Happy Spring Festival

Yey, yey. Im so HAPPY today! My good Japanese friend, Kaori, invited me and my friends to their yearly Spring Festival event. This is my 3rd time to go to this event. Kaori's place is a great place for Cherry Blossom Leaves viewing....called hanami in japanese...
Her family prepares a lot of food and there's a lot of traditional Japanese events going on.

Here are some pictures from the Shimoyoneda Spring Festival last year...2007...






One of the main events is the ShiShi dance(or prayer maybe)...a kind of Japanese animal (3 men are running it). They usually run after CUTE(hahaha) girls and "bite " them. The girls run around the field to avoid being bitten. The previous year, and while drinking sake with my friends on the field, I was bitten. Unlike other girls, I didnt try to escape. i was quite drunk so I didnt have the energy to escape. hahaha.

After I was bitten, I was told by the old Japanese people around me that I'll be very lucky and happy the whole year. It's one of the "gifts" of being bitten by the Shishi.

True enough...my year was very good last year. i was very happy,lucky, and very blessed last year. Thanks to God, of course. And maybe, the Shishi bite helped too. hahaha.

This year, i was very excited to go to the festival. Mainly because It's the cherry blossoms season again and this might be my last Spring in Gifu. I was also excited because i know that Kaori's family was going to prepare delicious, expensive food again. AND, there's theSshishi bite again. Hahaha.

I was standing in the field when the ceremony started. A lot of old men were telling me to get out of the way....to hide...coz the ShiShi might chase me. I told them, It's fine. I want luck and happiness again! Hahaha. true enough, the shi shi bit me again! This time, they were quite aggressive. i fell on the ground, with a man on top of me! uh-oh. I was conscious because i was wearing a skirt.

Some pictures from the festival this year.


But things turned out to be okay. i have a sore bum now. but Im happy! The Shishi bit me. Contrary to what my Japanese Feng Shui says, and because I have faith in my God, I know this year will be a lucky and happy year for me again! Yey!

A Marriage Proposal

Someone told me he'll marry me today! Again. Hahaha.

My favorite 3 year old student, Chikara, came to my room again today. I was organizing my HS/College pictures in my room and he came to give me his usual hug and kiss.

He saw one picture of me and an ex boyfriend hugging each other. This is how the conversation went...

Chikara: (frowning) Who is this?
Me: Oh, That's an old friend.
C: (Still frowning) Is he your boyfriend?
Me: Oh, hmm... well, He used to be my boyfriend but not anymore.
C: (feeling relieved) Are you going to marry him?
Me: No, no. no. of course not!
C: (Looking at me seriously)Don't marry him.
Me: Huh? (Surpirsed) Why Not?
C: Coz Im going to marry you!

Hahaha! He is such an angel. So sweet!

Mount Fuji

I wrote this entry summer of 2006 in my friendster account's blog. Since some of you dont have friendster accounts, I will repost my old blog entries here

Mount Fuji

July 9^th 2006 is another milestone in my life. I climbed Mount Fuji! 3,776 meters for 8 hours.  If you think that’s easy, think again. –6 Degrees at the top. I had to climb during the wee hours….12 midnight….. I reached the top at exactly 4:08 am. I saw the sunrise for about 30 seconds. Then it started raining.

I’m not sure people would understand how important this event is for me. Some people would say, you climbed up 8 hours, then came down 5 hours and just saw the sunrise for 30 seconds! That’s crazy! Well, I tell you, It’s not. It’s probably the best experience Ive had in my life here in Japan since 2002.

You see, Ive been dreaming of climbing Mount Fuji since I set foot here in October 2001. Mt. Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan and is Japan’s symbol. I guess it’s like the Eiffel tower in Paris. You’ve never been to Paris If you haven’t seen the Eiffel tower. That’s what I felt about Mt. Fuji.

But it really isn’t easy. I mean, I am very lazy to work-out. My only constant form of exercise is riding my bicycle to go to work and back home. I am not sporty ( which maybe explains why my Aussie co workers seldom invite me whenever they have their weekend nature adventures) I don’t like walking. I don’t like sweating. And on top of everything else, I have a weak body. I’m not perfectly healthy. If  I’m outside when it rains without an  umbrella, you’ll be sure I’ll be sick for the next 2–3 days.  Every winter, I am a constant visitor in the hospital. Every summer, I have terrible migraines, I feel like dying.  From time to time(once or twice a year), I collapse in the bathroom ( ask Golda…the last time it happened was when we were taking a bath together in New Jersey)….. So anyway, point is….. Im not perfectly fit to do strenuous activities specially climb mountains, and a very high mountain that is.

But I was determined. I set my mind to believe that my mind was stronger than my body. And so, in June, I signed up for this weekend climb tour to Mount Fuji.

As the days came nearer, I got excited but scared at the same time.  Everyone (family, friends, students, ex bfs, co workers)  who knew about this big adventure tried to discourage me from going. Everyone. But I couldn’t be defeated. My will was strong. I was determined.

A day before I climbed, I called the person I love the most in this world, my favorite aunt, back in the Philippines.  I told her to pray for me and to go to the bank the following Monday If I don’t call her. Haha. I know maybe it’s a bit too much. But at that time I had a feeling I might not be able to come back. I wanted to be sure things are organized before I left. My  best friend, Joyce, sent me several text messages. This is what she wrote….

Joyce (7/7/2006 12:58:08 PM)

Hi tar. Ingat ka ha. M praying 4u. I hope u reach d top of d mt fuji. Im proud that ur making ur dream a reality. I also want u to knw dat i love u and i

Joyce (7/7/2006 12:58:13 PM)

appreciate ur existence n ds world. Wn u reach d top, cry out all ur burdens to d lord and we u go down d mountain ull fl brnd new. Thanks for blvng in

Joyce (7/7/2006 12:58:15 PM)

me as i blv n u. I love u tar. Ur my bstfrnd n d whle wde world. I love u tar. God b wd u

I was very touched. My Ate Bing also kept on telling me that I have to come back because we still have so many travel plans together. One of my favorite students, Mikiko San, ( who kindly drove me to the station) told me that it doesn’t matter If I don’t reach the top. She said my drive to climb is more than enough. She’s a very kind woman. Since her parents climbed Mt Fuji 30 years ago, she knew how difficult it is going to be that’s why she was worried about me.

I was happy to know a lot of people love me dearly. I was prepared not to come back. I think I have done a lot of things in my life. I thought that if ever I die, I wouldnt have any regrets. It was enough to know I was loved and appreciated.

And so I climbed. It was VERY hard. I had difficulty breathing as we were going up. The tour guide kept on telling me that I don’t have to force myself If it’s too difficult. He said I can just wait for them the following day. But, I was already halfway. I wouldn’t be defeated by my body. I am strong. I had to climb the top.

And so I did.

I cant fully explain  what I felt when I reached the top. I wanted to cry but I couldnt. I have been thru a lot these past 7 months. I had so much hatred, pain, bitterness inside me.  I guess it was the time to cry.  But I couldn’t. I wouldn’t cry. I was happy. I couldn’t feel any pain, hatred or bitterness. All I felt was GRATITUDE. Gratitude to God for being alive. That’s it. On my way up, I was able to reflect a lot about my life. Everything that happened to me…these past years….…all the people who came in my life..all the people who left…the people whom Ive hurt…. who’ve hurt me…..I guess Ive forgiven them, and most importantly, Ive forgiven myself. I thought about my family and how lucky I am to have them. I thought about my good friends and how much I love them( despite all the distance & “tampuhans”) I thought about my plans and dreams…..my UK studies….my grand Africa & South America trip….my Japanese PR, my moving to Vancouver….my hopes for MA’s & PHd’s…..My dream Omega watch....none of these mattered anymore to me. I was happy. I am happy. Im just grateful to be alive. And to be loved.

That’s my Mt. Fuji experience. I told u July 9^th 2006 is a milestone.

starting the climb

We needed to rest.It's been 2 hours of non stop climbing.

These people kept me company and motivated me not to give up! thanks, you all!For all the stories and sweat,laughters we shared!


The new friends Ive made in this trip. This is how we "slept".


That's me at the summit of Mount Fuji!The best Bday gift to myself ever!

6 years in Numbers

10/2/2007 marks my 6th year in Japan...Ive been quite dramatic these last 3 days..thinking about the past 6 years, I couldnt help but get into a cycle of crying, laughing,crying again. A lot of things has happened in the last 6 years....some bad, some good. in the last 6 years, these things happened...


flew 102,816 miles

took 38,492 pictures

climbed 6,725 meters of mountains

ran 1,450 kilometers

memorized 1000 Kanji characters

met hundreds of great people all over the world

watched hundreds of movies and dvds

travelled to 124 cities in the world

read 120 books

collected 103 magnets from all over the world

bought about 100 new pairs of shoes

travelled to 95 cities in japan

been in an airplane 94 times

visited 92 museums

collected 65 shot glasses

learned to cook 60 new recipes

gained 50 lbs
lost 50 lbs

been in the hospital 48 times

attended 46 seminars and trainings

visited 44 Unesco world heritage sites

didnt bite my nails for 32 days

went on a date 31 times

been in 30 prefectures in japan

travelled to 28 countries in the world

got terribly drunk and wasted about 27 times

backpacked for 26 days

got into terrible fights and stupid arguments 22 times

had major crushes 21 times

tried to quit smoking 20 times

went to see a chiropractor 19 times

memorized 18 Japanese songs by heart

became a godmother of 17 kids

had a computer breakdown 16 times

attended a wedding 15 times

did 14 things i wasnt proud of doing

went to disneyland and universal studios (combined)13 times

let go of someone special ive loved for 12 years

met 11 of my old bestfriends all over the world

organized 10 beautiful albums(hardbound--not E-albums)

went home to the Philippines 9 times

made 8 new bestfriends for life

got injured 7 times

Lost 6 friends
Gained 4 friends back(the other 2 were not worth gaining back)

helped send 5 kids to school

been proposed to 4 times

got seriously infatuated 3 times

lived in 2 beautiful places in japan

climbed mount fuji ONCE (and that's enough!)

bought a house

bought a condo

bought a car

bought my 1st Mac

fell madly in love once
had my heart broken
fell in love again

and the best part? I laughed and I cried a million times!


what do I feel right now after all these experiences? Nothing but GRATEFULNESS. God has been good. All the things that happened, the good and the bad, everything happened for a reason. Nothing was wasted. I had a fruitful and memorable 6 years. Life is great,friends!