Sunday, June 15, 2008

treasures


My chipped coffee filter and mug, both of which I could not part with. They have seen me through countless mornings, all hungover or rushing to catch my train, and more. The filter is from a dear friend who left for greener pastures and yummy pho 24/7. This is the same filter that we used to pour coffee in when I first set foot in Japan, 10 years ago, and had to share an apartment with 2 friends who readily and unselfishly accommodated I and C, since we did not have enough money to rent our own place yet. The glazed mug, a present from Lola C, well, I asked her to buy this for me since I love glazed stoneware that's hand-made.

Sabi ng matatanda sa atin, kapag may basag na ang tasa o pinggan, dapat na itong itapon dahil malas daw ito. Hmmm, di naman totoo yun. I guess it's more of a safety precaution di ba? My mug's rim is chipped in places where I usually sip coffee at so now, I have to
turn it a bit. Ewan ko ba, I am so attached to these two talaga.

I also have really worn out T-shirts and summer shorts from my Bangkok days, mostly from JJ (Jatujak Market) and a special tee from Khao Yai National Park. C and I really love these and just could not send them to the Salvation Army next door everytime we do spring cleaning.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

never ending ending

Langya, kakatapos ko pa lang magsunog ng kilay sa aking maikling kuwento na salin sa wikang Hapon eh, may nag-amok ba naman dito sa malapit sa amin! Ayoko nang isalin ito, patayan nanaman, nakakapagod na! Kaya basahin na lang ninyo sa susunod na link.

A week has passed since this shocking incident in Akihabara, a popular otaku hang out, where a man mowed down some pedestrians with a small truck and then went on a stabbing spree that left 7 dead. That place would not be the same anymore.

ang aking homework... isang maikling kuwento salin sa wikang Hapon

最近 ニュースで日本は、5番目安心な国とききました。ぐうぜんにニュースで、女性がきんじょの人をころしましたといいました。女性のへやは、男の人、2番目といわれています。夜7:30、女性は、かえりました、でも彼女は、きんじょでゆうかいされました。
そのあとで、彼女といっしょにすんでいるいもとかあねがしんぱいしました、けいさつに電話しました。それで、とりしらべをしました。男のさつじんしゃもとりしらべれました。でも、けいさつは、男のへやに入りませんでしゃた。

それで、とりしらべのあとで、彼は、彼女をくろしたほうがいいときめました!彼は、したいをきざみました!それで、トイレにすてました。

もちろん、けいさつがこのケースをもっととりしらべました。男の人のへやのなかに、彼女のしもんと血をみつけたしました。彼女のいたいのぶぶんが、ちかく のマンホールのなかに、はっけんしました!ほんとに、この二ユースがこわかったよ!ぞっとするよ!はっけんまえに、さつじんしゃが、テレビでインタビュー をされました。彼は、女性にあったことがありませんでした。彼は、へいぜんとはなしました!

いつものよに、東京では、マンションの住人は、同じマンションの人たちをしらない。でも、これからみなさんははじめてあいさつすると思います。

Ayon sa balita, ika-5 daw ang bansang Hapon na pinaka-matiwasay sa buong mundo. Kasabay ng balitang ito noong nakaraan ay ang pagkamatay ng isang babae sa kamay ng kanyang kapitbahay na lalaki na 2 pinto lang silang magkalayo!

7:30 ng gabi umuwi ang biktima ngunit sya ay kinidnap ng kanyang kapitbahay na nag-aabang sa kanyang pag-uwi! Nag-alala ang kapatid na babae ng biktima nang napansin nya na masyado nang late ang kanyang kapatid. Tumawag ito ng pulis at naglunsad ito ng imbestigasyon, ngunit ng oras na iyon, di nila pinasok ang apartment ng lalaki. Sa oras na iyon, nagpasya na ang kidnaper na patayin na ang biktima para wala nang witness sa ginawa nya. Hinati-hati ng lalaki ang bangkay ng biktima at ito'y tinapon sa toilet.

Na-interbyu pa minsan ang lalaki sa TV news at noon, sinabi nya na hindi nga nya kilala ang nawawalang biktima at kahit kailan ay di nya ito na sasalubong man lamang!

Pinagpatuloy ang masusing imbestigasyon at naglaon din na nadiskubre sa loob ng apartment ng lalaki ang dugo at bakas ng mga daliri ng biktima. Nadiskubre rin sa loob isang manhole na malapit sa apartment building ang pira-pirasong bahagi ng bangkay ng biktima.

Ako'y talgang nangilabot sa balitang ito! Dito kasi sa Tokyo, walang paki-alamanan ang mga magkakapitbahay. Sa tingin ko, mula ngayon eh mag-sisimulang makipag-kilala ang mga magkakapitbahay dito.


Tuesday, June 10, 2008

yikes on a bike!

Fixed gear bikes are about to go mainstream in Tokyo, and looking at how this bike is made and run, I think I'll end up with shins speckled with bruises or worse! First, this bike does not have breaks, the handle bar is as simple as it can get. Fixed-gear means you can't freewheel or backpedal! This reminds me of my kiddie bike, I could really go fast if I pedal quickly, then my feet starts flying off the pedals, and as I try to regain a foothold on the flailing pedals, they keep hitting my shins! OWWW!

I guess biking in Tokyo on a fixed gear isn't really that difficult, you have the option of the sidewalk or to run wild with the super-cool masters of the fixed-gear, the bike messengers. The sidewalk will test your patience more than your navigation skills as you weave through slow moving armies of lolas and lolos, then you also have to dodge the other bikers in the not so cool but super sturdy and practical mama-charinko (yung may basket sa harap o likod).

At night, there are more people to either hit or miss, drunken salariman (sometimes passed out on the street), harried OLs toting their Hermes or LVs and stabbing the pavement with stiletto heels and flocks of college kids popping out of a karaoke bar, ready for the nijikai (2nd round of partying). Not much oil slick on the pavement but expect more "street pizzas" (puke) on a Friday night! Now try to break on that on your fixed-gear!


Saturday, June 07, 2008

Brilliant!

Wow, kasama pala sa Cannes competiton ang "Serbis" ni Brilliante Mendoza! Ang galing naman! Napanood ko yung isang obra nya dito sa Tokyo LGBT film Festival, 2 years ago, yung "Masahista", at sana mapanood ko pa yung iba nyang mga pelikula.

Sabi nga ng kaibigan ko na expat sa Singapore, this is also Singapore's first time to be featured big time at Cannes and they are so proud of it but they are more in awe of the Philippines dahil matagal na raw tayong laging kasama sa mga ganitong international festivals, lalo na sa Cannes.

Oo nga, pero sa tingin ko "Cannes" is not even a household word sa atin, kung ikukumpara mo sa "Oscars". Buti na lang may mga cinemas na ngayon sa Manila that feature international and indie films na walang bahid ng Hollywood at marami ring mga Pinoy films na mataaas ang kalidad. Sayang nga at na-miss ko ang mga karamihan nito, pero pag-bisita ko sa Pinas, may listahan na ako ng must-have na Pinoy dvds.

maikling kuwento ng lola

happy weekend dah-lengs!

si C nagulat lately nung tinanong nya yung mga students nya kung kilala nila si Bono.

"Of course, siya yung celebrity activist na gustong burahin lahat ng utang ng Africa sa mundo" - and sagot nila.

"at ano pa..." - dugtong ng tanong ni C...

"at nagpunta sya dito sa Japan at binigyan ng Keio Uni. sya ng Honorary Doctorate Degree..." - students

"alam ba ninyo yung band na U2?" - C

"U2? puzzled looks... (di nakuha ang connection, at mukhang never heard ang banda) - students

"sighs and smiles (hayy kapanahunan ko nga pala ang U2") - C, habang minumuni-muni yung U2 live experience nya sa London waaay, waaay back in time.