Ueno - Ameyoko Market ni Yokoso!

If you're looking for a place in Tokyo that still offers the sounds, sights and smells of Asia, without getting on a plane, Ameyoko Market in Ueno is the place to go to, with its vibrant and bustling ambience, boisterous litter of stalls, friendly and lively vendors, and brimming crowd of international shoppers.

Legend says that the name "Ameyoko" is a short form for "Ameya Yokocho" which literally means "candy store alley". Candies flourished in the area during the difficult days right after the end of World War II when everything was in short supply; when Ueno thrived as a black market for imported goods. On the other hand, "Ame" also stands for "America" because a lot of American products were available on the black market.

Styled like an Asian bazaar, Ameyoko is lined with more than 500 discount stores and food shops selling various commodities such as cosmetics, apparel, fresh fish, vegetables, fruits, dried food, spices, herbs and condiments from all over Asia and all sorts of consumer perishables.

There are also many eating places in the heart of the market where sliced fruits like melon, pineapple and watermelon, ramen noodle, shawarma, curried rice, sushi, Korean barbecue and other typical Japanese dishes can be enjoyed.

Another attraction of Ameyoko is chocolate vendors selling packs of chocolates that come with tons of "omake" or bonuses, for only 1,000 yen.

During weekends, it seems that the entire Asian and foreign population of Tokyo, chattering in a multitude of tongues, which includes Filipinos, Chinese, Indians, Malaysians, Thais, Indonesians, Koreans, Russians, South American Latinos, and even the locals, to name a few, concentrate here for a buy of Asian favorites that is difficult to find in local supermarkets. You name it, Ameyoko has it. Plus the ear-filling sounds of stallkeepers and shoppers arguing and vying with each other for the best come hither sales persuasions this side of the East.

Ameyoko is remarkably popular for its jam-packed stores that offers unusual items, bargain prices and a no-frills shopping experience. It is open from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and is closed every third Wednesday of the month. The place is especially busy the last few days of the year as the locals and visitors flock its street to prepare for the new year. Who has not heard of Ameyoko and its year-end sales and shopping sprees!

How to Get There:

A minute walk from Ueno Station or Okachimachi Station on JR Yamanote Line, or Uenohirokoji Station on Ginza Subway Line.

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

*photos by Florenda Corpuz*

Hopes for 2008

To see what other prominent Pinoys ponder and wish for the Holiday Season, our writer, reporter and photographer, Ms. Florenda Corpuz talked with several personages who grace Pinoy gatherings and events, and who are familiar to many of us, since they are the ones we run to when we have some vital businesses to attend to. Here are six of the most familiar persons whom you think you know, but do you?

Valentino L. Cabansag, Tourism Attache
Department of Tourism, Tokyo

Mr. Cabansag, lately arrived at his post as the chief of Tourism Tokyo, will strike you as soft-spoken and serene, a man who knows what he is talking about. Dedicated to his craft, Mr. Cabansag, wishes not for himself, but for the Philippines to have and to hold more attractions for tourists, making way for more arrivals from other countries, especially Japan. If countries surrounding the Philippines can do it to attract more visitors, the Philippines can do it, too!

For this year, he has one dear wish he holds near his heart, his 2008 goal: he is determined to further improve his language proficiency in Nihongo by immersing himself in more Japanese journals and books. Gambatte, Sir Val!

Danilo M. Lim, Country Manager
Philippine Airlines, Tokyo
He may be the highest ranking and only Filipino official of Philippine Airlines here in Japan, but that does not give him airs; he has his feet planted firmly on the ground. When you meet him for the very first time, you will be beguiled by his simple grin and firm handshake. But just like the ordinary Filipino, it never leaves his mind that he is a foreigner in this strange land and is here because his job is here and he has to work for the sake of his family. Perhaps, he has not stayed here long enough to feel at home or get used to the foreign ways and means so unlike at home.

His wish for the coming year would be for the Philippines to have new leaders who can really guide and bring us to where we should really be. He also hopes that sooner or later, the country finds its true and real place in Asia. Up there among the best! Mabuhay ka, Ka Danny, that is a dream worthy of all Filipinos; a dream every Filipino worth his salt dreams of!

Col. Danilo T. Estropia

Defense and Armed Forces Attache
Embassy of the Philippines, Tokyo

Bronze, stalwart and the image of a Filipino officer and a gentleman, Col. Estropia wishes nothing but peace and order all over the Philippines and to Filipino communities here in Japan. If peace prevails in the country, it is easy to imagine of peace on earth to men of goodwill. Col. Estropia might be trained as a disciplined warrior, but at heart he is truly a Filipino hoping for a progressive, peaceful and united Philippines, and a Filipino standing tall in the family of nations.

John O. Lugtu
Deputy Managing Director
Philippine National Bank, Tokyo

A poet at heart and a teacher's training for seeking the best in his fellowman, Sir John would have been a priest if a young boy's vocation had been fulfilled. But life has brought him to his present job, a banker, not the cold and calculating kind made famous in movies, but someone who tries to help the Filipinos he meets, forever wanting to give of himself and his work, in ways so gentle and kind.

Best described as a family-oriented man, Mr. Lugtu wishes to welcome the coming year surrounded by his family, clan and friends in his beloved Cagayan de Oro, Philippines. As for his new year's resolution, he intends to hear Mass every Sunday with his family, "a family that prays together, stays together." God is good to him because his desires were granted as he left for the Philippines last December, after his two-year stint at the Philippine National Bank in Tokyo.

Maria Anna Lilia L. de Vera
Third Secretary & Vice-Consul Cultural/Foreign Information Section
Embassy of the Philippines, Tokyo
Looking so young and so fragile, this reserved lady wishes prosperity for the Philippines, the Embassy, the Filipino communities in Japan and the Japanese institutions. Being the workaholic that she is, she couldn't find the time to think of any other resolution for the coming year but to just continue working and be more patient.

Our New Year's wish for her is that she shows more of the intelligent, capable woman that she really is, a demure diplomat perhaps, but with more spunk to reach out to the humble Pinoys who are too shy to talk to diplomats and government officials. Lady Anna, joys for 2008!

Lyra R. Cedeno
Marketing Manager
ABS-CBN Global, Japan
You cannot find a more lovely and simple woman than Ly. You cannot guess that she is an efficient executive of the Philippines biggest TV/Movie conglomerate just by looking at her, though pretty and sexy that she is. She keeps a low profile, content to work behind the scenes, doing her best in the background.

Ever loyal to her company's commitment to serve the Filipinos worldwide, Lyra wishes not for herself but for the Philippines to have a better year, and for the Filipinos to love their own country, more than any other place in the world. But, of course, Ly, a Filipino is forever a Filipino how far he may roam, wherever he may be, his dream Utopia is the Philippines forever!

*published in the January '08 issue of "Ang Pinoy", Philippine Digest*

*photos by Florenda Corpuz*

Akihabara - Electric Town ni Yokoso!

Akihabara or simply "Akiba" for many Japanese is dubbed as the famous "Electric Town"; situated on the eastern side of the central Chiyoda ward. It is considered as one of the biggest, if not the biggest, electronic shopping areas in Japan.
The district is girdled by hundreds of stores of various sizes: some just like a niche on the wall, others to several stories of glittering stores, offering almost everything from the latest computers, televisions, mobile phones, cameras, DVDs, watches, to other electronic or electrical device that you can think of. Used items and electronic junks can also be bought here at very reasonable prices. Visit the place, and you will gawk at big stores like Yamagiwa, Ishimaru Denki, Akky, Sato Musen, Sofmap and Laox sprawled along the main road. Go a little farther, and you can catch sight of more electronic shops pounded in a small crowded area.
Akihabara's character continues to evolve through the years in the emergence of Japanese animation culture as stores offering games, anime, manga and otaku goods proliferate in the vicinity; thus making it the "Gamer's Mecca". There you can find the gigantic towers of Sega, Taito and Hey Arcade dedicated to classic arcade gaming which the young ones can't afford to resist. Other animation related establishments have also appeared in the district like comics cafes where customers can read comics, watch DVDs and surf the internet.

Besides all these, Akihabara also embodies the otaku culture, said to be one aspect of the people who hang out here these days. Most of these folks are too obsessed with anime and manga which make them outsiders from the other strata of Japanese society. Akiba is their place of refuge that gives them the chance to meet others with whom they share common interests.

Akihabara is all about shopping but there are also quite a number of fast food chains and coffee shops for your appetite cravings or when you get tired or bored with going around or window shopping. Its newest attraction is maid cafes, where pretty waitresses are dressed-up like French maids, ready to serve you.

In this day and age, Akihabara is indeed a popular destination for the locals, as well as the foreign tourists who want to get the best buys and good value for their money and a distinct "tekky" atmosphere.

How to Get There:

Akihabara Station is less than five minutes by rail from Tokyo Station and is served by JR East (Yamanote Line, Keihin-Tohoku Line and Chuo-Sobu Line), Tokyo Metro (Hibiya Line) and Tsukuba Express. Suehirocho Station on the Ginza Line subway and Iwamotocho Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line subway are also within walking distance from Akihabara.

*published in the December 2007 issue of "Let's Tour Tokyo", Philippine Digest*

*photos by Florenda Corpuz*

Sa Ganang Akin

Students’ Welfare
Sa hostage taking na naganap noong Marso 28 sa harap ng Bonifacio Shrine, 32 bata edad 5-6 ang hinostage ni Amadeo Ducat, may-ari ng Musmos Day Care Center sa Tondo, kung saan nag-aaral ang mga bata. Ang dahilan ay nais niyang humingi ng tulong sa pamahalaan na mapagtapos ng pag-aaral ang mga bata at mabigyan ng maayos na tahanan ang mga ito.
Samantala, isang kakila-kilabot na pangyayari naman ang nangyari sa Virginia Tech,Virginia, U.S.A. nang 33 katao ang patayin ng gunman na nagbaril din sa sarili matapos pagbabarilin ang kanyang mga kapwa estudyante sa nasabing paaralan. Ang gunman ay nakilalang si Cho Seung-Hui, isang South Korean national, na pumunta sa US kasama ang pamilya nang siya’y walong taon pa lamang.

Sa Pilipinas, back to school na naman ang mga mag-aaral. Matapos ang mga insidenteng ito, masasabi bang may sapat na seguridad pa ang mga paaralan para sa mga mag-aaral? Kaya pa ba silang protektahan ng mga guro at school officials? Nakakalungkot isipin na sa loob ng paaralan katulad ng Virginia Tech naganap ang isang karumal-dumal na krimen. At nakakadismaya din naman na ang school administrator pa na si Amadeo Ducat ang nang-hostage sa mga scholars ng kanyang sariling day-care center. Kung anuman ang motibo ni Ducat at ng gunman, sana’y hindi nila dinamay ang mga inosenteng biktima na ang tanging nais lamang ay magkaroon ng magandang kinabukasan.

Pacquiao’s Victory
Nagbunyi ang mga Pilipino sa iba’t-ibang panig ng mundo ng muling magbigay ng karangalan sa bansa ang ‘Pambansang Kamao’ na si Manny Pacquiao nang maidepensa niya ang kanyang WBC International super featherweight title laban kay Jorge Solis ng Mexico sa kanilang Blaze of Glory fight sa Alamodome, San Antonio Texas noong Abril 14.

Kampante si Pacman na kanyang matatalo ang katunggali subalit hindi ito naging madali para sa kanya. Nakontrol lamang niya ang laban pagkatapos matamo ang sugat sa kaliwang bahagi ng mata dulot ng accidental head butt mula kay Solis. Ito ay nagsilbing ‘wake up call’ kay Pacman na sunud-sunod na nagpakawala ng suntok sa 6th at 7th round ng laban at nagtuluy-tuloy sa 8th round kung saan tuluyang bumagsak si Solis.

Ilang araw matapos ang laban ay nagbalik sa Pilipinas si Pacman upang asikasuhin ang pangangampanya sa unang distrito ng South Cotabato kung saan siya ay kumakandidato bilang kongresista.

Sa kanyang pagsabak sa political arena, ano naman kaya ang magsisilbing ‘wake up call’ sa ating People’s champ para mapag-isipan na mas mainam na sa boxing arena na lamang niya ipakita ang kanyang galing at kahusayan? Sapat na ang mapagkaisa niya ang mamamayang Pilipino sa buong mundo sa tuwing siya’y may laban. Ang pagnanais niyang makatulong sa kapwa sa pamamagitan ng pagkakawang-gawa ay maaari pa rin niyang ipagpatuloy sa ibang paraan. Ang isang Manny Pacquiao na itinuturing na isa sa greatest boxers of all-time ay hindi nababagay sa maruming kalakaran ng pulitika. Nawa’y magising si Pacman at huwag hayaang magamit ng mga mapagsamantalang pulitiko na ang tanging nais lamang ay kapangyarihan.

Post-Election Syndrome
“Many are called but only few are chosen.”

Naihayag na ang mga pinalad na maglingkod sa taong-bayan sa katatapos palamang na national at local elections. Tapos na din ang partisipasyon ng mga botante sa pagpili ng mga kandidatong tingin nila ay karapat-dapat sa puwesto. Nagbunyi ang mga nagwagi, at sa mga sinawing palad, better luck next time.

Para sa mga nahalal na opisyal, tapos na ang kalbaryong dulot ng walang tigil na pangangampanya at makaubos-salaping pagpondo para dito. Ang panibagong pagsubok na kailangan nilang harapin ngayon ay kung paano nila maipatutupad ang kanilang mga pangako sa taong-bayan, kung paano nila maisasakatuparan ang mga platapormang kanilang ipinaglaban noong panahon ng kampanya at kung paano nila magagampanan nang maayos ang responsibilidad na nakaatang sa kanilang mga balikat.

Hindi lingid sa ating kaalaman na sakit na ng ilang mga kandidato na pagkatapos mailuklok sa puwesto’y tila nagkakaroon ng amnesia at nakakalimutanang dahilan kung bakit sila ay naihalal.

Sa pagkakataong ito, nawa’y hindi maging ningas-kugon ang mga nahalal na opisyal at kanilang tuparin ang mga binitiwang pangako sa taong-bayan nang sagayun ay muling maibalik ang kumpiyansa at tiwala ng mamamayang Pilipino sa pamahalaan. Nawa’y pakatandaan nila na sila’y iniluklok sa puwesto para maglingkod at hindi para gamitin ang kanilang kapangyarihan sa pansariling interes lamang.

Para naman sa mga taong-bayan na umaasang magkakaroon ng pagbabago sa sistema pagkatapos ihalal ang mga opisyal na ito, nawa’y bigyan natin sila ng pagkakataon na mapatunayan ang kanilang kakayahan na tayo ay mapaglingkuran.

*published in the June '07 issue of "Beyond the Horizon", Philippine Digest*

11 died, 120 injured in Glorietta 2 Blast

Kumitil ng 11 buhay at nag-iwan ng 120 sugatan ang pagsabog na yumanig sa Glorietta 2, tanghali ng Oktubre 19.

Nilansag ng pagsabog ang tatlong palapag ng Glorietta 2 na ikinapinsala at ikinasugat ng mga empleyado at namamasyal sa mall. Ang mga biktima ay dinala sa Makati Medical Center at Ospital ng Makati.

Winasak naman ng mga nagtalsikang debris ang mga sasakyang nakaparada at tindahang malapit sa establisyemento at nag-iwan ng malaking halaga ng pinsala.

Ayon sa pulisya, dalawang pagsabog ang magkasunod na naganap. Ang una ay nangyari 1:30 p.m. sa delivery area ng Luk Yuen Noodle House sa kaliwang bahaging entrance ng Glorietta 2 at makaraan ang ilang segundo ay sa kanang bahagi naman ng entrance. Hindi pa tukoy ng otoridad ang sanhi ng pagsabog ngunit iniutos na ni Pangulong Arroyo ang masusing pag-iimbestiga rito.

“I am deeply saddened by this unfortunate incident. I assure everyone that a full blown investigation is now underway,” pahayag ng pangulo.

Tumutulong din sa imbestigasyon ang ilang private investigation teams at foreign forensic experts upang mapabilis ang pagtukoy sa sanhi ng pagsabog.

Aakuin naman ng pamunuan ng Ayala Land Inc., may-ari ng Glorietta mall ang pinansiyal na gastusin ng mga pamilya ng biktima.

Matapos ang insidente, pinaigting ng Philippine National Police at Armed Forces of the Philippines ang seguridad sa mga pampublikong lugar sa pamamagitan ng pagtalaga ng karagdagang 2000 pulis sa buong bansa upang maiwasan nang maulit ang ganitong pangyayari.

Blast Theory

Iba’t-ibang teorya ang pinag-aaralan ng otoridad na posibleng sanhi ng pagsabog na naganap sa Glorietta 2.

Ang teoryang ito ay isang “bomb attack” ay may magkakaibang anggulo. Maaaring ito raw ay pakana ng mga terorista upang maghasik ng karahasan at samantalahin ang kasalukuyang kaguluhang pampulitika ng bansa. May mga haka-haka rin na ito ay gawa ng mga malalapit sa Pangulong Arroyo upang malihis ang atensyon ng mga tao mula sa mga kontrobersiyang kinahaharap ng kasalukuyangadministrasyon. May mga kuru-kuro rin na ito ay gawa ng kaaway ng gobyerno upang madagdagan at pagtibayin ang sunud-sunod na iskandalo sa administrasyong Arroyo.

Samantala, ang posibilidad na ito ay isang industrial failure na dulot ng kapabayaan ng Ayala Land Inc. ay hindi rin inisasantabi.

Accident or Sabotage?

Ito ang katanungang hindi mabigyang kasagutan sapagkat nananatiling palaisipan ang tunay na dahilan ng pagsabog. Sa resulta ng imbestigasyon ng kinauukulan, hindi bomba ang sanhi ng pagsabog kundi gas build-up sa basement ng Glorietta 2. Subalit tila hindi kumbinsido ang sambayanang Pilipino sa ulat na ito sapagkat hindi sapat at konkreto ang mga ebidensyang iniharap. Ngunit sa kabila nito’y nananatiling positibo ang pananaw ng publiko na lalabas din ang katotohanan at mabibigyang-katarungan ang mga inosenteng mamamayan na naging biktima ng insidente.

Mall Blasts in RP

Bukod sa Glorietta 2, may tatlo pang pagsabog ang naganap sa iba’t-ibang malls sa Pilipinas sa nakalipas na pitong taon.

May 17, 2000: Pagsabog sa C.R. ng isang restaurant sa Glorietta na nag-iwan ng 13 taong sugatan. Bago ang insidente ay may dalawang hip-hop gangs ang nag-away malapit sa pinangyarihan ng pagsabog. (Sources: BusinessWorld, Manila StandardToday)

May 21, 2000: Isang homemade bomb ang sumabog sa labas ng C.R. ng sinehan ng SM Megamall na kumitil sa buhay ng isang janitor at ikinasugat ng 10 pang tao.(Sources: AsiaWeek, BBC)

April 21, 2002: Pagpapasabog ng Abu Sayaff sa FitMart sa General Santos na ikinasawi ng 15 tao. (Sources: DND, PIA)

*published in the Dec '07 issue of "Beyond the Horizon", Philippine Digest*

Eleksyon Na Naman?!

Mahaharap muli sa kritikal na pagdedesisyon ang mga Pilipino sa pagpili ng mga kandidatong karapat-dapat na mamuno sa bansa at magsilbi sa taong-bayan para sa nakatakdang national at local elections sa Mayo 14. The question is not only ‘to vote or not to vote’. But most critically, for whom to vote! This is your chance to exercise a sacred right and responsibility.

Sa 80 kandidatong nagsumite ng aplikasyon para tumakbo bilang senador, 37 ang inaprubahan ng COMELEC. Kabilang dito ang TEAM Unity na sina Edgardo Angara, Tessie Aquino-Oreta, Joker Arroyo, Michael Defensor, Jamalul Kiram III, Vicente Magsaysay, Cesar Montano, Prospero Pichay Jr., Ralph Recto, Luis Singson, Vicente Sotto III, Juan Miguel Zubiri; at ang Genuine Opposition: Benigno Simeon Aquino III, Alan Peter Cayetano, Anna Dominique Coseteng, Francis Joseph Escudero, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, John Henry Osmena, Aquilino Pimentel III, Sonia Roco, Antonio Trillanes, Manuel Villar; ang Independent: Felix Cantal, Richard Gomez, Gregorio Honasan, Francis Pangilinan; ang KBL Joselito Cayetano, Melchor Chavez, Ruben Enciso, Antonio Estrella, Oliver Lozano, Eduardo Orpilla, Victor Wood at ang Ang Kapatiran: Martin Bautista, Adrian Sison, Zosimo Jesus Paredes. Kakandidato rin ang mga nagnanais maging congressman, gobernador, bise-gobernador, alkalde, bise-alkalde, konsehal, barangay captain, at iba pang pwesto sa lokal na pamahalaan.

Mga Paghahanda Bago Ang Eleksyon
Napakaraming preparasyon ang ginagawa ng mga pulitikong sasabak sa political arena. Kampanya rito at doon sa pamamagitan ng mga political advertisements. Sinasabing lumang uso, ang mga jingles, TV at radio commercials, banners, posters, stickers na nakadikit at nakasabit sa mga common poster areas at T-shirts na kung saan nakaimprenta ang pangalan ng kandidato ay ilan lamang sa mga campaign materials na nakakalat ngayon. Hindi lamang ‘yan, dahil sa makabagong teknolohiya, ang mga pulitiko ay sumuong na rin sa pangangampanya sa pamamagitan ng Internet podcasting, website-hosting, blogging at wireless Internet o wi-fi. Dito ay mas madali nilang mailalahad ang kanilang mga advocacies, platforms at programs. Sa kabilang banda, ang Commission on Elections (COMELEC) ay masusi ring naghahanda para maging maayos at maiwasan ang dayaan at kaguluhan sa nalalapit na eleksyon. Sa katunayan, naglaan ng mahigit kumulang P345,000 na pondo ang ahensya bilang reward sa mga mapipiling matapat, walang kinikilingan at matapang na guro at iba pang magsisilbing taga-paglingkod sa darating na eleksyon. Inamin ng pamunuan ng ahensya na nagkaroon ng problema sa pag-imprenta ng mga gagamiting election returns (ERs) sa local elections subalit sinigurado ni COMELEC Spokesman James Jimenez na sisirain ang mga depektibong kopya sa harap ng mga kinatawan ng mga political parties at ito ay hindi na mauulit sa paggawang ERs para sa senatorial elections. Sinigurado rin ng mga major industry power players at brokers ng bansa na magkakaroon ng stable at sapat na power supply sa halalan upang maiwasan ang system overload at short-circuit sa mga paaralan na pinagdadausan ng bilangan. Ang Task Force Halalan ay muling binuo na kinabibilangan ng National PowerCorporation (NAPOCOR), National Transmission Corporation (Transco) at ngPhilippine National Police (PNP). Ang mga media organizations katulad ng ABS-CBN at Phil. Star kasama ang GlobeTelecom ay nagsama-sama para maihatid ang full coverage sa eleksyon sapamamagitan ng “HALALAN 2007: Boto Mo, I-Patrol Mo”; at ang GMA 7 at Phil. Daily Inquirer katulong ang Smart/PLDT para sa “ELEKSYON 2007”.

To vote or not to vote? Or whom to vote for?
Inilatag na sa atin ng mga kandidato ang kanilang mga plataporma at kung susumahin ay handa na rin ang mga ahensya ng pamahalaan para sa nalalapit nahalalan. Ngunit tayo bang mga botante ay handa na sa pagboto? Marami ang nagnanais na mailuklok sa pwesto subalit lahat ba sila’y may tapat na hangarin at kakayahan upang pagsilbihan ang taong-bayan? Ang mga Pilipino ay sawa na sa mga papogi at paganda ng mga pulitikong puro pangako nakalaunan ay napapako rin. Pagbabago sa sistema ang kailangan at uusad na plataporma. Hindi puro porma ang hangad ng lahat. Nawa’y ating isaisip na ang darating na eleksyon ay hindi isang money o popularity contest. Ating pagnilayan ang gagawin nating pagpili sa tamang kandidato sapagkat kinabukasan nating mga Pilipino at ng ating bansa angnakasalalay dito.

10 Commandments for Responsible Voting
(Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting)
1. Thou shalt vote according to the dictate of your conscience.
2. Thou shalt respect the decision of others in choosing their candidates.
3. Thou shalt seek to know the moral integrity, capabilities and other personal qualities of the candidates you will vote for.
4. Thou shalt strive to understand the issues, platform, and programs ofcandidates and parties seeking your vote.
5. Thou shalt not sell your vote.
6. Thou shalt not vote for candidates using guns, goons and gold.
7. Thou shalt not vote for candidates with records of graft and corruption.
8. Thou shalt not vote for candidates just because of utang na loob (debt of gratitude), popularity, or pakikisama (camaraderie).
9. Thou shalt not vote for candidates living immoral lives.
10. Thou shalt put the welfare of the country above all else in choosing the candidates you will vote for.

Vote, stand up and be counted!

*published in the May '07 issue of "Beyond the Horizon", Philippine Digest*

PD Meets 'Abong' Star

Binisitang muli kamakailan ng multi-awarded actor na si Joel Torre ang Japan para i-promote ang pelikulang ‘Abong’ na kanyang pinagbibidahan.

Sa presscon na ginanap sa UPLINK Theater, Shibuya noong Abril 5, nagkaroon ng pagkakataon ang PD na eksklusibong makapanayam ang magaling na aktor at direktor ng pelikula na si Koji Imaizumi. Ibinahagi ng dalawa ang kanilang pagnanais na maitanghal sa mas maraming sinehan ang pelikula.

Gumanap bilang si Lamot, ipinahayag ni Torre ang kanyang kagalakan na mapili ni Imaizumi na maging lead star ng obra nito.

“I was very happy when Koji asked me to play the lead role of ‘Abong’. It was very challenging and I am overwhelmed with the result. I consider this movie as one of my favorites,” saad ng aktor.

Ito na ang pangatlong beses na pagpunta ng magiliw na aktor sa Japan. Samantala, sinabi naman ng Japanese director na si Imaizumi na ang ‘Abong' ay naipalabas na sa piling mga sinehan sa Pilipinas at kasalukuyang ipinapalabas naman sa ilang mga sinehan sa iba’t-ibang lugar dito sa Japan. The film has competed in several film festivals in Europe and Asia.

“I am inviting the Filipinos in Japan to please watch and support ‘Abong’. It is a very good movie,” paanyaya ng mabait na direktor. Ang ‘Abong’ ay sinasabing first and monumental Igorot feature film ng Pilipinas. Ito ay isang independent film na usong trend ngayon sa movie industry.

*published in the May '07 issue of "What's Up", Philippine Digest*