This is the second operation of Sagip-Migrante Japan, and our destinations are, Sendai, Kesennuma, and Minami San Riku.
Volunteers from FMC, PSJ-Nagoya, Gabriela-Nagoya, and Migrante-Nagoya were gathered on April 28, for the segregation, repacking and loading of supplies for the relief operation for the following day.
The team, consists of Nestor, Taro and Edwin, and later joined by Miki, departed from Nagoya on April 29 at 8:00am, for the first destination, in Sendai. It took us almost 14 hours to reach Sendai due to traffic congestion, and arrived at 10:00pm. The effect of the earthquake in Sendai is not so visible, people are working, business as usual, except for some buildings that were slightly damaged. In Sendai, we were hosted by couple Hiroshi Kita and Pastor Rita in their house, where Filipino students from Tohoku University are also waiting. Mr. Hiroshi Kita is still on leave because the university where he is teaching is still under renovation because of the earthquake, and also the students in Tohoku University. In our meeting, we asked the cooperation of the couple and the students to contact affected Filipinos to know their present condition and organize for a possible forum or consultation on what will be the next plan or move for the restoration.
The following day, after serving us breakfast, we moved to Kesennuma City, a hardly hit by tsunami. Along the way, we witnessed the aftermath, more shocking than what we witnessed on our first operation in Ofunato. The pictures we took will prove this.
After almost 4 hours trip, we finally reached our destination. We arrived in a house of a leader of the Filipino community in the area. More than 30 Filipinas, mostly married to Japanese, are waiting for us, and this house serves as the center of relief operations for Filipinos in the area and according to them, there are more than 60 Filipinas are registered in their list. Luckily, the leader has a big house, quietly enough to accommodate all and the kids
We heard their shocking experiences during the tremor; one Filipina died and her husband, one member lost her husband, four lost their houses, many lost personal properties, and almost all of them lost their jobs because they mostly work in canning factories of products taken from the sea. A child of a Filipina who was present is still missing. What I admire in this group is that, they are very positive and really trying their best to help each out even they are all on the same situation. Actually, this group is the most cheerful group I met and systematic because they divide all the supplies they received and put the names of all the Pinays. After we put down the supplies from the vehicle, we proceed to a gymnasium hall where hundreds of people are evacuated and there is a scheduled movie for the children. I tried to meet two Filipinas harbored in this evacuation center but they were not present at that time.
Although we still want to stay longer to hear more of their stories, we need to proceed because a group of Filipinos are waiting for us. After almost two hours, we arrived in an evacuation center called Bayside Arena. This is a huge gymnasium use as an evacuation center, and aside from this, the local government is also harbored here after its hall was wiped out by the tsunami, many trucks of self-defense force, ambulance and media vehicles are also visible. We were welcomed by 12 Filipinas but they do not stayed here but only serve as their meeting venue for relief. An unidentified dead body of a Filipina is stored here for more than a month and her husband is still missing. Even though her friends can identify her, the authorities considered her as unidentified since she has no documents when her body was found. The leader of the group contacted the Philippine Embassy and according to her, the Philippine Embassy will authorize her cremation and the necessary documents. I wasn’t able to ask about her relatives in the Philippines. We put down the supplies intended for them and we divided it somewhere.
I cannot remember how many times a Filipina conveyed her gratitude to us. Some Filipinas has to leave earlier because some of them were able to find a temporary job.
※ The concerns we gathered during this trip are the following: a) lost passports of Filipinos during the tremor; b) two-way ticket in going to the Philippines (IOM is offering one-way ticket only); c) jobs; d) bicycle.
※During our trip, we distributed Sagip Bulletin (compilation of information of announcements, updates, etc..regarding
One of our objectives in this trip is to connect also with local groups that support Filipinos in Japan, especially, those who have the resources in information dissemination, and possible collaboration with Sagip. We are scheduled to meet the Sendai International Exchange Association, and they waited for us although we were very late on the supposed appointment. Sendai International Relations Association or SIRA agreed to circulate the Sagip Bulletin on their mailing list and we will send them Pinoy Weekly newspaper, as much as possible. We also introduced one Filipino student to SIRA as one of our coordinator in Sendai.
We were able to finish our mission for this time. From here, at 8:00pm, we go directly to Nagoya. We arrived in Nagoya at 8:00 am of the following day.
※ Few days after we arrived in Nagoya, I received calls from Filipinos from affected areas and asking for relief.
※ We should talk to the Philippine Embassy for the lost passports, and how can they be issued passport earliest possible. We suggest, the Philippine Embassy should conduct an outreach mission for the lost passports in affected areas, free of any charges.
※ Despite various information, many of these information do not reach many Filipinos, either they do not know where to get correct information or, because it’s in Japanese.
