About four years ago, one of my cousins, Kuya Jojo who is currently based in LA, came with his family to visit us. It was one of those rare opportunities for a family get-together. When they visited Daddy and Mommy were also staying with us in Tsukuba, so it was really a very rare chance for them to meet up with Kuya Jojo, who barely went home after residing permanently in the States. Indeed, most of my Mom’s relatives are already based in the US, so the only time we get to see them is if they go home to the Philippines (like if somebody died, how grim), or in our case, in the event that they get to visit Japan. Actually I did see most of them in 1999 when I went to LA for the first time. Our grandmother was still alive then (she died early this year, at age 93!) I practically saw all my long-lost titas and cousins, including their little tots whom I’ve never seen before. And although I’ve been back to the States a few times after that, I always ended up on the East Coast, and so far there has been no opportunity to visit the West Coast.

Anyway, about two weeks ago, Tita Bess and her hubby Tito Robert finally visited Japan. The last time my Mom saw Tita Bess was around 1993. And since my Mom has never been to the States (thanks, immigration officials!), that’s about 13 years since they last saw each other. I find it rather amusing that they will meet in Japan after all these years. What a unique convergence point. And to top it off, Lai finally arrived, fresh from Manila. We immediately took her to meet Tita Bess in Tokyo. And it did seem surreal, all of us together again, not in Tondo where we once were. Not in Manila, not in the Philippines, but in Tokyo, of all places! We went to a nice shabu-shabu tabehodai (eat-all-you-can) restaurant in Akihabara to “celebrate” our reunion.

Whenever I think of it, I am simply amazed at being an instrument in bringing people together. 🙂

With Lai and Tita Bess enjoying shabushabu in Akihabara.

My evil little sister is back. Welcome back, Lai! Kampai to us!

Living in Japan allows us to meet a myriad of persons with different personalities, many of them becoming our closest friends. Sadly, long-time residents like us are left behind while most of our friends move on, for various reasons. One of my dear friends, Joey Santos, who eventually became Aya’s Ninong, used to say: “People come and go, but you stay. Kumbaga sa jeep, kami ang pasahero, ikaw yung driver.” What a nice analogy. 🙂

I wonder — is it the transience of our stay in Japan that makes us cherish those friendships more than others, knowing that the time we could spend together is limited? Is it just coincidence that many people actually find their life-partners here? I think not.

Joy, who used to work at GSJ in AIST, was one of the first persons I met when I first came to Tsukuba. She left after one and a half years. Two years ago she came back for a visit together with her family – Rolf, and their lovely daughter Sinta. Nakakatuwa kasi mga dalaga pa kami noon, ngayon mga doting mothers na. We still keep in touch, after all these years. I imagine that we would still be updating each other once in a while way until we are old grandmas, if we would ever be so fortunate. 🙂

Epong, one of my kumpares, also used to work for Intel in Tsukuba, but has moved to Singapore together with his family about two years ago. We visited them there last year, and it was like a family reunion of sorts. It truly was heartwarming.

People come and go, but the trick is in never letting go of the bonds we’ve made. Only then are the friendships truly made special – like wine with age. 😉

Hello from Germany – from Joy, Rolf and Sinta (front row)

Two years ago it was, when our lives were suddenly turned upside down. Two years after, my days are still filled with such poignant memories of my Dad. But, thankfully, the pain is slowly ebbing away. Time surely does heal all wounds; but with the passing of a dearly loved one, we are scarred forever.

Has it really been two years? Even my sister couldn’t believe that two years have already passed since. “Sobrang dami nang nangyari sa buhay ko…” she quipped. Indeed. If my Dad were alive today, wouldn’t he be so surprised or shocked to hear the following:

In the Philippines:
– GMA (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) won the elections. Dad was already bedridden during election season in May 2004.

– Two of GMA’s opponents are already dead: Fernando Poe, Jr. (FPJ), and Raul Roco.

– Pacquiao, his favorite boxer, won his fight with Morales. His life story is now being filmed by bloodsucking producers and directors who want a piece of the fame and fortune. While in the hospital, Dad was actually watching a Pacquiao fight. In between gasps and pains, he would manage to prop himself with a pillow just to watch every round; during commercial breaks he would collapse on his bed in exhaustion. Fighter talaga. He loved boxing.

– Hundreds of people died when a mountain collapsed in St. Bernard in Leyte this year.

In our family:
– Our house in Cavite was finally completed, and finally turned over to us. During his sane moments he was avidly talking about visiting our new house as soon as he became well again.

– Cush, his favorite dog, died barely a year after.

– A Christian fellowship has sprouted right at our very home – through Mom’s efforts, the Word of Life Christian Fellowship was created last year.

– Karen already has a little girl named Ria. And oh, she’s on the family way again. Another “apo”! Dumadami na ang angkan namin.

– Lai is back to studying again. Marami pa kwento, but I don’t think I’m allowed to write ’em down here, hehe. 🙂

– I did pass the evaluation for tenure in my institute. Dad would be happy to know that I’m still doing the job that I love.

– Baggy is already in Tsukuba. The shinkansen love affair has finally reached an end.

– Aya wants to be an astronaut when she grows up. She loves Chicken Little (watched it a dozen times) and all Pixar-animated movies. Aside from Tagalog, she speaks Japanese fluently, it shames us who have been learning (or trying to learn) the language all these years.

These are just some of the highlights, in a nutshell. In my mind I talk to him, telling him these things – and more. He is always in my thoughts. I still read his letters. But – dangnabit (to borrow Lai’s expletive)! I’ve yet to update his website.

To the greatest Dad in the world – may your memory remain forever in our hearts and in those whose lives you had touched. We still fight our own fights, like boxers in a ring. We face our challenges with courage and determination. We carry on inspite obstacles that lie our way, because we know that that is the only way we can show the world that your efforts have not been in vain.

Baggy is sleepless in Seattle – literally! Pano 16 hours ba naman ang difference between Washington and Japan. He will be there ’till Friday, and will be back to Japan on Saturday. Balik Narita na naman kami.

True to our decision this year, we are now picky about which places to visit. We took one look at the Seattle tourism websites, and decided, nah. We’ll take a rain check. Not even Ichiro can make us. Hehe.

But that rain check may have to be used this coming August. By some weird coincidence, ASC this year will be held in Seattle, at exactly the same convention center where Baggy’s conference (ISMRM) is currently being held. Will I go solo then? Abangan. Masarap na mahirap na magtravel kasama ang pamilya. Pero sigurado enjoy yun palagi. 😀