Phil NAKAMA on year 2009

This afternoon... our group, Philippine NAKAMA gathered together in Aicel 21. It was our 1st general meeting for this year and at the same time... our SHIN NEN KAI or New Year's meeting. We talked about our past and future activities. There are some proposal events like another Maritess Summer Live concert and another overnight picnic! Ngayon ko pa lang isipin... gusto ko na maloka ulit! hehehe! But nothing is impossible to the group kapag ginusto nila! Not bad as long as we cooperate to each other and we enjoy what we are doing... especially if we are doing it for a cause!

What surprised everyone is that the election for new officers for year 2009-2011 will be held this summer already! Ang bilis nga naman ng 2 years! Graduating na as President si uncle Jo... and the big question is who will be our next leader!

The meeting was held in a Japanese room.

More than 20 members attended. Some new members also joined us. We also celebrated Sarah's 21st bday (sa Japan po!). Gochisosamadeshita Sarah! Our group pictures... KOTOSHIMO, YOROSHIKU! Our next general meeting will be on spring... hopefully on our HANAMI Picnic! But before that... the group is scheduled to perform Bamboo Dance at Aoi Festival on March 1st and another one on the mid of March at Miho, Shimizu.

For the meantime... some of our members will be seeing each other at uncle Jo's gig in Iskinita on Saturday... then on another gig on the 21st at Maritess with Friends Valentine Live.
OTANOSHIMINI!

Philippines in NHK

I've just watched tonight the NHK program... Travel Check (correct me if I am wrong about the title) featuring the Philippines .
They featured more on Manila and Cebu. I felt so excited while watching it... ewan ko ba... mukhang nakakamiss talaga ang country where you really came from!
I was amazed sa prison na dinadagsa daw ng maraming tourist in Cebu lately. Why? Kasi po, the prisoners are performing dances for the tourist. Since they started performing dances... the prisoners forgot their burdens and being bored inside. I think that's a good idea!
Pinoy talaga... mga entertainers nga! Keep it mga kababayan!

Thanks to Shin Shizuoka Center

Shin Shizuoka Center is a shopping center located in Takajo 1 chome, Aoi District. It's a station building type in the sense na dito ang station ng mga railroad trains and buses... including taxis.

This shopping center owned by Shizuoka Shizutetsu group company was build on year 1966.

Now, after 42 years of service... the time comes to an end for Shin Shizuoka Center. It will be open till this end of January and after that... they're going to demolish the shopping center.

Recalling back! When I came here in Shizuoka about 20 years ago, the first time I happened to encounter the place... my first empression was a bit anxious. Why? It's because of the shopping center's name... Shin Shizuoka Center... if we'll gonna translate it in English, it's New Shizuoka Center. The building was already old that time... the name doesn't fit anymore. I always been wishing that they must change the name of the shopping center already!

Well, well... on the other hand, I will gonna miss Shin Shizuoka Center. I used to shop to this place because almost everything is cheap! I will miss "Cynthia"-- one of my fave fashion store.

I will also miss the restaurants upstairs and of course... the coffee shops at the basement that I used to drop by during my breaks from works and after my works. Then after that, I oftened go to Shizutetsu super market to shop for our meals.

Ohhh... kahit papaano marami ring memory sa akin ang Center kaya kakalungkot din pag nawala na s'ya! Sooo... thanks to Center... thanks for the wonderful service... even to the points I gathered to my point card during those times I shopped there... hehehe! OTSUKARESAMA DESHITA!

They'll rebuild the building and reopen it on year 2011. OTANOSHIMINI to the real NEW Shizuoka Center!

Some late winter scenes and stuffs

It is not surprising that winter is cold. I should be thankful that I live here in Shizuoka where the climate is mild... but what surprise me lately is that it's really freezing cold lately!

↓Mt. Fuji scene from Shizuoka City. 'seems it is close to us... but actually, it will take about 2 hrs drive to Mt. Fuji from our city. During this season... we can see Mt. Fuji's image very clearly from our city.

Trees in late winter. Buds are starting to bloom... indicating that spring is coming!

↓On the other hand... here's the condition at Sachiko's place in Niigata City.↓ It's snowing... and it seems that this year, they are experiencing a heavy snow out there! Her place is in the north... that's why!
↓Scenes from Sachan's veranda... it's snow, snow and snow everywhere! Magsasawa sila sa KAKI KOORI or shaved ice... ahhh... i love strawberry flavor! hehehe!

Speaking of winter... NABEMONO or dish in a pot is one of the popular dish during winter here in Japan. Nabemono are kept hot on the dining table by portable stoves. Some of my favorites are sukiyaki, yosenabe, oden, kimuchi nabe and of course... this shabu-shabu which is served with thinly sliced beef.

↓Lately... I experienced something different. It's BURI or yellow tail fish shabu-shabu. Not bad... especially when you eat it with ponzu!

↓I don't know if this is related to late winter... but I just found something amusing as I window shopped with Liza and Dang at Parco's basement area... we happened to pass the liquor shop...

...and look what I found... our very own San Miguel beer! Here some more alcohols. This stuff is cute... little bottles of sake for just one shot... a drinkypoo!Oppsss... this area is Liza's fave... her collection of tiny alcohol! So if you want to treat her on her birthday... just drop-by to this place!
One more about this late winter... my hubby received some New Year omiage from his patients... and I found something unique. It's a packed of Japanese crackers... it tasted good but what amazed me are the wrappers in 7 different colors... 7 different flavors... and yes, different characters of Japanese Seven Gods of Good Lucks or the SHICHIFUKUJIN. ↓

According to the Japanese folklore... on New Years Eve the deities enter port on a TAKARABUNE or treasure ship to bring happiness to everyone. Tradition says that sleeping with a picture of the shichifukujin aboard the takarabune under your pillow on January first ensures your first dream of the New Year will be a lucky one. Maybe the dreamer will even end up in seventh heaven.

Sound's like Santa Claus version huh! Ok... now that I knew it... I will try it this year's New Year's Eve! Promise!!!

Today is BAABAA's 85th birthday...

... she's my mom in-law! After our dinner, we surprised her with her birthday cake. Actually... she forgot her birthday already... how much more about her age! (o^-^)b

Congratulations and best wishes BAABAA!

Take care of your health! I actually brought her to hospital this afternoon because her left elbow is swollen and aching. Good it's not a fracture... not even serious according to doctor.

My new laptop!

This year, 2009 is the year of "change" according to the predictions. So for a change... after 8 years of services of my ME-fujitsu desk top... I finally decided to buy my new laptop... the Vista-fujitsu, FMV Biblo laptop! Waaah... kapapasok lang ng 2009... me utang na naman ako!

New Year's gathering

It's Shinenkai season... meaning after New Year's get-together to kick off the new year. I just joined yesterday night the Shinenkai of AOI KU KUMIN KONWA KAI-- a committee of selected citizen's of Aoi District... who plans for the betterment and development of the community... somewhat like pulong-pulong sa kaunlaran! I am also included as one of their committee members representing the foreign residents in Aoi District. Actually, we had just finished our 2 years contract and meeting last December. But still we need to meet to finish our up-coming event in Sengen Doori this March.

The gathering was held in Kawachian in Sengen Doori.

The ladies...

... and some of our dandies!

Our friendly members... there are about 3 members who missed this gathering.

I am honored to be one of the committee members of this group. I learned many things about Shizuoka City particularly Aoi District. This group really listen and consider or make reference even a small opinions or suggestions we had. I am proud to our intelligient leader, Mr. Sakurai-who always had a smart decisions and also to the Machizukuri staff of City Hall who works hard to make all our proposals and plans possible.

Don't miss our Aoi District event on March 1st!

Sachan, the young adult!

-more pix to come-

New Year 2009 Purikura...

New Year onsen!

Relax time! I invited everyone to Sumpu Yume Hiroba for spa bath yesterday! They have new management already. It reopened last November but it's quite different this time. No problem with the spa part... it seems the same like last summer when I, Sachan, Sarah and Yuta been there except for some interesting souvenir and old stuff stores that have gone and instead, it became a massage rooms.

It is disappointing that many restaurant had been gone. Many shopping facilities have been gone too! Not a good impression for those first timer customers.


wrist bond Entrance to former restaurants

OMAKE! Wala lang... katuwaan lang po! Meet Pooh, Stich and Mickey!Sometimes we need to be weird!

Former Elfin talents reunion?!

I was surprised to Sarah's phone call relying that Grace is visiting Shizuoka from Gifu and she wanted to meet us and at the same time to... introduce her 5 years old daughter, Trinity. Mabuti na lang at di pala s'ya baog! Grace's staying at Venus home. Sarah with Venus and Grace visited at home with their lovely kids! Wooow, ang lalaki na ng mga kids! It bothers me a lot seeing this kids growing so faaaast... that means that I am also agiiing! Naman... namaaan...

Seeing the girls remind me of the former Elfin's. Natsukashii! Sayang Maria did not made it to come this NewYear because she was ill. But glad to hear her voice by the phone... and by the way, happy birthday greetings to Papa Kushida. It's his birthday today!

Here are the former Elfin talents with the Elfin "products"!

After the visit, they invited me to go to Karaoke for fun!

It seems like we are having a reunion of former Elfin talents!

It's been a while for me in karaoke... I was amazed to hear them singing the latest songs. I also enjoyed the one-patan songs in karaoke! We also enjoyed the dance numbers of Grace and her kid Trinity! They promised to dance with Phil NAKAMA event next time.Like mother... like daughter Mariko and Trinity really had talents. Mabuti na lang namana nila ang DNA ng mga moms!The bondings!We enjoyed the gathering! Hope we can make it again someday with other former talents like Alice and her sisters. Katuwaan lang kasi this time kaya we were not able to have the chance to invite them... if chances forbid maybe in the near future... for sure... Maria will definetely be around daw... kaya for Maria... ngayon pa lang, you need to take extra care for your self para di ka palaging magkasakit. ODAIJINI !