Islander in the City

Into The Light

2010-06-30T11:32:00.004+08:00

rsandarino.com - Into The Light

A Season of Hope

2010-04-03T10:47:00.004+08:00

rsandarino.com

Korea Everland: Tulip Festival

2010-03-31T11:35:00.004+08:00

http://rsandarino.com/

Dear Toyota

2010-03-16T09:33:00.004+08:00

www.rsandarino.com

Palawan's Underground River

2010-03-12T09:06:00.000+08:00

rsandarino.com

Slowly Coming Back

2010-03-06T14:29:00.004+08:00

Ladies and Gentlemen.... Presenting ...... rsandarino.com

Silence

2010-01-06T15:23:00.002+08:00

Vacation has come and gone, but I have yet to make a decent post in this blog. Seems like I've already ran out of drive to express more detailed statements to the world. Must be because I could make simple shout-outs through my facebook updates anyway.I was hoping to transfer to my own dotcom site at the onset of 2010 but even that takes the backseat for now. It's all fired-up, just a few more

Happy New Year, Folks!

2009-12-28T12:24:00.003+08:00

I spent my recent weeks in places where access to the internet was scarce. Forgive me then if I have not greeted you last Christmas.I surmise I will continue to be generally offline in the next few days. I missed the Philippines so much I am now savouring every minute of my stay here.So to all of you, have a blissful New Year!

Enjoying So Far

2009-12-12T12:53:00.002+08:00

I've been in Manila for a week now.And while I spend most of the time on-line in Japan, here it's practically a vacation too from the virtual world.So blogging goes on the back burner for now. I will be back, soon I hope.

Yasukuni Shrine

2009-12-04T09:32:00.009+08:00

I was just aimlessly exploring the city when I saw this imposing torii (gate). I checked what it was, and I was pleasantly surprised that it turned out to be the entrance to the Yasukuni Shrine - a shrine I have seen many times on international tv. This is the shrine that always attract a lot of media attention whenever China protests the visits made by local and foreign dignitaries. Here's

Autumn In the City

2009-11-30T12:40:00.005+08:00

It's actually winter here already (it feels like it). And it's been weeks since the declared best days for foliage viewing. But since I've been quite busy attending to some office duties the past weeks, it's just lately that I had time to roam the city.Good thing I still got a glimpse of the koyo or autumn leaves that colored metro Tokyo. Armed with my trusty point-and-shoot, I walked about 5

Liberal Party Platform

2009-11-28T12:20:00.004+08:00

To these I hold them accountable for, when our support catapults them to the seat of power. Noynoy Aquino Platform of Government

Tobu World Square: Tour of the World in 3 Hrs

2009-11-23T22:20:00.006+08:00

I had visitors I needed to tour. But I don't want to bring them to places I've been to. I too should enjoy the trip just as much, right?So I decided to check Tobu World Square - the park which houses miniatures replicas of world heritage sites. Built in 1993, the park boasts of 102 reproductions built to 1/25th of the original sizes.Here are the reconstructions of some of the places I would

Quickie

2009-11-18T05:34:00.005+08:00

One hurried tour that was!More pics and details in the next post.

Irony Philippines

2009-11-17T07:43:00.004+08:00

I am currently handling an international project, the completion of which has long been overdue. Why? Because every time we approach the end, a new bureaucratic requisite sprouts which consequently throws the finish line farther away.This confounds our foreign partners since the same initiative has been implemented in many other countries and so far, it is the Philippines that has asked for the

Extreme Make-Over at the Trains

2009-11-10T08:50:00.005+08:00

Tokyo Metro trains have for some time been running a campaign featuring a series of posters encouraging proper decorum at the trains. With the slogan "Please do it at Home" the subway management admonishes people not to do things that are best done at home like eating, drinking, being rowdy, playing, etc. Using cartoons as medium, some exaggeration is understandably employed.But the most recent

Hokkaido Pics: Recovered

2009-11-02T09:14:00.005+08:00

Allow me to share some of the few good pics recovered from my busted memory card. These were the ones I took during my visit to Hokkaido, an island north of Japan. Regularly, the place is covered in snow, but summertime converts it into one vast grassland (cultured). The place is known as Japan's milkland, where there are more cows than people.The farmers in the area are rich, living in

Creatures in the Flower Park

2009-10-24T18:09:00.005+08:00

I first saw the fallen angels ... resting beneath the tall trees that seemed to fence the large flower farm. I asked permission to take their picture, but before I could even make a few decent clicks, the other tourists rudely took my frame. I was not in the mood to serve as their official photographer so I decided to wander afar.Luckily I met other interesting creatures, mostly on their way to

Tsukuba: Just Another Bus Tour Post

2009-10-21T19:53:00.009+08:00

For the nth time, I joined a Filipino organization in a bus tour - this time in Japan's science showcase, the city of Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture.Our first stop was the Tsukuba Expo Center which greets visitors with an impressive 50-meter high full-scale model of the Japanese-made H-2 rocket. Once inside, we were exposed to many Japanese inventions, like the ocean floor investigative

My Camera Failed Me!

2009-10-19T10:39:00.003+08:00

I was in Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost part, the past few days. And there I got exposed to the Japanese "inaka" or countryside - a scene so unlike the image that comes to mind when people talk about the high-tech, populous land of the rising sun.From above, one could see vast plains all over the area, with greens that look like golf courses. It turned out that most of the land was planted to

Missing You ...

2009-10-13T07:02:00.002+08:00

He he. Ala lang. Napagaya ke Abaniko.(This song is one the most popular Waray ballads of all time.)

Never Enough

2009-10-09T14:48:00.007+08:00

I just had a conversation with a friend who was one of those who were badly hit by Ondoy's fury. Having had no communication since that fateful Saturday, I was simply too eager to know how things were going for him.But in reply to my "kumusta?", he chided me for not giving him any form of assistance - and further noting that I did send little "somethings" only to my relatives. Taken aback, I

Digging Gibo

2009-10-06T08:58:00.006+08:00

I just finished watching ANC's Face to Face where Sec. Gilbert Teodoro had an open forum with local government leaders (three more are supposed to follow).Admittedly, I was impressed with his eloquence and his firm hold on issues - he does have the big brains that's a plus for any presidential aspirant. I even think that if he gets pitted with Chiz Escudero, Gibo will level with him content-wise.

Gentle Rapids

2009-09-30T07:53:00.007+08:00

A friend from Saitama invited me to visit his home last Sunday. From there, we drove to the Nagatoro area where he surprised me with a riverboat ride.It turned out that Nagatoro is a center for whitewater activity just a few miles out of Tokyo. City folks troop to the area for kayaking and other water activities.We rode a traditional large wooden boat manned by two local navigators in uniform.

Worried

2009-09-28T09:35:00.002+08:00

My heart bleeds for relatives and friends living in the areas affected by the floods.I am particularly worried about those from Marikina. I'm quite sure that by now, there already are hundreds of people I know who are now in the evacuation centers. You see, there is a specific area in Marikina where most of my kababayans from Samar converge and that is exactly the purok beside the river.For

Fantasy Baths, Anyone?

2009-09-22T09:06:00.008+08:00

Have you ever fancied soaking yourself in red wine?Or "sake" (Japanese wine), perhaps?Hmm, coffee?How about tea?These baths may seem too exotic for your taste, but a resort in the mountains off Tokyo hit the jackpot when it started making these ideas come to life. Patrons just kept pouring in despite the fact that it was pretty obvious that the pools were not designed to accommodate a deluge of

S.O.S.?

2009-09-18T08:28:00.005+08:00

I have just gone out of the Philippine Embassy gate when I noticed a woman coming towards me. Probably on her mid-forties, she looked like any other Filipina at the Embassy for some consular transaction.As she drew closer, she smiled coyly and asked, "Pinoy po kayo?".I smiled back.As if that were her cue, she opened the small traveling bag she was carrying and said, "Sir, bilhin nyo naman 'tong

Wow!

2009-09-15T21:18:00.004+08:00

This one's surely going to be another You Tube sensation. No doubt, because it is truly amazing work, both in musicality and editing. Basta, ang galing!

Lunch

2009-09-14T12:02:00.007+08:00

I don't even know what it's called in nihonggo. I just grabbed it at the convenience store as I walked towards the office. It's salad, with a thin slice of raw fish wrapped in edible film (whatever it is). Sauce comes packed with it, and it tastes, well, "japanesy" (whatever that meant).Since I got posted here, lunch has always been a problem. There are a thousand and one restaurants in the area

Why Noynoy?

2009-09-09T10:52:00.011+08:00

- Because as a result of the shenanigans of the Estrada and Arroyo dispensations, our country is now wallowing in deep moral shit - where the corrupt is exalted and the righteous scorned. We now need someone whose integrity is intact, whose morals is perched on high ground. Among those offering themselves for the presidency, Noynoy leads the pack as to purity and strength of character.-

The Kingdom By the Sea

2009-09-07T11:19:00.006+08:00

The Tokyo Disney Sea Theme Park is supposed to be the more mature version of Disneyland, as it features faster rides and more polished shows. It is located just within the Disney Resort compound which also hosts Disneyland. One can therefore chose where to go, but definitely, one will not be able to complete the rounds in one day.One major attraction inside is the water show which features an

Supreme Tantrum

2009-09-03T09:32:00.003+08:00

Noble. Statesmanlike. A supreme sacrifice.That's how many described Sen. Mar Roxas' announcement that he's backing out of the presidential race to support Noynoy Aquino.Honestly, I too saw it that way.But the pronouncements in the aftermath of the dramatic announcement made me realize it wasn't really so. I now think it was more an act of deep frustration than of selfless dedication to

Samba, Ole!

2009-08-31T10:15:00.007+08:00

" The Asakusa Samba Carnival is held annually, on a Saturday towards the end of August, in Asakusa, Tokyo. Attracting about 500,000 sightseers who fall under the spell of the passionate rhythms of the samba, the event has a strong international flavor. As a town that grew up around a temple, Asakusa observes many traditional

I Went to the Samba Carnival...

2009-08-30T08:57:00.009+08:00

... And all I got were ...BUTT SHOTS!But before you even dare start calling me a pervert, please let me explain (I deserve a day in court, hehehe).I was already positioned, together with photographer friends, right by the road where the dancers pass. But it was under the scorching heat of midday sun and my eyes can't bear the glare plus I had no sunscreen on (am too dark to even try getting

Stupid! Stupid!

2009-08-28T11:55:00.006+08:00

Baby boy dies in locked car while mother plays pachinkoFriday 28th August, 08:22 AM JST AKITA — An 11-month-old baby boy died in a locked car after his mother left him to go and play pachinko for nearly three hours in Yurihonjo, Akita Prefecture, on Thursday afternoon. Police on Friday morning arrested the baby’s mother, 31-year-old Junko Hori, on a charge of abandonment

The Fallen

2009-08-26T07:35:00.006+08:00

People take various routes to survive through life. Some may by fate be led through soft, carpeted paths while many others get pushed through rocky, hilly, pock-marked roads. But no matter what the trek offers, what's important is everyone fights a good fight. But how should we regard those who were waylaid by the roadside? Those who chose to surrender and float, those who see no more reason

Goodbye Susan Boyle

2009-08-25T09:47:00.003+08:00

Just can't help it. This one's indeed a natural and an absolute charmer. But is he in for the long haul? We'll see.

Matsuri

2009-08-24T11:41:00.005+08:00

Quite similar to how we Filipino celebrate fiestas, the Japanese also observe various matsuri or festivals, in honor of a local shrine or temple. Almost every locale has at least one matsuri in late summer or early autumn.I haven't actually witnessed an actual celebration and I thought I again missed one yesterday. I was just on my way to the neighborhood Filipino restaurant when I passed by

Reversing Ninoy

2009-08-21T09:37:00.005+08:00

I was introduced to Ninoy from the opposite side of the fence - as I was then a Marcos boy. I belonged to the last batch of Kabataang Barangay leaders, and as such, I looked forward to a career in politics under the tutelage of mentors who revered the Apo.I thus knew Ninoy to be not as heroic as he is pictured today. I thought of him as the rebel-villain - the nemesis of my idol. I fear him

Yup, Am Back.

2009-08-20T12:08:00.004+08:00

It's been about a week since I arrived here in Tokyo, but apparently, I still am nursing a hangover from my vacation in the Philippines. I still prefer to stay at home and watch the telenovelas I missed. And I still make frequent calls to the people I just met back home. I have yet to make my presence felt to my friends here.Truth is I didn't do much while I was there. Aside from the five busy

Abaknon Festival: Simple But Proud

2009-08-13T20:54:00.010+08:00

Five years ago, our island-town introduced the Abaknon Festival as part of the celebrations for the feast of our patron saint, St. Ignatius of Loyola. Abaknon is the name that collectively embraces all the residents of the island of Capul, who share a unique dialect and a simple lifestyle.Those who have participated in the frenetic, frenzied dancing in many of the festivals in the Philippines

Sentries

2009-08-10T11:46:00.004+08:00

The lighthouse at the tip of Capul, Northern Samar. Stands tall like a guard, beaming flashes of light in the dark of the night, warning ships from crossing its grounds.The carabaos... grazing... standing guard too?

Home Again

2009-07-26T09:24:00.002+08:00

Am in the Philippines. Since Friday. Enjoying so far.Not much time, nor chance for blogging. I am where life is simple and unadulterated. Home.

Hanabi

2009-07-22T06:11:00.003+08:00

To signal the onset of summertime, the Japanese hold a string of fireworks festivals (which they call hanabi). These are usually held by the riverbanks where there are vast vacant spaces for the spectators to have picnics as they watch.I missed most of the schedules last year so I planned to witness them this year. Unfortunately, most of them will be on the last week of July to the first week

Ain't We Welcome Here?

2009-07-17T09:54:00.004+08:00

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

Seoul Patrol

2009-07-13T16:45:00.006+08:00

I just got back from another short visit to Seoul. After two postponements, the joint celebrations for Philippine Independence Day, Migrant Workers Day and Philippine-Korea Friendship Day finally pushed through. And as is normal for events like these, Pinoys came in droves. And since we were there for business, we hardly had a glimpse of the festivities as we were busy manning the company booth.

Most Expensive

2009-07-11T12:18:00.008+08:00

They've just confirmed what we've already known and lived with the past year - that Tokyo now offers the most expensive living condition in the world. Moscow, the erstwhile top-ranked, now shares bridesmaid status with yet another Japanese city, Osaka.When I arrived here, the US Dollar commanded a 1-110 exchange rate against the Yen (and for the residents, there was a time when it was 120 or

Kamogawa Seaworld: A Pleasant Surprise

2009-07-01T21:27:00.014+08:00

I went with a group of Filipinos in a yet another "picking" tour last Sunday - blueberries this time. But I've got no pics of the orchard because my friends and I opted not get inside the farm. First, it was raining not just cats and dogs but an entire zoo! (Corny, He he). But the real reason was, we could have the fruits for free anyway, so we just waited outside and robbed those who bought

Our Island Featured in Cebu Pacific Mag

2009-06-27T12:57:00.005+08:00

This Islander's hometown, the island of Capul in Northern Samar, was among the towns featured the recent issue of Smile, Cebu Pacific's in-flight magazine.The writer said, "curious residents welcome you once you arrive on the shores of this island municipality. They speak Inabaknon, which is one of the Philippines’ remote and rare dialects.Just an hour’s ride from the town of Allen is Capul

My 30 Seconds of "Fame"

2009-06-22T10:23:00.006+08:00

I just had a busy, crazy week.Two of my company's most senior executives were in Tokyo for business meetings. This coincided with President Arroyo's state visit focusing on the arrangements for the JPEPA.Friday was so hectic. We were rushing from one meeting to another. And by the end of the day, a big celebration was scheduled in observance of Philippine Independence Day and the Migrant Workers'

Cheonggyecheon: Urban Renewal Showcase

2009-06-06T21:29:00.009+08:00

I tried imagining a river at the very heart of an industrializing city and the image that sticks is a picture of a terribly filthy, thrash-filled waterway. And yes, littered with shanties of all types and sizes.That I was told, was how Cheonggyecheon looked liked in the early fifties, when Korea was just beginning to run the course of industrialization. What used to be a fabled stream became so

Seoul After Dark

2009-06-03T14:37:00.007+08:00

I asked our consultant's Korean secretary to write instructions for the taxi driver so I could get back to the man-made river in downtown Seoul. I was there earlier in the day for some meetings, but I forgot to bring my camera.As the taxi sped-up, I knew we were treading unfamiliar territory. I tried talking to the driver, but he spoke no English. It was only when we crossed a bridge and headed

Down

2009-06-01T19:41:00.006+08:00

Just got back from Seoul.There's AH1N1 there. But more in Japan though.As we passed immigration, all of us were given yellow cards. With instructions on where to go, what number to call - in case we start feeling weird.I'm closely looking at it now. Should I call, should I not.I got home early from work. I started having slight fever this morning. I needed to rest. I am crossing my fingers it

Wheels

2009-05-23T14:41:00.003+08:00

Life is best viewed from the top. That's why there are ferris wheels.Yokohama HarborOdaibaFujikyu Highlands

Lullabye Me Please...

2009-05-17T10:02:00.009+08:00

The entire night has passed by and I have yet to fall asleep (it's almost Sunday noon as I am writing this).My head hurts like crazy and I'm in no mood to do anything but curl in bed until i cross the dark side. That I await now very, very impatiently.I remember I used to have bouts of sleeplessness before, but those were during the most trying times of my life. Those were when problems came

WTF! Gokey is Out?

2009-05-14T22:28:00.007+08:00

I'm mad. Very, very mad. Utterly disappointed.America just voted Danny Gokey out of American Idol. And I know who to blame.Paula Abdul, you screwed up. Or maybe you did it on purpose. You and the rest of the judges, were all like giggly school-girls rooting for Lambert, just like that Katy Perry who-the-hell was she?Gokey is a balladeer - and that by now should have been crystal clear except for

A Concert I'd Die To Watch

2009-05-12T12:55:00.008+08:00

Cook and Archuleta in Manila?!!!Somalosep! Why not last December? Or any time when I would be in the Philippines? Why oh why?!He he. I just feel bad missing this big event. I admit these two are my favorite Idols, arguably two of the best graduates of the show. Until now, I still have their AI performances in my ipod playlist. And I have downloaded their recent tracks from all sources

Where Happiness Lies

2009-05-10T08:17:00.003+08:00

"Research done in Mexico, Ghana, Sweden, the U.S. and the U.K. shows that individuals typically get richer during their lifetimes, but not happier. It is family, social and community networks that bring joy to one's life".My sentiment exactly..Now bring me home... :-)full article here.

Zandra: A Model Photoshoot

2009-05-04T12:17:00.010+08:00

It may sound to be the most defiantly unnationalistic thing to do - but we did forego Pacquaio in exchange for a model photoshoot. This was under the tutelage and direction of pro photographer Lenard Po, from whom I hoped to learn more about photography (I did, thanks Lenard!)So while the entire Philippines and half the world were getting hoarse egging the pugilists to crush each other, we were

Out of the Frying Pan?

2009-05-01T10:25:00.005+08:00

I had the chance to chat with a Filipino priest during my recent visit to Korea. He said that in one of the parishes where he celebrates mass, ninety-nine percent of the flock are women.Asked where the church is, he said it's near a US Military Base and the nightlife area.Further conversation confirmed a previous information I received that many of our women are now "touring" Korea. Apparently,

But Then It Rained...

2009-04-26T09:49:00.003+08:00

With such a short stay in Seoul, I knew I wouldn't have time to do much exploration. But on my last day, some meetings went quite well and fast my late afternoon schedule suddenly got cleared. I checked where I could go and decided to visit Gyeongbokgung Palace which is right at the heart of the city (I would have wanted to go to the Demilitarized Zone but I should have made arrangements the day

AI Addict, Still?

2009-04-23T23:46:00.004+08:00