KANSAI CRUSADE by Sally Cristobal - Takashima

KANSAI CRUSADE

by Sally Cristobal - Takashima

Sumaatin po ang pagpapala nitong bagong taon, bagong umaga at bagong buhay. We hope everyone had a great vacation and welcome back to the land of rising prices. Puno na naman ng Philippine groceries ang kusina natin. Did you buy enough to last for at least a few months? I wished I bought a case of instant lugaw when I was in Manila in November. I bet you will never buy the conveniently packed Japanese okayu again once you have tried this product.

Wow, 2012 na! Ang mga bata ay tumatanda at ang mga matanda ay nagiging isip bata. Sa taong ito ay may mag-aasawa, maghihiwalay, magtatapos sa paaralan, papasok sa paaralan, magiging lolo at lola at mayroon din naman na susu-wertihin at mananalo sa Takarakuji (sana isa na ako doon sa mananalo). Life is most uncertain and life never stands still because change is a law of life. Humawak na kayo sa bagong ikot ng buhay at heto na.

Time to make your New Years’ resolutions o kung tawagin ay panahon ng pagpasiya. Pagpapasiya ng ano? Ng iba’t ibang bagay na ikauunlad at ikakabuti ng ating buhay. Magiging makabuluhan lamang ang listahan ng ating New Year’s Resolution kung ito ay nakasabit sa dingding, sa lugar na malimit makita. Sa ganoon, ay palaging naisasaisip at naisasagawa.

Patuloy na bigyan natin ng halaga ang panahon. Ang pag-aaksaya ng maraming oras sa Facebook ay isang mabuting ehemplo na narapat bigyan ng pansin. Kung hindi ganap na itigil ang bisyong ito ay bawasan ang oras na nilalaan at sa halip magbasa ng mga librong may kinalaman sa iyong trabaho, mga istoriya ng buhay ng iba’t ibang kilalang tao upang intindihin ang dahilan ng kanilang tagumpay sa buhay o ang kanilang pag-ahon sa kahirapan. Public city libraries lend out books for about 3 weeks and one can apply for a library card at no cost. Ang wastong pagpili ng TV programs ay atin ding bigyan pansin. May mga programa na wala namang naibi-bigay kundi saya at aliw. Maging pihikan din tayo at isipin ang setsuden (pagtitipid) ng kuryente.

Bakit ba minsan ay parang may mga pakpak ang pera. Lumilipad sila at kung saan-saan nagsisipunta. Ay! Lumang kantahin na iyan. Lalo na kung bagong sweldo - pero yung mga barya ay hindi gaanong lumilipad sa kabigatan siguro. Supilin natin ang pagbili ng mga bagay na hindi naman kaila-ngan ngunit dahil mura at 50% discounted ay ready na ang pag-gasta. Huwag din natin gawing aliwan ang malimit na gaishoku (eating out). Kasama na siempre ang pag-inom ng beer, sake, shochu o di kaya karaoke at mga babaeng iinumin ng mga drinks and food na binayaran mo. Ipagdamot paminsan-minsan ang perang pinaghirapan mo. Enjoy ka nga sa mga jokes ng mga babae sa kurabu or snack bar pero tignan mo naman – nakaka-ipon ka ba? Buti na lang at taglamig at nakakatamad lumabas o mag window shopping.

Babawasan ko na ang uwi sa Lupang Hinirang. Kahit na may murang Promo Ticket, may gastos din para sa shuttle bus to and from the airport. Sa Pinas naman ay aabutan mo din ng pang gasolina ang naghatid sa iyo. I make sure I am out of the country by November when everybody is still not in the Christmas mood. This way, they are the ones who feel guilty by not giving you any X’mas presents but you gave a big box of chocolates for everyone to share.

Last but not least and the one I consider most important and most challenging- Keeping healthy and to live a long, healthy life. Let us regularly read, update ourselves on practically anything that concerns our health and our loved one’s health. Let us also update our understanding on the truth that HEALTHY FOODS AND NOT MEDICINE CURES DISEASES. Practically all doctors did not study foods and nutrition in medical schools. In Japan, doctors receive FREE family trips abroad for selling and promo-ting drugs from Big Pharmaceutical companies.

Years ago, a doctor writes you a shohosen (prescription) for what medicines to take for about 3 days or so. But OMG, now we hear people buying medicines for maintenance which means the body is no longer capable of healing itself back to health. YES, we are all capable of healing ourselves to health given the right conditions (avoid eatingdead or cooked foods as opposed to fresh foods with living enzymes, regular exercises which I myself should look into, less stressful lifestyle, sitting under the sun while relaxing, meditation, drinking alcohol in moderation nado nado. Let us not CROSS THELINE and ask your doctors questions about these drugs before you start taking maintenance drugs because once you start this regimen you may not be able to take a normal U-turn down the road.

Let’s love life and value our health. Could there be anything more important? You may want to say as often as you can “I am whole, healthy and perfect as my Father in heaven is.”

To one and all Prospero Ano y Felicidad. Happy New Year po sa inyong lahat!