Hachiko, A Story of Loyalty

Hachiko, a great dog!

Hachiko was born on a farm near the city of Odate in the Akita Prefecture in 1923.  His name Hachiko means – “hachi” meaning eight which refers to his order of birth from the litter; and ko meaning prince or duke. To the Japanese he was often referred to as ‘chuken Hachiko’ or faithful dog Hachiko for that was exactly what his story was about …. love and loyalty.

In 1924, Professor Hidesaburō Ueno took in the Akita puppy, Hachiko as a pet. Over the next year or so pet and master developed a very close bound. They have developed a daily routine where Hachiko would see Professor Ueno out to the door of the Shibuya train station and be there again at the end of the day when he would greet his master and they would walk back home together. The pair continued their daily routine until May 1925, when Professor Ueno did not return on the usual train one evening.  The professor had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage at the Tokyo University where he was teaching. He died and never returned to the train station where his faithful dog and friend was waiting. But every single day Hachiko wold return to the Shibuya train station at the expected time of the professor’s return…he did this for the next nine years.

After the professor’s death Hachiko was given away to a different owner, but he would routinely escape returning again and again to his old home. Eventually, Hachikō realized that Professor Ueno no longer lived at the house. So he went to look for his master at the train station where he had accompanied him so many times before. Each day, Hachikō waited for Professor Ueno to return. And each day he did not see his friend among the commuters at the station.

Hachiko became a permanent fixture at the train station and attracted the attention of the commuters.Many of the people who frequented the Shibuya train station had seen Hachikō and Professor Ueno together each day. They brought Hachikō treats and food to nourish him during his wait.

That same year, a student of Professor Ueno who had become an expert in the Akita breed, saw Hachiko at the train station and followed him home. He found Hachiko at the home of the professor’s former gardener,Kikuzaboro Kobayashi, there he learned the history of Hachiko’s life.Shortly after this meeting, the former student published a documented census of Akitas in Japan. His research found only 30 purebred Akitas remaining, including Hachikō from Shibuya Station.

Over the years Professor Ueno’s student frequently returned to the Shibuya station to see Hachiko, he also published several articles about Hachiko’s remarkable loyalty.  Then in 1932 one of these articles ended up at the one of Tokyo’s largest newspaper circulation, this threw the dog into a national fame. Hachikō became a national sensation. His faithfulness to his master’s memory impressed the people of Japan as a spirit of family loyalty all should strive to achieve. Teachers and parents used Hachikō’s vigil as an example for children to follow. A well-known Japanese artist rendered a sculpture of the dog, and throughout the country a new awareness of the Akita breed grew.

Eventually, Hachiko’s remarkable faithfulness became a national symbol of loyalty.

In April 1934, a bronze statue in his likeness was erected at Shibuya Station, and Hachikō himself was present at its unveiling.

On March 8, 1935 Hachiko was found dead on a street in Shibuya.His heart was infected with filarial worms and 3-4 yakitori sticks were found in his stomach. Out of deference for this remarkable dog, his remained were stuffed and mounted and are kept at the National Science Museum of Japan in Ueno, Tokyo.

Hachiko’s monument was destroyed during World War II but in 1948, The Society for Recreating the Hachikō Statue commissioned Takeshi Ando, son of the original artist who had since died, to make a second statue. The statue still stands up this day, and had become a tourist attraction and a popular meeting place for many. The station entrance near this statue is named “Hachikō-guchi”, meaning “The Hachikō Exit”, and is one of Shibuya Station’s five exits.

MORAL LESSON:

Even though we've changed and we're all finding our own place in the world, we all know that when the tears fall or the smile spreads across our face, we'll come to each other because no matter where this crazy world takes us, nothing will ever change so much to the point where we're not all still friends.

College Experiences I Would Never Forget

Isang gabi, habang nakapasak sa dalawang tenga ko ang headset at nakikinig sa mga musikang nakalagay sa aking memory card na panay mga kantang mula sa ibang bayan ay naisipan kong magpadala ng group message sa mga piling tao sa phonebook ko. May mga ilang sumagot sa aking mensahe at matagal ang nagging kwentuhan namin sa text. Nang biglang maalala ko ang mga masaya at malungkot na pangyayari sa aking buhay kolehiyo.

Para sa mga hindi pa nakakaalam, ako’y nagtapos ng Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Physical Science. Apat na taon din akong nakipagtunggali sa mga pangalang ang iba’y batid kong kilala ninyo gaya nila Einstein, Newton, Aristotle, Coulomb, Archimedes, Pascal, at marami pang iba. Mayroon ding ilan na nakasulat sa mga aklat ngunit hindi lubusang kilala ng ilan tulad ni Kirchhoff na nagpahirap sa buhay namin.

First year college ako noon ng unang makilala ang ilan sa mga taong naging bahagi ng makulay na buhay ng pag-aaral ko. Sa umpisa gusto ko talagang mag-major sa Mathematics ngunit batay sa aking auntie overflowing na daw ang mga teachers sa Math and English kaya’t kinuha ko ang Physical Science na alam kong konti lang ang kumukuha sa taglay nitong hirap sa hayskul.

Ewan ko ba pero hindi ako yung tao na mabilis makihalubilo kaya’t halos isang buong lingo rin akong tahimik at wala halos kausap. Introvert kasi akong tao. Ngunit nagkaroon din ako ng mga kaibigan at nakilala ko na lahat ng aking mga kamag-aral. Sila’y naging kasa-kasama sa pag-aaral sa library, pagpunta sa paboritong canteen para kumain, mga taong laging handang kumopya at magpakopya ng takdang aralin.

Sa unang taon ko rin sa kolehiyo ng makapasok ako sa varsity ng table tennis. Nakilala ko ang mga taong naging kaibigan at katunggali sa mga tournaments. Apat na taon akong naging manlalaro at naging iskolar dahil sa aking talento sa table tennis. Nakakalungkot na minsa’y gusto ko ulit balikan ang mga sandaling kami ay nasa training, gabi na sa pag-uwi ngunit dadaan muna sa bahay n gaming coach para mag-merienda, ha-ha.

Isa sa mga subjects na hindi ko malilimutan noong second year kami ay ang PE 3 na ang description ay Swimming. Si Mrs. Jarapa ang gaming guro, siya ay napaka-istrikto subalit nauunawaan ko siya sapagkat tubig ang gaming kalaban. Nakakatuwang balikan ang mga katagang “bubbles up ang down!” Hindi man gaanong kataasan ang aking nakuhang marka sa kanya, batid ko sa aking sarali na napakarami kong natutunan sa larangan ng swimming.

Second semester ng mas-umpisa kaming pumasok sa major subjects. Nandito na ang Chemistry, hindi ako magaling dito. Pinag-isa ang section naming sa mga Biological Science majors. Siya nga pala, 13 kaming lahat na kumuha ng Physical Science sa batch naming at kami rin ang tinaguriang pioneering batch. Dahil kasabay namin ang ibang section, marami kami sa loob ng laboratory kaya’t malaya akong nakikipag-kwentuhan sa aking mga katabi. Hindi ko talaga kasi gusto ang subject at wala akong interes sa Chemistry. Sa awa ng Diyos, pasado ako.

Second semester din ng una kong maging guro si Mrs. Osea, “Dr. O” kung tawagin namin. Sino ba naman ang makakaligtas sa kanyang pamosong tanong na para sa lahat at bawal mag-ulit ng sagot. “Keyword,” “so what,” “now what,” at iba pa ang madalas niyang sabihin. Marami siyang mga ipinapagawa sa amin at madalas kaming nagrereklamo kapag wala na siya, natural na iyan sa mga mag-aaral. Ngunit ng matapos ang namin ang subject, nakaka-miss pala si Dr. O.

Third year college ng naging matibay ang samahan naming, “flexibles” ang naging tawag sa aming section. Nagsimula ang mas mahihirap na subjects at may dumating na magagaling na guro. Si Mam Cindy ay teacher naming sa Basic Electronics, sobrang idol ko siya sa larangan ng pagtuturo. Malinaw niyang naibibigay ang mga aralin at hanggang ngayon, may mga itinuro pa siya sa amin na nakatatak parin sa aking isip.

Nakilala ko rin si Mam Ramona Isabel Ramirez, guro naming siya sa Biochemistry at Analytical Chemistry. Sa kanya ko nakuha ang kahalagahan ng subject, sa kanya ko naunawaan na ang mga mahihirap na bagay ay pwedeng gawing madali. Sa kanya ko natutong mahalin ang Chemistry, at dahil sa kanya marami akong natutunan. Madalas rin siyang mag-kwento ng mga pangyayari sa kanyang buhay na nagbibigay sa amin ng inspirasyon.

Dumating ang panahon na kami ay nasa huling taon na sa kolehiyo. Mas maraming requirements at mas mahirap ang mga ibinibigay na gawain. Maraming seminar at workshop, maraming kailangang daluhan at maraming kailangan tapusin. Ngunit lahat ng iyon ay ginawa para kami ay ihanda sa huling semester namin na practice teaching.

Na-deploy ako sa Dña. Basilia S. Quilon Memorial High School kung saan naranasan ko ang isang komunidad na napakasaya. Ito’y isang paaralan subalit ang turingan ay parang isang pamilya. Nakasama ko rin dito ang apat na madaling pakisamahan. Wala halos kaming naging problema sa buong semester.

Dumating ang panahon na kailangan na naming tapusin ang aming research. Halos wala ng tulog ngunit kinakaya pa naman namin. Nandiyan na yung maraming pagkain, may mga pinapanood, musika, kung ano-ano na lang para alisin ang aming antok. Matapos ang lahat, napakasarap sa pakiramdam. Nandoon pa yung binigyan ako ng 1.0 na grade sa practice teaching na subject.

Masayang balikan ang mga pangyayari sa buhay college. Kung ang karamihan ay nagsasabing hayskul ang pinakamasayang yugto ng pag-aaral, hindi ako doon sang-ayon sapagkat para sa akin iyon ay sa kolehiyo. Naranasan kong mapalayo sa aking mga magulang ngunit iyon ang naghanda sa akin para mabuhay ng mag-isa.

Masasabi ko na isa pa sa mga masayang pangyayari sa aking buhay ay ang araw ng graduation. Natanggap ko ang aking diploma na matagal ko ring pinaghirapan. Idagdag pa na ako’y nabigyan ng karangalan ng tanggapin ko ang award bilang Cum Laude, bragging rights man na matatawag kung ika’y mabigyan ng ganitong pag-kilala.

Subalit hindi lahat nagtatapos sa graduation day ang college life. Ito’y isa lamang na pintong sasara ngunit magbibigay daan sa isa pang pinto para bumukas. Makalipas ang halos isang taon ng aking pagtatapos, napakaraming mga nangyari sa aking buhay. Maraming mga bagong kaibigan ang dumating at marami rin naman ang mga umalis. Ganyan talaga siguro ang buhay.

Ngunit ano pa man ang mangyari, alam ko na kahit ako’y tumanda na ay may mga masasayang pangyayari sa aking buhay ang aking babalikan. Mga pangyayaring kasabay kong dinaanan kasama ang mga kaibigan na aking pahahalagahan habang ako’y nabubuhay.

For A Change

Malimit na gamitin kong wika ay Ingles sa tuwing ako’y nagsusulat, doon kasi ako mas mabilis na nakakapagtapos ng isang artikulo. Idagdag pa na hindi ako sadyang dalubhasa sa paggamit ng wikang Filipino. Minsan natatawa ako kapag ang aking status sa Facebook o ang tweet ko sa Twitter ay nasa wikang Filipino, parang hindi lang ako sanay.

Gayunpaman, may mga nabasa akong blog na may adhikaing hikayatin ang mga Pinoy na gamitin ang sariling wika natin. Ang punto nila, mas madaling maintindihan at mas mabilis tayong nakakapaglabas ng mga nais nating sabihin. Sinasabi rin na hindi ibig sabihin na magaling ka mag-Ingles ay matalino ka na. Kaya’t heto ako, sinisikap na magsulat ng purong wikang Filipino subalit hindi ko maiiwasan na gumamit ng banyagang salita, tila I am still on the transition period, ha-ha.

Maaari sigurong isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit madalas Ingles ang gamit ko ay dahil iyon ang ginagamit ko sa tuwing ako’y nagtuturo. Bilang isang Physics at Chemistry teacher, mahirap isa-wikang Filipino ang mga salitang gagamitin. Isa pa, para sa akin mas madaling gamitin ang banyagang wika. Madalas rin kasi akong magbasa ng mga akdang nasa wikang Ingles, nagbabasa ng mga artikulong may parehong lengwahe, at nagpapatuloy sa pag-aral ng wikang Ingles.

Ngunit sa mga susunod ko pang ilalathala dito sa aking patuloy na binubuhay na mga pahina, sisikapin kong gamitin ang sariling atin. Nakakatawa man pero ako’y nasisiyahan habang sinusulat ko ito.

Kasabay ng pagsusulat ay ang pakikinig sa mga awitin ni Jose Mari Chan. Matagal na kasing nasa laptop ko ang mga awitin niya subalit hindi ko napagtutuunan ng pansing pakinggan, mas nauuna pa kasi iyong mga makabagong awitin na tila wala namang magandang sinasabi, maganda lang ang beat, ha-ha.

Siya nga pala, malapit na ang pasukan pero mukhang hindi pa ako makakapasok sa public school kasi hindi ko pa nakukumpleto ang mga hinihinging dokumento para i-approve ang aking assignment order. Habang wala pa akong ginagawa, inaayos ko isa-isa ang mga kailangan.

Pasasaan ba at lahat ay matatapos din!!!

I Never Thought This Would Be Hard

This week is crazy, totally crazy.

After I received the checklist of required documents to be approved as regular permanent teacher at a public school, this feeling of assurance sinks within me. To think that I'm already on the move of achieving one of my goals for this year, it's making me feel so happy. There were thirteen required documents all in all.

There are some that are easy to accomplish but some are not so easy, especially those that connects with the Professional Regulation Commission. It is stated that I need a photocopy of both the license and the good standing. Since my license is not yet available at the regional office, I'm still waiting for the day it will be available to be released.

As stated in the checklist, I also need to have five medical tests; urinalysis, blood test, drug test, x-ray and neuro tests. I already had the tests and I have with me the results at this very moment. Now, my only problem is the license.

For the mean time that my documents are not yet all gathered, I'm staying at our boarding house and is always watching something, a movie, a cartoon series, and a tv series. I don't know, I rather stay at our house than to go outside.

I'll keep this blog updated if something interesting happen. Cheerio. :))

Crossing Fiesta: A Day of Unanticipated Events

A Recap of Previous Post

May 15, 2012 – As I had stated in my last post that I was invited by my friend/co-teacher Diana to celebrate with them as they honor their saint at Crossing, Caranan, Pasacao, Camarines Sur. I also mentioned that I was not sure if I could come since there could be important papers that I have to request or I might be asked to report to the school.

Luckily, on March 14, 2012 while I was still at Malansad, Libmanan where I met Mrs. Nilo, the Officer-in-Charge of the high school, she made a call to her teachers. To make the story short, I was not told to return the next day instead on March 21, 2012 for submission of requirements. That means I can go to Pasacao.

Ate Duday’s Debut Celebration

I arrived in APMI at around 4:30 pm and it was a good feeling to see my social group. We were sharing stories while waiting for other teachers. We went to Pongol to witness the debut celebration of Ate Duday, the youngest daughter of the Dominguez Family. It was fun to see four of my former students. Uninvited, the rain pours heavily as if giving its gift to the birthday girl. Around 7:30 pm, we decided to go because Pat needs to return home.

When Uninvited Events Came In

On the next morning, while waiting for the right time to travel going to Crossing, Caranan I opened my Facebook and Twitter accounts. I played Titres Battle but it bored me very fast. I received an invitation to play Marvels, I tried it, and I liked it. However, I need to stop playing because we had to go. I was thinking there would be more than five of us who would go but we ended up only three. I was with teacher Fe and teacher Jumel; we were the unstoppable, ha-ha. When we arrived, teacher Emz was also there. Diana lets us inside and offers us foods but we had our lunch at school before leaving so we ate a little amount of the rice and viands. I quite liked the salad so much I ate sufficiently.

After eating, we watched the coronation of the Baby King and Baby Queen 2012. Diana was not one of the emcees but she was pulled to do so. The coronations took very long.

Minutes before the coronation ended, the three of us were asked to judge. The competition was about fashion show of dresses made from indigenous and garbage materials. The objective of the event was to show the residents of the Barangay how garbage materials can be used again. We were not actually expecting it. However, a duty was calling. We just did what we thought were right. There were eleven candidates and each had unique clothes design.

It was fun though. Before we leave for APMI, we were asked to eat first. We returned to school with the aid of habal-habal. That is one of the usual modes of transportation in a far barangays, a motorcycle. We were four in a single motorcycle so I am guessing you can picture us. It was a rough road so it adds to the adventure. We traveled for almost 15 minutes and on that position, it was not easy. We were laughing all the way. I was so tired when we arrived.

That was a day full of fun and surprises. My adventures at Pasacao are all memorable. That is why I always wanted to be in that place. That night while I am at bed, I was thinking all the memories I had in APMI. Though I need to say cheerio to this institution, I will still find time to be here again.

I ended up saying I will extend my stay up until Thursday. I was supposed to leave on Wednesday but I want to stay longer. If I leave early, finding time to be at Pasacao will be hard. In the meantime, I am grabbing the opportunity while it is still there and free.

Moreover, at APMI I have a free access to the internet through Wireless Fidelity (WiFi). Ha-ha! At Pili, I need to reload 50 pesos to have a one-day internet service.

Enjoy na, tipid pa! ^_^

If She Only Knew

One fine Sunday afternoon, I was listening to songs alone while doing something on my laptop when I heard a beep from my cellphone. By the way, I was alone because mama went to Libmanan to attend the Church Sunday Service and my sister was at the school attending her band practice. My other siblings were with mama.

Let us go back to the message. It was from Diane, my co-teacher at APMI - Pasacao. She was reminding me of the date I was invited to come to her house for their place's fiesta that was on May 15, 2012. She already sent me a message informing me of the said event the night before that massage came. I actually laugh because she sent the message without checking the grammar; the message says, “You are invited to eat my house this May 15, Tuesday. Don't miss the date.”

I do not have a cellphone load when I received the message so I was able to reply the next morning. I quoted her message first and told her that I cannot eat their house, ha-ha. I am really like this, I notice even the smallest detail of messages I'm receiving. Fortunately, bad karma is not coming to me yet because I really check everything first before sending them.

Concerning her reminding message, I replied that I have a personal business on Monday and told her that if I cannot finish the said business I might be asked to return the next morning. So, sadly I might not come. If there will be no problem with my schedule I would really go since it was a month already when I last had a chance to talk with them. She also informed me that our other co-teachers will be around.

After a minute, she replied with a sense of “panghihinayang.” She also added “Iba na talaga pag-regular na.” She meant I, being a regular public school teacher can't attend to occasions once in a while. Therefore, it made me think. I am not yet hired because I was rejected on the first item offered for me since a certification of good standing was a requirement I cannot supply. The reason was that my license was not yet at the regional PRC so they cannot release my good standing yet. Sad but true.

Monday, my business was to meet Mrs. Nilo of Malansad Nuevo, Libmanan, Camarines Sur. Hopefully I will be hired because the school where she is the head needs a Physics teacher, I am available for the position. I am really crossing my hands and praying that I will finally land a permanent job.

For Diane, if you only knew. I wanted to come but if something happens and my path does not cross yours, sorry. I will just hope that on the following fiesta, I will still be invited. LOL

By the way, that fine Sunday was also the day when we pay tribute to our mothers. There was a lot of fun because of mama; she kept on talking about the pellets discussed to them by a doctor. The idea just made us all laugh. What a fine Sunday for us.

A Message To My Mama

Mama,

Why are you so difficult to describe? It has been an hour yet I cannot think of a good start. Maybe because words are not an adequate amount of to express the kind of love and care that you give to my sisters and me. However, even if words are never enough to pay acknowledgment to you who brought us into this world, I will still try because you do not just deserve a day, you deserve our entire lives. Here is my simple message for you.

There was a time when I was still in your womb, a time when I was not yet capable of living and a time when you started caring for me. If something bad comes about to you prior to that day when you deliver me out of this world, there might be no me today. Therefore, I want to thank you for raising me with all the love you can give me.

You may not be lined up with the names like Cory Aquino, Cleopatra, Empress Dowager Cixi, Queen Elizabeth II, Madonna, Golda Mier, Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, or any other powerful woman names; without any standard, I am saying you are the best mama in the world.

I recognized from the start that you were fighting for our family; you have triumphantly passed all difficulties, and tried your best to keep our family intact. It is known to me that papa had made several mistakes resulting to troubles that may have cause our family to break. I saw the nights and days when all you can do was to cry. I witness how you keep your faith to Him, our dear Lord, and continuously ask for His guidance, wisdom, comfort, calmness, right judgment, and peace of mind.

I was very lucky to have you as my mama; you were always there for me. Raising us was not easy, especially the time when we were still attending our schools. Papa was there helping us but if it was not because of you there would have been no one in the family who will finish their degree. It is said that children are the blessings to the parents but it is the other way around for me, the moment you gave me life you became a blessing to me.

There are countless reasons to thank you. Thank you for the smiles, for the laughs, for sending me to school, for giving me advices, for the lectures, for everything, for the life. You never were a selfish to me even once. I also want to thank you for the butt hits because it made me realize my mistakes and it showed me how much you love me you wanted me to change my misconducts.

I wish also to say sorry for all the misbehaviors I showed you. I know I have been a good son but I also bring you many headaches. Sorry for not cleaning the house, for not washing my clothes, for not doing any household chores, for the high bills because I am always in front of my laptop, for the sermons I opt not to listen, for the lies, for the troubles, for the cries, sorry for all my wrong doings.

I know I am not the best child you could ever ask but I also know that what you only want is for me to be happy. I want to reassure you that I am already happy with who I am now. You will always be here in my heart.

I may not always say this because I am a bit shy and I am not comfortable saying these words but I love you mama. I will always love you. If you have problems, you can always count on me. Now that I am close to being a public teacher, you can count on me even on financial matters. That’s for sure, Mama. Do not think of problems, they will eventually pass. Stay strong and healthy. Keep your faith in God.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Your loving son,

Jerome