ON THE ROAD TO:
Collecting Erasers with
JENNY MENDOZA YOSHIZAWA
About Daichi and Shori: Shori and Daichi (nicknamed Chiri-Chiri) are now 3rd year students at Osaka University Minoo Campus, School of Foreign Studies, majoring in Filipino. Shori plays the guitar in his band and is interested in Chinese Literature. Someday, he hopes to work in a trading company that will serve as a bridge between Japan and the Philippines. Daichi, a nature lover, on the other hand, has his mind set on becoming famous someday using his unique nickname Chiri-Chiri and his skill in judo. Shori and Chiri-Chiri have been to the Philippines a number of times. One of their Filipino teachers at the Toyonaka campus, when they were in their freshmen year, was Jenny Yoshizawa. They were fascinated with the light green erasers she always carried in her pencil case. Jenny explained: “I was in Grade 5 then and we found some cute erasers at the National Bookstore. I can’t remember well if my sister bought some for me. There was one that was shaped and sized like a biscuit. I showed it to my father and he bit on it thinking that I offered him a real one. That was really funny! That is how I started really collecting erasers especially the ones that look real. Here in Japan, I found a wonderful maker of erasers –IWAKO, and they make delicately-crafted erasers. I love them so much that when I went to Tokyo with my husband, we were given a mini-tour of their factory. I can fairly say now that most of my erasers are made by Iwako.”
At one moment and at one time in our lives, little mementos are meant to bring back some phases of our interactions with loved ones just like Jenny’s treasured collection of erasers.
Interview with Jenny:
Taga-saan po kayo sa Pilipinas?
Manila
Ano po ang inyong propesyon?
Tagasalinwika sa Ingles at Filipino at nagtuturo rin ako ng wikang Hapon sa mga batang Filipino
Gaano na po kayo katagal naninirahan sa Japan?
Mula pa noong 1992
Ano ang pinakagusto mo sa Osaka?
Sabi nila, friendly raw mga taga- Osaka, pero sa palagay ko lahat naman ng mga Hapones ay “friendly.” Pero kung ang pinakagusto ko ang pag-uusapan, siyempre, ang pagkain lalu na ang TAKOYAKI AT OKONOMIYAKI, bukod sa masarap talaga ay madali pang lutuin.
Kung may isang bagay kang nais mabago sa Japan, ano iyon?
Imposible pero kung may mas malawak na lugar, siguro di magiging masyadong “stressful “ ang buhay.
Ano naman ang gusto mong malaman ng iba tungkol sa mga Hapones?
Alam naman ng lahat na eksakto sa oras ang mga Hapones. Mahigpit nilang sinusunod ang iskedyul ng mga tren at iba bang transport system. Dumarating sila mga sampung minuto bago magmiting at lagi silang nasa oras. Kaya nga kung minsan. Lagi akong nagmamadali kung may appointment ako sa mga Hapones.
Ano po naman ang inyong sikreto para sa magandang pamumuhay rito sa Japan?
Sa palagay ko ay mahalaga ang pag-aaral ng wikang Hapon. Karamihan sa kanila ay di nagsasalita ng Ingles kaya kailangang matutuhan mo man lang ang mga salitang ginagamit sa araw-araw. Kahit na may mga balita sa wikang Ingles, mas marami pang mahahalagang impormasyon na nasa wikang Hapon lamang. At sa pangwakas, lahat tayo’y nakakaranas ng homesickness at kalungkutan kaya kailangang magkaroon tayo ng mga kaibigan. Kaya naman malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa mga kaibigan kong nakakasamang kumain, magkuwentuhan at magpalitan ng impormasyon.
MALIGAYANG PASKO AT MASAGANANG BAGONG TAON SA INYONG LAHAT!
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SAYONARA CONSUL SENEN!
It is going to be a bleak Christmas for many communities in Kansai because our adorable Consul Senen Mangalile, who, for years has religiously attended several community Christmas parties, will end his tour of duty in November after almost 8 years with the Philcongen Osaka. One of the first in a series of sayonara parties for him was held last Oct. 16 with Consul General Maria Lourdes Ramiro Lopez heading the list of attendees. Other attendees were DOT's Ms. Araceli Soriano, Mr. Masahud of the Phil. Trade Center, Fr. Mario Colina, Mr. and Mrs. Miyagawa of Act Tourist, Mr. Tomiyama and Atty. Jeff Plantilla. PCCC Chairperson Mr. Jun Silva presented a certificate of appreciation to Consul Senen. The party was coordinated by Katrina, Nixon, Libye, Jessica, Margie and others. Meanwhile, the staff of FM Cocolo's "from overseas Philippines” also held a party in his honor at the Asean Trade Center with DJ Cindy, Mina, Kazumi-San, Fuse-San, some Filipino students in Handai -- Joaquin, Eric, Susan, Taffy, Tet, Joyce No and Nirianne Palacpac, community leaders like Sally Takashima, Delia Nakashima and Linda Sakai. Good luck and we will miss you, Sir!!!
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