Volunteerism

I just happened to join the volunteer work for a day last Friday in Ofunato and i could say it was a fulfilling experience. I have been here for six months in the area, but have not really tried to say yes to the invitation to join any volunteer work for some reasons that my work does not allow it. Or i could say some very very personal reason.  I never thought that one day, while working as the diocesan coordinator for foreigners here in the Diocese of Sendai, i would be working cleaning some debris that is still left after the tsunami last Mar. 11, 2011.

We were helping a local restaurant owner who is rebuilding his shop. What is amazing is that, that spirit of being of service to the other is very alive in the group. i happen to work with amazing people and it was that camaraderie which leave a mark for me and made me decide to do another volunteer work again, next week.

Gambarimasu.

Like

Like us on Facebook." is the most common statement we associate with the word like. Like and Facebook are too common and one that we cannot even imagine to separate them.

But what is really the real meaning of liking ones status on Facebook? Let me summarize some of the ideas I got when people "like" your status.

First, liking ones status is just the normal liking. I like what you posted and I like what you are sharing. Most of these would be some inspiring words or prayers. Or any quotations taken from the Internet. Your lucky no one accused you of plagarism.

Second, liking someone's status could also mean, hey I like you, no matter what that person is posting you just simply like it. It could also express your interest on that person, or just simply saying don't forget I am existing.

Thirdly, liking could also be , a way to express yourself to that person indirectly. Yes most of us might be limited with words, or just simply not really expressive in our way to say "I like you". So this status thing provides us opportunity to express our feelings to that person whom we wanted to know more.

Fourth and last, maybe it's just simply to let that person know that I am here. Always seeing your status , (looks like a stalker to me), but it's simply to say that hey am here. Don't ignore me. Remember the days we were together, especially during our first meeting.i have enjoyed those days you were here, and I hope to meet you again in the future.

I may not be able to express what you wanted to say when you like other people's status, but this is just a short attempt to summarize what you feel. When you push the "like" button

Survivor

I had taken my time to walk to the port of Ofunato after a month. I feel I really need to have a walk around today after that long days of being out of the town.

I pass by the church hoping to offer some prayers and greet the blessed sacrament, unfortunately it was locked. So I just decided to pass by and pray outside. I plan to visit the place where we had the celebration of the one year anniversary of the tsunami, near the port. So I headed to the port and while passing through some areas, I could sense that people shoot suspicious looks on me, as I stop to watch the garden near the destroyed railway. It's amazing to see how vegetables grow in that area. I reach then the area of the Ofunato station. A taxi is waiting for a passenger that of course would never come because there is no one coming in that area. Then I pass by a sushi restaurant near the river. It's a good place to visit too when I have some visitors later.

As I am nearing my destination, I begin to see some trees around that destroyed park and wonder why, only the surviving Matsu tree received so much media attention, when in fact there are trees too that survived the tsunami here at the port of Ofunato.  Although broken, they have bear their beautiful flowers last season during the Sakura blooming period. 

I can compare these trees to our life, we can be like that Matsu tree of Rikuzen Takata, a survivor, yet dying. And it has allowed itself to be helped by others in order to survive. Or this Sakura tress, which are broken by tsunami, yet had shown signs of liveliness and vitality. A truly independent survivor. Some people are survivor too yet they stop living and stop to hope that one day everything will be back to normal. Or some people broken, yet they ride wite the season, living their life not as it used to be, but as it come. Yet hoping for a brighter future, a future that all these things is but a bad dream, a nightmare. And that one day, everything will be in their order.

"It`s not a tourist place, its place where people had lost their lives." Please Respect it

Watching a documentary in NHK about the tsunami has taught me so many lessons. First its about the respect for the feelings of the families of the people who lost their  loved once especially those who have not yet found.  As of now there are around 5,000 unaccounted bodies. The families of these people are still hoping to find even just a bone to confirm that their lost family members are really gone.

I was assigned in Ofunato seven months after the tsunami and i can say, that like most of the people who come and visit the place, the first impression is just awe and wonder. How on earth this happen,  and without any respect to the place i took as many pictures as i can, just like a tourist who wonder on the newness of the place.

But as i stay longer here and meet some people who lost a love one and hearing their stories. I begin to realize that this is a sacred place, people lost their lives here. Even in front of our apartment a body was found there. I even saw some things, personal belongings of people, wondering if the owner is still alive or not. But  with the efficiency of the Japanese in terms of returning things, i could only think of the worst scenario, these people might have died on that day or even the whole family that is why no one claimed those things.

As I reflect deeper, i feel that my mission is to tell the people who are coming to visit the disaster areas not as a tourist spot.  But places where so many people had lost their lives and need respect for all of us. So if we happen to come and visit these place, take time to offer a prayer for the victims and their families. Those who are left behind suffer much. They need our understanding.

We Received our blessing from the sea, it's natural that sometimes the sea takes it back

This was the statement I heard from the locals here in Iwate ken during my visit today. Most of us who will hear that will surely say "what kind of thinking is that?" For people who survived the great tsunami, their relationship with the sea is unbroken. Most of them get their livelihood from the sea. The sea is a treasure, that supports them.
Upon hearing this words from the local fishermen, I feel that there is a great hope within their hearts. That they will never abandon the sea and their livelihood despite their experience of the tsunami in this area. The hope that one day everything will go back to normal and that the sea once in a while will take what it his own.
It's a mutual relation, we can never be enemies forever but we have to live in harmony with one another with the sea and the nature.

Our life stories over a glass of wine

Most of us are drawn to drink. It could be for relaxing or just merely the sake of being drunk. I drink not because am stressed. I drink because i wanted to be with the company of people I like.

Today another story is revealed over a glass of wine. She poured out her hearts to us and was very honest to tell her story.

One day I will be telling my story too and when that time comes. Everybody will listen attentively to me.

Nippon Matsu Fukushima Gathering of the Filipinos

It's was a good day to drive the weather was clear and we have to leave early for a five hour drive to Fukushima. Waking up at 5 in the morning was not on my system, yet I succeeded and was on time at the waiting area at Hayde's temporary house.

We arrived earlier than expected, we were the first one to arrive. And we help in preparing for the food. The rest of the group from Fukushima areas and Tokyo arrive late as usual. We Filipinos never changed. Right?

The activities was bombarded with dances, songs and presentations from each group. After some crazy movements and wonderful songs and laughter, we willed our stomach with sumptuous lunch courtesy of the group from Tokyo.

We ended the celebrations with a mass lead by fr. Dindo an svd priest.