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Articles from Rey Ian\'s Personal Blog

Junk Hunting in Japan 2008-01-27 09:14:00 People throw out all sorts of things here in Tokyo. If you don't really mind owning second hand electronic appliances, then sort to junk hunting. In Tokyo, you can't just throw anything especially electronic appliances because the government requires you to pay an equivalent Disposal Fee for each item to be disposed. For example, a friend of mine threw their old Toyota car a few years ago. They paid the City Hall 50,000 yen for the disposal fee. Imagine, you will be throwing a car and yet you still have to pay for it? An old analog TV here will be phased out by 2012 to pave way to HDTV. Meaning, all present and old televisions that are not HDTV complaint will be junked in the coming years. So people with these TV sets, tend either to sell or dispose them off whatever means possible. Or others here tend to give it away for free. And surprisingly, foreigners are the ones scavenging anything here. From books, clothing, toys, electronic gadgets, appliances, household items, furnitures, a ...

My Blog Turns One-Year Old 2008-01-27 08:42:00 I could still remember Aileen Apolo encouraging me a year ago to create my own blog. She was quite new then from Google and she was so keen in encouraging people to blog. During that time, early January, everybody was excited for the 1st Bloggers Parteeh organized by some of the pioneers in bloggers who are mostly in the SEOs, enthusiasts and advocates in each of their respective fields. I wasn't really that interested on blogging since I thought that I would have few words to utter in my blog and a somewhat boring life way back then. But to my surprise, until now, I am still blogging and my blog spanned to four (4) more blogsites. I could remember that I was so aloof when it comes to the technical terms in blogging that I don't even knew the more popular blog platforms that existed that time and that I only knew Friendster Blogs. Hahaha....Well, I migrated to Blogger since Google is integrated its system with Blogger. I could remember that my first post was about learning Nihongo. A ...

New Policy On Direct Hiring 2008-01-23 01:44:00 The happy days are maybe over for skilled employees who want to avail the POEA's direct hiring or name-hire policy. As the news clip tells us, employers are required to pay USD3,000 to POEA as a guarantee for the employee's benefits to be properly given in the foreign worksite and they also have to pay an additional USD5,000 for the worker's repatriation in case the hired skilled worker dies in the country where he/she is bound for. So I guess if employers from foreign countries want to hire skilled individuals from the Philippines, the additional USD8,000 fee paid to POEA may send them backing-off to any hiring of foreign workers coming from the Philippines. This is a sad story for all future direct-hire workers. In that case, tourist VISA may be the next best option.This page requires a higher version browserFor the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV ...

Snow Finally Fell 2008-01-22 20:38:00 When I woke up this morning, I had a terrible flu accompanied with fever. It felt like I had the wost condition since living in Tokyo for 4 months now. To my surprise, a couple of minutes after, snow fell. Finally, the long wait is over. Tha gaijin was able to experience snow falling. But what the hell, I need to eat for me to take my medicines. I have to force myself to go out in the mad storm of snow falling in Kunitachi just for me to stock food until the evening. It took me to wore my 2 thermal jackets. The "Michellin" and the one for snowboarding. It's really warm now but it's still hard to do common things especially if you house has no built-in heater. I have to do a couple of laundry but I can't. I guess I will be stuck inside the house. I called up the office to inform that I am sick. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to talk with my direct superior so I just talked to a colleague to relay the message. Catching flu with fever during this winter season is harsh. Luckily, I was a ...

Waiting for the Snow to Fall 2008-01-19 20:35:00 A mother of my friend a while ago sent an e-mail that tomorrow, it will rain snow. Well, tell me of whom a Filipino you know that doesn't want to see snow for the first time? Of course, I am filled with so many expectations about a snow fall here in Tokyo. Well, two nights ago, my other friend told me that it rained snow in Hachioji City, a nearby city which I live here in Tokyo, Kunitachi City, and it filled the hoods of cars and made the streets drip wet with melted snow. Unluckily, snow on the Pacific coast area which includes 3/4 of entire Tokyo metropolitan does not fall and if it does, then maybe for once or twice in several years. It's like once in a blue-moon, as what my Japanese boss confirmed.For Filipinos, the usual crazy of idea crops up what if, and what if snow falls in the Philippines.... Well, maybe 70 percent will suggest preparing halo-halo, a cold sweet dessert with crushed ice topped with so many beans and desserts coming from the snow which will fall. Probably 15 ...

Fugu: A Tempting Yet Expensive Dish 2008-01-12 01:29:00 I found this packed FUGU obentou in an upscale grocery shop in Roppongi Hills. 1,480 yen is already expensive just for this amazing FUGU sushi. ...

RBS 6 Football League 2008-01-12 00:25:00 Can't get enough about rugby games? Here is a total website that will satisfy all your cravings. The RBS6 Football club comprised of the most prestigious teams from England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. The site contains information on the latest news and scoops of what is inside the RBS6 League. You can view ans subscribe to E-zines and podcasts in their website if you missed their games. Multimedia sections are loaded with videos from previous matches. Now you can recap the games' best goals and blocks from the repository of video materials. Each teams have a comprehensive information about history and each of the league's team-member country. Also, complete information about each of the team's members, their biography, pictures, caps and point histories are posted in their website. You can also compare player stats and it comes with a comprehensive guide to events location, game rules, ticket information and loads of information for avid fans who can't get ...

Online Educational Degree 2008-01-12 00:17:00 When I took my masters' degree several years ago, things were very different then unlike now. Since the technological advancement in the past years, progress and its utilization is faster than anyone can expect. When I was teaching in the academe, I have heard about blogging but I did not mind utilizing it for my educational and professional advantage. A couple of professors in a nearby university was able to utilize blogging as a way of presenting lessons online, assignments, reading materials, and promoting group discussions through the use of forum. When I was studying, we used Yahoo Groups as a way of exchanging our materials, laboratory exercises, written articles and other personal stuffs within the IT Graduate school circle. There were instances where our professor can't come to class, since he is based in Manila, and we are most likely to result into online group discussions. Also, some online assessments are conducted using online Blackboards and other forms of online learni ...

About Bananas in Japan 2008-01-08 09:56:00 So where do you think your bananas come from? In Mindanao.... from the island where I grew up.Banana firm expands operations in S. CotabatoGENERAL SANTOS CITY -- A subsidiary of Japanese integrated firm Sumitomo Corp. is expanding its operation in Banga, South Cotabato through a growership scheme with landowners there, officials confirmed on Thursday.Winnie Osorio, community relations and development officer of Upland Banana Corp., said this is the first time the company is opening up the banana project directly involving landowners in South Cotabato province.Just three years into operation, Upland Banana, based in T'boli town, operates banana plantations totaling more than 2,000 hectares in the municipalities of T'boli and Surallah through corporate farming where lands are leased from farmers."But now, the farmers will directly grow the banana that will be bought by the company under a marketing agreement. Upland Banana will provide them with the needed technical support to raise th ...

Minatomirai in Yokohama City 2008-01-08 09:31:00 Minatomirai (means future port) in Yokohama City is one spectacle that every tourist should visit. For those who want thrill and adventure rides never skip this place on your list. Apart from the river cruise which will take you to this port from one of the nearby malls, you can also climb up to the 69th floor, which is the summit of Yokohama Bay Tower, which a breath-taking scenery awaits you.Well, for me, not much excitement. Makati Central Business District's scenery from my former office in the 43rd floor in RCBC Plaza is more nostalgic than climbing up to the 69th floor of Yokohama Bay Tower. Summit climb via a high-speed elevator will cost you around 1,000 yen. And don't go there without a camera since you will not enjoy when you are up there. Night time is best if you want to see the lights of Yokohama City and day time is good if you want to see the surrounding cities near Yokohama. You can also catch a small glimpse of Tokyo Tower if the horizon is not foggy.Excitement in th ...

The Famous Hachiko Crossing in Shibuya 2008-01-08 09:17:00 Hanging out at Starbucks infront of Shibuya's Pride and Japan's busiest pedestrian lane, the Hachiko Crossing, is indeed amazing. Seeing so much people fill the streets in a matter of seconds and emptying it somehow gets the attention of a foreigner, especially those who don't have this kind of spectacle in their home country.Thousands of people cross this street for more or less a minute before vehicles take their turn in this intersection.Colorful huge TV Screens mounted on each tower to serve as electronic commercial billboards in front of a huge crowd crossing. A good marketing scheme too. ...

On My Third Month 2008-01-06 07:08:00 Passing the 3rd month mark here in Tokyo gives me a couple of realizations in life. I can always vouch for Britney Spears' song line "My loneliness is killing me....." blah, blah, blah, which is kinda true. When I was still in the Philippines, I prepared myself emotionally but it is no good. I always wanted to say "I wanna go home..." but with the realization that my sensei said to me in YM a couple of weeks ago, ''Think of the things that you can't do and attain here in the Philippines where you can do there in Japan," made me realize that money over emotion still matters. Well, to some extent, emotionally damaging to your sanity. That is why our HR back in the Philippines didn't want to go here. Though she already experienced living here for 6 months, I think it made her feel lonely. Despite all the electronic gadgets and beautiful surroundings you have, nothing beats real friends, relatives and a few good colleagues to make you cheer up when you are sad and share thoughts and i ...

Valentine Season is in the Air 2008-01-06 06:46:00 This is a bit earlier post about Valentines. I could remember when I was still in elementary and high school that we used to give flowers to our crushes and love ones during Valentines season. Aside from flowers, we usually give gifts, chocolates, any small yet cute presents of all shapes and sizes. I could remember some of my colleagues in the academe gave t-backs and t-briefs to their girl and boyfriends respectively. Flower and gift shops get the bulk of their profit from this season only and orders overwhelm them as people flock and book their orders in order for them to celebrate the spirit of Valentine's Day. I have a couple of suggestions on how to jazz up your Valentine's Day gift-giving. Here are some few ideas that might be interesting.1. Gifts need not to be that expensive. The traditional Valentine's Card tops my list. But I think it would be nice if it is a customized card with your very own design. Exercise your creative-thinking and express your love to someone with ...

Kamanarimon: Asakusa's Pride 2008-01-03 08:25:00 Kamanarimon means thunder gate. This is probably one of Japan's most popular temples frequently visited by locals and foreigners. A huge lantern in its gate displays the kanji, kamanari and mon. The facade is spectacular especially for those who have not seen such huge temples like this one. Going to Asakusa via subway can be done in two ways. Either take the Ginza line (the yellow) or the Asakusa (the pink one). The temple is right next to the station so it is easy to find.Way back in the Philippines, I only see this picture in my Nihongo dictionary and with some tourists with picture on this site. Recently, I was able to view its magnificent beauty. This temple also houses to a lot of shops selling sweets, tokens, pasalubongs and a lot about Japan and its culture. You can buy anything Japanese here from Doraemon cellphone slings to geisha, samurai and ninja costumes for all ages.This area is the main temple. A lot of Japanese people visit this every New Year to renew their faith.One ...

Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimashita 2008-01-03 08:05:00 That is how we say Happy New Year in Japanese. It literally means "Congratulations in the beginning of the new dawn." Or Shin Nen Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimashita. This is where all Japanese prepare for a very long holiday. Holiday is almost one straight-week here and all people flock to shrines and pray to Buddha for wealth, health, success and many more. During the dawn, people bring their old colored white and red daruma dolls in all shapes and sizes. They burn them in the fire to symbolize the forgetting of the past and renewing the year.A stall of Daruma dolls for sale. As you can see, the Daruma dolls don't have black drawn eyes yet. If your wish has already been granted, then that is the time you draw the eyes (pupils) of your doll. Then during the next New Year, you burn them into the fiery pit.This picture was taken in Kokubunji where the kanji signifies "A Shrine for Kamisama." People line up to make a wish in the shrine.The huge bell is common to all shrines as the picture ...