Summer Live event!

Gosh! I can't believe this... it's almost end of the month!

I am loaded of paperworks and I need to meet their deadlines! Obviously... I am truly busy these days but looook what I am doing... I am busy to my other activities and events!

We held tonight our Maritess Summer Live 2009 event in Life Time for the benefit of Philippine NAKAMA's Japanese-Filipino Children Scholarship Program. Naturally... as expected, it was a blast! Sayang nga lang kc bitin kami this time sa mga up tempos! heheh!

Thanks for the support of everyone... so many to mentions! God... bless you all guys... particularly the Phil NAKAMA's group!
Special acknowledgement to the group of Tomorrow College and M'tess committee who helped us out for ticket distributions and supported us a lot in different ways.

Everyone rock!

Me and uncle Jo... Phil NAKAMA wo SHOKAI SHITEIRU TOKI

After the event, we went out to Wotani Izakaya for thank you gathering! Drinks are drink-all-you-can basis... so I had some coaktails drinks... and yah I was drunk... but it felt gooood!

We went back home pass 1:00 am already and it was raining so hard... like typhoon! Thanks to Ajie and hubs for driving me home!

Tomorrow... another busy day... coz it's Phil NAKAMA's General Meeting and Election of New Officers for 2009-2011. GANBARIMASU... OYASUMINASAI... hik!

Hint for tomorrow's election: below pics might be the result for the 5th gene of our group... figure it out for baton touch... got it?! Just guessing... mind u... sometimes... i am like a witch! LOL!

Longest Eclipse of 21st Century

It's awesome... I saw today the longest solar eclipse of the century. It's been visible across Asia and part of it was here in Japan. The solar eclipse lasted for about more than 6 minutes.

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Sun and the Earth so that the Sun is fully or partially covered. This can only happen during a new moon, when the Sun and Moon are in conjunction as seen from the Earth.

Below is a partial solar eclipse over Shizuoka City... pics courtesy by Yauchi kun taken from the ground of SAME office before our radio recording.

It's partly cloudy here in Shizuoka City but we are blessed to gaze the partial solar eclipse between the clouds. It was about past 11:00 a.m. when for the moment the sun disappeared and the sky totally turned into darkness then lightened. Pretty amazing to see especially on tv this somewhat like a black hole in the sky surrounded by a halo of lights--- especially the scene of somewhat like a diamond ring as what they described it here. Ohh yes... that is what we call a beauty of natural phenomenon!

According to experts the next longest total solar eclipse will occur on June 13, 2132. OMG... that means this is my first and last experience of long solar eclipse! Sigh!

If you missed the solar eclipse here in Japan... here some footage from NHK

Sachan is back from Niigata City!

Hola! Everyone at home is sooo excited coz Sachan arrived home yesterday for her summer vacation! Just in time for the celebration of OBON Festival-- a Japanese custom on honoring the departed spirits of one's ancestors.

Sachan's greetings to GIIGII!Below is OKURIBI--lit at the entrances of homes to send back the spirits of ancestors At night... Sachan joined me, uncle Jo, Dang, Liza, Maritess, Yasuhara sensei to Life Time Cafe Garden. We held the final meeting there for the event on the 25th... then we watched Maritess jazz sessions. Then the next day... I had a date with Sachan downtown. Actually we both bought contact lens then we went window shopping in Parco! We also went to print club sticker game center and below pics were what we got! Pretty cool!

Keep on smiling not because of something but inspite of everything!

RIP MJ!

On the morning of my birthday (25th in US time) ... I was shocked to read the headline on the net that Pop King Michael Jackson (50) died by cardiac arrest in his home and paramedics were unable to revive him. I grew up with his music... and he was a musical legend for me. Surely his music and memories will live on forever. Really he will be missed. RIP MJ!

On that day... heaven has gotten another angel... and that's Farrah Fawsett, one of my fave 1970s star in "Charlie's Angels" . She died at the age of 62, nearly 3 years after being diagnosed with anal cancer. RIP Farrah, no more pain now!

Back to MJ... I watched his memorial rites yesterday and it was sooo heartbreaking. I can't help crying like i knew him personally... especially on Brooke Shield and Paris Jackson speeches. Gosh... they really moved me!

Above video was an outstanding performance by JHudson singing MJ's Will You Be There For ME/Hold ME at the memorial service! She is sooo powerful inspite of being pregnant. MJ's narration on the last part was very touching. I broke down on tears! lol!

Above video was MJ final rehearsal from his "This Is It" tour. Michael Jackson is performing "They Don't Really Care About Us". The Footage was shot on June 23rd, 2009 by AEG Live.

One of his best song when he was young and became popular... BEN. I used to sing this song too... when I was young, lol!

Group gathering in June

Wooow... thanks be to God, our voluntary group, Philippine NAKAMA have just finished one of our activities last Sunday. Glad to say that it was attended by many members and we had a smooth meeting headed by uncle Jo plus a satisfying snacks provided by the birthday celebrants. Unfortunately... we still can't avoid the late comers and some annoying sounds of the kids at the mid of the meeting. Well... hoping for everyone's cooperations to over come those little problems!

Please check our home page for our upcoming activities: http://www.geocities.com/philnakama

Philippine NAKAMA's meeting on up-coming activities Happy birthday Airi... 6.29.Birthday Celebrants... M'tess Tahara missed this pics! Eating time! Huli 'yan!Our familyOur next meeting will be our fund-raising project, the MARITESS SUMMER LIVE 2009 on July 25th in Life Time. Our big rival on that day will be the Shizuoka Fireworks Exhibition in Abe River... I always watch the event every year with my friends but I am gonna miss it this year... waaah... I will miss wearing my jinbei too! I wish it will rain on that day... LOL so that they can postpone the exhibition. In that case they will resume the event on the 26th and we'll still have our chance to watch the fireworks exhibition! OMG, I do sounds silly and selfish... but I really don't wanna miss that spectacular event too!

Another unexpected gathering!

It's my day! As I keep on telling everyone... I will only count my blessings but not my wrinkles! heheheh!

The truth is I don't have any plan for a birthday gathering at home this year. But this week, Sarah made a "reservation" to my husband on the 26th that she'll come with us for dinner. Then last Wednesday, Liza reminded me that she'll visit to my home on 26th. By chance, Belinda and I had plan to meet after my work on the 26th. Amie keeps bugging me about party! Sooo... in short, I gathered them together at home for dinner! It turned out to be fun and memorable for me! They all made my day special! I love you friends... you're all like my families here in Japan!

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all of you including to my family and friends here and abroad who remembered me by greetings thru cellphone, landline, e-mails, friendster, tagged, facebooks, cards and personal greetings. I finally realized that I have many family, relatives and friends! LOL! Thanks to all your lovely gifts too! For all those who missed to give me some gifts... I am still open to accept them even my birthday is over! Yoroshiku! kekekeh!

Advance birthday party from girlfriends

Wooow... my birthday is really coming! Heto at nag-advance celebration na nga kami kaninang tanghali. Actually this event was my friend Nerissa's idea. Just for fun... she gathered some friends na HIMA today! Then we all celebrated my advance birthday at Karaoke in Route 1.

This was an unexpected party... no planning and everything but thanks be to God... at least with very little time of preparation, I was able to prepare 3 dishes for the group and the rest was provided by them!

We're 8 members who gathered together! As to be expected... we really had fun! As usual... nakalimot na naman ako sa edad ko! I joined them singing, dancing and rockin' all the way! It felt good to be with young friends... hahahah! Thank you girls to all your thoughtfullness... inspite of the rain... you're all there. Thanks to all your gifts, cakes, cocktails, snacks and most of all your kindness! You all rock! (^3^)mhwaaah!

Filipino Community Party with Tita Glo!

Ann invited me and tita Amie to attend the party of the Filipino Community with tita Glo (Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo). The event was held in Mariner's Court Hotel in Tokyo last Friday night.

About 500 kababayan were invited to the event. It's nice to see some familiar faces from the Philippine Embassy, UTAWIT and ABS-CBN related staff. The attire was Filipiniana... kaya nakakatuwa namang tingnan ang mga kababayan natin including some Japanese visitors in our traditional attire! Sayang nga lang... we still face some lack of discipline to behave in certain formal events like this. That is one reasons kung bakit we can't properly organize everything... lalo na sa time... very loose talaga tayong Pinoy! Tatak na ba talaga natin yon!? 'yun lang nga we're all cheerful... masayahin at mga kalog. Even we don't know each other... pagnagkadikit-dikit na ang magkababayan at nagkabiruan... masaya at game ang lahat!

...with Finance Secretary M. Teves... Ann's uncle Gary!

Traditional performances by the Filipino Community in Tokyo and students from Tokyo University were presented. They're all great! Meron ding singer courtesy of ABS-CBN... he's Richard Poon and he really can sing! He's pure Chinese who grew up in the Philippines.

The President was featured at the last part of the event. She talked about her visit to Japan... her report of her performances and plans for the development of the Philippines... Well, to cut the story short, we need to develop our country and in order to do that we also need to continue borrowing money like here in Japan to sustain our "needs"! Sige na nga... heheheh!

Anyway... while listening to her speech... I'm pretty amazed with her! She's actually delivering her long speech without reading. Maybe she had her outlines but she talks good, straight and with charisma... very convincing lalo na kung wala kang alam, heheh! She's really bright... small but terrible! huh!

Pres. Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo on her speech

I was taking some photos of tita Glo at the mid aisle... not knowing I was already in front of the stage... in front of tita Glo! I was pushed in there by the audiences at the back na gustong makipag-shake hands to tita Glo! Well I was already there so I also took the opportunity! hahahah! What a chance!!!

We'll ... that's my Friday night... another enjoyable rare experience! Di ba tita Amie?!

... and we owe Ann our heartful thanks... likewise Kuya Kuni, Morita san and Prince for the rides and everything! HONTOUNI MINASAN...OTSUKARESAMA DESHITA! DOMO ARIGATOU GOZAIMASHITA!

Release stress in karaoke

It's boring today so I decided to go to karaoke to have some warm ups ika nga! hehehe!

Good timing when I received an email from Cecil asking me if what's my plan for today... so I said "I will go to karaoke"... wooow... without any second thought... she replied that she will go with me. Then we also asked Alisa if she's interested to come with us... wooow pa rin... she spontaneously replied... ok!

So finally, we are 3 and a half (that's Reichan actually) who went to Karaoke Box in Route One.

It's been a while since I had been to karaoke... but I really did enjoy our kalokohan! We all sang and danced to the fullest! hahahah! Lahat pa yata ng mga high pitch na songs ay walang takot din naming mga kinanta! Yeah... that was great! Lalo na yung mga nagtutuluan na ang mga fats namin este pawis pala! hahah! I can't imagine if how many cups? gallons? of fats este callories ang nawala sa amin! Our stresses were also relieved!

Kelan kaya mauulit yon!

Eye-catching view

Looks like snowflakes on the sea... but nope...

... it's clouds in the sky! I took this picture late in the afternoon yesterday.... about 6:30 pm.

I was attracted to the sky and clouds.

Cultural lecture in Matsuno School

I sacrificed my work at SAME today in order to attend the activities of EGG IBUNKA, an organization that teaches and promote different cultures of the world for intercultural understanding in different schools around Shizuoka.

The organization requested me together with other foreigner friends from Nepal and India to teach our cultures and traditions. I always took the opportunity to join the group which is one of my simple way to help promote our country and introduce our true way of life.

The intercultural lecture was held this afternoon in Matsuno Elementary School. They only have about 50 students from Grade 1~6.

Philippine booth with my supportive facilitators... Ishigami san and Uchida san

Some of Philippine stuffs... with some Philippine posters at the back of the display board

The classes was all held at the gymnastic hall

We were asked to teach only 15 minutes to every class. The time was very short... we're like spinning wheels... within that time... we're asked for self-introduction, quiz games, basic info about our countries, daily lives of Elementary students... wooo... I can't imagine how we short-cutted our lecture guide plan... hehehe! But everyone said we did fine... ohhh... just a flattery word? heheh! There's so much to teach to all but anyway... today's experience and adventures was pretty good advantage for me and most of all for intercultural understanding.

JENKINS Art Exhibit

Yesterday, after our lecture in English at CCC Bldg., my friend Nanako chan invited me upstairs to see some of the art exhibit of Mark Jenkins, a popular New Yorker artist. Jenkins is actually a well known street artist. He creates his work by using plastic or scotch tapes. His works is sooo artistic and interesting... sort of scary and disgusting sometimes but really for real!

↓Below pics... Jerkins and Nanako chan's original art ... good job, Nanako chan!

↓I am just trying to comfort him...

↓Which one do you think doesn't belong here?! ↓Nanako chan with her boyfriend!↓Breast feeding time!

↓She's mad!↓Cool

The flier

JENKINS Art is currently on exhibit at CCC Bldg, Tully's (outdoor) Miyuki-cho and Shizuoka City Hall (indoor).

Adventure of two private eyes

...naks parang totoo... but it's sort true po talaga!

A 15 years old girl, half Pinoy and Japanese who lives in the Philippines and a related friend of Neri asked her to find his long lost Japanese father named Toshihiro Noguchi san who used to live in Omaezaki City.

Finally... Neri and I got time to go there yesterday. Too bad it's raining but still we're lucky coz we easily found the place. It was a 3 storey building... parking on the 1st floor, a snack bar on the 2nd and their home on the 3rd floor. Unfortunately... there's nobody in the house of the given address but we're fortunate to get the telephone number of the house owner that was posted in the reception door. I told Neri to ask her husband to contact the concern person later.

Before we get back to Shizuoka City, we still nosed around the neighborhood to get some more information. According to some source... that house was not Noguchi san place. It was owned by a certain... (better not to publish his name) and that he owned the place ever since! This Noguchi san was only an employer before to that snack bar but they never see him already for a long time.

Updates: Neri's husband phoned to that house owner today. He's in abroad, so they just had a short conversation (overseas call are costly! hehehe!) According to the owner... Noguchi san went back to his former wife in Iwata... and he heard that Noguchi san died already! That's it! Still... the case is complicated! Sources can only be hearsays not unless you see it in your eyes... now the question is do we really need to trace the fact up to Iwata? How about if this former wife or family doesn't know about Noguchi san's daughter in the Philippines? But his daughter have the right to know about the truth. Yah... truth but sometimes... truth is scary...risky... and you know... sad!

Well... still wishing for the positive outcome.
Help!!! Noguchi san's whereabouts... anyone?!

Seldom seen friends

After my interpretation work yesterday, I picked up Ana to her office and we went to St. Joseph Home-for-the Aged to visit Kuya Ernie. He's still in bed but it's nice to see him not getting worse. We actually took him some pictures and got his thumb mark needed for the renewal of his passport. I heard from Ana that he is exempted for personal interview at the Embassy because he is sick and old enough to travel.

After our visit... we picked up tita Amie to her mansion and we had dinner together in DADA's. We'll... this is our 2nd date together this year. The 1st one was a treat from Ana on her birthday last February. This time was my advance birthday treat to both of them and looking forward to Amie's turn!

Getting together are always fun especially when seldom seen friends gather around!

Unexpected gathering

I thought it's my day to do some extra cleaning at home today but it turned out to be quite hectic (but it was fun!) due to some friends who by chance flucked together at my home. It was Neri who came by first for pc tutorings, then Jonalyn and Katsuki kun came by for lunch while Cecil and Rei chan followed to join the bonding!

It was actually Jonalyn's birthday so after having lunch and playing computers, she invited us to Mos Burger in Route 1 and treated us snack! I hope it's her birthday everyday! kekeekkkee!

Long live Jonalyn and avoid stress!