The 21st Conference of the ASEAN Council of Japan Alumni (ASCOJA) held on 2-4 October 2015 at the Dusit Thani Manila was a stirring success, according to Mr. Philip B. Sanvictores, President of the Philippine Federation of Japan Alumni (PHILFEJA) – host and organizer of the Conference. He cited several significant achievements:
- The ASCOJA Vision-Mission was unanimously ratified by the ASCOJA Council;
- The updated Objectives were likewise unanimously approved by the ASCOJA Council (both the Vision-Mission Statement and updated Objectives will form part of the amended Articles of Organization and By-Laws of ASCOJA);
- Certain other amendments to the By-Laws were approved in principle by the ASCOJA Council subject to final reading and approval by the Board of Governors in its next meeting in Tokyo in end-March 2016;
- A total of 318 delegates were registered, of which 171 (54%) were foreigners, i.e., from the nine other ASEAN countries and Japan. The rest were delegates from PHILFEJA member associations and guests;
- Prominent dignitaries attended the Conference, namely:
- E. Yasuo Fukuda, former Prime Minister of Japan
- Toshiko Abe, Senior Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan
- Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa, Ambassador of Japan to the Philippines
- Tetsuro Amano, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Japan in the Philippines
- E. Cesar E.A. Virata, former Prime Minister of the Philippines
- Ambassador Delia D. Albert, former Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines
- Assistant Secretary Minda Calaguian-Cruz, Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs
- Director Hans Mohaimin L. Siriban, Northeast Asia Division, Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs
- Governor Jose C. Laurel V, Chairman – The Philippines-Japan Friendship Foundation
- Ambassador Benjamin F. Sanvictores, Executive Trustee – The Philippines-Japan Friendship Foundation
- Wilfrido V. Villacorta – former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the ASEAN Secretariat and Professor Emeritus – De La Salle University
- ASCOJA Board of Governors
- Philip B. Sanvictores, President – Philippine Federation of Japan Alumni (PHILFEJA); host organization;
- Ooi Chee Keong, President – Japan Graduates Association of Malaysia (JAGAM);
- Ismadji Hadisoemarto, Vice-President – Association of Indonesian Alumni from Japan (PERSADA);
- Tan Kay Guan, President – Japanese University Graduates Association of Singapore (JUGAS);
- Samran Chooduangngern, President – Old Japan Students’ Association Thailand (OJSAT);
- Chin Wei Kah, President – Brunei Association of Japan Alumni (BAJA);
- Si Si Shein, President – Myanmar Association of Japan Alumni (MAJA);
- Vuthy Monyrath, President – Japan Alumni of Cambodia (JAC);
- Dr. Ngo Minh Thuy, President – Japan Alumni of Vietnam (JAV); and
- Bouasone Vongthavone, President – Japan Alumni of Laos (JAOL).
- ASJA International
- Ambassador Takashi Tajima, Director for Japan
- Samran Chooduangngern, Chairman – ASJA International
- Jiro Sato, Secretary- General
- Chikako Hagihara, Secretariat Manager
- Japan Stakeholders
- Yoshihisa Ishikawa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) – Tokyo
- Hideki Yonekawa, Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO)
- Yuichi Kondo, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU)
- Takayasu Omura, Japan Association for the Promotion of Internationalization
- The Conference Theme – “ASCOJA in an Integrated ASEAN” – was thoroughly discussed in Keynote Speeches by Ambassador Albert and Villacorta; these were further discussed in three breakout sessions each presenting three papers from various ASCOJA Chapters focusing on:
- Education, Research and Development
- Education and Industry Collaboration by Adeline Pang Li Ching (BAJA)
- Responding to Challenges in Internationalizing the National University by Fernando C. Sanchez (PHILFEJA)
- Discourse on Issues and Approaches on How Children Acquire New Language Effectively by Ooi Chee Keong (JAGAM)
- Moderated by Maricar Prudente, Professor of Science Education, De La Salle University
- Economic Integration and Business
- ASEAN Economic Integration through Sub-Regional Cooperation by Eko Cahyono (PERSADA)
- Improving Business Policies and Infrastructure by Phouphet Kyophilavong (JAOL)
- Development of Dynamic Capability for Venture Gestation by Goi Hoe Chin (JUGAS)
- Moderated by Rosalina Tan, Professor of Economics, Ateneo de Manila University
- Cultural Diversity and Social Integration
- World Heritage (Pyu Ancient City of Sri Kestra) by Prof Si Si Shein (MAJA)
- Rice and Tea: Cultural Exchange in ASEAN Countries and Japan by Navarat Laekhakula (OJSAT)
- Independence and Integration as Parallel Movements in the History of Vietnam by Ngo Tu Lap (JAV)
- Moderated by Rico Jose, Professor of History, University of the Philippines
- Consolidation and Wrap-up Plenary Session moderated by Tereso Tullao, Jr., Director – Angelo King Institute for Economic and Business Studies, De La Salle University
- The social functions and cultural events were very well attended:
- Welcome Dinner on October 2, 2015
- Ayala Walking Tour in the afternoon of October 3 for delegates’ spouses
- Dinner Reception hosted by Ambassador Ishikawa on October 3
- Golf game at South Forbes Golf Club on October 4
- Tour of Old Manila on October 4 with luncheon at the Bayleaf Hotel
- Farewell Dinner on October 4
The 21st ASCOJA Conference was featured in three dailies – the Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin and Business World. Copies of the press releases can be viewed in this link. Moreover, the conference was covered by Cignal TV® and featured in its newly launched Bloomberg TV™ (click here to view broadcast footage).
A 110-page souvenir program was produced for the conference. In addition, a Compendium covering all the presentations in printed, video and digital formats is under production, scheduled for release within the year. The 21st ASCOJA Conference was blessed to have a wide array of generous supporters, enumerated in this link to partners, sponsors and advertisers.
A final and all-important accomplishment of the 21st Conference was the determination by the ASCOJA Council of the schedule of annual conferences from 2016 to 2025, as follows:
Year |
Host Organization |
Country |
2016 |
Japan Graduates Association of Malaysia (JAGAM) |
Malaysia |
2017 |
Brunei Association of Japan Alumni (BAJA) |
Brunei |
2018 |
Japanese University Graduates Association of Singapore (JUGAS) |
Singapore |
2019 |
Japan Alumni of Cambodia (JAC) |
Cambodia |
2020 |
Japan Alumni of Laos (JAOL) |
Laos |
2021 |
Old Japan Students’ Association Thailand (OJSAT) |
Thailand |
2022 |
Association of Indonesia Alumni from Japan (PERSADA) |
Indonesia |
2023 |
Japan Alumni of Vietnam (JAV) |
Vietnam |
2024 |
Myanmar Association of Japan Alumni (MAJA) |
Myanmar |
2025 |
Philippine Federation of Japan Alumni (PHILFEJA) |
Philippines |
Links to ASCOJA 2015 Sponsors and Advertisers
CONFERENCE PARTNERS |
ADVERTISERS
|
Japan Foundation |
BPI/MS Insurance Corporation |
The Philippines-Japan Friendship Foundation |
Business Trends Philippines |
GOLD |
EMS Components Assembly, Inc. |
YKK Corporation
|
Fortinet |
The Laurel Family
|
JG Law |
SILVER |
The Law Firm of Ingles Laurel Calderon |
SGV & Company |
Lunchbox Diet |
Nanpou Tokubetsu Ryugakusei |
Lyceum of the Philippines University |
BRONZE |
Mabuhay Vinyl Corporation |
8990 Holdings, Inc. |
Netmarks Philippines, Inc. |
Bank of the Philippine Islands |
Uniadex, Ltd. |
BDO Unibank |
Nikkoshi Philippines Corporation |
Bonita del Mar |
Optimum Securities Corporation |
EEI Corporation |
PHILAJAMES Foundation / VastNet, Inc. |
First Metro Investment Corporation |
PIJLC Alumni Batches 4, 5 and 6 |
Hino Motors Philippines, Inc. |
Prime Manpower |
i-Cube Group, Inc. |
Quantum Group |
Mitsubishi Corporation – Manila Branch |
Soriano Projects and Ventures Group |
Mitsubishi Motors Philippines |
St. Frances Cabrini Medical Center & Cancer Institute |
Servicio Filipino, Inc. |
Sumitomo Corporation of the Philippines |
Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation |
Trend Micro |
Toyota Batangas, Inc. |
WestPac Solutions Factory, Inc. |
Toyota Camarines Sur, Inc. |
Lionapex Philippines, Inc. |
DONORS |
Abiva Publishing House, Inc. |
Mr. Nelson Licup |
Eligardi Enterprises, Inc. |
Globe Telecom |
Toyota Manila Bay, Inc. |
Nihongo Center Foundation, Inc. |
VaxPlus Corporation |