Japinos use manga to convey experiences, dreams

MANILA - Empowered youth is how one would describe Japanese Filipino children (JFC) or Japinos of today.
JFC members of Batis Yoghi (Youth Organization that Gives Hope and Inspiration) showed just how empowered they are by launching a reading material in the form of a Japanese Manga.
Batis Yoghi president Mikas Aleya Matsuzawa said that the "Yoghi Manga" would allow their "triumphs to be heard."
"To have our voices heard kung ano ba ang issues namin hindi lang bilang JFC kung di bilang youth ng Pilipinas. Ano ba yung karanasan namin. Ano ba yung sitwasyon? Nasaan ang mga kabataan? Anong landas ba ang pupuntahan namin," said Matsuzawa.
Matsuzawa said they picked Japanese Manga to convey their messages as this is a very popular reading material in Japan.
"Sa Japan po kasi, madalas na magbasa ang mga tao doon ng manga. Parang mas binabasa po nila ang manga more than anything else. Ang balak din po namin, iparating ito doon upang malaman nila kung ano ang naranasan ng mga Japanese Filipino children dito kaya mayroon din po siyang translation in Japanese," Matsuzawa said.
Using Manga is also helpful in making JFC members in the Philippines aware of the culture of Japan.
"Isa din po kasi sa goals namin na maging aware sa kultura ng Japan at paano mo mape-penetrate o maabot yung consciousness nila. So isa siya sa pamamaraang naisip namin," explained Matsuzawa.
Three stories
Conceptualized last September, Batis Yoghi's Manga is composed of three stories about the experiences of JFCs.
In the book's introduction written by Matsuzawa, she said that Batis Yoghi came up with story topics for the Manga after "countless workshops, brainstorming and sharing of our own experiences".
The Yoghi Manga starts with the story of a child (Yuki's First Day), followed by a teenager (Away From Home), and a young adult (Bus Terminal). Matsuzawa said the "transition" shows the many challenges JFCs face.
Each JFC experiences phases in their lives. They tend to question their identities, their roots, and their possible contribution to society.
"Naranasan po siya talaga ng mga JFC. May mga misconceptions na maa-attach sa iyo. Yung negative part yung mga nanay namin automatic na ba-brand na Japayuki. Isa pang naranasan sa history, ang Japan sinakop ang Pilipinas maa-attach sa amin kung anumang ills ang naganap noong panahon," she said.
Writer, artists
Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature winner (short story for children category) Bernadette Neri wrote the three stories. She was assisted by equally talented artists John Paul Clemente, a graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts, Wilvic CAnlas, electronics and communications engineering student at the Technological University of the Philippines, and manga enthusiast, Joseph Bautista.
Each story text has a Japanese translation to allow JFCs in Japan to understand the Manga. The translation was made through the efforts of Batis Center for Women's interns and volunteers.
"Ang storya pong ito ay napakalapit sa aming mga Yoghi dahil ito po ay parang testaments na rin ng aming mga triumphs, dilemmas at higit sa lahat ang aming mga storya sa buhay.
Experiences, aspirations
Executive Director Andrea Luisa Anolin of Batis Center for Women said the Manga encompasses the experiences, aspirations and dreams of Batis Yoghi members.
"I think one thing that Batis Yoghi intends to do is not just to notice the hardships that Japanese Filipino children undergo. They would also like to project a positive image of Japanese Filipino children," Anolin said.
Anolin is thankful that the issue about JFC has been receiving much attention "because now Japanese Filipino children are of age and they are now asserting themselves in their own family, in their community, and they would like Philippine society and Japanese society to notice them."
"On the part of Batis Center for Women, we are very happy with the development of Batis Yoghi, and we look forward to the day that Batis Yoghi would be able to say that they are also an independent and autonomous organization," Anolin said.
Anolin said Batis Center for Women has been at the forefront of highlighting issues of JFCs as a consequence of migration of Filipino women to Japan.
Recognition by Japan
"Since that time, great strides have been made already. The fact that the Embassy of Japan supported our project means there is recognition of the existence of Japanese Filipino children," said Anolin.
"Gusto naming ipakita yung triumphs nila over yung adversity at saka yung parang pagsisikap talaga na pangibabawan yung circumstances nila sa buhay," she said.
Anolin mentioned that JFCs in Japan are estimated to be around 70,000 or 80,000. "Pero that was since 1995. Hindi natin alam yung prior to 1995. Pero ang estimates, there are about 100,000 to 200,000 na Japanese Filipino children in existence," she said.
"Alam namin na we are only reaching out to a segment of Japanese Filipino children. Kahit mahirap ang buhay even if you're struggling here in the Philippines, basta magsikap kayo. If you try to get in touch with Batis Yoghi or Batis Center for Women, we can try to provide that kind of support, hindi ibig sabihin financial support pero at least, yung community, so that yung mga personal issues that they are trying to address, magkaroon sila ng venue para makapagtanong, makakuha ng support din," she said.

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