Sagip Migrante Japan, composed of Nestor Puno, Taro Aihara, and Edwin Guarin of Philippine Society in Japan headed for a relief operation in Tohoku region on April 2, 2011. We departed in Nagoya at 12:00nn heading for Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture to meet a group of Filipinos affected by tsunami and radiation. We brought along with us 250 kilos of rice, boxes of pottage soup, mineral water, pampers for kids, feminine and personal hygiene, toiletries, boxes of clothes, and many others. And to ensure that we can come back to Nagoya, we bring a gasoline tank and fill it, and every time we saw gasoline station, we full our gasoline.
After almost 8 hours of driving, we arrived at Iwaki City. Along the road, we noticed that some stores and restaurant were in business, except for gasoline stations. We arrived in a house and met 5 families, where they gathered, and serves as a center of relief operation for Filipinos living in the area. Filipinos we met are victims of the earthquake and radiation, but still lucky because their houses were not damaged by the tsunami which is few meters away from the damaged areas. But one Filipina, her house is within the 20km radius of the nuclear plant and ordered to leave the area without bringing any personal things. These Filipinas are married to Japanese husbands who lost their jobs and some are working without knowing if they will be get paid. But despite their situation, Filipinas chose to stay because they cannot leave their husbands who decided to stay and concerned about their children’s schooling. One Filipina raised her questioned on the issue of the responsibility of TEPCO, and shared her experienced bad reception from the government staff when she asked them on their situation. I understand that her criticisms are not caused by a discrimination against a foreigner, but lacks on information due to language barrier, which can be answered by the government’s announcements if can be relayed in language they can understand.
From Iwaki City, we proceed to Fukushima City and we met with a Filipino. It’s almost midnight, other Filipinos were no longer able to go out and meet us. Ronald’s house was fine except for the displays and some furniture damaged by the shake, and his family is safe. But due to lack of gasoline, he lost his job because he could no longer report to work. As a remedy, he decided to leave his family and plans to go to Aichi Prefecture, on a temporary basis. After we heard his story, we left supplies for 5 families, especially to those who live in Nihonmatsu City, which is according to him; goods are rarely supplied because it’s a remote area. We were not able to see the tremors because its midnight.
After that, we moved to a Philippine restaurant, called, Nanay. This restaurant is one of the centers for Filipinos affected by the quake and tsunami, who asked for help and drop-off points of relief goods. We met with our contact Malou, Juliet, the owner of the restaurant, and Ito, Japanese, member of an NGO that supports children in the Philippines. Our plan was to drop off the remaining supplies then go back to Nagoya but I suggested in visiting Filipinos in affected areas. After almost 3 hours of trip, we arrived in Ofunato City, devastated by tsunami. First, we went to Erika’s residence, which also serves as evacuation center for the relatives of her family and the Filipinos, especially for those who wish to take a bath or wash clothes. Erika is so busy helping victims, as well as her husband who is a fireman, and busy with the rescue operations. We dropped some supplies for 6 Filipino families and ask Erika to deliver due to time constraint. Next, we went to an evacuation center for Filipinos which is also having a relief operation from Iwate International Association. We met more than 20 Filipinos, mostly Japanese wives. We met a Filipina who lost everything including the company her husband is managing and their house. The family decided to go to the Philippines, including the Japanese husband, since they have no longer source of living. We dropped supplies for some families, especially diapers for children and clothes.
We were also able to visit the devastated area in Ofunato. Even though we saw the scenes on television and internet during the tsunami many times, we were still shocked on aftermath that what we had witnessed. Ruined houses and buildings, overturned vehicles, boats and piles of rubbles, showed how horrifying tsunami is. It is my first time to came in this place but it really hurt to see the condition, what more to those people who lived and had a life here.
Our last destination is to meet 3 families who are taking refuge in a Filipina friend’s house located in high ground. These families were from Rikuzen Takata, which is also hardly hit by tsunami. We tried to visit the area but roads are still closed due to wreckage, and instead, meet them at a closed convenience store. Here, we met Haydee, who was earlier reported missing by her sister who is living in the Middle East. According to Haydee, tsunami warning came to their knowledge late so when they were escaping they were just few meters away from violent wall of water. She can’t even remember how she was able to carry her two kids in a nearby hill. Actually, her husband who was helping his mother, were swept away by the water but able to cling to a pipe for 4 hours and later recued. They were crying while sharing their worst nightmares, and showed how they are thankfulness. Our contacts from Morioka brought cooked food for all of us and we shared it inside the van while listening to their stories.
We left the area at around 4:00pm and headed for Nagoya. After numerous stops at the service area, fill gasoline, switching drivers, we arrived in Nagoya at 5:00 am of the following morning.
We wish to continue relief operation for affected Filipinos and this activity must be continued for at least a year. The purpose of this trip is not only to bring supplies to our fellow Filipinos but also established contacts to all affected areas, gather information on their present condition, and disseminate information that might be useful to them.
Little by little, supplies are delivered to the evacuation centers and affected areas, but somehow, there are still many useful information that do not reached Filipinos, because of the language barrier. Sagip-Migrante Japan wish to continue to be an information center for affected Filipinos while collaborating with different groups and agencies working for the restoration of the affected areas in Tohoku Region.
