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TRAFFIC
by Alma R. H. Reyes
November-December 2008
Kurisumasu from the Heart
"Alas, time stays, we go." - by Henry Austin Dobson
Is 2008 really coming to an end? Is it time again to pull out the Christmas tree? Send out nengajo New Year cards? Flavor a new o-sechi ryori New Year recipe? Or better yet, book your flight to Manila? Buy your 100 yen pasalubongs (ha!)? Or just dream the rest of the months savoring the smells of puto, cuchinta, bibingka, ginataan, queso de bola and all the rest of Filipino delicacies that make Christmas at home the best way to celebrate this important holiday.
On the other hand, you can also spend Kurisumasu in a different way "in the form of giving" an idea I got from an ex-Monbusho student friend in Tokyo who now calls New York home. Nina Patawaran grew up in various sunny islands of the Philippines, including Negros Oriental, and was educated in the Philippines, U.S., Japan and France. An ardent supporter of children's literacy in the Philippines, she has partnered with Silliman University since 2006 to expand its elementary school library collection and in 2007, Nina helped launch the university's first ever library loan to a public elementary school. She recently convinced Silliman to embark on another literacy initiative under the banner of the Philippines Dictionary Project, and hopes to expand it across the various provinces of the Philippines. I am happy to share this wonderful endeavor with you through the gracious article contribution of Peggy Ann Stevenson (another dear classmate, who is helping Nina with this project). Let's give this year's Christmas the spirit of offering our hearts to the Filipino children back home.
A Time to Give by Peggy Ann Stevenson
The older we become, the more our lives become ruled by time and its demands. We juggle time between work and family and we feel fractured and harried when things fail to run smoothly. We are constantly searching for ways to save time, as though it can be collected and stored like money. "I have no time," "Time is of the essence" and "I have to beat the clock," are all things we say. Modern life demands "multitasking." With time being precious, many of us are constantly questioning ourselves, questioning our priorities and ensuring that our hard-earned free time is well spent.
Truth be told, as much as we desire to share whatever little bounty we have with others, we are often left wondering if our little contributions can indeed make a difference in the lives of others. What if we have no more than ´1,000 to spare? Will that amount of money spell a world of difference to the intended recipients? How do we know where our contribution goes, who does it help and for how long can it uplift the lives of the intended beneficiaries? Ah, indeed very valid questions that we ponder as we decide how generous we can be with our charitable giving.
Nina Patawaran recently started a grassroots movement to make brand-new high quality children's illustrated dictionaries available to Philippine public elementary school students. During her visit to the Philippines in June this year, Nina sat down with a few NGOs and a number of public school teachers and discovered that while everyone laments the limited vocabulary of Filipino public elementary school students, and while attempts are being made to distribute reading materials to public elementary schools, there is no focused effort to distribute on a large scale basis age-appropriate children's dictionaries to these schools. The Philippines Dictionary Project is a novel project that aims to attain this; to help Filipino children improve basic, i.e. pre-university education and to promote childrenÕs literacy in the Philippines.
To ensure that donors' contributions are protected, Nina applied her knowledge of banking techniques to these dictionaries. She teamed up with Ayala Foundation, a highly respected charitable organization in the Philippines and in the U.S. so that donors based in these two countries can avail of tax deductions for their donations. For the pilot program in Negros Oriental's 1st Congressional District, Nina partnered with Silliman University and the local congresswoman, Jocelyn Sy-Limkaichong. The dream is that from this pilot program a template will emerge for implementation of the project in other Philippine provinces.
This project is novel in that the dictionaries are not being donated directly to the public elementary schools to avoid the high incidence of damage and/or pilferage that typically befall donations made to the public school system. Rather, a dictionary bank is being created at a local center of excellence, such as Silliman. Several hundreds of brand-new hardbound copies of Scholastic First Dictionary (Revised Edition, ISBN 0439798345), which last for at least five years, are being donated to Silliman with the stipulation that Silliman on-lend the dictionaries to (poorly funded) public elementary schools. A public school that wants to use the dictionaries as part of their teaching materials can come to Silliman and borrow 50 dictionaries at a time, for up to one school year. (If the school acts responsibly, they will be allowed to borrow the dictionaries the following school year. If they don't, the dictionaries will be redeployed and on-lent to another more deserving public school the following school year.) Silliman will audit the dictionaries at the end of each dictionary loan. The local congresswoman's role is to act as a guarantor for the dictionaries. This way, donors need not worry about the safekeeping of the dictionaries. If the public elementary schools damage/lose the borrowed dictionaries, the congresswoman will pick up the repair/replacement fees. The participation of Congresswoman Limkaichong is a most welcome development since her participation will give an incentive to the borrowing public schools to act responsibly. To earn the trust of the project's donors, each dictionary will be inscribed with the name of the donor and assigned a Silliman library catalogue number. Silliman will arrange for protective book covers for each dictionary and will check the dictionaries for damage/loss at the end of the dictionary loans. Each dictionary loan will be documented by way of a notarized memorandum of agreement (MOA) that will be signed by all three parties: (i) Silliman (as the lender), (ii) the borrowing public elementary school (as the borrower) and (iii) the relevant guarantor (Congresswoman Limkaichong with respect to borrowing schools located in her congressional district). The MOA will specify the catalogue numbers of the dictionaries being on-lent. As such, at any point in time, donors will be able to trace the whereabouts of their donated dictionaries.
This project is not a dole-out. Borrowing schools will be asked to pay a nominal rental fee of PHP500 per school year, or PHP10 per dictionary per school year. The rental fee will be used to defray (some of) Silliman's expenses, primarily the protective book covers. As nominal as the rental fee may be, the project team believes that the payment of the rental fee signifies the borrowing school's willingness to become a dignified stakeholder in the project.
Pinoys living in Japan can help immensely with a donation of PHP350- (or approximately ´800) to this project and by sharing news of this project with your network of family and friends. Any donation amount would be greatly appreciated. Do bear in mind that PHP350 (less than the cost of 3 Starbucks lattes) will buy one brand-new, hardbound dictionary that lasts for a minimum of five years. Fifty dictionaries will cover the needs of 500 students every school year, or 2,500 students over the dictionary's useful life of 5 years (minimum). In short, PHP350 will support the dictionary needs of 10 students each year, for at least the next 5 years, or at least 50 kids over the useful life of a single dictionary!
For Japan-based donors, donations can be made in cash or by check through Ayala Foundation, Inc., an established non-profit organization in the Philippines. (Ayala Foundation's website is www.ayalafoundation. org.) Receipts for Philippine tax deduction purposes will be issued promptly. Donors can also expect a thank you note in due course from their dictionaries' beneficiary public elementary school(s). Checks can be made payable to Ayala Foundation, Inc., BPI Head Office Building, 10th Floor, Ayala cor Paseo de Roxas Avenues, Makati City 1200. Please specify "Philippines Dictionary Project" on the check and please provide your name, TIN (for Philippine tax payers), telephone number, postal address and email address for receipt and project status update purposes. For those who do not have Philippine peso checks, cash donations can be made with a deposit to Ayala Foundation's peso account at any Bank of the Philippine Islands branch. Please send an email to Nina at philippinesdictionaryproject@ gmail.com so that she can coordinate with Ayala Foundation accordingly to ensure that your precious donation is properly attributed to you.
The project has triggered a generous outpouring of support from donors all over the world: Albania, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Brazil, China, Cuba, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Africa and the USA. Even our very own world-renowned Washington SyCip, co-founder of SGV, the Philippines' leading professional services firm, who has no personal connection to Nina, made a donation for 50 dictionaries (one school) when he learned of the project. Funds for over 30 schools have been raised to-date, and the project will be officially launched on November 7th.
I hope you can all give the Philippines Dictionary Project some meaningful thought. In true Filipino spirit, we all wish that we can give time to start our own initiatives to help kababayans back home. But, alas, time is something we don't have much to spare. And yet with ´800, imagine how we can touch the lives of at least 50 public elementary school students for the next 5 years! Let's support the Philippines Dictionary Project, help our Filipino children and uplift the Philippines one dictionary at a time.
Maligayang Pasko, Manigong Bagong Taon and Akemashite Omedeto Gozaimasu to all!
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September-October 2008
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
OF THE FIRST KIND
"Every parting gives a foretaste of death, every reunion a hint of the resurrection."
by Arthur Schopenhauer
Missing Kuidaore
Do you know the expression "Osaka no kuidaore?" It means "to eat until you drop in Osaka." And, people probably did eat until they dropped last July 8 in Osaka when its famous symbol Kuidaore Taro, the drumming clown in red and white striped attire, who twitches his thick eyebrows up and down, was taken away from Dotonbori's lively street after that day. Kuidaore, who is modeled after a bunraku puppet, has been loved by Osaka folks since he stood in front of its restaurant in 1949. It lines up with the other great Osaka symbols, such as the Glico athlete in neon lights and the giant kani (crab) Doraku. So, when the restaurant owner announced that their business would be closing down, Osaka became the focus of bubbly attention, attracting thousands of both Osaka and non-Osaka jin to come to Dotonbori to get a last glimpse of Kuidaore.
Osaka Hi-Hi Towners
I happened to be one of those last Kuidaore onlookers when I went to Osaka during the same week for the grand Monbusho Osaka Foreign Students Alumni Reunion that took place at the International House in Tanimachi ("Hi-Hi Town") and the Kansai Foreign Students House (Kansai Ryugakusei Kaikan) in Minami-Senri from July 5-7. I had the chance to say goodbye to Kuidaore and to stroll through the colorful alleys of Namba with our reunion group. It was truly a close encounters of the first kind---being the very first grand Monbusho reunion ever organized with ex-foreign students from Osaka who resided at or had connections with the Kansai Kaikan from 1970-1989.
I was fortunate to be one of the committee members who helped in organizing the event, led by Taeko Sugeno of Tokyo Univeristy, and other committee members Safee Chaudri (Pakistan), Usin Pisingan (Philippines), Romeo Baccay (Philippines) and Leith Casel-Schuetz (Philippines)---all of us who have lived in Osaka twenty to thirty years ago. There were about more than 35 participants and their families from abroad and Japan who came to Osaka for this huge event. We also invited special Japanese guests from the former Osaka Gaidai (old Osaka University of Foreign Studies); the JASSO (Japan Student Services Organization), who created a big welcome banner for us; the Senri International Fellowship Association (Senri Kokusai Yukokai), who prepared our sumptuous lunch buffet at the Kansai Kaikan; former host families from Osaka who reunited with the ex-foreign students after 30 years; a radio DJ from FM Itami radio station who acted as our emcee (and knew some of the foreign students since he was five years old!); and staff from Asahi Shimbun, who featured us in the newspaper in the July 7 edition, Senri Times and FM Senri radio station who taped the main event on July 6 and interviewed some ex-foreign students in their radio program. It was awesome to eat, drink, sing, ride the trains, walk through the nostalgic Minami Senri Park and exchange gifts and pleasantries with many new and familiar places from different batches and different countries, plus accept the warmth of the Japanese community who have also become part of our Osaka memories. What a three-day event!
From Osaka with Love
One of the interesting highlights I picked up from this reunion is meeting couples who met in Osaka during their students days, fell in love and eventually got married. Having met some of them for the first time myself, it was wonderful to see them still sparkling with intimacy and reminiscing their olden days. It's probably by coincidence or by fate that many of these couples are Filipinos. Here are some of their amusing love stories:
Usin and Nina Pisingan (Batch 1970): "Meeting someone who was a Monbusho scholar herself and eventually getting married to her was the most memorable event (in my stay in Osaka). My friends and I were out one evening and could not be in the foreign students house to meet the new girl who just arrived from the Philippines. So, we asked our female friends to hang a roll of toilet paper outside their windows if the new Filipina was beautiful. Upon our return to the dormitory, we did not notice any toilet paper (hanging out from the windows), so we concluded that the new girl must not have been good-looking and not worth our attention. We proceeded to the social room of the dormitory where a party was taking place in honor of the new arrivals. There, I met the new girl from the Philippines, Victorina Sanchez. The introductory meeting was the beginning of a relationship that changed the directions of our lives forever. We got married at the Toyotsu Catholic Church. I believe it was the first wedding of Monbusho scholars ever to grace the local newspapers of Osaka. The mayor of Osaka sent us a telegram congratulating us on this special occasion."
Romy and Virgie Baccay (Batch 1974, 1978/1981): "It was at the dormitory in 1981 when I met the lady of my life, Virginia. One night, when I came home from Osaka University after a hectic day of research studies and thesis work experiments, I heard someone playing the piano from the second floor of the building. The music captivated me and aroused in me an indescribable feeling of allure, love and delight. I went up to the second floor and peeped from the door to check who was playing the piano. Unfortunately, I did not know the girl. Time passed by until I met her at the shokudo (dining hall), where most students ate for their meals. Formal introductions were made, followed by a year-long courtship. Those moments culminated into a wedding reception night at the piano room after a Catholic church wedding in Suita City."
Joe and Elsa Doromal (Batch 1974): "I met Elsa for the first time when coincidentally, we were processing our papers at the same time for studying in Japan at the Philippine Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There was minimal interaction between us at school, but we were always together---studying, eating at the shokudo, playing ping pong or bowling, shopping for groceries at Peacock or the Oasis Department Store, singing in the music room, among other activities. During the graduation ceremony at Osaka Gaidai, Elsa, the only girl in the batch, received bouquets or several long-stemmed red roses from the members of her batch, but she received only one pink carnation from me, yet that one flower was rather different as it stood out among the big bouquets of roses she received. That evening, my classmates and I were invited to a party and I was so affected by the sake that I overslept the next day. At lunch time, the group was concerned that I was not in the shokudo since breakfast, and Elsa went to check up on me and tried to wake me up. I remember waking up from a dazed state of sleep and saw the very pretty girl calling my name. I had always thought that Elsa looked like Jennifer O'Neill, the beautiful Cover Girl model and star actress of the movie Summer of '42. I realized in that very instant how sweet she was.ÊI got up and we had lunch together. Then, that afternoon, I invited Elsa for a walk at the Minami Senri Park. We talked for several hours while sitting on squeaky swings. Those conversations started it all and we became inseparable since. During the reunion this year, we walked through Minami Senri Park again that held too many wonderful memories for us.ÊWe sat on the two swings we used to sit on before, had our photos taken, and recollected that momentous afternoon 34 years ago."
Tony and Nanette Fernandez (Batch 1977, 1986/1979): "It was in autumn 1979 when the new three Filipino ladies arrived in Osaka. Two of them were already married and the remaining single one was Nanette. One Sunday on the way to Suita Catholic Church, Nanette and I talked enough to know each other's roots, schools, relations, and the faith we shared. It turned out that we were practically from the same Quezon City middle-class neighbourhood. Her home was behind Max's, which had been a favorite place for family get-togethers, besides its proximity to our house. Nanette's grandmother came from Pagsanjan, Laguna where both my parents grew up. As a young couple, Nanette's maternal grandparents, lived across my maternal grandparents' house in Pagsanjan. Her uncle was one of my uncle's best friends; they worked in the same trade. Fortunately, we were not blood relatives! We also both graduated from UST---I was at the Engineering building, and she was at the next door, Education building. We were both members of the religious organization called Pax Romana. We shared meals together. After one dinner, I offered her cheesecake that I said I made, but she later found out it was prepared straight from a package. In any case, with coffee and good company, our chemistry worked. We enjoyed sampling the "kissatens" and had double dates with Virgie and Romy Baccay who came to Japan a semester later. But, what kept us together was how much we believe and trust in the Lord, and share the blessings with others."
"551 ga aru toki"
Talaga naman ang romantic ng Pinoy! I, too, have my own share of Kansai romance---but, it's not what you think! The Kansai region will always have a special niche in my heart since I lived in Osaka and Kyoto for about five years during my student and working days between 1986-1991. There is something magnetic about the social culture of Kansai that is different from Tokyo. The lingering smells of its okonomiyaki, takoyaki, udon and tsukemono bring me close to the heart of the Kansai-jin. Each time I revisit Kyoto, I never fail to stop by the bridge over Kamogawa River in Shijo Dori. I had spent many moments along this riverbank writing, drawing and reading while admiring the teahouses flanking the Pontocho Dori or the Minamiza Kabuki Theatre. It's always a comfortable feeling to be reminded by rustic nature and old traditions when I see the mountains surrounding Kyoto city, the temples, shrines and maiko ladies walking at night. In these places, I could easily find peace and spiritual grace that are sometimes difficult to find in bustling Tokyo.
Perhaps, the Monbusho reunion enveloped these sentiments as well for everyone else. For the ex-foreign students, the return to Osaka was not just a comeback to the good, old days; it was a reconciliation with that age of simplicity and innocence that makes true friendships so real.
Add to that heaps of fun and laughter that only young, student days can bring. So, it is in Osaka they say "551 ga aru toki." Did you know this? It is coined from a famous TV commercial in Osaka by 551 Horai, makers of nikuman in Osaka. When someone says "551 ga aru toki" people start to laugh boisterously for no reason but just to express joy. So, when an Osaka-jin tells you "551 ga aru toki" be prepared to show off your best laughter! Such Kansai pleasure!
"551 ga aru toki!" Homma ya!
July-August 2008
Shima uta yo kaze ni nori
tori to tomo ni umi wo watare
Shima uta yo kaze ni nori
todokete okure watashi no ai wo
Island song, riding on the wind
With a bird for a companion,
crossing over the sea
Island song, riding on the wind
Sending my belated tear
- "Shima Uta"
Oh my God! The blazing, sticky, sweaty, penetrating heat of Japanese summer is here. Many people greet this time of the year with a tight embrace, but it's one of the seasons I dread most in Japan. I mean, truly, how do these scenarios strike you: jam-packed trains with salary men, alcohol-stricken and their sweat pouring down their faces, at 12 mdnight; Tokyo night streets swarmed with workers showered in beer after spending five hours in an izakaya (bar restaurant); cockroaches peeping out of your kitchen drawers; ants crawling from wall to wall, noisy semi (cicada) crying all day and appearing dead on your porch mat; fully-booked summer holidays; cramped beaches and swimming pools; sweaty, sticky, sweaty, sticky, sweaty...?! Okay, okay...summer is fun, right?
Well, my favorite personal summer anecdote was some fifteen years ago when we lived in a small house with a garden in Tokyo. My husband who loves summer was all ready to go sun bathingÑwith no shirt on, got out to the garden, with his book and hat, relaxes on the lounge chair, smiling so contentedly at the gleaming sun. Me? I locked myself in the house, air-conditioner in full blast. Ha! That about sums up our typical summer day.
But, it's true that all Japanese look forward to summer time. It's not only the ring of vacation bells, but as sang by the popular singer, Kazufumi Miyazawa of The Boom in his famous Shima Uta, it's also the call of the islands, the wind, the birds and the sea that, for many, bring a season of possible romance! Let's look at the best icons of Japanese summer that you probably won't find or experience as vividly in other countries.
Suika (watermelon)
Oh yes. No Japanese natsu (summer) can be summer without suika. I have experienced doing suika wari (breaking the watermelon with a stick) in beaches in Chiba and Chigasaki with some friends. This is the beloved Japanese summer tradition of breaking one whole watermelon in half with a long, thick stick while you are blindfolded. Then, everyone munches on the watermelon all crushed. See, not a pinata but a watermelon!
Tomorokoshi (fresh corn on the cob)
There's nothing really so special about tomorokoshi, but you know it's summer when they start to show up in markets and groceries. Luckily for us, we get our tomokoroshi all the way from my in-laws in Hokkaido (yumm...), where they are called tokibi. Westerners like to put butter on corn, but Japanese think this is disgusting! They like to eat them plain (or salted) or roasted, then wrapped in plastic wrap later...eeww! Do you know how to eat tomorokoshi properly? My husband always laughs at the way Filipinos eat corn on the cobÑsloppy daw! Filipinos munch very roughly on the kernels, leaving the kernel skins sticking out. But, Japanese daw chew on the kernels using their bottom teeth, so they can bite the entire kernel, leaving nothing on the cob. Hindi ganun kadali!
Kakigori (shaved ice dessert)
Don't all kids love kakigori? Strawberry, cherry, lemon, grape, melon, sweet plum, Blue Hawaii! If you stare at the flavor coloring on top of this snow cone dessert, it's like you're looking at a multi-colored Mt. Fuji! To sweeten it, add condensed milk. Then, stick out your tongue after eating. Now, you look like a goblin!
Yokan (jelly with sweet beans) and Zeri (fruit jelly)
Japanese have a gift for making the most charming, attractive jellies that are often given away as gifts. I remember when I worked in a Japanese company, a lady went around serving jelly during break time. When she came up to me, I said "Ah...jelly desu ka?" She replied, "Hai?" like she didn't understand what I just said. After I repeated, she said "Zeri desu ne..." But I insisted saying, "Sou sou...jelly." Then, she beamed realizing I pronounced it in the "proper" English way. She tried to say it like the way I did, but it still sounded "zeri" to me. Humorously, that became the popular topic of the day at the office.
O-chugen (summer gift-giving custom)
They say if you are not THAT Japanese at heart, you don't have to follow the custom of sending out summer gifts called o-chugen. When you go to the department stores during this season, the o-chugen section is surely crowded with housewives lining up to place their orders. Magsasawa kayo sa ham, Japanese biscuits, sausages, cooking oil, boxes of canned juices, and many more. You choose among the array of gift items displayed, pick up an order stub, line up, then bring that to the sales counter when your number is called. The sales agent handles your order all by computer and the entire procedure can take less than five minutes!
Mugi-cha (barley tea)
Although mugi-cha can be served any time of the year, it is taken most popularly during summer. I believe that Japanese consume more mugi-cha than water in one week. When my daughter was in Kindergarten, probably 99% of her classmates brought mugi-cha to school to accompany their obento lunch. Of course, she was the 1% who brought water. Then, later, became the added 1% who shifted to mugi-cha. Ano pa?
Hanabi (fireworks)
There can be no greater Japanese symbol of summer than the hanabi. I think this is one country that organizes the greatest number of hanabi matsuri (fireworks festivals) nationwide in three months from July to September. I used to flock the hanabi matsuri in my yukata. The Futako Tamagawa river used to have a hanabi matsuri that would compete between the side of Setagaya and Kawasaki. Residents from both sides would cheer boisterously when fireworks from either side would go up in the air. It was like watching a baseball game.
Bon odori and Natsu matsuri
Ano ba talaga ang istorya ng bon odori? O-bon is the Japanese Buddhist custom to pay respect to the departed, like the Catholic All Souls' Day. The term itself originates from "urabonne," which is Sanskrit for "hanging upside down" and means great suffering. The story of Bon odori is said to have come from a disciple of Buddha, who wanted to help his deceased mother who had fallen into the hands of hungry ghosts. Buddha instructed him to make offerings to the priest during summer. When the mother was cured from such a spell, the disciple was so happy that he danced with joy. And, that is how the bon odori dance became a typical summer sight across Japan. When I was a student in Osaka, I joined an exchange program to Saga, Kyushu, and participated in a local bon odori festival. Wearing my yukata, and waving both hands in the air, turning clockwise and counter clockwise to the drum music, I felt like you could do this dance even if you really didn't know the steps!
Obake (monsters, ghosts)
Wuhahahaha! Naku! Japanese TV programs will be filled with obake drama and movies again. Japanese love obake banashi (ghost stories). The popular ones are about dead students appearing in school stairways or hanging around the toilets, or creepy-looking female ghosts with long hair and no feet. Alam niyo ba ang Hanayashiki, probably the oldest amusement park in Japan, located in Asakusa, that dates back to the early 1900s? In summer, the staff of that park would dress up as monsters, goblins, witches, etc. and walk around leisurely ready to scare you. That happened to me when I was there many years ago. Peacefully watching a show on stage, I was tapped from behind by someone. When I looked behind, it was a blood-covered witch smiling at me with her broken teeth. I got really scared! Boo!
Other Japanese summer sights have begun to appear: barbecue in parks or river banks, chimes of glass or bronze bells from verandas, tank tops, studded sandals, mini shorts, mini skirts, mini everything! Someone said how she gets summer stress by just looking at Japanese "wear less" summer fashion. O...bare is better, sabi nila.
Now, the wind is truly sending off a humid scent. If you are lying on the beach under the golden sun of Okinawa, listening to a shamisen's version of The Boom's "Shima Uta," you knowÑthere can be no other Nihon matsuri than this.
Ready to chill?
May-June 2008
Obento obento, ureshii na
Nan demo tabemasho, yoku kande...
Minna sorotte goaisatsu (Itadakimasu!)
Minna sundara goaisatsu (Gochiso sama!)
Oh My Bento! Nado Nado...
Honto ni? "Nan demo" tabemasu ka? I saw this obento (lunch box) song on the Internet. Apparently, many kindergarten school children in Japan sing this song before they take their lunch. Now that your kid is already enrolled in school, and especially, if this is your first time to put him in a Japanese school, naku! Maghanda! Oh my! It's the obento craze! If you are still new in Japan, then you have to know that the obento is a crucial part of Japanese cultureÑmaking one is like a craft, and if you don't put the "right" ingredients or use the "right" arrangements, honto ni tabemasu ka?
It seems like it was such a long time ago when my daughter first entered a Japanese school here in a local kindergarten. We had just returned from a five-year stay abroad, so everything about Japanese schools was new (or even strange) to me. For my daughter's obento box, she brought a Miffy compact set of two small boxes to schoolÑo diba...character brand naman. I learned at that time it was important that your child have a character brand obento like Kitty, Rirakuma, Pom Ponette, and so on, for girls; or Pokemon, Doraemon, or Ultraman, and so on, for boys. So, if you let your child bring an obento with an unknown character like Darna, you would risk having her friends look at her with twitched eyebrows, saying, "Nani sore?" Then, your child would cry all the way home and never go to school again. How true? Well, my daughter's Miffy obento set didn't last long because after a week, her teacher came up to me and said, "Sumimasen, obento bako wa hitotsu de ii desu." (One obento box is enough.) And, as if I could do something about that when the set came in two boxes! I ignored her for some time until my daughter started to notice that she was the only one who had two boxes, so she asked me to buy her a new obento box--yes, the "regular" one, like all Japanese kids have. Hay naku!
The next stage is finding out what to put inside the obento box. I don't know about you, but when I was studying back in Manila, our school had a canteen that sold food, and we were also given the choice to bring "baon." I always brought baon. My baon was one of those heavy-duty containers with double-sided fastening clips and a shoulder strap; when you open it, there are about 2-3 food containers so one is for the rice, the others are for the food condiments. Everybody else had her own kind of lunch box. Hindi pare-pareho, tulad dito. On some days, I had fried chicken, or meatballs, or pansit, and even if they were mixed side by side, it didn't matter to me. "Isang kain din yan!" as my aunt used to say. But, the Japanese obento is something else. My daughter goes to juku (cram school) and I have to prepare obento for her 3x a week: twice for dinner and once for lunch on Sundays. Believe me, I have run out of obento menu! In the beginning, my daughter complained that I arranged the food side by side in a mixed order, and she thought it didn't "look" good. I can imagine her friends staring at it and giving her the eye, that's why. So, I was compelled to buy those small, colorful and decorative paper or foil cups used for cupcakes, so you can separate different kinds of food on separate paper cups. Mendokusai deshou. Not only that, if your obento box is small, you can fit only about two small paper cups; and therefore, put just a small amount of food, enough for a mouse to eat. Then, my daughter said she didn't want the food saucy because the sauce would move to the other kinds of foodÑand, again, that won't "look" nice. Does she eat it?...Is more importantly what I really want to know. Sometimes, I have to use those green, plastic grass-like dividers called baran, that you find in sushi obento. They look "proper" and they're very Japanese. Another "hay naku!"
When I put small sausages in my daughter's obento, sometimes, she tells me to stick those colored toothpicks on themÑsome are decorated with strawberry, apple, or heart-shaped tips. I ask her why doesn't she just pick the sausages with her o-hashi (chopsticks). She says because the colored toothpicks are "kawai." More "hay naku?" How about shaping your carrots like flowers or stars? Or slicing your hotdogs halfway so the tips bend outward, making them look like tako (octopus). Alam niyo ito diba? I mean, what's the connection between hotdogs and octopus anyway? Even plain rice doesn't look fashionable anymore. Kids like them better with sprinkled furikake (vegetable and seafood dried flakes), or better yet, as onigiri. I'm sure you've seen in magazines, cookbooks, and in TV commercials how obentos are excessively decorated they look like edible toys. Your creativity can go as far as making airplane-shaped sandwiches, robot-shaped onigiri, or doll-shaped cucumbers. Don't forget the nori seaweed for making faces on the rice--yes, one slice of nori each for the eyebrows, eyes, nose and mouth. Ahh..kawai desu ne. Naku na naku!
To top it all, an unpleasant-looking obento can be an easy target for a silly ijime (bullying) among classmates. I watched this Japanese TV drama wherein a boy lied to his teacher everyday, saying that he was not hungry so that he didn't have to open his obento and face being laughed at by his friends. Ano ba yan? I remember also another TV drama wherein the mother didn't know how to cook, but was "obliged" of course, to make daily obento for her little boy. When her child comes home from school, it was the highlight of her day to check his obento if: a) it's totally clean, b) it has some left-over, or c) it was completely untouched. Everyday, opening her child's obento was enough to give her a heart attack. When she discovers the c) result, meaning, of course, that her child didn't like his obento at all, the mother would burst into tears, poop her head in the sink and mourn like somebody died. You think this is funny? Totoo ito! You can imagine how a rigid culture can put so much pressure on parents, enough to give them manic depression! Hindi pa naman ako depressedÑand, certainly will not be due to an untouched obento! But, as a parent, I do feel this frustration when your child does not finish his obento. That's why when my daughter brings back her obento with left-over, I make her finish them all, on the spot. Hmph. More so, many mothers would rather buy frozen food packs. Isang init lang, sigurado pa ang lasa. There are frozen food packs with assorted food condiments, already grouped in paper or foil cups, purposely created for obento preparation. They have labels that read, "Obento ni o-susume!" (Recommended for obento!) But, with the recent scandal on contaminated frozen gyoza packs, maybe less mothers buy frozen food packs now. Poor gyoza lovers. Talagang "hay naku!"
Alam niyo ba ang undokai (sports festival)? That would come anytime between May to October, and is the biggest school event where your obento creativity can be put to a test. All families take their lunch on the school grounds, like going on a picnic, so if you happen to eat next to a family, you might find your child eating with that family if your obento doesn't look presentable! Oh dear! When I make obento for my daughter's undokai, my husband always nags me not to forget to put tamago yaki in it. If I forget, he pouts and says without that, I can't have a traditional obento. Naku ha. Do you know how to make the Japanese tamago yaki? Hindi yon basta-basta. The fresh eggs are beaten with the dashi formula and you pour the eggs on a small rectangular pan (not round), flipping them in layers until they form a "proper" thickness, so you can cut them in slices. Chotto mendoukasi ne.
Ganko Gakko
The obento is not the only paraphernalia of Japanese school life you need to be careful about. Do you notice Japanese kids walking around with rectangular cloth bags (tesage), apart from their randoseru? No one really knows why these bags can't come in plastic, or paper, but "have" to be made of cloth, or more "properly" quilted cloth, with your child's favorite character motif on it--plus, a white, rectangular name label sewn or ironed on it, which you can buy in stores. Even I didn't know about those iron-on cloth labels five years ago. Now that we've started to have warmer days, and in June, schools will be starting their swimming classes. Kids have pool set bags that consist of the towel, rubber slippers and goggles. You think an ordinary towel would do? That's what I though at first, too. Uh-uh. Stores sell wrap-around full body towels especially made for school children--the ones with snap-on buttons from top to bottom. Punta kayo sa elementary school. You would see all kids running around with these towels wrapped around their bodies. Naturally, they come in motifs different for boys and for girls. Talaga naman!
Often, I think that if it were not for commercialism that feeds these children with unnecessary "images," the demand for this "standard" items would not be so substantial. But, why is everything "fixed" or kimari in Japan? You may have asked this once or twice, if not more. Sometimes (?), finding the answer causes a headache. But, in Japan, things have to follow a pattern; if not, everything else falls out of order. There should be ways to enjoy or appreciate many of these "fixed" things--and, after you've gotten accustomed to them, you may not even notice them any longer. That's right. After "Itadakimasu" (I receive), we say "Gochisosama" (It was very good.) And so, it must be it.
March-April 2008
Dr. Evil and Mr. Bean
I was so overwhelmed digging the story of Morinaga chocolates last
January that I forgot about the Setsubun that came before Valentine's
Day. That's right. That's the festival of throwing beans and running
around till the devil gives up and you run out of beans to throw.
Sounds fun? Setsubun literally means to divide the seasons, hence, it's
simply the mark of the year to leave winter behind and welcome
spring...thank God! If you celebrated it last February 3, coinciding
with the lunar year, the ritual was supposed to cleanse away evil and
bring in good fortune. Kids especially love this event because someone
in your home plays the oni devil and someone plays the bean thrower —
and, of course, kids like to be the bean throwers. Watch out! You
probably didn't need just a mask, but a helmet as well! The naughtier
your kids are, the more likely you fell into a coma if you got thrown
at by one sako of nuts!
The ritual of throwing the beans is called mamemaki. Traditionally, the
beans are pan-heated—yung bang habang mainit pa, mahapdi sa balat — but
now, most Japanese buy the beans or nuts from supermarkets. So, last
month, many fathers played the devil — complete with his red mask with
black horns and frightening sharp teeth — pretending to enter the house
to scare the family. The other members started to throw the beans at
him, shouting "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" ("Devil out! Happiness
in!") It's almost parallel to saying "winter out, spring in!" Is winter
evil? Hmm...Then, everybody started to run around the house or your
little apartment because you didn't want to be eaten by the oni devil,
so you kept throwing beans at him hoping to drive him away. Ginawa niyo
ba ito? So, what happened if you live alone? I guess you had to be both
Dr. Evil and Mr. Bean and ended up throwing beans at yourself!
Bakit nga ba beans? Imagine in the Philippines, just throw one bucket
of water at the devil and away he goes! But, in Japan, beans were first
used by a Buddhist priest about 1,000 years ago to exorcise devils.
It's believed that the beans make the devil blind so it has to flee
before it gets hit by them. The punch line in this ritual is when all
the beans are scattered on the ground and you have to pick them up.
Ahh..mendokusai ne. When we did Setsubun in our home last month, we
ended up spending more time picking up the beans than throwing
them. And, we had to look under sofas and cabinets because that's
usually where they roll! Then, we ended up eating them, which was a
strange feeling. If you know the Mardi Gras festival, especially as
celebrated in New Orleans, the people scramble for beads instead of
beans, which are thrown from festival floats. The event is a riot! Did
you see how Setsubun was celebrated in the two largest crowd-seeking
temples in Tokyo — Soji Temple in Asakusa and Zojo-ji Temple in
Hamamatsucho? Sumo wrestlers and celebrities went up the balconies of
the temples and threw the beans at large crowds. I read that sometimes,
old obasan ladies get hit so hard by a bag of beans thrown by sumo
wrestlers (sumo wrestlers, you know) that they fall on the ground, but
they still stand up and push away salary men to catch more beans. Ibang
klase din. Imagine if they started to throw jagaimo potatoes!
Soybeans bring good luck, sabi nila, so during this occasion, Japanese
like to eat sekihan: that bean-flavored red sticky rice with red beans
on top. They also eat maki-zushi or norimaki, but this is
historically associated with the Kansai region. The act of rolling the
rice in nori seaweed is said to symbolize the direction of rolling
towards luck—oh, they have a symbol for everything, don't they! And,
they have a way of making you believe it so you feel sacred. Another
good example of that is the ehomaki. Alam niyo ba yon? Well, I'm
embarrassed to say that I didn't know its meaning until last Setsubun.
We bought ehomaki, the uncut rolled, long sushi like futomaki with
stuffed egg, fish, vegetables in it, and my husband started biting on
it facing the southeast direction of our home. You are suppose to bite
on it facing the direction that gives you good luck, and without
talking until you finish the entire piece! A good dish for talkative
people!
Bon Appétit, Hina Matsuri
Since we are now talking about food, we might as well wet our appetite
for delicacies that are eaten during Hina Matsuri, the Girls' Festival
celebrated on March 3. We find the arare, which are small rice crackers
made from glutinous rice and soy sauce. Their size and shape
distinguish them from senbei, which are usually bigger, flat and round.
But, the arare eaten during Hina Matsuri are small, brightly colored
pink, white, green puffs. May mga symbols din ito. (I told you,
everything in Japan has a symbol.) Green stands for health and the
color of the earth, white for cleanliness or purity and the snow (when
winter is replaced by the coming of spring), and pink for the peach
blossoms—or also red, for chasing evil spirits away. Japanese believe
this three-colored combination best expresses the flavor of spring—oo
nga naman, nothing can look more purifying than the sight of a peach
tree with its pink petals blowing away on a snow-filled ground.
Subarashii. That's why Japanese love the hanami (flower-viewing). It's
both a romantic and leisurely opportunity to feel very Japanese under
the sakura trees. Food with the pink-white-green color combination are
also believed to give you energy, so that when you eat them, you become
strong enough to drive away bad luck and disease. How true? Besides,
these bright colors also attract young girls simply because they are
"kawaii!" and mothers like to make their girls happy during Hina
Matsuri. You can see green tea and sakura manju plus the white daifuku
mochi, or dango in pink, white and green, which are actually more
common in Kansai. (In Tokyo, the popular dango is coated with sweetened
soy sauce or red beans). As I spent my early years in Kyoto, I miss
this pink-white-green dango a lot since they are hard to find in Tokyo.
You have to go to exclusive department stores or to Asakusa to get them.
How about the hishimochi? These are the diamond-shaped tri-color mochi
cakes, again in pink-white-green layers, from top to bottom, in that
order. The order is important because the cake looks like a
spring field: imagine pink blossoms spread across snow-blanketed grass.
O...diba? Can you get more poetic than that? Meron ding chirashi zushi.
This is rice topped with a colorful array of thinly sliced fried eggs,
green peas, mushrooms, mizuna fresh vegetables or other greens, and
sashimi preferably in red hue, such as maguro, crab, shrimps—and, don't
forget the ikura salmon roe and shredded bits of nori seaweed as final
topping. Sarap! Again, you have the pink-white-green color combination.
This is one of my favorite Japanese dishes, and it's easy to prepare.
Kahit yun lang ang kainin mo, busog ka na.
Hina matsuri food would not be complete without a beverage. Japanese,
especially men, like to drink amazake on this occasion—the sweet
non-alcoholic sake made from fermented rice. Amazake has a long history
in Japan dating from the Kofun period. Alam niyo ba na noong unang
panahon, vegetarian ang mga Hapon? Their mountainous landscape did not
allow cattle breeding. Amazake was produced in relation to
other traditional Japanese products, like soy sauce, miso, mirin and
rice vinegar. During the Heian period, it was important to perform
rites of purification during the day of the sekku (change of season),
and since Hina Matsuri is referred to as Momo no sekku, sake was used
as an offering to the gods for purity. We also know that sake is a
traditional offering in Japanese weddings when the bride and groom
exchange sips from a tiny ceramic cup. Since Hina Matsuri is a
pre-celebration of a girl's future wedding, sake becomes almost a
necessary ingredient in this festival. Kaya uminom na kayo kahit ayaw
ninyo! You can see amazake being sold in paper or plastic cups in
stalls in the streets during winter and Hina Matsuri. Although
they are non-alcohol, they still seem to make Japanese drunk,
psychologically, I guess. So, watch out when you're inside the trains
during springtime! They are sure to be filled with many tipsy drunkards
who pollute the suffocating air with their alcohol breeze. Isn't it
what they say, that spring can make you too happy from being so
melancholic?
Here's what you can hum while munching on your arare and getting sober with your amazake:
Akari o tsukemashou bonbori ni
Ohana o agemashou momo no hana
Go-nin bayashi no fue taiko
Kyo wa tanoshii Hina Matsuri
(Let's light the lanterns
Let's set peach flowers
Five court musicians are playing flutes and drums
Today is a joyful Dolls' Festival!)
Enjoy the sakura
(with a hic)!
January-February 2008
A Mouse In The House
" 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring,
not even a…”
If you can’t fill in that last word in Clement Clarke Moore’s “A Visit
from St. Nicholas” then maybe this is not your year! Yes, 2008 greets
us with the Year of the Mouse or Rat—Nezumi. So if you were born in
1900, 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996 or this year, then
you must be the lucky star! There is even an official classification of
rats based on the time of the year you were born:
31 January 1900 - 18 February 1901 = Metal Rat,
18 February 1912 - 5 February 1913 = Water Rat,
5 February 1924 - 24 January 1925 = Wood Rat,
24 January 1936 - 10 February 1937 = Fire Rat,
10 February 1948 - 28 January 1949 = Earth Rat,
28 January 1960 - 14 February 1961 = Metal Rat,
15 February 1972 - 2 February 1973 = Water Rat,
2 February 1984 - 19 February 1985 = Wood Rat,
19 February 1996 - 6 February 1997 = Fire Rat,
7 February 2008 - 2009 = Earth Rat,
2020 - 2021 = Metal Rat
Naturally, each category supposedly bears its own character. Metal rats
are known to be the toughest. They can be emotionally intense and like
to take charge. Water rats have strong power to influence people. They
are puzzle solvers and easily understand others. Wood rats display
hidden confidence and work well among family and friends. Fire rats are
spontaneous and vigorous; they like to travel and are prone to change.
Earth rats, which include the rat of 2008, are strong achievers, stable
and realistic. Does that give us a positive outlook for this year? So,
which mouse are you?
The mouse is the first animal in the zodiac cycle. It's no surprise
then, that as a pioneer, it pushes itself as forefront of the action.
The mouse is restless and active, both physically and mentally. It can
be charming and humorous, yet meticulous and sometimes hungry for money
and power. Oh, these all sound so familiar since I am certainly living
with one mouse in our house!
In case you hadn't realized, the mouse is also one of the most
celebrated characters in television and movies. As early as 1922, the
mouse gained popularity as a favorite character in the movie called
"The Country Mouse and the City Cat." We've seen so many faces of the
mouse—in Manny Mouse, Mighty Mouse (1942), "The Mouse and His Child"
(1977), Danger Mouse (1981), "The Great Mouse Detective" (1986), "The
Rescuers Down Under" (1990), "Pinky and the Brain" (1995), "Country
Mouse and the City Mouse" (1997), "Ratatouille" (2007)—the list never
ends. Of course, nothing can be more familiar than Jerry the mouse in
"Tom and Jerry" (1940) and the undeniable superstar of all, Mickey
Mouse and his girlfriend, Minnie Mouse—who, by the way, did you know,
goes by the original name Minerva? Do you also know all the mice in
Mickey Mouse's family? They are: Marcus Mouse (father), Marshall Mouse
(grand-pa), Matilda Mouse (grand-ma), Mor-timer Mouse (uncle), and
Millie and Melo-dy (nieces). Are we running out of M's yet? (No wonder
the mouse in our house is also an M!)
How about the Japanese nezumi? The nezumi (mouse in Japanese) is
symbolized by the character (éq) or "ne" in the Chinese earthly branch
system, which is where the Chinese zodiac calendar is based from. It is
said that Chinese astronomers divided the celestial universe into
twelve sections to follow the orbit of the star Jupiter. The twelve
years of the Jupiter cycle identify the twelve months of the year, and
therefore the twelve animals. The "ne" or (éq) also means
the child, which relates to it being the "first-born" animal of the
zodiac calendar. The rat, therefore, is a very auspicious animal for
Japanese. Do you know about an old Japanese festival dating back to the
Nara period called the Komatsuhiki (or "pulling up small pines")? It
literally means the celebration for the day of the rat (hatsune) or
Nenohi no Asobi. Japanese would go out to the fields and pick up young
greens or small pine seedlings, which relates to the pine decorations
of the Japanese New Year hangings on their doors. So, if you are a rat
person, kailangan masipag ka at marunong magtanim ng pino sa bukid! Ha!
Here's another Japanese folklore related to the rat. Daikoku is the
well-known Japanese god of luck and prosperity. Well, do you know that
his constant companion is a white rat? That's because rats are easily
attracted to storehouses that have abundant grain, and since Daikoku
protects good harvest, the wise mouse goes where Daikoku goes. Here's
an explanation of why the rat is very important to Daikoku (http://www.
eadieshouse.org/eadies/ratholly.html):
Daikoku was so loved by the people that they offered him prayers,
festivals, and many gifts. The other gods grew so jealous of him,
especially the god of the dead and the revenge, Emma-o, who decided to
send his most powerful devil, Shiro, to destroy Daikoku. Shiro looked
for Daikoku in his castle, but could not find him. Daikoku was resting
in his storehouse, and was disturbed by the noise that Shiro was
making. He asked his rat to check what the noise was about. The rat
went out and found Shiro in the castle. The rat quickly fled to the
garden, found a branch of holly, and drove Shiro, the devil away. So
you see, the rat is even a savior! Now, you can pin a branch of holly
on your door to hush away the bad spirits, just as Japanese do every
New Year, and be your own rat!
Enough of the rats... this article is starting to smell! Just make sure
that for the New Year, you did all your "firsts" (hatsu) the way
Japanese customarily do: hatsumode (first visit to the shrine or
temple), hatsuhinode (first view of the sunrise), hatsu-yume (your
first dream), hatsu-buro (first bath of the year), hatsu-ichi (first
sale of the year!), shigoto-hajime (first day of work), or keiko-hajime
(first practice for the new year), and so on. Are there also
hatsu for first meal of the year? First complaint? First lovers'
quarrel? Knowing Japanese, they probably have for just about
everything!
CHOCO GAGA WITH MORINAGA
I really didn't want to write anything about Valentine's in Japan, but
then in February, what else can one think of (or rather small) except
all those sweet chocolates swarming all over department stores? And, if
you're a foreigner in Japan, the first question that comes to mind is,
"Why do Japanese give away chocolates on Valentine's Day?" Well,
let's find out what this choco gaga is all about.
First of all, if you are a woman, and have been sitting under your
kotatsu heated table all winter waiting for Prince Tokunaga (Japanese
version of Prince Charming) to knock on your door for a Valentine date,
I must tell you that you can forget about the Japanese prince and
Valentine and just content yourself stuffing mikan oranges in your
tummy until you get fat and stuck under that kotatsu — because,
dahling, that ain't the way it works in Japan. Here, girls run after
boys and confess to them their true intentions—or, that's what they
say! Hence, the explanation on why it's the girls who give away the
Valentine choco, and not the boys. So, when that 14th day of February
is about to come—and you know, Japanese girls mark that date in their
cutey datebooks with big red hearts and flashy exclamation points so
they make sure they never forget it, or else they lose their one in a
million chance to show their infatuated crush how they feel through a
box of gorgeous chocos—the girls are almost so obsessed preparing for
this "very important" event, that they cut out chocolate recipes or
start their crazy shopping looking for the cutest and fanciest
chocolates that can make their loved ones say "KAWAIIIII!!!" Aha...
importante yun!
These Japanese do not even know anything about St. Valentine.
Alam din niyo ba? That he was one of the martryred saints in ancient
Rome, born on February 14, who lived under the reign of Emperor
Claudius II during the 3rd century and voted for marriage for young men
soldiers, when the emperor prohibited such marriages because he
believed that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and
children. He was horrified with Valentine's (then, a priest) marriage
ceremonies that he put him to death. But, before Valentine's head was
cut off, he was said to make the daughter of his jailer see and hear
again—this daughter, whom they say he fell in love with. Before he
died, he wrote her a letter signed "From your Valentine," which
probably suggests a romantic tone that is associated with Valentine's
Day today. But, historically speaking, there are no clear facts on how
February 14 became a day for lovers. But, then again, for Japanese, who
cares, right? All they want is to be able to create some Hollywood
dream, then make sweets factories rich at the same time.
That brings us to the King of Japanese sweets: Taichiro Morinaga. Okay,
okay... you are saying, but how about Meiji, Morozoff, Mary's and all
those other huge sweets companies in Japan? Well, what history says is
that Morozoff, the Kobe confectionery company was the first pioneer to
promote chocolates on Valentine's Day in 1936. But, that sales strategy
did not work somehow as Japanese then were not so keen "yet" on looking
at Western tradition. Morozoff tried again after WWII, and again,
failed. Around 1958, Mary's Chocolate Company tried its luck when
Isetan department store in Shinjuku put out a Western-style chocolate
sale, but did not make much sales from its products. It was in the
1960s when Morinaga launched a "Chocolate for St. Valentine's Day"
campaign, sweeping the entire nation with advertisements, that all the
other confectionery companies began to join the chocolate market. The
strategy was to convince girls that they can profess their love to
their loved ones through chocolates. Be sweet with sweets? Now, over
60% of Japanese women are said to give chocolates not only to their
lovers (or lovers-to-be), but to all men in general: fathers, husbands,
bosses, co-workers—and, as you know, chocolates that are given without
special romantic intention are called "giri-choco" or obligatory
chocolates; in other words, "pilit na chokolate."
All Japanese women and men alike should therefore, be thankful to
Taichiro Morinaga for his remarkable success in making this country a
choco gaga on February 14. He was raised by a potter and had no formal
education, but became the sales representative of his uncle's pottery
company when he was only 18 years old. He tried to put up businesses in
San Francisco, which introduced him to the number one American product:
candy, and with his edge on Western and Eastern business knowledge,
swiftly turned the Japanese confectionery market around. He was, after
all, working as a janitor at a candy factory when he learned
candy-making. And, one of the first sweet products he introduced to
Japanese was marshmallows, followed by caramel candies, among them, the
most popular Hi-Chew debuted in 1914. Morinaga was, by the way, the
first company to introduce chocolate bars in Japan, in 1918—take note,
not Meiji.
Meron pa ngang suspense crime story about Morinaga's rival company,
Glico, that occurred in the early 1980s. But, let's save that for the
next Valentine chocolate story of 2009. For this year, it's enough that
you go choco gaga over Morinaga and be kind to mice when you see them
creeping on your floors!
Have a gloriously "unratty" but sweetly "mousey" year ahead! (hmmm... I smell cheese...)
November-December 2007
JAPAN: WITHOUT OR WITHOUT YOU
"After 'Japan' has gone
How can ‘she’ lead me on
And not let me stay around
After 'Japan' has gone
What used to be right is wrong
Can 'Japan' that's lost be found..."
Certainly, Earth, Wind & Fire would have done a better job with
those lyrics, but the song seems to hum a familiar tune to many of us
who find our ropes tied between leaving or living in this country of
enigma—just like the autumn leaves that begin to fall on your doorstep
as you pick up this JP issue, or the faltering snow that never really
seems to spread across the Tokyo skyline, except by chance.
Metaphorically, the maple leaves, the snow—they come and go, just like
your life in Japan.
That's right. Malamig na naman. As Christmas approaches,
malungkot ulit—for those who can't go home to the Philippines for
Pasko—who can't eat lechon, puto bumbong, cuchinta and queso de bola;
and for some, who can't see Mickey float on the waters of Disney Sea,
or eat sechi ryori and dip in the onsen in Mt. Fuji during o-shogatsu
because their time had come to say “Sayonara” to the land of the
morning sun. Alin ba talaga ang mas masaklap, to stay or to leave?
When I went home last summer, I reunited with several what I call
“ex-Japan” friends—those who have lived in Japan for many years and
have found themselves back in the country of chicharon, goto, MRT,
chaotic traffic and back-to-back GMA jokes, nonetheless. I asked each
of them about their last months in Japan, how they felt about leaving
this place and returning to home sweet home; what they had to give up
in Japan, and how they had to readjust to a new life once more in the
Philippines. Balang araw, mararanasan din kaya natin ito?
Sometimes, when the year is about to end, we ponder about the good or
not-so-good things we’ve done in the past twelve months, and question
ourselves that irresistible thought that every Pinoy in Japan dreads to
think about, “Hanggang kailan ba talaga tayo rito?” The ex-Japan Pinoys
(and Pinays) who have lived here between three to fifteen years can
probably give us that answer.
How did you feel when you knew that you had to return to the Philippines? Did you look forward to coming home?
T: At first, I didn’t want to return to the Philippines yet because I
had three kids who were still studying in Japan at that time. I looked
for a job before my contract ended, but found nothing. I looked forward
to coming home, especially to be with my mother who was turning 90
years old. Also, I had a job waiting for me in Manila. Then, it seemed
like everything was all set.
A: I returned to the Philippines one year after the EDSA Revolution and
a month before the ratification of the Cory Constitution. I wanted to
take a look at how our country was recovering, and to find out if there
were new opportunities for me.
R: I looked forward to coming home, especially to practice dentistry, finally.
M: I felt uncertainty about coming home, given the not-so-ideal local
conditions, but I always miss home and coming back became a welcome
prospect.
What were the most favorable aspects of Japanese life you had to give up?
J: The convenience in almost all aspects, especially the materialistic side of life.
R: The nice transportation system, no pollution and dust, and people coming on time for their appointments!
M: I missed living in a highly advanced country—the bullet train, the
safety, cleanliness and efficiency of services—plus, I was a scholar
back then and earned more than most people in the Philippines!
T: The mobility I had in using mass transport. As we all know, driving is a highly tensed activity in Manila.
N: We had to give up the good pay of my husband!
How about the undesirable aspects you were glad to leave behind?
J: The very fast pace of life.
T: The rigidity of things, including work-related practices.
M: The general feeling of alienation, which is true for any foreign
country, but more felt in Japan. No matter how friendly the Japanese
are and how well you assimilate with their language and culture, you
are still a foreigner to their eyes—maybe because Japan does not have a
heterogeneous society unlike the U.S., Canada, Europe or Australia, for
example.
R: Being a second-class citizen and a “gaijin!”
N: The dishwashing and household chores, the boredom, stress, and the feeling that I wasn't growing as a person.
What do and don’t you miss about
Japan? Can you describe your adjustment period in the Philippines, and
how you rebuilt your life or career after coming home?
A: I miss the sightseeing days in Japan, as it was quite easy to
arrange travels there. When I came home, I worked for a Japanese
company, so I was able to travel back to Japan frequently. I had to
make big adjustments from being an assistant professor in a university
to working as a salary man in a Japanese company. However, my immediate
boss, who was from Kyoto, patiently taught me the Japanese management
style, while I provided him appropriate information to make the best
decisions in the company. This arrangement paved the road for my new
career in the Philippines.
N: I miss the seasons, the friends I made, the leisurely life of
teaching eikaiwa and the freedom housewives had with grown-up kids. I
don't miss the lack of intellectual stimulation, the stressful lives of
the people, or the sense of underachievement in Japan. Luckily, my
friends from my previous job re-hired me to teach again in the
university.
T: I miss the ofuro, rotemburo and onsen as ways to unwind, and the
cool and colorful months of spring and autumn. I also miss the security
in Japan. I don’t miss the tsuyu, which can really be more unbearable
than in the Philippines. Living in a bigger house now than in our
apartment in Japan has it own challenges. Having house help is both a
boon and a bane. Sometimes, I hope we can just rely on machines.
R: I don't miss communicating in Japanese since I felt a language and
cultural barrier in Japan. But, I used the knowledge I acquired in
Japan to start a good career in the Philippines.
M: I miss the way we could make close friends with Japanese women,
which is done differently in the Philippines; the discipline, like
on-time appointments, or following traffic rules; the insanities of
Japanese TV programs; traveling around Japan, which is so enriching and
easy to do; the wisdom of my professors; and the togetherness of
Filipinos in Japan. My studies in Japan certainly opened doors for me,
and rebuilding my career was not that difficult. But, in a developing
country like the Philippines, opportunities are scarce and the job
market is also competitive. I realized that earning “good” money in the
Philippines is more difficult than in Japan. Yet, the level of
satisfaction and fulfillment is much higher in the Philippines. Here,
you "work to serve" as in my case as an economic analyst.
J: I don’t miss the fast pace of life in Japan because we also have it
here in the Philippines, especially when you work with a Japanese
company. But, I do miss the food very much, the great big bikes,
and…the girls (of course not only the Japanese)...and the girls...and
the girls...
How about adjustments you had to make in your family and social life—the customs and culture?
T: Having family for weekends now is nice but sometimes, also imposes
on my schedule. Watching movies now “forces” me to relax. I wished I
had more chances to travel outside Manila, but it is such a hassle to
drive here. The good thing is, I can now watch free concerts and more
cultural shows because they are a lot cheaper here. Adjustment for my
children was tough though. I really want to provide them support in
their studies, but I realize having to go back to Filipino as a subject
is not easy for me.
N: Driving to get around the city was a big adjustment and having to
wait for people or events to start as they are usually thirty minutes
late; learning to be more patient and more philosophical; and all other
inconveniences.
J: Living in Japan independently had really made me self-reliant, so it
was quite difficult when I readjusted to our customs and family culture
here in the Philippines—that people sometimes misinterpret or do not
understand my actions and decisions.
After living in Japan, would you recommend Filipinos to experience life in Japan as well? What advise would you give to them?
R: I highly recommend Filipinos to try and study in Japan. They can try
to see the other side of the world, know how Japanese live and
behave…and experience their food!
M: There are lots of things to learn in Japan aside from the language,
culture, discipline and orderliness. During my travels in Japan, I
learned the way Japan's cities are planned and developed, and that
helped my consultancies in urban planning. I remember that the places
frequented by foreigners are the same places visited by Japanese, too.
A city or town can attract tourists if they also attract the locals. My
advise to any one who plans to live in Japan is to travel a lot within
Japan, observe, and talk as much as possible to Japanese. In my
experience, Japanese who try to speak to you in English are more open
(than those who don’t) and brim with more ideas, so the language is not
really a barrier in Japan.
A: It’s a good experience to live in Japan and to interact with the
people. Some forms of Japanese stereotyped behavior are created by the
media (movies or videos), but they’re far from the truth. The real
Japanese are a lot more caring than how they are depicted. The negative
feeling many Filipinos have toward Japanese results from our experience
with them in World War II, which is quite overrated. Living together
with Japanese people is the best experience to erase bad feelings about
them.
T:
I think for me, the Japanese bath is definitely recommendable; as well
as traveling to different parts of Japan and experiencing its culture,
so you can appreciate your own culture, too.
N: Oo naman—there are a lot of things to learn from the Japanese, and a
lot of money to be made there that can spell future security. My advice
is to make the most of the experience; to always remember that as a
gaijin in Japan you are judged not just for being yourself, but as a
people or as a Pinoy, so you better be good and prove that Pinoys are
trustworthy, hard-working, and deserve to be hired for jobs. When you
return home, you can help our country grow by bringing back what you
have learned and earned to benefit our country and our people.
Would you consider living in Japan again? If not, why? If so, how would your “second” Japan life be different this time?
R: Yes! I would like to live in Japan again; this time, I will really learn the language very well.
T: Perhaps, if a good job offer comes along. My “second” (third?) life
will probably be a little different, but I do not mind having the same
kind of lifestyle I had. Living in a city like Tokyo might be
intimidating at first, but I think I can cope.
M: No, I no longer pursue that. I'm no longer single and that young
anymore to be adventurous and curious as before. I have children now
who may have difficulties adjusting to Japanese life. But, I will
always want to be back in Japan and stay for short visits (one to six
months) if I will have the opportunity to earn more. I could live in
Japan again, but just for the money since I have different needs now.
A: Living again in Japan is no longer an option for me. Having
established myself already in the Philippines, it would take a major
reason for me to move back to Japan. It’s difficult to enjoy the
current life and comfort we have here in the Philippines in Japan. Many
Japanese expats who experience living in Manila have difficulty
adjusting to the Spartan life in Japan, compared to their pampered
living in Makati, let’s say. However, regular visits to Japan will
remain an attractive yearly activity, which I plan to continue.
J: I don’t know. I had a lot of offers before to go back to Japan, but
I turned them down. That "drive" to return has not yet come. But,
life—wherever you spend it—will always be meaningful, as long as you
have nice people around to be with.
Amen! So, are you ready to leave or live (longer in Japan)? Sure, I’ve
heard that line before when you tell someone you were suppose to stay
in Japan for only a few months, but somehow you ended up staying a bit
more…and more…and more. Stuck syndrome? One anecdote I can share is
when a friend of mine went back to the Philippines for a vacation, I
asked him, “So, how was it being back in the Philippines?” He replied,
“Ayun… magulo, marumi…pero masaya.” Reversing that to Japan, it would
sound like “Maayos, malinis…pero malungkot.” Hontou? Well, toss your
coin then, and make your wishes during hatsumode in New Year. Life
doesn’t look like it gives us choices, but it really does! We just need
to look the other way. Don’t they all say, God has a plan for us?
And so, Earth, Wind & Fire concludes it all:
“For awhile ‘Japan’ was all we could do
We were young and we knew
And our eyes were alive
Deep inside we knew ‘Japan’ was true
For awhile we paid no mind to the past
We knew ‘Japan’ would last
Every night something right
Would invite us to begin the dance
Something happened along the way
What used to be happy was sad
Something happened along the way
And yesterday was all we had…”
Thank you Tony, Nanette, Tess, Jack, Mike and Arnel for your superb contributions!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL AND SEE YOU IN 2008!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July-August 2007
To Be or Not to Be a Pinoy in Japan
American walking along the streets of Ueno; policeman looks away.
Pinoy walking along the streets of Ueno; policeman stops Pinoy.
Policeman: “Chotto, sumimasen, gaikokujin torokusho wo misete kudasai.”
(Stop. Please show me your alien card.)
Canadian lady in a party; Japanese salary man asks,
“Ahh..so…where do you teach English?”
Pinay in a party; Japanese salary man asks,
“Ehh…do you work in a club?”
Born Free (?)—As Free as the Wind Blows
“Isang Kasaysayan, Isang Kinabukasan,” Araw ng Kalayaan. This year,
2007, remembered Philippine Independence Day on June 12 under this
theme, and Filipinos in Tokyo are celebrating it at the Philippine
Fiesta in Yoyogi Park on July 14 and 15. History? Future? Freedom?
Hasn’t every Filipino hummed these words so vainly since he was born?
History (Kasaysayan) without a trace, from the time Japanese soldiers
launched a surprise attack on the Clark Air Base in Pampanga on
December 8, 1941? When they occupied Manila on January 2, 1942,
declaring it as an “open city?” When more than 80,000 Filipino
prisoners of war were dragged to the Bataan Death March in the same
year causing more than 10,000 deaths of Filipinos? Freedom (Kalayaan)
without choice— when the Philippines gained its independence from
Spanish colonial rule on June 12, 1898? When Japanese oppression in the
Philippines finally surrendered to the Americans on September 2, 1945?
When the United States set the Filipinos free on July 4, 1946, the
truly recognized day of independence?
And how about the Future (Kinabukasan)? Future without a clue? On how
throughout the sixty years that have passed since the Japanese
occupation of the Philippines, Filipinos have ironically been swooned
to Japanese soil like bees sucking honey? When I first came to Japan in
1978, this country was the epitome of peace, beauty and sacredness the
way Japanese tourist magazines depict its culture of temples, onsen,
sakura and kimono. At that time, cleanliness stood up to its truest
meaning—walang basura, walang dumi, walang gulo. You hardly saw any
Japanese woman in jeans. Politeness was beyond words. Pinoys and Pinays
were allured to Japan for its rich culture, its nature, maybe for Mt.
Fuji, nonetheless. It was not at all the megalomaniac
Pokemon-Nintendo-net café freak nation that it is today where young
girls lurk around Harajuku in ruffled aprons to match their hideous
make-up, and men walk around with five different electronic gadgets
loving their “otaku” days in Akihabara.
—As Free as the Grass Grows
There were, and are, of course hundreds of Filipinos who come to Japan
for various reasons, but, it is honest to claim that perhaps, more than
60% of them come for the golden pot: money. In fact, it is a kind of
parody when we think of how Spain transferred Philippines to the Unites
States in the Treaty of Paris in 1898 (the same year Philippine
Independence is commemorated). In case you didn’t know, Spain sold the
Philippines to the U.S. for US$20 million. Kaya noong unang panahon pa
lang, “binebenta” na talaga ang kaluluwa ng Pilipino.
Filipinos in Japan accounted for more than 240,000 residents back in
1998. Imagine how that figure would have arisen at present. It was said
that Filipino workers in Japan remitted more than US$1 billion to the
Philippines between 1990 and 1999.
For a Pinay like myself, who has resided in Japan for twenty years, I
had grown accustomed to the stereotyped image of the Pinay in Japan as
a “bar girl.” But, what is more astounding for me is how Filipinos back
home think of Filipinos in Japan in the same manner. Have you never
returned to the Philippines and encountered someone ask a Pinay,
“Ano’ng ginagawa mo sa Japan? Japayuki ka ba?” and, to the Pinoy,
“Ano’ng trabaho mo sa Japan? Construction worker?”
On the contrary, if a Filipino coming from the U.S. returns to the
Philippines, he or she may be asked, “Saan ka nagtratrabaho sa Amerika?
Sa K-Mart?” or “Nurse ka ba doon?”
So, sometimes, it is mind-boggling why
these two images could clash so conspicuously. And, if you tell a
Japanese about a Pinoy or Pinay who works as a banker, stock broker,
trader, teacher (in exclusive universities, too, like Tokyo
University), artist, journalist in Japan, a common reaction would be
“Ehhh…sugoi” — as though it was unthinkable that Filipinos could be
placed in such professions. And, this is why Filipinos in Japan have to
struggle hard to live a decent life in this country.
Born Free—To Follow Your Heart
Let’s take the plight of the Pinay wife married to a Japanese. Naku,
daming istorya diyan! Basically, this Pinay wife could be of two types:
either the obedient almost-Nihonjin no okusan-clone type who completely
forgets her English or Tagalog and speaks totally in Japanese (whether
to her husband or her children), who doesn’t work, serves her
“go-shujin” with beer before meal, green tea after meal and o-furo
before sleep; or the stubborn, independent Pinay who wants to work,
puts her children to English schools, and tells her “danna-sama” to
cook at least on Sundays. But, what both types could (or must) have in
common is a “tolerance” for the workaholic hubby who comes home at
midnight, leaves home at 7:30 a.m. and never takes vacations.
Similarly, she would be expected to volunteer as PTA mother in their
children’s school even if she doesn’t speak nor understand Japanese
well, learn to bow her head to their neighbors every time she sees them
even if she has nothing to say, and not to socialize with guests at
home so she can guard the kitchen all night and keep putting out the
sake. So, why then, does a Pinay ever marry a Japanese man at all??
Don’t ask me!!!
Now, how about the Pinoy married to Japanese wife? Sino kaya sa kanila
(Pinoy o Pinay) ang mas nagdudusa? One such Pinoy told me that he has
to live with the stereotyped image of the Pinoy being less hardworking
than the Pinay. “Firipin no otoko wa motto gambare yo!” Is this the
fault of Imelda Marcos’ unforgivable line-up of shoes? Cory Aquino’s
tantalizing yellow dress? Gloria Arroyo’s impeccable boyish hairdo?
Yet, many Japanese fail to see that most Filipino men rather have a
fairly good success rate in Japan—many working in foreign companies,
banks, large multinational firms and some also run their own
businesses. Yet, if a Pinoy is presented to the about-to-be-married
Japanese woman’s parents, wouldn’t the parents give a look of doubt,
such as “Are you sure he can work? Has he ever stolen anything? Killed
anyone?” (Okay, let’s not get drastic here.) If you were a Pinoy
married to a Japanese wife, you have to make sure you know how to count
money. If you can’t provide pension to your wife and kids in Japan, you
might as well go back to the Philippines and marry Nora Aunor.
Stay Free—Let No Walls Divide You
The common issues that Filipinos have to face in Japan as residents do
not completely stem from what they have to be in order to survive in
this crazy country, but arise from a defense attitude of what they
don’t want to be known for due to the Japanese people’s impression of
them. Someone said about the three things that Japanese label Pinoys
with: magnanakaw, madumi, pulubi. Isn’t that sad? If there were no
Pinoys who loaded 25 centavos in a public phone booth to camouflage the
10 yen, no Pinoys who were deported from Narita Airport because they
pretended to be an official Philippine Team for a sports event, no
Pinoys who overstayed and faked their passports (“libro” ang tawag
diyan), no Pinays who married rich, 80-year old Japanese men just so
they can bring home TV sets, CD players, Sony PlayStations to the
Philippines to fill up a grand palace in Pampanga that their husbands
will buy them, no Pinoys who ran away without paying apartment
rent…shall we go on? If Pinoys in Japan stood up to their pride, their
dignity, their honor the way our heroes had taught us, would we still
shrink in shame if Japanese looked at us like nails under their shoes?
We’ve spilled the stains on our own shirts. Who else can grab the
Clorox?
Free as the Roaring Tide—So There’s No Need to Hide
Nevertheless, don’t feel sorry for being a Pinoy in Japan. Japanese
love Filipinos because they are always cheerful—there is always a joke
to tell even if the Philippine government is being laughed at; Japanese
love adobo and sinigang; they love how Filipinos always sing even
during a typhoon; they love how Filipinos love children, and how
Japanese-Filipino children mix well with kids from other countries more
than any average Japanese child can; Japanese love that Filipinos pray
before meal and before sleep; they love how Pinoys struggle to learn
Japanese despite having a Cebuano, Bicolano or Ilocano accent; they
love how the Filipinos work day in and day out—and even when times are
hard and bank accounts are short, the Pinoy ends the day with “Okay
lang.” Yes, “Bahala na si Batman.”
Born Free—As life is worth living
And so, to end this nationalistic sentiment, let’s be corny and remember what our Philippine National Anthem sings to us:
“Lupang hinirang,
Duyan ka ng magiting,
Sa manlulupig,
'Di ka pasisiil.”
“Land dear and holy,
Cradle of noble heroes,
Ne'er shall invaders,
Trample thy sacred shores.”
Maligayang Araw ng Kalayaan!
MAY-JUNE 2007
Sakura: Gone with the Wind
Isn’t it a bit of “la vida triste” to be so warmly awed by the gracious
sight of sakura in just over one week, packing up your sumptuous
o-bentos and bottles of wine and sake, sitting under their pink and
white blossoms, then be quickly dismayed by their withering sight,
petals slowly falling on the wet ground, only to be walked on by busy
salary men running after the next stoplight? Oh, how poetic and yet
cynical! That could very well sum up the real Japan in one phrase. This
is the reason why Japanese (foreigners included) make that quick rush
to the parks to get their last glimpse of the sakura—since that moment
of beauty never really lasts for a long time. My father-in-law even
told me that Japan witnesses many deaths in April when the flowers
start to bloom—there must be something magnetic about April blossoms
that attract the god of Death.
Well, enough of morbid tales. Even without sakura, May also welcomes an
array of many beautiful flower ornaments: ajisai (hydrangea), tsubaki
(camellia), azalia, mokuren (magnolia), yukiyanagi (willow), and
more—and many of these can best be appreciated in Kamakura.
Stampede by the Gold
Yes, Kamakura. That is probably one of the easily accessible
out-of-Tokyo destinations for the Golden Week, especially if it starts
to warm up and many excited youngsters feel like taking their first dip
in the beach. Oh, crowds, crowds, crowds. Why does Japan compress all
the holidays in one week and make it impossible for any normal human
being to enjoy their vacation without being stampeded by thousands of
holiday trekkers or harassed by horrendous plane, train and hotel
prices?
Okay, let’s see. First, there is the Showa no Hi (Showa Day) on April
29, which replaced the Midori no Hi (Greenery Day). Nobody really knows
what to do on this day since it commemorates the birthday of the late
Emperor Hirohito, who one must admit, did not have many fans in Japan,
so much so that after 1989, instead of celebrating his birthday per se,
Japan decided to name the day Midori no Hi (play of deception)—and
still, nobody knew what to celebrate on this green day except admire
the flowers and the leaves that pass your way. But, starting this year
2007, this controversial Midori no Hi day will be moved to May 4, and
the Emperor’s Day, Showa Day will revert back to April 29. Yes,
fickle-minded Japanese. Then, the next holiday falls on May 3, Kenpo
Kinenbi or Constitution Memorial Day. No comment, except that only on
this day the National Diet Building will be open to the public, for
those who like to dream about democracy. Next holiday comes on May 4.
Until 2006, when Japanese tossed coins between Showa Day and Greenery
Day, May 4 was known as Kokumin no Kyujitsu (Citizen’s Day)—does
anybody know what it means? I’m sure Japanese only wanted to give the
day a name, any name! Hence, from this year, this day becomes now the
Greenery Day. Finally, we come to May 5, Kodomo no Hi (Children’s Day),
probably the only meaningful holiday of the Golden Week.
Fools in Pools
Soon after those colorful koinobori are seen swaying in the wind from
balconies or rooftops of houses, days begin to show more sun, and
naturally, when there is sun, there is swimming. Yes, pools and
beaches! Already at this time you see stores displaying the latest
fashion in swimsuits and Japanese ladies getting ready for that glossy
tan. Have you tried those tanning capsule machines? In June, schools
start their swimming classes. I never really observed how they conduct
swimming lessons in schools here but when I go to the pool, I sometimes
get crazy (crazier?) with all the rules you have to follow that you
just can’t seem to enjoy a nice dip the way it should be enjoyed. Diba
kasi tayo in the Philippines, we really seem not to care about
rules—basta lumangoy ka diyan at mag-enjoy! No, no, no in Japan. I know
that here, you can’t even bring a book to the poolside. One time we did
that and we were told it was not allowed. We asked why and the
lifeguard just said “Ya….ano….” you know, the typical Japanese
reasoning. Apparently, they don’t want to be responsible for loss items
nor deal with Alzheimer-prone people who forget their books on the
benches or elsewhere near the pool. Remember, in this country our
problem is their problem! Or how about wearing jewelry? One time I was
also told to remove my necklace. I know in the Philippines kahit mag
dangling earrings ka pa at isang hilera ng bangles sa kamay mo, if you
want to lose your jewelry, that’s your problem. Well, different strokes
for different folks. So, you better watch out for these rules when you
head to the swimming pools.
Blessed are the Children
Did you know that Kodomo no Hi in Japan is also known as Tango no Sekku
(versus Momo no Sekku for the Girls’ Festival on March 3)? Sekku means
a seasonal festival. The first sekku after a baby is born is called the
hatsu zekku, which has become the Hina Matsuri or Girl’s Festival. The
day is also referred to as the Joshin Sekku (shin for serpent),
celebrating March 3 as the first serpent day based on Chinese
tradition. But, it is commonly known now as Momo no Sekku (Peach
Festival), because the month of March is noted for the first peach
blossoms of the season. Going back to Kodomo no Hi, commonly referred
to as the Boy’s Day, Tango no Sekku refers to tan as the first, or the
edge, and go as in noon and also for the number five, hence May 5.
Several paraphernalia to display on Boy’s Day are: the carp symbols of
Koinobori associating boys with the strength of the carp that swim
upstream—if you have more than one boy, the eldest son is given the
largest koinobori and the smallest one goes to the youngest boy; doll
of the folk hero, Kintaro, who symbolizes magnificent strength—usually
he is seen riding on the carp; the Japanese military helmet, kabuto,
which inspire boys to become like the brave samurai; and a feast of
kashiwa-mochi rice cakes in kashiwa (oak) leaves or chimaki.
On a different light, I would like to
dedicate Children’s Day not only to boys, but also to all blessed
children who live and have lived on this earth. Last year, my high
school classmates scattered all over the world wrote and compiled
beautiful children’s passages for our souvenir annual that remind us of
what children mean to us. I would like to share them to all who,
probably amidst our daily flurry routines, forget that children are the
reason why we are here today. My gracious thanks to my beautiful batch
mates of Maryknoll High School for their contributions.
WHAT CHILDREN
ARE TO US
Children are our daily rewards. They are glimpses of God in our
everyday lives. Children give more love than our heart can hold. They
give butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
Cecille Agustin-Alvarez
Children are uniquely beautiful symphonies that resonate from the heart of God.
Tina Almero-Siochi
Children are a gift from God.
Psalm 127:3, Regina Amigo
Children are like sunshine on a cloudy day.
Arleen Astudillo-De los Santos
Children allow us to be silly and carefree without being embarrassed.
Swasi Bate
Children are mini-me's but are more their own selves, that I'm always full of wonder who they really are.
Triccie Castaños-Hidalgo
Children are the reason for all our tomorrows.
Midgie Hernandez-Cajayon
Children are our pride, joy, and hope for the future.
Elena Badua-De la Cruz
A child can be yours even if he doesn't come from you, if you love him like your own. Cherry Bayle
Be around your children when things go right, but also when they go wrong.
Lizzie Borja-Cariaso
Our children are our changing agent; they are the reason for our being.
Rowena Calip-Reloj
Children are like bank loans—God gives them to us to fill a need in our
lives, but they are not ours to keep as we need to return them with
interest.
Anna Corpus-Say
Children make me stop and see life as it is—simply beautiful.
Marite Cruz-Tan
Children give us the drive to better our lives and appreciate every living moment more and more.
Cecille de Dios-Aganon
Children are the most powerful force in the universe. With just a
little smile from them, you feel love, and get warm feelings all over.
Jenny Diaz D’Alessio
Children are the anchors that hold a mother to life. - Sophocles,
Lorrena de Gracia-Braybrooks
Children are the strongest life force that inspires fierce loyalty
without asking for it; and make believing in magic and miracles
effortless.
Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala
Children inspire us to win the battles we are confronted with in life.
Joy Pastor-Lamayo
Children remind us that most things in life are just really simple.
Nina Oreta-Hewitt
Children remind us of our own past innocence.
Peggy Silva Stevenson
"Before you were conceived I wanted you. Before you were born I loved
you. Before you were here an hour I would die for you. This is the
miracle of life."
Maureen Hawkins, from Tina Almero-Siochi
Our Light during Darkness; our Laughter in moments of Sadness; our Joy in times of Pain; the Miracle of Life: our Children.
Tonton Tulio
In my children's eyes I see the promise of my capacity for THE MORE -
the more that I can always love; the more that I can always give; the
more that I can always forgive; the more that I can always hope to be.
Cecile Palma-Del Rosario
Children are the greatest evidence of God's existence.
Marivic Villaroman-Phan
Time spent with your children is not time wasted. Go on to Jesus. Be at peace my darling, go on and be happy, and be peaceful.
Chet Vergel de Dios-Bengzon
Because of you, I ache; because of you, I fight; because of you, I
learn; because of you, I love; without you, days sink deep; with you,
angels sing for Hope.
Alma Reyes-Umemoto
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March-April 2007
Sakura, Sakura…
“sakura, sakura
yayoi no sora wa
miwatasu kagiri
kasumi ka kumo ka
nioi zo izuru
izaya izaya
mi ni yukan”
“Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
The expanse of the spring sky
as far as I can see
Is it the mist, or else the clouds?
Their smell comes forth.
Now, now,
Let's go look at them!”
Yes, “haru” (spring) is here! The world has been talking about global
warming and the frustration for many skiers who couldn’t ski at all due
to the very thin snowfall in many parts of Japan. Well, would you
rather have the cold or the warmth? Even in February, some parts of the
country have already seen glimpses of sakura, and in Okinawa, of
course, being one of the earliest bloomers.
Siempre, when sakura is here, one gets ready for the “hanami”
(flower-viewing) activity. Major parks all over will be filled again
with families and company colleagues, friends and alike, carrying their
favorite mats, baskets of o-bento (packed food), and the most important
“hanami” ingredient: sake. In fact, they say “hanami” doesn’t seem to
be complete without consumption of alcohol (whether wine or beer
included) under the blossoming sakura. Is this really true? Para bang
that is the essence of romantic spring for Japanese. The sight of
sakura carries an air of relaxation, a moment of self-renewal, the
beginning of time—after the harsh winter chill comes the anticipated
warm colors of blooming flowers, and sakura is regarded as probably the
most perfect of all for most Japanese. The ambience resembles the scene
in the movie, “Sayuri,” when the samurai leader, Katsumoto, played by
Ken Watanabe, gazes at the falling sakura and says, “Perfect…they are
all perfect.”
“Hanami” can be traced further back in the old literature of the Heian
period (794 A.D.-1192 A.D.) when the aristocratic clans in Kyoto
engaged in leisure activities during this season. In the spring of
1598, the Shogun Hideyoshi called for a large “hanami” festival to
celebrate his victory of capturing the entire Japan under his control.
Over 1,500 people gathered in a Kyoto temple, rejoicing, composing
poems, and performing in a Noh theater against the cherry blossoms
backdrop.
Not many people enjoy “hanami” though because it is the season when you
bump into a lot of drunkards around the parks and streets, and then
subway trains get filled with that obnoxious alcohol flavor…ughh!
Nevertheless, enjoy sakura while you can for it never usually lasts for
more than two weeks.
Calling the “O-Hina Sama”
Actually, before you start rushing to the parks to reserve your
“hanami” spot, Japanese families get ready for the “Hina Matsuri”: the
Japanese Doll Festival or Girls’ Day celebrated on March 3rd. As early
as the beginning of February, you can see displays of the traditional
“hina ningyo” (ornamental emperor and empress dolls) around department
stores, schools, and most importantly in homes that have a girl in the
family. The dolls can be just a simple pair of the “O-Dairi Sama”
(emperor) and “O-Hina Sama” (empress) dressed in their elegant,
traditional Heian period costumes; or if you wish to be more elaborate,
can display the entire entourage, which consists of three or more
platforms sitting court ladies, musicians, and intricate gadgets like
small furniture, tools, carriages, lanterns, sakura and plum flowers,
against a gold backdrop.
Then, on this day, March 3rd, the custom is to drink sweet sake
“amazake” and eat tiny, colored rice crackers “arare.” The “hina
matsuri” celebration began during the Edo period (1603-1868) as a form
of driving away evil spirits through the charm of the dolls. Families
pray for the health and happiness of their girls, wishing secretly
their daughters can marry off with no problem; that is why,
immediately, on the next day, March 4th, you are expec-ted to put back
the dolls in your closet, or else your daughter may not marry at all!
It is an old superstition, but is quietly believed by many Japanese
families. Bumili ba kayo ng “hina ningyo” set ninyo? Mind you, they
don’t come cheap at all. Depending on the size, make and the
elaborateness of the set, having a “hina ningyo” of your own can itself
be a fortune to keep!
“Randoseru” Fever
“Pasukan na!” As April approaches, I cannot help associate this month
with the beginning of the school year, and that is probably because I
have a child. There are so many ceremonies that go with the preparation
for the first day of school in Japan! If your child is just entering
kindergarten or elementary, that can even be the busiest period of any
mother or father’s life. First of all, there are the entrance tests to
get “stressed” about—I mean, “stress” if your child is entering a
private school because no child gets through the exams without years of
enrolment in a juku or cram school—and, that involves a lot of money
and invested time! Then, there are those “kimatteiru” or sort of,
“decided” paraphernalia that go with schooling: such as, the lunch
mats, the “kinchaku” (small pouch for the lunch mat), the “taiiku-gi”
or P.E. uniform that comes in shorts, shirt, cap and the bag to carry
them—you also need a “te-sage” like a handy cloth bag, that often
matches all your other equipment in motif or choice of character
(Pokemon, Kitty, Peanuts, Rirakuma, etc.—at ‘pag hindi matching motif,
galit pa ang anak mo!), the “uwabaki” or school indoor shoes that are
the same all over the country, “zokin” or cleaning rags usually in
pairs, na meron pang hook so the kids can hang them on the hook of
their desks, “bousai zukin” or earthquake prevention gear that is also
used as a cushion, which are usually supplied by the schools, and a
whole array of school materials that are sold in all sorts of character
motifs. But, nothing beats the “randoseru” fever: the typical Japanese
school leather knapsack, which is often the identity mark that your
child is ready for elementary school life.
When I was still new in Japan, I often wondered what “randoseru” meant
and why all elementary school kids in this country carry this heavy
knapsack. Then, I read that the word “randoseru” was derived from the
Dutch ransel backpacks used by children in European schools. The
Imperial Army of Japan adopted this European style backpack as part of
their military uniform after the Meiji Restoration. School uniforms
were strongly influenced by this trend. That also includes the
“tsumeiri” or the black uniforms in middle and high schools, which are
adaptations of the Prussian Army’s military uniforms.
“Randoseru” are not obligatory in all elementary schools, but since it
has been regarded as the symbol of traditional school life in Japan,
most children in Japan choose to have one. Girls usually wear red, and
the boys wear black, but now the “randoseru” has created its own
fashion and sell these expensive leather backpacks in assorted colors.
It’s probably wise not to get the traditional red and black as they are
so common your child can get his/her bag mixed up. I know this can
happen because my daughter took home the wrong “randoseru” one time,
and that was really embarrassing! These bags can become heavy, too,
especially when they are already loaded with textbooks, notebooks,
pencil cases, and other stuff—most times, I feel pity for the small
kids carrying these heavy bags on their backs.
Well, it’s “randoseru” time, indeed. There’ll be many more materials
and events to prepare for the school year ahead. Better start
practicing your craft in o-bento making if your child needs to bring
lunch boxes to school! Naku! That itself is another cultural
phenomenon! Still, enjoy springtime to the last sakura before the rainy
season sets in!
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January-February 2007
Cry of the Inoshishi
Welcome, Year of the Boar 2007! Or…Year of the Pig, if you prefer the
Chinese tradition. Since we are transcending from a loyal dog year to a
more ferocious boar year, we could probably expect 2007 to be a year of
more activity (versus passive decisions?), more extravagance (against
leisure spending?), or how about more drama if you like (versus
stagnant world news)? Sabi nila the inoshishi is characterized by
honesty, indulgence and forgiveness. It is confident and lives without
pretense. Inclined din siya sa la dolce vita, i.e. maintaining a life
full of vigor and pleasure. It is a straight thinker and does not
accept a compromise. So, beware if you end up doing business with a
boar person—for sure you cannot fool him! If you were born in the
following years: 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, or expecting
a newborn baby this year, Omedeto Gozaimasu! The year 2007 promises you
a long road to adventure!
Lost in Nengajo
Kaya naman pagdating sa pagsulat ng nengajo, or those New Year
postcards that Japanese send out in time for January 1st, it is
customary to include a picture of the animal represented for the
expected year. Did you write your nengajo to your Japanese friends or
families last month? Nakakahilo pa minsan to see how many kinds of
nengajo designs you can pick from when searching the Net or going to
your favorite photo shop. You can also notice that the style of nengajo
writing has changed consequently in the past ten years or so.
Traditional nengajo are usua |
