If I were born Japanese

       Growing up, the author had always admired Japanese culture starting with anime and moving on to the history of the samurais and shogunate, and of course, its world-famous cuisine. This month, he fulfilled his childhood wish of going to Japan someday, and realized that his extreme interest in all things Japanese stemmed from the his Filipino roots, chaotic street scenes and all. He wrote these reflections after coming back from a media trip to the country of his dreams.

 

If I were born Japanese, I wouldn't have to deal with horrendous EDSA traffic.

 

I wouldn't have to deal with littered streets and a nonexistent trash segregation system.

 

I wouldn't have to fear for my security, especially during late nights when I take a stroll near my home.

 

I wouldn't have to be stressed out waiting in long queues whenever I have to ride the badly maintained MRT.

 

I wouldn't have to regularly tell off a random person who doesn't know how to line up properly.

 

Best of all, I wouldn't have to keep on paying taxes to a government that has funneled money to corrupt politicians.

 

 

But if I were born Japanese, then I wouldn't be a Filipino.

 

And if I weren't Filipino then I probably wouldn't be writing this piece.

 

Because if I were born Japanese then I'd probably be writing about Filipinos.

 

 

I'd be writing about how they smile even when swamped with misery.

 

I'd be writing about how they get to have fun with the simplest things life has to offer.

 

I'd be writing about how they maintain their patience even when faced with adversity.

 

I'd be writing about how most of them go abroad to provide better lives for their families.

 

Best of all, I'd be writing about how they keep their hopes soaring high, even when the future looks bleak.

 

 

So even if I do become a Japanese national I'll always be a Filipino.

 

Because being Filipino means your heart always finds a way back to your roots and its perfect imperfections, wherever you may be.

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The media tour for the 2014 Sakai-ASEAN Week from October 7 to 13, 2014 was organized by its Executive Committee and sponsored by the city government of Sakai in cooperation with several private groups.