Thread by @TheGUIDON

HAPPENING NOW: Filipinos’ Hope for a Better Life in Japan: Resilience, Adaptability, and Strong Community Bond at SOM 111. #TALAB2019 | via @whimsicottly

The host introduces the first speaker, Japanese Studies Program Professor Carlos Santos. #TALAB2019 | via @whimsicottly

Santos discusses how Japanese is among the most difficult languages to learn for native English speakers. He then goes on to talk about how Filipinos living in Japan may code switch between Filipino and Japanese. #TALAB2019 | via @whimsicottly

He emphasizes how Filipinos have effortlessly adapted to the Japanese language, which he says is a testament to how flexible they may be. #TALAB2019 | via @whimsicottly

The host introduces the next speaker, 4 AB Psychology student Angela Reyes. She discusses that she was born in the Philippines, but raised in Japan. #TALAB2019 | via @whimsicottly

Reyes shares stories of her experiences from living in Japan. She recounts difficulties she had faced in attending a Japanese kindergarten when she had not spoken the language, as well as encounters with the Filipino community in the country. #TALAB2019 | via @whimsicottly

She suggests to anyone who plans to live in Japan to find a person or group of people that they may root themselves to. #TALAB2019 | via @whimsicottly

The host introduces the next speaker, former exchange student to Japan Jill Feliciano. #TALAB2019 | via @whimsicottly

Feliciano asks the audience a series of questions. Among them, “Who wants to work abroad?” as well as “Who wants to work in Japan?” #TALAB2019 | via @whimsicottly

She goes on to discuss that life can be better abroad.

Feliciano: Keyword: “Can."

She mentions that one must “fix their backyard” prior to moving abroad in order to improve their life. #TALAB2019 | via @whimsicottly

Feliciano moves on to a part of her presentation wherein she reads excerpts from an essay she’d written with the prompt “What was the one thing that defined you?”

Feliciano: I’ve been defined all along. #TALAB2019 | via @whimsicottly

She states that Japan is not the “end all be all for anything.” She also emphasizes that life does not “suddenly get better” when one leaves the country. #TALAB2019 | via @whimsicottly

Feliciano: Despair exists everywhere, even in the richest of countries.

She advises the audience to avoid “channeling all [their] hope” into a single circumstance, such as leaving the country. #TALAB2019 | via @whimsicottly

The host introduces the final speaker, former President of Ateneo Hinomoto Gina Pollisco. #TALAB2019 | via @whimsicottly

She recounts her experiences in Japan, then goes on to discuss how it “didn’t work out.” She discusses that her school life was “stressful," and notes that she had “no time for anything.” #TALAB2019 | via @whimsicottly

She goes on to discuss the Filipino community in Japan. She says that while she did not actively seek out the community, it does exist. #TALAB2019 | via @whimsicottly

Pollisco now elaborates the difficulties of living abroad. Among these are homesickness, depression, self-doubt, loneliness, as well as having the “perfect image shattered." #TALAB2019 | via @whimsicottly

Pollisco: Japan isn’t for everyone. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. #TALAB2019 | via @whimsicottly

She then advises anyone who does plan to pursue moving to Japan to “have a game plan," among other things. She also warns to watch out for the “work culture” in Japan, as well as the possibility of xenophobia. #TALAB2019 | via @whimsicottly

Pollisco ends her talk by emphasizing that there’s nothing wrong with choosing to come back.

Pollisco: At the end of the day, what matters most is that you don’t have any regrets. #TALAB2019 | via @whimsicottly

The host now opens the floor to a Q&A session. #TALAB2019 | via @whimsicottly

Q: Is there a college student community in Japan, and have you had any experiences with them?

Feliciano answers by saying that it’s “rare” to make a close friend in Japan who has never “been to an exchange.” #TALAB2019 | via @whimsicottly

Pollisco answers by bringing up her observation that Filipinos are “good at adapting.” Reyes shares her experience in “adopting” Filipinos into her own community during her time in Japan. #TALAB2019 | via @whimsicottly

Q: Do you have any experiences where you tried to join any hobby-based communities but were still excluded? #TALAB2019 | via @whimsicottly

Pollisco states that while she was interested in cosplay, she never sought out the community. She did, however, make new friends through it. #TALAB2019 | via @whimsicottly

Tokens of appreciation are now awarded to the speakers. #TALAB2019 | via @whimsicottly

That concludes our coverage for today. Thank you very much for joining us!