Ako'y Pinoy Parin (やっぱ。。。あたし て。。。フィリピン人)

Last October 12, I took a journey to Meguro, Tokyo, to meet some online friends that I was been longing to see so badly for a quite long time. Finally, and yes finally, after the many cancelled plans, I made it meeting them.
十月十二日、目黒、東京旅に出かけました。やっと、すごく会いたい友達と会えるようになりました。

We finally ended up meeting by attending the UTAWIT grandfinals wherein one of the Timog Forum member was a grandfinalist　(JosephSensei), and what added the excitement, TresLentesPlus from Timog Forum Photography Club was the official photographer, and I was been so blessed to be a part of the group.
UTAWIT　と言うフィリピン人ののど島会う事になりました。Timog 掲示板 の写真クラブもこのイベントのカメラマンになりました、あたしもその仲間です。

こちらはもとも会いたかった友達たちです。
My long time flickr buddy "Juma-Jacklord" (totomai), who already posted his shot of me in his stream.
Meet him in action
Scion_cho ~ the one who started everything that made me decide to set a date to meet them.


Katek, the very fine, happy character young lady, and so friendly, who was been so consistent messaging me to come ~ I really like him in person ~ and so happy to meeｔ again the beautilicious Poulain

Shaffie the leader of the photographer group and one of the Tres Lentes. The other two are Sarpon and Kikoy. These tree are also my co-organizers for the 2009 March Filipino Photo Exhibit.

I met there musikaghie who is so very kind in person. I also met Kalembang and kids, who was a former UTAWIT grandfinalist, and her personality leaves an impact. No wonder she is a talent who deserves to be watch on stage. Another photogs was Ｗired and Ｂai (housemate of shaffie). And I can still remember the face and names of Migs, Patricia and Julius. As well as Wena Onoue the coordinator of JosephSensei, and another TF member, they call him attorney.

During the program, there was something I realized with myself. I don't know if it is only me, but I felt inside me that I am still very Filipino at heart, "Ako'y Pinoy Pa Rin." I love the company and felt at home even though we just met. It was been a long time since I was been with a group of Filipinos.
プログラムの時、何かが感じました。　　あたしはやぱりフィリピン人と感じました。　みんなはじみてあったのに、みんなといしょうのは、心が、うちすいてます、みんなの笑顔すき。　フィリピン人のグルプといしょうにいるのは、けっこおひさしぶりでした。

I still love participating and joining activities with a purpose such as UTAWIT. I felt that I was been reconnected to my old days with full of dreams and hopes for the sake of my own country. Because before I came here in Japan, I was been very active in many organizations.
やっぱりUTAWIT 見たいのイベント大好きです。　昔のあたしとつながった気がする、あたしの国のための夢と希望があふれてる。日本来る前に、いるんな組織化にかようってました。

I started as a Kabataang Barangay officer, and was been the city officer of KB, later became Youth Council of Olongapo. Experienced so many kinds of projects, fund raisings, like bingo and pasayawan (street dancing for fund raising purposes). Basketball tournaments, tree plantings, free medical services and free foods for poor urban areas, and even climbing mountains to reach Aetas.
フィリピンの若いグルプの役員やってました。いるんなイベントやりました。

But I was been discouraged with the politics. After I experienced being involved during elections, campaigns, ballot watching. I saw how the politics evolved. I said to myself, I am not for politics, I can't take the ritual flow of it. Later, I was been involved in some NGO organizations, my latest and was been very active was the Subic Bay Lions Club.
政治家の世界もあじわった。　でもとってもいやな世界でした。そしてNGOと従事した。一番さいごのは、スビックベイライオンスクラブでした。

And now, I believe that my passion for photography is a heavenly gift. Looks like God is opening another road in front of me, with my camera. It is because of photography that I was been active again at Timog Forum, and met new friends. And I was been asked to be one of the organizers for the coming Filipino Photo Exhibit next year, March 2009. And even I want to live my life alone in here, the flow of invitations lead me to be involve again.
今、写真家にはまってるのは、天からのプレセントとしんじてます。　あたしとカメラ、神様は新しい道を開いてくれてるようです。　　写真家のおかげで,またTimog 掲示板でゆくさんかできるようになった、そして来年の３月フィリピン人の写真展の主催者にさそわりました。今音なしな生活をしたいけど、度してもいるんな招待ｶﾞ来る。
Image by shaffie ~ stage shot with the winner