Calling for Help to Promote the Philippines

I am calling all Filipinos here in Japan to help promote the Philippines by disseminating the Travel Guide Manuals to your fellow Japanese. We know that the Japanese people are serious about travelling all around the world. In this small way, we can help pump our local tourism industry and in a way alleviate the problems our country is facing. The travel guide is all in Japanese, the sexy model whom the Department of Tourism hired to be the image model is a Japanese, and they even aquired a permission from Sanrio Ltd. to use Hello Kitty to even further promote the Philippines. Just fax a letter of request with your complete and address, contact number and the number of copies you want to Ms. Jennifer Yamamoto, Department of Tourism, Philippine Embassy, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-8537, Roppongi 5-15-5.






I first requested 20 copies of the travel guide, but many of my Japanese colleagues requested it. It's like they were surprised to see how the places in the Philippines are beautifully packaged in the guide. The best thing about it is that it's in Japanese. So they most likely trust the contents on it. I can say that the guide is almost comprehensive since it covers the top tourist destinations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. I am happy since Davao City, The Philippine Eagle, Mangosteen, Durian, Mt. Apo, Waling-waling, Kadayawan sa Dabaw, Pearl Farm Beach Resort, Talikud and Samal Islands were featured in the travel guide. Afterwhich, I requested again for 100 copies. I received initial 21 copies last week and just tonight, I received another 21 copies.

Nikki Mobile Fraud?

My friend called me a while ago. He told me that there was a Filipino-speaking man who called him over his Softbank mobile and informed that "he was allegedly sending a lot of SMS using the Nikki Mobile call card from his cellphone to the Philippines." I do not know if this man who called my friend was just fooling him because in the first place, my friend has never used that mobile service before here in Japan. In fact, the Nikki Mobile we purchased two (2) Sundays ago in Oji, Tokyo has never ever been scratched and it was really untouched. How come the man say that my friend used that service of Nikki Mobile. It was very impossible to happen here in Japan. I now begin to have a suspicion when this man allegedly began to ask for the serial number of the call card that my friend was using. By that time, he was already having a hunch that this man who called was maybe defrauding him and then eventually asking the PIN number of that call card of Nikki Mobile. He then told the called that "Are you trying to fool on me by trying to ask for other details like the PIN number of the card? And why?"

Upon uttering those words, the alleged caller said there was someone calling on the other line and the called never called back again. Truth or not, Filipinos in Japan should be extra careful. You may not know, you have been already fooled by your fellow Filipinos. We know that our country is in terrible suffering, but please, I am calling in behalf of all Filipinos here in Japan to please let us not worsen our image and if not to the extent, destroy entirely. Please, let us help one another by being good to our fellow kababayans.

In my eight (8) months of stay here in Japan, there have been many of these call-and-text to the Philippines services offering very cheap calls and text. They are sprouting like mushrooms. We also do not know if disgruntled employees or crooks just used the company's name or it could be just anybody. We are not discounting the possibility that it's not only this company is being victimized by these people here in Japan. It could be any company here. No exception. It felt like it's just a typical syndicate in the Philippines. I hope people will be extra careful with such calls and do not get entangled in their trap.

Deceiving OCN Flets Customer Service

This morning, I was able to talk to an NTT English speaking customer service representative. I was relieved that my NTT Flets Hikari Fiber will be disconnected. Yahoo BB has more value-added services than NTT Flets. Plus, the NNT Flets’ 100MBPS promised bandwidth is only ranging from 10-14Mbps on my end. Anyway, if your local service provider is OCN, please be careful with your reason why you want to have your NTT Flets disconnected. By the way, I dialed 0120-506506 and pressed 8 for English support. Then the lady asked me “Why I want to discontinue my service?” I replied, “Well, I opted for Yahoo BB.” Then ding dong, “Well Sir in that case, we will charge you worth 5,900 something yen because you opted for other ISPs plus additional 570 yen for the monthly charge.” I then began to flare up in madness.

I had to argue with her that I though it was free for two (2) months and that I was never explained to me anything even in Japanese that when I opt for disconnection that I will be charged with 5,000 yen something for disconnection fee. I really argued with her and knowing call center agents, she used her negotiation skills script “Sorry Sir but I don’t need to argue with you about that because I am just explaining the policy which you have signed.” I replied fumingly “What???? No one even explained it to me. Even in Japanese, no one explained it and I can’t even read anything in Japanese that says I will be charged with that amount. ” And a couple more of blah blah blahs… Then I tricked her out. I figured it out that by changing my reason would change the entire mood. “Well, it’s like I am going home next month because my VISA will expire.” Then her tone changed. Instead charging me with the 5,900 yen something they just charge me 570 yen for the monthly disconnection charge. Gosh, it was pretty close. Or maybe they are just using it as a scary tactic so they can still squeeze some sort of payment over the two (2) months service that they have rendered for free. Grrr.. If I was not quick enough, I would then have to pay that 5,900 yen something fee. Be careful guys, not all Japanese English Customer Service Agents and company policies are kind to foreigners here in Japan. Well, I think it seems obvious that they know foreigners are a little clever and they just think foreigners are here to outsmart their system.

NTT Flets English Customer Service 0120-364463
OCN English Customer Support Service 0120-506506

Series of Unfortunate Events

Most of my colleagues ask me when will I get married. I just told them as soon as I will be stable. Life has proved to be tougher these days in the Philippines. The continuing and ever growing population and the fewer jobs available. I made things worse a couple of months ago when the sudden surge of the price of our basic commodities such as rice. I can't believe it that prices went up to as high as 50 pesos per kilo in Davao City. According to Mayor Duterte, there was no shortage but there was an alleged hoarding by most millers and traders in the city. Making the supply-demand pyramid unstable which caused the price to shift into a whopping 50 pesos per kilo. Last week, prices have gone down as the government distributed imported Thailand rice on the market through NFA retails outlets. Thus this prompted most of the rice traders to decrease it's price since NFA rice is only around 30 pesos compared to their 50 pesos per kilo. The problem would suppose to ease up a bit gradually but the Philippines proved to be an unfortunate country. Just last weekend, a huge and strong storm named Frank lashed through the Visayas Region and some parts of Northern Mindanao. In effect, prices of commodities went up again. Many perished and millions of agricultural and acquaculture products were destroyed, and hundreds perished.

With the question of my collegues, about the marriage thing. Well, Philippine wedding proved to be lavish in terms of the food being prepared and served. Probably if prices will go down, I will. :-D

Tokyo's Rush Hour

I have never imagined that a typical rush hour in Japan could somehow endanger your life. One morning I hurried towards the train platform in Chuo Line and it was already jam-packed with people. To intensify my suffering, the train which arrived, was already also full of people coming from previous stations. It was really awful. Getting inside was very difficult. A lot of people are squeezing themselves in between narrow spaces. I once worked in Manila and often ride in the MRT along EDSA during rush hour but when people see that the train is already crowded, they don’t force themselves to squeeze inside the train. But here, even if they see that the train is already full, they still push people within the doors just for them to get in. This was the real rush hour incomparable with Metro Manila’s railway. One tragic experience of mine was positioning in a wrong area of the car. I used to position in the middle of the car, standing along with my laptop bag. This proved, in many occasions, very dangerous. One time, I was nearly crushed to death as more and more people try to get inside. From my house it was around 10 stations before reaching Shinjuku, where people mostly get off to change trains or they call “norikaemasu”　（乗換えます）. Thus, people fight for their lives just to survive the 1-hour ride. Imagine my position, I am standing in front of the seated people and I am holding my bag with my right hand and my left-hand was holding for support in between the windows of the train. And the moment I lose my strength, I would fall on top of the sleeping seated passengers. To further add to my misery, on my left, an old salary man whose breath stinks even in the early morning was beside me. How could you not smell his breath when you can’t do other positions since you are sandwiched with a lot of people? Adding up to this misery in progress, while standing, a slight train delay happens due to power interruptions or other delayed trains who share the same track on some stations. It was a real back-breaking and power draining ride. Adding to some disadvantageous position inside the train is on the front section of the “yuusenseki” (優先席) or priority seats. As the train applies its brakes, all of the crushing forces are geared towards this direction. This, one time, I stood in front of the glass door. And it really crushed me to the point that I was gasping for air. And I was also afraid that the glass door might shatter because of the crushing force within. I was lucky to survive it. From that experience, I always chose the opposite side of the train to stand to stand.

Getting off the train is more violent that getting in. People will carelessly don’t care if they hit or step on your foot or face if they get off the train. Since the train’s stopping period is limited only to less than a minute, people rush to get off as others also rush to get in. It’s a sudden wave of people rushing towards the platform. A thing I have never experienced in Manila.

There are also a couple of things I have observed inside the train. Here are some of them.

1. A snoring salary man is very common.

2. Passengers in their deep sleep is either unglamorously sleeping with their mouth wide-open or looks like Sadako of The Ring.

3. People read newspapers, pocket books, magazines, send e-mails with their cellphones, watch streaming TV, and listen to music with their I-Pods and other devices.

4. The pre-recorded voice of the train announcements will sound monotonous as you probably hear them over and over. And would probably begin to memorize them as time passes by.

5. During the morning, everyone is very silent. People are still in sleep mode. But when you go home during late night, you can smell the alcohol-drunk salary men.

6. People refrain in using cellular phones. If in cases that the train is delayed, they just call to inform their office that they are late in coming to office.

7. During winter, the glass windows of the train get fogged. So if you have not acquired the skill of a sleeping salary man who knows what station to wake up, do not sleep as you won’t see the what station you are.

8. Once you want to get off to the next station, manage to prepare for disembarking. If people hamper you way out, manage to say “orimasu” (降ります) loudly while finding your way out. “orimasu” means to disembark.

The worst thing that could happen to inside a train is when it suddenly stops. One time, it happened and we were like bowling pins hit with a strike. Apparently, it stopped because a passenger’s bag was stuck in between the closing doors. One of the most unexpected things that might happen during a rush hour is when there is a delay. Even a one minute delay within the Chuo Line could be mayhem for everyone. It’s comparable to law of supply in demand. Every minute, the train platform is filled with people. The more it’s delayed the more people who want to ride the train. And try to imagine that if this happens, it happens to all stations along the line. The scenario gets more chaotic. The farther the station within the line you belong means the less probability of riding the train. Remember that in Japan, a taxi ride is very expensive and would drain your salary if you do. If you have enough power to fight for your ride, then do it. Also, do not expect to be seated since it’s obviously, rush hour. Also, refrain from seating in the priority seats. In my experience during the rush hour, there was a man in crutches who really woke up a sleeping salary man just for him to sit. Thus, the poor salary man didn’t have the choice but to give way to the ailing man in crutches.

From Shinjuku station, I changed trains and rode the Yamanote line. This train line is the real core of the entire railway in central Tokyo. Almost all people in the outbound areas of Tokyo use this line to change with other train lines. Thus, the platform is always full of people. It’s like a premier night of movies in cinemas. This train line is also a certified box-office in terms of passengers. Others dub this as the moving can of sardines during rush hour. Along the way, in between some stations, there were occasional delays since some tracks were shared between other train lines. Thus, it is also good to select the best “norikaemasu.”

While rushing towards the “kaisatsu guchi” (改札口) or ticket gate, prepare your ticket or card ahead of time so as not to disrupt other passengers who want to get out of the train station.

Survival Tips

1. Manage to memorize your train line. Have an approximation of the time travel and familiarize the stations. If possible, bring a printed map with you.

2. Know an alternative route like riding other train lines. If your train line goes down, then it would be nice if you know other routes.

3. Always prepare your Suica/Pasmo or other forms of re-loadable cards as this will be more convenient and would save you time especially when transferring from one line to the other.

4. When inside the train, do not listen to very loud music and avoid talking to someone using cellular phones as it distracts other people. Even if you just use an earpiece, some people would still find it annoying.

5. When getting-off watch you step. Especially in Shibuya station where there is a long gap between the platform and the train, it may be a safety precaution to be alert when getting off.

6. Learn to read and familiarize the kanji and the announcements in trains and stations. Sometimes, if there is a “tokkyuu” (特急) or Special Rapid somewhere around Kokubunji and Mitaka, the train operator will announce it. Also, reading the kanji will help you as you will know what train line has been delayed. Especially in Chuo, Yamanote and some new trains of the Keihin Touhoku Lines, you can read the information from the monitors mounted on top of each window.

7. If your train line is delayed or for some other reasons, you can use the “densha chien shoumeisho” (電車遅延証明書) or train delay certificate which is given upon exiting on the train station. Companies in Tokyo honor this train delay certificates and it will save you from being scolded by your boss and from the salary deduction caused by the delay. If you forget to take one of this, you can visit Japan Railway’s website and print the train delay certificate.

8. Refrain from standing or walking within the edge of the yellow line in the platform. Recently, as you all know here in Japan, there some psychologically unstable individuals who push people without no reason at all beyond the platform. It’s dangerous and be alert especially when the platform is full with people.

9. Unless you have acquired the skill to wake up on a specific station, do not sleep unless you are bound for “shuuten” (終点) or terminal (final destination).

10. Try to bring some sort of entertainment inside the train such as music players, pocket books, magazines and even plenty of software and videos on your cellphone.

11. When standing, put your backpacks and handbags in front of you. Do not carry it in your back as a lot of space is wasted especially during rush hour. Thus this makes inconvenient for you and for other passengers.

12. As most men would probably think, it’s good to stand in front of a short skirted high school or college student. Don’t ever do it. Even if there is no malice or bad intention or whatsoever, you may be misinterpreted. The girl might think that you are some “otaku” or maniac who wants to take advantage of her. Thus, she might alert the authorities when you get off and you will be in real trouble.

13. Put a clicking sound when you take some pictures inside the train using your cellphone. You might be apprehended because people might be on a suspicion that you are taking some pictures of them unnoticed. Or as much as possible, never take any pictures inside the train.

14. If you can, learn to sleep while standing. Honestly, I have somewhat learned how to do it.

15. If you want to sit, try standing in front of a student or someone who is not sleeping. In my experience, most students get off ahead than most salaried workers working in Tokyo.

16. When standing, never write using any pointed objects such as pens and ballpens. One salary man even scolded a student for using a pen while inside the train. Well I guess it’s logical. Do you want to be pinched by the sharp edge of that pen or pencil when the train suddenly stops? Of course no one wants.

Ice and Dry Ice Dispenser

For those who want to keep their purchased meats fresh while travelling back home, you can put some dry or ordinary ice on it. Costs around 100 yen. A machine that is usually unavailable in the most malls in the Philippines. Spotted in Aeon Mall.

Babalik Ka Rin

A perfect theme song for Filipino Overseas Workers. Sung by Gary Valenciano. I always remember the TV commercial who used this song as their theme song. Can you still remember the tag line "Tonio!"? Tonio was depicted as the modern Juan dela Cruz who went to Saudi Arabia to work and returned back home. The commercial's popularity peaked when the tag line was chanted by his wife in the NAIA Arrival Area. Whew, typical story of OFWs.

Food Security

In contrast with the Filipino farmers, Japanese farmers here in Japan are very rich. In every farmer’s house that I pass by, I usually see two to three cars parked in a huge garage with a very big modern house, equipped with Internet, satellite dish for cable, lawn and a huge farm lot at the side or back of their house.

The government has been subsidizing the harvest of all farmers all over Japan. Government controls the prices of all the rice that is being sold in all supermarkets sold all over Japan. This is to maintain the balance of prices. Here in Japan, hard labor pays very well. Do you know that a single pack of two kilos of rice would cost you around 800 to 1000 yen depending on the variety? With that price, that is already a 50-kilo sack of rice in the Philippines. With this long practiced trend, more and more Japanese are most likely to have had preferred to plant rice than to work in industries in major cities. It’s a very stable industry. In fact, farmers here are doing better than ordinary employees. Farm mechanization has long been adopted. They plow, plant, harvest and process their fields using machines. Admittedly, I grew up most of my life in an urban jungle of buildings and modern comforts, found it very interesting to see a machine plant stalk of rice burrowing it beneath the soil in an efficient manner. All of the stalks are in equal size and nothing goes to waste.

Also, the Japanese developed a certain attitude on food, which is I believe we Filipinos have to adapt. Most Japanese do not rely on rice for their nutrition. They also eat other grains and other forms of carbohydrate-form of food like bread, potatoes, cereals, and a lot of them eat a lot and different kinds of leaves of vegetables, seaweeds, and root crops. The Japanese only eat a little and they only eat when hungry. They give importance to the concept of balanced diet. If we Filipinos only eat one type of meal with rice, they eat only ample servings of everything from carbohydrate-based food, to fiber rich food like seaweeds or picked vegetables, dairies like milk, cheese and butter and some vitamins like fruits and juice.

If Filipinos have long accepted to eat corn, sweet potatoes, and eat plenty of vegetables along with our traditional food, we would not have a rice crisis a few weeks ago. It’s just a change of attitude towards food and diet. We can’t blame ourselves since our food like adobo, sinigang, dinuguan and other food only goes well with a serving of rice. And apparently these Filipino dishes make us crave for more and more rice, isn’t it?

If the government will change the system, then we will have a sustainable food supply. If the government just buy the farmer’s rice then jack the prices up little by little to force people to change eating habits just for the good of our country, then it would be better. I guess its time to remove the concept of capitalism that has long been preying on the train of food system in the Philippines. If the government would buy it directly from the farmers then the government should be the one to process the grains, repackaging and distributing it to stores, then I think prices will really go down since there is no middle man that will jack up its price. I am referring to the mostly dominated Chinese grain millers who profit on this scheme. The more middle men we eliminate along the way, the further that prices will decrease.

The Fast and the Furious - Tokyo Drift Music Video with Lyrics

Sung by Teriyaki Boyz-Tokyo Drift.

*Chorus

Words between "[ ]" are what they're trying to say in correct English, lol.

---------------------------------------- ---

I wonder if you know,
How they live in Tokyo,
If you see me then you mean it
Then you know you have to go.
Fast and furious~! [Kitaa!] (Drift, Drift, Drift)
Fast and furious~! [Kitaa!] (Drift, Drift, Drift)

---------------------------------------- ---

*Chorus

Irasha ii~, omachidou sama,
kenso mamire no konomachi no ensou dama,
tamani ichido tsuite oide,
sekaijyu miru yo suruhodona goukana,
Japan, Ichiban,
Jump around saruchie no deban,
Teriyaki Boyz in the place to be,
Misete yarou (hai!) in the VIP.

Many many diamonds dangl'n,
Bag full of money we strangl'n,
Hate me, fry me, bake me, try me,
All the above 'cause you can't get in,
I don't want no puroburemu [problem],
Because me purofeshonaru [proffesional],
Make you, shake your ketsu, (Thank you!)
Haters take it paasonaru [personal].


Like Kanada tai tetsu o now,
Drop it on lets go now (now),
Na nachima maeni netsu wo hassan,
Lets not chiki chima over,
Lets go nets go,
Tsuki iro over every color,
Esgo (e~? sugoi),
Need you, 'walk out' jyanai, negro,
New dekisora watashi mo big boy.


*Chorus


(Phone rings)
Hai, Watashi Teriyaki, BOYS,
Atteyuuma ni fukitobasu, NOISE,
Manshini shitemasu de ghe-tto!
Banou kazumo fuete imasu,
Beishiku wa sapuraizu [surprise], DE,
Maji mainichiga abunai, TTE,
Ninja fuu Kenja fuu,
Dakedo (Geisha!),
Wait! From the rocks say,
Tada no shita.

You should see me in the parking lot,
7-11 is the spot,
Fights with wings and shiny things,
And lions, tigers, bears, Oh my ride,
We're furious and fast,
Super sonic like JJ Phat,
And we rock cuz the wheels are fly,
Can't beat that with a baseball bat.

Like a ka(ahn)kiyou tokasa,
Mateba ii zehi soap site yo,
Intaaseputa [intercept] shite fuck site,
teki hanzai wa banzai,
Hora pantsu [pants] down,
From a back up on the posuto [post],
Dou itasu? kyou wa four points,
From far east coast to
Dousa sai,
(watashi no gaisudou!)


*Chorus


Yea, Japan mainichi doki doki desu,
Hi-to [heat] island tobi tobi de,
Moeruyou ni shite bochi bochi na,
Tamanegi dasasou kochi kochi eh
Hi-to [heat] appu [up] de dou risou,
Machijyu subette no-rikon.
Mecha kawarimondante sa?
fool, gocha gocha fast an' furious!

It's gotta be the shoes,
Gotta be the furs,
That's why ladies choose me,
All up in the news,
'Cause we so cute,
That's why we so huuji [huge],
Harajuku girls know how I feel,
They respect, I keeps it re aru [real].
Not a Chinaman 'cause I ain't from China man...
I am Japan man.

(Wa ta shi wa, tokyo suki,)
Wa ta shi no, Kuruma suteki)
You see him come and go out of the black Benz SLR.

(A na ta mo, tokyo suki)
I wonder where he get that kind of money?

(A na ta no, kuruma suteki.)
Don't worry about it.
Lets Go.


*Chorus

Craving for more Natto

I am a self-confessed gaijin natto lover. Natto is fermented soybeans and is very popular in Japan especially in the Kantou area (Tokyo, Saitama, Kanagawa and surrounding prefectures). My Japanese roommate before introduced me to this dish way back in Kunitachi. He said he likes it very much that he can consume three packs in one meal.

Well, a natto really is smelly, pungent odor and bitter-like fermented soybeans. On order to remove the pungent taste and odor, a pinch of mustard and ample share of vinegar is added and then mixed in order to create bubbles. The developing of bubbles are said to neutralize the very strong flavor a little and releases more enzymes on it. A pack of natto is enough to enhance ones libido, as most Japanese say (I don’t know if this is scientifically true.) Nevertheless, this simple bitter dish is very healthy since it contains many vitamins, minerals and enzymes which enhance the digestion of the person eating this food.

Within the span of six (6) months since I have lived in Japan, I only have had the opportunity of eating natto thrice. Once, when I cooked “sinigan

g na isda” (fish soup with tamarind) for a Japanese room mate and he also prepared natto for me. Well, he did not expect me to finish everything. I just ate as little as three (3) ample picks in the natto’s styrofoam container. The second and third time was in a sushi restaurant in Tachikawa where they serve natto on top of a temaki (rice roll). That was the time where I begin to like its taste little by little.

Now, I already like natto. I can also devour as much as three or even four packs in one meal. And as days pass by, natto am craving for more and more natto. I just wonder that if I go back home, would there be available natto in the Philippines? I am worried that natto has already taken over my system and that I am addicted to it. Its like every night, I crave for that pungent and bitter taste of natto. One time, in the middle of the night, I really went out to buy in a 24-hour convenience store which is around 500 meters away from my house, just to buy and eat natto in order for me to satisfy my cravings.

I was even surprised to know recently that most Japanese do not like natto. They dislike eating it especially in elementary and junior high school government subsidized lunches. Natto is perfect over freshly cooked and very hot Japanese rice partnered with nori paper (green seaweed wrapper). Then garnish it with some Kikkoman soy sauce then accompany it with miso shiro soup. It’s a real healthy and a very cheap dish. Three packs of natto are only less than a hundred yen in most Japanese convenience stores and groceries.

My worry though is that since natto came from soybeans, how about the uric acid content? I might develop some sort of arthritis because of eating plenty of soybeans. But with this very healthy staple diet of the Japanese, no wonder there are so many old people here. It lengthens your life span and believe it or not, many above 70 years old here can still jog the entire sports oval field easily. That is how healthy they are here.

Shibuya Ward Mayor's Press Release

This copy of Shibuya Ward's Mayor was photographed inside the green train on display in front of Shibuya Station. Full text transcript below.

Shibuya City Has Put A Train Monument In The Hachiko Square

Looking back to the history of Shibuya, the city has developed with its station. It was in 1885, when Shibuya Station came into being as part of the Shinagawa Railway, which is the current Yamanote Line. Later in 1907, Tamagawa Train started its operation and in 1911, Tokyo Tram was extended to Shibuya.

In the Showa Era, Toyoko Line was opened in 1927; then Teito Train, current Inokashira Line, in 1933; and in 1938, Subway Ginza Line. Together with the businesses that flourished, Shibuya became a leading terminal station.

This train monument was manufactured by Tokyo Kyuko Dentetsu Co. Ltd. in 1954, as its first Type 5000 Lightweight train which was popular in the Toyoko Line. By placing this historical train in the square, we hope that we can pass this monument to our future generations. I am happy if you could understand our history, culture and how we have changed our life-styles over the years.

I also wish that this place will be a focal point for developing our city; we would like to continue tea ceremony (experience) project here and patrol activities for the young people. We will develop a lot of projects such as consultations for children, activities for the youths, enhancements for local shopping districts, and beautification projects of the area.

Last but not the least, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the local people who are affiliated with this project for their kind support. I hope everybody will cherish this monument and the environment of Shibuya improves with this project.

26 October 2006
Toshitako Kuwahara
Mayor of Shibuya

Comment:
Do you know how popular is Hachiko crossing in Shibuya Ward in Metropolitan Tokyo? Well, recently, it was featured in three (3) Hollywood movie outfits, namely: Jumper, Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and Babel. Hachiko Crossing is probably the most popular and populous intersection in Japan wherein almost a thousand people cross the busy and bustling intersection in seconds. The NHK Weather report always features this intersection as to see how Tokyo’s weather is doing. Shown above is a photographed copy of press release of Shibuya Ward’s Major in connection with the station, train and Hachiko’s connection and their history. What is strange about this press release by Shibuya Ward’s Mayor was why he included “tea ceremony” in his statement. I don’t see nor heard any tea ceremonies within Shibuya area. With the recent onslaught in Akihabara, the Mayor is correct as they should continue and intensify their patrol in Shibuya especially in Hachiko Crossing. Well, are they? It may just be a matter of time when the otakus and the eye of the public will be in Shibuya. Shibuya’s Hachiko crossing is one perfect recipe for a disaster to happen. The crowded intersection can be an oasis of victims for a potential killer in just a minute if he goes berserk. Also, it would be very good if the public will be barred from smoking within the Hachiko crossing and in front of this train exhibit. As I have observed, many people throw their trash and has become an eye sore for some local and foreign tourists. The monument of Hachiko, the dog, and this train should not be a place to wait nor should be a smoking designated area. It destroys the cultural and historical value of the said landmarks.

Imagine A World Without Filipinos: A Saudi Perspective

This is recent print media article published in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I am proud to be a Filipino Migrant Worker and I lobby the rights that all OFWs should get.

Have A Rice Day

This is a campaign poster posted in Tokyo trains as part of a drive to encourage people to eat breakfast before going to work/school. It has been prevalent that most salarymen/women sleep in trains during the morning. Ooops, I think I am also refering to myself. The picture above shows two salarymen in their deep sleep while commuting on train. Poor salarymen.

Picture courtesy of JapanToday.com

MLF to Launch “Ukay – Ukay” Fundraiser Benefiting War-Affected Children

MLF to Launch “Ukay – Ukay” Fundraiser Benefiting War-Affected Children

The Mindanao Land Foundation Inc. (MLF/MinLand), a Non Government Organization based in Davao City and Kidapawan City in partnership with Move On Philippines International (MOP), an organization of Filipino migrants in Jacksonville, Florida, USA will launch an Ukay - Ukay Fund Raising Activity on June 20 – 21, 2008 at Matina Town Square, Matina, Davao City to benefit the disadvantaged students in conflict affected areas in North Cotabato.

Proceeds from the two-day fund raising activity will support a “School Breakfast Program” for the students of Datu Ambel Memorial High School in Barangay Kilada, Matalam, Cotabato.

School Breakfast Program is a pilot project of MinLand for School Year 2008 – 2009 which aims to help increase motivation of students in conflict affected areas to finish high school as well as to provide nourishment and energy to respond to the everyday physical and mental challenges in school.

Datu Ambel Memorial High School primarily caters to students coming from poor families in conflict affected barangays in the municipality of Matalam, North Cotabato. Many of its students have experienced the hardship associated with conflict: tension, hunger, harassment, illnesses, evacuation, homelessness, disruption of schooling, separation and/or death of family member/s and friends.

BACK TO SCHOOL (Photo Above). Aside from going to school hungry most of the time, students of Datu Ambel Memorial High School also endure the long walk to and from school where some even cross a river on foot. To support these children’s aspirations, the school’s PTCA, MinLand Foundation, Move on Philippines International, Matina Town Square and private donors are embarking on a school breakfast program. Interested donors are welcome to join the fray.

Matina Town Square is supporting the activity by providing a space in its flea market (tiangge) area, free of charge, where pre-owned clothing and other items gathered by MOP volunteers in the United States and MinLand in the Philippines will be displayed for sale.

Through supporting a "school breakfast program" we can help the students realize their dreams of breaking the chains of poverty. Proceeds of the “Ukay-ukay” sale will also help other poor children in remote and conflict-affected barangays in North Cotabato finish education.

Interested individuals may also offer further support to the breakfast program. One may donate P15.00 a day or P390.00 a month (26 days) per child for a simple breakfast to fuel the minds and motivation of students.

Everybody is invited to join us. Let's bring hope to poor communities. Together we can help a community break the cycle of poverty for only P15.00 a day!

Do email us at minland-cmo@minland.ph or asbato@minland.ph for questions and for details on how to send your financial support. You may send PhP195 every payday to cover one child's breakfast for half a month or PhP390/month or even a school year's needs for as many students. (MinLand)

Panasonic's Mega Holy SD Card

Care for a 32GB SD Card? Holy Cow! Only in Japan, I guess. Spotted inside all trains as part of Panasonic's advertisement.

Hachiko Crossing in Shibuya

The famous Hachiko crossing is best viewed atop from Starbucks cafe just facing towards the crossing. Here are the before and after pictures. Can you count how many people are there in the picture? Hachiko crossing is always featured during a weather report in NHK News.

Sapporo Man Cosplayer

Everybody knows that Sapporo is a Food and Beverage company specializing in beer. This man in Sapporo Costume with the Sapporo Logo was spotted in Hachiko Crossing in Shibuya, Tokyo. I think he was promoting Sapporo Beer where it's more popular during summer in Japan.

Fukutoshin Line: A Personal Encounter

This is yet another train track side-by-side with Fukutoshin Line which will be fully operational by 2011. Still owned and operated by Tokyo Metro Line. Amazing!

Mabuhay ka OFW: Bagong Bayani

Last Sunday, me and a colleague went to Atsuyama Park, Oji, Tokyo to celebrate the 110th Philippine Independence Day. This day, which coincides the celebration of the Filipino Migrants Day, was a day filled with retracing my roots as a Filipino. I have been gone for more than 7 months and I was eager to connect with fellow Filipinos. Well, the bottomline there is, we just miss all the food and stuff about the Philippines. I ate two rounds of lunch. One set of pork adobo and another set of lechon paksiw. Whew... I really missed that lumps of fat of pork, which I can occasionally eat since I am here in Japan. The program was hosted by one of my acquaintance here in Japan. No other than Reo. I was surprised to see him doing the show with a fellow Filipina. I was not that much eager to see the Filipino artists who performed there in their mini-show. But rest assured they are all good. I can vouch for that.

Aside from that, we went on an all shopping spree. Yes, we did. A free shopping spree of call cards, text cards, pamplethes, newspapers, magazines, ballpens, fans, giveaways and many more brochures and manuals of all shapes and sizes. I think I have received around 5,000 yen worth of call and text cards. We really call it "sulit," or "worth" going there.

Food that we saw there:

1. Adobo

2. Chicken and pork barbeque

3. Dinuguan

4. Caldereta

5. Lechon Paksiw

6. Patatim

7. Suman, Puto, Kuchinta, Sapin Sapin

8. Bopis

9. Sinigang

Philippine Merchandise we took or booths of establishment we have visited.

1. ABS-CBN

2. GMA

3. Landbank

4. Metrobank

5. Local distributors of KDDI Cards, Softbank Comica and etc, etc, etc.

6. Department of Tourism

7. Del Monte

8. Oh-Philippines

9. Booths of KCM, Jeepney Express, DP Magazine, Pinoy Gazette, Saksi Japan and Philippine Digest Magazines and Newspapers

Celebrities we saw.

1. Ambassador Domingo Siazon, Sr.

2. Jed Madela

3. Reo Andarino (My friend who became an instant celebrity.)

Here are the pictures.

Tram Line Near Oji

Ajinomoto Stadium

A funny TV commercial made for Ajinomoto Stadium.

Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line

Last Friday, Tokyo Metro Subway Line opened its latest subway line servicing from Ikebukuro to Shibuya. It's called the Fukutoshin Line. Train otakus were again quick to document this historic moment for them. See this video clip below.

Baguio Oil

Baguio Oil, ang order ni misis! Spotted in a posh imported store in Aeon Mall selling for about 903 yen per bottle. That is roughly around 350-400 pesos per bottle.

Summer is Coming

These summer kimonos are the latest fashion on-sale in major department stores in Japan.
Thin fabric and cool catchy colors, they are on-sale for early summer.
Brace yourself for a hotter season coming in a few weeks time.
But will this be fit for their COOLBIZ campaign?

Beer for the Group

Care for a 1,520-milliliter can of Kirin draft beer? This is convenient for everyone to bring. Found in a local convenience store.

Hot Air Balloon Ride

Remembering Halo Days 2

Ultraman Carving

Cute isn't it?

Stabbing Spree in Akihabara

Why would these crazy Japanese people who want to end their lives, want to include more people to die with them by killing them on a berserk rampage around Tokyo's busy electronic Sunday noon time? I can't understand how these individuals are stable enough to just not value life at all. When I went home a while ago, I read this news article on Inquirer and here is the updated news from Japan Today. My condolences to the people who died. And be extra careful to the others who were injured. Six people died while 11 were injured during this frolic rampage. Here is a clip from NHK News. Sorry but it's in Japanese. I was suppose to go to Kawasaki today and may perhaps stop by Akihabara to scavenge for some electronic items and I was surely lucky enough to see the Hanyu City advertisement yesterday night in the train station and instead just went there. I hope this stupidity by some unstable people will end and hopefully no foreigners will be included in the casualties nor fatalities.

Supreme Court Victory in Japan for Filipinos

Supreme Court rules marriage requirement for nationality unconstitutional

Wednesday 04th June, 04:13 PM JST

TOKYO —

The Supreme Court on Wednesday declared unconstitutional a Nationality Law article requiring parents to be married in order for Japanese nationality to be granted to their children, ruling in favor of 10 Japanese-Filipino children.

The top court’s grand bench made the landmark decision in two separate cases, filed in 2003 by one such child and in 2005 by a group of nine who were born out of wedlock to Japanese fathers and Filipino mothers and who obtained recognition of paternity of their fathers after birth.


The decision will also affect any child whose mother is of foreign nationality.

Twelve of the 15 justices including Presiding Justice Niro Shimada on the grand bench ruled the Nationality Law clause illegal.

At the time of the provision’s establishment in 1984, ‘‘there might have been compelling reasons that the parents’ marriages signify their child’s close ties with Japan,’’ the justices said in a statement.

They said, however, ‘‘It cannot be said that the idea necessarily matches with the current family lifestyle and structure, which have become diversified.’’

In light of the fact that obtaining nationality is essential in order for basic human rights to be guaranteed in Japan, ‘‘the disadvantage created by such discriminative treatment cannot easily be overlooked,’’ they said.

Without nationality, these children are not granted rights to vote when they turn adults.

In both cases, the Tokyo District Court in its April 2005 and March 2006 rulings granted the children’s claims, determining that the differentiation set by the parents’ marital status is unreasonable and that the Nationality Law’s Article 3 infringes Article 14 of the Constitution, which provides for equality for all.

Overturning the decisions, however, the Tokyo High Court in February 2006 and February 2007 refused to pronounce on any constitutional decisions, saying it is the duty of the state to decide who is eligible for nationality, not the courts.

The 10 plaintiffs are boys and girls aged 8 to 14 years and live mostly in the eastern Kanto region.

Under Japan’s Nationality Law that determines citizenship based on bloodline, a child born in wedlock to a foreign mother and Japanese father is automatically granted Japanese nationality.

A child born outside a marriage, however, can only obtain nationality if the father admits paternity while the child is in the mother’s womb. If the father recognizes the child as his only after the child’s birth, the child is unable to receive citizenship unless the parents get married.

In short, the parents’ marital status determines whether the child with after-birth paternal recognition can obtain nationality.

Children born to Japanese mothers are automatically granted Japanese nationality, irrespective of the nationality of the father and whether they are married.

Click here for the source.

Mas Que Nada

Excess Food

I came up with a sudden realization a while ago. After eating the school lunch (給食・きゅうしょく・kyuushoku), I can’t bear the sight of the excess food in each bins. That was only for the faculty. I don’t really know how much food in excess are there in each class or for the entire high school. Also, in every meal, there is an excess of 3-5 boxes of milk, ample portions of main course food during lunchtime and a hefty share of rice enough to feed 3-5 people. I deeply feel guilty that this excess food will just be thrown away. Thinking about the situation in the Philippines and most of the third-world countries, food, especially rice, is scarce to almost none.

Thus, an imbalance of the supply-demand ratio of rice caused its price to sky rocket to 50 pesos per kilo from the usual 18 to 25 pesos in my hometown, Davao City. This led to an apparent suicide of one folk in Cotabato for the reason that he can’t afford to buy rice to feed his family. I suddenly remembered a while ago that if I could just send all of this excess food to the Philippines, I could have contributed in someway to alleviate their sufferings of my fellow Filipinos. Well, we can’t blame them for throwing the excess food since first of all: 1. They do not want to feed the same recycled food the next day to students and faculty, which, therefore sounds logical to me. 2. Japanese are not in the dire need to scour for food. Food security in Japan is probably their topmost priority. Therefore, they eat less and only eat when hungry. 3. Even if it’s still edible and unspoiled, they will not eat anything that is not fresh. Japanese value the quality of its food even though by some countries’ standards it’s still acceptable. I wish I could have brought home the excess rice for me to cook fried rice but, of course, it wouldn’t be proper to do such. If this was the Philippines, the faculty will take the excess food home and it will be fed to family members as to augment their meal or food budget, or maybe given to neighbors, relatives and friends. To some extent, it maybe fed to pets. Everything is consumed properly and nothing goes to waste.

Catholic High School

How different is Japanese Junior High School from Philippine High School?
(From a former Catholic School Student’s perspective)

One thing that is firmly visible is that the Philippine educational system is very different with Japan. In Japan and with most countries, the high school curricula is divided into Junior and Senior High wherein in each year, the students spend around three (3) years of education. In the Philippines, there is no distinction between Junior and Senior High Schools as separate institutions but combined into one entity. This means that in Philippines, if you say High School, levels 1, 2, 3 and 4 years are combined into one High School system.

In Philippines, there is no government subsidized school lunch as with Japan’s educational system. Schools have own cafeterias and canteens wherein students buy food during lunch and in-between breaks. Or during lunch, students bring their own lunchboxes which are similar to Japan’s obentou. For some students like me, I used to go home during lunch because I value fresh home cooked warm meals during lunch.

High schools in the Philippines are compulsory and very strict. If you fail in one of the subjects during the year level, you will have to either undergo remedial classes during summer to cope up with the failed subject or you have to repeat the entire year level next year.

When students arrive in the campus, they usually socialize with each other or do some unfinished tasks like assignments and if there are reports to be delivered in front of the class or students sometimes clean the surroundings. You won’t see any students running around the campus early in the morning as compared here in Japan.

Every morning, the entire school gathers in the field to have their flag ceremony. Our National Anthem is sung and we put our hands in our upper chest to signify our love to our country and as a symbol of patriotism. We also recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the Philippines. In my High School, since I studied in a Catholic School, we sung the School Hymn, Alma Mater Song and our hometown’s song. Before the start and end of the class, we always pray. And sometimes, we even recite the Holy Rosary every period. Our school even conducts First Friday Holy Mass.

In Philippines, elementary and high schools have in between breaks called “recess.” Recess is like a snack time for all of us. We either eat our brought food or just buy in the canteen or cafeteria.

The entire school has no cleaning time everyday as what is practiced everyday here in Japan. During the end of the period, one group is assigned to clean the entire classroom. We call it cleaner’s of the week. The students assigned for that week must clean the entire room.

Also, in Philippine High Schools, we have military training. After the end of the class, usually during 5PM, we assemble in the field and do some military exercise like marching, riffle training and mastery of formation.

In my school, if students get late, we have to write a letter to the Prefect of Discipline and state why we were late during that time. Then we have to do some cleaning in the field or even in the toilet because we were late in coming to school. Also, if we are absent, we have to present an excuse letter along with the valid medical certificate why we were absent during that day. Take note, all of the letters should be in English or we will be punished if it is not in English.

High schools in the Philippines play basketball, baseball, softball, badminton, tennis, arnis (a Philippine traditional combat and self-defense sport), sepak takraw (a sport coming from Malaysia), volleyball, soccer, and table tennis. During our Physical Education subject, we play sports but most of the time, we were taught competitive social dances like swing, cha-cha, tango, boogie, waltz and various traditional dances in the Philippines. Sports played in each school vary and differ from each other.

In high schools, we have 9 different subjects ranging from Mathematics, Science, Home Economics, History, Music Arts and PE, Filipino Language, English, Religious Studies, and Military Training. All of the subjects are taught in English except of course for the Filipino subject. Students always do individual and/or group reporting in front of the class in English and some class act/drama/role play. This is for students to enhance their self-esteem and boost their confidence. We also have computer classes where students are taught how to operate a computer and create documents using MS Office Applications. In Mathematics, we learn Algebra, Geometry, Statistics, Trigonometry, Linear Algebra, and basic Differential and Integral Calculus. For Science, we learn General Science, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. In History, we study Philippine History, Asian History, World Literature, Greek, Norse and Roman Mythologies, and Economics. In English, we were trained to be good in English. We write letters of communication in English, create Term Papers or articles in English and have several class debates where everyone speaks out their opinions and ideas. In our home economics, we were taught gardening and plant root crops and vegetables. We were also taught how to bake pastries like cake and cookies and cook traditional Filipino food and other foreign food. We also have the subject called Entrepreneurship where we sell within the campus the food we made from our Home Economics subject. In Religious studies, we study Roman Catholic doctrines, Jesus Christ’s life in the Holy Bible, the Roman Catholic Church and its history, the Pope and the Vatican. We are also active in civic-related duties like giving donations to the adoption center for homeless children, and initiate community clean-ups we call “bayanihan.” We also have the yearly field trips where we visit the Zoo, Park, Factory, and any industrial or commercial facility as part of our exposure to the real world.

Boys have a prescribed hair cut which is 2x3 inches. And girls should not wear more than 1-pair of earings. Boys are prohibited to wear earings. Also girls’ skirts must be 2-inches below the knee. Yearly, we have our athletic competition held for 3 to 5 days depending on the school. We sometimes call it mini-Olympics/Intramural because the ceremonies and the activities resemble that of the real Olympics. Each year level plays against with other levels.

We also have fun fairs and fiesta especially when we commemorate our school patron Saint’s feast day. We also celebrate Teacher’s Day where we offer presentation where we thank our teacher for the things he/she teaches to us. Also we give importance to our parents by celebrating Parent’s Day where an entire day is dedicated in presentation and appreciation to parents. We also have PTA meetings where our parents and guardians participate in discussions/dialogue with the teachers. Students also attend to Boy and Girl Scout’s Club. Every October, the entire world celebrates Scouting month. Students have the experience in camping within the school campus and learn to be independent by cooking and doing all the chores in their own for four (4) straight days.

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