institusyon sa Nepal at sa iba’t-ibang bansa para matupad ang kanyang pangarap. Nakakuha siya ng tulong – mga ideas, volunteers at gamit (computers, antenna, solar panels, batteries, at iba pa). The Best Technology for the Poorest Naipakita ni Mahabir na ang mga pangarap ay kayang matupad, kahit limitado ang pera. Kailangan lang na hindi limitado ang panaginip at lakas ng loob na sikaping matupad ang panaginip. May mga bagay na magagawa upang maibsan nang kahit konti ang kalagayan ng mga mahihirap. May mga teknolohiyang hindi mahal na magagamit nila na nasa Pilipinas. May ilaw na magagamit sa araw, ang “Solar Bottle Bulb” na gawa sa tubig at pangpaputi ng labada (tulad ng Zonrox), o ilaw sa gabi tulad ng SALt (Sustainable

Alternative Lighting) lamp o ang mas naunang “Tubig Power” lamp na gawa sa tubig at asin. Ang SALt lamp ay charger din ng cellphone. Puwedeng magkaroon ng malamig na hangin (aircon) sa loob ng bahay sa pamamagitan ng “eco-cooler” mula sa Bangladesh na gawa sa mga plastic na bote. Nguni’t magandang balikan ang kaisipan ni Mahabir na hindi bahagi lang ng ikagiginhawa ng buhay ng mahihirap ang tinututukan kundi ang pangmatagalang pag-unlad ng buong komunidad. Ang teknolohiya sa tingin niya ay susi sa pagunlad lalo na ng mga mahihirap. Adhikain niya ngayon na ang pamahalaan ng Nepal ay magsikap na magkaroon ng libreng internet connection ang mga mahihirap. Sabi niya, “bring the benefit of technology” sa rural areas. Bakit hindi rin sa Pilipinas?

Student? Just arrived in Japan? Lipat bahay? Bagong opisina? Moving company? Cable and internet connection?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our Mission is You! Let us support your life in Japan.â&#x20AC;?

English and Japanese OK!

03-3200-2559

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

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

www.asiavox.com

Nishimachi is... Academically rigorous. A Pioneer... in English and Japanese language education in Japan. Multicultural... with a student body of 390 children representing some thirty countries. Small and intimate... which enables us to promote the optimal well-being and growth of each individual. Co-educational and non-sectarian... Kindergarten through Grade 9. Accredited... by the Council of International Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and recognized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Conveniently located... in a residential area of central Tokyo favored by the diplomatic and expatriate communities.

090-2908-5088(SB)

Visit our campus and experience the warm atmosphere of Nishimachi!

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

www.nishimachi.ac.jp

Ni Renaliza Rogers

umakay ako ng taxi isang beses. Apat kaming pasahero (shared ang taxi, Php30.00 kada tao). May nakatabi akong mag lola. Ang batang lalaki ay mataba, mga nasa 10-years old ang edad, naka-salamin, may hawak na tablet at busy kakalaro ng games (COC yata o Minecraft). Doon pa lang sa hintayan ng taxi, naglalaro na siya ng games. Hanggang sa makasakay ng taxi at umabot na sa aming paroroonan, laro pa rin siya ng laro. Ni minsan ay hindi siya tumigil muna at tumingin sa labas ng bintana upang ienjoy ang view. Ni minsan din ay hindi din sila nag-usap ng lola niyang siguro naman ay nagpapasalamat din dahil naka tablet ang apo niya at hindi ito magiingay o

JULY-AUGUST 2016

mangungulit sa kanya. Para akong nalungkot para sa batang ito. Ako, hindi ko masyadong kinakalikot ang cellphone ko habang bumabyahe, kahit ito ngayon ang usong pampawala ng inip sa mga kaedad ko, dahil mas gusto kong mag sightseeing sa mga nadadaanan namin kahit pa araw-araw ko na itong nadadaanan. Isa pa, nahihilo kasi ako kapag nag ce-cellphone habang umaandar ang sasakyan. Ngunit ang batang katabi ko, wala man lang siyang interes sa isang bagay na dapat kinaaaliwan ng isang batang katulad niya, ang sumakay sa taxi at panoorin ang mga nadadaanan niya sa labas ng bintana. Uso na daw ngayon sa mga bata ang magkaroon ng electronic handheld device tulad ng iPad or tablet o di-kaya'y cellphone upang paglaruan. Kahit ang aking mga pamangkin na nakasama ko noong bakasyon, nag-eedad 3-8 years old, lahat sila'y may kanya-kanyang tablet,

buong araw nanonood ng youtube o naglalaro ng games. Ayon sa kanilang mga magulang, para daw ito maaliw sila at huwag silang maging magulo, di na kailangan bantayan. Nakakalungkot isipin na ang mga batang ito ay magkakasama naman sa iisang kuwarto pero hindi man lamang halos magkita. May kanya-kanyang mundo sa kanilang mga kamay, hindi mo makausap. Ang inaasahan ko ay isang maingay, masaya at magulong kuwarto lalo naâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t limang batang lalaki ang magkakasama, ngunit tahimik sila at wala silang kibuan. Apat na bata ang may kanyakanyang tablet, pwera sa isa, ang aking anak, si Amorsolo. Si Amorsolo ay walang sariling tablet, di tulad ng kanyang mga pinsan. Hindi ito dahil hindi namin kayang bumili. Sa katunayan, mayroon kaming iPad na pinapagamit ko sa kanya minsan ngunit kailangan pa niyang magpaalam sa akin kapag nais niya itong paglaruan. Maaaring isipin ng ibang mga magulang na ipinagkakait ko ito sa aking anak, pero mas gusto ko kasing nakikita niya ang

mundo at pa-ligid niya at ma enjoy ang kanyang kamusmosan. Gusto kong maaliw siyang maglaro ng mga laruang pambata, maglaro sa labas ng bahay, at lawakan ang kanyang imahinasyon. Mag-isa siyang bata sa aming bahay, ayaw ko na doon na lamang siya naduduling na nakatutok sa kanyang tablet buong araw. Ayaw kong maubos niya ang kanyang kamusmosan na nakatutok sa screen ng kanyang tablet na sa pagahon niya ay hindi na pala siya bata. Kaya wala siyang tablet na pansarili. Hayun siya, nakikisiksik sa tabi ng kanyang pinsan pinanonood ang nilalarong game nito.

Unang beses niyang ma-meet ang kanyang apat na pinsan na siyang magkakapit-bahay, ngunit hindi niya maka-bonding ng husto ang mga ito dahil nga tutok ang mga ito sa kani-kanilang mga tablet. Nung umuwi ang tiyahin ko galing Japan, si Amorsolo lamang ang may pasalubong na laruang robot dahil yun ang kanyang hiningi. Sa mga pinsan niya, ang pasalubong ay pawang

illustrations: Dennis Sun

mga relo, games at kung anu-ano pang mas "modern." Tuwang-tuwa si Amorsolo sa kanyang bagong robot, pinagyayabang pa neto ito sa kanyang mga pinsan at sinabi pang pahihiramin naman niya sila nito. Hindi ko inasahang walang ni isang batang nainggit sa magandang robot ni Amorsolo, ni hindi nga nila ito binigyang interes. Habang sila'y busy na ulit sa kanilang mga tablets at online games, si Amorsolo, busy din kakakalikot ng robot niya, pinalalakad ito sa mga pader, pinalilipad-lipad at ginagawan ng kung anuanong ek-

senang labanan kahit siyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;y mag-isa lamang na naglalaro. Masaya ba ako na laruang pambata pa rin ang hilig ng aking anak? Oo, dahil siyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;y isang bata. Masasabi ko bang ayaw niya sa tablet at online games? Hindi. Sa totoo lang ineenjoy niya rin ang mga iyon at bihasangbihasa siyang maglaro ng games sa tablet. Pero hindi siya ang tipong nakaungkot na lang doon buong maghapon. Maglalaro siya ng mga isang oras ngunit iiwan niya ulit yun upang buohin ang kanyang mga lego, o di kaya'y irepair ang kanyang mga sirang robot gamit ang Mighty Bond na kung saan pagkatapos ay magdidikit-dikit ang kanyang mga daliri at balat dahil kumalat ang pandikit. Balang araw, mawawala din ang hilig niya sa mga laruan at mas kahihiligan niya ang pag-iinternet at

gamingâ&#x20AC;Śat gumimik kasama ang barkada (wag naman sana). Pero sa ngayon, mas mainam na ienjoy muna niya ang kanyang kamusmosan at maranasang makipaglaro sa labas o kahit mag-isang maglaro ng mga laruan dahil minsan lang siya maging bata.

with Glen Gypsy Sometimes, you just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know where to go to. Sometimes, you are just afraid to let go. Sometimes, it seems you are carrying the whole world at your back. Sometimes, it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter where you go to. Sometimes, you just accept things as they are. Sometimes, you just ride your bicyle and let it carry you to nowhere. Then, you would have realized everything is going to be okay. You are where you should be.

PHILIP DIZON TORRES

PIDAYIT Connecting Fashion with Culture Outfit: PIDAYIT Creation by Philip D. Torres Accessories: Jose Claver Toledo II Make-up and Hair: Danilo Sampaga Model: Riza Lim Graphic Design: Dennis Sun

Contact through Facebook: Philip D. Torres

mobile (Philippines) : +63-91-7605-6366

by Isabelita Manalastas-Watanabe Dear Readers: Bago ko po umpisahan ang pagsagot sa inyong mga katanungan, gusto ko lang pong ipaabot sa inyo, na OK lang po na hanapin ako sa telephone number 03-6869-8555, from 9:30 a.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5:00 p.m. on week-days, and 10:00 a.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5:00 p.m. on Sundays, kapag may gustong itanong. Iyong huling tumawag sa akin, medyo nahirapang mahanap kung papaano ako kokontakin, kaya heto, ipinapaalam ko sa inyo ang aking contact number at oras na pwede akong makausap. Magbilin lang po ng return call kung busy or wala ako when you call. Tita Lits

Dear Tita Lits, Maraming salamat po sa inyong mga paliwanag tungkol sa PhilHealth. Paano naman po yung SSS sa Pinas. PANo po ba ito at pwede po kaya kaming mga permanent residents dito sa Japan na kumuha ng SSS? Salamat po. Mina, Osaka Dear Mina:

Kung kailangan ninyo ng advice, mag e-mail lang po kayo kay Tita Lits sa jeepneymail@yahoo.com

JULY-AUGUST 2016

Best if you kindly access below link, para mabasa/makuha mo lahat ng pertinent information. https://www.sss.gov.ph/sss/ap pmanager/pages.jsp?page=ss benefits Tita Lits (P.S. Pwede kang magbayad ng iyong SSS membership dues sa Philippine banks dito sa Japan at sa maraming remittance companies dito sa Japan. Iyong Speed Money

Transfer, nag-o-offer ng libreng remittance sa SSS, Pag-ibig at Philhealth. Call 03-6869-8555 for more details. Look for Melody Cheng). Dear Tita Lits, Tapos na po ang eleksyon. Napag-isip-isip ko lang po. Kung ang vice-president ang papalit sa president kung mawala ito sa kanyang tungkulin, sino naman po ang papalit sa vicepresident kung siya ay mawalan ng tungkulin? Manuel, Hiroshima Dear Manuel: Base sa ating 1987 Constitution, ang line of succession sa Presidente, kapag siya ay na-incapacitate (kunwari naatake, at nabaldado at hindi na makapagsalita), namatay , nag-resign, or naalis sa office (impeachment, at na-convict

din after the impeachment), ay ang Vice President, tapos ang Senate President, tapos ang Speaker of the House of Representatives. Hopefully hindi sila lahat magsabaysabay ma-disgrasya! (Actually, hindi ko alam ang magiging proseso kung saka-sakali). Tita Lits Dear Tita Lits, Nagpapabili po ang anak ko na 11 years old ng Iphone. Pinag-uusapan po namin ng asawa kung dapat o hindi dapat bigyan ng Iphone ang anak namin. Ano po sa palagay ninyo? Rico Okinawa

niyang magkaroon nito. Kapag walang access sa wi-fi/internet ang bata, e de limitado ang gamit niya sa Iphone. Kapag mayroon, wala na kayong control kung ano ang gusto niyang i-access sa internet, kahit adult content. Kausapin kaya ninyong mabuti ang bata, at i-confirm bakit kailangang Iphone ang gusto. Depende sa sagot niya, mag-decide kayo. Kasi kung ordinary telephone use lang, importante din na may telephone siya, for emergency use. Para naman hindi abusuhin ang gamit, bigyan ninyo siya ng maximum, reasonable amount of usage. Kapag lumampas doon, sabihing ibabawas sa kanyang allowance. Tita Lits

Dear Rico: Iyan ang problema ng peer pressure. Kapag ang mga kaibigan/ka-klase ng anak ninyo ay my Iphone, gusto rin

Dear Tita Lits, Bakit po ang ibang tao, hindi marunong mag-pila? Nakaka-inis po. Ilang oras

kaming nag-pipila at bigla na lamang sisingit yung iba. At ang mas masama pa ay grupo pa sila. Gusto kong mag complain sa kanila pero lagi akong pinipigilan ng aking asawang Hapon na puro tiis na lamang ang alam niyang gawin. Ano po ba dapat gawin sa mga pangyayaring ganito? Liza Kyoto Dear Liza: Ako, definitely sasabihan ko, in a nice manner, na nakapila kayo, at dapat pumila rin sila. Palagay ko, hindi naman papalag kapag mahinahon at magalang naman ang pagsasabi ninyo. Kapag pumalag, kahit ang galang mo na at napaka-mahinahong nagsabi, ay taasan mo na rin ng boses. Otherwise, hindi na matutuo ng disiplina, dahil palaging pinapalusot. Tita Lits

Get ready! Join us! Inviting everyone to the 5KM FUN RUN with the Peace Striders and friends on OCT 30, 2016, Sunday! You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to run all the way. You can jog or walk depending on your health level. The most important thing is to have FUN, FUN, FUN! Registration Fee: ÂĽ3,000 yen with T-shirt and medals for top 3 category winners. Of course, everybody will have a bottle of water.

Kowai!!! When The Deadly Disaster Strikes

by Mark Quijano Usually, my three-year-old son takes a shower after dinner, and either I or my wife accompany him to the bathroom every time he does this daily routine. But on April 15, a deadly earthquake shook our place and scared us to death. Habang nasa-loob ng bathroom ang aking mag-ina, biglang tumunog ang emergency alarms ng aming mga smart-phones. And in less than 10 seconds, nagsimula nang yumanig ng napakalakas. Nasa sala ako ng mga oras na yon, nakatayo at halos hindi makapaglakad dahil sa lakas ng pagyanig. Ang unang pumasok sa isipan ko ay lalabas ng bahay upang sakaling gumuho ang building na aming tinitirhan ay mas-ligtas ako. Ngunit ang aking mag-ina ay nasa loob ng shower room sa mga oras na iyon at hindi ko sila maaring iwan. Kaya habang sinisikap kung manatiling nakatayo, tinawag ko ang aking mag-ina at sinabihang lumabas ng banyo habang patuloy akong nagmamatyag sa ano mang posibling mangyari. I knew that, anytime, 20

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natural calamity can strike anywhere. And as a Christian, I believe that this kind of scary thing brings us some message. So while the earthquake continued to shake our house, I couldn't help myself but think that the end of the world was maybe coming. In Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grace, pagkatapos ng mahigit sampung segundos na pagyanig, bahagya itong huminto. Kaagad na lumabas ang aking anak mula sa banyo, takot na takot at umiiyak. At dahil hindi pa halos siya nagsasalita, using gestures, he tried to tell me na yumayanig daw sa loob, repeatedly saying the word â&#x20AC;&#x153; Kowaiâ&#x20AC;?. When I looked at his face, I saw that he was scared. Para maging ligtas, pumunta kami sa sala ng aming bahay, doon namin pinakiramdaman ang sunod-sunod na mga aftershocks. Sa tuwing tumutunog ang emergency alarm binubuhat ko na kaagad ang aking anak upang kung sakali man mabilis kaming makalabas ng bahay. Halos magdamag kami na nakiramdam hanggang sa bumalik sa normal ang sitwasyon. Pagkalipas ng ilang oras,

Photo by Bonbon Garbanzos

inakala namin na tapos na ang lindol, ngunit nagkamali kami. Hindi pa pala tapos dahil sinundan pa ito ng napakalakas na after shock. At noong nangyari ito, lumabas na talaga kami ng bahay. Karga ko ang aming anak at mabilis kaming lumabas ng bahay for our safety. After that, we were advised na to stay at the evacuation center na malapit lang din sa aming bahay. Mapalad kami at hindi nasira ang aming tinitirhan. Sa mga karatig lungsod napakalaki ng pinsala. May mga bahay, kalsada at mga tulay na nasira. May mga lugar na halos hindi na maaring tirhan because they were completely destroyed. Ang search and rescue operations ay inabot nang ilang araw. Nawalan din ng supply ng tubig at kuryente ang maraming lugar. At ang pinakamasaklap, ay ang takot na naramdaman ng bawat isa, lalo na nang mga bata, napakatindi. Kagaya ng ibang biktima, takot kaming bumalik sa aming mga bahay dahil sa mga after shocks na patuloy na yumayanig. Sanay ako sa bagyo sa Pilipinas, pero hindi ko inasahan na napakatindi pala ng epekto ng lindol. May mga taong nakaligtas sa unang pag-yanig, ngunit minalas na nadisgrasya sa mga after shocks. Ito din ang unang pagkakataon na nakaranas kami ng malakas na lindol simula noong tumira kami dito sa Kyushu. So the fears that we have experienced were extreme. Aking natanto na hindi lang pala lindol ang maari naming katakutan, mayron pang tsunami, sunog, shortage of foods and water, sickness, maaring pagsabog ng nuclear plants at marami pang iba.

One thing I realized after the quake was the fact that things like these can happen anytime and anywhere. All we need to do is to prepare ourselves and ask Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s protection every single day. Sa kabila ng kalamidad, mapalad parin kami kung maituturi dahil nasa Japan kami nakatira. Nakita ko kung gaano kabilis umaksyon ang gobyerno, both local and national. Everything was very organized. And above all, the willingness of the people to help was evident. In fact, just days after the quake, volunteers from different parts of Japan flocked the most affected areas. Wala na halos mapaglagyan sa mga volunteers. Ang iba galing pa sa malalayong lugar. I was sure that those people had works to do at home. They have families to take good care of. But my wife told me that Japanese are usually like this in times of disasters--they help each other. I definitely learned a lot from what I have seen. Ang dalangin ko ngayon ay sana wala nang kasunod yong nangyaring lindol. At dinadalangin ko rin na sana, hindi ito mangyari sa Pilipinas. Hindi lingon sa ating kaalaman that the Philippines, particularly in Metro Manila area, is expecting the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Big Oneâ&#x20AC;? to come anytime. Dalawang bagay lang ang maari nating gawin: ang maging handa sa pagdating ng anu mang sakuna, at pangalawa ay ang taimtim na pananalangin na hanggat maari, hindi mangyari ang mga kalamidad na kagaya nito dito at maging sa Pilipinas.

This photo below was taken by Chinoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friend, Ismael Ifurung.

Pamplona Cagayan Valley is home to the most expensive fish in the Philippines. Priced at 4,000 to 5,000 pesos per food serving, Ludong or Lobed River Mullet is considered the most expensive fish in the Philippines. It is native to the rivers of northern Luzon particularly Cagayan River, Philippines' longest river. A lot of varieties of this fish can be found in the Philippines but these ones found in the north are the most sought after by Chinese chefs. Sadly, the conservation status is on the endangered level due to illegal fishing brought about by its high demand in the food market. This fish also thrives in Pamplona River, a large water course dissecting the town of Pamplona Cagayan Valley. October to December is the best season to visit the town if you want to have a taste of this costly fish as it is the spawning season. Pamplona, an idyllic 4th class town in the northern province of Cagayan, along the Babuyan channel, is so much blessed with natural wonders. With mountains, hills, dense forest, fresh water and sea swamps, black sand sea shore with various sandbars, water fall and rivers, if developed for 1st class tourism destination, it will give nearby Palaui Island and Pagudpud Beach a run for their money. Its seashore is famous for its black sand coastline. The town is rich in history. Founded by a Spanish vicariate, the town's name was derived from a famous city in Spain with a world famous annual bull chasing festival. It has a 17th century church famous with its red brick facade. It's annual Tubong Festival (bamboo festival) celebrated in April, in a week long festivities, is one of Cagayan 's visited fiestas. When traveling northern Luzon, make sure to visit this small but lively town. Pamplona can be reached from a bus from Manila via Ilocos region in 12 hours trip. For a faster and convenient trip, board a plane from Manila going to Tuguegarao City. From Tuguegarao, take a bus going to Laoag city. Along the route, after 3 hours trip, you will pass the town of Pamplona. 24

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A gown made out of bamboo materials

Children participating in their townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s festival

Photos and text by Chino Caddarao JULY-AUGUST 2016

â&#x20AC;&#x153;For the love of gardening is a seed that once sown never dies, 26

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by Rogelio Agustin

but always grows and grows to an enduring and ever-increasing source of happinessâ&#x20AC;? -Gertrude Jekyll-

he other day, our dear editor suggested to me if I can write an additional article on gardening. That’s a great idea! I should have thought of that before when in fact it is one of my other passions along with photography. So I am taking a “sabbatical” from my Salaryman series for a change (I guess it’s the time to take a break from the stresses of the “sarariman” stories)! I’m sure a lot of our readers are used to living in houses with a private garden back home in the Philippines which is not so normal here in Japan, a country known for very small houses especially in the crowded cities. Although I must say that Japan is rich in nature and there is an abundance of greenery everywhere. But the Japanese are known for their ingenuity to make the best use of limited resources that they do not see the small size or absence of land as a limitation to have their own garden. No wonder why they came up with bonsai, right? When I came to Japan, the closest I could get to a garden was to go to a nearby botanical park. It always amazes me why those white

butterfly orchids (phalaenopsis) that were so ordinary at home are treated like gold here! Even the banana trees are like treasures inside the greenhouse when it used to be my “punching bag” back at home! To have a private garden in Japan seems to be a dream because of limited land available and houses that are spaced so close to each other that only weeds are able to survive. But it is becoming popular because of its therapeutic and healing effects in this high-stress country. Gardening has emerged in recent years as a scientificallyproven stress reliever. It is one of the best ways for “Digital Detoxing”, providing an escape from the relentless cobweb of the digital age. It does work for me and all of my gardener friends, helping us to detach ourselves from this busy world. I even found it made my body forget my dreaded pollen allergy in spring and relieves me from my migraine at least when I am in the garden.

don’t find my place inconvenient at all). But there is nothing more rewarding in my garden than being welcomed by a sight of bursting colors of pansies, anemone, ranunculus, osteopermums, tulips, daffodils, primroses when I open the door early in a morning in spring, plus the sweet scent of daphne that fills the whole place. The peonies are gone now but the lilies have sprouted, the clematis vines have climbed the trellises, the roses are in full bloom and the maple and olive leaves are saying it’s summer! The blueberry shrubs are filled with green berries ready for picking in late summer. And I have just harvested the fragrant English lavender flowers, gave off bunches of them at the office. In my garden, the bees, the earthworms, the caterpillars are all my friends. I don’t mind if the birds feast on my blueberries and blackberries because they come early morning and sing me their songs. And by the way, I also tend orchids at the office where they flower all year round.

I have my own garden in the suburbs of Tokyo which gives me more access to nature at the expense of easy access to convenience in the city center (though I

After all the years I spent on gardening, I am still a “newbie”. My garden is still a mess, but I love the chaotic mix of colours when they come to full bloom! There’s so

much to learn still and it does take time. You can’t force flowers to bloom as you like, or for the trees to bear fruits when you want. It is possible now with technology but not in my garden where nature rules. Why hurry anyway, the garden is where you relax and wish time stops. You don’t need a big patch of land to have one. People who live in “mansion” apartments do veranda gardening. Some towns and cities rent small plots for weekend gardeners. You can get all you need from the 100-yen shops for indoor gardening. Lastly, very small succulents and

cacti are great for window gardening. You can even grow herbs inside the house. Besides, do not think you have to have a “green thumb” to be a gardener. They only need your simple tender loving care and some attention and they

will reward you with more than you expect. So, why not get pot, put some soil, plant something (try mint or basil), and start detoxing the greener way! Happy summer!

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by Anita Sasaki "EVERY GISING A BLESSING !" They say that our words are like the rudder on a ship, able to determine the course of our future. Our words can bring life and peace to a difficult situation, or death and discouragement. Instead of being meaningless or inconsequential, the declarations you speak will create powerful spiritual repercussions, either positive or negative. Sabi nga, ang ating mga salitang binibitawan ay makapangyarihan. Kung ano ang ating sinasabi ay siyang nangyayari. Maaring positibo o negatibo. Para itong "rudder"- isang metal o kahoy na nakakabit sa ating mga barko, bangka o eroplano, kung saan dereksyon ito patutungo. Kaya isipin natin muna ang ating sasabihin bago natin bitawan. Maaring mabago ang ating buhay sa ating pananalita. Kahit na sa maliit na binago ito ay nagdudulot nang malaking kaibahan o pagbabago. Here we can change our life by changing our words. Even a small change can make a major difference, so it is important to guard what comes out of our mouth !

"HINDI MO KAILANGAN MAGING MAYAMAN O MATAAS NA PINAGARALAN UPANG MAKATULONG SA KAPWA MO PILIPINO."

photo credit: Nick Santiago

ni Abie Principe

Naka-recover na po ba tayo sa nakaraang emotional rollercoaster na tinatawag na Pambansang Eleksyon ng Pilipinas? Otsukare sama po sa ating lahat! Ngayong tapos na eleskyon, step back na po muna tayo, ang letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s see how effective ang resulta ng democratic process.

mo at nakatira tayo sa Japan. Dahil, sa four seasons, maraming pagkakataong kumuha ng litrato sa isang lugar, pero iba-iba ang scenery. Maaring kunan ang isang park ng Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall (parang kanta ano?). Nitong nakaraang Spring, marami akong nakitang mga Pilipino, dala-dala ang kanilang mga naglalakihang camera at nagkukuhanan ng litrato kasama ang Sakura. Nakakatuwa namang panoorin. Subalit ang talagang napakaraming kumukuha ng litrato ay ang mga may telepono. Lahat talaga may smartphone at mabilis na makaka-upload ng litrato matapos itong kunin. Sa ngayon Facebook ang pinaka-popular kung saan nag-u-upload ang ating mga kababayan.

Maiba na ako ng usapan. Sa tuwing dumadaan ako sa Osu Kannon, nga pala, para sa aming mga tagaNagoya, ang Osu na siguro ang pinaka-similar sa Akihabara, marami akong Ako rin ay mayroong camera, mga Pilipino na nakikitang pero sa totoo lang, madalang may dalang camera. At ko itong gamitin. Mabusisi hindi maliliit na digital camera, kundi malalaki at mukhang mamahalin ang mga ito. Marami talaga sa ating mga Pilipino ang mahilig sa gadgets, at isa sa mga popular na gadget ay ang camera. Siyempre, kalakip nito ang hilig sa pagkuha ng litrato. Talagang marami tayong kababayan na aspiring photographers, malamang, Dear Reader, isa ka dito? Kung ikaw ay mahilig sa photography, napaka-swerte

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ang settings nito, at minsan, hindi ko gusto ang result, pero pag tamangtama ang setting, talagang maganda ang resulta. Madalas telepono ang gamit ko. Noon pa man, in the era of film, mahilig na akong kumuha ng litrato. Tuwangtuwa ako ngayon sa smartphones, kasi napakadali ang kumuha ng litrato. Nasa 17,000 photos na ang laman ng telepono ko, at alam ko, may mga ibang tao, mas marami pa dito. Bukod sa pang-arawaraw na litrato, mahilig ako kumuha gamit ang black and

white function ng telepono. Hindi colored tapos babaguhin ko pagkatapos. Talagang sa umpisa pa lang, monochrome na ang kuha ko sa litrato. Maraming nagsasabi na basta black ang white, artistic. Nakakatuwang isipin, at kahit konti, may katotohanan. Yan sigruro ang isang dahilan kung bakit natutuwa ako sa black and white pictures. Mayroon akong app na para lamang sa pagkuha ng black ang white. Paborito ko ito. Dahil siguro, para sa akin, mas nakikita ang realidad kapag ito ay in black and white. Black ang white means stark reality, reality with no frills. Maari rin natin itong ihalintulad sa ating nakaraang eleksyon. The stark reality is tapos na po ang eleskyon. The reality with no frills, we have to live with the result, so letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s make the best of it.

by Alma Reyes

…and why it doesn’t work in Japan Many foreigners often ask me why Japanese bow a lot. “Are there different types of bows?” “Are there assigned meanings for each type of bow?” If you’re a people watcher and fancy doing nothing special, but hanging out in a café while observing people around, or looking out the window, you would be surprised to witness a dozen bowing scenarios in a day. Take a guy next to

your table, with eyes closed and hands together in a prayer-like position, slightly bowing (more like nodding) to a teary-eyed girl across him. There’s a young lady in the other side by the wall, bowing repeatedly to an older man who is answering her likewise, with continuous bows and waving his right hand in front of his nose, in concert with his bows. Out in the street, you may see a shop owner standing outside his shop bowing incessantly to a not-very-happy looking customer who skirts away exasperated. Further down the road in front of one of those gigantic skyscrapers, two businessmen bow almost 60 degrees (equivalent to bending downwards), with arms clasped tightly against their thighs, never looking up as though admiring the stone patterns on the pavement. A senior executive hops on his black executive car and speeds away: the two businessmen are still bowing for another fifteen seconds—clearly, one of my favorite bowing scenes. You could be a caricature artist and not need a script to fill in the dialogues of the silent movie. Bowing in Japan expresses a thousand words, and although it can range from saying “thanks, it’s fine, nice to meet you, I understand,” to “I don’t know you, but I’ll notice you anyway…” one of its most simplified messages is “Sorry…” and yes, there are different angles of bowing depending on how grave your offense is or how sincere you are.

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illustration: Dennis Sun

In Japan, saying “sorry” is a very convenient social expression because it is conveyed without too many unnecessary, colorful and pretentious words. So, you can forget about making highfaluting excuses of how you forgot your Smartphone at home and had to go back to get it and then, missed your train; or how you miswrote the client’s name on an invoice because you’re a gaijin and can’t read Kanji; or how your 5-year old boy spilled chocolate all over your presentations and had to redo them, then missed your deadline. Foreign cultures may need such justifications to fill up the WHY and the WHAT HAPPENED to evaluate how much leeway they can afford to forgive you; but for Japanese, it’s in and out of the ears. None of it matters; a miss is a miss. They may pretend to be curious and hear you out, but what they really expect you to say is, “Taihen moushiwake arimasen deshita,” (literally, “There is no apology good enough.”) and is considered to be the most formal and polite expression of humbling yourself. For Japanese, humility is a far nobler gesture than selfdefense. Have you not watched news conferences on television

illustration: Dennis Sun

when companies are accused of illegal trade, fraud and other offenses? No one is defending their rights. Yes, just bow. Lower. Ten more seconds, cameras flashing. You’re forgiven, but not forgotten. This is the reason why although Japanese are noted for incredibly maintaining perfection in their work, not only in the ambition to succeed superlatively, but also in the fear to fail and be judged for inefficiency when a mistake is committed, “overcoming” it with a scripted apology (“Go-meiwaku wo kakemashite, moushiwake arimasen,” “O-tesu wo kakemashite, moushiwake arimasen”—all meaning “I apologize for causing inconvenience”) seems to be the “convenient” way to clear the air, and yes, life moves on. Letter writing or business correspondences are, in fact, testimonial proofs of how redundant apologies run in less than three paragraphs. Salutations can start with “O-isogashii tokoro moushiwake

arimasen ga..” (I apologize for disturbing you but..) or “Gobusata shite orimasu” (“I neglected contacting you” or “I have kept my silence”), then end with “O-jikan wo torasete itadaki moushiwake arimasen” (I apologize for having taken your time) with always the first person in the act of an anticipated wrongdoing. Telephone conversations are no different with the familiar “Shitsurei desu ga…” (I excuse myself but...”) when opening a subject. Japanese polite expressions commonly begin with a preconceived apology even if no fault is intended or about to take place! On the other hand, in Japan, no one says “sorry” to express condolences to a bereaved person. The expression used is “Zannen” (That’s unfortunate.) Perhaps, in this case, death is not a selfproclaimed misdemeanor. It may be a foul sample to cite (oops, did I just use a downplay?) the cases of rampant suicides, especially among retrenched businessmen who give up their lives out of shame and dishonor—yet, sure, a deliberate jump over the train tracks is simply saying “Sorry.” In the world of logic, not being able to express yourself to replace it with a one-sentence apology defies all rules of freedom of expression and ironically, the admittance of one’s imperfection in a truly imperfect world. Elton John may say, “Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word,” well…but not in Japan!!!

the Philippine Festival 2016 PHOTO ALBUM held at Hibiya Park, June 18-19, 2016

Photo Credits: JP Punzalan Alan Narez Bonbon Garbanzos Jason Conde JR Kurosawa Judith Enfacta Kent Loyd Dolar

BUTCH LAO is a native of Angeles City, Pampanga. He first came to Japan on March 1, 2013 working for the US Navy. He lived in Atsugi, Kanagawa-ken. He left Japan a year ago and he has been missing Japan so much. Jeepney Press talked to Butch about his journey in Japan.

Which places in Japan did you like the best and why? This is a tough question because there so many beautiful places that I fell in love. I’ll give you my top three: 1) Nagano Ski Resorts and Nozawa Onsen Village: the home of the spectacular Northern Alps. I love snowboarding and Nagano has the best powdered snow I’ve ever seen and with the combination of the hot springs and shabu-shabu for dinner, you are in heaven! 2) Enoshima beach: In the summer, I take my surfboard and boogie board and enjoy surfing the beach after a long day. I pampered myself at the nearby Enoshima Island Spa where I watched the sunset from the infinity heated pools. 3) Shinjuku: If you love luxury shopping, this is the place where you can buy used high-end authentic items such as Louis Vuitton, Hermes bags or if you are a watch enthusiast, like me, but cannot afford a brand new luxurious watches, well, this is the place to get those dream watches you always wanted like Breitling, Omega, & Cartier. Don't forget to bring your passport to get the tax exemption. Make sure to shop during your first 3 months of arrival to avail. Which places would you recommend for other Pinoys to visit? So many! I recommend writing a bucket list. Tokyo will be the number one. So much to see here like Tokyo Tower, Imperial Palace, Skytree,

Kabukicho, Akihabara, Odaiba, Asakusa, to name a few. If you like dancing, a good club to go is Age-ha, and of course, do not leave Tokyo without singing your heart out in one of the karaoke bars in Roppongi. And after a long night, don't forget to indulge yourself with some delicious ramen at Ippudo. In the summer, go see the coastline and white sands of IZU Peninsula. If you want to experience a unique 25 flavored spa, go to Yunessun Resort at Hakone. What did you learn about the Japanese culture and people? I was once at a train station and took notice of this little boy in school uniform getting off the train who took a bus by himself to get home. Japan is one of the safest places to live. People are polite, honest, kind, shy and clean. They will go beyond their way to help. I was once lost and a Japanese gentleman walked with me all the way across the park just to show me my way back home. They are shy people maybe because of the language barrier. And I’d say Japan is a very clean country that even schools don’t have janitors but you would wonder how they have the cleanest toilets around. When did you leave Japan? I left Japan in July, 2015. What do you miss the most? Everything.

Musika

ni Jasmin Vasquez Music: a vocal or instrumental sounds combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion. Music: a universal language that connect everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s emotion. I can't imagine how we live in this world without music. I remember when I was in high school, this was my favorite subject. I always get their attention because I am always the one who catches first the melody of the songs the instructor is teaching us. This way I developed myself slowly, changing from shy-type girl turning to have-a-goodfighting-spirit when I sing. I joined the Glee Club in our school. I love to sing but I think there's one thing that was missing whenever I am singing during that time. Kasi before, ang alam ko lang basta maganda ang boses and tama ka sa tono, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enough na para makakanta ka. Pero as time went on, I realized that it is not only the voice but the feeling that you have to put yourself in the situation inside the song that you are going to sing. Mas may feeling mas maappreciate ng tao. Mas maipaparating mo ang message ng songs sa taong gusto mong kantahan. Aminin man natin o hindi ay 42

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maraming nabubuong relasyon ng dahil sa Musika. Mas nai-inlove ka kapag may kasamang kanta. Kaya nga diba may mga theme song pa ang mga bawat lovers. Hehehe, relate din ba kayo? Ang iba naman kapag may pinagdadaanan sa buhay ay dinadaan sa pagsulat ng kanta at nilalapatan ng tono na syang nagiging isang musika. Napakadaling gumawa ng kanta na laman ng iyong puso. Kapag ikaw ay in love, gustong gusto mong makarinig ng music na feeling mo ang saya saya ng mundo. You also do the same thing when you were broken hearted, gusto mo lang magkulong sa room makinig ng music sa radyo. Kung bakit naman tuwing sad ka eh sad din yung tumutugtog sa radyo na para ba gang palaging patama sa iyo yung meaning ng kanta. Musika rin ang kadalasang ikanabubuhay ng mga tao. Maraming gumagamit nito para aliwin ang mga tao. Gabi-gabi sa mga club, ito na yata ang pinaka-madali at pinaka-nakaka-enjoy na trabaho. Pag sinuwerte at nagalingan sayo, may bonus ka pang tip mula sa customer. Mayroon din mga nagtitinda lang ng kung ano-ano sa daan

na kapag sinamahan nila ng musika at pag-awit ay biglang nagiging viral ang video. Tiyak patok ang kanyang benta at nagiging sikat pa. Kailan lamang ay mayroong batang sumali sa the Voice kids, naging viral ang kanyang video na habang nagtitinda ng kakanin eh kumakanta ng Sayang na Sayang na original na kinanta ng Aegis. Dahil din sa musika kaya't marami sa atin ang nagkakaroon ng maraming kaibigan mula sa ibat-ibang lugar na labanan ng singing contest. Madalas mas madaling sumikat ang tao dahil sa husay nyang pag-awit. Marami ng sumubok at nagtagumpay mula sa iba't-ibang lugar o ibang bansa. Isang halimbawa ay sina Charice Pempengco, Jessica Sanchez at marami pang-iba. Ng dahil sa musika, marami na rin akong nakilala bilang isang grand-finalist ng Utawit Regional Qualifying Round (2011, 2013, 2015) . Hindi man ako nagwawagi sa Grand Final ay sobrang panalo naman ako sa dami ng nagiging kaibigan at kakilala sa larangan ng pag-awit. Dahil din dito ay alam kong malaki at naging bahagi rin ako ng pagtulong sa mga batang nais makapag aral ngunit kapos sa financial na syang tinutulungan at layunin

na matulungan ng UTAWIT ang "Gawad Kalinga-Sibol." Masaya ang pakiramdam ng alam mong nakatulong ka. Every year ay mayroong Utawit so you can join guys and experience this kind of event. Nag enjoy ka na, libre exposure at the same time, nakatulong ka pa. Kahit saang panig ng mundo tayo magpunta, lahat tayo ay mabubuhay na kakambal na ang musika. Musikang puno ng damdamin at emosyon. Ibaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ibang lengguahe man ito ngunit andito ang ating puso at isip na nagdugtong sa atin upang umibig, masaktan at muling pakiligin para ulit magmahal. Magkaroon ng maraming kaibigan saan man panig ng mundo. Maraming salamat Musika. Dahil isa kang malaking bahagi ng aming buhay.

ENKA DIVA

Photo by Bonbon Garbanzos

Yolanda, taga saan ka sa Pinas? Taga Tiaong, Quezon. Kailan ka unang pumunta sa Japan at ilan taon na ang nakalipas? 1985 nang una akong dumating dito kaya 30 taon na. Ano ang nagustuhan mo sa Japan? Napaka-polite ng mga tao. Disiplinado. Malinis ang Japan at madaling mag-adjust kung maninirahan ka dito. Masarap ang pagkain. Ano ang mga paborito mong pagkain dito? Sashimi, udon, oshinko at natto!!! Isa kang enka singer. Ano ang maganda sa enka music? Ang enka kasi ay parang kundiman sa Pilipinas. Nang nagsisimula pa akong umawit, paborito ko sina Pilita Corrales, Nora Aunor, Kuh Ledesma at Imelda Papin. Ang mga awitin nila ay kinakanta ko para panlaban sa mga

amateur contests sa atin. Swerte naman ako sapagkat nanalo naman ako sa mga contest na ito. Nang sinubukan kong kumanta ng enka, nabigla ako kasi marami ang natuwa at nagalak sa aking pag-awit. Dito nagsimulang dumami ang aking mga fans. Bakit pinili mong maging enka singer? Kasi, tugma naman sa estilo ng aking pag-awit. Gusto ko kasi yung mga makabagbag-damdamin. Gusto kong ibigay yung feelings ko sa pag-awit. Mahirap bang kumanta ng enka? Paano mo pinag-aralan kumanta nito? Any tips? Sa enka, may tinatawag sila na “kobushi” na parang pinalulukso mo yung lalamunan mo habang kumakanta. Ito ang trademark ng enka kaya kung tumingin kayo sa youtube, makikita ninyo na halos lahat ng mga enka singers ay ganito umawit. Parang lasing, na galit, na umiiyak na hindi mo alam. Kung magaling kang kumanta at alam mong gawin itong kobushi, pwede ka ng maging isang enka singer! Ano ang mga sumusunod na events mo? On July 5, may Tanabata Dinner Show sa Yokohama Mellpark Hotel. July 23, sa Koiwa Kodama Chample night, on July 31, kasama ako sa Kumamoto Charity Show. Meron din akong gagawing single, “Arigatou”, na sarili kong composition.

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By Marilyn Rivera n my previous article, we started to cross-out entries in our so-called “bucket list”. Over the weekends that passed, we not only started to go to new places but also ignited projects that have long been stashed away for some other time. Another entry to cross-out is reviving the garden in the house… Wayne (my husband) has always been known to have a green thumb in the family. He knows what to plant and where to plant them. He used to tell me about their garden at the back of the house. He told me how he treasured this part of their house the most because of the plants he cared for and

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the fountain that acts as the river of life in that garden. He also mentioned how beautiful it was and how he planted each of the plants to their specific places. I often wondered how it really looked like and hope to see it even in just a picture. There are so many benefits of having a garden. Aside from their gift of serenity, you also find life in the making. It is a place where life is in so many ways, shapes, sizes and forms. From the smallest seed to the biggest tree, everything is alive that even the wind is full of momentum. Every single leaf you see and every single strand of root you don’t see are covered with potential of being something more than what they are. It is a place where living things grow in the right speed and move in the right pace. The very thought of life in the garden is amazing. Plants breathing and giving off oxygen, crawling insects, roots growing underneath, leaves swaying to the breeze and small flowers sprout unsuspectingly. All these will make your garden “Instagram-worthy” as some people would say. Wayne told me that everything he plants grow, their flowers bloom and their greenery stays as vibrant as ever. But from what I see a few weeks back, this is completely the opposite of the garden he told me they had at the back of the house. And it can’t be denied that the garden through the main entrance have been neglected for quite a long while. There were vacant patches of dirt, bare ground, and dead plants that it almost looked like a

dead earth… It was a picture of hopelessness. And if I would resemble the garden with a colour it would be grey; because it was a picture depicting lifelessness. This all started when the dogs were still young and rowdy. Whenever they escape their cages, they ravaged through the plants, leaving everything in a complete mess. And when I say “mess”, we are talking about dirt all over the cement, plants pulled out, flowers unattached and leaves torn to shreds. And not a single plant spared from their teeth and paws. That is the picture that surprises us in the morning when we wake up. These so called “dog-days” rolled on for quite a while until we’ve given up. It was hard to work with the dog cages blocking parts of the garden. Planting and replanting, cleaning after the dogs’ party mess every now and then. This cycle of terror abruptly changed the mood of the garden and our moods as well. Then there was a ray of light, for me, it was a divine intervention. The dogs were relocated to another area. The garden can still be prone to their wrecking but it seems like they’ve adapted well with their new arrangements and behaved very well. Now that summer is almost over, replanting is definitely in

clear sight. With the twins (Wayne and Warren) together this summer, everything goes. I would say that if they agree on something, that would be their love on plants. They often find themselves in common ground when it comes to the garden. For me, a picture of a garden in my mind would be a place

full of flowers. I always see the beauty in their colours. If you give me a plant that has no other colour than green, I would not find it attractive at all. But if you give me something that has flowers, I would stay in complete awe and stare at it for a while. But this was before my first plantbuying session. I can honestly say that this is true as well to some people I know. Sometimes, we missed the best things in a person judging them from what we see from the outside. It is human nature indeed and is really

natural. What you see physically most often marks the impression you give that person from the first time youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve met. Same to plants, we often get attracted to their colourful flowers and neglect to see other circumstances that come with it. And most often than not, these circumstances that we neglect to validate are the most important ones. If I have my very own secret garden, I would plant them with produce and vines. Some flower-bearing plants here and there, blue grass to make the ground more warming like a carpet outdoors, endless line of Purple Crumble and numerous trees bordering the garden. When you include a plant in your garden, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like including your friends in your circle of trust. How you would sustain the friendship is the same thing in how you can keep that plant alive. Buying the plant may cost money, but in truth, you only feel the gravity of the expense when the plant dies. A garden is only a garden when not treated right. A garden without a single plant is nothing. You should choose well your plants as you choose your friends. It should be that no plant is better or more valuable than the other in your garden. And so it follows that every plant or seed included in our garden should be greater than the sum of its parts. And every single plant should be valued as losing a whole arm when you just chipped a finger nail.

Summer is almost over and rain starts to become a constant visitor these days. The twins have already started to revive the garden. And I should give them full credit; they worked very hard for it. They often buy plants at night because it was their only free-time. I honestly lost count on how many times they bought plants over the week. It started with the hanging plants first, then San Francisco on the sides, San Jose, White Angels, Iris and so on. The garden was starting to take shape. And I myself was very excited to see everything done. Same with the birds, you would hear them chirping a song to welcome the arrivals of the new plants for the completion of the garden. It was another weekend, and the garden was turning out perfect. Everybody was so eager to finish it. But since it was a Sunday; instead of working on the garden, we (my husband, daughter, mother-in-law and Wang) went to church first. And as usual, there were big chances of rain that day. But when we left home it was still summery hot, the sun was high and it was very humid. After mass, it was almost lunch. We were all expecting to drive home directly until Warren suggested passing by the plant store, just a short distance out of the way before heading home. Ma said it is almost time for lunch better to head home, but, of course, with consistent demand and vote-taking. We headed out to buy plants in Friendship Highway. Ma was never surprised how the decision turned out. After all, sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the mother and knew

her kids very well. Reaching Friendship Highway, much to our expectation, the weather switched, and rain suddenly poured heavily. In less than a minute, the road was 2-inches high with rain water. And we still haven’t reached the plant store yet. My guess, we will never see it, literally speaking. Because the windshield was blurred with big heavy rain drops bashing through the glass and the wind was just as strong as the rain. It was zero visibility in no time. Ma said to turn and just go home, it seems like the weather does not agree with us at all. But we were so close to the plant store. We turned on the first chance we’ve got to make a U-turn home. After a couple of minutes driving, still on the same highway; the rain suddenly stops. What were the odds, right? Not a drop of rain on the windshield. Of course, all of us suddenly decided to turn back again,

since we were almost there. So, we voted again, made a U-turn and head to the plant store. It was like a twilight zone and so funny at the same time, because after a minute, it started to rain terribly again. The coconut trees swaying violently and there was zero visibility that made us decide to turn home again. And guess what, same highway, just after a few seconds from where we were before, there was no rain. You would see people walking down the street. We were all laughing because half of the street was enjoying good weather and the other half was going through a typhoon. We finally decided to turn again to the plant store and just expect to get wet when buying plants. After all that turns we took, we still got our plants home. I remembered that we were so hungry that day because it was already pass noon. Most especially when Ma revealed what our cook has brewing for our lunch- Caldereta. Oh, all of us were so eager to get home. It took us a little over an hour buying plants. And I was already starving. The snacks we bought from a convenience store did not help that

much to suppress our appetites. But at last, we were done. We have the plants and now on our way home. We got home in less than 15 minutes. The twins were already starving but still managed to take the plants out of the trunk. Since Ma knew that they wanted to have the plants planted immediately but were just so hungry. She jokingly said, “O, itanim nyo muna bago kumain,” and smiled. We all laughed because it’s true that they were eager to plant the new additions to the garden but not that much that they would need to delay eating lunch even longer. After a few days, the garden was done. The twin giant Santol trees bear abundant fruits, there trunks were fully ornamented with Paco plants, all around there were different kinds of plants. Inside and outside the gate there were leaves of different shapes, shades, colours and sizes. Every time I see the garden and breathe, I really feel it clears my lungs and sense how different the mood is around the house. And every time I see the foliage, I feel so relaxed and so blessed. Not because of the garden alone. The garden is only a part of my portrait. But I feel so relaxed and blessed because of my family that completed my special portrait of a garden. This garden taught me that there is always hope when we all work together and put love into our lives. An old forgotten garden can always be revived when there is hope... the same with our lives.

JULY-AUGUST 2016

Mari Kato: An Interview with a Japanese Language Teacher By Dennis Sun

Why did you become a Japanese language teacher? About 20 years ago, I happened to see a middle aged man teaching Japanese language to foreigners. This made me realized that I also wanted to do that kind of job in the future. How is it working with different kinds of people around the world with different cultures? It’s hard but it’s also fun at the same time. I understand that different people have different thoughts and different ways of handling things. At times, I feel that some foreigners act more like Japanese than the real Japanese themselves. Aside from the fun in teaching, I feel that as I teach foreign students Japanese, I also learn a lot of different things from them. Is it hard teaching to different foreign students? How do you handle it? Basically, I teach everything in Japanese to all my students. For students who have been in Japan for quite some time, it’s easier to explain things to them by giving similar words. However, for new comers in Japan, I cannot do the JICE N2 Class graduation picture

not to be ashamed of making mistakes whether inside the class or outside. Because you are not Japanese, it is natural to make mistakes. The more mistakes you make, the more you will learn. So, make a lot of mistakes. When other people laugh at your mistakes, don’t feel bad. Turn a bad experiKato sensei with her JICE N2 class in Tokyo

same thing and this is more challenging. In these cases, I draw pictures or I search for these words in their language before going to class. As a Japanese teacher, I spend a lot of time preparing for my classes.

How is it teaching Filipino students? How are the Filipino students different from the other foreign students? Basically, there are no differences. No matter where a student comes from, each student is different because they have a different personality, a different character. But what I have observed among my Filipino students is that Filipinos are capable of speaking multilanguages: Tagalog, English, their provincial language, and other languages from other provinces. Because of this, I think Filipinos have a gift for learning new languages. Another thing is that compared to my other students from other countries, Filipinos are very cheerful in class. So, if I have Filipinos in my class, I am sure that the class will be a lot of fun because of them. Do you have any advice to our readers studying Japanese language? For those who are learning Japanese, my best advice is

ence into something that will make you better. Correct the mistakes when people point them out to you. Then, try not to make the same mistakes as much as possible. In studying a new language, never let commiting mistakes stop you from learning more and becoming better!

MARI KATO PROFILE After graduating from Social Studies in a university, she started working for a bank. After that, she moved on to working for an advertising agency for 20 years until she took an early retirement. She studied again and became a Japanese language teacher working for JICA, JICE and other Japanese schools.

JULY-AUGUST 2016 51

Place the water in a small bowl & sprinkle over the gelatin set aside to soften.

by Josie Nistal

Strawberry Panna Cotta 1 cup half & half 1/2 heavy cream 1 small lemon zest 1 tsp. vanilla extract 6 tbsp. granulated sugar 5 g. gelatin 30 g. water

In a small saucepan, add the heavy cream, half & half, lemon zest & sugar, let it simmer over medium heat. Switch off & add the gelatin mixture, whisk for a few minutes until the gelatin melts. Strain & add the vanilla extract. Place them in your desired ramekins. Cover & refrigerate. Strawberry Sauce: 1 cup frozen or fresh strawberries 1 tbsp. granulated sugar 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice Place all in a blender & purĂŠe it. Serve w/ the Panna cotta ! Bon appetit!

KANJI KORNER

分

分ける (wakeru) divide, separate, share 分かる (wakaru) understand, know, ﬁnd out

分 (fun/pun) minute(s)

１分 (ichi bu) 1%

半分 (hanbun) half

３分の１(sanbun no ichi) 1/3

by Jose Miguel Parungao

An unsafe act may not only put you in danger but others as well.

ni Karen Sanchez

agandang araw na naman po mga kababayan! Alam kong mainit na naman ang panahon diyan sa Japan at kagaya dati walang pagbabagong abala kayong lahat na nandiyan. At sa paglabas ng isyung ito ay nandiyan na din ako, makakasama ko ulit ang mga kaibigang masarap makasamang mamasyal o maggala sa panahong ito. Kasing init ng panahon diyan ay ang nagdaang eleksiyon o halalan natin. Maging ang naging resulta nito. Marami ang nagdiwang, nagalak o natuwa at siyempre kung anong dami ang mga natuwa ay ganoon din ang mga nalungkot, nagdalamhati o ang mga nabigo. Samo’t-sari ang mga nararamdaman ng mga tao. May mga nag-aalala may natatakot, kinakabahan at may agam-agam. Sa tindi at paulit-ulit nang mga suliranin ng ating bansa o ng ating gobyerno ay halatang nagsawa na din ang karamihan sa paulit-ulit na istilo ng pamamalakad ng mga nakaupo o nanunungkulan ay mas ginusto ng halos lahat ang isang may “kamay na bakal” o “iron fist” at nagpapatunay dito ay ang pagkapanalo ni Presidente Duterte kung saan

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kilalang may ganitong katangian. Makikita natin dito kung gaano ang karamihan sa atin ay naghahangad ng maayos ang mga sistema sa pamahalaan. Mga sistemang nilumot na o napapabayaan dahil sa mga sariling kapakanan. Kamay na bakal, ano nga ba ito? Bakit ito kailangan o talaga bang kailangan itong gawin? Kung kayo po ba ang tatanungin, komporme po ba kayo? Anu-ano ba ang mga suliranin ng bansa at kailangan itong gawin? Ang kamay na bakal ay isang katangian ng tao na may matinding karakter, matapang, mahigpit o walang kinatatakutan o sinasanto. At sa aking palagay, hindi din naman dapat daanin sa dahas ang lahat ng bagay, dahil naniniwala pa din po ako na may mga bagay na napag-uusapan at naayos sa maayos, mabuti, makatao at maka-Diyos na pamamaraan. At ang mga matagal ng problema ng bansa gaya ng walang kamatayang kahirapan, mga bulok na mga sistema sa halos lahat ng mga departamento maging lokal, probinsyal at rehiyonal. Mga tiwaling mga opisyal na mamumuno dito at talamak na Droga sa kahit saang sulok ng bansa na hang-

gang ngayon ay narararamdaman pa rin natin. Sa aking nakita, nasaksihan at mga obserbasyon, sobrang layo talaga ng antas o kalidad ng

mga buhay o ang pamamaraan ng buhay ng Pilipinas kumpara sa ibang bansa na akin nang napuntahan. Minsan kailangan din talagang “i-educate” o “i-briefing” ang mga tao upang mamulat sila sa kung ano ang mga karapatan mayroon sila. Dahil sa kakulangan nito ay sinasamantala na sila ng ibang tao. At sila yung madalas gamitin ng mga taong nakapwesto o nanunungkulan para sa mga masama nilang gawain. At sa palagay ko din, kinakailangan gumawa, umaksiyon o tumulong ang Gobyerno natin sa maliliit na mga tao kung papaanong mamuhay o kumita ng pera nang sa ganun ay di umasa o mawalan ng trabaho ang mga tao na siyang malaking dahilan kung bakit marami ang mahihirap dito. Sa mga plataporma ng mga kumandidato, marami ang nagsabing tutulungan ang mga

magsasaka, ang mga mangingisda at ang ibang sektor sa pamayanan at sa nakita ko sa maliit na baryo dito sa amin, kahit na naging magulo ang nagdaang halalan ay nakita din naman na kahit papaano ay nagtrabaho ang ibang mga politisyan, ginawa ang mga proyektong matagal nang di natapos dahil sa korapsiyon at

pamamaraang ito? Malaki kaya ang magbabago sa bansa natin? Mapuputol na kaya ang mga maling gawain ng mga tao sa bansa? Mababawasan kaya ang kahirapan at mabibigyan na kaya ng mas maayos na buhay ang mamamayang gaya natin? Tuluyan na kayang maubos ang nagkalat na “manufacturer, pushers, users,

sa awa ng Diyos ay napapakinabangan na ng mga mamamayan dito.

at runners” ng mga droga sa bansa?

Kung iisipin natin, ang kamay na bakal ni Presidente Duterte ay parang nakakatakot, pero kung kinakailagan naman ngang gawin para sa ikakabuti ng nakakarami ay bakit hinde? Minsan talaga kailangan din pakitaan o bigyan ng ultimatum ang mga tao upang maniwala sa mga kaya mong gawin. At naalala ko ang isang bersekulo sa bibliya noong ako’y nagsa “Sunday School” pa na nagsasabi “kapag ang isang puno ay nakakapuhuwerhisyo, nakakasakit o nakakasama na sa tao ay kailangan na itong putulin”, dito naiisip ko minsan tama na ding putulin o tanggalin ang kagaya nito. Sa inyong palagay mga kababayan, magtatagumpay kaya ang may kamay na bakal sa

Lahat tayo ay nagnanais na mapabuti ang pamilya natin, lahat tayo ay naghahangad ng marangya, tahimik at magandang buhay para sa pamilya natin. Kaya nga nandito tayo at hanggang ngayon ay nagsisikap para dito. Lahat tayo ay umaasam na maging maayos upang matakpan na ang nakakahiyang imahe ng bansa natin. Dahil kahit anong sikap ng iba sa atin na i-angat o ipaalam sa mundo na ok tayo, kung sa kabila nito ay may bulok na sistemang hihila sa atin paibaba ay wala tayong magagawa. Kaya muli mga kababayan, sabay-sabay tayong manalangin na nawa’y gamitin ng Panginoon ang mga taong

ipinagkatiwalaan natin na makamit natin ang matagal na nating inaasam-asam na kalayaan. Maging matagumpay nawa ang magagandang layunin ng bawat namumuno sa atin. Marating nawa natin ang tagumpay na hinahangad nating lahat para sa pamilya lalung-lalo na sa bansa natin. Hanggang sa muli po! God Bless us all, Filipinos!

AN INTERVIEW WITH ARLENE ESPERIDA

Interviewed by Dennis Sun

Illustrated by Arlene Esperida

JULY-AUGUST 2016

Mga Likha ni Arlene Esperida Jeepney (acrylic) Isang Japanese publication ang Halina magazine at sa pamamagitan ng magazine covers na ito ay maipapakilala ko ang pang araw-araw na kabuhayan sa siyudad. Siyempre, di mawawala ang jeepney.

Sari-sari (acrylic) Itong mga illustrations na ito ay ilan lamang sa mga aking nilikha para gamiting magazine cover ng “Halina”, ng Japan Committee for Negros Campaign (JCNC). Lumabas rin ang mga ito bilang postcards, na kung saang maaring makibahagi sa pagsuporta ng mga magsasaka ng Negros sa pag-bili nito.

Mag-bubuko (watercolor) Unang bisita ko sa Cebu City, at sa harap ng Simbahan ng Sto. Niño, may nakita akong isang kariton na punung-puno ng buko!

Pasko nanaman! (watercolor) Sa bawat cover na ginawa ko ay sumulat rin ako ng isang maigsing essay tungkol sa cover. Walang “karoling” ng mga bata dito sa Japan, kaya’t naisip ko na gawin ito nang malaman rin ng mga mambabasa kung paanong ipinagdidiwang ng mga bata ang Kapaskuhan sa Pilipinas.

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PIDAYIT Connecting Fashion with Culture Outfit: PIDAYIT Creation by Philip D. Torres Accessories: Jose Claver Toledo II Make-up and Hair: Danilo Sampaga Model: Riza Lim Graphic Design: Dennis Sun

PHILIP DIZON TORRES Contact through Facebook: Philip D. Torres

mobile (Philippines) : +63-91-7605-6366

Neriza Sarmiento-Saito's

ON THE ROAD TO...

KALAYAAN... KASARINLAN

With the Philippine Consulate General in Osaka-Kobe and the Filipino Community in Western Japan "IBON MANG MAY LAYANG LUMIPAD, KULUNGIN MO AT UMIIYAK! BAYAN PA KAYANG SAKDAL LIYAG, ANG DI MAGNASANG MAKAALPAS...â&#x20AC;? Sa pagdiriwang ng ika -118 Araw ng Kalayaan ng Pilipinas na ginanap noong ika-14 ng Hunyo sa Matsutaka Hall ng Kobe Shimbun, inawit ng soprano artist na si Jade Rubis Riccio sa finale ng cultural night ang "Bayan Ko." Kasabay ng masigabong palakpakan, humiling ng "encore" ang mga naroon. Kasabay rin ng pagdiriwang ang paggunita sa 60 taon ng pakikipagkaibigan ng Japan at ng Pilipinas. Sa kanilang

mga mensahe, sa pangunguna ni Consul General Ma. Theresa L. Taguiang, sinabi Nina Vice-Governor ng Hyogo, Kazuo Kanazawa, Kobe Mayor Kizo Hisamoto, at MInistry of Foreign Affairs ( MOFA ) Director, Naomi Asano ang matibay na relasyon ng dalawang Bansa lalu na sa inter-

university exchange programs, EPA program, at iba pa. Nabanggit rin ng Bise -gubernador, na isa sa mga unang nagpadala ng tulong noong Great Hanshin Earthquake ay ang Batangas. At dahil sa ginawang pagdalaw ng Emperor at Empress sa Pilipinas noong Enero, mas nagkaroon ng kabuluhan ang pagdiriwang na ito, ayon naman sa mayor ng Kobe. Isang sand-artist , si Monica Regalario, na nanalo sa "Talentadong Pinoy", ang nagpamalas ng magagandang dibuho gamit ang buhangin. Si Ms. Riccio naman ay nanalo na sa maraming vocal competitions gaya ng 2015

JULY-AUGUST 2016

Jovita Fuentes Vocal Competition at sumali na rin sa mga opera productions sa Asya at Amerika. Ang kanilang pagtatanghal ay sa pamamagitan ng Department of Tourism, Osaka sa pamumuno ni Tourism AttachĂŠ Leona Nepomuceno. Sina Consul Jerome Castro at Ms. Sakiko Santos ng konsulado ang mga emcee. Sa reception na ginanap matapos ang cultural program, nagbigay ng invocation si Fr. Mario Colina, na kasunod ng mensahe ni Chairperson Jeff Plantilla ng Philippine Community Coordinating Council na kinakailangan ng pagbubuklod at pagpa-

siyang tema ng pagdiriwang. Sabi rin nina Congen Taguiang at bise gubernador Kanazawa, sila ay ipinanganak noong magsimula ang "Japan-Philippines Friendship". At 40 taon na rin mula ng magumpisa ang pakikipag-ugnayan ni Oue-sensei sa mga Filipino!

palakas ng mga komunidad. Ang keynote speaker ay si Prof. Masanao Oue, ng Osaka University's Research Institute for world languages na dating opisyal sa Foreign Ministry ng Japan sa Manila. Ibinahagi niya sa mga lider at kinatawan ng mga Pilipinong nag mula sa Nagoya, Fukuoka, Shiga, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka at iba pa ang kanyang mga nakakatuwa at kakatawang mga karanasan sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga Pilipino. Muli niyang sinabi sa mga naroon ang kahalagahan ng wikang

Filipino para sa mga anak ng mga Hapones at Filipino. Hinikayat rin niya na kung may pagkakataon ay pagaralin sila sa Philippine Studies Department ng Osaka University. Sa kasalukuyan ay dalawang Filipino na ang nakapagtapos sa MA program at undergraduate program at may isa pang magtatapos sa taong ito. Ang buong talumpati ni Oue-sensei ay sa Filipino at walang kodigo kaya naman ka hanga-hanga ayon Kay Consul Shirley Nuevo na humugot rin ng ubod ng lalim na

Si Congen Taguiang rin ay nag-aral sa Osaka University bilang "ryugakusei" noong

Sa totoo lang, isinilang rin ako noong taong simulan ang paguugnayan ng Pilipinas at ng Hapon. Kaya rin naantig ng husto ang aking damdamin sa kabuluhan ng pagdiri-

1980's sa Minoo Campus. Bilang Mombusho scholar, kinailangan nilang kumuha ng "intensive Japanese course" bago siya nagpatuloy ng scholarship sa isang unibersidad sa Kyushu! Maalab ang pagnanasa ni Congen Taguiang na sa matutuhan ng mga Batang Pinoy ang "tunay na kulturang Pilipino --- pagkakaisa, pag-aambagan at pagtutulungan na

wang ng Araw ng Kalayaan. Hindi lamang ito isang okasyon na makipag-sosyalan at makipagbalitaan, makapagpakita ng karangyaan ng kasuotan. Ito ang araw na mararamdaman mo ang kasarinlan sa pag-iisip. Tulad ng â&#x20AC;&#x153;IBONG MAY PAKPAK AT MAY LAYANG LUMIPADâ&#x20AC;? na may karapatan kang pumili ng daan sa pagkakaisa, pagaambagan at pagtulong sa kapwa Filipino at Hapones!

Filipino.

and the participation of different Filipino groups all over Japan with the support of the Philippine Embassy, Tokyo

The only nationwide singing competition for Filipinos in Japan!

The Regional Qualifying Rounds

2016

UTAWIT goes around Japan! Iwate AUG 14 SEP 18 Nagano Sendai JUL 17 AUG 28 Tokyo SEP 4 & 25 Kyoto Shizuoka JUL 31 AUG 7 Fukuoka Nagoya Be the SEP 25 Kagawa NEXT UTAWIT AUG 28 Oita SEP 18

CHAMPION! Ikaw na!

www.utawit.com For sponsorships and regional participation, please contact jeepneymail@yahoo.com for details.