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Reciprocation to your help at 3.11

What can you do to promote world peace?
Go home and love your family.
(Mother Teresa)

I. From Miyagi with Love.....
As the Philippines was hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda on November 8, 2013, I
got a call from a Director of famous Japans News program, the News Station.
He simply asked me: Miyagi has been blessed by the help of the people from
Negros, so I believe the reciprocation shall be made. After his call to me, he
made a contact to the Motoyoshi Hibiki High School whose students were invited
to Lalibertad last August 2013. The students of the high school were already
on their track to go for fund raising to send their Love from Miyagi. Mrs. Abe,
the teacher who came along to Negros said, Sure! We will do it!
1. The fund raising activity was supported by the students councils of other
high schools in Kesen-numa City, business firm and organizations. It is
worth telling a story of a man (see photo below), who saw the fund-raising in
front of a super market. He returned to his house and got his piggy bank
full of 500 yen ($5) coins and bottom-upped it and donated all he has kept for
himself..actually, he must be one of the Tsunami victims still in difficult
time, yet he dared to think of the Filipinos. The students too were very
impressed and felt proud of his being a citizen of Kesen-numa City.
Eventually, the recipients of his blessings in Molocaboc Island sounded with
appreciation in a big surprise for his being so Christian at his very deed.

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The precious donation and help is reaching to these children in Negros. They
are blessed in that they are chosen to be the recipients of Love from Miyagi.

2. Receiving Donation Fund: It was very snowy and stormy till just a day
before, but we were made to reach there in sunny good day weather.
There was a Bus Railway Transport which replaced the Trains as all the
railways were damaged by the Tsunami all along the shore of Miyagi. The
old station is left and the railway path is asphalted as a special passage
exclusive. It snowed so hard as 50 years record that surroundings were yet
white and freezing coldness. Kesen-numa people said: We are not used
to this much snow!

The presentation on the damages of Yolanda to the province of Negros
Occidental was introduced to the group of students who labored to fund raise for
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Negros. 2 students represented to express their feeling of concern to the
victims of Yolanda. The donation amounting to JPY223,678 was handed with
300 pcs of message card all written individually by the whole population of
Motoyoshi Hibiki Senior High School.
Mr. Yuki Ito, President of Student Council: We have learned a lot from the
students who visited Negros last year. And so when we heard of the
Yolanda tragedy, we were inspired to think of what we could do which is the
fund-raising. Please have this donation utilize for the restoration and
betterment of the Philippines.
Ms. Mai Miura, Representing the Negros Delegation: Filipinos helped us a
lot at our time of Tsunami. Now the Philippines experienced Earthquake and
Typhoon. We were urged to do something. I personally had a chance of
visiting the Philippines and mingled with the smiley kind people of Negros,
and so the news on Yolanda was shocking for us. So in order to reach our
sympathy and love to the friends in the Philippines, we have done the Fund
Raising project. We are now in a common status being the victims of
natural calamity; so let us be strong and go for our bright future.


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3. Project at Negros Occidental Commenced: 3 days after returning from
Kesen-numa with the gift for Negros, I flied to the Philippiines. The first
project by the fund is in Molocaboc Island in the district of Sagay City.
The miracle is not that we do this work,
but that we are happy to do it.
Molocaboc Island Roofing Reparation Aid: In my first visit to the island in January, I
was informed that the Mangrove planting done by Japanese Volunteers protected from
the typhoon. So surprised to learn then that my wife was also one of them having
done it in 1994. The island village is consist of 3 islands with 900 houses built on it.
50% of houses were damaged and most badly needing the help were 200 houses.
They were all living under the PP Sheets donated by the UK Air Force. There is no
wish to wait for more aid as 2 months has passed already, said the Barangay Captain.
Instantly, we have decided to donate roofing materials for all 200 houses in need, and
did it in a months time. At the turnover ceremony, I was very pleased to hear a lot of
Thank You from all the islanders and their comments made me feel more obliged:
The Miyagi people dared to render their helping hands in spite of the fact that they are
much more in harder situation. I, without hesitation, received the plaque of
appreciation from the Barangay Council with pride on behalf of the Miyagi supporters.

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Cadiz School Building Reparation: I studied English first at Canlaon Elementary
School in 1971. The building then was this Marcos Type. Now, it must have
been in use for 50 years today but this building was vulnerable to the 2012
Earthquake and 2013 Typhoon. The wall is protruding and roof is torn and
partially flew away. But children have no choice but to enjoy the classes under
as is classroom condition. I felt that they need someone to help; so did I decide
to make the Miyagi donors the hands of God to help provide them better venue
for the future promised children.


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The fund raised and donated to Negros shall also be used for the reparation
Marcos Type school building at Pedro Ramos, Sr. Elementary School in Cadiz
City. We shall provide the materials and seek for the counterpart cooperation
of the local government and PTA. Project coordinated at the kind assistance
of Vice Mayor Samson Mirhan and Principal Ahunin, Sr. (Expected time of
project commencement: April 2014)

II. Bantayan Island Visit
1. Observation on the Damages: We viewed through TV news her damages
in Leyte, but the sight that came into my eyes in the Bantayan Island just
resembled. It has been more than 3 months now that cleaning up of debris
and rubbles are done; new houses under the aid of Islamic countries and
Poland are under construction; but many people are left in the 950
temporary housing tents. I am informed that many countries extended
them help including the medical mission from Korea, but nothing from Japan
has come yet. You are the first Japanese to come to help us,was I told.
But the damage is too vast that I just wonder of my ability in meeting their
expectations.

Finished Shape
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Poultry Industry Eradicated
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UN Aid: 200 tents
Islamic Aid: 750 tents
Poland Donated House: 70 units
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Pump Boat Aid from UAE
Owner of broken house: yet Smiling
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2. Aid from Germany: I found there are many help coming from Germany.
Many Bantayan ladies are serving the home of Germany as good
housewives. The fund was raised by those ladies in their German
community and was made useful for the repair of homes and making of new
Fishing Pump Boats. A group of German donors is coming to the island to
celebrate the Turn-over Ceremony.
3. New Projects Study: This island is the origin of cousin of Engr Doming
Catubig, who has been the key person to all our Japan Aid projects in
Negros since 2012. All my projects were focused to the island of Negros but,
as I was guided to see the remnant surroundings on this island badly
damaged, it bore in my heart that we should also think of something even
Alternative Fuel
More than 80% Coconut fell and its too bright
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small we can do to help. The smiles of the islanders were most of the
reasons why I instantly decided so. I just wonder how a person whose
house is gone; fishing boats are scrapped; and no government aid is
apparent yet as of the date 3 months after the calamity, still could keep their
genuine Godly smiles. And my conclusion was that they live in a community
where everyone is family and family-like to help each other in a very simple
living. They may possess no fear for the future but blessed to live with God
in a very humane way. I wish to be a hand of God to share them even a
little: this is what I confirmed in response to their smiling faces.
If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one.
Silion High School Roofing Reparation Project: In the village of Silion,
municipality of Bantayan on the Bantayan Island, you can find a school on a
hill. When I stepped into the campus, all the teachers welcomed me with a
their eyes somewhat sighting: God has sent a messenger to help us. The
roofing was of a new class building was partially gone, so students were
using the classroom still underconstruction. According to Principal Capuras,
they may need only 100pcs of GI sheets to repair 2 buildings under damage.
I decided that we can do this as our first project in Bantayan Island. Now, we
are making contact with the Municipal Mayor and Barangay Captain for the
execution of the reparation work at their labor. Hope I can see it done in my
return visit in April 2014.

Fishing Pump Boat Project: A day before our visit on Feb 27, Philippine
President Aquino has came to inspect the situation and donated 100 fishing
boats. The number of fishing boats lost on the island is so huge and
thousands and thousands of them are necessary to revive the fishing
industry of the island. As a small contribution to their major industry, which is
fishing, The family of Engr Domings cousin is trying to restore fishing
industry by sharing the boats donated by German community to their
relatives and neighbors friends. They are programming to lease the boats
out and collect small portion of fishing income as a foundation fund for
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multiplying the no. of boats at their own. The cost for a single fisherman
driven boat at 18,000 pesos and for 2 fishermen driven boat at 35,000 pesos.
Both boats carry engine. I wish to find a way to join in this program by
earning funds for one boat after one as a long term assistance program that
we can work on. A kind of grass-root activity may be required for this
desire.

Names of Donors on Boats
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III. Restart of Projects for 2012 Earthquake stricken schools
Buenavista High School in Guihulngan City: We have accomplished in
completing 9 projects for the past 2 years in Negros Oriental. My uncle (Mr.
Masakatsu Eto) who visited the Furukawa Farm in Canlaon for the first time was
inspired to donate 1 project at Magsaysay Elementary School. Upon reading
my report on the project turnover ceremony done in January 2014, he was
impressed and said: If my little help like this can received the million dollar
smiles of the recipient children, I have no reason to spare my fund for another
one. He also mentioned I need just enough money for my living, so I would
prefer to give to enjoy the smiles of these children.Promptly, I made a return
visit to the place where new High School is built in the villages to accommodate
those who cannot afford to commute to the schools in town but classrooms and
facilities are insufficient. It is the Buenavista High School just opened a couple
year ago. We are now studying on how we could help the school in our way of
cooperative participation of villagers, school PTA and officials concerned at our
possible provision of minimal construction building materials. We seek for the
help by parents in donating raw trees and bamboo to maximize the quality of
classroom building at limited fund donated by my uncle.


The remainings of Earthquake Effects
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Proposed Location: 6 x 18m bldg.
Crude makeshift at service
Emergency classroom in use
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IV. Conclusive Summary:

After my August Miyagi delegation voluntary activities In year 2013, I was
thinking of my activitys completion. And then the next project was to work out
on the introduction of Japanese Language School in Negros. I wrote my book
for Japanese education in 2010 and had it started selling for Tsuami fund raising
purpose in 2011, and I have conducted Intensive Crash Course in Bacolod for 2
times in 2013 while engaging to the Makeshift building projects in Negros
Oriental. However, when I learnt of the Typhoon Yolandas devastations in
Leyte and its surrounding islands, including Negros Occidental, I confirmed my
continued volunteering works the mission. I am basically pivoted at Negros but
the surrounding places I visited makes me expand its territory of services. So for
the year 2014, I wish to parallel the Natural Calamity Relief Mission and the
Japanese Language Education Promotion in the area.

In order to keep the link of Miyagi and Lalibertad, I am introducing a Crash
Orientation Course in the municipality of Lalibertad this coming April. This
program enables me to find more schools in need of help for rebuilding or adding
new classroom to meet the increasing children craving to learn. Education is
the means of improving the Lorenz Curve & Gini Coeffient (Rich- Poor
Inbalance) , and it is also a way to adopt an Altruism (serve others) , this is what I
believe. Thus, my project concentrates more on schools and children for
education.

I wish to learn many from the Golden Principles of Mother Teresa, and succeed
in establishing a Japanese Language School to succeed the youth training that
my father was engaged to till 1982 in Canlaon: Go home and Love your family
is heard my ears as: Go to Negros and Love your family.

Remark: My activity was publicized on a Nishinippon Newspaper on March 12,
2014 which covered the articles regarded with the 3.11 Tsunami. It is really a
coincidence that the news writer who interviewed me has ever been to Bacolod
in his university days for Voluntary Tree Planting Program. While being in a big
surprise, we sincerely confirmed Gods will in the services of helping others as
lifes essence.

Be careful of your thoughts,
for your thoughts become your words;
Be careful of your words,
for your words become your deeds;
Be careful of your deeds,
for your deeds become your habits;
Be careful of your habits;
for your habits become your character;
Be careful of your character,
for your character becomes your destiny.


Prepared and translated by K Furukawa: March, 2014