Philippines-Japan friendship through the years
WITH the inspiring and challenging theme "Peace and Solidarity Our Key to Prosperity" the most awaited PhilippineJapan friendship day celebration in our city takes the center stage on Sunday, July 23 with a collage of commemorative events marking the historic episode.
The day-long celebration starts at 9:00 in the morning with wreath laying, prayer and candlelight ceremonies at the Fil-Japanese Memorial Park along Gov. Pack Road.
City Mayor Mauricio Domogan and Toshio Kamauchi, Counselor and Chief Consul from the Japanese Embassy together with Carlos Teraoka, Chairman of the Fil-Japanese Foundation of Northern Luzon will lead the ceremonial entourage.
Officers of the Baguio Elderly Assembly (BEA) and the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) headed by Betty Fangasan and yours truly are also in the core, with BARP Foundation president/CEO Prof. Federico Balanag, FBASECA president Edita Ibarra, PGRA Baguio Chapter president and OSCA Head Forester Isaias Barongan and Board Member Jaime Castro, among others. ing all the copies, Steve pulled the sheet towards his glasses, covering his face.
“Saan ka kadi nga madanagan no han nga maawatan dayta insurat mo, anak (Just don’t worry if what you wrote can’t be understood, son),” the operator said. “Ammom met nga awan ti agbasbasa ti editoryal (You know pretty well no one reads the editorial).”
I couldn’t look at Steve, whose editorials and column (Fore and Aft) I always read - partly because I had to proof-read them on Saturday nights.
To help fulfill his class assignment (and my own need for “psychic income”), I told the journalism student what I write – and read.
I write about ordinary people with extraordinary deeds, people whose names may never hit the papers. The latest was about Tessie PanisRomero, a volunteer day-care worker at Gibraltar Barangay. She passed on recently, after spending the last 20 years of her life quietly taking care of toddlers. So their parents could be free to work and earn for their own families.
Why them? Because I’m inspired by stories of lesser mortals that are the stuff the great writings of Frank McCourt, Jimmy Breslin, Dennis Brady and Lane DeGregory are made of.
When President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, media sought the expressions of grief and loss of heads of states and political news makers. Breslin interviewed and wrote about the grave-digger assigned to prepare the president’s resting place at Arlington .
Breslin wrote that 42-year old Clifton Pollard had bacon and egg prepared by his wife Hettie, before he was pulled out to dig the grave on a Sunday morning
“He was a good man,” Pollard was quoted by Breslin. “Now they’re going to come and put him right here in this grave I’m making up. You know, it’s an honor just for me to do this.”
Critics agreed Breslin’s story is a mini-classic in journalism. They said Pollard’s words somehow summed up America ’s - the world’s – deep sense of loss. .
The journalism student asked me if my daughter Beng and son Boogie also write. Beng was exposed to writing as managing editor of The
At 1:00 in the afternoon, the "Tomodochi Day" program highlighted with the "potongan" rites honoring the Friendship Muses and their respective escorts and cultural show. Kamauchi is the guest of honor and speaker. The diplomat will be introduced by Irene Hamada, PhD. The red letter day program will be held at the Baguio City High School Auditorium.
The "potongan" VIP personalities include Domogan, Madam Soledad Go, the charming better half of Congressman Mark Go, Teraoka, Chyrleem Sabling, Office Head of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines, Baguio; Fangasan and FJ Foundation Executive Director Arnel Cabanisas, who initiated the revival edition of Beacon, the college student publication of the University of Baguio . Boogie began to write later with his wife Lovelyn (nee Pontino), to forget their missing home while trying to work and raise their two boys in Italy . The couple’s blogs are for my grandsons – Lukie and Dylan – to read when they grow up.
I was irretrievably magnetized by Lovelyn’s narratives about her family roots. Now and then, I would fill this page with Boogie’s own. After reading a couple of Boogie’s articles, lawyer Bangsoy, the husband of Annabelle (nee Codiase, one of the best Baguio feature writers before she quit to raise their kids), texted: “Boogie should take over your column.”
My boyhood buddy Camilo Candelario also emailed: “You son sees and feels better than you do.”
My daughter Beng e-mailed about her meeting another girl: “She admitted she had no childhood; I’m luckier because I had one.”
Juxtapose that to Michael Jackson’s childhood denied by early celebrity status.
Their notes make me proud of my children’s sensitivity. They make me feel better, not as a journalist, but as a father and grandfather on the other side of the globe.
The icing is that from their feedbacks, these people close to me read what I write. Even when, deadline-pressed to fill this week-end corner, I turn redundant. (email:mondaxbench@yahoo.com for comments). we were off to someplace else every time. In Hungary, it was the first for us four. Hungry for Hungary.
After these four countries, we are off again and heading back to Munich in Germany. Off we will be in a bus, not by train this time. Four of us pay 40 Euro each for a round trip ticket.
Off all four, we will be by train then boat to Venice. Finally, off road once more. A send off was given to us before.
As I write this in the bus, they say there is wifi, on and off it is, it is off now. So sign off din muna. the citywide friendship day celebration in partnership with the BEA, CSWDO-OSCA and the National Correspondents Club of Baguio (NCCB).
The salient features of the afternoon endeavor starts with a photo exhibit dubbed "Fil-Japanese Friendship Through the Years," invocation by the Faculty Club of the Kiddies Kingdom International School, the flag rites by Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, singing of the Baguio Hymn by CSWDO staff and Day Care Centers teachers. Teraoka will give the welcome talk while Domogan will deliver his greetings to set the tone of the celebration.
Participants in the cultural presentation are Sony Casoga of FBASECA, PGRA, Baguio Chapter; National Institute of Information Technology, Baguio Cosplay Group, BCNH Performing Arts, and the FJ Foundation ABONG students.
A very special entertainment offering of the Kultura-O-rama is a solo concert by Japan's famed opera singer Mieke Tsurusawa. She will sing a repertoire of classical Japanese selection dedicated to music lovers. Her participation in the local celebration courtesy of the Japanese Embassy.
Another limelight of the program is the presentation of awards and recognition of tri-media publications and a set of media practitioners and civic-social organizations who in the past few years and up to the present are giving life and substance to the ideals and principles of FilJapanese brotherhood relationship.
The major media awardees are ABS CBN, TV Patrol Northern Luzon, Baguio Midland Courier, Sun*Star Baguio and Bombo Radyo Philippines, Baguio Radio Station DZWX. The others in the roll of honor are Zaldy Comanda, photo correspondent of Manila Bulletin and Balita; Andy Zapanta, photo journalist of the Philippine Star; Mauricio Victa, photo journalist of the Business Mirror, Aileen Refuerzo, PIO Officer, City of Baguio; Tom Picana, publishereditor of Amianan Balita Ngayon; Joseph Zambrano of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Cordillera Administrative Region; Edong Carta, president of the Cordillera Broadcasters Association and Romy Gonzlaes of Radio Station DZRH.
The civic-social organization awardees are FBASECA, PGRA Baguio Chapter, BARP Foundation, Veterans Federation of the Philippines, Baguio District; United States Armed Forces of the Philippines, Northern Luzon (WW II Veterans, 66th Infantry Batallion); Baguio City National High School and the National Institute of Technology. A free raffle for handsome prizes follows.
Again, we are inviting the cosmopolitan residents of Magandang Baguio to celebrate with the city and the nation the significant occasion on Fil-Japanese friendship bridge. Welcome and Mabuhay tayong lahat!
May I take this opportunity to thank Exec. Dir. Cabanisas for inviting me in particular to help in the citywide revival edition of the Fil-Japanese Friendship Day Celebration. It is certainly a wonderful experience working with him. With his full support, the original members of the working committee once again demonstrated their loyalty to the cause.
This coming Saturday, July 28, the BARP Foundation will celebrate its 118th year anniversary. Foundation president Prof. Balanag said this year's affair will be simple but will be as meaningful as the past years. It will be held at the BARP Center. The day's program starts at 8AM with the election of new members of the Board of Trustee. At 9AM a Holy Mass at the center will be celebrated by His Excellency Bishop Victor of the Baguio Diocese. After the Holy Eucharist, the regular monthly assembly of the Foundation will follow. The recognition of July birthday celebrants, the induction of new members and the presentation of mutual aid benefits to deserving recipients are in the agenda. Happy Birthday to BARPers!