While Waiting

30 March 2011

Honestly, uncertainty still hunts me. With the news coming here to the Philippines about the nukes, fear can never be left out. But with all this people in the boarding area now bound to Narita, and including the ones on the other flight, I want to reassure myself of the safety in Japan. Most here boarding with me are returning Filipinos who, I assumed, went home because of the same fear three weeks ago. Filipinos with their Japino children, Filipinos with their Japanese husbands and Japanese who probably went to the Philippines to get away with the nuke threat. Seeing them here reassures me that they feel safe already to return home.

Clouds are so dark today I think it will rain, but the sun shines brighter it breaks in to the clouds. Somehow tells me, even the dark clouds can not block the sun completely. The sun still shines. The sun will remain to shine. Hopes up high.

がんばっるう日本！

Don't stop dreaming, they do come true

It has been my childhood dream, and a year ago that dream came into reality.

I watched the boats come by the Yokohama Bay while resting at the vending machine area a while ago. I found myself years back when I'm imagining myself staring at a distance from a high place, my office.

I dreamt of having a comfortable life, having my own room and buying every single item I want. I dreamt of experiencing winter. I dreamt of high rise buildings by my window. I dreamt of touching the clouds.

 I thank God I never gave up on that dream. The realization of that dream had begun.

It's been a year now since I started living the dream I had here in Japan. It will not be over. I may leave Japan in 2 months time, or maybe for another year, but this dream will continue to live.

Here's one thing I've learned from these experiences I had for the past year: Don't stop dreaming, they do come true.

10 Things I want to do while in Japan

• Humiga sa damuhan sa may burol sa tapat ng office (oo dun sa maraming naglalampungang kabataan)
• Sumakay ng Shinkansen
• Mag out of town mag-isa
• Sumakay ng Cosmo Clock
• Umakyat ng Landmark Tower
• Magpanggap na Hapon (gagawin na namin ito sa Sabado)
• Mag nature trip sa Kamakura o sa Hakone
• Mag punta ng Kyoto o ng Osaka o ng Hokkaido
• Bisitahin ang Akita o Nagasaki
• Makapagsabit ng Flying Carps.

かいります！

In about 9.5 hours from now, I will be leaving Japan for my home leave to the Philippines.

Time flies, I didn't recognized it was already 8 months passed since I went here.

I am excited to see my family and friends back home again, but somehow, I will miss the comfort Japan had offered me, that I don't think the Philippines can give. The comfort of walking in the streets even late at night, unafraid of snatchers and other lawless elements. The comfort of the train system. The comfort of technologies for everyday life.

I will be spending the next 20 days in my beloved Philippines, I know I need to keep attuned again to the way of living back there. I need to keep updated on what was happening in my family and my country. I missed them so much.

In about a while, I will be seeing Manila again. The bustling noise of the city, pollution and traffic.

It may seem to be so far away from what I had the past 8 months, I am not worried for I am home.

PS: My friends here in Japan, See you after 20 days.

Yakuza

Nakakalungkot isipin, na sa panohong ito, meron pa ring mga Yakuza.

Kani-kanina lang, muli na namang nagpakilala ang Japan sa akin ng kanyang kakaibang anyo. Habang kami ay namamahagi ng curry rice sa mga homeless sa subway sa Kannai, isang galit na galit na lalaki ang tumungo sa amin, nagtatanong kung sino ang aming pinuno. Sinabi sa kanya ng isa naming kasamahang hapon na sya ay nasa itaas, at kung gusto nyang kausapin ay umakyat sya sa taas. Malumanay at walang pagtataas ng boses, subalit ang galit na galit na mama ay patuloy na sumisigaw. Di ko naiintindihan ang sinasabi nya pero isa lang ang malinaw, gusto nya ng gulo. Sinipa nya ang lalagyan ng mainit na miso soup at tumalsik sa katawan ng hapong aming kasama.

Nakakatakot, na sa ganuong gawain, na ang tanging hangad ay makatulong, may ilang mga tao na hindi makapangunawa. Nasabi ng galit na hapon na pinapalala lamang namin ang sitwasyon ng mga taong iyon. Na tinuturuan lamang namin silang maging tamad.

Oo, may katwiran sya, pero sa ganuong paraan nya ba dapat iparating iyon?

Nakakasagabal daw kami sa daanan.

Hindi bat mas nakakasagabal sa daan yung mga kartong nakahilera buong magdamag duon na syang tinutulugan nila kesa sa ilang minuto naming pamamalagi duon para mamigay ng pagkain?

Nakakatakot na sa ganitong mga pagkakataon, may mga taong handang gumawa ng gulo. Nakakatakot na sa kabila ng kaunlaran ng bansang ito, namamayani pa din ang pananakot. Na sa kabila ng dami ng tao na naroon sa lugar na iyon, wala man lang umawat. Na sa kabila ng pagmamagandang loob ay ang mga paratang ng kasamaan.

Akala ko'y ligtas ang mga tao dito. Akala ko'y payapa ang bansang ito. Akala ko.....

Muli, kakaibang Japan ang nagpakilala. Ang Japan na bayolente. Ang Japan na takot. Ang Japan na hindi ligtas.

Naniniwala akong magpapakilala pa rin sa akin ang Japan na kabaligtaran ng pagpapakilala nya sa akin ngayong gabi.  Naniniwala ako.....

Japanese Christians

I like how the Japanese remain faithful in their culture while embracing a new one.

Last night, I joined the Bi-lingual Good Friday Service at the Sacred Heart Cathedral here in Yokohama. And yes, the sight of many Japanese, traditional and modern people, gathered inside the church to be with us on that service is something of a reminder for me that God has been planting seeds of faithful believers in the distant lands.

But what strucks me most, every time that I attend such (It is my second, the first one was during the Christmas Eve Mass) is that Japanese has a very wonderful way of venerating the Lord. I like when they bow there heads the traditional Japanese way (we called it the 90 degrees bow since it looked like there bodies are in right angle with their feet) during the most holy moments of the mass or service. We used to kneel down during the exposition of the Eucharist, but here they bow down. And I think that one is the highest form of their respect. I think the Japanese way are much more respectful than we used to.

And because I am here, last night, I venerated the Cross the way they do, the 90 degrees bow, my sign of respect to the Person - both Human and God in nature - hung on that Cross for me and you.

I am happy that Japanese embraced Christianity the way they embraced Buddhism many centuries ago. I am happy that I am enjoying both my Faith and the Japanese culture at the same time.

Can’t wait for the Easter Vigil later tonight.

Sakura: The Scent of Spring

Spring is coming. My first time to see Sakura (Cherry Blossoms) for real.

Last week, I was so excited the moment I saw a Sakura tree blooming at the Bekkan Hall in Yamate-cho. It was not yet in full bloom but the fact that I saw the flower for the first time, feels like a child seeing his favorite toy. Here's the picture of my very first Sakura encounter:

Ok ok, di sya kita, di naman ako photographer.

Starbucks now also offers Sakura flavored drinks and pastries. I tried Sakura Frap. I didn't even know that sakura are edible, hahaha. But it tastes good. Something like milk tea with a hint of weak mint.

Just curious....