My Fourth Christmas in Japan - 2009

Since 2006, I celebrated my Christmas days in Kasai along with my beloved fellow Dash classmates and my SFC family! Where we showcase most of our talents and Pinoy delicious entrées… My friends can be the shyest people in the world but sure do, they know how to have fun! (Image is our 2009 Hollywood inspired theme for my fellow Dash co-workers and friends invitation)

Christmas (entire December) is a very important season for us, it’s like the happiest part of the year for reconciliation and gathering of family and friends…It’s like the best part of Pi..more like thanksgiving day in most Western countries. We celebrate the birth of Jesus with our usual rituals…nope, not blood compact or sacrificing animals at the altar -that’s way too old school. We celebrate Christmas with our Manito-Manita where we exchange gifts to specific people with names drawn by lots. I received a nice metallic color purse and a converse sneakers this year – first ever sneaker! I loved the way we exchange gifts singing to "I love my Manito yes I do! I love my Manito yes I do! I love my manito but I wont tell you!" coz it’s not the price of the gift but the thought of embracing the child in us…like believing once again that Santa Claus still exist!…

(Image: Dash/MPS Christmas Party 09 with Hollywood actors and actresses inspired! Indeed the best stage we made and the best Christmas that all of the people worked for this party! Thanks guys! L-R: Fe a.ka. Megan Fox, BB Jorg a.k.a Ben Stiller, Dione a.ka. Kate Beckinsale, Wenven a.k.a. Rowan Atkinson, Neri a.k.a Dorothy of the wizard of O, Bros aka Marlon Brando, Madz Jan a.k.a Kirsten Dunst Reza as Kathrine Heigl, Lloren as Shakira, Allan the funny guy as Lucille Liu - He actually nailed it!, May as Pocahontas and Manny as Timothy Olyphant!)

We also have a party where we start with a nice worshipping prayers to our King-God and thanking him for the bliss of the entire 2009…the year is ending by the way…though we had economic crisis but surely the year is not as bad compared to 2008. I hope though 2010 would be a great year of changes and improvements – I'm sure of that. (Image: Kuya Amboy and his group in Couples for Christ singing his original composition song - a Tagalog Christmas song! Very nice!)

More about the traditional Filipino party, it’s clean fun of music, dances, delicious food & parlor games with EXCITING prices at stake! Filipinos are the most resourceful people I know of in my entire life! I have seen American, Japanese, Chinese, Singaporean parties but my own is still the best – of course same goes with other races when they compare their own traditions with other traditions…you can dig?

(Image: Ate Gloria's performance of Choral singing mixed with freestyle ballroom dancing to the tune of Gloria...the grannies nailed it and won the contest!

This Christmas month is like the happiest ever and I’m sad to say might be my last. I hope not…I hope I still have great chances of extending in Japan coz I like it here very much!

(Image: I have a new career! Interpreter hehe...the judges of the carolling contest at Roppongi church with my boyfriend Lawrence (In yellow)..first time I brought him to Filipino gatherings and our friend Dan)..they sure had a wonderful time at the party and hard time to judge the winner...

Importing Car from Japan to Philippines

That is the car that I wanna buy from one second hand store near Tokyo (Fussa city to be exact). You would be surprise it only cost less that a thousand dollars and with the perfect running condition, great interiors. It's a 1995 Ford Mustang, left hand steering which is perfect for Philippine driving. Other features include driver airbag, power windows, perfect A/C, power seats and alloy wheels. It is of good quality and best of all it's a MUSTANG!!!

The Japanese are freaks with new things as they are always in tune with the new fashions, new gadgets, new cars, new houses, new trends...after all they wont be worth calling first world trendy country right? So most Japanese don't mind changing cars every now and then and it's even more practical coz maintennance fees are more expensive than the cost of a new car. They even pay some trading companies to get their old cars from their garages. Old furnitures, appliances and cars have to be thrown in a proper junk places and they have to pay up to $200 to get these trashes out of their homes or garages. The older the things the higher the cost of throwing it.

Anyways, cars from US and Europe are also imported to Japan. European cars are more on hit here coz they have the same right hand steering while US uses left hand drive...but both countries import cool cars that's why Japanese love them! However those cars from the 90's are not a good idea for Japan use so there are plenty of stockist that make it a business importing used cars to neighboring Asian, African and Carribean countries who would like to use and buy the used cars.

***To inform you these cars are way way cooler than those second hand cars that are sold in my country but the real headache is sending the car to the Philippines!...

Ok, I have an aunt who is working in Port of Mactan in Cebu as a costums assesor...she's got a lot of connections but despite of this I still have to pay for $2000 for the car I bought for 50% less...can you imagine??? So I am still evaluating if it will worth it - after all it's a Mustang!!! duhhhhh!! here I am again. I am actually mixed emotions...I cannot buy a Mustang in Pi for less than a thousand dollars and it's not a common car in Pi anyways...but the importing tariff and customs laws makes the work hard to accomplish - impossible to my senses that is....

The headache doesn't end there...the tariff approximately $2000 for a $1000 car is only upto Subic Bay in Manila and it might cost another $500 to ship it to Cebu...and will all the papers I have to file in BIR for it to be legal...shit! my heart is pounding in distress!!! The car would end up $3,000 - $4,000 worth or Php 200,000 in duties and taxes for it to be released - that's the worst case scenario!

Will I just keep on staring to this pix? or will I make a move? God what would Jesus do???

Nikko Tour - Autumn getaway 2009

I am really thankful to God coz I get a lot of invites from my Japanese colleagues to travel in some fun parts of Japan for free. Like the previous weeks when we had a good Filipino taste BBQ in the lake near Mt. Fuji. I often like outdoor sightseeing than the usual boring whole day trapped at my crib troubleshooting my computer or endless Manny Pacquaio videos. I mean those times are also fun but when I get to go places like Nikko I feel releived from stress and good feelings of embracing nature. The nature has great effects on me, it revitalizes my energy and it even becomes my immediate solution to some of my concerns. It's more than liquor or even drugs that help me forget my concerns in life.

Life in Tokyo in particular can sometimes be very boring especially for a Filogirl like me who likes the adventures of mountains from my hometown, Boljo-on, Cebu.

I think one of my best places to go in Japan is Nikko. I've been here twice, during summer of 2008 and this recent autumn 2009. I can compare Nikko, Tochige-Ken as Bohol or Camiguin coz you get to visit not only a spot but with lots of beautiful places and experiences. Well here are my experiences in my autumn getaway.

1.) Toshogu Shrine
They said this is where the higest shogun in Japan lies. It is on the top of the mountain coz they said it’s the way their culture are. Their superior is placed on the topmost part of the mountain. Here you can also see the 3 monkeys that portrays “See no evil, talk no evil, hear no evil” actions, which could be like a reminder for us. The picture is the entrance of Toshogu Shrine with my friend Fe.
2.) Shinkyo Bridge
Actually I do not understand why this place is a tourist spot. It’s just an orange short bridge that you can see when you are passing in the streets. They said it’s an old bridge used before by people before accessing the Toshogu Shrine.

3.) Lake Chuzenji
This is the best spot right after Kegon Falls! It’s very placid and you can enjoy more with the sunshine facing the lake that is caught in between two mountains. You can ride the ducks so you can touch the waters of this lake. Great experience for us, we rented duck for 500 per person on a 30 minute ride.

4.) Kegon Waterfall
A 100 meters high water falls right after a 48 cups of winding roads! I love this place so much! It has it’s unique appearances for all seasons. I’m so glad I’ve seen 2 seasons, summer and winter!

Trully my experiences in Nikko is very rewarding despite of the winding roads going up and down; it's all worth it.

B-B-Q at the Lake

So the busy life of Tokyo with constant sitting time andover 15 hours staring at the computer tires people! A getaway of BBQ in a forest place with authentic firewoods and fresh air would be a perfect treat!!
After a Fuji Time we headed to Mosoku Lake where we had our lunch. I am writing this like a week late coz I was a bit busy with my other stuff like household chores, jogging etc. What I experienced? I am from a province place in Boljo-on, Cebu, but we dont usually do BBQ outside our house coz for us it is silly. We use firewood inside the house when I was younger coz my grandparents want their food cooked the traditional way. They dislike food cooked in gas stoves coz they said we can taste the kerosene in the food. Anyways, BBQ at the woods in amazing!

My other colleagues brought with them BBQ stand that made the BBQ easy and convenient. Before that day, I was tasked to marinate a Filipino taste pork, fish and chicken. I was but insecure with the taste but turn out my friends liked it.

I will definitely do this again!

5th Station of Mt Fuji in Autumn Season

Last weekend we went to Mt Fuji, we didn’t climb coz I know it would be so much agony. Our Japanese office mate who drove us to Mt. Fuji, prefer to stay at the fifth station where all the souvenir shops and restaurants are located. Our outfits weren’t prepared to climb a volcano anyways. We were 6 people in the group, 2 Japanese and 4 Filipinos.
We departed Tokyo 7 AM and as excited as we are, we didn’t sleep during the trip but kept on talking and looking at the changing appearance of city streets to sub-urbs then final to rural areas. We passed by the rainbow bridge, Fuji Q and other remarkable places, it made our trip more exciting. But other than that it was the usual 3 hours drive.

I took photos of moving stuff from Iphone but all of them appeared blurry so I decided to just save the camera’s battery to the real scenery of Mt. Fuji.

Before arriving in Mt Fuji, there was this part of the road with music/tone, they said those are groves that produce vibration when friction from the car tires hit the road. It is made that way and it was unbelievable. The road was constructed putting some groves patterned to some musical notes I am not sure what the song title was that but even if it was short, it still amazed me and wondered why they spent much to make that road for that purpose alone? Of course I am just commenting, it's not a negative comment I think. Japanese people are very creative so maybe they made it that way for art's sake. I cannot tell which area was that but it’s on the way to Mt Fuji.

I enjoyed the autumn leaves while we were passing those winding roads up to the fifth station. It is now middle of October and the color of the leaves are still yellow and some orange. I know it would have been better if it was November.






When we arrive at the fifth station, I was surprised at the different kinds of restaurants with structures adopted from different cultures, could be European, Latin American, Chinese and the like. It was cold though so we were like wet ducklings. We have to be there for around 30 – 60 minutes coz one of our Japanese friends was not wearing proper winter gear. He was shaking from the cold breeze and besides we were all hungry.
Anyways, I had high hopes about Mt. Fuji and I just saw it during spring season when I went to Fuji Q some time last year. It is not as pretty without ice on its mouth peak compared to Mt. Fuji during winter or spring. I like Mt. Mayon in Albay, Philippines better with its perfect cone. Mt. Fuji is by the way same fault line in Mt. Kanlaon in Negros so any volcanic activities of Fuji it will be the same as Mt. Kanlaon. Here are more foto's during that trip:



Note: Janet doing her Naruto moves on one statue in a souvenir shop. There are plenty of statues fronting the volcano.

Note: Here we are acting like navigators. It was fun!


Note: It was 12 noon and coz we planned to have BBQ in Lake Kawaguchi we just controlled our hunger and bought JPY 500 corn on cub not as good as the sweet corn in Busay but enough to supress our hunger.

Note: Inside souvenir stores, pretty expensive so I just bought 8 different views of Mt Fuji postcards at JPY110 each.


What I think about the place in general, it was so pretty and everything around it is pretty. It’s worth the driving hours.

Finding true friends in Tokyo

This blog is tribute to my good Filipino, Thai, Japanese and American friends whom I met in Tokyo but now moved to another countries or move back to their home countries

When I arrived in Tokyo my family was so happy to fetch me in Narita Airport well I am the only one living in the Philippines with some relatives while my family (Japanese mixed) are living in Japan almost all of their lives. I know I would miss my home country that I had lived and loved for 22 years till I decided to finally reunite with my family in Japan.

From the moment I got out from Narita and went to Ibaraki, I knew it would be cold planet for me and a silent boring life different from Cebu, Philippines. Indeed it was but when I started working as an Engineer in Tokyo where I saw the different side of Japan my view changed dramatically.
Tokyo is very convenient to live; the trains are very accessible, the groceries, the church, amusement places are everywhere. But believe it or not, it’s not on the place but how you enjoy the place with someone. Human as we are, we cannot be an island. It would be tragic and depressive if you are all alone in a beautiful country like Japan. So I decided to meet new friends and I met good ones in the same multi-cultural engineering company that I am working for.

I have heard bad stories about Filipinos in Japan especially those who are working in clubs but actually it’s up to you to choose your friends and you have the right to choose people whom you can trust. I just happened to have found the good ones. My advice to all is you can find good friends at any Christian organizations in your churches and you can’t find good friends from disco’s because those people are hesitant to trust you too.

The Filipino friends that I met are Christians and gather every Friday for novena and goes to church on Sundays. We also have good, decent fun on occasions and wacky ones at the bars. They know how to balance work and play using decent fun and they can be trusted different from the bad stories I heard.

The Thai Friends I met where really nice and very accomodating to teach me their culture and some of their words "sawadee"!

The American friends I met were mature ones, well it would be fun to be with same age but I am hesitant because those young ones spend too much money on socializing. I just think. Those Americans friends we had balances our nature, they are very good life advicers and I learned a lot from them and pretty much they also learned a lot from our culture.

To all of the friends that I met in Tokyo, hope to see you again one day, Mabuhay kayong lahat. Chun Kin Tun Kun and I miss you all!!

Mata ne!

Yukata Festival Cruise in Tokyo Bay

Yukata Cruise in Tokyo Bay

I have few months left in Nihon so I wanted to experience those things that I have not take in the past 3 years of living here. Constantly, I am just comfortable in my pad inside my turf. I know I am having fun with my friends doing the usual stuff, Friday night's gatherings after a good novena prayer, Sunday is church day and all week day is work day. Yes, I do believe in the saying that it's not the place that matters but how you cherish the place and how you enjoy the people you meet but experiencing new stuff is adding more zest to life.

So last night September 12 at Takeshiba Pier near Odaiba I had a wonderful time in my Yukata. The weather didn't agree with our fun really well but I think it added more joy and blessing to the night coz if it didn't rain participants could have been wilder and drunker than it was. I would take a short cut route of my story, my friend Fe and I just did well in making our knotting, fixing and wearing of our Yukatas without any supervision from the local. Actually we did quite well but it wasn't about the formal way of wearing them as other people in the Yukata festival just had their own ways of wearing it which is absolutely fun to look at. I'll tell you more about that later.

We didn't have a good quality camera on hand that time but I saw one video in the internet that is similar to what we experienced (additional with the rain)

Yukata Cruise in Tokyo Bay from Philip Cotsford on Vimeo.

We took the Monorail to Takeshiba Pier and ended in a meeting place with almost 200 people wearing in Yukatas in various colors and kinds, from then on it was a little awkward at first coz obviously we were the only Pinoys and we were surrounded with bunch of foreigners from different nations. My friend Fe was a little conscious at first so we tried to open up to each other first how to fit in and we did it perfectly. People were so accepting and were so glad to have us as companies. We took and paid for the registration and went immediately to the cruise ship.

It was really amusing being in a place packed with great people who are wearing Yukatas in their own ways; indeed, very creative! They added definitions like wearing rubber shoes with it, adding hats, wearing together with the usual walking shoes and sandals. I thought at first it was disrespectful but when I talked to a Japanese girl who's amazingly mixed with my genes (Filipino), she said it's fine and the locals wouldn't mind at all. The Yukatas are just like fashion and it's no longer a strict implementation. But they have certain time and occassion of the year that they still observe to wear Kimono's like when children turn 3,5,7 years old. They said it's a good celebration and a formal one so they have to observe a well defined wearing of Kimono.

The whole time of the cruise were enjoying chatting with my friend and meeting new friends and just walking around enjoying the party that I would know wont happen again.
We went to the upper deck were there's a little stage to see shows from Japanese people wearing Yukata and a whole platform of different people dancing and having fun.
Fe and I decided to change our Yukatas because it was wet with the rain and continued having fun. We met more people maybe it's because we let out the real us? It was a funny thought.

I love activities like those; it was fun definitely worth of all cents and time. I don't wanna count my last days in Japan I want my days count.

It only happens in Japan

It's 8:40 am of Wednesday, just a usual morning for me, too late from my usual time of waking up and going to the office which is only 15 minutes away from my pad by bicycle. Obviously, I was 10 minutes late and to my surprise, I was one of the few people who arrived at the office. I wondered why. I usually arrive the latest in my department well next to my boss who maybe drunk the other day, again. So I thought maybe people are just really scared of the second flu outbreak. Flu is really scary in Japan by the way; citizens always cram and anxious everytime they hear of outbreaks like the recent H1N1 virus. Merely because millions of people are on the streets attending to their busy lives (work, school, businesses) and a huge risk of getting the disease just anywhere is a threat to their usual routine, pretty scary since in Japan - Bawal ang magkasakit (Diseases not allowed). This is one of the places on earth that you cannot survive without money so people has to work.
Anyways, I just heard from another officemate who arrived 2 hours late after our usual time in. He said there was an accident in the Tozai Line, a cart bumped to another maintennance cart which rarely happen to Japan since they are very careful observers of safety.

That photo you see is forwarded by a friend to me, as you see a group of men united to push back a train after an accident occur at the start of day operation. The train is Tozai Line; a Tokyo Metro Train that runs from Nakano to Nishi-Funabashi and some trips to Toyo-Katsutadai (a change to Keisei train to go to Narita Airport). It runs to 15-20 train stops and this sudden stop in operation can cause delay not only to the Tokyo Metro Train but the entire train system of Kanto area, this may include the JR Line and other privately owned trains like Toei trains and Keisei trains like a domino effect causing millions of yen in losses.

I know Japan is concern about the loss and anger from people who maybe late from their appointments at their works or schools but what inspired me from this event, people still have the passion to help get through it peacefully. Which I think only happens in Japan where people are prone to bottling up their emotions just for the sake of unity, order and peace. They seek action and at these time words of blames and regrets do not help.
For me this is a rare accident in Japan after living here for almost 4 years now. But it made me appreciate more that I am here in this country where I can develop myself into a better person. I can't help but compare from my beloved homeland. I hope one day, in my country people stop blaming and just give a hand and just do it and say yes to improvement.