Bayaning Samahan sa Gawing Japan 2010

INSTITUTION CATEGORY

Kafin Migrante Nagoya (Country Winner) 

• Nagoya, Japan

Founded in 2007 when Rosanna Tapiru, originally from Tokyo moved to Nagoya. With the help of her fellow Migrante members in the area she was able to establish KAFIN Nagoya even sharing an office with them which is owned by a Japanese national who support their endeavors as well.

They made it big when they were able to lobby for a change in the laws of Japan regarding the recognition of their children born with Japanese fathers outside marriage. Along with 9 other single mothers, they trooped down the the government in Tokyo to appeal for the revision of its laws. After about 3 years they managed to have the laws amended in favor of their children. Their kids who have not been recognized by their fathers were now accepted as Japanese nationals. This amendment in their law din’t just benefit our fellow Filipinos but also from mothers with different nationalities.

The group are composed of about 40 members both men and women geared towards looking after the welfare of each of their members. They do not have any funding agency nor regular fund source other that their own pockets but they are able to help each one in dire cases.  As a support group for each member they are able to counsel each other and also has connections with some other Japanese lawyers in some legal cases.  They also have regular fellowships with their members and serve as a refuge for women who are victims of domestic violence and abuse by their Japanese husbands.

They do not have any funding agency. In cases when they have to help out a member from sickness or even death or for airfares in case one is to be deported, they dip from their own pockets or ask around for assistance from church or local government.  

Truly, what they did towards their kababayans were admirable and worthy to be so called a HERO!

Christian Association Serving Traditional Laymens' Evangelizations-CASTLE (Country Finalist)

• Tokyo, Japan

Miss Anita Sasaki founded CASTLE ( Christian Asssociation Serving Traditional Laymen’s Organization) in 1997 composed mostly of housewives married to Japanese nationals who frequent her omise (bar) with the initial purpose of being able to support and help each other in the foreign country.

At present, their most active members are the youth which are mostly JFCs (Japanese-Filipino children) who are struggling for their identities. Their purpose has now become to assist this kids in being acquainted with their Filipino origin and culture as well as strengthening their Japanese ethnicity. The challenge has been for them to be able to appreciate their Filipino mothers and their roots even if most of their Japanese fathers have abandoned them and the rest of the Japanese community shun them for being half-breeds.

Aside from the usual support group, these kids thresh out their talents by participating in jam sessions where they get to sing, dance and act. They make it a point to organize these community jam sessions once or even twice a week.

The group looks after our most vulnerable individuals in the society, the youth. Instead of leaving them off on the streets or fighting their individual conflicts as mixed race kids they at least get to have some shelter where they not only learn to interact with fellow JFCs but also hang out and get to showcase their talents.  The jamming sessions which they perform in the local community creates awareness to Japanese nationals how hard it must be for these children to be unrecognized and abandoned by their fellow Japanese.

They do not have any funding agency. Instead they would raise funds, solicit, pass the hat during those times when they need would need a venue to practice their skills. They would also save up from their allowances in case they intend to travel as a group for exposures.

Samahang Pilipino Tokyo Japan (Country Finalist)

• Tokyo, Japan

Samahang Pilipino which is founded in 1976 prides themselves as what could be the oldest Filipino organization in Tokyo. They originally organized themselves to give each one of them Filipino workers in a foreign land a second home, a refuge.  Eventually, they started helping out the different sectors who are in need here in our country particularly Bantay Bata and Red Cross. With more than 100 members all over the area, they are known for their annual beauty pageant, singing competition and weekly fellowship activities.  Their classroom project is said to have been taken over by Gawad Kalinga so it remains to be seen if they are able to continue with the said project.

They regularly raise funds to help out their members and non-members in case they get sick or needs other financial/legal assistance.  But much of their funds were allotted to their chosen sector back in the Philippines.

Their annual Utawit, a singing competition allows them to raise funds which they use to build a classroom in the country in coordination with our local Philippine government.  Each member pays an annual fee of 2000 yen for the new ones and 1000 yen for old-time members.  Other funds came from donations, pageants and singing competitions organized by their group as well.

Sinag Japan (Country Finalist)

• Tokyo, Japan

Sinag is a relatively new organization having been founded 7 years ago. They are composed of just about 20-25 carefully selected members based on their sincerity and commitment to serve. The group is founded by Miss Joyce Ogawa who is a Filipina married to a Japanese and is currently managing their own family business.  The group aims to reach the NGO status so they could be of help to more people.

Raising funds came from the different sectors in the society in the Philippines through cultural activities as selling of local goods and showcasing our Filipino songs and dances. Through these activities, the group able to sent donations to different local foundations in the Philippines like ABS-CBN Foundation and the one from the town of Aklan.

The group hold information dissemination campaigns for earthquake preparedness by distributing fliers, teaches Japanese language to some Filipinos with the help of some to their volunteer teachers.

Their funds are mostly from their fundraising projects and from their own pockets in cases of emergency.  Financial aid were also given by the local Japanese government during festivals and other cultural projects.

Though their group is considered to be young and new, their selfless devotion to reach out to other Filipinos in Japan is truly remarkable.