Seoul Patrol

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. It was pure hard work I tell you. I lost all poise as I sweated profusely with my barong on. The heat was unbearable despite the venue being a park beside a river.


And since there really wasn't much to blog about, let me just share some random shots that I took while walking around Seoul.

"Condominium"
- I saw this makeshift sleeping box at the underpass near Seoul. From the looks of it, seems like the occupant is in deep slumber.



"Peeing Bridge"
- This is Banpo Bridge which shoots out water every once in a while, to the relief of the sun-scorched promenaders below it.


"Whaaat?"
- This sign was posted at the airport duty free shop. We already rocked our brains out but still failed to decipher what it meant. Help, anyone?


"Entrepreneur"
- Whoever owns this motorcycle really puts it to maximum use. Those plants are for sale.

Most Expensive

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 more). Since middle of last year, the Yen has appreciated to at most 85. That's losing about 25,000 Yen every time one converts a thousand dollars. Add to the lesser value for the USD the fact that the cost of living skyrocketed by 13.1 % since 2008 and you get a painful double whammy!

Why does it matter to me? Because my allowance is pegged at the once mighty USD. So there goes my chances of saving something from what I'm getting here. Sigh.

People always advice me not to c0nvert values when I buy things here, but I can't help it. The pricing can be so crazy. Imagine a regular bottle of beer (e.g. the size of a San Mig Light) costing more than 500 pesos. That's the equivalent of one case in the Philippines! Bread that looks like our pan de sal sells at about 110 yen - more than 50 pesos each or the entire breakfast at home!

Yes, the salaries here are big compared to those of the other workers in the region. But whatever advantage that poses, such has dwindled tenfolds as the salaries have never really increased in recent years. Officially, Japan has been in recession since last year and there is yet no clear sign of things getting better.

Sigh. Another sigh...

Kamogawa Seaworld: A Pleasant Surprise

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 pasalubongs (going-home presents). PGs! :-)


Anyway, the same breakaway group of four also decided to visit the Kamogawa Sea World instead of the cruise where the rest of the busload went. And honestly, I'm quite sure we got the better end of the deal, as Kamogawa Sea World turned out to be fascinating despite the heavy downpour.

As an islander, I could say I am already used to sea creatures. But when I saw the huge and rare animals in the park, I realized just how much I haven't really seen.

Kamogawa SW in Chiba Prefecture is actually not as large as the Sea World in Hongkong that I've been to - but it's compact and complete. Perched right on a scenic beach, it hosts adjacent amphitheaters where dolphin, killer whale, sea lion and beluga shows were being held right after the other.



It also features large aquariums featuring sea life from various climates, from the tropical islands to the polar glaciers (unfortunately we did not see the latter as we were busy escaping the rain). It was there where I saw and stood face to face with the biggest sea creatures I've ever seen in my entire life! They could be the stuff of nightmares if seen in open seas. But since the aquariums allow you to really get close to them, they really seemed like cute cuddly figures.



And yup, there were small fishes too! Honestly, I didn't know that Nemo was THAT small!

Our Island Featured in Cebu Pacific Mag

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 Island, once a favorite guidepost for seafarers. During the Spanish era, galleons stopped over here en route to Manila, their final destination. Ships voyaging to Acapulco, Mexico anchored in Capul (which is short for Acapulco) before proceeding on the last leg of their journey back."

See full article here.




And should you wish to visit the place, it's fiesta is on July 30 to 31. Tara!

My 30 Seconds of "Fame"

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' Day. PGMA was the guest of honor.


The entire presidential entourage was in the hall - congressmen, senators, cabinet members, press people and chuwariwariwaps. Most of the Filipino invitees were in their regal Filipiniana.

PGMA addressed the very excited and supportive crowd and conferred awards to some Filipino achievers and Japanese supporters.

Then the finale.

It was a medley of Filipino nationalistic songs by professional singers in Japan (one was a former Bagong Kampeon Grand Champion, another was a champion in a Japan-wide singing contest).

One odd inclusion was an upstart singer, who should have known better to just stay as a banker-lawyer. But he had no choice as it was the Labor Attache's personal order. So he hesitantly joined and did try to simply blend with the powerhouse cast. Unfortunately, he seemed to have brought in the most number of "pala". So when it was his turn to do a solo, he received a remarkably loud applause that even the President noticed. The Secretary of Labor informed her that the one singing was the representative of a government bank to Tokyo. She looked at the Bank's President who was in the crowd and waived at her.


At the end of the song, the singers went up the stage and brought the VIPs forward. People swear the President was teary-eyed (that was one of the most welcoming crowds during her recent overseas trips, some claimed).

After the last dramatic note, the President congratulated the singers. When it was the upstart's turn, she asked "Ikaw ba yung sa ****Bank? ". "Yes Ma'am", he meekly answered. "Ang galing mo ah!". Then Senator Angara butted in, "Di ka lang pala bankero, singer pa!".

That folks was the Islander's 30 seconds of fame. :-)

Cheonggyecheon: Urban Renewal Showcase

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 deteriorated, the Korean government decided to cover it with concrete and construct an elevated highway thereon.

That highway stayed there until 2003, when the City of Seoul reversed the national government's design and removed it. What for? In order to restore the 6 kilometer stream that once ran through it, thru a mechanized source (the water now is pumped up as the original stream source has dried up). The cost? A whopping USD 280 Million!

They said there was strong opposition to the project early on. But now, this place has become a favorite hang-out for Koreans, especially so during summertime.


How I wish we could do the same thing with Manila's waterways, but of course I know that's just but a dream.

Seoul After Dark

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 towards the dock that I realized that the secretary's note was for the river cruise.

It was by then past 7:00 p.m but the sun was just about to set. Hmm. Seoul sunset. Why not? I checked the foreground: not spectacular. But I took the above sunset shot just the same.

I decided to take the cruise hoping to get afternoon-to-night shots. Here are some of those I got.

(Korean Parliament Building)

Apparently, the cruise was unlike that of Tokyo which traverses the very heart of the city. But it was still part of my knowing Seoul better, so i'm not complaining. I'll just try to get more night shots from the Seoul Tower area next time.

Down

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 aint that bad.

P.S.

I woke up feeling a little better today. I guess I'll be fine.

Wheels

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

Yokohama Harbor

Odaiba

Fujikyu Highlands

Lullabye Me Please...

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 aplenty and sleep was but a barrier to doing the immediate solutions. It was then that I have proven that sleep-inducing medication are no match to an hyperactive brain. I tell you, I've tried them all without success.

But this time it's different. There was nothing bugging me except the desperate call for sleep to swallow me. And yup, the more I focus on it, the more difficult it seems. Darn!

* * *

I'm now listening to an internet feed of DWRR, hoping that the music will soothe my nerves and lull me to sleep. But no such luck. The corny deejay kept dishing her moronic jokes and irritates the listeners with her indulgent laughter. And everytime, after her senseless attack on the eardrums, the advertisements that follow are just as inane, inconsiderate and assaulting - they're either shouting or repetitive.

Why can't they just leave the FM airwaves to pure music?

(pic randomly lifted from the net)

WTF! Gokey is Out?

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 dreamy judge deep on drugs (is it true what they say?). To ask him to sing a two-tone dance song on the most critical AI eve (while Cowell pushed and shoved for Lambert to sing U2), was to me plain sabotage. Unforgivable.

Nope, I am not much of a Gokey fan - my favorites have all lost steam. But if a choice was to be made between the three remaining contenders, I am pretty sure where to place my bets.

So now, Adam Lambert and Chris Allen will have to fight for AI glory. I hope Allen gets it, if only America stands up and prove that it knows its music. I've always believed AI is a singing contest, not a screaming competition. The moment Lambert gets the nod would be very, very sad (indulgent nonsense, remember?)...

At least for me. And I couldn't care less if others say otherwise.

(slowly, I am putting my last beer down....)

A Concert I'd Die To Watch

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 possible.

But that's life. Some good things are meant to be missed. Makikibalita na lang ako sa mga swerteng makakapanood.

And hopefully, both artists will stage a concert in Tokyo. While I'm here, of course.

Where Happiness Lies

"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

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 on the other hand nonchalantly riding trains to the venue.

And there we met Zandra Fieg, an American student and part-time model. She agreed to pose for us in exchange for the photos that she could use for her portfolio.

I don't know with you, but all the fotogs there agree that she was a knock-out. Her brown-greenish eyes were so expressive and her face is classic. And above that, she was a fun subject - her impression of japanese girls floored us!


Maybe, missing the very moment Paquiao brought Hatton to sleep wasn't really that bad afterall. :-)


More of her here.

Out of the Frying Pan?

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, majority of them are former "japayukis", who had to find work after the government decided to stop the deployment of performing artists to Japan.

The priest's account also reminded me of one time when a Filipina "mama-san" claimed that her former wards who transfered to Korea experienced working conditions far hellish than Japan's as pictured. Of course, I wouldn't know how valid the assertion was, but if my few visits to "omises" would be my gauge, I saw indeed, that Japanese men were usually just having fun singing while the ladies serve them wine. But accounts in Korea say that the treatment they get from the locals and the foreign military personnel is different.

All these are hearsay of course, and I hope that government will address this issue soonest. If indeed we tried to protect our women in Japan, it would be sad to find one that we actually brought them out of the frying pan and into the fire.

(May we, laborers, have a fruitful observation of our Day.)

(pic freely lifted from the web)