みなさん、こんにちは。SMCCフィリピンズから日本に来ているチェリーです。今は東京オフィスで働いています。日本には、バレンタインデーに女性が男性にチョコレートを贈るという日本独自の風習があります。もっと面白いのはバレンタインデーのちょうど1ヶ月後の3月14日に行なわれるホワイトデーです。ホワイトデーはバレンタインデーのお返しとしてチョコレートを贈られた男性が女性に品物をプレゼントします。私もこの日本の風習を体験しました。チョコレートを贈った男性からはお礼の気持ちとして驚くほどたくさんのプレゼントをもらいました。それはとっても心のこもったものでした。

Hello everyone! I am Cherry from Philippines and I am currently assigned in Tokyo office. And I am given an opportune time to really experience sole Japanese traditional cultures like the Japan's very unique style and strong tradition of women giving chocolates to men on Valentine's Day. And on top of that what is even more unique in Japan is that there exists a "White Day" which takes place exactly one month after Valentine's Day i.e. on March 14th. Furthermore, on White Day, men are to give return gifts to women who gifted them chocolates on Valentine's Day ! And surprisingly enough every man whom I gifted on Valentine's has kindly and generously returned the chocolate with very thoughtful presents. It was heartwarming.

日本は今、春ですが寒いです。あちこちでいろいろな木々が芽生え、花も咲いています。それはまるで映画のような光景です。この時季の有名な日本の行事に「花見」があります。花の中でも桜の花を見ることです。桜は、花が葉よりも先に咲き春の訪れを知らせます。私も桜が満開の時季に日本人の友達に花見に誘われて、その美しさはとても素敵で感激しました。

The season now in Japan is spring and the temperature is quite cool. The sceneries have come back to life with different kinds of trees and flowers blooming everywhere. It feels and looks just like the scenes in the movies. And one famous Japanese tradition during this season is "hanami" or "flower viewing" especially for 'the cherry blossoms'. As this tree will have flowers bloom first before the leaves start to spring. So through this time when the sakura were in full bloom our beautiful Japanese girl friends took us out for hanami and it was very wonderful and inspiring at the same time!

日本人はこの美しく儚く散りゆく花と人生とを結び付けます。このような日本の伝統や奥深い経験にふれて、穏やかに希望や感謝の気持ちが生まれます。人生は本当に美しいが儚くもあります。だからみなさん、一生懸命に悔いのない人生を過ごしましょう。

Japanese people are said to associate these transient blossoms with life with its beauty and quick passing. Getting to experience these Japan's traditions and being enlightened of its depths gives me feelings of serenity, hope and gratitude. Life is indeed truly beautiful and yet may be gone too soon. So mina-san, let's give it our all and make the best out of life!