Last 27 June 2024, a delegation from PHILFEJA led by President/ASCOJA Governor Domingo Go and VP/ASJA Director Rommel Roque attended The 22nd ASJA-ASCOJA-JAC Symposium hosted by the Japan Alumni of Cambodia (JAC) in Phnom Penh, with the theme, “Japan-ASEAN Cross Border E-Commerce”. Mr. Dennis Lim, former Head of the Digital Media Division of ABS-CBN, was the speaker for the Philippines. He spoke about “The Role of Social Media in E-Commerce” (the story of Marites) in the Philippines.
Mr. Va Kora, President of the JAC, delivered the welcome remarks. State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Yoshifumi Tsuge, also graced the occasion. In addition, remarks were likewise delivered by Dr. Mangkorn Rodprapakorn, Chairman of ASCOJA and ASJA and Cambodia’s Minister HENG Sour of Labour and Vocational Training. The congratulatory message of Japan’s Minister of Finance, Shunichi Suzuki (Chairman of ASJA-ASCOJA Parliamentary Federation), was delivered on his behalf by ASJA Director for Japan, Gotaro Ogawa. The Symposium was well attended by participants from the ten (10) member countries of the ASEAN Council of Japan Alumni (ASCOJA).
Aside from the symposium, the Governors of ASCOJA took the opportunity to hold a special meeting on the topic of Generational Change in ASCOJA with representatives of both ASJA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. After the meeting, the day ended with a Mekong River dinner cruise hosted by JAC.
The Trustees of the Philippine Federation of Japan Alumni, Inc. (PHILFEJA) had the honor of being hosted by Ambassador Kazuya and Madame Akiko ENDO of Japan for the first official dinner held at their residence last 12 April 2024.
The Trustees present were President Domingo C. Go (APPAJU), Vice-President Rommel G. Roque (SAPILNIP), Treasurer Dr. Neil H. Tan Gana (PHILJAMES), Atty. Marites Barrios-Taran (JAAP), and Ms. Cynthia M. Reyes (PHILCULTAROS). The other attendees were JICA Philippines Chief Representative, Mr. Takema Sakamoto, and (from the Embassy of Japan) Minister & Consul-General Takahiro Hanada, First Secretary & Labor Attache Chihiro Kanno, and JICC Research Adviser, Ms. Yurie Mukaigawa.
The event provided an opportunity for the new Ambassador to meet the officers of the Philippines-Japan alumni community and to introduce the various component organizations under PHILFEJA to him.
In his Twitter post, the Ambassador expressed confidence in furthering this partnership towards shaping a brighter future.
PHILFEJA, represented by President Domingo C. Go, participated in the ASEAN Council of Japan Alumni (ASCOJA) and Asia Japan Alumni (ASJA) meetings and several events in Tokyo from March 6 to 9, 2024.
ASJA Director Philip B. Sanvictores represented the Philippines at the ASJA Board Meeting on March 8th. For his part, Mr. Go attended the ASCOJA Governors’ Meeting which was held on the same day as well as several ancillary activities that were held: A joint meeting of the ASCOJA Governors with the alumni representatives from twenty-five (25) other countries, followed by a reception hosted by the State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yoshifumi Tsuge, which was likewise attended by Mrs. Akie Abe, widow of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and Mr. Tatsuo Fukuda, Chairman of the General Council of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). In addition, separate courtesy calls were held on Toshiko Abe, State Minister for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and on Yoshifumi Tsuge, State Minister for Foreign Affairs. ASJA hosted a farewell reception which was attended, among others, by Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki of Japan.
