As the nation is in mourning for the death of a movie icon or, as they say, a national hero; suddenly, everything seems to revolve around FPJ.

Although Fernando Poe Jr. portrayed the role of a gallant war hero mowing down scores of Imperial Japanese Army soldiers in some of his 285 movies, the FPJ famous in Japan is not just one person but all Filipinos who are working there, the "Filipinos Punta Japan(Filipinos go to Japan)". The term shows the amusing way on how a Japanese speaks Tagalog.

These FPJ's are actually more than 80,000 in number. They are the overseas performing artists or OPAs.

Even though they are sometimes referred to as "Japayukis" in the Philippines, when the OPAS go to work in Japan at various clubs, their Japanese audiences fondly call them "FPJ," taken from Poe’s nickname. 

After a hard day's work, many club-going Japanesemen (mostly executives who love night club entertainment) go to these clubs to relax and enjoy the shows by talented and friendly Filipina singers and dancers. These FPJs are often the clubs’ featured performers or somewhat like a starlet. 

But, once the a new immigration law takes effect, the Japanese government is going to restrict the entry of OPAs to only 8,000 a year by next month--one thing the Japanese people dread.

Japanese clients do not like it when these OPA's are called Japayukis.

Yukihiro Iwata, vice president of the Society of Associated Promoters for OPA’s Welfare, said,  "Masakit sa tainga ang ‘Japayuki’ na sabi nila (the term "Japayuki" Filipinos use is painful to hear)" .

Iwata is a 45-year old Japanese businessman, who owns a string of nightclubs in Kyoto and has been in the entertainment promotions business for the past 25 years. He despised the derogatory "Japayuki" label patterned after Filipina OPAs.

OPAs are decent workers and they earn good money in their jobs.

"Kami tawag sa kanila ‘FPJ,’ Filipinos Punta Japan, para sila trabaho sa kanta, sayaw, magagaling silang lahat (We call them ‘FPJ,’ Filipinos who go to Japan, so they can work by singing, dancing. They are all good)," he added. 

The "Filipinas di trabaho dito para puta (Filipinas do not come here to work as prostitutes)," Iwata said.

The revised immigration law is Japan's response to the US’ State Department's statement that the industry and entertainment industry in Japan, which is estimated to be worth $2.2 billion, is a major source of "human trafficking" in the world. It's a move to review of safeguard measures to conform with demands to protect foreign workers victimized by human trafficking syndicates.

Iwata, like most of the Japanese people, could not fully understand how they could give such a statement. 

The Asian context of "hostessing" is the typical hospitality of women who serve male customers by pouring their drinks and lighting their cigarettes, unlike the Western notion that hostesses offer "more" services.

"Ït’s not even escort services in the Western culture of sex being part of the services they pay for their American women doing this kind of work in the US", Iwata explained. 

Like many Japanese recruiters and employers, Iwata fully supports the plea of the OPAs and the Philippine embassy to suspend the effectivity of the new immigration law.

While the review is still in process, the Japanese people would like the "FPJs" to go on working. They usually earn at least 100,000 yen or $950 a month and receive full benefits and protection from employers. Moreover, they are protected both by the Japnese and Philippine governments.

Source: The Philippine Star