The Reward of Good Works

The Lord talked about us being "His masterpiece, created for good works which God has planned for us long ago". I can't get over the stories of our interns in Hokkaido, Japan. Many of them genuinely changed by the power of God's love. They came here motivated to see their dream come to pass.

One particular story that touched my heart was that of Erna. Erna came from a very remote town in Nueva Ecija. She came to Manila to seek greener pasture since her parents couldn't afford to send her to school. She took up a course in Education but had to stop due to financial difficulties.

On the day she went to Manila, she had to cross a river and had to walk about an hour out of the remote place they live.

Fortunately, she came of our office at Uno and she was chosen to work as a Dairy Farmer here in Hokkaido, Japan.

Erna with Mr. Sasaki

Yesterday, I had the chance to talk to Erna at Mr. Sasaki's farm, where she works. The latest news is that she settled all their debts, her father has bought a tractor to cultivate their 14 hectare farm land, her father won't have borrow money from loan sharks anymore as they now have capital to start planting rice. Today she is saving her income because she plans to continue her studies when she comes home 2 years from now. That's what a year of stay in Japan did to her and her family!

Erna with Mr. Yamada and myself

The best thing was she continues to trust the Lord for her life. She surrendered her life to the Lord Jesus during the Encounter Weekend a year ago when she was still training at Uno. It was our desire to see them encounter the lover of their soul, Jesus before leaving for Japan.

Hearing her stories made my day. It's like a reward for the work that God has done in her life through us. Truly God is good and He gives us the strength to see our dream come to pass.

It been a fulfilling time for me here in Hokkaido, Japan.

Jimmy

The Simple Food I Like

Last week, our company gave us an overnight outing at the Camayan Beach Resort in Subic Bay. This was part of our yearly outing. Last year we went to Boracay Beach and that was really fun.

Maritess and I taking a walk at the Camayan Beach

Anyway, going back to Camayan Beach Resort. The place was perfect for an overnight stay. The hotel facilities were very good and the people serving us are very accommodating and responsive to our needs.

But the one thing I really liked was the breakfast menu they served us. There were many selection of foods but I chose the simple one and very native: Scrambled egg, dried anchovies, salted red egg with chopped tomatoes and unions plus a bowl of cereals (reminds me of our breakfast in Australia).

This is my favorite breakfast

That's what I really like to eat for breakfast. Simple and yet filling.

Come to think of it, sometimes the simple things make our life better.

I love food and I love adventure,
Jimmy

The Joy of Travelling To Japan

Many desire to have the chance to travel outside of our country. My first chance to travel was when I was chosen to go to Dayton, Ohio by my company, NCR Corporation in 1979. It was the chance of a lifetime. Unfortunately, my passport wasn't ready and I had a hard time getting one due to some technicalities on my birth certificate. Long story short, I missed the opportunity.

My second chance came when I was with Fujitsu Philippines in 1985. I was sent to Japan as a reward for being the best salesman that year. Tokyo was very modern and amazing. Their railway system was something to be envied even at that time, more so now.

Yes, travelling to Japan has since been an ordinary thing for me due to my responsibility with Fujitsu until I retired in 2000.

Today I still travel as part of my work with Uno Overseas Placement. One of the things that I enjoy every time I go to Japan is the use of public bath  called "Onsen". Most hotels that I go to have built-in Onsen for their guests.

The first time I used the Onsen, I felt awkward because I have to go in naked like all the rest. Not a Filipino culture indeed. But I easily adjusted and now I enjoy like the Japanese do.

Another thing I like when I travel to Japan is their airport. This one is in Kansai Airport. What I do is I check in early so I have more time to go around and enjoy the amenities of the airport, including foods.

My breakfast at Kansai Airport

Doing FB with their ever fast and free Wifi

Just love waiting at the airport, so comfortable

If and when you have the chance to visit Japan, don't forget to try their Onsen and enjoy their airports and foods.

I just love travel adventures.

Jimmy

I Just Love Tonkatsu!

I have the privilege to travel to Japan as part of my work at Uno Overseas Placement as we do monitoring work activity with our partners. My travel to Kagawa-ken in January this year is a very fruitful one. We met with many of our interns working in the area together with our Japanese Supervising organization.

The added amenities for me is the joy of eating at authentic Japanese restaurants serving authentic and famous Japanese dishes. One such dish is their famous Tonkatsu.

Tonkatsu , invented in the 19th century, is a popular dish in Japan. It consist of a breaded deep-fried pork cutlet one to two centimeters thick and sliced into bite-sized pieces, generally served with shredded cabbage and/or miso soup. Regardless of presentation, tonkatsu is commonly eaten with a type of Japanese Worcestershire sauce that uses pureed apple as a principal ingredient and is called tonkatsu sauce or simply sauce and often with a bit of spicy yellow karashi (Japanese mustard) and perhaps a slice of lemon.

Preparing my Tonkatsu sauce

The condiments set-up at the side of the table

Adding the sauce in the crushed sesame seeds

Ready to eat my Tonkatsu now! Miso soup compliments it.

A look at the cozy atmosphere of the resto

Ms. Nolits Otani knows where the best Tonkatsu resto is

Our waitress. I wish she can visit the Philippines one day

Thanks to Uno for this opportunity to travel and taste Japan's best dish like the Tonkatsu.

Enjoying my life's adventure,

Jimmy

I Love To Travel And I Love Japanese Food

I love eating Japanese food. It's different and almost exotic. I am also privileged to travel to Japan, where our business takes us.

During my last trip to Kagawa-ken, Japan to monitor our interns at Uno Overseas Placement, I met a lovely couple, Otani-san and Nolits, who were also our partners. They happen to be food lovers too. But the distinction they have is that they are very keen on authentic, delicious but reasonably priced restaurants in their area of operation.

Mr. Otani and myself seated at one of 3 tables inside.

Ah, on this trip, they brought me to small ramen shop in the area of Takamatsu. I love the taste of ramen in Japan. But most specially the ambiance of the shop.

So let me take you there now.

See what I mean with ambiance? Love it.

Ahh, the lights! This shop is frequented by old and young alike.

The owner and the chef

My ramen. It's seafood-soup base. Just love the taste of it.

Then there are three. The one at the rear is very hot.

Here it goes. I just love this ramen. Osihi desu!

I love to travel and I love food, specially Japanese food.

Domo arigato guzaimasu,

Jimmy