PARAA! by Nanette Ochoa-Fernandez



November-December 2006

Nasa home-stretch na naman tayo as we race towards the end of the year. Makukumpleto na naman ang siklo ng buhay 2006. And fittingly, sa Pinas, the month starts by remembering our dead. Undas is when we feast in the cemeteries with our beloved departed. This year though, only Nov. 1 is a holiday. Palibhasa eh nasa kalagitnaan ng linggo, ayaw na pagbigyan ni PGMA ang mga mahilig humingi ng bakasyon. After the battering we got from typhoon Milenyo, dapat lang na kumayod tayo ng husto.

The irony is that another super-typhoon hit the northern part of our country just days before All Saints' Day. Sa northern Pinas ito sumugod, pero kahit walang hangin sa Manila, grabeng buhos naman ng ulan. Mabuti na lang at umalis si Paeng (aba, ang mga typhoon na lalake ang pangalan ang bumanat this year!) bago mag-peak ang puntahan sa sementeryo. Not that bad weather will stop us from going to the graves of our ancestors to party. It will take more than a typhoon to stop Pinoys from our Undas tradition!

The Japanese and other nationalities will probably think this practice of eating by the graves weird. To be honest, I thought it strange  too dahil noong musmos naman ako eh di pa ito ginagawa. But when you come to think of it as a social phenomenon, Pinoy na Pinoy siya. Hinda ba pista nga ng patay? Ano ba naman ang fiesta sa atin kung walang kainan, tawanan at sosyalan? And opcors,  we never think of those who have passed away as having left us. Nauna lang sila, so we choose to spend time with them as we did when they were still alive. That is how we celebrate their memory. Add to that the greenery in the memorial parks where we have buried our beloved dead, eh di maganda na ang ambiance nang pag-pipicnikan! Within reason, kaya natin ipagtanggol ang pagdala ng pagkain at pagsasaya sa mga libingan. Pero huwag naman sana nating kalimutan iuwi ang ating mga basura para naman di mag-mukhang dumpsite ang libingan ng ating mga mahal sa buhay. Let us remember that we are still in consecrated ground, and let us give it the respect it deserves.

Our undisciplined ways where garbage is concerned makes this time with our dearly departed scary for environmentalists. Aber, kung kayo ang nakalibing doon, matutuwa ba kayo kung iiwan sa inyo ang basura nang mga dumalaw sa inyo? Eh di naman kayo pwedeng bumangon from the dead para magligpit ng kalat ng mga nagmamahal sa inyo, kahit ito pa ang papel ninyo sa pamilya when you were alive!

Para sa inyong mga nasa Japan, you might think na hanggang pamisa at padasal na lang ang inyong magagawa sa pag-gunita ninyo sa mga namatay ninyong mga mahal sa buhay. It doesn't have to be that way though. You too can celebrate by talking about your best memories of your loved ones to those who did not have the good fortune to meet them. Lalo pa kung ang mga anak ninyo ay hindi lumaki sa Pinas, all the more kinakailangan ipakilala sa kanila ang mga lolo at lola, tiyo at tiya who have moved on to the next world. We can honor our dead by making sure they live on through our stories, our good thoughts and our lives. 

For those whose loss is still fresh, it should be a great comfort to know na ang inyong mahal sa buhay ay nananahimik na for they are now in a better place. Kung hindi man ninyo nakapiling o naabutan ang inyong mahal bago sila pumanaw, lalo na ang mga di makauwi sa Pinas, talking about them and sharing your memories with friends can be a positive way of coping with your grief. Sa ganuon ay maiintindihan ninyo siguro ang katotohanan na those we love never die. As long as we carry them in our hearts, they will always be a part of us.

Once November 1st passes, no holds barred na ang preparasyon para sa Pasko at Bagong Taon!  Sa ating mga Pinoy, this is the time of year that brings out the child in us. Sana nga lang eh hindi ang pagka-childish natin ang umiral kung hindi ang pagka-child-like.
 
May difference ba yon? Aba, opcors. Nakita na naman ninyo mag-waga mama ang mga bata di ba? Ang puro sarili lang ang inisip? And how they want everything right now--without waiting. Childish ang tawag doon. Parang bata na naniniwalang sila ang centro ng mundo. Puro self-gratification lamang ang nasa utak.  Kung ganito ang ating mga anak, panahon na ituwid ang kanilang maling paniniwala. Huwag kunsintihin dahil you will be setting them up for failure. Alam naman ninyo na hindi puwede ang ganyang pananaw sa tunay na buhay, right?
 
Many parents give in when their kids throw a tantrum (lalo pa kung sa isang public place) dahil sa palagay nila eh their kids don't know any better.  Mga magulang, your kids know exactly what they are doing---they want their way, at alam nila na kung mag-iiscandalo sila eh makukuha nila ang gusto nila.  Instead of giving in,  mas productive ang gamitin ang kanilang pagwawala sa pagturo na hindi ganyan ang paraan para makuha ang kanilang gusto. Ikaw ang nakatatanda kaya kausapin mo at pagsabihan. Take note,  di ko sinabing saktan at murahin---childish reaction yan, and it doesn't send the right message to your child either.
 
Meron namang magulang na bibigay na kahit unreasonable ang hiling ng anak sa paniniwalang doon nila mapapakita ang kanilang pagmamahal. Kwidaw dahil what happens when you are no longer able to give him what he wants? Eh di ang nasa kukote niya eh hindi na ninyo siya mahal? Ang batang laki sa layaw ay di lang jeprox, lumalaki ring spoiled brat. Or worse, such a child will never grow up!  Maaaring mag-mukhang adult nga siya at mataasan pa kayo in size, but he will be emotionally stunted. Walang alam sa value ng hard-work, nang responsibilidad, nang pagpapahalaga sa ibang tao at hindi lamang sa sarili. And these impact on his relationships too---bilang anak, kaibigan, kasintahan at asawa. Kaya naman pagsikapan na ninyong palakihin ang inyong mga anak na maging child-like at hindi childish!
 
Eh ano ba naman ang child-like and why should we aim for it? Naaalala ba ninyo ang kwento sa bible ng tawagin ni Kristo ang mga bata at sabihing kailangang maging tulad natin sila kung type nating pumasok sa langit? O gets na ninyo? It is the pure and good in children that we should aspire for. Child-like adults also never lose their sense of wonder. Lahat ay bago sa pananaw ng bata---hindi sila jaded or cynical. Naniwala sila at nagtitiwala.

And Christmas does that to us because the true spirit of Christmas is God's unconditional love for us. Kung maintindihan natin yon in every gift we give and receive this holiday season, in the reaching out to the less fortunate that Christmas inspires in us, then we have not lost the child in us. At yan din marahil ang explanation kung bakit kahit lolo at lola na tayo, ang Pasko pa rin ang ating paboritong season of the year.

The end of the year also tends to be the busiest. Para bagang di pa tayo makuntento na palampasin na lang ang taon ng di tinataranta ang sarili. Kailangan pa natin habulin just one more project, just one more achievement, just one more what have you. Siguro naman eh kung kakayanin nga eh go for it. But if the cost is too high---lost health, lost quality time for your family, lost love---pag-isipan sana natin. It is this time of the year that we should reflect on what we have done so far, where we want to go, and what is truly important to us.

Speaking of which, my husband and I are celebrating an important event this year. Twenty-five years ago, five days before Christmas, Tony and I exchanged marriage vows. Opo, silver wedding anniversary namin this year. The years have just flown, and as we jokingly tease each other, it is time to renegotiate our contract. In truth, we are truly grateful to have found each other and to be so blessed with three wonderful children, a big extended family, and many good friends.

Nag-umpisa ang aming lab-story sa Japan so it will always be a special place for us.  We especially want to thank Papa Mombusho for acting as our nakodo. Although we both went to UST (loyalty medalist pa si husband dear), lived in the same vicinity (Scouts area), and in fact  share the same hometown (my mom and his parents were next-door neighbors in Pagsanjan), it was only as ryugakusei in Osaka that we met, thanks to our Mombusho scholarship. Answered prayer talaga.

Kaya kayong mga singles, keep praying and keep looking! Baka ibigay rin sa inyo ni Santa Claus ang inyong magiging esposo ngayong Pasko. Help the process along by attending Christmas parties and end-of-the-year-socials in places where you might find the type you are looking for. Iba talaga ang marriages na pinagdasal at lumago sa dasal. Kung may ka-partner ka sa buhay, joys are doubled while sorrows are halved. And opcors, "hindi ka nag-iisa" acquires a special meaning.

On the domestic side, the end of the year is a time to truly clean our homes, lalo na sa Japan kung saan tradisyon ito. But more importantly, di lamang sana ang ating mga tirahan ang kuskusin at pakintabin sa mga huling oras ng taon.  Linisin at ayusin rin sana natin ang ating buhay. While having a spic-and-span house is desirable, mas mahalaga naman ata na ang ating mga puso at pag-iisip ay naisa-ayos natin.

Humingi tayo ng tawad sa ating mga nasaktan. Patawarin natin ang ating mga kaaway. Bayaran natin ang ating mga pinagkakautangan. Tanggalin na natin ang masasamang bisyo na pumapatay sa atin. Buksan natin ang ating mga mata at pilitin na makita ang mundo sa pananaw ng isang bata.

In looking back at the year that is to end, let us learn from our mistakes. Let us value our relationships. Let us renew ourselves, not just in body but also in spirit. Let us look at the world with wonder and count our blessings. Let us be truly thankful for the year that is to end.

As we say good-bye to 2006, ipagdiwang natin ang lahat ng ating mga naging karanasan sa taong ito at magpasalamat tayo ng taus-puso.  For the problems we have gone through, for they have allowed us to grow. For the loved ones who have supported us in good times and bad, in life's ups and downs. For the gift of  time that God continues to give us, that we may continue to be productive. and a blessing to others.

Isang maligayang Pasko at masaganang bagong taon sa inyong lahat. As the Japanese put it, yoi o-toshi o. Andar na and make the most of the remaining days of 2006!  And when January 2007 comes around, have a wonderfully bright new year!




2006 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER ISSUE
Uyyy, last quarter na naman ng taon. Hurrah the "ber" months are here--and for us Pinoys, that can only mean that Christmas is just down the road.  Pero alam ba ninyo na dito sa Pinas eh halos matu-lala ako dahil mid-August pa lang nag-papa-tugtog na ng X'mas songs sa radio at may kasama pang Christmas count-down? Akala ko ba lagi tayong late? Aba, where Christmas is concerned, sobrang advanced naman tayo!  Kung ganyan din sana tayo mag-anticipate ng work deadlines eh laking progreso for sure ng bayan nating tinubuan.
 
Also, super-active yata ang monsoon this year kaya kung lumalamig man eh di lang dahil tanaw na ang Pasko kundi dahil sa ulan!  Diyan sa Japan eh siguradong nakaka-feel na rin kayo ng kaunting relief from the summer heat,  especially in the early morning and evening. Nandiyan  ako for a few days during the first week of September at maaga ng dumilim. Pero ang init pa rin kapag mataas ang araw ano?  Still,  malapit na ninyong matamasa ang pinakama-sarap na panahon sa Japan--autumn! May mga nashi (pears) na nga akong nakita sa supermarkets diyan pero may kamahalan pa. Nasa aki mode na rin ang mga restau-rants with special gourmet dishes that can only be eaten in autumn. Pinagpapala talaga ako at nakatikim pa ako ng kuri gohan!
 
Yes, may I return ang tita ninyo sa bansang Hapon, but this time to do a workshop as a professional EFL (English as a Foreign Language)  specialist. Dati eh housewife lang ang drama ko; aba ngayon eh biglang sensei na ulit --- promoted ika nga!  A teaching career was something I thought I had given up when I chose to resign so our family could be together 13 years ago. But God is so good! Balik-turo ako, at di lang yon, nakabuti pa ang Japanese experience ko!
 
What was surprising was to find myself back so soon after our sayonara Nippon last April 1. It really felt strange to be queuing up at the Japanese Embassy to get a visa again. And surprise, hindi na kasing traumatic ang experience of getting one ngayon!
 
Alam ba ninyo na since June this year eh iba na pala ang sistema ng pagkuha ng Japanese visa?  May mga designated call centers at travel agencies na ang embassy. That really makes it easier for those with legitimate reasons to go to Japan dahil di ka na kailangang magpa-balik-balik pa sa kapipila sa embassy sa Roxas Blvd.  Halos pareho rin siguro ang maga-gasta mo if you go through their accredited travel agents kasi di rin biro ang pamasahe at pagod, plus the lost work time to go there.
 
But if you want to get your visa within a week, mas mabuti pa rin ang personal mong lakarin ito.  Since the new system is now in place, the lines are not as long as before and the waiting time is shorter. The number system (parang sa bangko diyan sa Hapon) also insures na walang singitan at tunay na first come first served. With its website telling you exactly what is needed, di ka na rin kailangang manghula kung ano ang mga papeles na dapat mong bitbitin. At kung may mga tanong ka pa, you can call the embassy and have your questions answered by a real person, hindi answering machine lang gaya ng dati.
 
Isa yan sa mga welcome changes sa Pinas ngayon. You can also now get an authenticated copy of  birth, marriage and death certificate and your new or renewed passport by just making a phone call. At para sa mga OCWs, meron din silang tinatawag na Balik Manggagawa Express Clearance for those who need POEA exit clearances.  
 
I have personally tried their birth certificate copy and passport renewal services. Laking ginhawa talaga. Isang denwa lang, at your own convenience (24 hours, 7 days a week!), puwede na ihatid ang NSO certificate mo o ma-renew ang iyong passport sa iyong opisina o tirahan. If I sound like a commercial, it is because I am a very satisfied customer and when the government does something right, I think we should let everyone know to encourage them naman.
Subukan ninyo tumawag sa  737-1000 for DFA Passport Direct (P1,300 ang fee, 1 week after pick-up ninyo makukuha ang passport); NSO Helpline 
Plus at 737-1111 for authenticated certificates (P300 anywhere in the Philippines), and 737-7777 for the Balik Manggagawa Express Clearance, for P380, available from 8 AM - 5 PM Monday to Saturday.
 
Ganito rin ang hours ng Japanese Embassy call center. Di ko nasubukan first hand to have my papers processed through their agents kasi I needed my visa fast (one week) but if my previous experiences with call centers are anything to go by, the service should be convenient, polite, efficient and reasonable in cost. I also think services like these will help stamp fixers dead, and end illegal practices that encourage corruption. That is good news for those of us who hate the "under the table" mentality which is inimical to our country's progress.
 
Maiba tayo, back to school na nga rin pala ang mga students diyan. Dito sa Pinas, kids have been in school since June, but because of the typhoons na sunud-sunod rin this year, maraming araw na idineklarang NO CLASSES. Lugi syempre ang mga magulang na kumakayod para mapa-aral ang mga anak, at kahit pa tuwang-tuwa ang mga students, lugi rin sila sa nawalang pagkakataon matuto. May suggestion tuloy na gawing September na rin ang school opening sa atin para daw maiwasan ang rainy season na totoo namang disruptive sa klase at parusa sa mga bata at magulang.
 
Pabor din ang bagong secretary ng Department of Education na ilipat ang start ng schoolyear sa  September dahil magkakaroon daw sila ng mas mahabang panahon  magpatayo ng mga bagong classrooms. Grabe kasi ang kakulangan ng mga ito because of our huge student population in the public schools. Kung diyan sa Japan eh nag-memerge at nagsasara ang mga elementary schools dahil wala na silang students, dito naman sa atin eh opposite ang trend---parami ng parami ang estu-dyante! Pero kung matutuloy nga ang September opening o hindi is still up in the air. As in many things dito sa ating bayan, mabagal madesisyunan ang mga bagay-bagay at mapolitika rin ang proceso. Sabagay, dapat lang masusing pag-aralan kung makakabuti nga ito o hindi. Mahirap rin naman ang mga padalos-dalos na mga decisions dahil as they say, nasa huli lagi ang pagsisisi.
 
Para sa mga ina ng tahanan sa Japan, September brings new responsibilities if not a return to the old routine. Kailangan na naman gumawa ng bento, o kaya eh kakabakaba na naman as the PTA election draws near. By October, there are more fun things to look forward to like the school's sportsday or the annual bazaar.  Nakaka-miss din naman ang maging full time nanay and housewife. Ang pinakanami-miss ko eh ang hirune o siesta, na di ko na magawa ngayon!
 
September is also when the Japanese celebrate "Respect for the Aged" day. As there are more and more old people in Japan, nahihirapan na rin silang mag-alaga sa kanilang mga matatanda. Because of advances in medicine, may gamot na sa mga tinatawag nila noon na incurable diseases. And because they can now afford  better nutrition, the Japanese are living longer.
 
Kaso yung mga anak nilang nag-aalaga sa mga oldies eh tumatanda na rin. Sumasakit ang mga joints sa rayuma. Hirap na magbuhat at asikasuhin ang kanilang mga magulang dahil sila rin mismo ay getting older at sari-saring sakit na rin ang nararamdaman. So even if the spirit is willing (which is not always true in Japan as some children feel that taking care of their parents is a burden) di na kaya ng mga katawan nila.  Sila rin ay humahanap na nang sasaklolo sa kanila.
 
Which in turn naman brings a golden opportunity for countries like ours.  With a lot of young people looking for employment, we are in the perfect position to answer Japan's need. Pagkakataon na to a better life because of the generous pay-packages in Japan. Since we are a naturally caring people, seeing our own lola and lolo in the elderly, our people are exceptionally qualified for this kind of job. Maganda ang track record ng mga Pinoy as caregivers dahil malambing tayo and we truly care about the welfare of those put in our charge. Hopefully, this will mean more job opportunities for our kababayans when Japan opens its doors to foreign caregivers.
 
On a personal note to Keirou no Hi, my mother-in-law will be turning 90 on October 2 this year!  Nanay or Lola Charing is an exceptional woman. Kung may huwaran nang paano dapat tumanda, then she should be it. My m-i-l is the ideal poster girl for how to grow old gracefully. Observing her, I think it all comes from a positive outlook and an unshakeable faith in God's good-ness. All four of her children are examples of what good people are all about kaya blessed kami who have married into her family. Lahat kaming mga in-laws niya are grateful to her for bringing up the wonderful people we married. Kitang-kita talaga na pinalaki niya ang kanyang apat na anak (hubby Tony is the youngest) to have good old-fashioned values that we in turn pass on to our own kids. Come to think of it, her own mother, Lola Goyang, was awarded by Pagsanjan as Mother of the Year, so good mothers make good children.
 
What is her secret? Observing her, madaling makita that she remains interested in what goes on around her. Mayroon rin siyang sense of humor and an attitude of gratitude that she lives out. Napakagaan siyang kasama dahil lagi siyang nagpapasalamat.  Her prayers are powerful, and they do not just center on her family. Sabi ko nga sa kanya, kaya siguro siya patuloy na binibigyan ng lakas at buhay ay dahil kailangan pa nang mundo ang dasal niya.
 
Syempre pa, we intend to give her a really great party to celebrate her 90th year.  Although we watch with nervousness every time she does a wiggle that looks like the twist, di siguro papipigil si nanay na magsayaw sa sarili niyang party. How wonderful if all of us could grow old just like her---to be alive and vibrant instead of the inflexible whiners most oldies turn out to be.
 
Happy birthday Nanay!  Thank you for being a blessing to all of us who know and love you!  May you be showered with many more happy healthy years!
 
O ano pa ang hinihintay natin, andar na! We have a lot of living to do before we can be like Nanay---a swinging, living, loving 90!
 
 
 
 



2006 JULY-AUGUST ISSUE
At last makaka-relate na rin kayo sa init na dinaranas namin dito sa Pinas
with summer there in Japan. In spite of it now being the rainy season here,
with sudden downpours and thunderstorms, mainit at humid pa rin. So pareho
lang tayo! Isn't it comforting to know that we live in the same planet?
And that we can stay connected, kahit malayo tayo?
 
Kamusta naman kami dito? Well we have survived our first few months here,
but not without expensive lessons, especially on trust.  Dito kasi sa atin, when
they hear na galing kayo sa Japan, you will most likely be seen as ripe for
whatever scams are going. Or kahit hindi scam, parang they can smell that
you are the best person para pestehen sa telepono with offers for
insurance, travel packages, investment schemes, credit cards---you name it,
they think you will buy it!
 
Kung sabagay, diyan din naman sa Japan, kung kayo'y bagong lipat, may
similar experience din kayo sigurado. Di ba weird na biglang nandiyan na
sa doorstep ninyo mismo ang kubrador ng NHK eh kalilipat pa lang
ninyo? Marahil sunod-sunod din ang mga nag-aalok sa inyo nang mga
subscription sa Japanese newspapers. At kakakabit pa lang ng phone ninyo,
off it goes with telemarketers offering all sorts of products and services.
 
Of course you can always say no, but if you try to be nice and polite about it,
di ka tatantanan, unlike in Japan when it is relatively simple to refuse.
Kaya prangkahin na ninyo sa unang tawag pa lang and request that they
don't call you again. It might not stop them from trying, but at least you can
try to stop them.
 
Eh ano naman yung scam? Well, kami po ay na-biktima, and we do not want
you to follow in our footsteps and to learn the hard way, so ito ang paparahan
natin this issue. Ano naloko ang Tita ninyo sa Pinas?!? Opo, and although it was
an expensive lesson, I guess it is a lesson well-learned, kaya "pwidi na rin"  to
be philosophical about it.  At dahil nagbayad na kami, ishe-share namin sa inyo
ang aming natutunan para naman sulit yung aming expensive leksyon sa buhay.
 
Ano ang leksyon? Tandaan, bago kayo pumirma ng contrata, basahinat
intindihing  mabuti.  At huwag din maglabas ng credit card or cash ng
pabigla-bigla; pag-isipan muna overnight. Mag-research at i-check sa
internet. Ipagtanong sa mga kamag-anak at kaibigan. If you are tempted
to buy big ticket items because of the sweet-talking sales person, physically
remove yourself from the scene. Baka nahy-hypnotize na kayo, na parang
siyang nangyari sa amin. Better yet, don't listen to the aggressive barkers
who offer you free umbrellas or hair-dryers or other attractive offers para
lang makinig kayo sa kanilang sales talk to begin with.
 
We fell  for a fast-talking sales pitch for electric appliances that was sprung
on us at Greenhills. Dahil balik-bayan nga, we showed interest in the water
purifier they were selling. Tumaas na nga ang kilay ko when I heard how
much it was supposed to cost, di ko pa linayasan (hrmph). Kahit pa sanay
ako sa mahal na presyo ng Japan, mahal siya, as in pang-tuition na nang
one semester sa Ateneo!  In fairness, OK naman yung produkto,
although over-priced yata, I thought to myself.
 
So how did they get us to buy?
 
May they have a special promo daw (nakaipit doon sa give-away nila),
and may I win kuno  ang Tita ninyo noong water-purifier and 2 other
items---a multi-cooker and magic wok/turbo broiler. Imagine, akong
walang kaswerte-swerte sa mga ganyang bagay, winner?!? May I dramatize
pa sila na naka-jackpot ako. The catch was that I would have to buy any
one of their products--and they all cost P30,000 upwards. In the end,
I ended up buying a home video entertainment set for a little less the
price of the water-purifier.  This time, more than isang semester sa UST
ang presyo, but of course I wasn't thinking that way at the time. Happy
pa ako kasi nakuha ko naman yung item na mas mahal for free diva? 
But that good feeling only lasted until I  checked the brand in the internet
and read this long list of complaints detailing my exact experience and
calling the whole thing a set-up.  
 
Scam!  Yon pala, may water purifier in the market kang mabibili for 1/4th
of the price I paid for. Hayyy naku. So here we are stuck with surplus
over-priced items that we do not really need, and which we paid for din
naman pala kung tutuusin. Naisahan ang Tita ninyo!  Di naman pinigilan
nang Tito ninyo, kaya di ako mapagalitan. Pero ang pinakamasakit
eh mapagsabihan ng aming bunso ng "Damasareta!" That and our hurt
pride and damaged self-esteem. Akala ko pa naman eh bright ako at di
kayang maloko!  So the moral of the lesson, as wise guys would say?
Huwag padalos-dalos magpa-kawala ng pera!
 
Later, I learned that this is a common sales gimmick dito sa bayan natin.
Pati pala mga anting-anting at gayuma, ganitong style nang pang-akit.
Mahirap talaga ang bagong salta sa sariling bayan. Kung nandiyan kayo sa
Japan at say lang ninyo na "wakarimasen!" at magpa-gaijin epek o bigla
ninyong Inglesen eh run for cover na sila, dito eh wa epek ang teknik na
iyan dahil sa sobrang kulit ng mga tindero, lalo pa kayong hindi titigilan.
The best defense is to walk away or if it is by phone, to cut the call short.
 
Because of our scam experience, maingat na ako ngayon when dealing
with sales people. Meron dyang tumawag hawking free insurance, pero
kailangang umattend ng seminar nila.  Sayang ang oras namin sa
pagsagot sa tawag nila, at wala pa silang pinipiling oras. Kung polite ka
eh akala yata nagpapakipot ka lang kaya daig pa ang stalker na every
so often tinatawagan ka. Saan kaya nila nakukuha ang telephone numbers
ng mga kinukulit nila?
 
Meron din akong text na natanggap, specifically addressing me by name,
na kailangan ko daw i-validate yung raffle tickets ko by calling someone
that day. Eh wala naman akong sinasalihang raffle. Salamat at na-denggoy
na ako at natuto nang husto, kaya skeptical na ang beauty ko. Kwidaw na
rin ako sa mga offers ng free hotel stays at kung anu-ano pa. Without our
scam experience, baka sumakay na naman ang tita ninyo.
 
Our experience made me re-think the dynamics of how and why na-bibiktima
ang tao. I used to think that greed was the primary reason why people get
taken in.  Gustong makaisa o kaya eh gustong maka-jackpot without
working hard for their money kaya kumakagat sa scam. So what does that
say about me? Ngek.
 
Pero more than greed, sa palagay ko eh talagang pinag-aralan ng mga yan
ang mga psychological needs and weaknesses upang siyang gamitin sa
kanilang mga sales campaign.  Each of us dream of being a winner, kaya
takot tayong talikuran o palampasin ang once-in-a-lifetime chance when we
think Lady Luck has smiled on us. We all fear missing out on that great
opportunity that will lead us to fame or fortune or getting our hands on
whatever product is being pushed at us. Scams work because those who
operate them know exactly what psychological buttons to push. Mag-ingat!
 
Kaya naman importante rin alalahanin ang payo ng isang great ancient
Greek philosopher when he admonished us to "know thyself". Kung alam
mo kung sino ka at ano ang mga weak points mo, di ka siguro maloloko. 
Sana...
 
When I shared this experience with a friend, natawa ako sa sinabi niya.
"Beware of those who have diarrhea of the mouth!" What an
expression---pero may katotohanan. Fast talkers ang mga nang-gagancho.
Salamat nga at pera lang ang nawala sa akin, and in fact, as she pointed out,
I still had something to show for my money. Plus, I was taught a valuable
lesson which, because it was learned the hard way, is bound to stick.
Kaya matuto sana tayo sa mga karanasan ng iba nang di na mabiktima
pa.
 
If you are thanking God that there are no scams in Japan, think again.
May mga nabibiktima rin, and for  even higher stakes. Nariyan ang
"Ore, ore" ---roughly "ako ito, ako  ito"-- kung saan ang drama ay
naka-aksidente ang mahal sa buhay (maaaring asawa, anak o apo)
at kailangan mag-deposit sa isang account ng milliones para di siya
makulong. Yon pala eh mapayapang namumuhay ang walang
kamalay-malay na mahal sa buhay.  Ang mga matatanda ang madalas
na nabibiktima ng ganito. At ang payo nga ng mga lola sa Osaka,
otherwise called "obaatarians" who are known for their hard-nosed
business sense, check things out before handing over your cash.
 
Mayroon din mga  scams cloaked in legitimacy like Horie's Live-door
stocks na manipulated pala ang price.  No one wisened up to their
tricks until so many stockholders were gypped.  Nagising na lang ang
mga kawawang investors isang umaga na wala nang value ang
kanilang pinang-haha-wakang papel.
 
Talagang maraming klase ng tao sa mundo at maraming ways of
making people part with their money. Learn from those who have been
victimized so you won't end up as the next victim. And the next time
someone offers you a deal that is too good to be true, check it out
because it seldom is. Sayang naman kung ang ating pinag-hirapang
ipon  eh maaaksaya lamang dahil mapupunta  sa mga manggagancho.
 
If you too have been a scam victim, learn your lesson.  Maaaring yan
ang kinakailangan ninyo para maging higit na maingat at siya pang
magsalba sa inyo from even greater damage. Share your experience
so that others can be forewarned. After learning your lesson, move on.
Recover the loss by working harder.
 
Kaya andar na, wiser than you were before.  Hopefully, hindi na kayo
kayang biktimahin because you have learned your lesson well. At kung
natutunan ninyo ang leksyon without having to go through the
experience first-hand, consider yourself doubly blessed.
 
 

2006 MAY-JUNE ISSUE
Hello from the sweltering country of the jeepney!  Alam ko rin na kayo
naman diyan eh nag-uumpisa pa lamang mag-enjoy ng tag-init at mala-
Baguiong coolness matapos ang tag-lamig.
 
Yes, balikbayan na ang pamilya namin, dahil tapos na ang kontrata ni
mister at the end of March.  So  from this issue on, I will  be writing to
you mula sa bayang tinubuan. At ang suggestment nang ating mamang
tsuper editor na si Dennis eh ang parahan ko raw ay kung paano kami
nag-survive maglipat-bahay from one country to another. In other words,
how we did our U turn. Ang masasabi ko po eh, TAIHEN, as in super-hirap---
from sorting out stuff to take home, give away, sell or throw, to the
unpacking and settling in back home. But with God's grace and the
blessing that are friends na mala-anghel na tumulong at patuloy na
tumutulong sa amin, we have survived the move from Kobe, Japan 
to Quezon City, Philippines.
 
Kung lilipat lang kayo within Japan (na ginawa rin namin twice, once within
Nagoya, and the other from Chubu to Kansai), di masyadong problematic,
lalo na kung may moving allowance ang opisina o kompanya na nagpapalipat
sa inyo.   That means you can afford to hire professional moving services 
and live normal lives until the day (or the day before) you have to move.
 
You can also keep most of your stuff dahil kakailanganin pa rin ninyo sa
inyong linipatan within Japan. That includes your telephone line, na binayaran
ninyo noong nagpakabit kayo ng landline, dahil pwede itong ipa-transfer ano
mang lugar sa Hapon. But if you are leaving Japan, you will need to sell this
or transfer it to someone else, and the paper work can take time, so do this
early. Also, don't count on getting back the original amount you paid for it
kasi bumaba na ang value nito. When we bought our line, it was for Y75T
as opposed to the Y20T (presyong kaibigan) we got for it now.
 
Di rin problem i-maintain ang bank accounts kung ang gamit ninyo eh
malaking bangko na nation-wide ang branches.  Just report your new
address to the branch office when you are already settled.  With the
efficiency that characterizes Japan, you can continue banking without
any problems.  Pero kung regional bank ang gamit ninyo, better to close
your account (or leave a minimal amount kung ayaw ninyong isara) as
such banks may be difficult to access from your new location.
 
Pero kung lilisanin na ninyo ang bansang Hapon, you will need to plan
way ahead or you will be confronting a lot of waste and expense. At kung
kayo ang tipo nang tao na na-a-attach sa mga bagay for sentimental
reasons, ihanda ninyo ang bulsa ninyo. In the end, it comes down to a
choice between hurting your pocket or your heart .
 
If you choose to hang on to things dahil hindi ninyo matiis mag-let go,
be prepared to pay for your decision in more ways than one. Dahil
literally, kailangan ninyo magbayad to ship things home (at syempre,
kayo rin ang mag-iimpake so that you can be sure it is still in working
order dumating sa inyo). If you wait up to the last minute before disposing
of your things, you might also end up paying a lot of money to throw them
out. Opo. Kayo na nga ang mawawalan ng gamit, babayaran pa ninyo ang
kukuha nang  big furniture or electric appliances ninyo dahil sa Japan's
recycling law!
 

Opcors, the best solution is not to accumulate unnecessary mono to begin
with if you know you will have to move home someday.  Pero kung nandiyan
na ang mga gamit ninyong kailangan dispatsahin, the better alternative
is to arrange to sell stuff you have decided not to bring home with you.
To advertise them, you will need at least a full months' notice. Check out
nearby recycling shops and friends who might need what you have and
may be willing to give you a better price for them.
 
Or if you have already used your things long enough, baka gusto
ninyong "ipamana" na lang sa mga nangangaila-ngan. You might not
be rewarded monetarily but at least you know that you are helping
someone else (remember when you first came to Japan and found
everything so expensive?) or that your things will be well-taken cared of.
May souvenir pa kayo sa mga kaibigan ninyo so you won't be forgotten.
Maybe you will even be sorely missed. O di ba naging blessing pa kayo
even when you are no longer around?
 
Get a good door-to-door delivery service you trust (send a jumbo box
home, check with the company when it will get there, and tingnan ninyo
kung alin ang tumupad sa kanilang binitiwang salita) to bring back the
bulk of your worldly goods home.  Magtanong-tanong kayo sa mga
kaibigan dahil reliable companies have satisfied customers. We chose to
go with the door-to-door service we used when we were in Nagoya, not
just because it is run by our Pareng Bong, but also because we have been
satisfied with his service.  At kahit pala nasa  Kobe na kami eh pwede pa
rin naman palang gamitin ang kanyang serbisyo which is based in Nagoya.
So we feel doubly happy dahil we are giving our business to both a friend
and a company that needs to be rewarded for providing fast reliable service.
 
So how did we finally tear ourselves away from Japan after living here
for 13 years? Diyan pumapasok ang power of prayer!  If you truly believe
that God has a plan for you and listen carefully to His Will, leaving isn't
very hard to do. How else can we explain the angels in the guise of friends
that He sent para tulungan kami mag-pack (thanks Beth, Zeena, Nirianne
and Noel)? Our friends drove from Osaka (about an hour at the fastest)
to get to our apartment in Kobe, and they did this not once but three times!
 
Then of course there are the angels who took away not just our good stuff
but our trash or gomi as well. Kailangan kasi eh you leave your 
accommodation exactly the way you found it, so inevitable na magkakaroon
ka nang basura. At dahil lahat eh di-schedule sa Japan, kailangan eh
may maglalabas ng inyong last-minute trash or else you can be in real
trouble. Thanks to Nenette, Win, Xin, Zuiren and Makiko, na pinaghatian
ang aming sodai gomi (big items) at moenai gomi (non-burnables), di
namin prinoblema ito.  At nagpapasalamat rin kami na  di kasing istricto
ang Kobe sa separation of waste. I can imagine what a nightmare this
would have been in Nagoya, where trash needs to be separated into
even more categories!
 
Then there are your bank accounts to worry about. Be wise. Kahit hindi
pa kayo pauwi, keep a Philippine bank account and remit your money
regularly so you don't need to deal with huge amounts here when you
need to leave. Because of anti-money laundering laws, mahigpit
maglabas ng malalaking amounts ng pera unless you are already a
long-term client of the bank and they know that your money is earned
legitimately.
 
It also really makes sense to deal with a Philippine bank in Japan.  Apart
from helping our country, mas maganda ang interest rates sa atin, and
you will also be building your credit line (easier to get credit cards issued
to you) when you return. Because yen accounts don't earn interest, open
a dollar account instead. VIP treatment pa kayo. Otherwise, you will be
worrying how to get your yen to the Philippines safely and with the least cost.
 
Better yet, invest your money at home so you have something to show
sa inyong hirap. And make sure you know exactly where your hard-earned
money has gone. Huwag ninyo ipaubaya sa iba ang pag-monitor
nito (or in case you do, make sure your investments are properly
accounted for) dahil marami na ang natauhan na lang kung kailan
nalugi na ang business o nawaldas na ang pera. Remember that it is
your blood and sweat that is being put at risk, and that the money you
earned cost you lost years at home with your loved ones. Tama lang
naman na kayo mismo ang makapag-enjoy sa inyong hirap at pagod
sa Japan when it is time to retire or to go back home.
 
So now that we are back, ano naman ang say namin? Well, for starters,
there is life after Japan, and with your yen savings carefully used,
probably an even better life.  There are inconveniences of course---forget
precision planning for example---and be flexible because living in the
Philippines can be excitingly unpredictable. Example, one minute you
access the internet oh so quickly and easily because you opted for a
DSL connection; akala mo no more problema, pero  the next thing
you know, nag-break down ang provider ninyo. At kailangan alert ka
dito, lalo na kung gusto mong magmaneho. Alam na naman ninyo gaano
kagaling ang mga jeepney drivers sa atin. Ganuon ba.  May hirap, pero
may ginhawa.
 
But the biggest blessing is knowing that you are home, in the bosom of
your family. May stress man, madaling tawanan at libangin ang sarili
because you have others to share your stress with. You will definitely
have to take a big pay cut, but your quality of life will improve. No more
squeezing into crowded trains; no more struggling with a foreign language.
There is also a sense that you can contribute to your own country's progress
directly by sharing what you learned (and earned) from living in Japan.
 
Bayan natin ito, at dapat talaga eh tumulong tayo sa nation-building.
There is hope for the Philippines as long as there are those of us who
continue to care, kahit saan man tayo nandoon ngayon. Dapat eh hindi
lang ang ating sarili, o ang ating pamilya ang sumulong, kung hindi lahat
ng mga kabayan natin. Walang iwanan. Lahat aandar.
 
So what are we waiting for? Andar na! Iplano mo na kung paano mapapalago
ang yen mo by investing in our motherland. Pag-isipan mo na ang
iyong kinabukasan. Pagbalik mo dito sa atin, talagang full speed ahead
na ang jeepney ng bayan!
 



2006  MARCH-APRIL  ISSUE
Spring na naman and growth is everywhere! Biglang feeling energized na
naman tayo as we see flowers blooming saan man tayo mapatingin.
Sa Japan, at this time of year, when you say "flower," iisang uri nang
bulaklak ang ibig sabihin niyan---the cherry blossom or sakura.

And sa pinakamagandang season dito, when you should be truly grateful
to be in Japan, they are everywhere. Not just on the trees, but in the design
of the plates you eat from (kahit plastic na pinaglagyan ng pagkaing binili
ninyo sa kombini!), in the kimonos that are worn in formal affairs, in the very
food that you eat (those sakura mochi and sakura-bento that you take with
you for cherry blossom-viewing picnics) pati na sa mga kantang naririnig ninyo
sa radyo at TV. Talaga namang you glory in sakura!

Kaya naman in this season of cherry blossoms, parahan natin ang sakura
para maintindihan natin kung bakit lab na lab ng mga Hapon ang bulaklak
na ito.

Did you know na hindi ito ang official flower of Japan? The emperor ascends
the chrysanthemum throne, kaya ang kiku ang kanilang opisyal na bulaklak.
Paano naman eh kung ang sakura ang piniling simbolo nang emperor eh di
hindi siya tumagal! The distinguishing characteristic of the cherry blossom is
its brief life and fleeting quality.

Pero dahil nga the sakura is so well-loved by the Japanese, many people can
be forgiven for thinking that it is their national flower. And as symbols go,
ang sakura marahil ang pinaka-meaningful sa mga Hapon at siya ring
pinaka-recognizable as being Japanese.

Mag-history lesson muna tayo at balikan natin ang panahon ng bushido o
ang samurai jidai sa Japan. Then, the warrior was the most respected
(and feared) class. Di marahil kapani-paniwala but the life of the Japanese
samurai was likened to the sakura.

Nakakagulat ba na the brave and strong samurai warrior should be compared
to such a sweet and fragile blossom?   When you think about it though,
makikita ninyo that a warrior's life is lived to the full since he has to live with
death constantly. Ganyan din ang sakura. Maikli man ang buhay ng bulaklak
na ito, they bloom with all of life's energy in the two weeks (at the most) that
they are there for us to enjoy.

Napakaikli nga naman ng buhay, but if you can achieve perfection in one
form or another in the short time you are on this earth, you will most
certainly not die in vain. Kaya rin naman ang sabi nila, the cherry
blossom represents the search of the Japanese for perfection which is
seen in their arts and their delicate sense of beauty.

Strangely enough, even if cherry blossoms can be found in other places
around the world, dahil bawa't Hapon yatang nag-settle sa ibang bayan
na pwedeng pagtubuan ng sakura eh nagtanim nito, iba pa rin ang sakura
na tubong-Hapon. Tingnan na lang natin ang mga cherry trees sa
Washington, DC, which were presented as a gift from the people of Japan. 
Kahit napakaganda rin nilang mamulaklak doon, iba pa rin ang feeling na
dala ng cherry blossoms dito sa Hapon.

Marahil, it all has to do with context. Kapag nandito ka sa Japan at makita
mo ang mga cherry blossoms with traditional Japanese shrines and castles
in the background, iba talaga ang "arrive" 'ika nga. Plus opcors, the cult-like,
near worship proportions the Japanese regard the blossoms in spring is
something to marvel at. However,  because of our own Christian beliefs,
we see the beauty of the sakura in another light dahil we know who made
that beauty possible. Alam natin na Siya ang dapat nating pasalamatan,
not just for the beauty that surrounds us during spring, but for the grace
to express our thanks to our Creator! Praise the Lord moment talaga!

And while the cherry trees bloom, we also celebrate the feast of the
Resurrection. Kung baga ay nakiki-celebrate ang nature during Easter
by giving us the most beautiful season of the year at this time. How fitting
that the earth rejoices and comes alive too like Christ coming back from
the dead!

From afar, ang sakura ay mistulang mga nalaglag na ulap in a heavenly
light pink shade---not quite like cotton candy but close to it. Up close,
they are dainty white or lightly pink tinged flowers that look so fresh yet
oh so delicate. Depende sa variety ng sakura, they may have anywhere
from 5 petals (ang Somei Yoshino  variety na siyang pinaka-marami
at pinaka-popular na klase), to almost a hundred (the kikuzakura type
which resembles mini chrysanthe-mums and in fact takes its name from it).
Cherry blossoms with more than 5 petals are called yaezakura.

May variety rin na halos deep pink ang kulay, at minsan ay malapit na nga
sa violet o di kaya ay fuchsia. These are usually found in the mountains kaya
ang tawag sa kanila ay yamazakura. At mayroon ring yellowish variety na
hindi na mukhang sakura, but they are, at ang tawag sa kanila ay ukon.
In fact, marami talagang varieties ang sakura, over a hundred at last count,
and some are not as fragile as the common variety. May sakura pa nga
na namumulaklak in late autumn and winter!

They can come in columnar trees that stretch up to the sky and spread out
in prayer, or with drooping branches ala weeping willow.  These shidarezakura
are exceptionally beautiful near river banks kasi their reflection in the water
doubles your pleasure. Hayyy, talaga namang magiging makata ka in the
face of such beauty!

Hindi tuloy kataka-taka na puno nang references sa bulaklak na ito in
Japanese poetry and even in J-pop songs. In fact, when you see the
word "hana" or flower in a haiku or Japanese poem, ang image para
sa mga Hapon ay ang cherry blossom at hindi roses, tulips or even
chrysanthemums.

Kaya naman pagniyaya kayong mag-ohanami (literally "see the flowers"),
ang ibig sabihin eh mag-picnic kayo under the sakura trees and watch the
cherry blossoms in all their splendour. At kung ang imbitasyon eh pang-
evening, huwag kayong magtaka dahil many places with cherry trees
light up the areas with lanterns to enhance their beauty. Parang nasa
paraiso kayo as you eat great food, drink lots of sake, and enjoy the
lighter side of the Japanese---one you don't normally see at the office
or in a business setting.

Ang normal na binibitbit for hanami is a plastic mat for the ground
(walang grass sa ilalim ng mga sakura trees), your packed lunch or
dinner, wet wipes or a damp towel, and a thermos for your tea or
your preferred beverage. If it is a group picnic, it is thoughtful to bring
something like snacks or cut fruit to share.

Syempre, after your picnic, kailangan iwanang malinis ang pinag-piknikan
so dispose of your gomi properly. A gomi-bukoro or "etiquette bag" as the
Japanese call it, is good to bring too, kahit pa supermarket plastic bag
lang. Recently, parks no longer leave trash cans around (an anti-terror
measure or because sorting has become manda-tory?) so you may have
to take your trash home with you.

May kasabihan din ang mga Hapon na "hana yori dango." Ibig sabihin,
the bigger attraction is the food (dango are balls made from rice flour
eaten as a sticky snack) rather than the pretty sakura.

Kapag sinabi ninyo itong kasabihang ito, siguradong ma-iimpress sa
Nihongo knowledge ninyo ang inyong mga kasa-mahang Hapon.
Maririnig na naman ninyo ang papuring, "O-jozu desu ne!" dahil coming
up with appropriate Japanese proverbs is a mark of Japanese fluency.

Your reward? Syempre, dango o masasarap at attractively packed
o-bento at picnic food na dala ng inyong kasama, if the arrangement
is for your host to bring all the food. Kahit ganito pa ang usapan
ninyo, it is still a good idea not to turn up completely empty-handed.

Dahil din sa kasabihang "hana yori dango," maraming enterprising
businessmen ang nagta-tayo ng yatai or food stalls near popular
hanami places. Kaya kung wala man kayong panahon magluto o
mag-food shopping for your picnic, basta't may yen kayo, you won't
get hungry. Pwede rin ang instant picnic!

If you are wondering if those prized blossoms become fruit, madi-
disappoint kayo sa sagot. While those cherry blossoms really look
good enough to eat, they are not the same as the trees that give
you sakurambo or cherries for eating.

How about for drinking? Would you believe, ang tea that is served
to the distinguished guests at graduation rites is sakura tea, which
is the dried blossom preserved in salt? Although super-alat ang lasa,
the cherry blossom certainly looks pretty as it floats in the cup! 
"Beauty is its own excuse for being," sabi nga nang isang sikat na
gaijin poet na mata-gal nang sumakabilang-buhay.

What makes the sakura so precious is the short span in which their
beauty can be enjoyed. Kaya naman national past-time ang abangan
ang pagdating nito. Mayroon pa ngang tinatawag na sakura zensen
(cherry blossom front) which is reported in the news, predicting when
the blossoms will open to herald the start of the season. This front
moves from Okinawa (usually early March) to Hokkaido (around May).
From the pre-dicted date, which is based on when the first blooms open,
it will take more or less a week for mankai season or full bloom.

Syempre, dahil sa beauty nang cherry blossoms, isa sa pinakamadalas
na piliing pangalang pang-babae ang name na Sakura, especially in
recent times. Another explanation for the name's popularity eh pangalan
rin kasi ito nang isang anime character.

At dahil sumisibol ang cherry trees during graduation time and entrance
ceremonies (walang 2 weeks ang pagitan ng dalawang important school
events na ito) lagi rin associated ang sakura sa memorable times in the
life of each student.

Kaya naman maging national or personal history, malaking bahagi ang
sakura sa buhay ng bawa't Hapon.

And when the rains come and the winds blow, petals of the blossoms
fall like unmelted snow or are caught in the breeze like tiny white butterflies.
This can be a bit sad, knowing that you are watching the passing away of
such beauty.

Even then, as the flowers fall and the leaves take their place, the memory
of their beauty never fades away.  Perhaps that is because the cherry
blossom is not just a lovely spring flower for the Japanese but the meaning
of life itself.

Kaya andar na and take the lesson of the sakura to heart. Live your life well
and its  beauty will always linger on.

2006  JANUARY-FEBRUARY ISSUE

A happy new year! Or as they say here in Japan,
"akemashite omedetou gozaimasu!"  Super-dami na siguro
ang narinig ninyong ganitong pagbati (hanggang bandang
mid-January ito puwedeng sabihin dito), at dahil sa
publishing schedule ng JP eh huli na marahil kami.
Para napapanahon pa rin eh dadagdagan ko na nang
"Happy Valentine's Day!" at para mas advanced pa eh
"Happy Easter!" na rin.

Pang-apat na taon na nang Jeepney Press (yeheeey!), at
pati na nang PARAA. Kung baga sa bata eh pumapasok na
sa pre-school, mulat na sa mundo, and eager to learn
more about the world around him. Kaya this year, let
me try to feed your curiosity about things distinctly
Japanese.

One of the things that normally cause culture-shock to
Pinoys who first come to Japan is the concept of
public bathing. Lalo na para sa mga dalagang Pilipina
na mala-Maria Clara ang upbringing, mind-boggling ang
idea na maligo nang talop kasama ang ibang tao. Di ba
nakakahiya mag-bold sa madlang pipol, kahit sarili mo
pang kasarian?

Ganyan rin ang aking unang reaksyon when I first
stepped into the ofuro (hot tub) of an onsen
(hotspring) resort noong estudyante pa lang ako 25
years ago. Aayaw sana ako noong una, but since this is
a uniquely Japanese experience, and my purpose for
coming to Japan was to learn Japanese culture, eh di
sige na nga. I didn't really start to enjoy the public
bath until much later though. Ito ang isang ritwal ng
mga Hapon that grows on you---an acquired taste, ika
nga. So don't think one trip to the sentou or public
bath is enough to make you understand why the Japanese
enjoy this!

Sino ba naman kasi ang matutuwa sa pagligo na
nakatalungko sa harap ng salamin, when we have always
taken our showers and baths standing up? And bathing
in front of a mirror!?! Ngekkk! Ni ayaw mo nga halos
tingnan ang katawan mo di ba? But the Japanese clean
themselves with the utmost concentration. Talagang
daig pa ang paglinis for the operating room the way
they scrub down their bodies, down to the last
singit--walang duming makakalusot! Meron pa nga diyan
na dala pati sipilyo!

At bakit naman kung kailan malinis na malinis ka na,
eh mistulang bote ka na kailangang i-sterilize pa by
dipping into the hot tub? Look around you at parang
enjoy na enjoy ang mga Hapon habang lumulublob sa
super-init (at least 40  celsius, usually higher) na
tubig? Why does a trip to the onsen or hotspring seem
to be the dream vacation para sa mga Hapon?

O siya, yan ang ating paparahan sa unang issue for
2006. Maybe when you finish reading this column, game
na rin kayo mag-adventure sa nearest sentou (public
bath) or onsen (hotspring) na malapit sa inyo, in case
you haven't tried it yet. At sana eh maulit pa ang
pagpunta ninyo until you understand why this is
considered enjoyable to the Japanese. Kasi sa totoo
lang, you are missing out on a delicious Japanese
experience if you let hiya or your inhibitions get the
better of you. Kapag ganitong malalamig na buwan nang
January and February, nothing can beat a Japanese hot
bath to warm you up.

Unang tanong---bakit ba may sentou sa Japan eh may mga
banyo rin naman sila? Well, that was not always the
case. Sa liit ng mga tirahan dito, malaking luxury ang
magkaroon ng sariling banyo noon. Kahit nga sa ibang
mga apartment ngayon, napakaliit pa rin nang ibang
paliguan. Bukol ang aabutin mo if you are not careful
in your movements.

I remember my son's Tokyo dorm where the shower was
practically next to the toilet seat kaya naman it was
difficult to keep the toilet paper dry! Or you must
have been in business hotels where the bathroom is
practically a cubicle for one person---minsan nga eh
feeling nasa telephone box ka kung wala lang shower.
Just take a look at your own banyo to see how
difficult it is to take a slow bath, lalo na if you
hate enclosed spaces. With all the steam, para kang
sinasakal.

After experiencing the pleasure of a huge bathing area
where the supply of hot water is limitless, at puwede
ka talagang mag-relax, sino naman ang hindi
mag-sesentou? And in these days of the newer
super-sentous, with their exotic themes (mga pa-Roman
bath o Bali spa epek) and upgraded facilities, mas
nakaka-enganyo maligo sa mga lugar na ito. Apart from
the fixed fee you pay for its use, di mo na kailangan
intindihin ang water, heating and electric bills mo.

So what are the essentials when you go public bathing
ba? First, find out how much the sentou charges and if
you need to bring your own towel and toiletries. Halos
one on one co-relation kasi ang kailangan mong
bitbitin sa presyo that each sentou charges. The more
expensive, the less you need to bring.

Some sentous charge as little as Y300 pero walang
amenities apart from the hot water and tub. Pati tabo
o plangana eh dapat dala mo. Bring lots of Y100 coins
to these places too kasi kailangan mong subuan ng pera
para gumana ang lockers (usually babalik sa iyo ang
pera), hair-driers and massage chairs (pay as you
use). There will probably also be a drink vending
machine dahil kailangan mong mag-rehydrate after your
hot bath. These machines will be as thirsty for your
coins as you are for the wide choices that they offer.
Kung ayaw mong gumasta, bring your own water, o-cha or
drink of your choice from home.

Usually, from Y2000 up eh maaaring change of underwear
na lang ang kailangan mo. Baka pwede ka pang mag-relax
wearing yukattas or in-door clothing that they
provide. These places will also have a higher standard
of cleanliness and other extras like a sauna or steam
bath, a rotemburo or outside bath that allows you to
enjoy the scenery, reclining and massage chairs, a
free cold water or tea dispenser, a restaurant or
coffee-shop, apart from the usual drink vending
machines. You can also spend the day (or night) here
kung type mo, and at the price you are charged, why
not?

Sorry na lang sa mga may tattoo sa katawan dahil
allergic ang mga sentou at spa resorts diyan. You will
probably be refused entry or asked to leave. Ganuon
din sa mga nakainom to the point of intoxication.
Alcohol and the very hot water in the tubs can be a
deadly combination. If you suffer from high blood
pressure, don't stay in the water too long and closely
monitor yourself, too.

Since this is a public bath which you need to share
with other users, there are simple rules of courtesy
and etiquette that are enforced. Unang-una, take off
your footwear as you enter the establishment. There
are shoe-lockers for this purpose, some of which will
need to be fed a Y100 coin. In most cases, this comes
back to you when you turn the key to reclaim your
footwear and are ready to leave.

Bayad muna ang usual rule, unless you are staying
overnight at an onsen hotel. Usually, kailangan mong
bumili nang ticket sa ticket vending machine instead
of handing over the cash. Just observe what other
people do or ask for help if there is no one around na
pwedeng gayahin.

Japanese noren or curtains (red for female and blue
for male) with the kanji character for male or female
separate the private dressing or locker rooms. Pay
attention kasi may mga baths pala na
pinagpapalit-palit ang male and female areas (lalo na
sa mga onsen or spa resorts) so watch out that you do
not end up in the wrong locker-room!

Fold your clothes neatly and store in the locker or
basket provided. Put your dirty stuff in a separate
plastic bag with your things para hindi maghalo ang
balat sa tinalupan. Di pwede maging burara dahil kayo
rin ang mahihirapan when it is time to put on your
clothes afterwards. And you certainly don't want
someone else mistakenly taking home your used
underwear!

Huwag kayong magpahalata na kayo ay bagito: no staring
please.  Use the long narrow towel to cover what you
don't want others to see kung feeling modest kayo.
Opcors, others don't even bother, but that doesn't
mean you should look as long as you want either! If
you are with friends, don't talk too loudly. Low to
normal speaking tones are OK dahil wala naman kayo sa
library, but you don't want the whole sentou listening
in to your conversations either.

Btw, a few foreign friends have told me that the most
interesting conversations they have had with Nihonjins
have been in the sentou. There must be something
about communicating more naturally when clothes pose
no barrier. Kaya kung type ninyo mag-practise ng
Japanese ninyo, this may well be the place for it.

Actually, ang totoong gamit ng tuwalayang
pinangtatakip-takip ninyo eh panghilod. You need to
aspire to the Japanese level of personal cleanliness
para maging karapat-dapat makagamit ng ofuro or
communal hot tub. So instead of immediately dipping
into the tub (which will give you a heat-shock anyway
as well as shock all the others already there into
leaving), try to get used to the temperature while
washing yourself.

When you are done, either wrap the towel around your
head to keep your hair from falling into the bath
water or put it folded on to your head. Sa totoo lang,
bawal isama sa paglublob ang towel, but for lack of a
place to leave it, people put it on their heads!
Nakaka-absorb din daw ng init ito to avoid
overheating.

To test the temperature, pour a  a small amount of the
tub water over your feet para di kayo mabigla as you
step into the ofuro. Ingatan din ninyo ang pagpasok sa
tubig as it can be deep and slippery. Sit quietly to
get used to the temperature, but don't stay for more
than five minutes at a time. Uulitin ko, huwag kayong
magbababad ng higit sa limang minuto. Get out to cool
down and refresh yourself. You can go back for another
dip after a short break.

Kung feeling overheated ka even before the time is up
(your skin is the color of boiled shrimp or you begin
to feel light-headed), pour some cold (or at least
cooler) water, wet your towel and use it for a cool
rub-down, sit out of the tub or go to the rotemburo
for a different kind of soak. This is one of those
times when you will feel relaxed and totally attuned
to your body. At kailangan mo talagang pakinggan ang
katawan mo, or else eh siguradong sasama ang
pakiramdam mo, mahihilo ka, or worse, bagsak ka! This
is when a good thing can turn really bad.

Finish off by washing yourself clean again the way you
started. Wipe yourself off (even if you aren't totally
dry) with your well-squeezed out towel so you don't
drip all over the locker room floor. Watch where you
walk too, at baka may di marunong gumamit ng sentou na
nauna sa inyo at  kayo ang madulas.

Savor the feeling of being entirely clean. Di ba mas
magaan ang pakiramdam ninyo after scrubbing away your
worries and problems with the dirt on your skin? Drink
something cool to replenish the water you lost before
leaving and enjoy that quiet moment before having to
put back on all the trappings of civilization (i.e.,
your clothes). That feeling of well-being is what the
sentou experience is all about.

Sold na ba kayo? Kung never pa akyong nakapunta sa
sentou, prepare for it by looking for the right public
bath for you. Mas type mo ba to start small? Then
check out the neighborhood sentous (not necessarily
the one nearest your home kung ayaw ninyong maka-meet
ng kakilala ninyo). If  you are lucky, baka
makatiyempo pa kayo ng sentou na onsen or natural hot
spring ang tubig. These have more health benefits,
especially if you have skin problems o kaya eh
rina-rayuma kayo. Kung baga eh para na rin kayong
nag-Pansol sa atin.

Or if you want a luxurious spa experience (as a
once-in-a-lifetime treat), check out the well-known
onsen resorts found all over Japan. Better yet, make
it an overnight trip, lalo kung malayu-layo ang
pupuntahan ninyo. Medyo masakit nga lang sa bulsa, so
plan your trip on weekdays when rates are less
expensive.

In the thirteen years we have been here, we were
impressed by the Kinosaki Nishimura Hotel's bath
facilities, the ultimate in onsen experience. Feeling
rich and pampered ka talaga, kasi the overnight stay
came with a kani (crab) gourmet meal and the buffet
breakfast was the best Japanese food we have
tasted---ibang klase sa usual hotel breakfast buffets.
In other words, it isn't just the ofuro!

If you cannot afford more than a day off at nasa
Kansai area kayo, try  Spa World in Osaka, close to
Shin-Imamiya station. This has two rates, the higher
one allowing you a whole-day stay. If you bring your
swimsuit (you can also rent) pwede rin kayong
mag-family bonding in the mixed bathing area complete
with water slide. Para talagang nakarating kayo sa
different baths around the world, so the Y2,700 3-hour
rate is reasonable na rin.

So go for it! Andar na----there is no cleaner and more
relaxing experience to start your year right in Japan.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
2005   November-December Issue:
Heto na ang last 2 months of the year, and may the
countdown begin as we see 2005 on its way out! And
with the descent of biting cold weather, ibang
pleasures and pains rin ang dala ng winter so parahan
muna natin ang mga ito.

Sa mga may rayuma, parusa ang pagdating ng fuyu o
tag-lamig. Unang-una na ang pagbangon sa umaga. Dahil
madilim pa at masarap bumaluktot sa kama o futon, our
creaking bones and stiff muscles reject the idea of
getting up to start the day. Mabuti na lang at sa dami
ng kailangang gawin na naghihintay sa atin, kahit
papaano eh may motivation tayong harapin ang mundo.
Pero nagmamadali man tayo, tulungan naman natin ang
ating katawan, para na rin sa ating kalusugan.

Spend a few minutes by warming up and doing stretching
exercises (you can even start before leaving the
warmth of your bed or futon).  Huwag din kalimutan
gasolinahan ang katawan by having a hot breakfast
before starting your day.

Heat is one of winter's pleasures, may rayuma ka man o
wala, and the ofuro (hot tub) is definitely the place
to get it. At sa mga walang ofuro sa tirahan o kaya ay
super-liit ang mga ito, ang public bath at super-sento
ang kasagutan. You might also want to check out
fitness clubs dahil madalas ay mayroon silang spa
facilities that make membership worth the price.

Of course, if you find a real onsen (hot spring) near
you, lalo kayong pinagpapala, as apart from the heat,
you get other benefits like a mineral-rich bath for
silkier skin. Check the internet or ask your Japanese
friends if you are new to the neighborhood, or kung
shy kayo and you want one that isn't too close to
where you live. That way, you don't bump into people
you know habang talop kayo.

Going on a year-end onsen holiday is  the Japanese
idea of rewarding themselves. Apart from the pleasures
of the bath, there is of course the gourmet dinner
that comes with staying at an onsen-resort. Feeling
relaxed and Japanese pa kayo habang naka-yukata at
pagulong-gulong sa tatami. So kung nag-iisip rin
kayong mag-out-of-town onsen overnight trip, make sure
you book early! And if cost is an issue, take your
onsen break on a week-day instead of the more
in-demand, higher-priced week-ends and holidays.

At dahil di naman tayo pwedeng nakababad na lang sa
hot tub, there are other ways of keeping warm. Nariyan
of course ang traditional kotatsu, the one place where
family members can stay huddled together while
watching TV or sharing stories while enjoying  mikan
oranges. Sa mga di pa nakakakita nito, check your
nearest appliance store. Mayroon na rin  ngayong
dining table models so you don't need to be at floor
level to enjoy the warmth.

Nariyan din ang nabe ryori (hotpot cooking) to keep
you not just warm but full and happy too. At masaya
rin si madir dahil cook-your-own and no fuss ang
paghanda nito. Di na kailangang mag-isip ng anu-ano
pang iu-ulam.

As November starts, kailangan din natin parahan at
alalahanin ang mga mahal sa buhay who have passed on
as we commemorate the Feast of All Saints and All
Souls.  Marahil dahil na rin sa aming edad, there seem
to be an inordinate number in my circle (myself
included) who have lost a parent this year. Sa iba,
maluwag ang pagtanggap sa pagpanaw ng ama o ina,
especially if it has brought relief to their loved
one's pain and suffering, or if it has been an easy
death.

For others, acceptance may be more difficult, either
because death came unexpectedly or tragically. Mayroon
rin nagkakaroon ng guilt feelings, either because of
commission (may ginawang alam nilang di ayon sa
kagustuhan ng magulang) or omission (nagpabaya o may
di ginawa kaya sinisisi ang sarili).

For those who belong to this last group, there must be
forgiveness. Kailangang humingi ng tawad at maniwalang
sila'y pinatawad.  Pero higit pa dito, kailangan din
nilang patawarin ang sarili. Only then can they start
to heal and move on.

A death in the family changes us, hopefully for the
better. As we pray for the eternal repose of the souls
of those we love, gawin din natin ang ating magagawa
to live a life that will honor our loved ones. That is
the best way to allow them to live on in this world
through us.

Dito sa Japan, November 3 is the first official
holiday of the month, and it falls on a Thursday.
Culture Day ito and in our jichikai (neighborhood
association) we have been invited to celebrate by
doing a Philippine cooking demonstration. Syempre pa,
we will all sit down to lunch on what we have
produced---adobong manok sa gata, rellenong talong,
and tomato-mango salad.

At the insistence of friends, patitikimin rin namin
sila nang champorado with dilis. For the Japanese,
chocolate rice porridge is inconceivable, pero
nagustuhan ng mga kaibigan naming Hapon na exposed na
sa pagkaing Pinoy, kaya hala, pagbigyan ang requesto.

Medyo nagulat din kaming mag-asawa (hindi ko kayang
solohin ito!) at marami-rami ang nagpalista. Normally,
it is difficult to involve younger people in community
activities but we are heartened by the response and
interest in Philippine food. Ang problema na lang eh
to live up to their expectations kaya panay ang
cooking practice namin ngayon sa bahay. 

Another holiday here is Labor Thanksgiving Day on
November 23. Again, it falls in the middle of the work
week, kaya mahirap mamasyal ng malayu-layo, unless
mag-file ng extra vacation leave. Why not try for a
day-trip for some koyou, or maple-leaf viewing? The
foliage should be at its best around this time, since
it has been an unseasonably warm autumn. Sabi nila,
the longer the hot weather continues, and the more
sudden the cold, the more beautiful the leaves become.


But for the workaholic, sleep-deprived Japanese, ang
idea nila ng tunay na bakasyon eh magtutulog na lang.
Kung super-influenced na kayo ng Japanese work ethic,
then this is your chance to snooze away like them.
After all, it is your holiday; salamat sa inyong mga
kumakayod dito, maunlad ang land of the rising yen!

Pagtungtong ng December, feel to the bones na ang
paglapit ng Pasko, even in Japan, where Christians are
the minority. May we celebrate with you pa rin sila
dahil for the Japanese, religion has nothing to do
with Christmas. Syempre, ride ang mga commercial
establishments like department stores, toy shops,
restaurants and theme parks for whom Christmas means
big business. It helps that this is also bonus time
at malapit pa sa pagsara ng taon, when lots of
gift-giving and partying really happen anyway.

This year, because December 25 is a Sunday, mas
festive sigurado dito ang Pasko dahil talagang walang
pasok. When Christmas falls on a weekday, ang mga
kabayan nating newcomers sa Japan get shocked to
discover that it is considered an ordinary working
day.

Pero para sa mga Japanese couples, December 24 is the
more important date. Di rin maliwanag sa akin kung
bakit parang Valentine's Day sa atin ang dating ng
Xmas eve sa kanila, but many wedding proposals and
romantic dinners happen on this date. Perhaps,
Japanese TV dramas fuel this notion, with heart-broken
lovers feeling especially lonely (at nagpapa-lonely),
and happily-ever-after couples get reunited. Close-up
on that kiss under a giant Christmas tree while snow
lightly falls sa dalawang nilalang na tila baga nasa
sariling mundo. O di ba romantic?!?

Japanese families also sit down to a Christmas feast
of roast chicken (mga ganitong panahon lang kayo
makakakita ng buong manok sa mga supermarkets!)
complete with a birthday cake for Jesus. Gulat sila
when I tell them that having a birthday cake is not
part of Philippine Christmas tradition. Bakit daw, eh
di ba we are celebrating a birth? Oo nga naman!

Hindi naman puro commercialization ang Pasko sa Japan.
Christian churches here also hold what they call
"Candle Service", (Midnight Mass sa ating mga
Catholics) at popular ito sa mga Hapon who are looking
for a spiritual dimension to Christmas.

Huwag sana nating kalimutan what the whole celebration
of Christmas is all about. In the bustle of the
festivities, let us find in our hearts a quiet time to
thank God for giving His Son to us, teaching us true
humility and the meaning of love.

As we see 2005 out, dapat eh tapos na rin ang mga
dapat matapos: those holiday greetings and nenga-jos
sent, debts settled, homes and inner-selves cleaned.
So when the last day of the year comes around,
handang-handa tayong sumalubong sa bagong taon.

Bago tayo umandar, i-check lang natin na hindi DUI ang
driver, (at kung kayo ang driver eh huwag uminom!)
para safe ang pasada. And as the year comes to a
close, we wish you all a Blessed Christmas and a
Joyful New Year!



2005   September-October Issue:
 Yeheyy, nandito na naman ang favorite season nang mga
mahilig kumain tulad ko! Aki, or autumn, is the season
of plenty. Harvest time ito from both land and sea,
and shopping for fresh ingredients including fish,
kani (crabs), mushrooms, persimmons, pears, chestnuts,
apples and grapes is a joy.

Yes, it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas as
we know it back home. Ngayong "ber" months na naman
with their cooler days and early morning chill, can
Christmas be far behind?

Pero teka, September-October issue pa lang tayo.
Marami pang dapat pagdaanan bago mag-Pasko. So what
can we look forward to in these 2 months?

Pagtungtong ng September, back to school ang mga
students sa Japan. At sa paggunita ng malaking pinsala
na dala ng earthquake sa Tokyo maraming taon na ang
nakakaraan, the first of September is also used to
practise disaster drills all over the country. Seryoso
ang drills, at ang mga magulang ng mga may anak sa
elementary schools o shougakko ay required sunduin ang
mga anak nila, just as they would have to do should a
disaster strike.

Pagkakataon itong malaman kung saan ang evacuation
center sa inyong area and what to expect in case
anything happens so it is not wasted time. And in a
country that is host to typhoons and earthquakes, tama
lang na bata pa eh itanim na ang disaster awareness
and preparation sa mga murang isip. Madalas nga eh ang
mga bata pa ang nagpapaalala sa mga magulang ng
kahalagahan nang paghahanda should disaster strike.

Maraming buhay ang maaaring mailigtas sa pag-practice
at paghanda sa maaaring mangyari. Nandito siguro ang
secreto kung bakit progressive ang Japan---they have
foresight and discipline, and they know the value of
being prepared, just like boy and girl scouts!

Kayo ba, may inihanda nang tubig, flashlight, kandila,
posporo, mapa, battery, transistor radio canned food,
at first aid kit, just in case? It is also a good idea
to put important documents (passport, cash, bank cards
etc) in a bag that you can easily take with you in
case of an emergency. Syempre kung panahon ng
emergency, you have the edge kung napag-isipan mo na
kung ano ang gagawin at bibitbitin mo before-hand.

Considering scientists' predictions and the increasing
numbers and intensities of typhoons and temblors,
hazardous (abunai!) ang isang tabi lamang  ang
disaster preparation! Kaya sundin natin ang payo na
maghanda habang wala pang nangyayaring disaster. Lagi
kasing nasa huli ang pagsisisi.

Balikan naman natin ang mga happenings dito sa Japan
this month and next. Opcors, ang red-letter day para
sa mga Pinoy ay ang Philippine Day sa Aichi Expo on
September 20. Our embassy and consulates are busy
coordinating with expo officials to make the day a
special one for us, lalo pa't malaking karangalan ang
pagkaka-award sa ating pavilion ng kumikinang na Gold
Prize.

Looking forward kami ni husband dear to re-visit the
site, knowing that this time, we will be meeting old
friends and lots of other kababayans. And of course,
having been there once, alam din namin that the EXPO
has a lot to offer. Kaya naman kahit super-aga ang
alis ng Kansai delegation eh GO pa rin kami.

Baka naman di pa kayo nakakapasyal sa Aichi Expo eh
bilisan na ninyo as it will end this month. If you can
make it, go during the Philippine Day as a show of
numbers sends the right message to our Japanese hosts.
It is a rare experience and heaven knows when another
World Expo will be held.

Marami ring bakasyon in September; renkyu (long
week-ends) kung tawagin ito ng mga Hapon. Japan
celebrates Roujin no Hi (respect for the aged day) on
the 19th, Monday,  and the autumn equinox on the 23rd
(Friday) of September. Sa October naman, the 10th is
sports day, and there will be many sporting events all
over Japan scattered during the month as schools and
communities take advantage of the pleasant climate to
enjoy the outdoors.

Speaking of the day meant for the aged, malapit-lapit
na rin akong mag-qualify as I reached my half-century
mark in August. I am now officially a Golden Girl!
Buong puso ang aking pasasalamat to have reached this
age surrounded by loved ones to celebrate with!

Looking back, I am filled with gratitude for the many
blessings God has poured on me, lalo na sa mga tao at
pagkakataon na ibinigay Niya sa akin. And the thing
is, I can feel that the best is yet to come. Right
now, I feel I am truly in the autumn of life, ripe and
ready to enjoy life's choicest blessings. At salamat
rin sa inyo na mga nagbabasa nang PARAA dahil kahit
papaano eh naging part kayo ng aking buhay.

Pero hindi lang yan. Aba, dito sa Japan, may advantage
ang pagiging singkwenta, especially if you enjoy
watching movies. Alam naman ninyo na may kamahalan
manood ng cine dito! If you can show proof that you
are at least 50 years old, you can watch a movie with
your spouse for the price of one, any time.

Alam na naman siguro ninyo na kahit di pa kayo 50 eh
may promotion days ang mga cinehan. Watch a movie
during the 1st of the month (at least yan ang date
dito sa Kansai) and you only pay Y1000. Kung ka-gender
ko naman kayo, may "Lady's Day" silang tinatawag once
a week when you can get into the moviehouse for Y1000
rin.

Pero kung 50 years old na kayo, kahit anong araw,
basta't kasama ninyo si mister o misis, 2 for one ang
bayad ninyo. Unfortunately, this discount doesn't
apply kung solo flight kang manonood.

"Aged" does not necessarily  refer to a fixed age.
After all, we are as young or as old as we feel. Pero
generally, you have to be at least 65 to enjoy the
benefits of senior citizenship. Unang-una, dual
citizenship ka na bigla; di ka lang Pinoy o Hapon
ngayon, senior citizen ka rin!

In most places here in Japan, that means libre ka na
sa transportation costs. Sa atin naman, a senior
citizenship card entitles you to discounts for
medicines and restaurant bills. Kung sa Makati ka raw
naka-register as a senior, pati cine sa mga
moviehouses doon, libre! Oh di ba OK na rin tumanda?

Meanwhile, kailangan paghandaan ang pagtanda by living
each day to the fullest. Savor what you see, hear,
smell, feel, touch and taste. If we make the most of
each day, no regrets sa pagtanda, dahil may
pinagka-tandaan, ika nga. And if you have lived a good
life, age will treat you like good wine--you only
become richer and more mellow.

By the way, autumn does that to you; reflection comes
easier at this time of year. May mga nade-depress rin
pag tag-lagas of course. After all, seeing the leaves
fall is the ultimate reminder of our mortality.

But even difficult times in our past acquire new
meaning as we mature and gain some wisdom. Death,
after all, is a natural cycle of life. Just as birth
and menopause are. Just live your best moment as each
day comes, help others where and when you can, and
love those around you whole-heartedly. And trust that
life will carry you through. Ganuon lang yon!

So andar na at lumilipas ang panahon!