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| Celebrating our love for the Philippines through music and dance. |
The things that I look
for when I travel are not only the new experiences for me to try and the new
things to see, but as much as possible, I look for things or people or places
that somehow feel like home, to reassure me that whatever happens, I have
something, someone or somewhere I can go to if I want that feeling to embrace
me. And what is very warming on my part to know is that I already have a lot of
people I can count on – from EDAYA team and the people connected to them, to my
friends who really try to be there as much as they can.
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| Discovering the warmth from some old friends and familiar faces. |
Yes, I will never exchange
the chances to try something new that really interests me especially if I am in
a foreign environment, but it also matters to know that you have a second home.
EDAYA's event last January 21 made me exactly feel that way, and it was
awesome. With the theme “Let''s Feel Philippines Together”, EDAYA, with the
valuable cooperation of Pallete, World Festival, Class for Everyone, Kamayan
Restaurant (and those that I failed to mention) created an event which has
brought together all those who love the Philippines. What made it special for
me is that I really was able to feel the fondness of the people when they told
us of their experiences of travels in the Philippines, and how they enjoyed it.
When the food started to come in, and the guests took some curious bites, It
made me delighted to hear them say
“oishi!” and “umai!”, and they even asked me what is the food called and
how was it cooked. When we started doing our (EDAYA Philippine team) sort-of-a
presentation, it again made us feel joyous to know that the audience did enjoy
the event (even if what we did was less than perfect) and even sang together
with us and jam with the music. It was very spontaneous and that made it all
the more special. It was however unfortunate
that we had to already cut the party because our time was over. But nevertheless, we enjoyed.
Personally, the
highlights of the event for me was meeting and seeing familiar faces, walking
through familiar roads and meeting new people. The event took place at the
Kamayan Restaurant (a Filipino restaurant in the Roppongi district which I
missed countless times the first time I went to Japan even if I was walking
back and forth in that street for more than a week – and I was so near to it).
It has a very serene and intimate feel to it, which made the guests (who are
more than what I expected) interact on a more personal level. I loved the
feeling it gave me and I love the interactions I had there. It was in the
Kamayan Restaurant that I was able to meet, shake hands and talk with the lady
who I heard has some connections with the Emperor of Japan (wow, that is big).
I regret not being able to speak Nihonggo because if I did, I would have had
longer conversation with her. It was also equally amazing to meet Uniquease Japan director, who even
gave us cakes for presents (they were delicious). She told me that she enjoyed
the party and that made us feel great. Meeting fellow Filipinos at the event
was also very exciting. When we started talking in the Fillipino language, it
really feels amazing and I feel for them when I heard that one of them feels
like crying because he really misses back home. I would like to tell them to
stay strong. Being able to rub elbows with EDAYA major supporters was also
heartwarming. Finally, seeing Pallette
staff, Class for Everyone director, EDAYA Japan team and my friends, is
awesome. I had a great night. I hope everybody will remember this day.
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| Building networks and discovering connections in an intimate environment. Embracing the warmth from these amazing people who made us feel very welcome. |
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