Bon Odori in the Philippines

Obon (お盆) or just Bon (盆) is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one's ancestors. This Buddhist-Confucian custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people return to ancestral family places and visit and clean their ancestors' graves, and when the spirits of ancestors are supposed to revisit the household altars. It has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years and traditionally includes a dance, known as Bon-Odori.

Bon Odori (盆踊り), meaning simply Bon dance is a style of dancing performed during Obon. Originally a Nenbutsu folk dance to welcome the spirits of the dead, the style of celebration varies in many aspects from region to region. Each region has a local dance, as well as different music. The music can be songs specifically pertinent to the spiritual message of Obon, or local min'yo folk songs. Consequently, the Bon dance will look and sound different from region to region. Hokkaidō is known for a folk-song known as "Soran Bushi." The song "Tokyo Ondo" takes its namesake from the capital of Japan. "Gujo Odori" in Gujō, Gifu prefecture is famous for all night dancing. "Gōshū Ondo" is a folk song from Shiga prefecture. Residents of the Kansai area will recognize the famous "Kawachi ondo." Tokushima in Shikoku is very famous for its "Awa Odori," or "fool's dance," and in the far south, one can hear the "Ohara Bushi" of Kagoshima.

[source: Wikipedia]

Celebrated in the Philippines

There are only a few Japanese schools in this country. One of them is located in Taguig City, where I also live and work. On the start of the summer season (month of March), this festival is held celebrated in that school. I've been attending this occasion since 2009. It was when my brother tagged me along with his Japanese organization in college. He said when it started here in the Philippines, the event was invitational. At first, it was restricted to the Japanese or Filipino-Japanese community, then they opened it to some Filipino community with connection to any Japanese organizations like companies, business stuff, other Japanese organizations. 

Affecting Spiritual Context

As a born again christian, I've been wondering about the stand of Japanese christians in this area. I asked one of my Japanese friends on his view about this. He said if there is no worship in your heart in doing this (attending the festival), it's okay. That is his personal stand about this matter. As for me, I have the same opinion. I've been attending the occasion for fun and cultural exposure.

Pictures from Bon Odori 2012

 The stalls of food and goodies, mostly filipino traditional products.

 The dance from the platform

 The dance in the circle, down the platform

After the event, at my favorite part of the school, the clock.

Tierra Salva: A getaway from city life

It started with a chat

We were having our team lunch when our manager popped the idea to have a team building. Everybody were cooperative enough to make this happen, not to mention our team manager had been persistent in suggesting the place and activities that can be done. It materialized last March 9, 2012. The place is called Tierra Salva Lakeview Resort, located at Tanauan, Batangas, Philippines. It was a two and a half hour ride from McKinley Hill, Taguig (stop overs are included in the calculation). The moment I stepped down from the van, and breathe, I felt like a prisoner who just got a parole or a bail out. I could even shout "freedom!" from where I was standing, but I didn't.

Place Amenities

The place is big enough to contain 20-30 people (I think). They have a swimming pool, a basket ball court, poles for badminton net (and the net itself, of course), basket ball and volley ball balls are also present.  The 2-storey house has 2 air-conditioned bedrooms, with a shared comfort room. Their family room, is an empty area where the excess of people who cannot fit in the rooms can sleep (they have enough mattresses for the whole area :P ). The dining, sala and kitchen are of course, located in the lower part of the house :) They have 2 open nipa huts and 1 "covered" nipa hut (just like the usual bahay kubo that we know). There are things that we did not try or we are not aware of or we just really did not care about that existed in the place and were indicated either in their multiply or facebook pages. We just want to relax and have a break from the awesome project we have in the office :D

Their online addresses

They have a facebook page where we got their contact numbers, and a multiply site which we weren't able to check in the office.

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/TierraSalva

Multiply: http://www.tierrasalvalakeview.multiply.com

The house and the view

Ayala-Ortigas Shuttle Terminal at Masinag, Antipolo City

Back in 2008, I used to work for a Japanese company located at BGC, Taguig. Bonifacio Global City is really a nice place for work, leisure and residence. I used to take a Cubao -> MRT-Ayala -> company shuttle route before, then I discovered that there's a "more relaxing" way to get to Ayala, that is to take a Masinag trip, then ride a shuttle going to Ayala.

I was thrilled at first because it's easier, plus I could get an hour of additional sleep. I became too comfortable with taking this route, from my usual arrival time of 6-6:15 am, I went up to 6:30-6:45am, then I discovered that arriving there at 6:30 will make you late. Because 6:30 is the time when people are starting to pile up while other shuttles are on their way to and from Ayala. The queue of people will start to mimimize at around 7-7:30am. During this time, a number of shuttles come back for their next trip.

I had few other jobs before working again in Taguig. Now, that I'm a Taguig-based employee again, I take the shuttle rides everytime I spend my Sunday evenings in our house at Antipolo and leave the next day.

This picture was taken as I'm typing this post. Snake-like queue, eh?

Right now, I'm struggling to arrive in this shuttle terminal at around 6-6:20 am. It's either I had troubles getting a ride to be here or I just woke up late. :P I'll have to wait between 30 minutes up to an hour for my turn. Too bad when I'm wearing high heels or (an elevated) wedge sandals.

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Love Chance

Yesterday morning, my friend's husband arrived from Japan. I was still able to meet them last night when my friend got her luggage from our unit that she will use for her husband's 11-day stay. Everytime he arrives here in the Philippines, he always have something for his wife and his wife's friends.

Previously, as I could remember it, it's just chocolates. The last time he was here, I had 3 chopsticks and chocolates. Today, there are chocolates, furikake and a lucky charm. It's not just a lucky charm, it's a "Love Chance" charm.

I suddenly realized that my friends and family are watching and waiting for my love story. That thought made me laugh because I don't have any plans to get married. Anyway, that is just MY plan, but NOT God's. Who knows, I may write my life as a single woman 'til I die but if the Lord will give me someone to spend the rest of my life with, then why not? After all, being alone 'til I grow old is something that I might regret. :)

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Lawson-Infor High Flyers Kick Off

For the past few days and weeks, our company, Lawson PSSC has been boosting all the characteristics of an award-winning employee. They've been promoting an Infor-inspired ads while maintaining the Lawson-based contents in it.

This afternoon, a group of managers roamed around the office, and visited each cubes,to promote the High Flyers Circle, carrying a box of cupcakes. I got my share, and for the first time, I was able to eat a banana-cupcake with icing. Yes, it was my first time! :) ...to eat it as a cupcake, plus the icing on top :) I used to eat freshly-baked banana cakes but not this kind of preparation :P what I liked most is the icing, 'coz it's not that sweet. :)

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My 2012 Planner

My 2012 planner is something that I did not expect (really). It may not look very appealing at first. I mean, just look at it, it may look bland for others, it doesn't appear girly too. It looked like a candy. Haha. Actually, if it doesn't say "for yuppies" I could've mistaken this for something else.

I initially have 3 choices of planners: Starbucks, the date-less planner made by Yeah -Just You (not sure if you're familiar with this) and the ever famous Belle de Jour. 

Background story
I went to some sites to check out the look and feel of my target planners. When I saw the one from Starbucks, I decided to give the planner to my dad, which actually made him very happy. My father was really into scribbling stuff on notes or other papers (been observing that since I was 4 years old). I believe I made a right decision, he deserves that more/less two-thousand-peso planner. 

Yeah Diaries? --can't find them online, but I used to have one last year, 2011. It's a date-less planner that's why I like it and has 30-40 extra pages (if I'm not mistaken) for your notes, dedicated pages for budgeting (something that I'm looking for in a planner).

Belle de Jour, I really love the contents, I feel it's a package for planning everything ahead. And of course, not to forget the coupons! there are lots of those in their planner. My team mate, already bought a BdJ Power Planner. I borrowed it from her to check if I would really like to have a BdJ for this year. Sadly, it turned out that I didn't like it. I've got nothing against BdJ, but for me, the spaces are way too small and "barely lined". Feeling disappointed, I considered it as something that doesn't suit my personality (or chemistry). 


How I bought it 
Saturday morning became my "actual viewing time." I went to National Bookstore (Market Market) to check out for other planners that I might like as well. I looked for Yeah Notes' planner, and didn't find the size that I was looking for. The one that they have was huge and I just shook my head when I saw it. Still checked for BdJ but, I stick to my decision not to buy their  planner this year. Then I found myself falling for _blogberry for yuppies by Stradmore. It is simple on the outside but has this "bam!!" on the inside. I did not buy a piece at Market Market branch, because their display product were sort of stained from a scotch tape. I don't want to buy something "stained", so I thought of passing by their Robinson's Metro East branch, where I finally bought it.

When I reached our family house in Antipolo, I immediately investigated the contents of my new planner. And hey, guess what? --I felt this planner is perfect for me! I found it awesome, in its simpleness. Let me tour you to my new planner.

What's inside?

This is the calendar, like most of the planners nowadays, they give sort of space to put on something for that day. 


Below is the money management page. If you are budget conscious and probably not sure on what you're spending, Stradmore has indicated some items like Monthly rent, electricity, water bills, etc. They also added stuff to monitor your weekly expenses.

I tend to forget where my money goes, so this type of budget page fits me right. :P

On the right side of the page, you can see something where you could put a picture and caption of your captured moment/s. I have lot of those. I just needed to post the picture here. Hehe. 

If you're some sort of a super godparent, I guess you might need this one. 


Currently, I have a total of 11 godchildren. I have to write their names, to whose friend of mine they belong to, their age --so I'll know what stuff I'm gonna buy for them.

Do you travel a lot? --they have a vacation planner. Put the best shot of your trip in the page :)


Downside: they only have 2 pages for vacation planner. But if you're the workaholic type of yuppie, I think 2 major VLs are enough :P

You might have advance plans for next year. They have it here. You can put small notes of some of your initial plans for the upcoming year. :)                                 

Coupons! They also have some coupons. Supported by Mrs. Fields, David's Salon, Netopia, Skin Food, Banana Peel, and GBX.

Last, but not the least, This is how the details of the planner look like. When I first saw this, I immediately remembered how I write task items on my previous planner and told myself that this is what I needed. 


As a Software Quality Engineer, most of the stuff that I accomplish can be written as bulleted. The bug tickets, the number of business processes I've tested in a day, the status of everything, I could write them one item per line. Whereas, previously I have to write 5 items in a line.


So far, this is all I can share for now. :)