The Filipinos during Japan's Golden Week

Starting from April 29 to May 6, the whole of Japan goes into a holiday mode. Known for their diligence and hard work, the Japanese really look forward to the long break from work and school which is rare in Japan. Hence, they consider this week-long break as golden.

Unlike the Philippines where the holidays and no-work days are at the whim of politicians, Japan’s calendar marks in red the days of rest and vacation. Of course, these days are less in number than in our country.

This year’s golden week was blessed with beautiful sunny weather. Hence, there were many who took trips within and outside Japan, despite the swine flu scare.

The Filipinos also took advantage of the long break to gather and enjoy together.

First, there was the long awaited wedding of Fe and Shoei. A simple yet very beautiful ceremony was held in their church, followed by a sumptuous buffet party at the Tsukuba University Restaurant.

And what Pinoy party will be without lechon? Despite the swine flu scare, the lechon was still every Filipino guest’s favorite during that wedding party. And despite the prohibitive cost of a lechon, which is rare in Japan, Filipinos are willing to bear the cost of this cholesterol-rich but-oh-so-lami delicacy!

And as no Filipino reunion or gathering will be complete without food and drinks ( that will be mostly soft drinks for most of the Pinoys and okay, hard drinks for the alcohol lovers), expect barbeque, pancit, and the favorites, kare-kare ( of course with bagoong), dinuguan, pinakbet, sinigang atbp. to be served and just as easily “demolished!”

And when Filipinos get together, karaoke or singing time comes soon after food! And there is so much talent among our people. Singing is really so much part of our culture, it is difficult to imagine any gathering without song or music.

This year’s Golden Week was also special because of the Pacquiao-Hatton fight. As if the golden week were not enough reason to get together, Filipinos made it a point to gather to view and to cheer or to jeer during the very short match. And there were more winners than losers among those who made bets here in Japan. Days after the fight, Filipinos were still talking and joking about it.

 Because of Pacquiao’s victory, there was so much collective laughter and pride, however, among our kababayans here. Well-deserved though as so many of them hardly have the time to smile as they go about their hard work here in Japan. Because of the global crisis, others also have lost their jobs and are resorting to making and selling food items to kababayans.

One kababayan, sadly, had to be confined at a Japanese hospital because of tuberculosis. Because of his condition, he cannot be visited yet and that probably makes him more miserable than his ailment which is kindly being treated by the Japanese medical team of the hospital where he is now. He may also be feeling the stress as well of being sent home once the treatment is completed as this seems to have been the compromise reached for his free medical treatment and confinement.

This year’s Golden Week in Japan ended with the sun giving way to the winds and to cloudy and rainy days.

Nevertheless, the happy memories and moments spent together during the sunny days of this year’s long break cannot be erased or blown away by any cloud or storm.

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