A Need for a Philippine School in Japan

Hindi maitatangging maraming Pilipino ang naninirahan at naghahanap-buhay dito sa Japan. Kabilang sa mga ito ay ang mga kabataang may lahing Hapon o Japino na nagsisimula nang humabi ng buhay para sa katuparan ng kanilang mga pangarap sa pamamagitan ng pagkakaroon ng sapat na edukasyon.

Magiging mas madali para sa mga batang Japino na dito isinilang at nagkaisip ang pakikibagay at pag-aadjust sa school environment na kanilang pinapasukan, mga sensei, at kapwa mag-aaral. Subalit para sa mga batang Japino na lumaki sa Pilipinas at nagtungo rito, higit na magiging mahirap at komplikado ang adjustment period na kanilang pagdadaanan.

Philippine Schools Abroad
May 43 Philippine schools na ang naitatag sa 9 na bansa kabilang ang Bahrain, China, Greece, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar at United Arab Emirates. 30 sa mga Philippine schools na ito ang may government permit mula sa DepEd, 9 ang may provisional permit at 4 ang nag-aaply pa lamang ng permit to operate. Aprubado ng DepEd ang educational curriculum ng mga Philippine schools sa mga bansang ito. Sa katunayan, mahigit sa 20,000 estudyante na ang nag-aaral sa mga paaralang ito mula elementarya hanggang hayskul.

Ang mga Philippine schools na ito ay itinatag upang matugunan ang pangangailangang pang-edukasyon ng mga kabataang Pilipino, may dugong banyaga man o wala na naninirahan sa ibang bansa. Ito rin ay magsisilbing daan upang magkaroon ng pagkakataon ang mga kabataang ito na maiakma ang kanilang mga sarili sa sistemang pang-edukasyon ng Pilipinas sa panahong naisin na nilang bumalik at dito mag-aral. Hindi lamang 'yan, ang mga paaralang ito rin ang magsisilbing lugar upang mapalawig ang kulturang Pilipino sa ibang bansa.

Establishing a Philippine School in Japan
May mga prosesong pagdadaanan kung magtatayo ng Philippine school dito sa Japan. Masalimuot kung iisipin ngunit kung maisasagawa ng tama at maayos ay tiyak na magiging maganda ang resulta at maraming kabataan ang makikinabang.

Ang Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO) at Inter-Agency Committee on Philippine Schools Overseas (IACPSO) ang nakatalagang magsaayos ng mga programang gagamitin para sa pagtatag ng mga Philippine schools abroad at mapanatiling mataas ang kalidad ng edukasyon dito. (Para sa karagdagang impormasyon, mag-log on sa www.cfo.gov.ph). May Application Form, Information Sheet at Survey Form dito na kailangan para sa proposal ng pagtatag ng Philippine school dito at sa ibang bansa.

Advantages and Disadvantages
Ang pagkakaroon ng sapat na edukasyon ay napakahalagang sangkap sa paghubog ng pagkatao ng isang nilalang. Ito ang tutukoy sa posisyong uukupahin niya sa lipunang kanyang kinabibilangan. Kaya naman kung sakaling magkaroon ng katuparan ang hangaring pagtatag ng Philippine school dito ay tiyak na maraming kabataang Japino ang makikinabang at matutulungan. Mas magiging madali rin para sa magulang, lalo na para sa mga Filipino mothers ng mga Japino na maturuan ng leksyon ang kanilang mga anak. Idagdag pa ang maibibigay nitong oportunidad sa mga Filipino teachers na nagtuturo sa mga paaralan dito, maaari na nilang maibahagi ang kanilang kaalaman sa kanilang mga kapwa Pilipino.

Sa kabilang banda, may makikita rin sigurong disadvantages sa hangaring ito subalit kung ang isasaisip at isasapuso ay ang magandang kinabukasan ng mga kabataang Japino, walang makikitang hindi maganda sa hangaring magkaroon ng Philippine school dito.

Can We or Can We Not?
Posible sa marami ngunit imposible rin para sa ilan ang hangaring ito. Ngunit kung pag-iisipang mabuti, napakahalaga ng maiiambag ng pagkakaroon ng Philippine school dito sa Japan hindi lamang sa mga batang Japino na hanggang ngayon ay nakakaranas ng culture shock, identity crisis at bullying sa mga paaralang kanilang pinapasukan kundi pati na rin sa mga Filipino teachers at parents dito.

Kung nagawa nga ng mga Pilipino sa 9 na bansa na magtatag ng Philippine schools, kaya rin ng mga Pilipino dito sa Japan. Kailangan lamang na magkapit-bisig ang buong Filipino community para sa katuparan ng naisin na ito. Ika nga, "Education is a right not a privilege", kaya't bigyang pagkakataon ang mga kabataang Japino na mag-aral sa isang Philippine school dito sa Japan.

*published in the Feb '08 issue of "Education", Philippine Digest*

Shibuya - Hachiko ni Yokoso!

Long before Shibuya became Tokyo's birthplace of many of its fashions and entertainment fads, it was the lone place that witnessed Hachiko's unaltered loyalty and unswavering devotion to his beloved master, perpetuated by his bronzed sculpture emplaced at the hub of the cluttered and vibrant district.

In spite of its small size compared to the extensive bright lights of the city, Hachiko's statue is not uphill to find, as it is considered to be Shibuya's best known landmark and gathering point for millions of Tokyoites and tourists alike, since 1934. "Meet me by Hachiko", is a common joyous rejoinder when you ask one where to meet him at Shibuya.

If you have not waited by Hachiko, you are missing one of Tokyo's beloved legends and monuments.

It is a happy and safe rendezvous to wait for your date. Any time of day or night, there are always people sitting around the bronzed sculpture to wait for their friends, just like what Hachiko did for his revered master. They even take pictures of themselves together with the statue. Some also buy gifts and souvenirs of the faithful Hachiko at the Hachiko Memorial Store named Shibuya No Shippo or "Tail of Shibuya".

Story has it that Hachiko was born in Akita in November 1923, from the famous and admired bred of dogs, the Akita dog, and was a tiny pup when first brought to Tokyo in January 1924. He and his owner, Eisaburo Uyeno, a professor at the Imperial University, became bosom friends. Hachiko would accompany Eisaburo to the train station each morning, when he left for work. Upon returning in the afternoon, the professor would see the dog patiently waiting, tail wagging.

This gladsome routine lasted until one fatal day in May 1925, when the professor was taken ill on the job and haplessly died of stroke before he could return home. Without realizing what really happened to his beloved master, Hachiko continued to wait for him every single day at Shibuya station which made the stationmaster and onlookers to start feeding him and giving him shelter. At times, he wouldn't return home for days at a stretch. Thus, he became a familiar sight to daily travellers as he continued his vigil for over ten years.

On March 8, 1935, Hachiko died of heartworm on the very same spot he last saw his master alive. His death was big news all over Japan; and even day was declared in mourning for his passing. Contributions poured in from all over the country to commemorate the dog that had won the hearts of the entire nation, and left a heartwarming lesson and legacy of a dog's faithfulness for us faithless humans.

Well-known artist Ando Teru was commissioned for the original bronzed sculpture, which was actually melted down during the war. In 1948, his son Ando Tekeshi, formed the second statue which is still erected up to this day.

More than just a bronzed sculpture and a tale, Hachiko is a real-life dog whose faithfulness and undying love for his adored master has captured the interest, and has touched the lives of the people of Japan and the world. His life was portrayed in a book and a motion picture entitled "The Hachiko Story".

How To Get There:

You may take JR Yamanote Line, JR Saikyo Line, Ginza Subway Line or Tokyu Toyoko Line and in front of the station is the Hachiko exit.

*published in the Feb '08 issue of "Let's Tour Tokyo", Philippine Digest*

*photos by Din Eugenio*