Story on Japanese-Filipino kids

Ma. Lourdes “ Miami ” Ebilane
May 12, 2008
Story on Japanese-Filipino kids

There are brother and sister, both half Japanese half Filipino kids that were left behind by their parents in Rodriguez, Rizal. They arrived in the Philippines April 2003 with their parents; Filipina Mom name Marissa Perez, Japanese Dad Koji Miura and their eldest sister, Mariko.

The kids that were left behind were Eikichi Miura, 11 and Arisa Miura 8. They were 7 and 3 years old respectively, when they arrived here.

The two do not know how to speak Tagalog when they arrived here, now they cannot speak their Japanese language. “We forgot already because we have to learn Tagalog,” Eikichi said.

At first, they rented an apartment in Barangay Rosario Rodriguez, Rizal and planned to put up a business but they lost. According to Elma Cayetano, cousin in-law of Marissa, and the one who took care of the two kids, when the business did not prosper the family planned to go back to Japan, “but the two kids were left behind because they do not have enough money anymore.”

At January 2004, Marissa already left the Philippines to go to Japan together with their eldest daughter Mariko. Months after Koji followed them again not bringing Eikichi and Arisa.
Eikichi and Arisa were left in Eastwood Pasig under the care of their friend Mr. Yoshiaki Tokuda and his live-in partner Sherill Lagusan. Tokuda is the one who commit suicide last April 24, 2008 due to financial problems. On his last will testament, he mentioned his desire for Eikichi and Arisa to go back in Japan to be with their parents.

In year 2005, the two kids transfer again in Barangay Geronimo also in Rodriguez, Rizal, under the care of Elma Cayetano and her live-in partner Victor Perez, the cousin of Marissa. They transfer again because the surplus business of Tokuda was loosing already.

According to Elma they really take care of Eikichi and Arisa as their own son and daughter. “The only thing that we cannot do is to buy them things that they want because we are also poor. But in terms of foods, we see to it that they always eat on time,” Elma said. The kids stayed with them till October 2006, until they decided to transfer the two kids in Nueva Ecija at the parents of Victor Perez, Auntie of Marissa.

From October 2006 to December 2007, the kids stayed with their Lola Tina and Lolo Cico in Malayantok, Nueva Ecija. Eikichi said they enjoyed their stay their, “We enjoyed their, and we studied their.” The two kids were enrolled in Grade One in a public school at Malayantok. But they have to stopped because they transfer back in Manila but to the house of their Tito Amang, the brother of their mother in Barangay Kasiglahan, also in Rodriguez, Rizal.
Eikichi and Arisa are staying there at present time.

Elma said, since their parents left in 2004, they did not call on the conditions of their children. They did not even send money to support them. “What we know is that they do not have enough money to finance their kids here. But we do not know why they cannot make a call.”

Until March 31, 2008, Elma received letter from Marissa asking the situation of their kids, and saying their desire to get their kids but they cannot because they do not have money. Marissa even left telephone number so that Elma can contact them.

On the first week of April, Elma called Marissa and inform her that the kids no longer stayed with them. According to Elma, Marissa is asking Elma to get the kids from Amang.

Elma informed Amang and asked the kids if they will come with her. But the kids refused and said they will stay with Amang.

Asked the kids why they want to stay with Amang, Arisa said because they have many playmates their unlike at the house of their Tita Elma.

But Eikichi have different story to tell which at first he do not want to disclose. (This reporter tried several times to ask him about his reason on why he do not want to stay with their Tita Elma who took care of them in the past). Until he said, “The father of Tita Elma, Lolo Banjo, is always drunk and I am scared of him whenever he is drunk.”

Asked if they were being hurt by Tita Elma or Tito Amang both kids said no and in fact they are enjoying their stay their.

Other reason for Eikichi why he does not want to transfer to Elma’s house is because, “I am already tried of transferring from one place to another.”

Their relatives here in Philippines hope that the two kids will be finally bring to Japan to be with their parents finally. As far as they know, their Dad Koji put up a junkshop in Japan but the business is not doing good and the mother already find a work in a Karaoke bar.

The passport of the two kids are already expired since 2006, “It is better for them to go back in Japan because they are not registered here, they have no birth certificates and they are already considered as illegal alien because their passports were already expired,” Amang said.

For the kids, they are very eager to go back in Japan, “Because our parents are there and we miss them so much,” Eikichi and Arisa said.

At age 11 (Eikichi) and 8 (Arisa), both of them are studying but they are only in Grade One in Geronimo Elementary School. Both of them are good in school, Eikichi in To 2 and Arisa in Top 6.