2016 EPA Nihongo Course Begins (Nov 6, 2015)

November 6, 2015by Philip Sanvictores in Featured, PIJLC-NCF

The NCF Class of 2016 of the Preparatory Nihongo Training Program for Filipino Nurse and Certified Care Worker Candidates under the Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) was formally opened on November 6, 2015 at the Jose P. Laurel Memorial Hall, Philippines-Japan Friendship Center, R. Papa Street, Sampaloc, Manila. A total of 112 students were admitted into the Program or 32% of the total 352 candidate-students. The rest are enrolled at the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in Taguig City.

This is the second year that the Nihongo Center Foundation (NCF) was tapped by the Japan Foundation Manila (JFM) to conduct the Japanese Language Training Program on its behalf for the entire 6-month course. The first batch started in November 2015 and 89 graduates left for Japan in June this year. Similarly, the current batch will end their language training in end-May and those who pass will leave for Japan in June 2016 for the second phase of Nihongo training before they are deployed to pre-matched hospitals and caregiving institutions in Japan.

NCF President Philip B. Sanvictores led the opening ceremony and delivered an inspirational Message after the Opening Remarks given by Mr. Hiroaki Uesugi, Director of Japan Foundation Manila. Director Nimfa de Guzman of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) read the Message of Atty. Hans Leo Cacdac – Administrator. Finally, Economic Affairs Minister Makoto Iyori of the Embassy of Japan, who had just assumed his post in Manila encouraged the student-candidates to study hard and to do their best. Other guests who attended the opening ceremonies were First Secretary and Labor Attaché of Japan, Mr. Hiroyuki Enoki, Mr. Tetsuya Koida, Assistant Director of JFM, Mrs. Marilen Laurel-Loinaz, Treasurer and Administrator of the Philippines-Japan Friendship Foundation, Inc.

The Head Lecturer, Professor Kenjiro Ogata was the last to address the students. He enjoined them to concentrate on their studies as this will be the single most important tool for a successful work life in Japan that could help create a brighter future for them and their families. Speaking mainly in English, Prof. Ogata surprised the students when he fluently spoke in straight, flawless Tagalog; he also introduced the NCF Teaching Staff for the EPA.

¹Welcome Remarks of Mr. Philip B. Sanvictores, NCF President

21st ASCOJA Conference a Stirring Success (Oct 2-3, 2015)

October 3, 2015by Philip Sanvictores in ASCOJA, Featured

The 21^stConference 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 21^st 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 21^st 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 21^st 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

PJLA Celebrates 40th Anniversary (Aug 22, 2015)

August 25, 2015by Philip Sanvictores in Featured, PJLA

The Philippines-Japan Ladies Association (PJLA) celebrated its 40^th Anniversary on August 22, 2015 with a Dinner Reception held at the Manila Golf & Country Club、Harvard Road, Forbes Park, Makati City. Three members were conferred Merit Awards in recognition of their invaluable contributions to PJLA through the years. These were: Mrs. Haruko Murakami, Mrs. Herminia L. Alcasid, and Mrs. Josefina B. Sanvictores.

PJLA President Mrs. Marilen Laurel-Loinaz welcomed the 90 guests who attended the affair. Madame Yuko Ishikawa, lady of Japanese Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa also congratulated PJLA for this important milestone.

Before the awarding ceremonies, the guests were regaled by highly acclaimed artist-singers, namely: Aisaku Yokogawa – a popular Japanese entertainer who grew up in the Philippines and is thus trilingual (Nihongo, English and Tagalog); and Ms. Gerphil Geraldine Flores (recently won 3^rd place in Asia’s Got Talentcompetition). The highlight of the program however was the master entertainer-singer-composer, Mr. Ogie Alcasid (son of the awardee) and his wife Ms. Regine Velasquez-Alcasid (known as Asia’s Songbird), for their beautiful and very entertaining numbers.

The citations and responses of the awardees, as well as the speeches of Mrs. Loinaz and Mdme. Ishikawa are provided in this link. Photos of the affair may be accessed at Google Drive.

37th Philippines-Japan Friendship Dinner & Awards Night (July 24, 2015)

July 24, 2015by Philip Sanvictores in Featured, PJS tagged 37th awardee, pjfc awards night

The 37th Philippines-Japan Friendship Dinner and Awards Night was held on 24 July 2015 at the Solaire Resort & Casino in Parañaque City, with former the Honorable Makoto Katsura, former ambassador of Japan to the Philippines as Awardee and recipient of the Philippines-Japan Society Medal of Merit¹ .

In his Opening Remarks, President Francis C. Laurel noted that the first treaty between the Philippines and Japan on Trade, Amity and Navigation was signed and ratified in 1973, while the second, the Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement was signed in 2008 or 37 years later. He said that the “latter has become the new platform for our two countries to work together to achieve a mutually beneficial future”.

He then stressed that these milestones in the two countries’ bilateral ties “would not have been possible had it not been for the hard work of a few good men”. “One of these is our awardee in the person of Ambassador Makoto Katsura, whose tireless dedication ultimately produced the Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement,” President Laurel said.

Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa, the current Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Philippines also conveyed his greetings and appreciation to the Philippines-Japan Society for hosting this annual dinner and awards night for the last 37 years. He said that he had attended one such dinner in 2013 as a member of the official entourage of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who was then visiting Manila and who upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport immediately proceeded to the Intercon Hotel to address the 35th Philippines-Japan Society Friendship Dinner. He added that he never thought then that he would one day address the same Annual Dinner as Japan’s ambassador to the Philippines.

After the sumptuous dinner, the Philippines-Japan Ladies Chorale performed the Dinner’s traditional intermission number² with three beautifully rendered songs, “Katakataka” – a joyful Filipino song; “Anata” – a Japanese song; and “Maria Elena” – a Spanish ballad. Special numbers were also given by Mr. Yu Miyoshi playing the Koto, Ms. Mariko Saito – flutist, and Ms. Maasa Kawasaki, vocalist. The famed Manila Glee Club of the Japanese Association Manila also rendered their impressive songs acapella.

Atty. Jose Vicente Jimenez, Corporate Secretary of the Philippines-Japan Society read the 1,189 worded Citation, while Ambassador Makoto Katsura stood at the dais, flanked by his wife, Mdme. Yasuko Katsura, Mr. Francis C. Laurel and Mr. Gerry B. Sanvictores, President and Vice-President respectively of the Philippines-Japan Society. The Medal of Merit was donned on Ambassador Katsura, assisted by Mdme. Katsura. The Plaque with the Citation engraved thereon was also presented to Ambassador Katsura.

Thereafter, Ambassador Katsura delivered a heartfelt Response, the full text of which can be read at this link.

The program thus ended, commemorative photos were taken which can be viewed at this link: 37th Philippines-Japan Friendship Celebration Photo Gallery.

Mr. Raymond C. Sanvictores served as the Master of Ceremonies.

Opening Remarks links:
Mr. Francis Laurel
Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa

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 Medal of Awardees

²The Philippines-Japan Ladies Choral has regaled all the Philippines-Japan Friendship Dinners with Filipino and Japanese songs since 1979, under the direction of Maestra Teresita Agana-Santos.

6th Asian Business Summit at Tokyo, Japan (Jul 13, 2015)

July 13, 2015by Philip Sanvictores in Featured, PHILJEC

The 6th Asian Business Summit was held in Tokyo on July 13, 2015 attended by delegates from 13 business organizations from 11 Economies across Asia. The business leaders discussed the major challenges for Asian economies in view of the emerging global economic realities. The delegates agreed to playan active role in realizing the goals laid down at the Summit and to provide actionable inputs to the policy makers of their respective Economies. A Joint Statement was issued at the end of the Summit reflecting the expectations and aspirations of the Asian business community, and delineates the future role of the privuate sector in sustaining Asia’s economic dynamism.

Dr. Sadayuki Sakakibara, Chairman of Keidanren, chaired the Summit. The Summit discussed several issues affecting the Asian Economies such as regional economic integration, human resource, infrastructure, environment, and security issues. The Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committee (PHILJEC) delegation to the Summit was led by Chairman Roberto L. Castillo, Co-Chairmen Atty. Aniceto G. Saludo, Jr. and Gerard B. Sanvictores, Secretary-General JJ Samuel A. Soriano, and PHILJEC Advisers and former chairmen, Tomas I. Alcantara and Atty. Eusebio V. Tan. Mr. Sanvictores delivered a presentation on “Perspectives on Human Resource Development” to kick-off the discussions on this topic. The delegation was ably supported by its Secretariat composed of Ma. Elena Laurel-Loinaz, Glenda T. Ferma and Ma. Salvacion Saludo.

The Joint Statement was presented to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was the special guest of honor during the reception at the end of the Summit.

At the Luncheon, two distinguished guests, namely, H. E. Mr. Yoichi Miyazawa, Minister of METI and Mr. Kazuyuki Nakane, Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, delivered their greetings to the 6th ABS delegates.

Photos taken by KEIDANREN can be viewed at this link

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