The Philippine Federation of Japan Alumni (PHILFEJA) held its Regular Annual General Members Assembly on Saturday, 27 July 2019 from 2:30-5:30 PM at the Philippines-Japan Friendship Hall at the Dominion Bldg. in Makati. The new President of PHILFEJA from the JICA Alumni Association of the Philippines (JAAP), Ms. Junelyn A. Pagunsan, presided over the Meeting.

After determination of the quorum and approval of the Minutes of the Meeting held on July 7, 2017, the Annual Report of the President followed. Mrs. Cecilia Tolentino, Secretary-General of PHILFEJA presented the Power-Point Report in the absence of the Immediate Past President, Atty. Powell del Rosario who is based in Capiz. Highlights of the Report were the activities of member Associations- APPAJU, JAAP, PHILAJAMES, PHILCULTAROS and SAPILNIP for fiscal year 2018. Also presented were the Conferences and Symposiums where PHILFEJA Officers and members participated:

• Awarding of Japan’s Foreign Minister’s Commendation on September 18, 2018 in
  recognition of “its significant contributions in advancing Japan-Philippine relations
  through its role of connecting Filipino Japan alumni and in promoting Japanese
  educational values in the Philippines”
• The 24 th ASCOJA Conference in Siem Reap, Cambodia on October 19-21, 2018 where the
  Philippines had the biggest delegation of 38 participants
• The ASJA-ASCOJA-PERSADA Symposium in Jakarta, Indonesia from December 14-15,
  2018
• The ASJA-ASCOJA International Meeting in Tokyo on March 14-15, 2019
• The Toshiba Youth Club Asia Program in Tokyo from March 20-17, 2019
• The Pre-ASCOJA Conference in Luang Prabang, Laos on June 22, 2019

Toshiba Youth Club Asia is a highly unique program that aims at fostering a network of next- generation Asian leaders with a long-term vision to sustain the future of Asia. Selected high school students who qualified through a nation-wide essay contest are Vivienne Angelica Viernes and Bertrand Michael Diola, both from Philippine Science High School. They participated in the program together with their attendant, Ms. Natalie Victorino of the Department of Finance.

The financial statements for the periods ending 31 March 2018 and 31 March 2019 duly certified by the independent auditor, Diaz, Murillo, Dalupan & Company were also presented to the Assembly.

Pursuant to the provisions of the By-Laws, the election of the members of the Board of Trustees who shall serve during the ensuing fiscal year 2019-2020 was held. The remaining term of Atty. Powell del Rosario of JAAP as PHILFEJA President will be served by Ms. Junelyn A. Pagunsan who was elected during the JAAP elections early this year.

Other matters discussed were the forthcoming Asean Council of Japan Alumni (ASCOJA) 25 th Conference in Vientiane, Laos from October 4-6, 2019 which will be proceeded by the ASJA- ASCOJA-JAOL Symposium on Food Safety on October 3, 2019. PHILFEJA is sending Dr. Neil tan Gana of Ateneo de Manila as panel speaker. Speaker for the Conference will be Dr. Gilda Lasay-Uy of the UP School of Kinetics. Also mentioned is the National Institute of Youth Education (NIYE) Junior Program inviting 6 high school students 13-16 years old and one attendant from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines from November 18- 26, 2019 at the National Chuo Youth Friendship Center in Shizuoka Prefecture. Also presented is the proposed ASJA-ASCOJA-PHILFEJA Symposium in February 2020 with the topic “Fourth Industrial Symposium (FIRe)”.

Immediately after the Regular Annual General Assembly, the organizational meeting of the Board of Trustees was held for the purpose of electing the President and other officers and constitute the Execom.

Miss Junelyn A. Pagunsan was elected President, Mr. Orlando Bautista of PHILCULTAROS as Vice President and Mr. Domingo Go of APPAJU as Treasurer. Trustees are Ms. Lavi Penaverde of PHILAJAMES and Mr. Philip Sanvictores of SAPILNIP. Mrs. Cecilia Tolentino was re-appointed Secretary-General. The Execom members are Ms. Pagunsan, Mr. Sanvictores, Ms. Penaverde and Mrs. Tolentino.

The meeting was followed by Fellowship and Merienda.

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(This article was written by Mrs. Cecilia Tolentino)

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) awarded The Foreign Minister’s Commendation to PHILFEJA during a conferment ceremony last September 19, 2018 at Ambassador’s Residence in Makati City. The award recognizes PHILFEJA’s more than 4 decades of significant contributions to the promotion of friendship between the Philippines and Japan through its role as the umbrella organization connecting all Filipino Japan alumni and promoting the values of Japanese education in the Philippines.

PHILFEJA President, Atty. Powel del Rosario, accepted the award and expressed his gratitude for the recognition, which he said would not have been possible if it were not for the efforts of PHILFEJA’s founders 42 years ago.

“Our deepest appreciation to our dear Dai-Sempai, the late Ambassador Jose S. Laurel III and his late son Benjie, whose initiatives and dedications will always be part of PHILFEJA memories,” said Atty. Del Rosario in his acceptance speech. “We are more than 20,000 (members) all over the country. PHILFEJA’s members come from various backgrounds who have benefited from not only education in Japanese universities, but we also have members who received long and short-term trainings, research and similar activities in Japan. I can say that Japan has friends in all the provinces in the Philippines,” he added.

H.E. Mr. Koji Haneda, Ambassador of Japan to the Philippines, presented the award in behalf of Foreign Minister, Mr. Taro Kano. The Ambassador recalled the many accomplishments of PHILFEJA including the special meeting of PHILFEJA members with Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan in 2016, and the establishment of the ASEAN Council of Japan Alumni (ASCOJA) in 1977, which was made possible by the initiative of the founders of PHILFEJA.

“PHILFEJA’s growth and the extent of its work and accomplishments throughout its 42-year history are testaments to the enduring value of cooperation, hard work, and persistence. I trust that PHILFEJA will remain steadfast in its legacy. These are feats worthy of being emulated, and worthy of the high distinction we now bestow,” said Mr. Haneda.

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Embassy of Japan in the Philippines Press Release

The Philippine Federation of Japan Alumni (PHILFEJA) held its Annual Shinnenkai at the AIM Conference Center on the 3 rd of February 2018 from 2:00-5:30 PM. This is an annual undertaking of PHILFEJA to gather officers, active members and Japanese friends of the Federation for a get-together at the start of the year to renew ties and rekindle friendship with one another.

After the special introduction of Mrs. Cecilia Tolentino, Secretary-General of PHILFEJA, the guests including the many distinguished alumni present, the Presidents of the affiliate Associations gave their respective Welcome Greetings: Dr. Danilo Tuazon for PHILAJAMES, Mr. Domingo Go for APPAJU, Mr. Brando Barrantes for PHILCULTAROS and Mr. Philip Sanvictores for SAPILNIP. In the absence of JAAP President, Atty. Powell del Rosario, Ms. Maria Dionne Cruz gave the greetings for the Association. Special Greetings were also given by Mr. Ken Nakamura, Director of the Japan Information and Cultural Center of the Embassy of Japan and Mr. Hiroaki Uesugi, Director of The Japan Foundation, Manila. Before the Merienda and Fellowship, Ms. Lavi Peñaverde reported on the TYCA 2017 (Toshiba Youth Club Asia) while Ms. Zony Yoshii reported and showed videos of the 2017 NIYE (National Institute for Youth Education) Program.

The presence of Mr. Takashi Ishihara, Director of JETRO, and Mr. Toshiyuki Taguchi, Special Asst. on Scholarships of JICC, were also acknowledged by the Master of Ceremonies, Ms. Lavi Peñaverde.

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