In the Eyes of a Visually Impaired Student

He may appear physically imperfect than most children his age, but his positive outlook in life makes him confident, even unafraid, in dealing with the challenges of his everyday life as a visually impaired student.

Kazuya Sakamoto was born premature, weighing only 600 grams. His mother's vehicular accident during pregnancy lead to his early birth and is also believed to be the cause of his visual impairment. Medical doctors say, visual impairment is vision loss that constitutes a significant limitation of visual capability resulting from disease, trauma, or a congenital or degenerative condition that cannot be corrected by conventional means, including refractive correction, medication, or surgery. There are two categories of visual impairment, those that are partially blind, and those that are totally blind. Kazuya is partially blind.

When he was about one year old, Kazuya underwent eye surgery. Unfortunately, the doctor diagnosed that his blindness, although partial, was already in grave condition so that going under the knife was no longer an option. For 10 years now, he has been suffering from partial blindness. However, this didn't stop him from hoping that one day he would see the beauty of the world with his two eyes. He regularly visits his doctor for eye care.

Now on his 5th grade in Saitama Kenritsu Mogakko, a school for the blind and the disabled, Kazuya attends a special class of 5. Each one of them is assigned a teacher that would monitor their daily performance. He started schooling there when he was only 3 years old. They learned about the institution through their city office which also provides for his school allowances and expenses.

Though partially blind, Kazuya is very active in school. His academic performance is above satisfactory and he is also into in sports, especially marathon. He is a consistent "Best in Penmanship" awardee.

But just like any other visually impaired handicapped, he went through periods of adjustments. He was self-conscious and aloof during his early years in school but as time passed, he was able to overcome the feeling of inferiority and got fully accustomed to his educational setting and the people around him.

On the other hand, his mother Jocelyn also had her share of adjustments and difficulties. She works in an obento yasan on a graveyard shift. Straight from work, she takes her son to school and fetches him after class. Being the devoted mother that she is, she makes sure that she ardently attends to the needs of her son.

"Kailangan ang mga magulang ng mga batang may kapansanan katulad nila ay matiyaga, mahaba ang pasensya at malawak ang pang-unawa. Huwag sila mawawalan ng pag-asa dahil darating ang araw matututo rin ang mga bata sa sarili nila. Mahalagang isaisip at isapuso rin ng mga magulang na ginagawa nila ang sakripisyong ito para sa kinabukasan ng kanilang mga anak," Jocelyn said while holding back her tears.

She firmly believes that sooner than expected, her son would learn to stand on his own and live normal life.

Actually, Kazuya can attend a regular school but he opts to stay in his school because of the love that he has for his classmates and teachers.

His visual impairment is not a hindrance for him to stop believing and dreaming big. And with a firm attitude of courage and perseverance and the spark of knowledge in his eyes, it is not impossible for Kazuya to succeed in whatever endeavor he chooses.

He aspires of becoming a pilot someday.

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

*photo by Florenda Corpuz*

Hakone - Owakudani ni Yokoso!

Protected by diverse forested mountains and spectacularly accentuated by abyss ravines and glens, Hakone is situated between the Izu Peninsula and Mt. Fuji. Its mild and cool climate and an aura of being cocooned in a special nature's hideaway is the enticing call of Hakone. It is considered a top fave destination among the locals and foreigners alike, offering myriads of attractions including its famous national park, Owakudani.

Owakudani or "The Great Boiling Valley" is a dormant volcanic hot spot made up of sulfurous steam vents that spurt upward and hot springs that bubble out. Divided into 2 parts, the Jikokuzawa and Enmadai, it lies in the ancient crater of Mt. Kamiyama which was formed some 3,000 years ago after its eruption.

Once known as "Oojigoku" or hell, it was renamed "Oowakudani" before the Meiji emperor's visit in 1876 since it was not appropriate for the emperor to go to a place called hell.

Roaming around the vicinity can give one a sight of the marvelous smoking volcano and a smell of themysterious whiff of sulfur. From the parking area, it would take 30 minutes to go up in the mid section ofthe volcano. There one can find a tourist hub that offers various souvenirs and kuro-tamago or black jewel eggs which are a Hakone specialty.

These eggs are cooked in the boiling mud and are believed to be good for the health. Its shells are a marbled black because of the chemical reaction with the sulfurous water but the inside is just delectable. Japanese legend has it that every single black egg eaten will add seven years to one's life thus making the kuro-tamago an unusual favorite Hakone treat. So, beware of eating too many of these black eggs, or you might live to a hundred and five!

Another must see enticement of Owakudani is the statue of Jizouson, the guardian deity of longevity and child-raising and is known in the area for its transcending spiritual power.

Travelers can also come by exhibits and check on Hakone's natural history and geography at the Owakudani Natural Science Museum, open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There are also some souvenir shops like the Owakudani Kanko center and Yu-land that sell traditional handicrafts and genuine native products of Hakone. Aside from the kuro-tamago, palatable foods can also be enjoyed at restaurants like Yunohana.

A breathtaking scenery experience of Mt. Fuji and Nagao Pass also awaits one in Owakudani.

How to Get There:

Take the Hakone ropeway to Owakudani, or take the bus from Odawara Sta. on the JR line, Odakyu line for Kojiri via Owakudani for 45 minutes. And get off at Owakudani.

*published in the June '08 issue of "Let's Tour Japan", Philippine Digest*

Silang mga Migrante

Migrante. Sila ang itinuturing na mga bagong bayani ng bansa dahil sa malaking ambag nila sa paglago ng ekonomiya dulot ng padalang remittance para sa kanilang mga pamilya sa Pilipinas.

Ayon sa Republic Act 8042, ang migrante ay tumutukoy sa isang tao na naghahanap-buhay sa ibang bansa at karaniwa’y tinatawag din na Overseas Filipino Worker. Karaniwan na’y nagtatrabaho bilang mga factory workers, domestic helpers, constuction workers, seamen at nurses, patuloy sa pagtaas ang bilang ng mga migranteng Pilipino, babae man o lalake. Hindi matatawaran ang kanilang pagpupursige na mai-angat ang estado ng kabuhayan ng kanilang mga pamilya kaya naman ito ang nagiging inspirasyon nilang upang ipamalas ang angkin nilang kasipagan at kagalingan sa trabaho na siya namang hinahangaan ng mga dayuhang kanilang pinagsisilbihan.

Ang pagdarayuhang ito ng mga Pilipino ay matagal ng kalakaran sa bansa ngunit ang kasagsagan ng paghimok sa kanila na magtrabaho sa lupang banyaga ay nagsimula noong kalagitnaan ng dekada sitenta (70s) nang dumagsa ang trabaho sa Middle East dulot ng pagtaas ng presyo at pangangailangan sa langis. Hinimok ng dating pangulo Ferdinand Marcos ang mga kalalakihan na walang pirmihang trabaho sa Pilipinas sanhi ng mahinang ekonomiya, na tanggapin ang mga oportunidad na ito. Itinatag ng pamahalaan ang Philippine Overseas Employment Administration o POEA upang mangasiwa sa mga pangangailangan ng mga Pilipinong maghahanapbuhay sa ibang bansa. May mga Philippine-based recruitment agencies din na pinayagang mag-recruit sa kanila.

Ngunit dahil sa tumataas na bilang ng mga kaso ng pagpapahirap at pang-aabuso katulad ng panggagahasa, pagpatay, pagmamaltrato at hindi tamang pasweldo sa mga migranteng Pilipino, samu’t-saring batikos ang natatanggap ng pamahalaan ukol sa kanilang kaligtasan sa mga bansang kanilang pinagsisilbihan. Ang mga kontrobersyal na kaso nina Flor Contemplacion at Sarah Balabagan ang nagpasiklab sa damdamin ng taumbayan na kuwestiyunin ang kakayahan ng pamahalaan kung kaya ba nitong bigyan-proteksyon ang mga migrante.

Sa kabila ng mga pangyayaring ito, hindi pa rin natitinag si Juan dela Cruz sa kagustuhang mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang pamilya. Sa katunayan, mahigit sa tatlong libong migranteng Pilipino ang umaalis ng bansa patungo sa 182 destinasyon araw-araw. Dahil dito, umabot sa $17 bilyon ang kabuuang halaga ng kanilang remittances batay sa Migration and Remittances Factbook 2008 ng World Bank na naglagay sa Pilipinas sa ika-apat na pwesto sa buong mundo na nakakatanggap ng malaking remittances. Una ang India na may $27 bilyon, pangalawa ang China na may $25.7 bilyon at Mexico na may $25 bilyon.

Sa laki ng remittances na ito, malaking pakinabang ang nakukuha ng pamahalaan dahil sa pumapasok na dolyar sa bansa. Idagdag pa ang binabayarang remittance fees. Hindi lamang ‘yan, hindi pa man nakakaalis ng bansa si Juan dela Cruz, sangkatutak na bayarin na ang bumubulaga sa kanya sa pag-proseso ng mga dokumentong kailangan sa kanyang pag-alis katulad ng birth certificate, passport, NBI clearance, medical certificate at iba pa.

Ngayong ipagdiriwang ang Migrant Workers Day, ano ba ang magandang handog sa mga migranteng Pilipino na patuloy na nagsasakripisyo upang maingat ang kabuhayan ng kanilang pamilya? Sapat na bang kilalanin lamang ang paghihirap nila sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay-parangal sa kanilang mga sakripisyo? Hindi ba’t mas magandang regalo ang pagsasabatas ng mga panukala na magbibigay-proteksyon sa kanila? Higit kailanman, ngayon kailangan ng proteksyon ng bawat isang migrante Pilipino na nandito sa Japan at ibang bansa.

*published in the June '08 issue of "Beyond the Horizon", Philippine Digest*