Sayonara, blog
September 30, 2009Goodbyes ought to feel painful. Strangely, in my case, not this one.
And I know this is the right thing to do. Work and academic concerns are simply taking a lot of my time–including time to update this blog. Yes, I have not been posting anything for the past six months or so. Moreover, I felt I have lost interest in things “Japanese.”
I would be lying to my teeth if I claim that I am turning Japanese when I just realized I cannot.
So, goodbye, blog. From here, I will be moving on.
Japan may soon say sayonara to recession
April 27, 2009If Barclays executives are to be believed, then Japan may soon be out of the global financial embroglio.
The economy, analysts from Barclays Capital claim, is poised to grow slightly in the second quarter, a prospect which could make the 2nd largest economy in the world the first major developed country to resume its economic momentum. Economic indicators accordingly show relative signs of rebound, although it is also admitted that given weak consumer spending, the growth may not be as fast as during the heydey of the now almost mythical Bubble Economy.
With Japan’s skilled labor supply shortage, strict immigration policies and aging population, it is unlikely for Japan to be as productive as it had been decades ago. Unlike the US, for instance, Japan’s economic downturn was caused almost entirely by the decline in its exports. Apparently many markets stopped buying Japanese cars, televisions, and electronic products to address trade deficits in their home fronts. Japanese companies who dominate the market for most of these consumer items, naturally suffered the brunt.
This not withstanding, however, popping champaignes may be premature. According to analysts, any indication of recovery would likely come too late to prevent the surge of unemployment which they expect to reach as high as 5.5 percent in the coming months. If this trend continues, all these rumored economic rebound would be meaningless. Government purportedly plans to inject a stimulus fund of about $15 o billion as a measure to mitigate the country’s downward spiral.
Japanese consumers, on the other hand, remain pessimistic and people generally prefer to keep their money amidst sever conditions in wages and employment.
Japan may soon bid its financial woes adieu in the next few months, but clearly it does not mean the worst is over.
Obasute yama
April 23, 2009I remember my Japanese teacher sharing a rather disturbing story about how the Japanese deal with their ageing members back in the old days. For some reasons, the Japanese live long–so long that even at present the ageing population is a pressing concern.
Of course, in the early days there were no elderly homes and nursing institutions. Unfortunately, in a society where no longer being useful is almost equivalent to losing honor, dealing with old family members in rural Japan had always been a complicated issue. So where do they send their old?
Apparently, they lead their old family members who have grown senile with age to some faraway mountain and leave them there to die or be eaten by wild beasts. This practice wsa so prevalent especially in the rural areas and even bacame the basis for the legend of the Obasute Yama. Obasute Yama literally means the mountains where old people are brought. Sute (from the verb suteru) means to throw, so from this word alone you can figure out what it means. The mountain supposedly is where old people–mostly old women because females for some reasons outlive males–are brought to die.
As quality of life improved with the boom in the economy the practice became less and less popular until completely frowned upon. It does not mean, however, that it has completely ceased.
While I admire the Japanese’ propensity for recycling things, not everyone is free of the despicable habit of discarding unwanted things. Consider pets, for instance. In many urban areas, it is difficult to keep pets not only because of strict pet ownership policies but because of the limited residential spaces available. This means one can keep, at most, one small dog or any other domestic animal. What do they do with animals they have grown tired of? Many just leave them in the road near mountains, abandon them in parks, or literally throw them away like all other unwanted things.
Interestingly, this propensity to throw unwanted things is also becoming a national policy. Years ago, Japan was heavily criticized by Filipino environmentalists for a clause in the JPEPA which practically allowed the dumping of biological waste from their hospitals to the Philippines.
Currently, the Philippines is luring Japanese tourists to settle in the Philippines as a retirement haven. Government hopes to cash in on the country’s strong medical tourism potential, enticing Japanese retirees to spend their last moments in well-maintained but less expensive retirement facilities in pristine locations scattered around the archipelago.
This is really no different from the obasute yama of old. Only this time, the yama is in the Philippines.
Hostage, part two
April 13, 2009In the international scene, several incidents of hostage taking and abductions by pirates were reported off the coast of Somalia. The pirates purportedly are making a brisk industry out of kidnapping, demanding huge amounts in ransom and gripping in fear what once was a thriving commercial sea route.
The pirates have attacked several merchant vessels and have taken hostage crew members of various nationalities, including Filipinos. Even Japan recently ordered two of its warships to join an anti-piracy mission off Somalia–one of the most active deployments yet for a country restrained by its post-war pacifist constitution. US, European and even Chinese naval vessels have long been deployed in the gulf of Aden in efforts to curb piracy in this vital economic zone.
The latest casualty was the American captain of the US flagged Maersk Alabama, who reportedly was abducted and held on a lifeboat as two US warships watched helplessly. Fortunately, the drama took a sad ending for the pirates. A decisive Barack Obama and a daring rescue by navy seals turned things upside down for the bandits. US Navy snipers, according to reports, opened fire and killed the three pirates holding the American captain at gunpoint, delivering the skipper unharmed and ending a five-day high-seas hostage drama on Easter Sunday.
The rescue was a dramatic blow to the pirates who have preyed and made a business out of hijacking merchant vessels and hold more than a dozen ships with about 230 sailors from a variety of nations. But there is fear the incident may provoke retaliatory attacks, for political or other reasons, especially since it was done by the world’s most powerful military. Before the issue gets clouded by the underdog syndrome, it may be worth mentioning that piracy is considered as hostis humani generis–a common threat to mankind. Since pirates are humanity’s common enemy all states have the duty to curb piracy as a universal right and obligation. In other words, the US–or any nation for that matter–is justified to employ violence against these pirates as an obligation under international law.
Phillips reportedly was able to save his crew when he offered himself as hostage to the pirates. But the real heroes, he said, are the US Navy Seals whose courage was put on the line. I believe, however, that credit must go as well to US President Barack Obama, whose decisiveness undoubtedly changed the drama’s outcome.
Meanwhile, in the Philippines, government officials are still at a lost about how to rescue the two remaining International Red Cross volunteers who are still in the hands of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf. Sigh…
Hostage
April 1, 2009Media’s spotlight is currently focused on the three International Red Cross volunteers held captive by the Abu Sayyaf and what grim fate awaits them in the next few hours. Tension grips, not just their families and colleagues, but the international community as well because how this drama will ultimately unfold would no less be a testament to how our leaders run our country from within. Whichever way you look at it, one cannot help but criticize how the crisis was handled. Of course, there will be long term repercussions in terms of how the Philippines as a country, will be perceived in the international community. If we cannot even quell local skirmishes and do something about so-called petty bandits, how can we protect our interests in the larger community of nations. Chip Tsao’s statement about the Philippines being a nation of servants may be appalling but I find it more eye-opening than insulting. Seriously, how can we expect other states to back off if we cannot even handle our own mess?
If the Abu Sayyaf is really a band of bandits, why is the government negotiating with them? I thought the official policy is not to give in to the demands of terrorists? If the Abu Sayyaf can do this and get away, what will stop any other organized crime group from doing the same? This negotiation thing is really setting a bad precedent.
It may be worth mentioning, however, that aside from the ICRC volunteers several public school teachers were also abducted although their plight did not receive as much media attention. One of them who just had undergone an operation reportedly even died while in captivity due to her weak condition.
If the enemy is fighting dirty, would you still stick to the rules of the game?
Poverty and neglect, it is said, has turned Mindanao into a cowboy country were young men are driven into lawlesness and banditry. But leadership and responsible governance also prove that change can happen and people need not live in a perennial state of fear and hopelessness. Davao, undoubtedly one of the most peaceful provinces in the Philippines, thrives not only because of the political will of its embattled governor but because of the tacit support of his policies by the people. Of course, some would argue that curbing criminality through state sanctioned death squads is far from being peaceful. But really, is there a better alternative? Seriously can all these talks about human rights, due process, and legal means, save a community from rape, kidnapping, robbery, pillage and murder? Before people can learn to respect the law, they must fear the law. Unfortunately, we are not yet a nation of law-abiding individuals–we are not yet even a nation.
I bet all three Red Cross volunteers have long prepared themselves for the worst. This is an occupational hazard that comes with development work. Nevertheless, the ICRC volunteers purportedly could not help but express their dismay about how government is handling the negotiations for their release.
Which makes one wonder: who is really taking them hostage, the Abu Sayyaf or the government?
