Friday, April 1, 2011

Filipino careworker candidates refuse to leave and remain with elderlies at a nursing home in Fukushima

After the breakout of nuclear crisis, exodus of foreigners from Japan has continued. But four Filipino careworker candidates at Komine-en, a nursing home in Shirakawa City, Fukushima Prefecture, refused to leave and continue working saying "I cannot abandon these seniors and leave."

One of them, Ms. Aquino, said that her family back home call her everyday and cry out "Come back to Philippine!" But she is determined to remain there as long as the elderlies are there. "Grandmas gave us chocolates, notebooks for our Japanese study. They've been so nice to us. I am afraid of earthquake and nuclear plant, but I cannot just go and leave them." Their dedication to care elderlies is impressive and elderlies of the facility liked them. They came to Japan under the Economic Partnership Agreement program. The biggest hurdle for them to remain in Japan is the language. To stay and continue to work in Japan, they need to pass the national testing for nurse care worker. But learning Chinese letters is very tough for them and they are too busy to study. Those Filipinos who came to Japan under EPA will start taking the exam next year. In February this year, there was an exam for clinical nurse. But only one out of 113 Filipino candidates passed the test.

Summary of article by Kyodo News, March 28, 2011
http://www.at-s.com/news/detail/100014679.html

Japan Earthquake--Living with Pets No.1 (by Sankei Shimbun Photos)

Pets are also badly affected by the disaster....
http://photo.sankei.jp.msn.com/kodawari/data/Earthquake/201103/17/pet/

Eager volunteers told to wait to participate in relief efforts in northeastern Japan (by Mainichi Shimbun)

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110401p2a00m0na013000c.html

New civic employees in disaster-struck town prepare for long road ahead (By Mainichi Shimbun)

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110401p2a00m0na010000c.html

U.S. Aids Japan in Final Sweep for Quake Victims (By NYT)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/02/world/asia/02japan.html?ref=world

Jackie Chan Takes Action (by WSJ)

http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2011/04/01/jackie-chan-takes-action/?mod=earthquake

Survey: Only 1/3 of evacuation shelters regularly serving warm food (by Mainichi Shimbun)

I wish I could go there and serve hot meals....
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110401p2a00m0na008000c.html

Compassion seen on all sides seen after Japan's disasters (by Mainichi Shimbun)

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/perspectives/news/20110401p2a00m0na004000c.html

Tokyo-based NGO rallies support for Tohoku (by Japan Times)

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20110401a1.html

SDF, U.S. start huge search for missing (by Japan Times)

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110401x2.html

Tsunami-ravaged Ishinomaki slowly sets off on long road to recovery (by Japan Times)

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110401f1.html

Tiny fishing community struggles to survive, rebuild (by Asahi Shimbun)

http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201103310390.html

Japan Disaster: My Survivor’s Guilt (Article by WSJ)

http://blogs.wsj.com/juggle/2011/03/31/japan-disaster-my-survivors-guilt/