Despite the ominous cloud of a possible nuclear meltdown still looming over the land of the rising sun, the Japanese have proven that a crisis is not necessarily followed by chaos.
As the world continues to watch Japan cope with the devastation left by the a 9.0 magnitude quake and 30-foot tsunami, one cannot help but marvel at their calm demeanor, civility and discipline.
The quake and tsunami may have destroyed and washed away their homes, loved ones and possessions — but it has not divided them as a people, nor has it stirred the individual need to practice survival instincts. A week has passed since the disaster struck, but still no acts of looting or rioting have been reported by the watchful media, who have been on the scene since Day 1.
Food and medicine are scarce, temperatures are freezing, evacuation centers are filled to the brim and radiation levels from the malfunctioning nuclear reactors are fluctuating – yet, the Japanese have put a new whole context to the meaning of “fighting for survival.”
To them, fighting for survival means falling in line in an orderly manner for food and water, ensuring that provisions are divided equally among everyone.
Fighting for survival means being vigilant with rescue operations, despite inclement weather and freezing temperatures. While chances for finding more survivors are bleak, rescuers remain optimistic. After all, miracles have happened in the midst of their search — a four-month old baby was found alive and well among a pile of debris in Ishinomaki in Miyagi prefecture and has been reunited with her overjoyed parents; a 70-year-old woman suffering from hypothermia was also found alive inside her home in Iwate prefecture. Her will to live was stronger than any tidal wave. These miraculous encounters make the rescuers’ efforts worthwhile, no matter how exhausting.
Fighting for survival also means risking one’s life for the benefit of a multitude. The  180 emergency workers at the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi complex have been dubbed as “modern-day samurai” because of their undaunted and selfless courage – exposing themselves to harmful radioactivity to man the reactors and prevent a global catastrophe.
While these may seem like acts of kamikaze to some, one can’t help but be moved by such display of sublime patriotism and altruistic heroism.
“Sometimes, to foreigners, Japan’s societal rules seems orderly and conformist to a fault. But no one can argue that in this disaster, it is a tremendous benefit. I only need to think about my own home country dealing with triple disasters in the space of a few days to understand how Japan’s society has characteristics that simply don’t exist in any other large country.It would be a mistake, however, to say the self-control of the Japanese means they are stoic in the face of this historic disaster,” wrote Kyung Lah in her article on CNN’s website.
While most people from across the globe are panic-stricken over the possibility of radioactive dust blowing their way, despite assurances from health and nuclear safety experts,  perhaps it’s a good time to reflect on and imbibe the beloved Emperor Akihito’s words: “I truly hope the victims of the disaster never give up hope, take care of themselves, and live strong for tomorrow.”
If the Japanese people can still find reason to be indomitable and hopeful, so can we. (AJPress)

On Sunday, June 12, Filipinos across the globe will actively participate in the revelry, as the Philippines commemorates its 113th year of independence.
Philippine flags will be waved proudly, festivities peppered with song and dance numbers will culminate and banquets of glorious, generously-portioned and mouth-watering Filipino food will be served all over the world — proof that wherever the globe-trotting Pinoy may be, he remains cognizant of his roots and proud of his heritage and his homeland.
In the United States, Filipino-Americans are already making preparations for the big day, working with this year’s theme: “Kalayaan: Paninindigan ng Bayan.” Various Fil-Am organizations have their own respective events which either culminated this week or will culminate on Sunday.
But amid the bevy of festivities, let us not forget the essence of our independence — it should not be just about ostentatious parties, nor entertainment and food.
Before the first Philippine Declaration of Independence on June 12, 1898 in Cavite, our kababayans had to go through a lot of struggles and sacrifices, under Spain’s colonial rule. Even the original day of its declaration (June 12) had to go through some major hurdles before being recognized as the official date which marked our sovereignty.
General Emilio Aguinaldo’s public reading of the Act of the Declaration of Independence and proclamation of Philippine sovereignty and independence on June 12, 1896 was, originally, not recognized by both the United States and Spain.
When Spain ceded the Philippines to the US during the 1898 Treaty of Paris, which formally ended the Spanish-American War, the United States gave first recognition to Philippine Independence on July 4, 1946, in the Treaty of Manila.
From then on, Philippine Independence Day was observed every 4th of July and not June 12, as originally declared by Gen. Aguinaldo. But, upon the advice of historians and nationalists, President Diosdado Macapagal signed Republic Act No. 4166 into law on August 4, 1964 — permanently designating June 12 as Philippine Independence Day.
Here are some excerpts from “June 12 as Independence Day,” as written by Pres. Diosdado Macapagal (from the archives of the Philippine History Group of Los Angeles, through the assistance of the Philippine Consulate General):
“The promotion of a healthy nationalism is part of the responsibility of the leaders of newly independent nations. After they lay the foundation for economic development, they promote nationalism and spur the search for national identity. This we can do by honoring our distinguished forebears and notable periods in our history. A step we took in this direction was to change the date for the commemoration of Philippine Independence day.”
“I felt, too, that July 4 was not inspiring enough for the Filipino youth since it recalled mostly the peaceful independence missions to the United States. The celebration of independence day on June 12, on the other hand, would be a greater inspiration to the youth who would consequently recall the heroes of the revolution against Spain and their acts of sublime heroism and martyrdom. These acts compare favorably with those of the heroes of other nations.”
“There was no difficulty in adhering to June 12, however, because although Aguinaldo Government was a dictatorship in view of the military operations he was then leading, he led in converting it into a republican Government in the Malolos Congress. Moreover, the celebration of independence refers to its proclamation rather than to the final establishment of the government. In the case of America, when independence was proclaimed on July 4, the American Government was still a confederation and it was much later when it finally became a federal government.”
“The historical fact was that the Filipinos proclaimed their independence from foreign rule on June 12. Even the national anthem and the Filipino flag which are essential features in the birth of a nation were played and displayed respectively at the independence proclamation in Kawit.”
Indeed, we, as Filipinos, have so much to be thankful for. And while it is in our nature to be resplendent with celebrations, let us remember that beyond the merry-making and the bountiful feast, it is still our unwavering sense of patriotism which matters most. (AJPress)

In an ideal world, journalists are given the gargantuan task of uncovering the whole truth and nothing short of it.
For former Washington Post reporter Jose Antonio Vargas, it came with a fulfilling reward — a Pulitzer Prize for his role in a team effort, doing coverage for the Virginia Tech massacre in 2008. A Pulitzer is perhaps the be-all (and the holy grail) for any journalist striving to leave an indelible legacy in their lifetime.
Undoubtedly, Vargas has made a name for himself. He started out small through internships and worked his way up to write for the big players: The San Francisco Chronicle, Washington Post, The New Yorker and Huffington Post, to name a few.
In all of his endeavors, he was never lacking in talent and determination. Yet, there was one void that he could never fill, no matter how hard he tried — the cold, hard fact that he is an undocumented immigrant in America.
It was something that he managed to keep hidden all these years. But how can a supposed unraveler of truth live with himself, if he has his own fears and secrets gnawing at his conscience every second of his life?
As the old adage goes, “the truth will set you free.” Vargas chose to face the consequences of telling the truth, over living a successful life, but under false pretenses.
And what could be more poetic for an award-winning journalist than to write a lengthy, truthful confession in New York Times Magazine to atone for his sins?
“I’m done running. I’m exhausted. I don’t want that life anymore. So I’ve decided to come forward, own up to what I’ve done, and tell my story to the best of my recollection. I’ve reached out to former bosses’ and employers and apologized for misleading them — a mix of humiliation and liberation coming with each disclosure,” Vargas wrote in his essay, and along with it, a poignant and truthful storytelling of the life he has lived so far, since he came to America at age 12.
While it may be easy to judge the 31-year-old Vargas, the crux of the matter is that he was a victim of circumstance. At a tender age, his future was already determined and decided upon by his mother and his grandfather, albeit in a crooked way.
Now that his life and decisions are his own, he could’ve remained in the status quo until some other external force compels him to reveal his well-kept secret.
Instead, he chose to be a journalist of TRUTH by unraveling his own story. And above all, he chose to be true to himself. (AJPress)