Enjoying GW within the City!

As part of the Golden Week... it's not just an ordinary Sunday today but also a holiday. It's Japan's Memorial Constitution Day.

Papie and I planned to go to onsen or a hot spring bath within the city. I thought we'll go to Umegashima but we end up driving to YURARA, Shizuoka's Health Promotion facility. The place is more on pool and training facility. They have a bath but not a hot spring! So we just decided to go to Sumpu Yume Hiroba. We also had our lunch there.

Shizuoka YURARA↓

Shizuoka Heliport near YURARA

Sumpu Yume Hiroba↓

... in new managementIt's only the spa facility that operates lately. Most of the big restaurant and shops are close.

m(_ _)m

Not mochi but kome?!

My twins!?

Enjoy your GW!

Festival of Praise 2009

Thanks for the invitation of Uncle Jo and Dang to JOB (Jesus Our Banner) Numazu Event, the Festival of Praise 2009... I had a blessed day today! Papa accompanied me and Sarah to Numazu to attend the event. They're all having lunch when we reached Numazu Bunka Center! Wooow ang daming traditional foods! Kararating lamang namin... kainan na agad!

The event was attended by kababayans from different areas of Japan. It's nice to see familiar faces there like the group of JOB Shizuoka, Olive, Maritess and Pastor Abner.

I also overwhelmed to see my long lost close friend Lolit! She never change... s'ya pa rin yung ever thoughtful, cheerful and kind Olive ni Popeye ! Hehehe!　Papa was glad to see her too! Natsukashi da mo~n! We're glad to see her lovely daughter too! They came all the way from Saitama. They had an adorable dance show... I am glad, hindi nagkalat si Lolit! jejejeee!

Lolit with daughter, Eva and me!

By the way... her sister Anabel from Nagoya did not made it to come... we really missed her!

I am happy to meet Carmie from Nagano in person! She's a friend from Friendster which Lolit introduced to me. She's sooo friendly!

I am also surpised to see Joy... aka Eva for now! She really changed... at least for the better!

The prayers, praises and worships were good and touching... they also had some variety of gospel entertainment!

The Shizuoka groupUncle jo and his group song number was the best! Nostalgic scene! I am very thankful to our dear Lord for making this event a bridge to meet Lolit with her daughter! Seeing her reminds us of our good old days... with Maryann, Cristy, Tet and even Lina and the rest of the groups. Kumusta na rin kaya sila? She's also a part of me and papa's relation! Hindi s'ya yung kirida... kundi kunsintidora... hahaha!
Hope to see you all again! Thanks for the wonderful and memorable day!

Welcome baby Yutaka!

Yesterday, I received a text from my friend Elizabeth that she gave birth to a baby boy last Wednesday night already... woow! That's too fast! Ang alam ko, her due is this month pa!

Sooo, with Alisa, Cecil and Rei chan... we went together to Shizuoka City Hospital today for a surprise visit and congratulate Beth in person!

The baby is truly cute and hairy! Sinong kahawig... hmmmm... ayoko mang i-admit... but it's his father... buti na lang mas talagang cute ang version ng baby! kekkekkeee!

Yutaka kun... sleeping like angel!

Look sa mirror reflection... ang ushuserang mga titas!!!

See... binata na ... me patilya na po! To Elizabeth... congratulations! Sana magustuhan mo ang baby sling na gift namin! Uso 'yan! Pwede mo rin gawin yang sapin... or maybe curtain??? hehehe! Kung sawa kana... pwede ring basahan! hahahah!

A visit to Sachan

Papa and I went a visit to Sachan in Niigata City last Saturday to Sunday. Upon our arrival in Niigata, Papa went straight to Sachan's university to attend the parents and faculties meeting while Sachan and I went to Bandai City to buy Papa's bday presents. It was a secret of course... we bought him a cowskin wallet. Then Sachan arranged our dinner reservation for 3 in Rouran Dining for papa's surprise birthday celebration.

We're glad papa enjoined our surprise birthday present! Funny thing was when papa felt dizzy on the way back to hotel... for the fact that he only drunk sake and salty dog! Kekkkekeee... di na sanay uminom talaga!

The next day... Sachan brought us to Aeon Mall Kameda. It was a big mall like SM in Philippines. There's shopping mall, theaters, restaurants, game center, supermarkets and everything!

That was quite an enjoyable and memorable family trip! We really had fun!

'til we meet again... (=^-^=)v

A day in Ropponggi, Tokyo with friends!

My friend Neri asked me to accompany her to Philippine Embassy in Tokyo for her personal appearance on her passport renewal. She offered me a free transportation fee so... go ahead naman ang Mama MEL ... libre eh! madali naman akong kausapin pag libre! kekekeeeh!

Amie and Liza went with us for the renewal of their passport too. Sooo... we were four members who went to Tokyo yesterday!

One of our unforgetable experiences was when we reached Ropponggi Station. When we went out to Exit 3, there were two detectives who blocked our way... showed their badges and asked us to show our ID's! Later on... the detectives became three! We are not guilty anyway because my friends are legally registered Pinoy residents here and I am legally adopted as Japanese by Japan but still... we were embarassed and disappointed to that kind of situations as if we were like fugitives! Sorry na lang for them, we're actually law abiding citizens here in Japan... even in Philippines! They were very kind to let us free after showing them our ID's!

While Neri, Amie and Liza were busy for their passport renewal processing, I went to tourism section of the embassy and asked for some brochures on Philippine cultures. After that, I waited for them at the Embassy's waiting room. I encountered many kababayan who had many problems regarding their passports. Some of them were complaining that it was more than 3 months after they applied for Machine Readable Passport... but still up to now they never received it! That was quite alarming! I hope my friends won't experience that!

Below... the crowded scene of Phil Embassy

Many were complaining about their passport pictures! One of the requirements on passport processing is to bring their passport photos. As expected, according to the written instruction, the applicants bring with faith and confident their own passport photos but they're all shocked and disappointed because upon submitting their photos... the staff rejects them and they were asked to retake them at the embassy's photo ID machine. (meron naman cgurong nakakalusot din... like yung mga naka-chamba!)

Well, the photo ID's of my friends were all rejected too! As to Amie's case, she was forced to took her photos many times because she was asked to show her little ears on screen! Dahil naka-hide ang shapes ng ears ni tita Amie... she put tissue behind her ears in order to let them appear on screen! hehehe! Paano ba i-explain yan! Sus ginoo day!

In short... if that would be the case... mas mabuting wag na lang ilagay sa requirements ang bring passport photos kundi let them require to take them inside the embassy lalo na kung may unexplained instruction na kailangan pa pala sila at higit sa lahat ... para di magastos ... according to most comments.

Well... the trip was fun and interesting! OTSUKARESAMA to all!

Happy Easter to all!

Let's rejoice!

↑Ang Tatlong Itlog... bow m(_ _)m

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In connection to this event... Alice invited me to join the Easter Sunday gathering and Fr. Bob Sayonara party in Jonai Catholic Church today... of course, I dropped by there this afternoon. That was my chance to visit the church and had some prayers... ...then after that I went to the Hall to join the fun of the gathering and handed-in my good luck present to Fr. Bob. Wherever you go... good luck Fr Bob!

It's nice to see familiar faces of our kababayan and Japanese friends! Natataranta akong batiin silang lahat dahil kabi-kabila ay puro long time no see nating kababayan and friends.

I am delighted to see Mr. and Mrs. Oishi san... hontouni ohisashiburi desu!I am thankful to Alice for her warm reception! Good luck to you pal and to the rest of the LINK group and our kababayan! 'til we meet again!

On the way home, along Sunpu Park,this breath taking sakura fubuki or blowing sakura caught my attention... 'love it!

New member!

I recruited a new member for our radio program, Take Five Philippines. She's Alisa from Samar. She'll goin to start next month. Sooo... we're four Pinoy members already! Ganbarimasho guys!

HANAMI PICNIC 2009

We were blessed to have a fine weather yesterday. What a perfect day for our HANAMI picnic!

Sumpu Park and down town area were crowded yesterday due to Shizuoka Festival's last day celebration. We were just lucky enough to find a place to hang on for picnic! Thanks to Liza, Jo and Dang who came early for the reservation of our picnic area.

We're on time!

Daidougei performer... Toto

Everyone enjoyed the performance!Be careful kids!Some of the members and friends who joined.Yauchi kun dropped by... ninki da ne!Oppsss... my friends here have something in common... think!! The last batch!Long time no see... Mr. and Mrs. Kawamura sensei!!! On the way home... we passed to Tokiwa Park While waiting for Sarah! We happened to see Sheila with kids in the park. The sakura were awesome... bonding of friends were great... the games and daidougei were fun... the foods were fine... the picnic was a blast!

more photos -- http://www.freewebs.com/philnakama/apps/photos/