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Friday, July 17, 2009

Ain't We Welcome Here?


Every time I return from overseas travel, I can't help but feel sad whenever I see these signs around Narita Airport.

These posters say "Welcome to Tokyo", translated in various languages. You can easily notice Bahasa Indonesian, Mandarin, Malaysian,Thai, Vietnamese alongside Arabic, Latin and European Languages. But sadly, Filipino is nowhere in the four variations I've seen.

This despite the fact that Filipinos now comprise the fourth largest foreign community in Japan. Estimates say that there are more than 300,000 Filipinos here and that is exclusive of children born of Japanese-Filipino parents.

Maybe we still have to really impress the Japanese to be afforded basic courtesies. Or maybe I am just being too sensitive.

21 comments:

Rico said...

Maybe you could send a small mail (email) or notice to the admin and say your (nay our) concerns. I'm sure they're very much willing to accomodate requests like that.

The Gasoline Dude™ said...

I smell discrimination here. Dahil ba sa mga Japayukis?

domho said...

i dont know that. but i learned something why there's no tagalog subtitles on asian versions of dvds here. they say it is because we understand english.

Anonymous said...

i would feel the same kung ganito din makikita ko. And I think you're right. Given the number of filipinos in Japan, one would think their government would be a little more sensitive or as you put it, would give Filipinos a little more courtesy.

sa lahat pa naman ng countries sa asia, ito ang bansang gusto kong puntahan, ikutin, i-explore. :( hm, pero tutuloy pa rin ako next year.

napadaan lang po :)

owenandbenjamin said...

That is surprising.

atto aryo said...

rico: that's an idea. i don't know though if it's not pushing the issue hard.

atto aryo said...

gasdude: well... sana hindi.

atto aryo said...

domho: that does not apply here. the translations were meant to show that people from all countries are welcome to Japan - and not because the people who spoke those languages do not know what "Welcome to Tokyo" means.

atto aryo said...

moonsparks: one liner lang naman sana yun kasi. andami na sana nilang napasaya sa airport pa lang.

MaRyA said...

oo nga,, kahit "Mabuhay!" man lang.

Abaniko said...

Even on cable TV travel shows, when they mention countries in Asia, Philippines is usually excluded. Sad, no?

HOMER said...

Poor Philippines. Even if a large percentage of migrants in that country I believe comprises Filipinos. I wonder what's the basis of having a translated version of that welcome note is.

Pati ba sa welcome note of an airport may hierarchy of who deserves to have a translated version..

pamatayhomesick said...

pards, kasi di na nating kailangan intindihin pa yung mga nakasulat,lahat kasi nababasa natin,.tingin lang nila satin magagaling na...positive bah..he he he.

Anonymous said...

what if gumanti tayo?

maglagay din tayo sa NAIA ng ganyan.lahat ng languages in the whole wide world (haha) tapos walang Japanese translation.

revenge is sweet.hehe

Rad Deverala said...

I share your symphaties bro! But I'd rather lean on domho's point of view and fire up their envy by being the more linguist that we already are.

atto aryo said...

marya: di nga ba naman. andali naman nila isingit ang mabuhay kung gusto talaga.

atto aryo said...

abaniko: lumalabas talaga, kahit nakakalat na tayo sa mundo, parang wala pa rin tayo sa mapa hehehe

atto aryo said...

homer: if only for the fact that thousands of Pinoys pass by Narita everyday, dapat kasama tayo sa i-welcome di ba?

Juzzie said...

ohhh... sad.. that is really a sad thing.. well hope that they will realize na madami imigrants na filipino dian dba..
tsk tsk

Unknown said...

Isn't it unfair?

aleng said...

attorney, baka iniisip nila kasi marunong na daw kasi tayo ng English.. LOL..

anyway, nice observation ^^