Article Features
‘Japanese Treasure’ changes barangay folk's lives in coastal area of Davao Oriental
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Feb 21, 2010 - 7:01:30 PM

By Ferdinand O. Zuasola

SAN ISIDRO, Davao Oriental, Feb. 22 (PNA) -- Almost every one is fascinated by the legendary tale of Japanese treasures being left out in the Philippines by the defeated Japanese forces who invaded the country during the Second World War. Widespread poverty and the unusual sight of Japanese folk swarming on a sleepy coastal village here greatly fuels the barrio folk's already strong belief that their village could really be one of the hosts of the fabled Japanese treasures.

Thus, despite persistent pleas by a throng of Japanese visitors here that they are not treasure hunters out to retrieve the legendary Japanese gold left in the Philippines, the suspecting folk of a coastal village here, Barangay Baon, would not take the Japanese visitors' claim hook, line and sinker as it is highly unusual for them to see the sight of Japanese people roaming around their village in droves.

"They could really be on a mission to find gold, those left out by the invading Japanese forces during World War II," says an elderly resident of Barangay Baon, adding that it is ‘so rare’ for them to see Japanese visitors swarming on their village.

A few years later, in the morning of February 18, 2010, to be exact, the people of Barangay Baon, majority of them are fishermen, have all dressed up and gathered at a concrete and open basketball court near their barangay hall to once again meet with the Japanese people whom they had earlier suspected to be treasure hunters targeting their village. The momentous event again saw a throng of visiting Japanese folk but this time the visitors were being warmly welcomed by the barrio people of Baon, and they showed the best of Filipino hospitality to their visitors. The barrio folk say it was their first time to hear a Japanese song when a top official of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Akira Sudo, belted out Japan's national anthem during the turnover ceremony.

On that day, they are to officially receive the "Japanese treasure" that will surely change their lives for the better in the form of a water supply system development project worth P4.1 million that will provide their whole barangay with a stable supply of safe and potable water.

"I hope that the water supply system installed in your barangay will be operated hopefully forever and contribute to a better quality of your life," says Yukiko Sano, project formulation adviser of JICA in the Philippines.

JICA is the official donor agency of the Japanese government whose professed aim is to "contribute to the promotion of international cooperation as well as the sound development of Japanese and global economy by supporting the socio-economic development, recovery or economic stability of developing regions".

Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon, who was the one who proposed to JICA to fund the water supply system project in the town of San Isidro, has called on her constituents to "unite in taking care of this very worthwhile project of the Japanese government that will surely change your lives for the better."

"Love this project because it is not easy to secure the funds for this project. You are too lucky for being chosen by JICA, among the many proposed development projects in the region, to get fund support. So I want you to reciprocate the goodwill of the Japanese government by getting your act together in taking care of this water project. This water project built to last forever will also benefit the children of your children," Gov. Malanyaon told the people of Barangay Baon in her speech during the turnover ceremony.

San Isidro town Mayor Apolinar Ruelo Sr. says that Barangay Baon and many other villages in his town have a big problem in getting a stable supply of safe and potable water. "This is the answer to our prayers to have stable supply of safe and potable water. Let us show to the donors that we really deserve this project by taking care of this," says Mayor Ruelo Sr.

Residents of Barangay Baon who are deeply grateful for the water project being funded by the Japanese government say that their perception of Japanese people have considerably changed.

"Of course, we will never forget the atrocities done by the Japanese invading forces to our country during the World War. But with this water project, my perceptions of the Japanese people have changed. I believe they are now a good people, willing to help the poor people like us. This water project which is our source of safe and potable water is saving the lives of many people," says one of the elderly residents of Barangay Baon who gathered in their barangay hall for the turnover ceremony.

"This project truly saves the lives of residents here since we will now be drinking safe potable water. So we are now safe from any deadly water-borne diseases," says another resident Maria Christina Labridor.

"We can now take a bath and clean up our house including our backyard animal farm anytime of the day because of this water project," she added.

During the turnover ceremony here, however, Gov. Cora Malanyaon has pointed to one of the visiting Japanese officials who were clad in Barong Tagalog.

"I am glad to see one of our Japanese visitors here who is clad in Barong Tagalog. It only shows the Japanese people's great respect and appreciation of the Filipino people and its culture," says Gov. Malanyaon.

A top official of JICA also took a great pain in the stage just to deliver his speech both in Cebuano and Tagalog. "Maayong buntag sa inyong tanan! Sana pangaragaan ninyo ang fasiriti na ito, para na rin ito sa inyong mga anak. Taos puso akong nagpapasaramat sa mga mamamayan ng Barangay Bayong. Rabis kong ikinatutuwa ang inyong paturoy na suporta sa amin. Maraming saramat po! (Good morning to all of you! We hope you will take care of this water facility we have given you. Your future generation will also benefit from this water project. I am deeply grateful to the people of Barangay Baon. We are deeply gladdened by your continuous support to our advocacy. Thank you very much!)," says Mr. Masafumi Nagaishi, the senior representative of JICA Philippines, during his prepared speech here. (PNA)
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