Maligayang Pasko!

It's Christmas but I almost forgot it! Ewan ko ba... since my daughter grew up and been away from us... I can't feel Christmas that much anymore. Iba pa rin talaga yung meron kang kids around na excited sa mga Christmas decorations and illuminations, expecting for Santa's gifts and yah... 'yung pagdating ng eve na nag-iihip s'ya ng cake! Kakamiss talaga yung mga time na yon.

So if I were you lalo na to those mom na meron pang tsikiting d'yan... make and spend the best things you could with your kids lalo na kung may mga event like this... para marami kayong good memories in the future!

So back to my Christmas... before eve... Belinda with uncle Jo plus Marissa dropped by at home to share some Xmas foods for their gathering at Sarah's place... Sarah came after them with another sharing of foods and gifts for all of us at home. That's touching! Pero sa dami ng bigay nila... we can't imagine at home how to eat them!

Ano nga bang exchange food ko? I did not prepare that much but kahit konting menudo... I was able to share with them.

Sarah's new home!

Some of Xmas foods at Sarah's Xmas gathering... there are more actually!

The kids group! They're Christmasing to their ninang and ninong!

About 9:00 pm... I prepared for my date with Amie and Liza in Kentos to spend our Eve like we did last year. But before going there... I dropped by to Sarah's place with some beers to share to their Christmas gathering. I just showed up, took pictures and some greetings... then I scaped already! Thanks to Sarah and Belinda who drove me downtown to meet Liza and Amie.
We had a cup of coffee in Jolibee first. We received panty gifts from Amy--the owner -- from her give-away Xmas gifts basket! Mabuti na lang makapal ang mukha namin para makiarbor! hehehe! Happy Xmas Amy!
After that we went to Kentos for some music tripping... opppsss... I said tripping anoooh... but unfortunately we were disappointed to vocal band members! I don't know if they understand what they're singing in English... di namin maintindihan ang mga wordings nila! Kakasuyang nakakatawa talaga! Lumakas tuloy ang loob ko na magbalik vocalist!!! hahaha!!!

Our first drinks... looks sweet but after our kampai... we yelled for yaaakkk! mixed wiskey was too strong!!!

Ryo followed us in Kentos.

Sax player was good!

We had a good Eve! But I don't think I want to spend my Eve at Kentos next year... sorry, not with those poor vocalists!

Today... I consentrated with my text and mail Christmas messages and phone calls! Kakatuwa naman kapag marami ang nakakaalala sa yo! Wag lang sana ako maalala ng mga pinagkakautangan ko lalo na yung mga inaanak ko! hehehe!

Had some chat with Ana K too... wooow that was quite long chikahan! We almost burn our ears for almost 2 hours in cellphone! But I enjoyed our chatting! We seldom see each other lately so maybe that's how we missed our chikahan!

Tomorrow... Sachan will be back home for her winter vacation away from school. We will surely celebrate tomorrow night our Christmas together as family! TANOSHIMI da ne?

Sounds one day late celebration for Xmas! Hmmm... it's always Christmas desho?!

May you all have a blessed and peaceful Christmas!

Phil NAKAMA Christmas Party 2008

Thanks to the generous support of the Philippine NAKAMA group and friends... once again, we were able to successfully celebrate our Phil NAKAMA Christmas Party 2008 event today with good foods, shows, games and gifts!

The party was held in Coupole Kaikan. The venue provided us their biggest hall on the 5th floor to reach our huge number of guests. Yes... we are so thankful that every year of our Christmas Party celebration, our guest keep on increasing. Maraming salamat sa suporta ng lahat!

This year entertainment was provided with amasing talented guys... like our gorgeous Jazz singer, Maritess and our very own pop singer, uncle Jo... the fabulous hip hop dance of Ryo... the fantastic DAIDOUGEI performance of REI and games like everyone's fave... Bingo!

Again and again... our deepest thanks to all the guys who made this event possible. Particularly to Coupole Kaikan who allowed us to extend our party for an hour!

Bonenkai season!

It's BONENKAI season again! It's a gathering of friends and co-workers during December here in Japan to celebrate the end of the busy year. I was lucky indeed to have many friends and colleagues kaya kapag kanitong season... I am like a spinning wheel dahil maraming Bonenkai parties to attend!
Here are some photos from Bonenkai parties I attended lately...

SAME's Bonenkai--- with my colleagues! This was held last Saturday, 13th at Asian Typoon in Ryogai cho! It's a good chance to get along with co-workers...... especially to those we hardly knew!

BONENKAI with my English Class at SAME. We held it at Cross Roads Restaurant in Nakajimaya last Friday, 19th. We enjoyed our buffet lunch gathering! I am thankful to this group for they always treat me on our dates! (^-^)v

There are more parties to attend to but I will surely missed most of the other invitations due to my conflict schedules. Bawi na lang next year!

Back to Anzai

It's a cold day with partly raining! I was in Anzai Elementary School this morning thru Masui san invitation. I actually assisted her lecture regarding the relationship of Japan to other countries.

Lecture with Grade 5 kids!

I was asked to talk about the relation of Philippines and Japan. At first I could hardly think of the relations between the two countries except for business or trade like banana, pineapple, mango, tuna, shrimps, and even nata de coco for instance. Then the appliences and cars of Japan in exchange... not to mention the bridges and other building infrustractures. I also talked about the tourism and aids that Japan provide to our country like on time of disasters.

I refrain talking about the World War 11 and Filipino talents who works in Japan. I just taught that it's quite sensitive for kids to talk about.

As I am talking... I almost forgot the important part of the relation between the two countries... personally, I am part of it desho? I'm married to a Japanese, have a daughter and living here in Japan... that's it! I also talked about our voluntary group... the Phil NAKAMA. They were impressed about our activities and role as a bridge between Japan and Philippines.

↓Kids posted to the map those things they found in their homes that are made from other countries. ”Made in China” top the list... not surprising!

Thanks to Masui san's invitation... I gained another good experience not only regarding the theme but on her teaching idea. Hope to see her again on our lunch date!

Phil NAKAMA on the move!

Pasko na naman oh kay tulin ng araw♪ Yup! ang bilis talaga ng panahon at kapag ganitong season... everyone is busy talaga... ganon din ang group naming Phil NAKAMA... we're also busy to our up coming event on December 21st... our Christmas Party 2008 in Coupole Kaikan.

So, here we are... we gathered last night in Jolibee Restaurant for the preparation of our party. Kaya hayun... nabulabog na naman ang restaurant ni Amy! I hope kumita naman s'ya sana sa amin! hehehe! Suprisingly... the whole officers and advisers of the group were present! That's a good sign of cooperation and dedication!

With our crazy... este kalog priest... Father Bob!

The meeting session The meeting was in order. I hope the main event is in order too! I will be busy again this coming week with Liza and hopefully with some other volunteers coz we are in-charge for gift segregations and programs outline! Maraming pakulo for everyone on our Christmas party... sana makarating kayong lahat... with your Y3,000!!! (^-^)b

It's also Ana's (Precy's sis) bon voyage party! She'll be back to Phil on the 12th. We'll gonna miss you 'day. Hope to see you again! o(^3^)o

Intercultural in Tamachi

Another inter cultural teaching! This time, EGG group invited me to Tamachi Elementary School to teach Philippine culture together with Taiwan, Indonesia and Hawaii cultures.

We teached two classes of Grade 5 kids. I'm amazed to students who asked many questions. That means they're listening and interested!

As usual... the preparations, performances of the activity was fine except for lack of time.

A day in Fusoku

Suzuki sensei of Shizuoka Fusoku High School dropped by to my work at SAME last week and invited me to come over to her class to talk about the Philippines and mostly about the helpless children of the Philippines including our JFC scholarship program.

I asked Liza to come with me in Fusoku to help me out for the lecture. We're both worried on how we will organize our 40 minutes lecture in front of 80 high school students coz we're not able to prepare due to lack of time.

So, the main event came... that was last Wednesday... unexpectedly... it somehow end up interestingly especially our gimmick on "right or wrong" quiz about the Philippines. We're not able to have the question and answer portion for we actually run out of time!

On the spot preparations↓

Some of the shy but smart students!

With the charming teacher... Suzuki sensei!

It feels good to share to other the real Philippines!

Birthday date with Sachan

Our family travel was held last November 22~24. It was fun and memorable!

Sachan turns 20!

Papie and I met Sachan in Tokyo last Friday for our 3 days family travel as papie's treat to Sachan's 20th bday on November 25th. We held the celebration in Tokyo Disney.

We stayed in Disney Hotel, then the next day... we transfered to Tokyo Bay Hilton wherein we used to stay during Sachan's childhood days. NATSUKASHII datta but unfortunately... Sachan never remember it anymore... GAKKARI! (笑)

Anyway... we will miss Sachan's main event tomorrow but still... have a blessed birthday SACHAN! Mhwaaaaaaah! (^3^)/ moooooore pictures to come...

BTW: Belated birthday greetings also to my late mother (11/22)... good to hear that Leng and family had a picnic with her at the cemetery inspite of the rain!

Advance greetings to Sonny (11/30) and Leng (12/4) too! Wow... too much celebrants these days! Many happy returns folks!

Anzai kids on Philippine Cultures

Masui san and her group invited me to join the cultural-understanding activity in Anzai school last Wednesday wherein I was assign to teach the grade 5 kids about the Philippine cultures. Friends from Thai, China and Nepal were also there to teach their own cultures.

I am also very thankful to my facilitator Ohashi san for her good support. We were able to present our lecture smoothly and on time. I am impressed to all the kids comment about the Philippines. 'seems they really learned something good from me... hehehe! (^-^)d

Shizuoka International Fest 2008

... held November 16 at the CCC Bldg in Otemachi by SAME. Mullticultural event were being featured including games of the world. I was the incharge of the Philippine games! I introduced jack stones, pick up sticks, kadang race and many more! Some of the participants↓ The Phil NAKAMA group presented some songs by uncle JO......and bamboo folk dance Some of the int'l groups and friends around the event!Thanks to Mochizuki san who dropped by to watch our performances and gave us some budget so our group were able to go out for snack at Denny's! Gochisosama deshita!

Lunch in Vietnam...

... restaurant to be exact! It was a lunch date with Ohashi san. I wasn't able to treat her on her birthday last October 21 so we decided to set our lunch date last Wednesday, Nov. 12 in AN NAM Vietnam Restaurant in Tenma cho. We did enjoy their healthy lunch set!Vietnam noodles included in our lunch set!
We're targeting to have lunch in Thai next time! (^-^)v

A visit in Shinagawa

Sarah invited me to go with her in Shinagawa to visit her sis Ai in Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau. We are both tired and still have logs from our Philippine trip but yesterday was the only possible day wherein we can visit Ai together... sooo sugod na lang kami ni 'day on another trip!Amasing place... too big and crowded! But good to see Ai! We went to see Ai's Japanese bf in Hiratsuka. Felt relieve meeting Ai's future hubs. He seems kind and shy. I hope they can get marry asap.
Hang tough AI p(^-^)q

Davao Pearl Farm 2008

World Zoo Art Exhibit 2008 in Philippines

The International Stationary Exhange Club of Japan and the Philippine NAKAMA group would like to express our warm gratitude to the International Christian Academy in Sucat, Paranaque for making this exhibit possible!

The main exhibit was held last November 5th at the gymnasium of ICA.

Philippine Travel 2008

Hello all! I'm back from my two weeks travel in my home land... the Philippines!

I am trying to update my blog but due to my scrambled sched... I can't make it at the moment so please bear with me... ganbarimasu p(^-^)q

Manila Ocean ParkDavao Pearl FarmDavao Crocodile ParkSome of our pamangkin at the family gathering in Lanang Beach All Soul's Day in Manila Memorial ParkLast glance to our Manila High School! Demolition is now going on... they will rebuild the school!World Zoo Art Exhibit at the Int'l Christian SchoolBye bye time!

more to come...