Japan is getting closer and closer to me.

 

Today, I was glad to meet new VOA members - Peter and Reika. They will be helping us with VOA's "Library Project" and planning sales of rosaries, as well as suggestions for livelihood program in Smoky Mountain 2. The meeting was short but busy, as everyone had a homework to search for at least 3 organizations that does "collecting books" or "donating books" as their activity. After the meeting, we had some bonding activity at Kentucky.

 

A little stroll around Cubao, put me into deeper reflections today. While I was developing anxiety over mushrooming Japanese companies in Philippines, Alimall was reminiscing its memories of the glorious days of Ali, the reason behind the name "Alimall".

[A mall-wide Art Exhibit was prepared by Alimall to honor the great boxer "Ali".]

Here are some of the works from various artists:

It was a new learning for me. I didn't know that this mall was named after a boxer. And so I wondered why the Filipinos back then have the sentiment for "Ali" who is not a Filipino? If they have known that there would be a Manny Pacquiao in the future, could they have named it after him? 

 

Anyway, I just went to Alimall today because of the sign and that I wanted to see the art exhibit. Little do I know that I would stumble upon this Japanese shop, "Saizen". In its window, it says "the official retailer of Daiso Japan in the Philippines". Amidst gladness of Japan becoming closer to me, I worry about the fact of this company being here in the Philippines. The Filipinos' colonial mentality more so, being very very addicted to things from Japan is enough anxiety for the local industry (if ever we have some). And the fact that, Japanese companies are proliferating in Philippines, in Cubao, in Makati, in Malate, is a signage that our country's economy and consumers is taken over by foreign industries and companies. On the other hand, our industry goes down the drainage.

 

 

At one point in time (specifically during the study tour), I was asked whether Philippines make their own cars or "Is there a Philippine company for cars?" I had known that there is a Filipino company making motorcycles but of cars, probably there isn't. They were wondering why... It is rather impossible for Philippines to have a company, more so for this Filipino company to compete with the large car-industry companies of Japan such as Honda, Toyota, or of America's Ford, or of Germany's Audi. More so, we have been for so long time, (probably since 1940s) only a part of the global assembly line. It is here where they get their raw materials, but it is not here in the Philippines that the construction of the whole vehicle itself takes place. In this light, would these companies spare raw materials to the starting neophyte Filipino company?
 

I am not at all totally in disagreement with trade. In fact, I like cultural exchange, exchange of ideas and growth through learning from the people on the other side of the wall. I'm just rather concerned with how the process of trade is taking place - if it is equal and just. And I just hope, the Filipinos would before getting too accepting with the products made in Japan and USA, take a look at the products of their fellows and be proud of it. I hope everyone stops to dream of being born from another country, or to dream of working on another country and leaving Philippines for money. I just hope we learn to practice 'nationalism", as what Japanese do.