Philippine Society in Japan (PSJ) - Nagoya happenings at marami pang iba

by Nanette Ochoa Fernandez

Hello from Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture in Central Japan!

Bagong Officers
So ano ba ang bago dito sa amin? Well for starters, we have a new set of officers elected in April, inducted in May and hard at work since then. These are Noemi Oba, president; Doris Yokoi, VP; Nanette Fernandez, secretary; Rose Fujiwara, treasurer; and Fr. Philip Muncada, SVD, auditor.

Our new prexy, super-sipag and popular Noemi Oba, last year's VP, is also fluent in Nihongo. This asset has allowed PSJ to expand its link with Go-kay Foundation, a group of Japanese businessmen interested in cultural exchange.

	PSJ Board of Directors 2001-2002 take their oath of office, with Fr. Joey Mission, MSC, as inducting officer.

Go-Kay Connection

	KKK in Nagoya: Mrs. Philippines Visayas Maria Fukuzawa with PSJ prexy Noemi Oba (front right), treasurer Rose Fujiwara (in PSJ t-shirt) and friends.

Our first joint activity with Go-kay was a Mochi-tsuki-kai --- traditional pounding of sticky rice cakes ---for Filipinos to experience first-hand how the Japanese make this well-loved delicacy (never mind if this is traditionally done in the New Year here in Japan!) last March. The Filipino contribution to the event was also gastronomic---our own guinataang halu-halo, which used some of the freshly made mochi. This, together with pancit and arroz caldo ("Chefs" Cielo and Noemi outdid themselves), disappeared quickly, and was an auspicious start to more Filipino-Japanese happenings with Go-kay.

Entertainment was first-class as Go-kay invited a professional jazz-band to provide music under the trees as we pounded the mochi. And both children and adults had a great time learning patintero and tinikling, to use up all that energy stored in the eating portion (yes, so we could all eat again!).

On September 23, PSJ and Go-kay held a fellowship basketball tournament at the Nakagawa Shogai Kyoiku Center, to share the Filipino passion for basketball with our Japanese friends. Larry Inigo, chairman of this event, held shoot-out games during the intermission so everyone (including kids) can join in. PSJ hopes this will also jump-start an honest-to-goodness basketball tournament in our part of Japan.

PSJ Fiestas
Siempre pa, we had another successful and well-attended KKK (Kainan, Kantahan dahil sa Kalayaan) Independence Day program, food fair and bazaar this June. An innovation was an exciting pop-quiz portion on Philippine history and general info with instant pa-premyo of telephone cards and household necessities.

Honorary Consul Taki and wife Linda graced the affair and explained that consular services formerly offered at their office will no longer be available. However, they will still provide forms and consultation services for those who need them. Mrs. Visayas Maria Fukuzawa, winner of the Mrs. Philippines Contest in Osaka, also sang a few numbers in the program.

On October 28, PSJ will hold another mini-bazaar and Halloween bash at Mikokoro Center. Pagkakataon na mag-costume parade so Nagoya Pinoys and those from neighboring areas, come and join in the fun.

NIC Goodwill Ambassador
One reason for Pinoys to rejoice is that a kabayan, Dennis Mabalot, has been chosen as the 28th Minkan Taishi (Goodwill Ambassador) of the Nagoya International Center---the first time for a Filipino to be awarded this honor. Dennis is an Ateneo de Manila student who is now enrolled at Nagoya's Nanzan University. Since his mother is Japanese, Dennis speaks Japanese well, a requirement for the post. Part of Dennis' program is a series of symposia and panel discussions on various aspects of Philippine life scheduled for weekends in August and September.

	Dennis Mabalot, NIC Goodwill Ambassador (in coat and tie) pose with Linda Taki (to his left) and PSJ representatives and friends before his talk.

In his first official appearance last June 24, Dennis talked about Filipino life from a personal perspective, with a well-chosen look at the Philippines in a short slide show. He also gave the mostly Japanese audience a chance to experience Filipino culture first-hand. Helped by Filipino groups (CPFA and PSJ) who came to cheer him on, Dennis put on a Filipino costume parade with volunteers from the audience donning different Filipino attires from all over the islands. This while a typical Philippine merienda was served.

But his biggest gift to those gathered that afternoon was of Filipino music and talent.

Remember the name
Yuko Ohigashi
Easily the star of the afternoon program was keyboard music by the young (she is only fourteen years old!) pianist-composer Yuko Ohigashi. While the name is Japanese, Yuko's mom Lorna is Filipino. Her original music contains a strong influence of what is recognizably, appealingly Filipino. In spite of the lack of a real piano, Yuko's genius thrilled the rapt audience, making both Filipinos and Japanese proud to be part of her heritage. She is world-class, and definitely bound for greater heights.

You don't even need to take my word for it. Thanks to technology, you can hear her music (and see her as well!) at her website at http://www.yukopiano.com or for a better sound, try

http://www.mp3.com/YukoOhigashi. These are available in both English and Japanese.

Lorna, Yuko's mom, says she did not go to music school. Her teachers were a series of neighborhood piano teachers, and NOBODY taught Yuko how to compose. Her dream is to go to the US to study at a very good music school, and towards that end, you will be helping her by downloading her music at her website. Already, her music is being used as background music for hundreds of websites, and she is working and saving hard to realize her dream.

For more on Yuko, check out her websites or take the chance to see her personally in concerts such as the one she will be giving at Anjo City in Aichi Prefecture on October 16. More concerts are lined up for her in December, and her website will have these details, too.*