February as a special month for me seems to be a month full of variety of activities particluarly this third week. Although I have no external celebration during my ...thieth birthday and valentine's day, looking and moving forward made me stand to keep with my vision and mission.
Last Monday, I went to my conversation class and until 7:30 in the evening. Japanese professionals like to sharpen and twist their tounge to English conversation. Moreover, last Wednesday I was inivited to speak to two Japanese learning groups. One is headed to go to Oregon, USA for a city sisterhood activity. They asked me to check their basic English they studied in preparation for their US travel. After that activity, immediately I have to speak in another group lead by a city councilor of Tomi City, about Philippine Culture in front of more than a dozen of Japanese citizens. Some are retired ones while others were still ontheir late 20's or early 30's.
To share the brief history of Philippines to non-Filipinos or foreigners give me a pride as there are many hidden beauty about Philippines which were over-shadowed by the bad or sad image they know about my country. Eventually, they raised questions about tourism, food, transportaion about Philippines. But they were also surprised about the sufferings of Philippines during the colonialization and world wars as they can see how a country could go over the pains if it was attacked and dominated by other countries like Japan and Spain.
Although it was a nice and opportunity to share something about Philippines free of charge, it offers me joy to serve my country in an indirect way.
Yesterday, an old Filipina friend invited Nagano Core group to share some lecture presentations and internal guidance. Ronie together with his family, Eddie and his two boys and I went to Yamanashi, about 3-hour ride from our place. Thanks to Ronie Delos Santos family who offered their van for us.
It was Jenjen Eslopor married to a Japanese who hosted the event in Ichikawa City, Yamanashi ken. It was also the birthday of her husband that day. So, it was a double purpose to gather her Filipina frieds with their families to listen to some presentations too. After the birthday lunch, Jenjen explained the next activity which was the presentaiton of Family Values by Ronie delos Santos. He presented topics based from Divine Principles emphasizing on the idelas of a family unit, the root cause of family chaos, the different kinds of love as family is a school of love. The participants were interactive to the presentation while desert and coffee and tea were served. Others continued lsitening while also having some picks from the foods nicely prepared by Jenjen and a few of her close friends. Her husband said, it was the first time in is life to have a birthday cleebration with lots of visitors and dynamic celebration including the fellowhip and lecture presentations. There were Japanese husbands too who listened to the presentations as one of htem can even speak Tagalog.
My part wasto supplement the mian presentation of Ronie. Yet, as I found a little much time, I also gave an Internal Guidance to the Filipina wives on family affairs and their role to the Filipino and Japanese communities, to Philippines as their native country and on how to keep a broad vision aside from their own family. There was a spark on their eyes to listen that there are Filipino children who still go to school with unmatched slippers and having recycled plastic bags as their school bags while chidlren here in Japan used their ransel worth Y50,000 yen or P25,0000 pesos in their country. Many needs help and Filipina mothers here can offer great help by collecting their unused clothes and offer it to Filipinos who are victims of typhoons and calamities in Philippines. That can offer joy to many instead of just throwing them to Japan garbagge. We noticed too that some listeners even took some notes from the presentaitons as we envision that a planted seed of truth and love will grow in one's heart.
The presentations were intorductory but we target to have the listeners eyes open to many things that they can do to make their family a happy and loving family and to look onto others who also need their love and do something to offer happiness to the needy. The compassion to serve and offer to others make them true sons and daughters of God. Jenjen and her husband were to thankful to the Nagano core team making her desire to educate their friends is hit at this time.
We went home passing Suwa City of Nagano ken where the wife of Eddie san, Mrs Keko Panuncia prepared a dinner for us the core team of Nagano. After that quality fellowhip with the Panuncia family Ronnie with his family and I continued to travel back to our Nagano City saying we made a day and a closing night of minus 6 degrees celsius but so warm in our heart.
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