Sunday, October 29, 2006

General Meeting

Members and friends from Philippine NAKAMA Organization gathered today afternoon for a general meeting at Matterhorn, Gofukucho Plaza Bldg. in Shizuoka City.
The meeting was well-attended by about 25 members and guest.
Agenda of the meeting was the report of past activities, funds and the up-coming events like the Philippine Fiesta event in Tokyo, UTAWIT audition in Shizuoka, Sto. Nino Fest and suggestions and preparations for the Christmas Party 2006 to be held on December 17.
The group suggested that all members should donate some Christmas gifts. It's amusing that Lilia told the group that she will donate Y10,000 for the gifts while Ishigami san will donate some stuffs like remote control airplane?! (pls correct me if i am wrong) and more!!!
As for me ... well, I'm gonna donate my time and effort... lol!
After the meeting... we had a snack time... everyone brought some finger foods and drinks. Olivia I. and Olive K. brought the main Filipino dish, while Ahioni brought Kentucky as part of their treats on their bdays! Happy birthday girls!!! Sarah also brought us some sweet ginataan. It was quite unique... ginataan with munggo beans... it tasted good! I ate too much of it... no wonder I gained again! whaaaah!!!
The meeting adjorned in order... I went back home with Amie. Speaking of Amie... her birthday is coming soon... November 9 desho?! Well... we are planning to celebrate it in Tokyo at the Philippine Fiesta... i bet it will be a blast! OTANOSHIMINI!
More pix from here:

Friday, October 27, 2006

Hello Kricel Angela!

I would like to congratulate my youngest sister Emily and her hubs-- Sonny for Emily's safety delivery to a 3.4 kg and 54cm in lenght baby girl... named Kricel Angela. Kricel is a combination names of Sonny's mother-- Kristina and Emily's mother (actually, my beloved mother too!) -- the late Cecilia.
Emily told me by the phone that Kricel looks like her brother Emil when he was a baby.
Now that Emil is not the only kid in the family... I just can't wait how he gonna cope up with it!!! Hang tough Kricel!

Monday, October 23, 2006

It's LUCKY's day!

♪For she's a jolly good Lucky... for she's a jolly good lucky... for she's a jolly good lucky... and nobody can deny♪ Happy birthday Lucky♪
"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog.
You are his life, his love, his leader.
He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.
You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion"
-- Unknown
Lucky turned 9 today! Wazzzup with her birthday?!... nothing so special I guess... i want to treat her with some extra-sweets... but it's not advisable coz she's diabetic already... although she doesn't give up! ... ahh, maybe i'll just treat her with extra-moonlight stroll! She loves it anyway (^-^)d

Filipino Charity Concert

October 22 was Charity Concert day! As an agreement with the organizer of the event... our group, the Philippine NAKAMA supported the event for the sake of the Filipino Community here in Shizuoka City. Cooperation really counts!!! We voluntary helped the promotion and assisted the reception of the concert.
After the concert... Amie, uncle Jo, Belinda and Olivia treated ourselves to Jollibee Restaurant... Elizabeth was also there! Thanks to Amie who paid half of our bill... nice work Amie... next time ulit!  (^3^)--☆ Sorry to Liza and company... you missed it guys!

Friday, October 20, 2006

Free collection

Free Disney character stuffs from Coca cola! ↑Lilo and Stitch series↑Winnie the Pooh and friends series

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Free as in LIBRE!

... yap... that's one of our fav words... di ba chat?!
Today, owner of "Heartbeat" invited our group, the Philippine NAKAMA to come over to their place and watch the performances of their talents. He said that it's for free and it doesn't matter how many members can come as long as we are not beyond the limit of the capacity of the omise. Bongga di ba?! However, we did not took advantage of his kindness! Liza and I gathered about 20 members and friends to join us. It was surprising that all the advicers-- me, Amie, Arakawa san, Ishigami san and Kishibata san were all present! Actually, we only gather together completely during big events! Soooo... what's so special with tonights show huh?!!!
The show presentation was entertaining... we enjoyed it! The girls and guys... and gays(?) were cute! That's it!!!
So... to all concerned people... thanks a lot to free drinks and cool show... GOCHIZOSAMADESHITA! What a treat!!! (^-^)v

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Moonlight Party

... is an international event jointly organized every year by SIFA and SAME. In Japanese, they called this event as "KOKUSAI OTSUKIMI" (International Moon Viewing). Moon viewing is one of Japanese refined tradition. They celebrate the autumnal moon on harvest season. They decorate some Japanese pampas grass and moon viewing dumplings or TSUKIMI DANGO. This was originated from China during Heian period (794-1185).
Belinda in front of the pampas grass and dumplings
Almost every year... Ito san, SAME staff was trying to assign me as one of the interpreter of the event. She had to becoz I am also working at SAME as one of their foreigner staff. However, due to some conflict with my sched... I always refused her favor. This year, Ito san asked me again... hmmm, I can't say no this time... I must do something to please her favor... well... I made no excuse this time... I finally accepted the assignment and in exchange... I cancelled my other commitments.
I was new to this event and I am also curious what this is all about...
Well, the event was held yesterday night, October 6 at Zensouji Temple in Shimizu. It's about 170 years old temple and one of the famous in Shimizu. I worked together with my co-foreigner staff, Dani-- an Indonesian, Sai --a Chinese and Eliza-- a Brazilian as an interpreter.
I invited my niece, Belinda to come with me since I thought this event will gonna be a good chance to learn and understand Japanese cultures.
Unfortunately, it was raining... there was no chance to view the autumn moon. I joked Belinda to just be content to all the bald folks she sees around! Anyway, they were all shining brightly!lol!
The temple obosan (monk) message was quite remarkable. In buddisht belief... when someone died... he become Buddha... but we should not be concern about it, the obosan said... instead, we need to be and we must be good fellows while we are still alive and kicking!
Inspite of the rain, the event was still well attended. I was asked to interpret in English although I prefer Tagalog coz it's my native language. But come to think of it... the Pinoy present in the event was only me and Belinda. The other foreigners are from Brazil, Indonesia, Taiwan, America... hmmm, I guess I didn't miss someone... and the rest are Japanese.
After the speeches of vips, the cultural show of Indonesian students and trainees followed... and then we had interchanged with the guess while having our dinner.
Afterwards... after receiving all the omiage foods and drinks from SIFA staffs... Belinda and I rushed back by train to Shizuoka City coz we had to meet uncle Jo and Liza with Tabby. Then we all proceeded to "Heartbeat" for a meeting with Ikuta san and Abet about their coming up Charity Concerts. They introduced to us their newly arrived talents from Focus. Wow... there are more than 30 talents. From dancers, singers, staffs... known and amateurs...
We ended up thru a deal that Philippine NAKAMA will support their coming up Charity Concerts... however, we requested that our group will only cooperate to those concerts to be held here in Shizuoka City.
Ahhhhhhhh... what a day!

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Shimizu Hamada Festival 2006

Once again, Mrs. Kazuma, coordinator of Shimizu Hamada Matsuri invited us-- the Philippine NAKAMA group to join this year stage presentation of their event.
Last year, the event was held at the open space of Shimizu Hamada Elementary School but this year... it was raining, so they held the event at the TAIIKUKAN-- gymnasium of the school.
Thanks to the bazaar... even it was raining, the event was packed with people!
In behalf of the group, we would like to extend our thanks to Mrs. Kazuma for the wonderful treat. The Japanese typical obento was really good and we do appreciate the "OREI " given to the our group.
Congrats to our cute kid, Maika chan-- Maritess Tahara's only kid. She had a special participation dance number in Tinikling, not to mention that it was Maika's folk dance debut too and she was trully stunning ... like mother, like daughter huh!!!
We also salute to Precy's professionalism... inspite of the fact that she's grieving for her younger brother death yesterday ... she still joined the dance group! Again... condolence and ingat sa pag-uwi sa Philippines on Tuesday.