Rose Garden

Good day! Here we are again... I mean with Liza! We've heard that this is the best season to view roses in Bagatelle Park in Kawazu. So... we went all the way down to Izu today just to visit the park. It was actually a sister park of Jardin de Bagatelle of Paris, France. The park in Kawazu was established on year 2001.

The French style rose garden
Gorgeous roses everywhere! Siga daw kuno! ↓Princess Diana Rose
Rose garden
Pa-cute na pose noong unang panahon! White Water LiliesDue to our limited time... we missed our buffet lunch to this restaurant!Tea Time!KITAAAA!!! Rose tea with french style sandwichesRose Tea... de kampai! 　

It took us about 6 hours travel by trains... back and fourth but we enjoyed our trip especially the roses!

Looking forward to our next journey!!!

Rain or shine!

Hisashiburi! It was raining since yesterday. The Phil NAKAMA group were supposed to participate in FM-Hi! International Fest in Keyaki today selling Pinoy goods but the rain was too strong and we don't have any idea on what time it will stop so we all just decided not to join the event and instead we all gathered to my house to sell all the stuff we are supposed to sell. Well... it was surprising to see the cooperation showed by NAKAMA members. Inspite of rains... they all came to my house!

My home looks like as we are in bazaar gathering! Fortunately... all the cooked foods like pansit, puto,biko and maja blanka were sold out. Dry goods are too many so we never expect we can all sold it out though they're almost half sold out! Salamat talaga sa concern ng lahat! The weather went fine at noon but we never regret it anymore because our personal NAKAMA bazaar at home were successful! That's what we called... NAKAMA's power!

After our NAKAMA bazaar... I decided to drop by to kuya Ernie in St Joseph Home-for-the-Aged in Yahata to bring him some Pinoy foods from our bazaar. Upon hearing it... some members came with me headed by uncle Jo... we all drop a visit to kuya Ernie.

After the visit... we all separated our ways from my home.

I invited Lilia to come with me in FM Hi! International Fest event downtown coz I was asked by Nagata san to guest in radio live interview regarding the Philippine promotions and as a foreigner living in Shizuoka. That was fun experience!

Mochiron... we also visited SAME booth. Thailand and Indonesian friends were there selling their traditional goods. Miyamoto san was incharge that time... hontoni otsukaresama to her coz rain and shine... she was there!

Lilia and I happened to met a kababayan who teach some reggae stuff. We tried to be friendly with her but when Lilia tried to ask if she can volunteer to some of our event... she replied Lilia na binabayaran daw s'ya!!! Shocking but in fairness... naintriga kami sa word na binabayaran daw... so Lilia invited me to see her live performance on stage to see to it kung ano ang binabayaran sa kanya! hehehe!

While waiting to her performance on stage... we enjoyed watching young Japanese groups dancing reggae and mostly hip hop. Ooopppsss... now I am confused? I thought the theme of the event was reggae.

↓They're cool and good... young and fashionable too!

↓ ... di po sila pagod sa kakasayaw... patawa scene lang poooh!

It took time for our kababayan's turn to be on stage but Lilia and I kept on waiting. When her turn came in... well... she dance... as to be expected but not the expections of binabayaran lang ang performance n'ya! We encountered many kababayan who can dance... almost all our kababayan can dance... ano po! Pero iba rin yung marunong sa magaling! Lilia and I were so disappointed to her performance lalo na sa sumunod na tugtog n'ya na Dancing Queen! Ano yon?! Dance wise... very futsu po! Music wise... furui yata and out of theme... or maybe she just want to suggest to everyone that she is the dance queen on that event... ohhh! queen?! maybe I'll take that an excuse. Wala po s'yang kaagaw sa title coz she's the only obaachan na sumayaw doon... and the rest dancers na kasama n'ya are still prince and princess kasi!!! nyaaaak nyaaak nyaaak!
To be prank with her... mas marami pa kaming volunteer na kundi man ka-level n'ya ay mas magagaling pa sa kanya! Sorry talaga sa comment for her... maybe we just expect too much from her!

Till next blogging... babooo!

Mom's Day!

I consider today an unusual day! It's not only because it's Mom's Day... but there are some wonderful and awful things happened today. o(^-^)o

One good thing happened was that when Liza and I finally had the opportunity to visit kuya Ernie in St Joseph Home- for- the- aged in Yahata. We brought him a picture frame with our photos together taken during those visits we made in Kizuna Homes. We're surprised to see Oshi Mariko san and the rest of Link group visiting Kuya Ernie too. They came ahead of us so after some greetings and chattings... they left us behind!

Liza and I were happy to see kuya Ernie except for the fact that he is getting weaker this time. His jaws seems stuck... he can't normally move it. He can't almost talk. His feet are swollen. He is sooo skinny and the hard part is that he can't almost eat. He can't even swallow his food according to his care taker. We were trying to cheer him up... but he seems too weak to response. Waaah... Liza and I are trully worried about him.

We were also lucky to meet the Director of St. Josept Home for the Aged, Inagawa sensei. She was very kind to entertain and tour us around the facility. We talked about some matters regarding Kuya Ernie.

After our visit to Kuya Ernie... Liza and I visited Yahata Convent which is on the neighborhood. It's been quite a long time since we visit the convent. At first, Liza and I were worried to knock because we don't have any idea if the sisters in there are still familiar with us. As to be expected, the Japanese sister who welcome us was new to us. She introduced herself as Sister Maria Sugimoto. She's kind to entertain us and she introduced us to a Canadian sister... Sister Paula.

I met sister Paula once... many years ago... and I am glad she still remember me somehow! We gathered together to a private reception room of the convent. We talked a lot and the more we talk to her... the more we like her! She might go back to Canada this coming June. Too bad... we just met her only now. Liza and I wish we could know her more deeply and vice versa.

Yahata sisters also introduced us to a Filipina sister named Sylvia. She was not around during our visit in the convent. We've heard... she's in Nishima. But I was surprised when I came home from Itoyokado tonight... I had a phone message. It was from Sister Sylvia! I phoned her back... and finally we met thru phones. I found out from her that she's been trying to contact me this past few days regarding kuya Ernie's request. Fortunately... we had a good mental telepathy... that even we were not able to communicate by phone... we had this strange compatible feeling! Sister Sylvia was praying and trying to contact me to visit kuya Ernie this Sunday and she was surprise that I did it with Liza. What a coincidence... her prayer was really granted!

Hopefully, we can able to meet her one of this days. I look forward to seeing her in person. She seems to be an interesting sister!

It is also an exciting day because we are celebrating Mother's Day. I was glad that Sachan never forgot to greet me even thru mails... including Emily and the rest of my co- moms friends. Thanks to all of you guys!

Here's Pink Panther... a mother day's gift from Ajie. He has my eyes di ba?! (^o^)v

I personally greeted Emily thru international call to Philippines. I had the chance to talked to Ted. I almost did not recognize his voice... it changed from a low tone to a higher pitch?! I tried to advice him to fight his sickness. I heard from Emily that he is very skinny already and he can't almost eat even if he wants to... and that he is almost losing his resistance! Gosh... I even asked him what he feels or what he needs... he only answered me "nothing, I'll be fine"... 'though I can feel his frustrations, hardship and pain. He said he hates medicines already. So I told him to try hard to eat more... so he can quit his medicines. We are very worried about him... how we wish he recover as soon as possible but how... God knows! I keep on praying that he help himself and recover soon!

As of now... we are planning to consult to other hospital for "second opinion". But still we are confuse if we are going to pursue it... what if the diagnosis is different from the other? Who are we going to believe now? Not to mention the medicines that Ted bothers most! What if they will priscribe him different and more medicine? Which is which?! That's a tough decision to make... I guess if possible... we must believe his current doctors! It's like this... for example, that even if our doctor is a lousy one or no good but we believe in him... we can be cured. We have a saying that those who believe can move mountains! It's faith!

Well... I am still keeping my finger cross that he get well soon... and may God bless him!

Hey Ted! We are missing your jolly character! Get well soon brod... we are waiting for you here! C'mon... stand-up and fight! p(^-^)q

Lastly... to all the wonderful mom in the world... HAPPY MOM's DAY! (^3^) mwhaaah!

Keeping at home during Golden Week

How's everyone's Golden Week?! Meeeh? Well... I just spent it roaming around Shizuoka with my family. We're supposed to go for a trip in Okinawa... that's according to pappie but Sachan had her tour in Fukushima with her school club mates so our family trip has been cancelled! On the other hand... that was partly favorable for paps coz during holiday season like this Golden Week, travelling anywhere cost too much... and yuuup, popular seight seeing and road conditions were also crowded!

Sachan came home last Sunday and stayed with us till Tuesday, the last day of GW. We spent our days dining out and window shopping... from Parco... then Parche... and around Marui .

↓Having lunch at KAITENZUSHI... a revolving sushi bar!Dining out at Thai restaurantGathering with Ate Sarah and Yuta!

The amusing news was... Sachan had finally decided to pierce her ears. She asked me to accompany her to a clinic in Miyuki-cho. The ear piercing was successful but the shots really hurts according to Sachan. She almost wanted to cry she said... but she seems happy for what she did. Another sign of growing up? Well... she's 19 now... she'll going to welcome her 20's with her ears pierced!

↓Sachan with her first pearl earring. She was ask to wear it for 2 months. That's quite long!See you on summer Sachan!Image of our family illustrated by SachanNow.. the GW of Japan was over and Sachan was back to her school town. We expect to see her again this summer. Hoping we can have our family travel somewhere on summer.

It's Wisteria's blooming season!

Last Wednesday... Liza and I decided to visit Rengeji Park in Fujieda by bus to take a break and release some stress thru flower viewing... This season Rengeji Park is celebrating the Fuji Matsuri or Wisteria Festival. Like Sakura flower, Wisteria is also one of the most popular flowers in Japan.

It's not only the beauty but also the fragrance of wisteria is enchanting.

We enjoyed the flowers under the arbor called FUJIDANAClimbing vine... wisteria. It is usually violet but it also have pink, blue, white and even yellowish colorsNo wonder why the Japanese love this flower!

↓KOINOBORI... colorful carp streamer. The traditional displaying of KOINOBORI is a part of Boy's Day celebration on every May 5th of the year. KOINOBORI are shaped like carps because carps are strong fish and it symbolizes the healthy and strong growth of children. KOINOBORI streamers fly in the air on the mid of the park's pond A nostalgic scene from cottage windowFlowers everywhere! The wisteria fest in Rengeji Park will end up to May 6th.

It was about 4 years ago since Liza and I visited the Wisteria Fest in Fujieda and that was trully impressive and memorable as what we experienced last Wednesday!

UTAWIT 2008 in Shizuoka

Wow... I am back! I was too busy trying to grab the deadlines of my work. I was also disturbed by Ted's health conditions. It seems his sickness became complicated! Hope and pray he get well soon! Hang tough brod! I am also impress to Sonny and Emily who takes care of Ted. I know it's tough... God bless you for all the wonderful thing you are doing for Ted! Let's keep cool and pray that everything would soon be back to normal. Don't forget... laughter is the best medicine!

Sooo... where are we... oooh yeah... I would like to share some info about the Pinoy's national singing competition here in Japan... the UTAWIT 2008. Actually, the UTAWIT 2008 regional qualifying rounds in Shizuoka was organized by Philippine NAKAMA Organization and it was held last Sunday, April 27 at Gofukucho Plaza bldg., Aoi District. It was well attended by members and visitors.

The event was partly sponsored by ABS-CBN and PNB. Kababayans from UTAWIT 2008 execom headed by Olive Akatsu, the chairwoman and Julius Santillian, the external vice chair with Beverly Nones and Mr. Uchida of Phil Embassy Labor Office and the representative from Land Bank, Atty. Andarino were all around to support the event.

Judges were Mr. Julius Of UTAWIT 2008, Mr. Arakawa and Mr. Kishibata, both appointed Japanese advisers of Phil NAKAMA. Six talented contestants competed ... and we have chosen the best three... namely Hiro as 3rd placer, Monaliza as 2nd placer and... Zinia who will represents Shizuoka region to the grand finals of UTAWIT 2008 in Tokyo on October 12,2008.

Congrats to all the contestants for joining the event and good luck to the winners! We are thankful to ABS-CBN who will shoulder the transportation fee of Zinia as Shizuoka representative to UTAWIT 2008 grand finals.

We are also looking forward to Mr. and Mrs. Ito... Zinia's parents who promised us for a micro bus or something that will bring us to Tokyo to support Zinia.
OTSUKARESAMA to all who had been a part of this event... and to all NAKAMA for the cooperations and efforts in making the event possible! Kudos!