And So They Went

What do you get between a loss of interest in Japan and a search that was destined to put you back on track? The answer; Japinoy. com. That is if your surname is Reyes.

The old school says "we're still better", the new school says "you're most welcome".

If you kept up with the news this Thursday, there's every reason to believe that everything will be back to normal. But if you thought of it over, there's every reason that it won't be.

And if you understood what that means, you may be receptive beyond comprehension. Or just a reader of my blog, even if there's nothing new to read. JM Reyes in Manila.


For two months, I lost my self and was lured once again by Thailand. My fascination of Thailand can be traced back to around 12 years ago, just a year or two shy of my Japanology madness. It was the first time my dad worked in Thailand and continued on for about four more years.

I flipped the pages of Thai Airways' "Sawasdee" inflight magazine. On the cover was their first Boeing 777 jet, in celebration of their 35th anniversary as the Kingdom's flag carrier. I was awed by the beauty, diversity, eccentricity, and modernity of Thailand. And that continued as more Sawasdee magazines landed on our magazine racks.

But just a year later, Mojacko was fired by a galactic sling shot to Earth and landed on our TV sets. The fluffy, cuddly, adorable, and oh-so-sweet fur ball alien opened me up to the Japanese culture and way of life. Everything that was shown, I want to try. I had my first taste of sushi, my first Japanese shopping spree, and the beginning of a strong desire to get there.

Oh!Tokyo on WINS Channel further propelled my craziness for Japan. The ever-happy and bubbly reporter Ellen Nishiumi provided televised tours of Tokyo and nearby provinces and islands for those without the time and money to go to Japan. I think she has the best job on Earth.

But fast forward, April 2008, TLOS came into my life and made me crave for Thailand once again. For two months, Japan was shunned off my list even though I still work for a Japanese news organization. That made my easy work harder and I have to make stitches just to accomplish my job.

Hoping for the worst, I accepted the fact that probably I'm not into Japan anymore. But a stork from heaven dropped Japinoy.com on my doorstep. The new baby smiled at me, wanting me to adopt him. And so Japinoy Boy saved my love for Japan from the brink of death.

There, I was welcomed by like-minded people and not by some selfish members of the otaku clan. I've been with them for about 3 months now and still enjoying their company. Two of my friends there are already my close buddies. One is a quirky teacher, and the other one is a girl-magnet, but very friendly barista. Right now, I'm very serious on getting the same job on the same branch where he works.


On the other story, I've packed my bags and moved to my new university after two years of living in a teeny-bopper and coño university. Though there are bad reasons on why I left that university, I'm still very thankful to be friends with a bunch of the truest people that I can find in that university. The guidance counselor that debriefed me on my last day as a student of the university pissed me off and she doesn't fit that job. How dare she tells me things as if she really knows me. My politics also contradicts the way of life there. Unequality and elitism is totally unacceptable and that is a hindrance towards a freer and more prosperous world. The arrogant bourgeois people who just go to school to flaunt their beauty, money, and possessions but possesses no brain are thankfully now out of my way.

Now I can freely express my thoughts and views in my new university. Back in the old one, there was nothing on the school journals but pure propaganda and right-wing stuff. In the new one, issues, no matter how sensitive can be discussed freely and objectively. No more gag orders, no more dead air.

So much has happened during my three-month hiatus. Too many too tell and too long to be written. But from now on, I'll keep you regularly on tabs on what's new and what's about to be thrown away. (Written by JM Reyes, Manila)