Jeepney Press March-April 2014

Jeepney Press January-February 2014

COVER
by Dennis Sun
www.dennissun.net

CENTERFOLD

Mike Pangilinan: Bringing Kapampangan Culture to Japan

By: Eunice Barbara C. Novio

Michael Raymon Pangilinan, 44, from Angeles City is not just an ordinary OFW in Japan. He is a visiting researcher the Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa (ILCAA) at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS) working on the documentation of Kapampangan language, history and folklore. He went to Japan early last 2013.

A graduate of AB Philosophy at San Carlos University in Cebu City with units in masters in Archeology at the University of the Philippines, Pangilinan’s passion in  Kapampangan culture is undeniably his passes to be one of the researchers in one of the most prestigious university in Asia.

Sharing Kapampangan Culture

“I was invited to share my knowledge on Kapam-pangan language, History and Folklore since the number of scholars working on this is very limited, if indeed there are,” he explains. Despite a lack of a post graduate degree, the following have been considered to grant him the post of a visiting researcher: his experience as a researcher in the field for many years, presentation of various scholarly papers in international conferences for the past decade, a. the publication of  his book on the indi-genous Kapampangan script, Kulitan, not withstanding his more than 20 years of promoting Kapampangan language and culture within the Kapampangan community at home and abroad. Indeed, Pangilinan’s achievement garnered him an award as Most Outstanding Kapampa-ngan Award in the field of Culture in 2010. He is also a respected scholar in the field of international linguistics and the academic community.

 “Aside from  the usual research and lecture presentation on Kapampangan language and culture to colleagues, I make sure I always introduce myself as a Kapampangan and explain what a Kapampangan is, should they ask for more clarification,” Pangilinan clarifies.

Kapampangan and Japanese Culture

Pangilinan  compares his upbringing in the foothills of Bunduk Alaya (Mt. Arayat) in the town of Magalang, Pampanga by his grandfather to the Japanese culture.

“From him I learned how to communicate non-verbally, be respectful and courteous to both man and nature, to know my place before I act or speak, to respect my elders and seniors and to always be sensitive to the situation and other people. The Japanese are a master of non-verbal communication and of being sensitive to the feelings of others. As a result of growing up under my grandfather's care, I can cope very easily with Japanese culture,“ he shares. 

According to Pangilinan, Japanese culture may be quite confusing and even frustrating to the current Filipino generation who grew up in this wannabe-American Manila-based mainstream Wowowee-Eat Bulaga culture. He  often see this conflict with the new batch of Filipinos who often come to Japan without learning the language and culture first, thinking that since they are "visitors" they are entitled to special treatments and that the Japanese people would have to adjust to them. Sadly, it does not work that way in Japan. The first thing most Filipinos realized when they first come to Japan is that English is not such a universal language after all.

He explains that in Japan, one can’t be late or talk loudly. One must always consider the people around. 

“You make sure that whatever you do does not inconvenience other people. You always have to be polite and courteous and grateful. You are not supposed to publicly express anger or disappointment, or whine or complain,“ he adds. In Japan, a person who complains all the time or has no control of his or her emotion is viewed as someone who is weak and unreliable. 

However, according to Pangilinan, Filipinos who grew up in traditional households in the pro-vinces will have no problem in Japan. In traditional households, many of the Filipinos were brought up to be patient, respectful, grateful and always sensitive to the feelings of others. Most of all, those who grew up in traditional households are masters in non-verbal communication, something that we share in common with the Japanese.

Promoting Indigenous Scripts of Southeast Asia 

Aside from being a researcher, Pangilinan is embarking into a worldwide project in Japan about the promotion of indigenous scripts of the Southeast Asia.   The International Workshop on Endangered Scripts of Island Southeast Asia seeks to call the attention of the international academic community to study the existing scripts of Sulawesi, Sumatra and the Philippines. It was held last February 27, 28 and March 1, 2014 at the Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. 

According to Pangilinan, most scholars are focused on the old Tagalog script which is Babayin while the other indigenous languages are almost forgotten. The participants in the said workshops are mostly non-scholars but activists and artists. Among them are  Anya Postma and Emily Catapang of the Mangyan Center in Mindoro, the renowned film director Kanakan Balintagos (Auraeus Solito) of the Palawan ethnic group and the young artist Bruno Tiotuico of the Aguman Sulat Kapampangan.

Pangilinan believes that including the non-academics will further represent the endangered scripts of the Philippines, because these people are working directly on their own cultural heritage. He also further mentioned that the study of endangered indigenous scripts seem to be a private sector advocacy and on an individual basis. Fortunately, some of these scripts are helped preserved by notable scholars like anthropologist Antoon Postma of the Mangyan Center and the Aguman Sulat Kapam-pangan, an organization that promotes Kapampangan script and culture.

Pangilinan further claims that Mangyan and Kapampangan are luckier than the Tagbanuas of Palawan because the latter do not have scholars studying their script. The last scholar on Tagbanua is Hal Conklin of the United States who is already 82 years old.  He further laments that foreigners are more interested in the indi-genous scripts rather than the local academics who are more interested only in the revival of the Tagalog Baybayin.

Due to the diversity of the Philippine cultures and scripts, Pangilinan hopes that the workshop will create awareness regarding the current status of Philippine scripts among international scholars in general and scholars in back home.

Being an OFW and a Filipino

Pangilinan does not experience discrimination among his co-workers and by the Japanese people in general. The Japanese people are naturally curious about things outside of Japan. 

“A Filipino who is well grounded in his indi-genous ethnic identity ~ his ethnic language, history and culture, is very much appreciated in Japan. Keepers of indi-genous ethnic traditions are highly appreciated.” he explains. Pangilinan believes that there is already a change in the wind ever since Japan has become stricter with human trafficking and the sending of female entertainers who end up working as bar girls. The growing number of students, intellectuals, culture bearers and professionals from the Philippines who are entering Japan now who have a very good understanding of Japanese language and culture. Many of those OFWs and scholars have good working ethics and are sensitive to Japanese sensibilities. 

“I believe many of us are helping to change the stereotypical image of the overseas Filipino as a "Yankee" (trouble-maker) or "Japayuki", he says. To fellow OFWs, he has this to say, “Be proud of who you are and your identity. Don't be a floating algae. Go back to your roots and recall the teachings of your parents and grandpa-rents. In a foreign country, the major source of strength and stabi-lity is how firmly you are rooted to your true indigenous self.”

With the recent shift in the educational setting of the Philippines by using the local language as the medium of instruction from grade 1-3, the innovation of the Kapampa-ngans and other ethnic groups in the Philippines is a welcome change in the pursuit of cultural development which will be beneficial for the present and the next generations. Promoting indigenous culture to other countries only shows that the Filipinos are one diverse nation and not a monolith group of people with only one culture and language.

Dennis Sun

DAISUKI!

March - April 2014

FROZEN

Unang bagsak ng snow sa Tokyo, nasa Manila ako. Pero bago pa nag-snow, grabe na ang lamig. Kaya I was so happy going to the Philippines because finally, I can escape the freezing winter even for a few days. I was riding the limousine bus from central Tokyo going to Narita International Airport and the snow is starting to fall heavier by the minute. Pagdating sa airport, nag-pile na ang snow sa daan. Buti na lang, hindi na cancel ang flight. But it was delayed for some minutes because they had to spray the whole airplane for anti-snow. It was actually the first time I saw it done looking outside from my small window inside the plane. Vehicles circle around the plane spraying de-icing fluid on the wings. The fluid prevents a build-up of snow and ice on the wings and tail of an airplane which is crucial for a safe take-off. Wow! I was able to escape the wintry white Tokyo. Four hours later after take-off, I landed in the summery Manila!

HOT

I was back in the Philippines with the wrong attire. My friends in Facebook were all commenting on how cold Manila was. “Parang Baguio raw!” Wow! Buti na lang lumamig ang Manila. I brought sweat shirts and long sleeves shirts mostly. Pagdagpa ko sa Manila airport, I was feeling the global warming! Anong Baguio ang pinag-sasabi nila? It was the start of summer heat already. Umiinit na ang panahon. I brought the wrong clothes. Wala akong pwedeng isuot! Sa loob ng airport, all eyes were on me. Ano ba? Yes, I was wearing my jacket at hindi fur coat!

The following day, I asked my friend to bring me to the nearest ukay-ukay store to buy summer wear. At my age, I don’t need to buy expensive and branded things anymore. For as long as the quality is good, the design is okay and the fit is comfortable, pwede na sa akin yon! At pwede ko rin naman ipamigay sa aking mga pamangkin ang mga binili ko bago ako umuwi sa Tokyo kung saan naghihintay ang lamig sa akin. Change of attire! Costume change! Parang showtime!

SIZZLING

While in Manila, I had the chance to meet old friends. Some are now directors of big companies, doctors of hospitals, and deans of colleges. Wow! I wanted to ask myself, “What ever happened to me?” Nakatira sila sa mala-palasyong bahay at merong mga maid na nagsi-silbi sa kanila. Pati tubig nga, inuutos pa ang maid para ibigay sa kanila.

Although ganoon din kami pinalaki ng magulang namin na puro asa sa mga maid, pagkatapos tumira ng mahabang panahon sa Japan, parang hindi ko na ma-take ang nag-uutos sa mga maid. Kasi dito sa Japan, ginagawa lahat natin. Magluto, maglaba, maglinis, mamalengke. Kaya noong unang panahon ko sa Japan at nag-iisang tumira sa maliit na kwarto ko, puro piniritong itlog at hotdog ang nasa menu ko araw-araw. Kung tinatamad naman, pakulo nalang ng mainit na tubig at ibuhos sa cup ramen. O diba? From Continental, naging Chinese cuisine agad!

TOXIC

Pero tanong ko, bakit ang mga Pilipino dito, bakit puro kahon-kahong cup ramen ang ibinibigay na pasalubong sa kanilang mga pamilya sa Pinas? Kapag nasa airport at may bitbit na box of cup ramen, siguradong Pinoy yon! Wala ba sa atin noon? Eh, pagpunta mo sa mga supermarket sa Pinas, marami naman cup ramen ang binebenta doon. Hay naku, Inday, pinapagod mo lang ang sarili mong magbit-bit ng kahon ng cup ramen. Bumili ka na lang doon at mas mura pa.

Tsaka, did you know na hindi maganda sa health natin ang mga cup ramen? Cancerous po ang mga ito. Instant ramen and other instant cup noodles are considered junk foods. Yes, ramen may have its origin in China but the cup noodles were invented in Japan. But it doesn’t mean that if it’s made in Japan, it’s healthy. The way the noodles are manufactured is very unhealthy. They are deep-fried in oil. And the instant soup mix has more fat in it, not to mention a lot of sodium, monosodium glutamate (vetsin!), preservatives and other “mysterious” ingredients!

Even though they are made in Japan, Japanese, generally, don’t eat them. Japanese know for a fact that they are very bad for the health. Usually, ang kumakain ng mga cup ramen ay ang mga bagong naging independent children na hindi marunong magluto kaya popular din ang mga cup ramen sa mga binata at dalagang Hapon. Ang nanay na Hapon, nag-stock lang siya ng cup ramen sa bahay for emergency purposes. Kung nagmamadali at walang oras na, pwede niya itong ihanda sa pamilya.

Yung tatay ng Japanese friend ko, nagka-cancer of the stomach. Sabi niya sa akin, noong binata pa siya, puro cup ramen lang ang kinakain niya araw-araw. Kaya kung gusto ninyong magka-cancer at pati na rin ang inyong pamilya, I recommend you eat cup ramen everyday!

Sige, dala pa kayo ng pasalubong ng cup ramen! KJ (kill-joy) naman daw ako. Masarap kasi ang lasa ng cup ramen. Hindi ibig sabihin na masarap ay maganda sa katawan.

FREEZING

After a week in the Philippines, I had to brace myself again to face the cold Tokyo. A few days after my arrival, the second heavy snowfall of the year fell covering most of Japan. Akala ko, na-escape ko na ang heavy snow. Binalikan ako pag-balik ko. Feeling ko, nasa Hokkaido tayo dito sa Tokyo. Kapal talaga ng snow. It’s really very rare that we experience these kinds of snow storms and blizzards.

Tokyo is not a snow city like Sapporo. We were not built for snow. So, whenever there comes a heavy snowfall, Tokyo suffers. Ang daming car accidents on the road. Kasi walang snow chains ang mga tires ng sasakyan. Hayun, the  cars slide and then bump into each other. Tayo naman naglalakad sa kalye, our shoes were not built for snow, as well. Madulas at minsan, mabilis maging tubig ang snow at kung inapakan mo ito, lulubog ang sapatos at pasok ang malamig na tubig. And the snow gradually mixes with the dirt on the road at nagiging putik! Dapat, naka botas during snow. At ang mga train, they cannot follow the schedule anymore because maraming delayed na.

Snow, snow, snow. How we loved and longed for it when we were still in the Philippines because we didn’t experience it there. I think it’s not good and enjoyable  to live in a snowy country. It’s very hard! Ask the people up north in Hokkaido how they survive. I think it’s better to just be a tourist and enjoy the fun of snow. I still need to visit Sapporo to witness the Snow Festival every February. I am sure I will enjoy snow on a different level.

BLOOMING

I look forward to the coming of cherry blossom season. Last year and the many years before, I did not take the time visiting the parks to enjoy and contemplate the beauty of life by viewing the sakura flowers. There was the earthquake a few years back, and perhaps I was busy with work. This year, siguro, I will take advantage of the whole “hanami” week and take good pictures which I will post in my FB. My timeline will surely turn pink with all the photos of sakura flowers I will post!

Can you imagine how much hype and attention these sakuras bring to the whole country? The timing of their blossoming can even get primetime news on TV. Cherry blossom season is different depending on where you are in Japan. In Okinawa, the flowers begin to bloom around January. Up north in Hokkaido, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom around May. Most blossoms appear for just a week show. Some even less if the weather is bad. Wind, snow and rain can wreck havoc on these delicate flowers.

For us in Japan, sakuras signify that winter has come to an end even if it is still cold outside. But once these flowers bloom, we know it’s a long line of other many flowers coming in view. It will be definitely be spring time!

Tanong ko lang, meron na kayang mga sakura trees sa Pilipinas? Hindi raw tutubo sa init ng Pinas? How about planting them in Baguio City or Tagaytay? Sakuras in the Philippines! Why not? At kung meron man, baka mamumulaklak ang mga iyan during the Christmas season. It would be a spectacular sight for Christmas in the Philippines. Then, we can say good-bye to Christmas pinetrees!

Jasmin Vasquez

ANO NE!
Semana Santa

March-April 2014

Semana Santa - nanggaling sa salitang Espanyol na ibig sabihin sa wikang Tagalog ay Mahal na Araw o Holy Week naman sa Ingles. Ito ay naging tradisyon na karamihan ginagawa ng mga Kristiyano taun-taon upang sariwain o gunitain ang pagpapakasakit ng ating mahal na Panginoon upang tubusin ang mga kasalanan ng sanlibutan.

Ang Mahal Na Araw ay nagsisimula 46 days bago mag Easter Sunday.  Sinisimulan ito sa Ash Wednesday o pagpapahid ng abo na gawa mula sa sinunog na dahon ng palaspas na ginamit noong nakaraang kwaresma at hahaluan ng langis.  Kasunod nito ay maaari ng simulan sa ibat-ibang lugar ang Pabasa o pag-awit ng Pasyon.  

Natatandaan ko pa nung ako ay bata pa tuwing may Pabasa. Hindi ako makatulog kasi ang ingay-ingay nila. Pag-natapos na nila ang pabasa, ihahatid naman nila ang Poon sa susunod na lugar na magkakaroon din ng pasyon. Ang paniniwala nila dito dapat ay sampung taon mo itong gagawin bilang isang Panata.

Panata - isa itong kaugalian ng mga tao na humihingi ng kapatawaran sa kanilang mga nagawang kasalanan na gustong pagbayaran at pagsisihan. Iba't-ibang uri ng Panata ang kani-kanilang ginagawa katulad ng fasting o pag-aayuno na ang ibig sabihin ay pagpipigil sa pag kunsumo ng pagkain o inumin hanggang sa takdang panahon ngunit hindi ibig sabihin na hindi tayo kakain o iinom. Halimbawa po ay sa loob ng isang araw tatlong beses kayong kumakain ng kanin. Dapat lilimitahan o babawasan ang inyong kinakain.  Maaring isang beses lang kayo kumain at yung dalawang bahagi ng pagkain niyo ay pwede niyong isakripisyo na ibahagi para sa iba. 

Penitensya - isa itong gawain kadalasan ng mga lalake na susugatan nila ang kanilang sarili at hahampas-hampasin nila hanggang sa magdugo ito ng magdugo. Ito ay simbolo ng pagsasakripisyo at pagpapakasakit ni Hesus sa pagtubos ng mga kasalanan ng sanlibutan.

Senakulo - ito ay isang Passion Play o pagsasadula ng pagsasakripisyo. Ang paglilitis, pagdurusa at kamatayan ni Hesukristo. Yung iba ay nagpapapako din sa krus habang isinasadula ang senakulo. Mara-ming dumarayo sa atin upang saksihan ang tradisyong ginagawa tuwing sasapit ang Biyernes Santo.

Biyernes Santo - araw ng pagpako at kamatayan ni Hesukristo sa krus. 

Holy Saturday - ito ang huling araw ng Holy Week na tawag din ay The Great Sabbath Day.

Easter Sunday - Dito natin ipinagdiriwang ang kanyang muling pagkabuhay.

Ash Wednesday: 

March 5, 2014

Palm Sunday: 

April 13, 2014

Good Fri: April 18, 2014

Easter Sunday: 

April 20, 2014

Taon-taon na nagaganap ang tradisyong ito sa iba’t-ibang lugar sa mundo. Maraming namamanata o nag sasakripisyo tuwing sasapit ang Holy Week.  Ngunit sa aking pananaw, hindi lamang dapat tuwing sasapit ang mahal na araw saka tayo hihingi ng tawad at handang magsakripisyo para sa ating mga kapwa tao. Hindi po ba na mas mainam kung parati tayong magsisi sa ating mga kasalanan? Humingi ng tawad at magpatawad.  Baguhin ang masasamang ugali. Napakagaan  ng buhay kapag ikaw ay palaging malapit sa Diyos at sa ating kapwa tao.

Renaliza Rogers

SA TABI LANG PO: BLINDED ITEMS

March-April 2014

Pindot, pindot, pindot. Yan lagi ang ginagawa ko tuwing wala akong magawa. Pipindot ng pipindot, naka focus at medyo maduduling saka biglang mapapasigaw. Ako kasi ay namatay sa aking nilalarong game. Flappy Bird. Yan ang pangalan ng isang nakakayamot na laro sa mga smartphones ngayon. Ang gagawin mo lang ay paliparin ang isang ibon na mukhang palaka sa gitna ng mga tubo at siguraduhing hindi niya ito masagi o mabangga. Simple? Easier said than done.  Marami ng smartphones ang kamuntikan nang ihampas sa pader kung hindi lang sila mamahalin. Isang simpleng laro na nagpainis sa mga walang magawa. Bakit kaya na sa isang simpleng bagay na wala naman kakwenta-kwenta tulad ng Flappy Bird ay magmumura ang isang tao at malilimutan ang delikadesa nya? 

And speaking of delikadesa, pumunta naman tayo sa isang popular na pangyayari kamakailan lang. May isang lalaking artista na pumunta sa condo ng isang maganda at batang modelo. "Punta ka sa condo. Dala u foods." Dahil lang sa isang simpleng text ng isang magandang dilag, nakalimutan ni totoy bibo na may kasintahan na pala siya. Kaya't hayun pagdating ay pinagtulu-ngan siyang bugbugin ng mga maskuladong kalalakihan, pinagbintangang nanggahasa at hiningian pa ng pera. Ngayon si Mr. Suave ay nagmukhang panda. Ewan ko kung sinet-up lang siya o totoong nanggahasa, pero yan ang napapala ng mga lalaking malandi. Isang simpleng text, isang simpleng imbitas-yon ngunit kataku-takot na bugbog ang napala at katakut-takot na balita at chismis ang idinulot sa Pilipinas. Pati nga NBI ay nagkukumahog at ngayon ay magkakaroon pa ng Senate probe tungkol dito. Ganun ka tindi.  Mga simpleng bagay na wala namang kakwenta-kwenta ngunit matindi ang idinulot na interes sa buong Pilipinas. Punung-puno ang internet ng mga balita tungkol dito, gusto malaman kung ano ang totoong nangyari sa condo at kung bakit binugbog si totoy bibo. Sa kagustuhang maungkat ang chismis, pindot din nang pindot ng kung anu-anong pekeng video links ang karamihan. Nauuto, naloloko. Puno pati TV Patrol news tungkol dito. Pati nga sa bahay namin, ito ang main topic. Pero ni hindi nga masyadong pinansin ang napabalitang natagpuang "wheel of torture" para sa mga bilanggo ng mga pulis sa Laguna.  Natatabunan na yata ang mga mas makabuluhan na national issues dahil lang sa mga walang kwentang mga balita. Kung matatandaan nyo, noong pumutok yung scandalous ZTE deal ay pumutok din bigla ang sex scandal video ni Hayden Kho at Katrina Halili (at sari-saring mga babae). Noong rumagasa ang bagyong Yolanda sa Tacloban at nakatanggap ng international criticism ang ating  gobyerno at presidente dahil sa kanilang kakulangan ay bigla ding lumabas ang sex scandal ni Wally Bayola. At ngayon namang may Pork Barrel Scam ay eto nanaman - na overshadow ng issue ng bugbugan sa condo. Bakit kaya ganun? Coincidence or media manipulation? O baka naman bulag lang tayo!  Hindi ko alam kung ano ang dahilan at wala na ako doon. Pero sana naman tayong mga mambabasa, tingnan din natin kung ano ang mas makabuluhan at huwag magbulag-bulagan. Oo nga't mas interesting at mas juicy yung topic ng condo bugbugan (kahit nga ako very interested eh) pero alam mo ba ang nangyayari sa bansa mo? Malamang hindi. Mas pinahahalagahan ng mga Pinoy ang mga isyu kung mga sikat ang involved. Bakit tuwing na lang may eskandalong walang kwenta ay kailangang pang umabot sa senado at bising-busy ang NBI, supreme court at mga otoridad sa pag resolba nito? Eh yung Ampatuan Massacre? Naaalala mo pa ba yun? Ilang taon na ang nakalipas ay hindi pa rin masyadong nabibigyang hustisya ang mga namatay at hindi pa rin masyadong napaparusahan ang mga salarin.  Kung sa bagay nga naman hindi mo rin masisisi ang karamihan dahil ang malalaman mo lang ay kung ano ang nakita at narinig mo sa balita. Ang media ay may kakayahang manipulahin at ibaling ang interes mo sa kung ano lang ang gusto nilang pagtuonan mo ng pansin. Pilipinas nga naman oh... Ang ating basehan sa kung ano ang uunahin ay kung alin ang mas sikat at mas papansinin ng bayang mahilig sa chismis. 

Karen Sanchez

POETRY: Sakura

March-April 2014

Ganda mo’y kakaiba at kaaya-aya
Sa buong Japan ay masisilayan ka
Mula sa Okinawa, Osaka
hanggang Tokyo at Hokkaido
Mga turista ika’y sadyang dinadayo

Taun-taon ganda mo ay nag-iiba
Na sa maiksing panahon
lamang makikita
Mga tao ay inaabang-abangan ka
Maging sa umaga o gabi
ganda mo ay kahanga-hanga

Katiwasayan, kalinisan at pag-asa
ang iyong dala-dala
Sa mga tao, sa ganitong panahon
ay asam-asam ka
Sa kulay mo, paligid ay
nagkukulay-rosas na
Kaibig-ibig at nakakabuntong hininga

Katangian mo sa buhay ay nagtutugma
Mga katangian, madalas na
maikukumpara
Na kung minsan ay may
mga nangyayaring maganda
Mga bagay na sa kalauan
kusa din itong mawawala

Kasabay ng simoy ng hangin,
talulot mo'y nalaglag isa-isa
Kung saan man ito papadparin,
di na ito inaalintana
Sapagkat, mawala ka man
sa kanilang paningin
Tiyak  naman muling masisilayan
ang iyong ganda

Marty Manalastas-Timbol

SHITTERU?

March-April 2014

ALAM NYO BA…na pag ikaw ay isang writer at wala kang inspiration, it’s very difficult to really write a story or even compose a short script. Same thing with work pag you are asked to make a project proposal at wala ka sa mood, hay naku, super hirap mag-isip ng isusulat kasi blanko ang utak or wala sa mood ika nga ng iba. Sometimes, yung iba pag may biglang naisip while walking or sipping a cup of tea, they stop for a while and write down agad kung ano ang naiisip nila. I do that paminsan-minsan, I jot down agad yung naiisip ko na quote or phrase or kung may bigla akong naalalang sabihin sa kaibigan… makakalimutin na rin kasi…wink, wink ;)

ALAM NYO BA…that Tokyo is really not ready for heavy snowfall. Trains delayed or some trains will even suspend their operations for several hours. Schools were cancelled due to snow. Marami din daw ang car accident dahil nga di nilagyan ng snow tire chain yung mga gulong ng kotse nila. Marami din ang mga nasugatan dahil sa nadulas sila sa snow. Like me, for example, I slipped one Monday morning when I was on my way to work. I slipped twice and it really hurt kasi nga naging ice na yung snow. It’s been 13 years ago since we had heavy snowfall in Tokyo. 

ALAM NYO BA…na dahil sa magkasunod na snow at super heavy snow, napabili tuloy ako ng shovel. It’s hard to clean yung sa may harap ng bahay pag walang shovel. So next time may snow ulit sa Tokyo, may shovel na kami…hehehe.

ALAM NYO BA…na marami ang gustong makakita ng snow, lalo na tayong mga taga-Tokyo. At my age, when I hear that may snow daw bukas, etc. I no longer feel excited about snow. What I feel is how to keep myself warm. Others are excited about it, but after the snowfall, oh there you will hear them complain. Ako talaga, ayaw ko ng snow sa Tokyo, ang hirap kaya lalo na pag ice na siya, hirap maglakad at dapat may allowance ka na 30 minutes to an hour sa travel time mo dahil madulas nga at delayed ang mga trains.

ALAM NYO BA…na marami sa mga kababayan natin ang biglang nanood ng Winter Olympics 2014? Why? Well, we have our very own kababayan, Michael Martinez as the first figure skater from the Southeast Asia to qualify for the Olympics at siya lang ang kaisa-isang athlete representing the Philippines. Marami ang namangha kay Michael, lalo na he is from the Philippines, a tropical country.  All eyes sa kanya at laman siya ng facebook, sharing updates or news about him, others would even share a link of his performance for those who were not able to watch the live show. Michael Martinez began skating only in year 2005 at the SM Southmall ice rink. Now, who could have thought that this young 17-year old Michael Martinez from the Philippines will be part of the 2014 Winter Olympics. You made all Filipinos all over the world proud! Keep it up, keep believing, keep dreaming, have faith and we will be praying for you. Mabuhay ka Michael!

ALAM NYO BA…dahil sa malayo ako sa mga magulang ko, I miss them so much. I am always happy when I get to talk with them lalo na with my Ima (my mother). Recently, she shared with me some of her jokes and I laughed with her. I hope that I will have a chance to travel back home to be with them. Oh, how I miss them lalo na my Ima, she is just like a sister and a best friend.

Till next issue and God bless you all!

Roger Agustin

Musings of Sarariman:
The Spring Offensive and
the Land of the Rising Wage

March-April 2014

Spring is the season of a new start, also marking the transition from a cold and dull winter. In a sarariman’s world, it also marks the start of another fiscal year. It is a very busy season to complete all work by the end of March, and in April a fresh start for everything, new employees, and new projects.

Before you have seen this article, many of you should have noticed the word 春闘 (Shunto) appearing on TV screens and newspapers starting February.   Daily reports and commentaries focus on this topic until the end of March. 春闘, literally translated as “Spring-Fight” also stands for terms like 春季生活闘争 or 春季闘争 or春季労使交渉. It is usually translated as the Annual Spring Labor Offensive or a better definition would be the Annual Spring Wage Bargaining Round. Although the general intent of Shunto is to improve working conditions not only by wage hikes but also includes reduced working time, it has focused mainly on the annual wage increase negotiations between unions and the employer, and thousands of these unions go through the negotiations simultaneously from the beginning of February. The Shunto movement is based on a major premise that wages should also be raised equivalent to the rise in consumer prices after the post-war phenomenal economic growth. The Trade Union Confederation or the Rengo (連合) customarily sets a specific “base-up”    (ベア) target to aid its affiliate member unions in negotiating for the wage increases. The big powerful unions from the steel, automotive and electronics industries lead the first negotiations with management and when they have secured their own deals, the smaller and weaker unions are able to follow them, and they do also impact the non-unionized workers or other workers with restricted union rights. It is easy to imagine that the Spring Offensive, as the word itself, would mean labor disputes and disruptive strikes when negotiations break down. But Japanese-style strikes are worlds apart from what we would see in other countries. They take place within a very limited time, a day or for a few hours, arranged in advance with the management so they are not intended to disrupt production. It does make sense and is more aligned to my thinking about win-win negotiations. I only experienced the massive and disruptive strikes almost three decades ago by the Japan National Railways unions (JNR which is now the JR train company) before it was privatized. Therefore, a radical labor movement that causes inconvenience to the masses will only invite protests and criticisms. When I started working at a Japanese company, Shunto barely affected me at all. Since we were all automatic members of the labor union, the negotiations seemed to be done by pre-designated representative members who were wearing headbands but never have I seen rallies or strikes to push for what the unions were asking for. Those were the days when the bubble economy burst and the start of a slow and painful economic recession. 

Since then and for almost two decades, Japan has fallen into a slow, stagnant, or even negative economic growth that caused a long period of deflation which also reduced the worker’s bargaining power for higher wages. The major unions were forced to restrict their demands and even had to accept zero wage offers from the employers. With a weak bargaining power under low economic growth and fierce global competition, the negotiations have shifted from demanding higher wages to just protecting the existing pay structure and ensuring job security. 

However, the so-called Abenomics has created an impression of positive impact on the economy. One of the key tenets of Prime Minister Abe’s structural reforms is the need for wage growth that he called upon Japanese corporations to increase wages that would promote consumption, revive the stagnant economy, and finally emerge from deflation. Even the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) has backed up the call and trade unions have asked companies to share their profits generated by the Abenomic’s stimulus policies by increasing the base salary (called as ベア or base-up) this year, the main focus of the 2014 Shunto event. It is not a mere coincidence because aside from just the positive economic growth expected, the increase in the consumption tax from 5% to 8% starting April 1 this year was approved so the wage increase also has to be generous enough to compensate or offset the said tax hike. 

The Abenomics effect indeed brought some optimism and put the 2014 Shunto into an upbeat mood. But there are also opinions that Shunto is fading into obsolescence and outliving its usefulness and has come to be just an annual event, like a show played by the company unions. It could have failed to adapt to the changing times and has adhered to the age-old pay system that has formed the foundation of lifetime employment and seniority-based wage system. I may agree to it because I am a part of a different system based solely on performance. Or it is the time to revisit the Shunto’s reason for existence, align itself with the realities of global market competition and expand its scope to cover non-unionized workers, including part-time workers who had never enjoyed the fruits of the so-called Spring Offensive. 

I hope the so-called Abenomics effect becomes sustainable and everybody gets a blooming paycheck in Spring! 

Isabelita Manalastas - Watanabe

ADVICE NI TITA LITS

March-April 2014

Dear JP readers:

Bago ko po sagutin ang inyong mga katanungan, gusto ko lang i-share sa inyo ang reaction ng isang kababayan natin na nakatira sa London, who read the New Year edition of Jeepney Press. Alyce po ang pangalan niya. Alyce emailed me in Kapampangan, and I am translating in English the pertinent points regarding JP.  Here goes:

“Hi, Lits:

“Thank you for the newspaper you sent me.  I am happy and proud that you shared this with us.  At first, I read only your Dear Tita Lita column.  I enjoyed reading it especially because I can relate to the questions asked, especially the one from Joey.  I showed the newspaper to my daughter Jane and she read it, before passing it again to me.  She said, there is another article inside, and it was about Tita Lita.

“Lits, I was reading the newspaper until early morning, and I was in the kitchen, reading from page 1 until the last page.  I saw the photograph of your sister and I did not know she was your sister and that you had a sister also in Japan.  I was wondering how come she looks similar to you, and she was also a Manalastas, and after I read Marty’s Shitteru article, now I can confirm she is really your sister.

“Even the article of your editor, Mr. Sun, who is also Kapampangan – I enjoyed reading it very much, although I am not totally in agreement with him regarding his reason/s for not wanting to go home during Christmas.  (Attention: Tito Dennis!) I will also pass the newspaper to my elder sister and to my friend Susan, so they can read it.

“It was interesting to know how you came to Japan.  The next one I hope you will do is to write your autobiography (if you haven’t started yet). 

“Congratulations to Jeepney Press for its 10 years of successful publication.  I like your paper much better than those published here in the UK, wherein articles get buried in the so many advertisements placed.”

Alicia Vasquez

London

Dear Tita Lita,

Tuwing umuuwi po ako sa Pinas, lagi po akong nauupo sa tabi ng mga maiingay na pamilya. Bakit kaya? Tulad ng pinakahuling uwi ko po, malapit po ang upuan ko sa isang nanay na may bitbit na dalawang chikiting. Grabe! Ang ingay ng mga bata. Nag-aawayan, nagsisigawan, nag-iiyakan at napakalikot. Yung nanay, binabawalan lang paminsan-minsan. Parang wala lang sa kanya ang nangyayari. Siguro po, sanay na siya. Pero ako po, hindi sanay. Hindi ba niya alam na nakaka-istorbo sa mga ibang pasahero ang mga walang disiplinang anak niya? Morning flight pa naman iyon at dahil kulang ako sa tulog, plano ko po talaga ang matulog sa eroplano para makabawi sa tulog. Ano po ba ang magandang gawin sa mga ganitong katayuan?

Bert, 

Chiba 

Dear Bert:

Sarap sanang mag-business class, ano? Dahil “business” class, karamihan ng sumasakay diyan, ay mga business people, or iyong may maipambabayad na at least twice ng presyo ng isang economy class ticket. Madalang ang nanay na may tsikiting na bitbit sa business class, maluwag ang upuan, pwedeng makapag-stretch mabuti at makatulog ng mahimbing.

Kaya lang, sa mga ordinary mortals na tulad natin, who cannot charge our airfare to our company, or who cannot stomach paying at least twice the fare, even if we have the money, for just a 4-hour plane ride, pwede ng pagtiyagaan ang economy class. I assume, of course, na you are just flying from Japan to Manila. Parusa talaga kung long-distance flight ka – for the US or for Europe, kahit walang maiingay na tsikiting, dahil nga napakasikip ng upuan at walang masyadong leg room to stretch.

Bert, siguro kapag nagkaanak ka na, maiintindihan mo kung papaano mag-alaga ng bata. Imagine mo iyong nanay ng mga tsikiting na nakatabi mo – mas lalo na iyong walang tulog, mas pagod, at mas stressed dahil sa kasama nga ay mga bata, na hindi naman pa makaintindi na hindi dapat maging maingay or umiyak while inside the plane. Posible rin na may colds ang mga bata, and when one has colds and takes the plane, malaki ang chance na the air pressure inside the plane during take-off and during landing, will cause some pressure sa tainga, at masakit iyon. At hindi naman mai- explain ito ng bata. 

Sorry, Bert, wala akong maisip na pwede mong magawa. Kahit mag-complain ka pa sa stewardess, ano naman ang pwede niyang gawin?  

One of my sisters-in-law used to let her children take some cough syrup soon after they board the plane, para ma-relax at makatulog daw ang mga bata. Not necessarily to cause trouble to other passengers, but really to let the children get better rest. I am not sure if I could recommend this to readers of this column when they travel with their kids. Siguro, you can ask your doctor muna.

Apat na oras na sakripis-yo… Nothing can be done… So best just to accept it, wear your head phone, and enjoy watching one or two movies, until you arrive to your destination, and the ordeal is finally over!

Tita Lita

Dear Tita Lita,

Matanda na po ang Tatay namin. Wala na rin po kaming Nanay. Hindi naman po kami ganoon kayaman pero meron pang natitirang mga ari-arian ang Tatay ko tulad ng bahay, lupa at mga apartment. Nag-aalala po ako na sa katayuan ng Tatay ko at bigla niya po kaming iwanan at mamatay. Minsan sinabi ko po sa Tatay ko pagkatapos niyang maka-recover sa heart attack tungkol sa mana (inheritance) naming limang magkakapatid. Nagalit po siya sa amin at parang binabastos namin siya. Actually, hindi pa po patay ang aking Tatay, ilan sa aking kapatid ay humihirit at humihingi na ng kanilang mana dahil sa kanilang mga negosyo. Gusto nilang i-advance ang kanilang mana para sa karagdagan pondo sa kanilang business. Nagka-kagulo na rin po kaming mga magkakapatid dahil dito at ayaw makigulo ang aking Tatay. Ngayon buhay pa siya ay gulung-gulo na kami, paano pa kaya kapag nawala na ang Tatay ko? Ano po ba ang payo ninyo?

Shiela, 

Nagoya

Dear Shiela:

Mukhang sa ating kultura, ay hindi pa usual ang paggawa ng will. Kahit nga pagbili ng life insurance, parang hindi masyadong common pa sa atin. Siguro, dahil ayaw nating isipin ang ating mortality. Kahit ako, palagi kong iniisip na i-arrange mabuti ang aking financial records – bank accounts, cash on hand, stocks, loan mortgage payments, etc., para kung may mangyari man sa akin, ay alam ng pamilya ko kung ano ang gagawin sa aking mga assets at liabilities. Pero hangga ngayon, hindi ko pa rin inaasikaso. (Salamat sa sulat mo –wake up call ito sa akin to do the necessary, the soonest).

Dapat siguro tama ang timing at tama ang approach natin sa ating mga magulang when discussing inheritance. Siguro, best to sit down one more time with your Tatay, in a relaxed environment.  Siguro over lunch or dinner, maybe in a restaurant, at kayo lang dalawa muna. The very first thing you should do is to tell him you are very sorry about offending him when you opened up the matter of inheritance the last time.  But that you are only thinking of peace of mind for your father when you opened up the topic. And if your father is receptive to listening to you talk further, then tell him that it is best to make his will, and that he can talk to his lawyer (or arrange a meeting with a lawyer he knows/trusts).  Do not make it appear that you are at all interested in having mana from him – only peace of mind for your father, and that he alone will have sole discretion on how he would like to have his property/assets divided or distributed not only to his children but to whoever he thinks he should bequeath some, including his favorite charities, etc.  And let him really decide independently, in consultation with his trusted lawyer, and do not influence him in any manner in whatever decision he takes. And since he will leave a will, whatever he decides to put there, will be administered properly by his lawyer, when the time comes that your father will leave this earth, and not earlier.  

Pabayaang magdusa ang mga kapatid mo at maghintay ng tamang panahon, bago sila mag-ambisyong kunin at manahin ang mga ari-arian ng tatay ninyo.  

Tita Lita

Dear Tita Lita,

Pito po kaming mag-kakapatid. Poultry at piggery ang business ng aming ama. Tuwing summer vacation, nag-ta-trabaho po kaming lahat sa poultry at piggery na napakahirap, napakadumi at napakabaho. Hate-na-hate po namin kapag dumarating na ang summer vacation sapagkat alam namin ang kapalit noon. Yung ibang classmates ko, bakasyon grande sila Baguio at Boracay. Kaming magkakapatid, bakasyong pagdurusa! Wala naman po kaming magawa kundi mag-trabaho. Pinag-aral po kami hanggang makatapos sa college at ngayon ay meron na po kaming kanya-kanyang mga trabaho. Minsan po habang kumakain po kami ng buong pamilya isang linggo, pinangaralan kami ng aking mga magulang.  Hindi pa raw sulit ang pinang-gastos niya sa amin para makatapos ng pag-aaral sa kabila ng pagbibigay namin sa kanya buwan-buwan sapagkat wala na pong business 

ang aming mga magulang. Nasaktan po ako. Ang feeling ko, ginawa po niya kaming parang investment. Kailangan po bang suklihan ang pinagbigay at ginastos ng magulang sa kanilang mga anak?  Responsibilidad ba ng anak na bayaran o ibalik ang nagastos ng magulang sa kanilang anak? Ano po ang opinion ninyo?

Martina, 

Sendai

Dear Martina:

Sa aking personal na opinyon, responsibilidad ng isang magulang na bigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang kanilang mga anak. At palagay ko, walang makakapa-argue, na ang best gift that a parent can give to his child will be the best education. Ang edukasyon kasi ang passport natin for a better future – a good job, good income, and thus, a more stable future (financially).

Sa unang parte ng sulat mo, ang unang naging reaction ko ay walang masamang tumulong kayong magkakapatid sa poultry at piggery business ng inyong magulang, tuwing inyong summer vacation. Good for you na matutuhan ninyo kung papaano i-run ang business, at ma-appreciate ninyo ang hirap ng inyong mga magulang para kumita at mapag-aral kayong magkakapatid. Pero sa latter part ng iyong sulat, parang na-disappoint naman ako kay Nanay at Tatay. Parang utang na loob ninyo na kayo ay kanilang pinag-aral. Mali yata sila dito. Obligasyon nila na pag-aralin kayo. In fact, hindi ninyo obligasyong magbigay buwan-buwan sa inyong mga magulang. Ang pagbibigay ay kusang-loob, at bigay iyon na pang-kunswelo sa kanila, at hindi dahil ibinabalik ninyo ang mga ginastos nila sa inyo. I can sympathize with you when you said na nasaktan ka. Ang payo ko ay keep quiet ka na lang. Isipin mo na lang na siguro, tumatanda na sila at nagiging mas sensitive in their old age. Kung bukal sa loob ninyong magkaka-patid na bigyan sila ng pera buwan-buwan, ituloy ninyo. May grasya iyong kapalit – God will return all the good things you do, in many ways.

Tita Lita  

Neriza Sarmiento Saito’s

THE GLITTER AND GLORY OF GINANG KALAYAAN
with JOY YOSHITOMI

March-April 2014

I often associate Spring with the words "Usbong" which means sprouts or young leaves of trees. The buds of plum trees are called the harbinger of Spring. It is a popular theme used by haiku poets to herald the coming of Spring. When the buds blossom into flowers, all other plants and trees follow with the pink cherry blossoms

spreading its flowers like a pink carpet across the sky! 

I also chose the words "TUTUBO" and "LALAGO" in the March program of From Overseas Philippines in FM Cocolo. These two words not only sound rhythmical for the Japanese but it connotes a sense of productivity for it means to grow for plants or it can also mean to gain profit or achieve something.

  

The "Sakura" tree of Japan fascinates me for its resiliency. After a long time enduring the cold winter season, year after year, it blooms without fail in spring. Although my best friend Lilia-sensei

considers herself a late bloomer when she started writing poetry and short stories and essays, many of her writer-colleagues think that she is one writer who can weave words so creatively to produce those award-winning poetry.

My brother, Louie, loved to climb our Siniguelas and mango trees. He loved adventure and was not afraid of anything even the spankings he would get for disobeying our parents. From an early age, he knew what he wanted. He studied and worked hard to reach his goal. From a bud, he grew into a tall tree, became an expert on his field and was later awarded in 2012 as the

Philippines' Top 40 professionals in the Mining Industry. I was not like him. I was like the cherry tree a seasonal achiever. In the many winters and springs of my life, I published a few books, produced and directed some plays, appeared in some TV and radio programs and documentaries. And one of my greatest satisfactions so far is writing for this column because this has given me the confidence to introduce interesting Pinoys in Japan and some Japanese who are interested in the Philippines. No matter how simple each life story is, it is unique and special.

    

One such person who has blossomed through these years is the current chairperson of the Philippine Community Coordinating Council, Ms. Joy Yoshitomi. During the Dec.12th visit of President Benigno Aquino Jr. in Tokyo, Joy received a warm applause from the audience when she uttered the words "Nandemo Dekiru" (Anything is possible to do) when she referred to how the typhoon victims in Tacloban can rebuild their lives. On Dec.15th, the PCCC held a touching "Light for Life" event, where candles were lit for a few minutes in memory of those who perished and give hope to the survivors. 

Filipino community members performed song and dance numbers inside the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary in Tamatsukuri. The Archdiocese of Osaka, the Philcongen, DOT and DTI and all other member communities of PCCC especially the Samasama Community supported this project. From sales of candles and donations from individuals including a young boy who gave a bottle full of coins that he saved, a couple travelling from New York who just happened to pass by, Ms. Noriko Nakagawa - a professor from Ryutsu Kagaku University who I met at a seminar, some friends like Belinda Lorly, Roberta Beth and Junko Matsumura, students and teachers from Meitoku Yotchien, Life Co, Ltd., Deguchi Co. Ltd, Mr. Eiichi Sajiki, Elizabeth and Miniru Fukada, Jane Shibatani, Brillante Family, Yoriko Hayashi, Nobuko Uodomo, KMC Service and the Catholic Bishop's Conference of Japan. PCCC raised ¥181,891. Kindergarten students from Abeno Catholic Church painted the cups holding the candles. Such gestures of support are indeed what Joy meant by Nandemo Dekiru. "Anything is possible if we have determination.”

Joy studied at La Consolacion Colllege in Manila, got married in Japan and is blessed with two boys. She established a group of women in Abeno and then joined the PCEC in 1998. She was mainly in-charge of the Ginang Kalayaan Pageant that began in 1998 with Ms. Kalayaan. The following year it was suggested that Filipino housewives must be given a chance to prove their vital role in society by empowering them not only with beauty but also with virtues of being a loving, dutiful and compassionate wife and mother. Many joined the contest from as far as Saitama, Nagoya, and Tokyo. The first Ginang Kalayaan 1999 was Ms. Maricel

Suzuki, a tourism graduate from Nara.

    

In the millennium year, more than 20 contestants joined and the contest had become even more competitive with entries getting prettier and wittier. The contestants had to go through tough screenings for the talent portion and tricky questions from the board of judges composed of professors, doctors, businessmen and artists. 

    

Ms. Liberty Puno Suzuki was proclaimed Ginang Kalayaan 2000. Meanwhile, Libye represented the Kitano Filipino Community. In the succeeding years, Joy had to take a leave from PCCC to take care of her family. Henry Tabao and Noemi Itsukage took over. The last Ginang was held at the Ritto Center for the Arts in Shiga in cooperation with the Filipino Community in Shiga represented by Delia Nakashima and Ms. Liza Kumai.

    

But the seed that Joy planted did not stop growing. After almost 10 years in hibernation, its buds are coming out. As the current chairperson of PCCC, Joy is determined to revive this project that she started. With renewed energy and vision for a more prominent position of women in society, Ginang Kalayaan will be an event to look forward to on June 8th. Those who are interested to join may inquire from any Filipino community in your area.

Marilyn Abellana Suico

Current Events

March-April 2014

There is so much going on these days 

In Asia, Europe, Russia and United States 

Always so keen on knowing what's happening around me 

With a lot to watch and read, no time for my diary. 

Let me start in Japan where I work and live 

Abenomics they say will have something to give 

In April this year whether you like it or not 

The rise of the consumption tax is anything but. 

In Russia will commence the next winter olympics 

Amidst some controversies on gay rights and terrorists 

What a day for many olympians from all over 

But the Obamas are not coming, what do I care. 

Baby, baby, Justin Beiber got arrested 

For DUI and other offenses he got busted 

Too much, too young and a fame in hand 

At 19 must be fun to hop in his hand. 

Pope Francis is Time Magazine Man of the Year 

While Edward Snowden got nominated somewhere 

CNN says it is for the Nobel Peace Prize 

If it is so, the CIA and FBI will not find it nice. 

Poor Vhong Navarro's shattered face is all over the news 

Napoles and Yolanda got silenced without interviews 

The pork barrel scam, tax evasion and rice smuggling are competing 

While Santiago and Enrile can never be on equal footing. 

Got to close now my IPhone5 

My best commuting buddy that keeps me alive 

‘Coz it's time to get off from the train 

To meet my friend inspite of the rain. 

Warren Sun

Kusuri sa Kusina
TOMATO GLOW

March-April 2014

Ang  tomato o kamatis ay nauugnay bilang isang gulay sa karamihan pero hindi alam ng lahat na isa itong wonder fruit na walang pangkaraniwang tamis tulad ng mga ibang prutas.  Nakikita natin na laging gamit ang tomato sa panghalo sa salad, pasta at iba’t-iba pang mga ulam  na suking-suki ito sa ating kusina. Pero ano nga ba ang nakukuha nating health benefits sa kamatis?

Reduce Risk of Cancer Ayon sa pananaliksik, ang pag kain ng maraming kamatis ay nagpapababa ng peligro sa lung, stomach at prostate cancers.  Ito ay may substance na tawag ay Lycopene na isang powerful antioxidant na nagbibigay proteksyon laban sa iba’t-ibang uri ng cancer.

Prevent DNA Damage
Mataas ito sa antioxidants tulad ng Vitamins A & C na tumutulong sa DNA damage at pinaniniwalaan din na nakakatulong sa mga age-related diseases tulad ng Atherosclerosis at Diabetes.

Reduce the Risk of
Heart Disease
Ito rin ay may nutrients tulad ng Niacin, Folate and Vitamin B6 na tumutulong sa pagbaba ng heart disease.  Sa isang pananaliksik, kung gagawin natin ang tomato-rich Mediterranean Diet  na may kahalong extra virgin olive oil o kaya mixed nuts, ay tiyak magpapababa ng heart attack o stroke sa mahigit na 30%.

Promote Healthier Sleep   Ang kamatis ay tumutulong din sa pagbibigay ng mahimbing na pagtulog.  Pinaniniwalaan nila na ang nga pinaka may mahimbing sa pagtulog ay masagana sa kamatis. Isang tasa lang ng cherry tomatoes na may 20mg ng Vitamin C ay nagbibigay ng 31% na recommended daily amount base sa 2000-calorie diet.

Beautify Skin and Prevent Sunburn
Kung gusto niyong gumanda ang inyong kutis, kumain lang ng kamatis.  Ang Lycopene ay may molecules napro-collagen na nagbibigay ng magandang kutis. Ito rind daw ay tumutulong sa pagbigay ng proteksyon sa sunburn. Sa isang pananaliksik, 55grams lang ng tomato paste at magbibigay ito ng 33% increase skin proteksyon laban sa ultraviolet exposure.

Hindi kaduda-duda na ang kamatis nga ang isa sa pinaka masustansyang prutas sa buong mundo. Murang kamatis na mabibili sa palengke o sa supermarket para sa pagpapahalaga ng inyong pangkalusugan at para sa isang kutis tomato glow.

Lola Jena

TWINKLE, TWINKLE!

March-April 2014 Forecast

ARIES

Bonggang-bonga ang dating ng Marso! Naaamoy ko ang tagumpay, kaligayahan at pag-ibig sa iyong paligid. Punong puno ng sosyalan at party-party! May posibilidad na makatanggap ng awards. Pagdating ng Abril, masasalo ang lahat ng swerte! Kaya bumili ng lotto at manalo. Ikaw na! Mag-travel ka sa darating na Golden Week.

CAPRICORN

Sawang-sawa ka na sa mga makamundong bagay kaya feel mo namang subukan ang pang spiritual na bagay. Gambatte iru ka ngayon pero marami pang pasaway sa paligid mo. Kaya laging magsindi ng incense at magdasal para makamit ang hinihiling. Sa Abril naman, kailangan mong mag check and balance ng pass book.  Kontrolin ang galit para iwasan ma highblood. Visit the church or temple nearby and listen to the Divine within. Search inside you.

LEO

Sabi nga ng kanta ni Sampaguita, “Panahon na para magsaya, forget mo na ang problema.” Palaging magpa-beauty at maglinis ng bahay para tuluy-tuloy ang saya. Sa Abril, lalo kang in-love na in- love. Swerteng araw mo ang Monday.  Always remember to share your blessings para lalong dumami pa. Padalhan mo na ng isang lapad si Nanay sa Pinas! Twinkle!

PISCES

Super ang energy at uulan ng biyaya ngayon. Maligo araw-araw para lalong humalimuyak ang swerte. Sa Abril, laging magsuot ng red para kontra sa mga naiinggit sa iyo. Mag-ingat sa magnanakaw at huwag shoshoga shoga. Never trust people easily. Suriin maigi ang bawat sinasabi nila sa yo. Twinkle, twinkle!

SCORPIO

May 3rd party sa lovelife mo.  Affected ang health kaya laging genkinai ka.  Huwag laging malungkot, kumain ka lagi ng ice cream para pantanggal ng stress. Sa Abril, gaganda ang takbo ng lovelife mo at pweding manalo ng lotto! Nipisin lang ang make-up! The simpler, the better. Natural beauty is the best. Makamandag na ang beauty mo. Believe that!

VIRGO

Vongacious ang career mo at maraming darating na offer. Tulungan ang friendship na nangangailangan para lalong swertihin.  Magpagupit ng hair para lalong maging attractive. Huwag kalimutan magdasal bago lumabas ng bahay.  Palaging may nagbabantay na anghel sa iyo. Mag-suot lagi ng white.

AQUARIUS

Palitan o itapon  muna ang mga lumang gamit o damit. Mag share sa mga charity institutions para gumanda ang karma. Sabi nga nila: “Charity begins at home.”

Sa Abril naman, magugulat ka sa darating na swerte. Bumili ng crystals para laging magningning ang career. Twinkle, twinkle!

CANCER

Happy-go-lucky muna ang style mo this March! Mag facebook, Tweeter para malibang. May love triangle akong nakikita kaya laging magsuot ng square para pangontra ng gusot sa lovelife. Drink more water and take your vitamins. Mag-aral ka kaya ng ikebena o kaya mag-zumba ka! Beauty na, sexy pa!

GEMINI

Ingatan ang personal hygiene. Maging malinis sa pangangatawan.  Sa Abril, may bagong admirers ka, kaya mag- suot lagi ng pink at bumili ng bagong wallet para swertihin. Bawasan ang karne at damihan ang gulay!

LIBRA

Gawin ang nararapat. Hindi ka mananalo sa lotto dahil hindi ka naman bumibili nito. Sa Abril, bumili ng bagong make-up kit para mapansin ng crush mo. Pangalagaan din ang personal hygiene. Magbabad ka sa ofuro para ma-relax ang isip at katawan mo. Mag enrol sa fitness gym!

SAGITTARIUS

Uminom ka ng Vitamin A for good eyesight para gumaling magbasa. Sa Abril, kailangan bigyan importansya ang kalusugan at maging maingat sa pangangatawan. Magpa-check-up ka sa ospital kung meron nararamdaman sa katawan.

TAURUS

Habang lumalapit ang swerte ay palayo ka naman ng palayo. Ang taong iniisip mo ay hindi ka iniisip kaya huwag mo nang pag aksayahin ng panahon. Ngayong Abril, uso ang “kafunsho” or hay fever kaya mag suot lagi ng face mask. Maging maingat sa kalu- sugan upang maiwasan ang sakit. Take salabat tea with lemons!

Tony Veloso

Inangatan, Tabango, West Leyte

March-April 2014

Area:  96.62  km2

Population:  Approx. 33,000 

Admired for its pristine, coastal landscape, and as a gateway to the interna-tionally known islands of Kalanggaman and Malapascua, this rural community lost an entirety of its livelihood when the Super Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan struck the province ferociously on November 8, 2013. Around 800 homes in the barangay were heavily damaged, if not totally destroyed. Seventy percent of the coconut trees collapsed, and those remaining will not bear fruit in the next two years. If replanted, the trees will take seven years to grow.

After the storm, our group was able to gather and distribute food to the affected families. We disseminated blankets, banig mats, clothing, slippers, flashlights, and other basic necessities.  

Construction equipment and materials, such as hammers, saws, pliers, bolo knives, screwdrivers, spades, buckets, assorted nails, tarps and more, were provided. Fallen coconut trees were allotted to families to help them rebuild temporary shelters. We also reinstalled the marketplace to spur up the economy of the town. We continue to feed the children on a regular basis, and succeeded in offering an early Christmas party to the barrio folks, including over two hundred children ages 3 to 9 as a humble gesture to bring ease and emotional comfort to the families.

Our group is currently in the process of reconstructing homes, and relocating about a hundred fisher folks and their families from the coast to higher and safer ground. Their present location is unsafe, and has been declared a landslide zone. Another storm that may hit the area would undoubtedly result not only to colossal damage of properties, but also grave loss of lives. In supporting our efforts, we would like to ask for your gracious donations and contributions to help us relocate and rebuild approximately a hundred homes for the desperate families of Tabango. Each house of 14-16 sq m in area will cost approximately one hundred thousand pesos.

Share with us your support to bring back joy, comfort and elegance to this precious town of Leyte.One Hundred Homes for Barangay Inangatan

Please send check donations to Ateneo Alumni Association

c/o AAA Office, Alingal Hall

Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City 1108

Attn: Jose Antonio K Veloso, 

c/o Ms Eva Estrera

Or by telegraphic transfer to ATENEO ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 

Account No. 00-053-000679-0 Union bank of the Philippines, Acropolis Branch

SWIFT CODE: UBPHPHMM

Alma R. H. Reyes

TRAFFIC: BETTER LEYTE THAN NEVER

March-April 2014

“Better Leyte Than Never” is what General Douglas MacArthur might have claimed if he had set foot on Leyte soil today. Four months since the colossal devastation of the province, are the unaffected multitude already basking in static fatigue over the outpour of donations and relentless attention to this historical phenomenon? Did the Japanese terminate the call to revive Fukushima and vicinities after the tsunami and merciless nuclear plant explosion three years ago? Do churches stop feeding the poor, or providing shelter to the homeless? Does the world ever give up on offering aid to the malnourished and abandoned children in Africa? And, what do people like us in Japan, and far away do?

Isandaang Tahanan Para sa Barangay Inangatan (One Hundred Homes for Barangay Inangatan) is one such movement that will not cease to shed blood and sweat to reactivate the rural community of Inangatan, Tabango in West Leyte, severely destroyed by the harrowing Yolanda/Haiyan typhoon. An interesting legend speaks of a fisherman living in the barrio who went to catch crabs by the seashore, and was accidentally bitten. A Spanish soldier nearby asked the man the name of the place. The bitten man, stricken with pain, cried, “Tabang mo,” which means, “help me.” The soldier mistook it for the name of the place, saying “Ah, Tabango.” Since then, the barrio adopted the name Tabango after it was established as a municipality.

A dedicated group of volunteers headed by Tony Veloso, Fred Diaz and Felix Perez, no doubt heard that cry, and have mobilized other generous participants to dispatch relief goods to this ravaged town, disseminate blankets, clothing, flashlights, construction materials, such as hammers, saws, knives, nails, tarps, and more, to rebuild and relocate at least one hundred homes to safer and higher ground. The group has also reinstalled a Friday market in the town to serve the community and neighboring barangays. “Aside from the relief efforts, we managed to organize a huge Christmas party for the community, and provide them a venue to watch the Manny Pacquiao fight. That made them forget their miseries for awhile, and it made them really happy, especially when Pacquiao won the bout,” Felix Perez remarks. Fred Diaz, who visited Tabango first-hand, assesses that shelter is the most important need of the people. “About 80% of the houses are practically roofless. But, after distributing nails and other building materials, the people did not waste time to start rebuilding by improvisation. In spite of the rains, there have been no grave illnesses. Medicines are adequate, food supply is manageable, because the people were able to stock up rice, but we continue to propel our feeding program, especially for the children. No looters in this town! So much quiet honor is displayed at a time of tragedy. What is incredible is to see so much joy and resilience in the Filipino people. They actually smile and laugh sheepishly as they recount their panicked reactions during the storm… amazing inner joy these people have in them...”

And, to prompt more joy, so much work needs to be done—to study and implement typhoon-proofing measures for the homes, stimulate fund-raising projects, encourage participation from the public, and to impart comfort, hope, will and the impossibility of a dream. The Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona, Spain designed by the genius Antoni Gaudi, was constructed in 1882. For over a hundred years, the edifice is still being completed because compassionate patrons of art, culture, history, and preservation of tradition have not stopped believing. And, so shall we.

"Happy, cherry spring!"

Dr. JB & Nelly Alinsod

A SPRING PRAYER

March-April 2014

Panginoon Diyos, salamat po dahil ang mga mahahabang gabi ng tag- lamig ay natapos na. Wala na ang mga araw ng lungkot at pighati. Ngayon ay malaya na ako sa mga mabigat na pasanin at sugat ng tag-lamig. Salamat po at mayroong bagong panahon ngayon ay nagsisimula. Salamat sa panahon ng panibagong-sigla!

Diyos, nasa iyong kamay ang mga oras at panahon. Sa pagdating ng tag-sibol, tulungan mo akong makamit ang lahat ng pagpapalang dala nito. Kailangan ko ang iyong biyaya upang gisingin ang puso ko mula sa pagkahimbing. Kailangan ko ang iyong lakas upang iwanan ang pagdududa at lungkot. Bigyan mo ako ng pusong tulad ng bata sa pagtanggap ng buhay at pag-asa. Kung paanong ang kalikasan ay nagpapasakop sa iyong kapangyarihan, sumusuko ako sa iyo at sumasamo, “Ang kalooban mo ang mangyari sa buhay ko.”

Bayaan mo, O, Diyos, ang iyong ambon ng kahabagan ang maglinis ng lahat ng aking karumihan. Palambutin nawa nito ang aking puso upang malayang sumibol ang bagong buhay. Hipan mo ng iyong presensya ang mga nakatatakot na ulap. Ibalik mo po ang kulay at samyo ng masiglang buhay sa akin.

Panginoong Diyos, matagal na akong nagtatago sa aking sarili. Nahimbing ako ng mahabang panahon sa lilim ng pighati. Nagkubli ako sa yungib ng kawalan ng direksyon sa buhay. Ngunit ngayon, sa pananampa-lataya, binubuhay ko ang aking tiwala at tumitingin ako sa matatayog na pangarap. Nakatitig ako sa magagandang kaparangang puno ng pinakamabuti na iyong inihanda sa mga nagtitiwala sa iyo. Pinalalaya ko ang aking sarili mula sa takot na magkamali. Angkin ko ang kalayaan na magsimulang muli at maging matalino.

Makapangyarihang Espiritu, tulungan mo akong manalig muli sa mga bagong bagay na taglay ng bagong panahong ito. Tulungan mo akong maunawaan na ikaw ang iisang Diyos na nagbabago ng kalikasan ay kayang magbago ng aking buhay. Ikaw na nagpapasibol at nagbibigay ng bulaklak at bunga sa mga halaman ay kaya ring magbigay ng tagumpay at kasaganaan sa akin. Ikaw ang Makapangyarihang Manglilikha na nagpupuno ng tigang na lupa ng luntiang damo at makukulay na bulaklak ay siya ring magpupuno sa akin ng pag-asa at tibay ng kalooban.

Diyos nagtitiwala ako sa iyong salita na, “Ang sinuman na kay Kristo ay bagong nilalang: Ang luma ay nawala na, ang bago ay dumating na.” [2 Corinto 5:17]. Panginoon Hesus, sumasampalataya ako sa iyo. Nananalig ako sa iyong salita. Salamat po sa bagong panahon ng pag-asa, pag-sulong at kagalakan sa aking buhay.

Alma Reyes

Remembering REX
A REASON TO FLY

March-April 2014

On the 27th day of February, 2014, we lost one of our most endearing Filipino talents in Japan, Rex Angeles. It was a rainy Thursday, just as the skies poured their tears for a man, so simple, so generous, so compassionate, and so talented that he gave all of his entire heart to everyone without expecting much in return. Messages of LOVE have been overflowing incessantly since that day from all corners of the globe—rekindling magical memories of how Rex’s omnipresence has been such an enormous part of all our lives.

How strange that about the same time last year, I wrote this tribute to Rex after we sat down one happy day for coffee. 

FLY HIGH TO YOUR JOURNEY TO ETERNITY, REX. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE A SPECIAL PART OF US.

“We all are dreaming

That some time we'll be in a place of our own

There's always a reason, whatever we do, and that's how life goes on

There is always a reason to fly”

- “Reason To Fly” by Rex Angeles

REX ANGELES

SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON A MULTI-TALENTED RAINMAKER 

Spanning about roughly twenty-five years of long and promising years in Japan, Rex Angeles has truly come a long way, from student, corporate man, model, actor, singer to administrator. Filipinos in Tokyo know him as the suave and cool tenor balladeer who often graces community events, concerts, singing engagements with foreign dignitaries, and receptions hosted by the Philippine Amba-ssador, not to mention live shows of his own. Many miss the other side of Rex’s career as model, actor, and school administrator. Rex speaks to Jeepney Press about his personal experiences and challenges in the world of entertainment and business.

REX AS ACTOR

“I first started as a model (for commercials and advertisements), then tried acting for movies and television, and went into singing later. But, I’ve always considered myself foremost as an actor. For me, acting is more of a greater challenge since you need to step into somebody’s character and pretend to be that person. Singing is more of expressing yourself from within,” as Rex describes his keen interest in acting. Rex’s first acting debut was in 1990 in the popular TV serial drama, FUZOROI NO RINGO TACHI Part 3 with powerhouse cast, including Kiichi Nakai, Mariko Ishihara, Saburo Tokito and many others. He portrayed the role of Jim, a Filipino factory worker. Some of his succeeding acting portrayals included Aguila, a Filipino exchange student who became a suspect in a murder case in KAYOU SUSPENSE GEKIJOU, a Malaysian sultan's son who was a rival of veteran actor Tetsuya Takeda in the movie PRO-GOLFER ORIBE KINJIRO Part 5, and a Filipino hotel worker in the comedy-drama TV serial PRISON HOTEL. He also did commercials, like Sapporo Beer, Lotte Gum, Asian Spirits, Vidal Sassoon, Nissan, Fujitsu, etc. Being in the cast of the long-running TV drama series, COACH (1996-1997) was Rex’s most cherished and unforgettable experience as an actor in Japan. “I really enjoyed working with the regular cast and crew of that production, like Koji Tamaki, Atsuko Asano, Anju Suzuki, etc. We frequently met at Koji Tamaki’s place and reviewed our scenes, laughing and joking about them. We enjoyed each other’s company and really got along well,” Rex recalls.

In 2011, Rex was lucky to have been given the role of a Malaysian investigator in the successful movie SECOND VIRGIN, with multi-awarded actress Kyoka Suzuki and actor Hiroshi Hasegawa. Rex describes working in the Japanese production set, “In Japan, actors are extremely pampered by the production staff. We get serviced by a private car, meals, and provided with a complete set of wardrobe. Japanese actors are always prompt in the location shooting. Unlike in some productions abroad where the big stars sometimes come late on the set, in Japan, the big actors always come the earliest. Everyone is polite and courteous. There is no drama or intrigue.”

Rex admires Johnny Depp and would like to try different roles that offer a more exciting challenge. “Being an Asian, I usually played the ‘good guy' in an Asian role. But, what I really want to do are the difficult roles, like being a retarded person, for example, where you have to develop your expression to the fullest without lines or a dialogue." Currently after a short break, Rex again started receiving offers to act in several TV variety programs set in location scenes; one of them is Beat Takeshi’s UNBELIEVABLE.

REX AS SINGER

“I joined the chorale group in college in Manila where I gained my professional training, but I was never really interested in joining singing contests and in pursuing it as a career. However, I got into singing when I was offered a guest appearance at the Johnny Litton TV show; I was spotted by Alpha Records' big boss and was soon offered a recording contract, which I eventually declined in the end," Rex recalls his early singing career. He is often invited to sing in many Filipino social events, sponsored by the Philippine Embassy, as well as the foreign communities and organizations in Japan. He has also been sitting as one of the judges in the yearly UTAWIT Grand Finals competition. Rex has done solo shows of his own in Tokyo—at the Tokyo Main Dining Restaurant and Bar in Shibuya, the Gigabar in Aoyama, Blues Alley in Meguro, JZ Brat, etc.  His first major concert in 1997 entitled "Rated R" was held at the Kitazawa Town Hall in Tokyo. He also did a "Jazz and Bossa Night" regular stint at the Tokyo Westin Hotel's The Lounge, singing mostly standard songs of Frank Sinatra, Burt Bacharach, Michael Bublé, etc. He maintains his style of singing ballads, mellow pop, bossa nova, and lounge music. “I’m not really keen on concentrating on singing alone as my main career. I think doing regular shows every week and touring can be exhausting,” Rex explains why he chooses singing more as a form of leisure.

Rex, however, is preparing for his next solo live show in Tokyo, hopefully, in spring this year. Be sure to mark your calendar when the notice is out!

REX AS ADMINISTRATOR

Currently, Rex is the Director, Administrator and Co-founder of the Ohana English Pre-school in Yokohama. The school opened in 2004, but dragged on very slowly in the next three years. Fortunately, from its fourth year, enrollment peaked, and the school now is busy as a bee with a full calendar of activities. Rex explains his experience mana-ging this school. “It was very difficult at first to manage the business. Obviously, you have to hire and deal with every staff, then recruit foreign teachers who have all sorts of demands. But, I have to accept that I won’t be young forever. I probably won’t be singing and acting all my life. Japan has blessed me with a heap of opportunities, and this is one way for me to return that blessing by offering my service to children.”

Balancing his routine as actor, singer, and administrator has been a great feat for Rex Angeles. No wonder his future can never look dull. Whether you spot him on the wide screen, on your home TV, or in one of the live houses in Tokyo, you will surely be awed by his tall, stark and debonair presence, and be reminded of a great thing a Filipino is doing outside his home country. Good luck, Rex! We surely look forward to seeing you more in the limelight!