KANSAI CRUSADE by Sally Cristobal Takashima

KANSAI CRUSADE
by Sally Cristobal-Takashima

Arise for Spring has come and it’s the time to celebrate rebirth. Flowers vie for the rays of the sun. Mga usbong na naiglip sa tagal at hagupit ng taglamig na nanabik sa tala at init ng Haring Araw. Tagsibol na!

At eto na ang pinakahihintay ng buong bansang Hapon – the whole country goes
in a frenzy trouping to parks for Cherry Blossoms Viewing. Friends, families and officemates reserve spots under the Sakura trees to enjoy a a picnic which surely  includes karaoke if not singing or even dancing which is an ideal opportunity for bonding while appreciating nature. Magkaroon sana sila ng sapat na kamalayan na huwag mag-iwan ng mga basura sa ikabubuti ng kagandahan ng kapaligiran. Kasama na rin tayong mga Pinoy sa Japan pag tayo ay nag Hanami.

Iyan talaga ang nakaka-miss kung uuwi ang isang Filipino sa Pinas. Ang kagandahan ng pagpapalit ng panahon at sa pagpapahalaga ng isang tao sa paglipas ng oras. We become sensitive and sharply aware of the passing of time. May kinalaman ito sa paghubog ng ating pagkatao – huwag ipabukas ang magagawa mo ngayon. Naniniguro ka yata na palaging may bukas. Ano na nga ang kasabihan ng mga Samurai?  Lahat ng dapat isagawa ay gawin mo na ngayon. Sa ganoon ay handa kang sumakabilang buhay ano mang araw o oras. May mga opisina sa Pilipinas ng alas nuebe na ng umaga ay may mga kumakain pa ng agahan sa desk nila. Diba shocking yan?Hindi bali siguro kung coffee at donut lang na accepted sa U.S. Mag-kape ka pero when the clock strikes 9 am, alerto ka at makonsyensiya ka naman. Sana ang mga  Pinoy ay magkaroon ng improved time concept. Mahalaga ang magkaroon ng sukat na kamalayan na may tugmang panahon sa lahat ng bagay. Ayon sa Ecclesiastes 4:3, “There is a given time for everything and a time for every happening under heaven.” Mababasa rin dito na “The beauty of nature invites a human to be creative and fulfill dreams.”

Unti-unting nagliliwanag ang buhay sa Fukushima ayon sa mga news reports. Ang bilang ng mga bata sa elementary at high schools naman ay nabawasan dahil sa personal ng pagpapasiya na paglipat ng mga tao sa ibang parte ng Japan upang  maiwasan ang ano mang radioactive fallout.

Sa Gion, Kyoto naman ay itinatanghal ang taunang Miyako Odori (Spring Dance of the Geishas) na dinadayo ng maraming turista na galing pa sa iba’t ibang bansa. Sila ay nananabik na makakita ng mga Geishas and a picture with them will surely be something special to show their friends back home if not to brag about. This year’s Spring Dance celebrates its 140th Anniversary. Nababawasan na raw ang mga bilang ng mga Geishas sa Kyoto. Isang palatandaan ng pagbabago ng kultura ng isang bansa. As you may already know, ang mga nagsusuot ng kimono ay nabibilang na rin pagka-Bagong Taon. Are cultures of different countries coming into fusion?  What changes are taking place that we fail to notice? Are the changes not noticeable at all, and why?

The function of the family, specially the mother, is slowly being taken away. Have you noticed? More and more children are being left under the care of day care centers. Surrogate mothers or wombs for hire are not new anymore, at least in the U.S. Cooked food is easily available for delivery. Indeed life is changing before our very eyes and you may want to add up this list. Lactating mothers soon wean their babies and give formula milk. Let us always remember what the traditional family once was and hold on to the precious things we prefer to hold on to.

And now, some news from Kansai. Representatives of various groups like the Shiga Filipino Christian Community, Philippine Community Coordinating Council and Nippi Tomo no Kai visited Puerto Princesa to enjoy the Underground River, Honda Bay and other famous tourist sites. They, together with other visitors, were welcomed by Palawan Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn. Native dance performances and tasty Palawan dishes awaited them. Surely, they will have many travel tips to share with everyone. Having been to Puerto Princesa, I think I’d like to check out Coron next time. To everyone out there, let us send the message loud and clear: CHOOSE THE PHILIPPINES - next time you travel. Not only it’s MORE FUN but the SUN IS SHINIER than any other place in ASIA. I LOVE THE PHILIPPINES - you will, too.

Various Philippine communities held various seminars and study forums to talk about the Recent Amendments of Japanese Immigration laws. RUMS Club held the 2nd Spring Fun Run on April 22nd at the Ryokuchi Koen in Osaka. Lenten Recollection was held at the Sacra Familia Catholic Church in Umeda by the Samahan sa Kitano Philippine Community. In cooperation with the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo and the Philippine Consulate Osaka-Kobe and with the sponsorship headed by the Commission on Overseas Filipinos, a Financial Literacy Training and a Roundtable Discussion on Inter-marriage will be held on May 25th and 27th in Osaka and in Kyoto on May 26th and May 28th. Libre po ang participation.

To each and everyone, hope you all had pleasant Spring and Golden Week vacation. Magtulungan po tayo – tama ka diyan - let’s help promote tourism in the Philippines to the best of our ability. Siempre naman sino pa ba ang magtutulungan kundi tayo din, diba? Huwag natin kalimutan na ang ikauunlaad ng Inang Bayan ay kaligayahan natin. Ang mga original phrases ko - for the tourism campaign:
I LOVE THE PHILIPPINES. YOU WILL, TOO.  DREAMS COME TRUE WHERE THE SUN SHINES. CHOOSE PHILIPPINES. And last but not the least is: LOVIN’ IT… in the PHILIPPINES.

O pili na kayo!  Hanggang sa muling pagniniig. Signing off for now till the next issue of Jeepney Press (Bringing Sunshine Wherever You Go)!