Traveled to Japan? Use your Suica / Pasmo Card as Game Center Card!

Suica card issued by JR EAST.

Recently traveled to Japan? You brought home your Suica or Pasmo as souvenir? Then, you can use them as an alternative Game Center card! I traveled to Japan twice and used my Suica card for transportation and buying drinks in vending machines and in Konbini such as FamilyMart and Lawson.

My friend's PASMO Card (Credits: A Tokyo in Manila).

When I got home from my trip, a friend of mine told me that the Pasmo card in his wallet recognised by one of the arcade machines. So I searched the internet, tried it on my own in my nearby Game center and it works! Suica and Pasmo cards as game card is compatible with KONAMI's e-amusement enabled arcade games. You can transfer your existing e-amusement data to your Suica by tapping it for the first time, write down the card number generated by the machine, and log-on to your KONAMI account to transfer your account. Please do note when tapping for the first time (for e-amusement), you must cancel entry and mustn't create password, otherwise, it will create a new account. When transferring of data is completed, the same password from your old card will be used in your new Suica and Pasmo card.

Transferring of Suica card to iPhone.

Other features of Suica is you can use your iPhone or Apple watch as a virtual card by transferring your Suica card details to your phone. You can download the Suica app if you wish to load up or create a virtual pass. This feature is available starting from iPhone 7 and Apple watch series 2 sold in Japan. For more information and procedures please click the link.

Transfer complete!

Right now, I am using my iPhone as a Suica virtual card that is linked to my e-amusement account. It means that no more pulling out of wallets or game cards to bring every time I play and I have to do is to tap my phone onto the card reader.

Cosplay Mania 2019!

Cosplay Mania 2019 signage outside SMX Convention Center

Last week I was invited by my friends for the 2019 edition of Cosplay Mania at the SMX Convention Center in SM Mall of Asia. I last time I went to a convention is the 2017 Cosplay Mania. I came to visit the event in support of my friends tournament of a Rhythm music arcade game (DANCE RUSH STARDOM). The tournament is scheduled on the second day of the convention. As some BEMANI community tournaments are on the first day.

Free ticket!

Quantum Amusement, one of the exhibitors of the event, showcased their BEMANI arcade games with the exception with beatmaniaIIDX due limited space allotted although there is a huge empty space beside them. They also have one non-BEMANI arcade machine at the convention, Disney's Tsum-Tsum.

FREE GAMES at Quantum Booth!

Hige Driver, a famous musician from Japan came and performs one of his creations on stage. Although, I wasn't able to join due to the tournament I was supporting is still ongoing. Hige Driver is also a music contributor in BEMANI such as IIDX. I think last year's Cosplay Mania, kors k was  music guest performer. Let's hope other infamous Japanese music artist would come here more often because K-pop genre is generally common in the Philippines.

When I was looking around the convention, I noticed that there are a few exhibitors in the event, unlike to the 2017 edition that there are a quite number of booths. Suprisingly, The Cultural Office of Embassy of Japan is present at the convention giving about Japan's culture.

Gundam booth

One booth is selling a beatmaniaIIDX figure

Embassy of Japan booth

After the tournament, we took our dinner to the nearest restaurant. A friend gave me a bottle of booze, a Fundador Double Light.

Fundador Double Light

It was a good thing I was able to come to the event, because I was able to meet new faces and catching up with my good old friends who are present at the convention.

CoCo Ichibanya in PH

Earlier Saturday last week, I went to Rockwell Center and took my brunch in CoCo Ichibanya before heading to the arcades. I was around past 11 o'clock in the morning when I arrived. At that time, the atmosphere is well-lit although sunny lights passed thru the glass wall and there is one family (I think first customer of the day) inside the restaurant which is perfect so I can eat my lunch solemnly. Originally, I invited a chum of mine to eat here but she wasn't due to an inevitable event.

CoCo Ichibanya located in One Rockwell, Makati City

CoCo Ichibanya is famous chain of restaurant in Japan that serves Japanese-style rice curry. I never had the chance to try it in their home country although they are ubiquitous.

Menu cover

Customers can customise their curry on how mild or strong the hot taste of the Curry and add up to set 4 on your meal. The food I ordered was superb and servings are huge.  The whole set cost 588.00PhP and I think it's reasonable for a meal if you add set 4. The staff of the branch I visited are warm, accommodating and friendly.

I ordered the Pork Cutlet with Vegetable Curry

A mini salad, one of the sets you can order.

CoCo Ichibanya has branches in the Philippines. Aside from Rockwell in Makati, they have branches in cities of Taguig, Pasig, San Juan, Manila, Quezon City and one in Cebu City. On my next visit, I will try other meals on their menu and I will definitely drag my friend or a family member to try the Japanese-style curry.

Asking a friend to buy stuff in Japan

My friend recently visited Tokyo, Japan last month, and of course, I don't want to miss the chance to buy stuff so I gave him 5,000.00Php or approximately 10,000JPY.

This time around, there wasn't much of BEMANI merchandise, most of the goodies are food-related. According to my friend, BEMANI items are very scarce and expensive because most of the good stuff are sold out last Spring. Good thing I was able to visit Japan just before Spring earlier in year.

Omiyage!

My friend bought a Red Rocket Rising CD single, beatmaniaIIDX 4th style CS for PS2, a golden DDR A20 design e-amusement card, a Sakura colored PlayStation 2 memory card, and a PocketStation. On food, Muji chocolates with strawberry inside and Pasta sauces. He also gave me an assorted of omiyage he bought from Don Quijote! As you could see in the images, most of the food-related are from Muji because Muji stores in the Philippines doesn't sell food which I feel incomplete. He included a Catalog of Nintendo Switch games for Japanese market.

The total damage is around 7,000.00JPY or approximately 3,500.00PhP with 1,500.00PhP savings!

DDR A20 and McDonald's Ebi burger

This Cloudy Saturday afternoon, I went to Rockwell Powerplant Mall in Makati and play a few rounds of arcade. It has been a month since the last time I played and this is my first time to try the newest DanceDanceRevolution game.

DDR A20's attract screen

DDR A20 was released in March 20, 2019 in Japan for Golden Arcade cabinets and upgrades last July 24, 2019. The DDR Golden cabinet resembles to the DANCERUSH STARDOM cabinet. The Golden cabinet also got the 20th anniversary remixes while the upgrades doesn't (for the time being).

My first three songs. No EXTRA STAGE!

I noticed that the game doesn't have the data transfer from the previous game to the new one and the Music select starts from the last song I played which is new. The game costs 50.00Php for PREMIUM PLAY while 40.00Php for NORMAL PLAY. It will cost less if you are using QPS' PREMIUM ZAP Card.

Fortunately, I am done playing because the internet connection went down and all BEMANI arcade games became offline.

Offline message from beatmaniaIIDX

Ebi Burger meal

After playing, I went straight to McDonald's to eat some snack and tried the Ebi Burger meal, but this time, they are pairing it with Twister Fries.

One of the worst public transport: MRT-3 line

I have been using our mass railways since 1999, when I got back from the 2 year stay in the province. During the first few years, daily operations were smooth and ridership was not that many compared to the present day.

Commuters waits for the train to arrive

Moving forward to the present, the condition of our railways turned worst into catastrophic. Commuters experienced massive delays, offloading, and shut down operations. Trains became slow and not functioning air condition. Compatibility issues to the trains purchased by the government from Dalian, China.  Long lines are normal during rush hours, but, lines that are as far as 100 meters, I think there are problems that needs to be addressed.

Toxic Filipino: Don't bother to follow signages / rules

The government already in the process of rehabilitating the current railways, especially the MRT-3 line thru Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and PNR. Ongoing construction of MRT-7, a 22km railway from North EDSA, Quezon City up to San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.

A Machine teller Kiosk in Guadalupe Station (Southbound)

As a commuter, the government should look on; (1) Increasing the number of train cars. For example, MRT-3 line only deploys little as 10 trains during peak hours. Few trains creates long passenger lines, waiting time, and delays. (2) Fixing the air condition of the trains. Philippines is a tropic country, and hot weather is part of every Filipino lives. It will add suffering if passengers are experiencing sweating inside the trains. Take note of other passengers who tries to closing train door and squeezing themselves inside the train. (3) Full implementation of ticket automation and increase the number of Automated Ticket Machine. When they shifted to RF cards in 2015, I thought human tellers will be removed. However, it turns out that they still use the human tellers instead of the machines, and few machine ticket kiosk in its stations, roughly one machine per station / per bound and some station doesn't. (4) Synchronisation of Train Information System. They installed the Commuter Information System in its trains but the information is delayed or not updated. It seems that they installed it not for commuter information but for added revenue for digital advertisements.

Delayed Commuter Information System

I know that they are trying their best to make mass transit trains safe and seamless but commuters suffer long enough. Another thing, Filipinos should teach themselves to follow signages especially in public transports such as trains, because they are helpful in making a commute smooth. Some of them don't bother other commuters as long as they can get inside.

Train management should somehow follow the footsteps of Japan's JR (Japan Railway) that I, myself, experience the efficiency of their trains. I am optimistic in the rehabilitation of MRT-3 because the local agency is on its way to fix issues that looms for so long.

Travel nightmare: Offloaded by Philippine immigration and how to prevent from happening

One of the worst travel nightmares of the Filipino citizens are being offloaded by Philippine Immigration. This is one of the many dilemmas of Filipino travellers passing thru our international airports even the travel hasn't started.

Check-In counter for ANA at NAIA Terminal 3

As per Bureau of Immigration's website, Filipino travellers should have the following if the purposes is for tourism;

1. A valid passport (valid more than six (6) months on the date of departure)

2. Roundtrip ticket and Hotel bookings

3. A valid Visa (if applicable)


Filipino travellers should consider in bringing other documents;

4. Company ID and / or Certificate of Employment

5. Proof of relationship (PSA documents; if travelling with children / relatives)

6. DSWD Clearance (if unaccompanied minor)

7. Affidavit of Support: Authenticated by the Philippine Embassy, if invited by relative overseas and          they will support your stay)

8. Travel authority from the Philippine government (if government employee / public official)

Philippine Passport

After check-in, travellers will fill-up departure card and proceed to the Immigration counter, where the immigration officer will asked you a preliminary questions such as;

1. Purpose of travel

2. Employment in the Philippines

3. Duration of stay in your destination / Return date in the Philippines

4. Where you will be staying in your destination

5. Who are your companions (mostly female travellers)

If your answers, didn't suffice, they will put the traveller to secondary interrogation, where another series of question will be asked. If the officer, wasn't convince to the answer, they will be subjected to be offloaded.

No Cart sign at the Arrival concourse at Haneda International Airport (HND)

During my 2 trips to Tokyo, My experience with the IO's wasn't bad. I wasn't asked too much. They just asked my employment, duration of stay. After that, biometric and photo capturing and proceed to the airside. No hassle at all! Though, I wasn't asked to present other documents, it is better to be prepare, you will never know when you will be needing it. The whole process took me approximately 2 minutes.

Another thing, if asked by the Immigration Officer, always be polite (pretend if you want to), being rude to IO's might offload you as well. Be truthful to your answers, these Officers are well-trained to decipher to whom are hiding the real purpose of the trip. Lastly, don't add dramas and commotions, it will give more chances of being offloaded.

Tokyo Station

If travelling to countries that Filipinos doesn't need a visa, research about the destination and plan your itinerary, IO's might randomly asked questions about it and if your destination is not a common country for tourism. These countries are most of the time where illegality happens.

In case of being offloaded for a valid reason, the BOI nor airline will refund your ticket, only the terminal fee and travel tax will be refunded. Going home dismayed of the situation..

The road that leads to Akihabara

I fully understand that the Philippine Immigration is strict to Filipino citizens because in the past, Filipinos are used as drug mules, human trafficking, faking travel documents, and for illegal undocumented workers pretending to be a tourist in the destination. It is the Bureau's duty to protect its citizens from harm overseas.

If you passed the screening, then, congratulations! Enjoy the travel!

reference: http://immigration.gov.ph/faqs/travel-req

BEMANI's old school arcade link using PlayStation saves

In the late 90's, arcades was big hit among people. They usually play racing, fighting games, some goers play crane machine to win a prize. At same time, PlayStation reigns supreme as well. Arcade developers took the advantage of the PlayStation to port the arcade game to the console. Because of porting it to consoles, Konami, an arcade and console developer in Japan created an arcade link to their BEMANI console games to their arcade counterpart.

New Version Link save. Scores can be viewed using the DDR 5thMIX (PS1)

First being the first DanceDanceRevolution game for PlayStation. The game save in the PlayStation memory card or PocketStation can be linked to the DanceDanceRevolution 2ndMIX arcade machine using a dedicated memory card slot in the arcade machine. The arcade link's purpose is to the save scores and play edit step charts to the arcade. Scores from the arcade can be viewed to the game console as well. The succeeding DDR game released in the PlayStation will be have it's arcade link as well. For example, DDR 2ndReMIX (PS1) has its arcade link to the DDR 3rdMIX arcade machine and so on.  This kind of system is available up to DDR 5thMIX (PS1).

Home versions of DDR for PlayStation

In the DDR 5thMIX (PS1), a dedicated game save was available for arcade link for DDRMAX to EXTREME (I think starting DDRMAX, the home versions are released in PlayStation 2 console). The arcade link beyond 5thMIX has limitations, it can only store song scores up to 170, DDR EXTREME has a songlist of 240. Kindly click the Youtube link on how arcade link works for DDR EXTREME.

Scores from DDR EXTREME arcade. Can be viewed using DDR 5thMIX (PS1)

Long before e-amusement network arrived in the Philippines, old DDR cabinets with dedicated memory card slots are very scarce, some of them are located far from Manila, some were converted into a ITG (In The Groove) game and worst, being scrapped due to old age.

Also, arcade link is available to the GUITARFREAKS arcade. I can recall that a GUITARFREAKS 6thMIX in the old Club Synergy in SM Megamall with memory cards slots but unfortunately, never had the chance to use the feature.

Home versions of GUITARFREAKS for PlayStation

Now that the old arcade link using the PS1 memory cards are no longer available and e-amusement network is available, I think playing an old BEMANI arcade game will have a nostalgic feeling to the old timer gamers.

Shipping online purchases thru EMS from Japan

Since 2008, I always buy items from Japan thru Ebay. Most of the items I bought are video games. On my recent purchase in Ebay. I took the EMS option in sending my purchases to the Philippines.

Tracking history of my parcel

EMS, as we all know, expensive and faster than the regular international postage. When I am about to check out my items, I was thinking of sending it thru regular postage which is cheaper, however, I took the risk of sending thru EMS.

While I was tracking my parcel online, I was scared that my parcel will be on-hold at the Central Mailing Exchange Center in port of NAIA in Pasay City. Out of fear, I called the EMS, to check my parcel (Please take note that when calling their number, it will take a while to answer, I think there are prior callers on queue and sometimes the number will be busy). The lady who took my call said that my parcel will be delivered the address (what a relief!!). I also took the opportunity to ask the lady if all EMS parcel needs to be picked up at CMEC. I told her that I read post from the various sites in the internet that EMS parcel are for pick up at CMEC. She confidently answered that not all parcels are subjected for Customs Inspection. She said that items coming from countries that has large cases of illegal contrabands or parcels that has declared value of more than the de mini mis  10,000.00Php or approx. $200.00 needs to be checked by the presence of a Customs Officer. She added that the origin of my parcel has no threat of contraband. In case of being withheld by Customs, the consignee will receive a postal notice to come to CMEC Pasay for inspection. If articles of the parcel found untaxable, then, will be released right away.

If your parcel is subjected to duties and tariffs, then, the consignee should be ready of the fees to be paid depending on the calculated fees by the Customs Officer. I never experienced to pay duties and tariffs when claiming parcels, but some people encountered huge fees. I would suggest, to bring some cash. I also read stories over the internet that some were able to haggle to minimize the fees.

The box of my parcel

An hour later, the parcel arrived to my office and paid the postal handling fee of 112.00Php. Delivering EMS parcel to the address really saves time, no waiting time at the City Central Post Office and no long transit times. It seems that my parcel has seamless transaction and I hope that other people who took the EMS would feel the same.

Earn miles in-flight and non-flight!

Eleven years ago, after graduating in college, my mother asked me to sign-up for a mileage program of Philippine Airlines.

PAL's Mabuhay Miles, ANA Mileage Club, JAL Mileage Bank

While filling up the online form, I was wondering what is the use of the mileage program, now, I fully understand the benefits of having an airline mileage program.

Mabuhay Miles activity log

Currently, I have 3 mileage programs such as PAL's Mabuhay Miles, ANA's Mileage Club, and JAL's Mileage Bank. Philippine Airlines and All Nippon Airways have its code-share agreements since 2014. Therefore, I could earn miles whether I use one of the mileage cards. I used my Mabuhay Miles in my ANA flight and my accommodation thru Booking.com and used my ANA Mileage Club card in purchasing inflight sales during my trip to Tokyo last March 2019. Crediting of code-share flight and non-flight accrual may take some time. It took more than 2 months to credit to my account.

Though, not really a frequent traveller, I can also earn miles non-flight, such as, hotel bookings and credit card points conversion. Right now, my goal is to earn more miles non-flight, so that I could reach required miles for my desire route.

PlayStation 2 Sakura console

Last December, I sold my PSX DESR-5100 console online. I decided to sell it because the console is showing its deterioration, lens begins to be selective on games. Also, there are no repair shops will accept because there are no parts available in the Philippines, even in Quiapo (Japan market only device).

PlayStation 2 (SCPH-39000 Sakura)

I found a PlayStation 2 console in Facebook Marketplace for only 2,800.00Php. PS2 version is a SCPH-39000. The catch is this console I bought is one of the three limited edition released by Sony in 2003 for Japan, a Sakura colored PS2.

PS2 logo on top

The seller of the console is modified, some minor scratches on the front and severe on the bottom. The seller sold without the controller. Regardless of cosmetic defects, still working smoothly.

Right now I am searching for its sakura controller online and its rare to look for one.


UPDATE (11 May 2019) : Already found a Sakura controller.

McDonald's Taste of Japan in PH

Last February, McDonald's Philippines launched their latest campaign to their products, the Ebi Burger and Samurai Teriyaki Burger. Advertisement is heavily promoted, as frequently aired in TV commercials and in online. They even decorated most of their branches with Sakura motifs. For only 194.00 PHP when can have a Sakura Meal, that includes Shake Shake Fries Nori flavor and Sakura Float.

McDonald's menu

In Japan, the two burgers are staple in their menu. I noticed that they sell Ebi Burger as Ebi Fillet and both are served with a regular fries and soda, nothing special.

Sakura Meal in McDonald's Philippines

Tried the Ebi Fillet in one of the McDonald's branch in Yokohama, Japan