Monday, June 30, 2008

Transcending beyond Limits


Time comes when man shall have none, different from St. Francis when he gave up everything, his wealthy heirs from his rich parents, his studies his possessions including the clothes that wrapped his body and walked naked to the altar of his belief.


In terms of health there are those patients who were given their terminal calendar for a pause to end. There is always a lifespan. In terms of survival, there are those like the majority of the passengers of the ill-fated M/V Princess of the Stars who could not resist the forces of the strong winds and tidal waves but place themselves to the limits of survival.


In politics, there is also a limit to terms of services. In works, there is contract and expiration and/or there is retirement age.


In Calculus there is the maxima and minima where one can compute the maximum or the minimum limit of a variable/s. It is very good to apply it in engineering and technology to determine the maximum strength of a material in order to make sure of the safety of the contruction using that material/s for example.


But it does not always manifest for an end when you have none. If you got married but could not have a child, there is another legal and moral means to have a child where in having a child, you can find the time to express your parental love and caring.
If you have expired your contract before your retirement age, there is still a chance to find for a new job. If there is less-love between conjugal relationship, there is always a time to court and dine again your spouse even beyond marriage or conjugal war.
If there are no bags and books for a poor boy or girl to go to school, there are good hearts to knock for help and support. Having none is not an end. A plastic bag if not a net-bag can be an alternative. Recycling used notebooks was one of my parents' teachings to us before.

A bird can stretch for more with all its feather to contribute for a lifting initial jump of its fly. And beyond its yard, it reaches the altitude and place beyond its expectation to find his new home.

Man too needs to stretch for more to let all parts of his body, his skills and will to lift up and move forward and reach a set goal in his future.
I have just read that even cancer-stricken patients are now so hopeful to survive and stretch their limits beyond their due dates.
As I took my favorite bike to catch the late sunset after I arrived home yesterday, my 2nd son trailed me and we enjoyed the coolness of the sunset on its summer breeze. After several pedalling rounds, we smiled and have a tit-fo-tat talk. And I noticed my son chekcing his pocket with his coin purse. I asked him where he got those coins. He straightly answered me that vending machines elsewhere have several left coins from 1 yen to 100 yen. He does checking the vending machine whenever he passed-by to it. I told my self, "Sorry son! I just gave everything to your mom" when I got mine.
As I got no cp until now, and at the time when I got no internet still, I went to a house of a friend and asked a favor if I can check my inbox with his pc and send some messages to Philippines. I didn't close myself from the society which is new to me. I need to knock on doors.
To those who often meet their ends like me, it is resourcefullness and faith when we go transcendence. Let us stretch our wings!

Nueva Ecija Updates Global Peace Festival- Nueva Ecija campaign

Cabanatuan- Last June 6, 2008, the UPF volunteer staff of Nueva Ecija had a meeting with Governor Aurelio Umali’s Chief of Staff Engr. Dennis Agtay and briefed him about UPF and GPF.


On that day due to the Governor’s meeting with all the Mayors of the province, he couldnt give his time for us but after 15min we were able to meet the Governor and he personally invited us to come for another discussion meeting with him to personally understand UPF and our project. It was set on June 23, 2008 at 2:00 pm at his office in the new capitol building, Palayan City.On June 23, 2008 despite the strong typhoon, UPF local staff together with Prof. Joseph Navalta, UPF Secretary General met Governor Umali for almost an hour. (He was a lawyer by profession, a former congressman of the 3rd district and he defeated the Joson’s dynasty who led the province for 43 years.) He was happy that there is a group working to pursue the mission of the United Nation. He really subscribes to our vision and mission however, he wanted to understand the lectures first and he expected a UPF Module presentation for him to know hoe measurable our results in achieving peace. The Governor said, “I am interested to know your module first so that I can learn from you and could see where I can bring the government in partnership with all your programs “and since he was too busy, he appointed his chief of staff to listen to the lecture presentation on a separate schedule.



Nueva Ecija is really a political hot seat province, despite the fact that we couldnt immediately receive his full support; we see big hope and he still encouraged us to continue with all our build up programs and the immediate presentation of our module to his chief of staff which was set on June 27, 2008 at 3:00 PM at the Governor’s office in the old capitol building.We could successfully present the 5 Universal Principles of Peace that enlightened and inspired Engr. Agtay. He encouraged us to tie up GPF Nueva Ecija with the celebration of Araw ng Nueva Ecija which will be on September 2, 2008.



We are now reaching out to the organizers of Araw ng Nueva Ecija 2008 in order to present our desired program and build up activities. We have 2 months to conduct our build ups for GPF NE such as education of Brgy leaders, seminars for the academe, inter-religious, govt agencies, youth & student leaders and service projects such as medical mission, feeding, clean up drive and tree planting.We strongly appeal to all families to support our GPF Nueva Ecija.



Thank you very much for your prayers as well.


World CARP, PSNEI and City Government of Manila sign MOA on Adopt-a-Park projects




Manila- Mayor Alfredo S. Lim of the City Government of Manila and Dr. Edmon E. Pacson World CARP’s Vice President for Education and NSTP sign the Memorandum of Agreement on Adopt-a-Park project.











Through the initiative of Philippine Society of NSTP Educators and Implementers (PSNEI), the City Government of Manila headed by Mayor Alfredo S. Lim together with the World Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles- Philippines (World CARP-Phils.) and the different institutions in Manila drew together in the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Adopt-a-Park project last June 28, 2008 at Bonifacio Shrine, Kartilya Side, Ermita, Manila.







Adopt a Park is a novel project of the Public Recreations Bureau of the City Government of Manila that aims people to come together in beautifying, maintaining the cleanliness of park’s surroundings and preserving its natural beauty through watering and planting trees in the adopted parks. 104 World CARP members and 18 student leaders from International Peace Leadership College (IPLC) together with about a thousand students from the National Service Training Program (NSTP) based from Technological University of the Philippines (TUP), Adamson University (AdU), Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC), Philippine Women University (PWU), Far Eastern University- Eastern Asia, EARIST, Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) and University of the East (UE) participated the program with their respective NSTP Directors and Facilitators.





World CARP- Philippines and IPLC adopted two chronological parks, the Raja Solayman and Plaza Dilaw.









Prof. Danilo Jeremillo, NSTP Faculty of Adamson University paved a way in his opening address as he proudly represented his institution in participating the Adopt-a-park project and the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement. Dr. Sergio J. Lee, NSTP Director of Adamson University gave his welcome address and the president of the Philippine Society of NSTP Educators and Implementers (PSNEI), Dr. Florida C. Labuguen presented the statement of purpose of signing of the MOA .

Two of the most awaited parts of the program was the timeless support and service of the Director of Public Recreration Bureau, Engr. Diogracios G. Manimbo and the keynote address of the City Mayor of Manila, Hon. Alfredo S. Lim.


Representing World CARP- Philippines, the Vice President for Education Dr. Edmon E. Pacson gave his closing address by generously bid the support and overhaul of World CARP in pursuing their common goal in cooperation with PSNEI and the City Government of Manila.

Furthermore, it was a privilege of World CARP to testify and serve through its three years commitment in preserving the parks as a part of its continuous project together with its partners in prepararing for the upcoming Global Peace Festival 2008 (GPF).


Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Mental Stability

After a loaded day of work, one simply get exhausted as he normally goes back home. And when welcomed by a not so organized environment inside his house or apartment, his mind becomes more tainted with some stress and pressures.
This is getting ordinary to working fathers or moms. Perhaps, more to moms as she is bound to proceed to the kitchen after arriving back home to prepare meals for the family.
And if there are growing children in a family, more toys, notes, bags, dirty clothes to mention a few are scattered all around the rooms. Good if only one or two kids are around. But if five or more children are all energetic and aggressive and are still hard-headed to help in doing some house chores, the house becomes a battleground.
There are lots of works and chores that both husband and wife, fathers and mothers need to do as a team to have mental stability. Or else, anger can fire the first bomb inside the house-turned battleground. Less-patience and no good teamwork will fire the next. And war is declared with children crying seeking for comfort.
Bringing some office works at home is not so healthy for the whole family too. Perhaps rush works can be excused. But parenting time should be given to the entire family. How many times have you coached your child in his/her English or Math subjects? No excure please. These two are easy for English-speaking Filipinos. And Math has its own language which all parents know.
How many times have you done biking or playing with your son after you arrived home from a tiring work? A matter of 30-minute parenting with a child outside is good for both while you stretch for more your body before going to a shower and take your supper.
There are other exhaustive situations that affect one's mental stability. A teacher who teaches more after 3 hours straight is observed to have several mistakes or error in his/her input to the students and learners. Brain too gets tired. And the teacher needs a break after a maximum of 3 hours teaching to have mental rest and stability.
Decision-makers are advised to do their wise decision after they have a relaxed mind. Exhausted mind can interpret wrongly what one reads or see. Be careful readers and editors. Make sure you have a relaxed mind before you interpret, translate, edit or reply on what you read. When one is emotionaly disturbed, he is not in a healthy atmosphere to make a statement of decision, reply or conclusion.
Troubled and unhappy relationship disturbs a mind too. And his mental prowess is affected. This is common to conjugal partners. Hello dad and mom! Pls talk and sleep beside each other tonite to discover the solution of your problems. It is just between you both!
Discover it and have mental stability. It helps to make your day done.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Why I Want to be an ALT?

English Education in Junior High School
by Allan C. Cadano, Ph.D.

Communication as a two-way interaction between two or more persons is very important to achieve information, understanding, coordination, cooperation, harmony, peace, happiness and development. But at this age, communication needs to be parallel to the globalization era where English is seen as the most widely used language in the world.

The Junior High School curriculum transforms the students from basic education to advance higher and advance education. In here, students are gradually being exposed from national to international social-cultural, economic and technological developments to mention a few.

In social studies national map continues to world map. Recently, Kibo reached the outer space and become the biggest laboratory room in the international space station up there. English as a language made the proper coordination among the many countries involved in that international team.

In information technology, computer and internet brings the students in their email-writing, SMS or text-writing, surfing, browsing, internet shopping, e-ticket reservations and the like not only to the various industries in Japan but to the varying people world-wide. English brings the people and the students to this international communication through English as their language or medium of communication.
Nagano hosted the Winter Olympics in 1998 and hopefully on 2016 the Summer Olympics. Are the Japanese prepared to communicate to the more than 200 nationalities who will come here on that time?
In a nutshell, it is very important that Japanese students, be it in elementary or junior or middle high schools or university, be taught basic and advance English as their international language in order to be trained for their future and exposed more in the international competitive development among the many nations.



Why I Want to be an ALT?
by Allan C. Cadano, Ph.D.

Being a son of both teacher-parents, I have desired to follow their footsteps as I choose my profession. For 25 years in teaching, my experiences helped me develop further in my aim to contribute in reaching quality education.

Having been exposed to English as our modern national language, I have seen the importance of teaching English as a language to fit the international developments.

Being a teacher in a class with students is like managing a big family and at the same time organizing a small village. Students vary from each other. Their nature, likes and interests also vary among each other. But language is a good instrument to harmonize their differences. With the language you teach, you can let everyone know and understand each other. With the language you can let them talk and have a good conversation to interact, listen to the need of each other until they can achieve an agreement between or among themselves.

ALT to me is broad to handle. It is not only teaching English as a language. It is teaching the students to know how to express their opinion, views, ideas their feeling, their needs. Moreover, ALT is teaching the students to understand his classmates, his friends, his fellow citizens and the international community in general.

Numbers, arts, culture and sports have its own language. But it is the language that counts, appreciates, understands and expresses the essence and value of all. Being an accomplished ALT makes him a man who knows and understands the world in its highest dimension.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Paradigm Shift: Fresh Wineskin for new Wine

What is a paradigm? and for what is a paradigm shift?

The Merriam-Webster Online dictionary defines it as "a philosophical and theoretical framework of a scientific school or discipline within which theories, laws, and generalizations and the experiments performed in support of them are formulated; broadly : a philosophical or theoretical framework of any kind.

Kuhn defines a paradigm as: “an entire constellation of beliefs, values and techniques, and so on, shared by the members of a given community”(Kuhn). This definition by Kuhn appears in the 1969 postscript to his original book, because originally the use of the term paradigm was not clearly defined. Besides this definition Kuhn mentioned another sense of use he had: a Paradigm also “denotes one sort of element in that constellation, the concrete puzzle-solutions which, employed as models or examples, can replace explicit rules as a basis for the solution of the remaining puzzles of normal science” [Ibid]. The term remains imprecise due to the different uses it is given.

So a paradigm is a view of reality that is a 'Gestalt' resulting from the three branches of philosophy; metaphysics, epistemology and ethics.

Those sounds so academic to discuss. But if we talk about new wine in a fresh wineskin, I can assume that most have a background on the well evangelized shifting or transforming from old to new testaments to the completed testament in this new and modern age.

From more than two decades ago, the system and administration of UM Philippines is almost the same untio now: Food-raising and fundraising, witnessing and campus mobilizations are the basic mission works and core members are fulltimers living in a center.

The GPF 2007 was a big boom to the world Family Fed leaders as it showed big gatherings of large people including VIP's, professors, educators, students, village leaders and others. It got the media, the politicians and civic attention of many But the backstage of it remains uncleaned as there were lots of unpaid accounts until now, finger-pointing on unfulfilled goals and unsmooth implementation or coordination by the continental leader to the many national level to local level leaders and hurt some.

Internally, our local leaders before and now have no changes. Before, no leader got a monthly stipend or salary while serving as a fulltimer in the center and the movement as a whole. By now those leaders have their own family and their blessed children have the right to academic education, health and proper development (a few of the national level leaders and VIP's were given a monthly salary by the CD. Most have none).

The centers serve as a learning and training center for spiritual, moral, physical, educational and even socio-economic foundation for the members. But it cannot house the fulltimers who have started their own conjugal and marital family for obvious reason. Hence, blessed families have to look for their own shelter, food and livelihood.

A decade ago, we could noticed that those shining and energetic leaders from the various centers have gone away. they have to find their livelihood for their family, for their children. And the centers were left to young and not so trained local leaders.

Up until now, the centers are doing food-raising, fund-raising and not so much but still witnessing and lecturing are seen. The target-goals in the annual action or game plans include the barangays mibilization, the VIP's, the SHSP programs, the summer training and so on. Recently they inlcude local GPF in their action plan. But all these action plans have no budget allocation that when calendar dictates for a project to fulfill, the action plan could remain a mere paper.

National budget if there is (mostly from comamndo and the tithes) is not disbursed down the line. It is centralized and only the HQ leader/s knows who got an allocation or where it goes. Affiliates have to operate by their own. If there are requests like Teachers' seminars or Prayer Breakfast Meetings, it all depends on piority and the availability of funds.

Moreover, if national projects like GPF mobilization is undertaken, all the local agenda are set aside. If there are new directions to come from above like chagnes of leadership, programs and projects are renewed and new things have to be done.

When I made my research about church management in Japan, there are many things new to me. Fulltimers have a monthly salary. Members are strictly supervised on their motnhly tithings and donations. Blessed chidlren have to drop a pair of coins in their Blessed Children's service.

Blessed children have their Jr STF Program separately. They have soccer teams, seminars, support to peace King and Queen cup tournaments and other activities.

Fulltimers are married and blessed members do not live inside the center. They go home to their own apartments or houses. Homemembers who are invited to give lectures during seminars are given per diem or allowances. Moreover homemembers are given assignments and are part of committees like doing the telephone calling at their own homes to remind families belonging to a team under him or her on their monthly and weekly activities and some urgnet news and developments. My wife did her job in here during night time from 8:00 to 9:30 in the evening. This looked like a service tithes of a homemember. Aside from this, there are emails that come to my inbox from the church. Announcements from CP, and other activities are well communicated. Fax messages too are religious from time to time. Not less than two fax messages in a week come from the church.

During big gathering like Dae Mo Nim's visit, large convention centers are full and crowded by members and associates.

Almost three decades now and still very few regional or local centers have a telephone. Cellphones are personal cellphones of leaders or members. Less than five local centers have their pc and internet in their centers. Most leaders have to go to computer cafe for P40 per hour internet service. Centers' monthly rental ranges from P5,000 to P20,000 per month. Other bills for maintenance and operation are not yet included.

With an average of 3 fulltimers per center , the local center can hardly stand by self-existence.

Japan churches through their leaders or members have lots business establishments like convenient stores, retaurants and others. Big companies are also great in Korea and Japan. But most were organized by TF before.

In Philippines only the Il Hwa business, the True World Travel are church-owned. Other business are ventures by former fulltimers who have employees also coming from the church. They are not under the church but private business owned by members. They just grow with more staff from non-members too. Some business companies helped the hq or local centers projects but not enough to finance one whole program.

Centers have ventured doing FR works in Hongkong, Singapore and other nearby Asian countries. But it cost much and needs well-exposed fundraiser. Centers have the potential to organize their own DTI registered business but the leaders are not prepared for this.

At this time, there are so many things to program in administering a center: General Programs like Witnessing, Educational Seminars and Lectures, HDH and Sunday Services, MFT and otehrs. But to keep and maintain the human resources in a center, there is a need to program the following from national down the line to the local center level:
1. Human Resource Development. This is one area where fulltimers and members should be look on their personal and social needs to keep and uphold their mission like their monthly salary, health allowances, traveling and transportation, proper training aside from spiritual aspects.
2. Second Generation Development. This should look on the blessed children including the children of fulltimers who have no enough resources for their blessed children. Day-care program for toddlers and children (like the huykuen style in Japan), Sports Club for elementary children from track and field, volleball, soccer, martial arts, etc.; Jr STF program for more than 12 years old and STF for more than 15 or 18.
3. Business venturing. This is a long-term program to help the financing of the providential projects and activites of the Family Fed. This can be assigned to homemembers with proper MOA and Understanding, feasiblity study and professional administration.
4. Property Acquisition. This is a legacy for a center to have its own property to use and maintain. A family needs a home. But a home needs a house of its own. As a family of God, there must be a house for a Family Fed.
5. Government Leadership. Time should calendar when can a DP and TP-centered leader lead a town, a city or province in the Philippine Government to substantiate the CIG. Leaders for local to provincial to national government positions should be trained as part of a goal. Family Party should be part of a vision from 2010; 2013; 2016 to 2019 and beyond that. Some among us maybe in the sp. world already at the time. And we leave nothing for the next generation to inhirit or continue.
6. Communication networking. This is an important tool to outreach members who are far from the national hq. Local members and members based in other coutnries have less avenue to know developments. Hence their external support are gone. The cyberspace is a great medium to reach out the world for one local center if not a national hq to seek the support of many if communication is given emphasis. Proper communication is a basic and healthy example of a cardinal principle on give-and-take between subject and object/s.

To be cont. Comments are welcome.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Nagano Fil-Jap Blessed Families meet Niigata Fil-Jap Blessed Families; conduct HDH

Nagano- It was forecasted as cloudy-rainy day last Sunday, June 8 but was the opposite. The day was bright, sunny and full of messages when Nagano Blessed Community travel from early 5 o clock in the morning to reach Niigata at 10 o' clock. It was a long travel and more on the part of the 8-month pregnant Filipina sister Lennie Dacanay-Hiramatsu from Matsumoto City, Central part of Nagano ken who started traveling evening of Saturday.






Mrs. Manuela "Ella" Ventura- Uchiyama coordinated with Mrs. Ethel Hayakawa in Niigata City to organize the affair. Yet the idea to have the family fellowship sprout out from a seafood "pasalubong" during the visit of Dae Mo Nim in Nagano recently. That instead of a "pasalubong" a suggestion of why not visit Niigata City and enjoy the seafoods there as Sis. Ethel said Niigata is ready to welcome Nagano Fil-Jap Community.


Mr. and Mrs. Ronald and Yoko delos Santos, area sub-leader of Commando in Nagano ken, who brought their 2 children, prepared copies of FFWPUI Pres. Hyung Jin Moon's speeches; Mrs. Ella Uchiyama invited Fil-Jap families and coordinated the members. Along with them from Nagano blessed families who joined were Mrs. Edna Pang-oden-Yamaguchi from Nakano City with her 2 of the 4 blessed children; Mrs. Lenie Hiramatsu from Matsumoto City, and I with one of my five children. The number was limited due to limit of the cars used. With the desire of having a bigger Blessed Community Fellowship, the activity was set fitting the availability of the many blessed families invited and involved.
After a long 5-hour travel, we were met by Sis. Ethel at a train station and has to proceed to her apartment for a while before we finally proceed to the venue, the house of Sis. Rosell who has a bigger space to accommodate all of us from Nagano and Niigata as well.
And it was Sunday of June 8 after arriving at Sis. Rosela Derilo-Saito with Sis Ethel as our guide where we gathered and have the first Nagano-Niigata Hoon Dok Hae and Family Fellowship.
Niigata members prepared even a welcoming banner for Nagano visitors enough for them to feel the warm welcome and ease the stress from the long travel. After a little introduction and knowing each other, the HDH started with the greetings, bow and prayers. Mr and Mrs Ronie delos Santos led the HDH and asked Allan Cadano and Ethey Hayakawa to read the first speech shared by Pres. Hyung Jin Moon Thanks to the Two Rivers website.



After the reading everyone was so eager to share his/her rich experiences based on the speeches particularly on how one has to changed a lifestyle to overcome the many struggles between international couples and keeping one's responsibility. Sister Edna shared her growing as a working-mother as her husband is a fulltime church leader in Hokkaido. Sister Lennie also shared her young expereinces in familyhood and adjustments in life after arriving in Japan from La Union, Philippines.


Sis Ethel also enriched the sharing on her pioneering experiences in Niigata as the first Fil-Jap in the place. Her guidance to Maricon and Roselle helped them to build a good unity and cooperation as wives and mothers which now can be seen on the way their husbands and children realte among each other. They have started doing home church too as Ethel reported. Sister Roselle a bikolana rich of much love and growing to share as a fulltime mother with a fulltime church-missionary-husband; and Sis Maricon shared too their wonderful expereinces as a family in Niigata. Her silent husband is also a church fulltimer.
As clincher of the HDH Sis Ella from Nagano introduced FJMWP and brought out some t-shirts and banner from Tokyo and distributed it to those who ordered.

After the sharing and closing prayer the Japanese husbands of Niigata-based sisters arrived from their church-missions and joined us. They helped in serving the delicious crabs and seafoods we bought in Niigata plus the foods that the Niigata Blessed Families prepared.Our ilocano Maricon Rapada-Kojima prepared a "dinengdeng" made of mongo beans with bagoong, and additional rice for all; Ethel prepared the Pinay style-maja-blanca and marinated fried chiken; Roselle Derilo-Saito made delicious fried lumpia as her husband arrived with a big watermelon for all.



Though it was not part of the plan, an eventual Kite-flying matsuri in Niigata was held taht day and the Japaense brothers were so pushy for all of us to witness the affair. It became our sight-seeing fellowship on their cultural matsuri as well.




A kite as big as a theater screen is being driven to fly by at least 30 persons! Rope tied to the kite is as big as the cow's rope or carabao's rope. And while many kites are flying in the sky, the goal is to battle the other kite to dive down and sunk to the river adjacent to the place. If two kites would fall down, the tournament of kites shifts to a mini tug-o-war event between the two kites and its tens of drivers. The 2nd gen who also were with us enjoyed the sight-seeing in kite-flying tournament. Yet as it was getting hot with the summer breeze, they were temptous to ask for "halo-halo type" ice cream sold nearby. It became their halo-halo festival as well.

Mr. Hiromu Hayakawa served as the tour guide in the kite-flying matsuri. He too was the random photographer in the event. His fatherly heart win the blessed children to be with him during the sight-seeing as our family fellowship.
After the family fellowship and the long day event the Nagano families started to travel again. Thanks to Mr. Hayakawa in guiding us down to the inter-change road.
They arrived back first to Nakano City at Sis. Edna's place where her mother-in-law was so generous to offer us her own vegetable produce.













The rest proceeded to Nagano City and arrived at 9 in the evening while Sis. Lennie continued her trip from Nagano City via JR train to Matsumoto City. Thanks to Mr and Mrs. Ronie and Yoko delos Santos who are both skilled drivers and patient to all.













Thursday, June 5, 2008

Filipino-Japanese children and their future: a reflection


Nagano-There are lots of growing Filipino-Japanese children in Japan now. One I met two years ago was already in his 17 years old and was in his high school education in Japan.
My only five Fil-Jap children were all born in the Philippines but one among them could not have a Japanese passport as it was a policy in Japan Embassy based in Manila to report the birth of the baby within 15 days from birth. It was only in Japan that the child could apply for a Japanese passport and have her birth be registered as well during her first visit in Japan. They have the dual citizenship this time and when they will reach the age of 18, they can choose their own citizenship too for legal purposes.
As I was monitoring the Osaka legal case of Fil-Jap children which was elevated to the highest court in Japan, I too was contemplating on the future of both "cain and abel" Fil-Jap children who are living in Japan.
Ten children of Filipina mothers had filed suit seeking Japanese nationality because Japanese men -- who were married to other women -- had acknowledged they were their fathers.
"I want to make my dream come true, a dream only Japanese can achieve," said 10-year-old Masami, one of the 10 children. "I want to become a police officer." Masami and nine other children, even though they were born in Japan and speak only Japanese, were not granted nationality because the fathers acknowledged them only after they were born. Previously under Japanese law, the father had to confirm the child as his before an out-of-wedlock birth.
The mother of another plaintiff, 14-year-old Jurie-Anne, said, "I didn't think nationality would matter for my daughter when she was a baby." "But from around age five, she kept asking me why she wasn't Japanese. I was always sorry for her that I wasn't married."
With tears welling up in her eyes, Jurie-Anne said, "I know I've been such a handful for my mother, but I want to say to her today, 'thank you'."

According to official statistics, approximately 2,800 children born out of wedlock from foreign mothers reside in Japan, more than 2,000 of whom have Japanese fathers. Japan, which largely regards itself as ethnically homogeneous, bases nationality on blood ties. It has rejected the idea of large-scale immigration even though it has one of the world's lowest birthrates.
The SC decision of Japan yesterday was a landmark for these Japanese-fathered children not only for Fil-Jap.
Eventually, for the spiritual development these Fil-Jap children need is a more Christian orientation for them to be God-centered, God-knowing in their way of living and education. Their academic study in Japan except in English and religion seems to be good due to the advanced technical facilities of the schools. But their struggles to learn more on nihonggo and kanji need supplemental tuturing.
In terms of social exposures, unlike in Philippines, they cannot easily befriend their neighbors in Japan due to socio-cultural orientation. But their class and schoolmates are open to them as they already know each other. Moreover, I noticed that home-telephone conversation between teachers and parents; between teachers and students; between a child and classmate are frequent enough aside from the semestral home-visit of the teachers to the students' house to talk with their parents.
Even then, the bullying in the schools are still present and more if the stronger and taller students could find someone like small students if not those isolated-type children of foreigners.
Employment in the Japan still manifests racism and descrimination though some companies are open now to employ the gaijin or foreigners. Yet there are still many things to hurdle in this labor sector for equality.
Internally, the abel Fil-Jap children are literally blessed as they can easily come to Japan with legal visa being a child/children of blessed Fil-Jap couples. But those who undergo the long process of legal battle like those cain Fil-Jap children born in Japan played a seemingly stronger fight to acquire their legal migration to Japan or their Japanese citizenship.
I was asked by a Filipina why bother on those legal battles? And her question made me reflect more.
In my three years stay in Japan, I can witness and talk more to Filipinas than Japanese people. And true, there are many Filipinas here who were previously entertainers and have mothered their Fil-Jap child/children here. But some are responsive to the lectures I gave too. Maybe because of their Christian backbround and language orientation in English for the lectures. Witnessing to these kind of Filipina mothers is a potential opportunity. In fact I have talked and given counsel to a now blessed Filipina member who was a former entertainer in Japan and a single mother to a Fil-Jap son now living sacrificially in the Philippines.
Moreover, the tale of the comfort women who suffered much under the Japanese Imperial Army is still unresolved and unindemnified. Yet, I feel that those souls of the departed comfort women were so happy in the spirit world if not in the Philippines on the recognition of the Fil-Jap children to be given equal treatment and rights by the Japanese goverment pretty soon after the landmark Japan SC decision to give these children the citizenship they deserved.
The providential role of the Philippines to cooperate and unite with Japan as a mother nation is seemingly welcomed by parallel recognition of Japan on those Fil-Jap children. Hence, cain and abel Fil-Jap children have a big responsibility to bridge the God-centered true lineage to the next generation of mankind. Their friendship can build a strong socio-cultural foundation that can soon be connected to spiritual inclination and recieve the blessing for them to be engrafted to the true vine of a God-centered lineage.
To cain and abel Fil-Jap Children, banzai, mabuhay, eog mansie!!!

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Sponsoring the scholastic 2nd generation



A year ago, some five children of parents serving as fulltime members of UM Philippines who got no subsidy for their children's education, were more blessed to recieve some sholarships from good sponsors they even don't know. But many children sufferred still because of economic uncertainly of their parents in the Philippines.
There are 3.3 million out-of-school chlidren this year accoridng to the Alliance of Concern Teachers or ACT and the basic reasons on the increase of drop-outs were those daily expenses like travel-fare, "baon" or meal allowances and the falsity of no tuition and miscellaneous fees for elementary and high schools as these are only during enrolment time but collections of other fees follow weeks if not months after the enrolment.
Since March this year, emails from parents filled my inbox asking if there is still a chance to have a scholarship for their blessed children. I have no answer but asked them if there is any beneficiary or program from the movement to help them in the schooling of their children. As usual there is none. One parents shared to me that the school through their Board meeting in Antipolo 1 has decided not to allow those families serving as staff or employees of the school to stay and live inside the school premises. Hence, they are pushed to look and rent for their shelter outside which becomes an additional expense for the serving parents.
The five 2nd gen scholars from Antipolo, Davao, Abra, HQ, and Ilocos Sur benefitted the project last year. Thank you once again to our dear sponsors last year.
This time, the same parents applied but more parents from Baguio, Antipolo, and La Union knocked to our doors to help six (6) more blessed children to enter their elementary education even in public schools. Books, bags, and other school supplies are costly too aside from their daily needs to go to school this time. There are also "Jacob's children" too who are now entering in their college education and also asking for any possible help.
We are grateful to recognize this new school year's early sponsors who replied to our calling for this 2nd gen scholarship project to continue:
Rhia C. - $100 dollars; Anonymous - P5,000; Nora and company - Y20,000; Ernie N- Y10,000; and so far pledges from 2 possible donors.
We have a given a partial scholarship to 6 children through their parents but another six children are still in our list praying for help.
Indeed, parentism is a broad responsiblity that is not limited to 4 walls of a house. As these fulltime-volunteer-parents are doing sacrificially for the national providence, we hope to be part of their mission-endeavor by supporting too their children to have their formal education.
For any Kapuso who likes to share their help and donation pls contact Dr. Allan Cadano at acadano@yahoo.com.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Time for evaluation and what?


Teachers usually evaluate after implementing the planned lessons.
After organizing and running the egroups, blogs, homepages and websites, the operation of the group is for evalaution too. Check if the goals, the objectives, the mission and its vision is still far from reach or is there anything worth for recognition.
Many from the formed egroups have spent time everyday to write, read, reply, interact on what they were aiming to. It even pushed them to set other important chores just to make sure their postings served its purpose.
While other egroups mushroom to start with their friends to reach out for more, most if not all are interconnected for the purpose of communications, sharing, and knowing some developments between and among the growing global family. And a few have sacrificed much for this wholesome purpose and objectives of educating, witnessing, inspiring, counselling, reach-outing, praying and others.
Time has come that after some years, we too can take a step backward to check what has been done and continue moving forward.
Who has posted and what was a truly touching story? Who has posted and what was an original educational article? Categorically, whose testimony has inspired many in making his public mission amidst his personal responsibilities and limitations?
We would like to know from you dear various egroups and members to pls nominate those great and wonderful articles you have read and a committee which will be formulated very soon will evaluate them to determine postings and articles as our finalists. From it we will evaluate and rank them to recognize the following:
Testimony of the year
Reflection of the year
Educational Article (original) of the year
Well-interacted posting
Ice-breaker of the year
Well-decorated article of the year
Blog of the year
and others to name a few.
Egroups who wish to join this project can express their willingness to the the interim committee headed by yours truly Allan Cadano at this email address: acadano@yahoo.com
For more information pls email acadano@yahoo.com and/or Mrs. Kim at ______.