1) i am a student on the move and sometimes i feel like i don't belong anywhere. 2) mobility is quite interesting though. it colors my dreams 3) sometimes in love with life. sometimes tired with everything. id say im generally interested in life. 4) seriously believes in the wisdom behind painting velikden eggs.
Fly. Walk. Converse. Discover. A Filipina in her mid-20s records whatever.
Dada obtained her masters in Human Security Studies from the University of Tokyo in March 2008. While not formally trained in the arts, Dada is interested in multi-media work and performance. Her works generally discuss issues of space and identity. In 2006, she founded Nabua Forum, her hometown's first website.
The concert-rally last Saturday (Nov 18, 2006) at Yokohama was an eye-opener. I called Kuya Cesar Santoyo of the Center for Japanese Filipino Families the day before for any upcoming volunteer work. Kuya Cesar immediately told me about the concert-rally, "Stop Political Killings in the Philippines," an event co-organized by both Filipino and Japanese organizations operating in the Philippine and Japan. I met, for the first time here in Japan, Japanese activists who are sincerely and deeply involved in political issues in the Philippines. The day's event began with a series of film showings on the notorious Hacienda Luisita massacre of 2004 where twelve picketers were killed and hundreds injured. After this, a documentary video of Apo Jose Doton, the 62-year old who led the peasants of Pangasinan in the anti-dam protest was also shown. Both films, documentary in genre, clearly depicted the harshness of growing state-sponsored political killings. The films, and the event itself touched me deeply. I feel sorry, and guilty, for not being actively involved in any action or protest about political killings before. It made me guilty that the Japanese activists whom I met are more concerned in protecting and advancing the rights of Filipinos. The Japanese rendition of Bayan Ko sang by Kuya Allison and the Sou-Sou's version of The Jerk's Rage moved me deeply. I quote the famous poet Dylan Thomas: "Rage, rage against the dying of the light."
Here are some videos which I took during the event. Allison Opaon, a Filipino singer based in Japan, sings here his Japanese version of Bayan Ko.
Sou-sou, a Japanese band involved in various political issues in the Philippines, sings in this video The Jerks' "RAGE." Sou-sou is a japanese word for "not so much" or "nothing, really."
What is Kilometer Zero? Km 0 is a particular location where distances are measured from. The Km 0 in the Philippines is the flagpole west of Rizal Park in the country's capital city.
Now, the km. 0 magazine... Watch out for the release of km.0, the newest magazine conceptualized by Filipinos, to be published for the Filipino community in Japan. Its management and staff include former editors, writers and artists from the University of the Philippines' Philippine Collegian.
Now at La Pausa, Sengawa, waiting for T. 6:54 Nov 7, 2006
T's treating me for dinner tonight as my sort of "commission" for referring her to a parttime teaching job here in Tokyo. I didn't ask her, and I am happy that she remembered. I was supposed to take the job a month ago, but I have been busy pretending to write one report. T played Filipino games with Japanese kids during her first class. The next week, she told me that she taught the kids some words in English. T recounted that the job was very tiring. We both agree though that three to four hours of tiresome work (playing with a bunch of naughty, naughty Japanese kids) is worth the $100-pay.
I have done some part-time jobs too. Five years ago, in Osaka, I did short-term jobs as facilitator for "English Camps." The programs of these camps which I have attended as facilitator actually center more on the children's interaction with foreigners, than on actually using English during the period of the camp. English camps are interesting spaces for cultural interaction between foreigners and Japanese. Foreign facilitators would receive $150 to $200 for a two or three-day camp. This is a perfect job for those who adore children. I loved going to such since these are always held in scenic spots far from the capital cities. I was able to go to Lake Biwako, Japan's largest fresh water lake, as camp facilitator. Last year, I could also go to Nasu in Tochigi Prefecture for another camp.
In fact I received an email from one english camp organizer in May of this year. Some of my friends who attended the same camp last year also did not bother joining again. I remember that the organizers made each foreigner display whatever talent she or he has. I am really untalented, and I tried my best to dance (badly) a bit "ocho-ocho."
Nov 12, 2006 20:20 In my room I still haven't posted the enrty above as I have been very busy lately. My back's killing me now. Im happy that the First Philippine Studies Conference of Japan (PSCJ 2006) finally finished today. At least I can breathe a bit better now. I hope my conference paper wasn't so bad... I am glad that I wouldn't have to be stressed anymore just thinking about presenting.I was happy though to meet at the conference some of my former professors whom I haven't met for such a long time. Conferences are actually like mini-reunions. Sigh. Btw, special thanks to my good friend and editor, Mao(from Kule days to now), for editing my paper. Abstracts of PSCJ papers can be downloaded here.
I'm still feeling guilty that I couln't help X and other AFSJ members in organizing the first ever Philippine Fiesta here in Tokyo. I was also itching to at least pass by Hibiya Park to see my kababayans and maybe get a bite of Filipino food. It must have been interesting to see how the event went. Sigh.
Today's also the Soshigaya Art Festival. Of course I wasn't able to attend again because Issey, a friend from UP who's visiting from Manila, and I, had to leave a bit early for the conf. I was a bit happy yesterday, though, that I was able to watch here in the dorm some Japanese kids who came to sing the theme song of Totoro. Here's a short clip of them singing. Honto ni kawaii!
Ok, need to go work on another paper. Rrrr, studying MA abroad, in the local language, is tough spelled out in bold letters.
D's moving to another apartment today and he's complaining about packing his luggage again. He told me that its getting cold in London and that he refuses to buy a coat just because he doesn't want to take it with him to Hongkong, when he moves there this mid-November for his second job rotation. D is obviously getting tired of changing addresses. Since he moved to the UK last May, he's already stayed at four apartments for his trainings. D managed to visit some countries in and out of Japan soon after university graduation and before officially becoming a full-pledged shakaijin. He thought that he wouldn't have so much time (and fun) anymore when he finally commits to a 9-6 job. So D and I, over voiphone, tried to list down last night all the rooms, hotels, apartments that he's stayed at since this January 2006. This year's his busiest ever, as you can see in the list below...
Angkor Wat, Cambodia (travel, hotel)
Phnom Penh, Cambodia (travel, hotel)
Sihanoukville, Cambodia (travel, hotel)
Bus from Trat, Thailand to Bangkok, Thailand (travel, crossed the border by boat in the daytime and took the night bus) (travel, night bus)
Foreign students here get too opinionated at times. Our class today at UNU was tiresome. Everybody had something to say.
It was crowded as usual tonight at Shibuya. There, again, was the yellow van of kokuminshintou -- the People's New Party. People rushed past them.
Starbucks Shibuya's reopened and I passed by for a java chip frap. One caucasian guy, probably a tourist, sitting beside me was taking photos of the famous Shibuya crossroad when the waitress warned him that it is now forbidden to take photos from Starbucks. I interrupted to ask why. The waitress said that it's a new building policy: "hitotachi no privacy nakunatte shimaimasu no de..."
Cosplay!
All the wireless internet connections at Shibuya station were blocked so I decided to pass by school because email M the conclusion of my paper for editing. T was in the research room as expected and he said he's going to stay there for the night. I told him that it's dead people's day today in the Philippines. We both looked at the sheets of paper that display dead anthropologists faces.
I have a deadline today with M but I haven't even started work yet. It past 11 pm.
I'm so tired. I had fallen asleep last night while writing my paper. Tonight I really need to change my sheets.
