Philip Sanvictores | The Philippines-Japan Society

PJS to Co-host Symposium on the Fukuda Doctrine & Installation of Commemorative Marker

September 14, 2018by Philip Sanvictores in PJS

The Philippines-Japan Society will co-host together with The Embassy of Japan in Manila a Symposium on the Fukuda Doctrine on October 1, 2018 at the Manila Hotel. The Symposium is envisioned to be a forum for reflecting the past, present, and future ASEAN-Japan partnership and the contribution of the Fukuda Doctrine thereto.

Also highlighting the event is the installation of a commemorative marker in the Manila Hotel, where the Fukuda Doctrine was first pronounced by then Prime Minister of Japan, Takeo Fukuda, in August 18, 1977. The doctrine serves as a guiding principle of Japan’s foreign policy towards the ASEAN and has positively impacted ASEAN-Japan relations in the past four decades. Last year, PJS met with PM Fukuda’s son, Yasuo, himself a former Prime Minister of Japan, on the significance of the doctrine.

The Symposium will feature prominent speakers who will share thoughts and insights into the foundations, the current state and the future prospects of ASEAN-Japan relations through the prism of the Fukuda Doctrine.

Tomas I. Alcantara is 40th Philippines-Japan Society Medal of Merit Awardee

August 23, 2018by Philip Sanvictores in PJS

The 40th Philippines-Japan Friendship Celebration Awards Night was held on July 30, 2018 at New World Hotel in Makati City where Mr. Tomas I. Alcantara, Chairman and President of Alsons Consolidated Resources Inc., was conferred the 40th Philippines-Japan Society Medal of Merit.

The Alsons Group was founded in the mid-1950s by Mr. Alcantara’s father, a pioneering businessman who had a vision of tapping the rich natural resources of Mindanao. The group has since grown into a diversified conglomerate that is heavily invested in energy, power generation, property development, agribusiness, aquaculture, information technology and allied industries – mostly operating in Mindanao. The group has been and continues to be a reliable and durable business partner of many major Japanese corporations.

A prominent business leader in his own right, Mr. Alcantara has also served in the Government as Undersecretary of Trade & Industry from 1986 to 1995 where he headed the Industry and Investments Group and was Managing Head of the Board of Investments. In 1996, Mr. Alcantara was designated Ambassador – Special Envoy of the President of the Republic of the Philippines for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) which the Philippines hosted in 1996. He currently serves as the Chairman of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Philippines, having been appointed as member last December 2016 and elected January 2017.

Read the full Citation of the Medal of Merit presented to Mr. Alcantara here.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Alcantara expressed his surprise at receiving the award and how honored he felt to join the prestigious roster of Medal of Merit awardees. He also confirmed continued support and interest in Japan and in strengthening both business and cultural ties between the two countries:

“My exposure to the ways of the Japanese in the areas of culture, business, the country and the food came from my father and the Japanese business associates whom he dealt with in Davao in the mid-fifties. Then, and until now, our Group’s business association with Japan continues to flourish and have, in fact, expanded by many multiples.”

“Japanese companies are certainly not strangers to the region, having played a pivotal role early on in the economic development of the island. Mindanao currently has several partnerships between Japanese and local business groups. Rest assured, that I will remain committed to ensuring that the mutually-beneficial partnership between our two countries continues into the next decade and beyond.”

“Again, I go back to this award that has been bestowed upon me in your presence this evening. I feel much honored, and even more honored in the thought that I join a very prestigious list of awardees that have come before me. Being in the same list of esteemed personalities as former prime ministers, ambassadors, high ranking government officials and pillars of business in both countries can indeed be intimidating and a humbling experience.”

Read the full Acceptance Speech of Mr. Alcantara here.

PJS President Francis C. Laurel, gave the opening remarks for the evening. Ambassador Makoto Katsura, President of The Philippine Society of Japan, and H.E. Koji Haneda, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Philippines also spoke at the event.

Musical numbers were rendered by “Harmonya: The String Ensemble of the University of the Philippines Los Baños, The Philippines-Japan Ladies Chorale, and the UPTUGMA Koto Ensemble from the University of the Philippines Diliman.

¹The Philippines-Japan Medal of Merit is conferred annually to Filipino or Japanese nationals who have distinguished themselves in the promotion of friendship, trust, understanding, goodwill, mutual respect and shared benefits. See list of Medal of Merit awardees.

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PJS Holds Annual General Membership Meeting 2018

July 24, 2018by Philip Sanvictores in PJS

The Philippines-Japan Society, Inc. held its Annual General Membership meeting on July 17, 2018 at the Amb. Jose S. Laurel Hall, 3rd Flr Dominion Building , 833 A. Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City. Headed by PJS President Francis C. Laurel, the members had several items on this year’s agenda including the Annual Report of the President, Financial Report of the Treasurer and the election of the members of the PJS Board of Trustees for 2018-2019.

To read more about the major events and activities of PJS last year, view the PJS Annual Report 2017-2018.

Other matters discussed included the program for the 40th Philippines-Japan Friendship Dinner & Awards Night to be held on July 30, 2018 at the New World Hotel, with Mr. Tomas I. Alcantara as the 40th recipient of the Philippines-Japan Society Medal of Merit. At the meeting’s adjournment, President Laurel thanked the members and reiterated the important role the Society plays in maintaining good relations between the Philippines and Japan.

“Before I close, let me commend our members for their unselfish support for the activities of the Society in 2017. The significance of Society cannot be overemphasized. The long relationship of our organization with Japan has become a cornerstone for more beneficial programs for our two nations. It is in this light that we are grateful for the steadfast support of the Embassy of Japan and the Japan Association of Manila. As we move from year to year, we can only look forward to a deeper alliance with Japan.”

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Now Seeking Entries to 8Th KAKE International Japanese Speech Contest

July 6, 2018by Philip Sanvictores in PIJLC-NCF

Calling all students of Nihongo Center and the Philippine Institute of Japanese Language and Culture Foundation: registration for the 8th KAKE International Japanese Speech contest is now on-going. Participants must prepare to deliver a four to five minute speech on the theme: “環境保護について〜私ができること〜 or “What I Can Do to Protect the Environment.”

The contest is open to students currently enrolled at Nihongo Center or PIJLC who are Filipino citizens and have not resided in Japan for more than 12 months in total.

The first prize winner will receive an all-expenses-paid educational trip to Japan, among other special prizes. They will also have the opportunity to represent the Philippines in the Grand Final Contest in Okayama, Japan. The winner of this grand contest will receive a 2-year scholarship at any of the three universities under the KAKE Educational Institution.

The second and third prize winners will receive a full one semester tuition waiver, and a waiver of the entrance fees at any of the three universities under the KAKE Educational Institution, plus other special prizes.

Those interested to participate may send their speech entry with their profile (CV) to ncfmanila@gmail.com or nihongocenter@gmail.com by July 28, 2018. The competition will be held on September 22, 2018 from 2:00 – 5:00 PM.

NCF Officially Welcomes New Batch of Trainees for Hotel Nihongo Course

July 6, 2018by Philip Sanvictores in PIJLC-NCF

In an opening ceremony held last June 28th, the Nihongo Center Foundation officially welcomed the second batch of trainees for a specialized pre-departure language training program, dubbed the Hotel Nihongo Course.

Headed by NCF Academic Adviser, Kenjiro Ogata-sensei, the program entails 600 hours of classroom instruction to learn the Japanese language. Upon completion of the language training, the candidates are poised to work in one of hotels owned, managed, and operated by Ken Corporation in Japan.

Selected from a pool of over 100 applicants, the ten candidates who passed the rigorous application process are: Ryan Chester Tan, from Our Lady of Fatima University; Mikka Robles, from Polytechnic University; Jerick Marasigan, from Technological University; Gizelle Aguinaldo, from Jose Rizal University; Michael John D. Yokoi, from De La Salle University; Mark Joven Laderas, Yomiko Arbino, Maria Fenella Regala, Jolan Formigones, and Bryan Kevin Ricohermoso, from Lyceum of the Philippines University.

Also gracing the ceremony were esteemed guests Mr. Toshihiko Ogata, Senior Managing Director of Ken Real Estate Lease Ltd; Mr. Shuichiro Fujita, Director, Global Business Development of With Us Corporation; Mr. Gerard B. Sanvictores, Chairman and President of QRD International Placement, Inc.; and Mr. Philip B. Sanvictores, President of Nihongo Center Foundation, Inc.

In his speech, Mr. Ogata enjoined the trainees to first enjoy their learning and also set very high goals moving forward.

“In our Ken Corporation Group, if you are capable, if you prove that you can contribute to the corporation – You have a chance. You can be executives, you can be directors, you can even be general managers. So please understand that you have a lot of chances in our organization,” said Mr. Ogata.

He shared that, in their hotels in Saipan and Guam, the capability and quality of work of Filipino workers have indeed been recognized. “In this Guam operation, we can see there are so many (Filipino) managers, senior managers, controllers, or even assistant General Managers,” he said.

To the parents and guardians of the trainees, Mr. Philip B. Sanvictores said: “Thank you […] for all the work and sacrifice you’ve given to bring your loved ones to where they are now. They are in good hands at Nihongo Center. They’re in very capable hands, in the hands of QRD. And they are going to a very good company – Ken Corporation.”

In addition, Mr. Sanvictores encouraged the trainees to grasp the opportunity that is now within their reach.

“Keep in mind the words of Mr. Ogata. You are looking at a career. Keep in mind that what is at stake here is your future,” Mr. Sanvictores said. “There’s so much opportunity for you, please do not waste it. Everything is given to you, it’s all in your hands.”