Meet the PH Delegates to the NIYE Junior Program 2017

October 25, 2017by Philip Sanvictores in PHILFEJA tagged National Institution for Youth Education, NIYE, Philippine Delegates, Shizuoka Prefecture

Six promising Filipino youths were chosen as delegates to this year’s National Institution for Youth Education (NIYE) program from October 16 – 24, 2017 at the National Chuo Youth Friendship Center in Shizuoka Prefecture. Supported in the Philippines by PHILFEJA, the program promotes youth education and independence through experiential activities.

The delegates are Marie Frances Preza Espejo, 14; Luis Rivaldo Toral Ferma, 15; Kyle Andrei Lagarit Irig, 15; Ryu Ichiro Ramos Malaque, 16; Felicia Christina Dela Paz, 16; and Victoria Kathryn Faeldonea Tanco, 15 years old. These young and bright individuals come from different regions of the country and social backgrounds, but all have excellent records to show when it comes to their academic standing and community engagement.

Know more about their interests and talents in music, dance, and sports, and how they were introduced to Japanese arts and culture by downloading the 2017 NIYE PH Delegation Brochure.

NIYE Junior Program 2017 PH Delegation Brochure (pdf download)

Past Delegates

For many years, PHILFEJA has worked with NIYE to give opportunities for young Filipinos to visit Japan not just for cultural exchange, but also for helping them expand their personal experiences involving nature and real life. For the list of past delegates, please refer to our Related Resources section below (year 2014, 2015, and 2016).

Learn more about NIYE through their official website.

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Related Resources:

NIYE 2014
NIYE 2015
NIYE 2016

Annual Ambassador’s Dinner for Former Filipino Students in Japan:
PHILFEJA President Sanvictores Expresses Gratitude; Assures Stronger Phil-Japan Relations

November 10, 2016by Philip Sanvictores in PHILFEJA tagged Ambassador's dinner, Former Filipino Students in Japan, President Sanvictores

Speaking in behalf of PHILFEJA, President Philip B. Sanvictores expressed his sincerest gratitude to His Excellency Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa for hosting the Annual Dinner for Former Filipino Students in Japan and for recognizing the value, achievements, and work of former Filipino ryugakusei. The dinner was held at the Ambassador’s residence last April 14, 2016.

Below is the transcription of President Sanvictores’ extemporaneous speech:

“… like Min. Ueno, I also took a little wine already, so I can speak even without my notes. (laughter)
Min. Ueno, the DCM of the Embassy of Japan in the PH
Dir. Kitagawa of the Japan Information and Culture Center
Our friends from the Embassy of Japan
Fellow former Filipino ryugakusei

On behalf of the PHLFEJA I would like to express our sincere gratitude and thanks to the Embassy of Japan led by His Excellency Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa, and his dynamic and friendly team at the Embassy, for hosting this annual dinner for former Filipino students in Japan.

Hosting this dinner, this annual dinner is a recognition of the achievements and work of Filipinos whom you have educated and trained in Japan. And by being here, we also express our thanks and gratitude not only for the fact that you spent for us to study in Japan, some as your scholars, others as your trainees, and (still) others as students on their own, but more so because you put value to our being former students (in Japan) in the work and professions that we pursue. And, to us this is very important and much appreciated …”

President Sanvictores also highlighted the continued support of the Japanese Embassy and the Japan Foundation not only to PHILFEJA but also to the ASEAN Council of Japan Alumni (ASCOJA). He recalled specific instances during the ASCOJA 2015 Conference that demonstrated just how the Embassy of Japan and Japan Foundation have truly been dependable partners of their organizations:

“Min. Ueno made mention of the ASCOJA Conference held last October (2015) and I would like to take this opportunity to express once again, and in this particular occasion, the strong support and hard work that the Embassy of Japan extended to PHILFEJA. There were many side issues around that conference – like for instance the fact that (former) Prime Minister (Yasuo) Fukuda became our guest of honor; my goodness, the Embassy (of Japan) was really involved all the way from preparation up to departure. The program that we to put together – the Embassy was always involved in supporting us and I would say they facilitated it, not only with financial contributions of (the) Japan Foundation which was allocated from Tokyo. All these are concrete evidences or concrete occasions where Japan through its Embassy in the Philippines continued to express the value of former students, former ryugakusei and the trainees, to current Philippines-Japan bilateral relations; not only in the bilateral field, but also in supporting us in our multilateral ASEAN-Japan relations.

I am happy to say that the conference was a huge success and it is all because of everyone’s support – my colleagues at PHILFEJA worked hard; but our support from the Embassy and the Japan Foundation should be mentioned because without their support, we would not have achieved the same level of success.”

“I would like to also take this opportunity to present the Conference Compendium, to the Embassy of Japan, to Ambassador Ishikawa and Minister Ueno. We prepared a close to 200-page Compendium. It is a chronicle, a record of what transpired in those three days. And this is not to just say that this is what we accomplished; (rather,) more so I think this is something that we can look forward to, to prove that there is much to accomplish from now on, especially for future generations of Filipino and ASEAN students and trainees in Japan.

And so, I would like to take this opportunity to present to Min. Ueno, a copy of (the) Compendium, and we will give you more copies because we printed quite a lot.” (Presents the Compendium to everyone’s applause.)

After presenting the ASCOJA 2015 Conference Compendium, President Sanvictores shared his and other former ryugakuseis’ once-in-a-lifetime encounter with Their Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at the San Diego Gardens in Intramuros, Manila. The historic Imperial Visit was held on January 26, 2016:

“The good Minister also mentioned the visit of Their Majesties, the Emperor and Empress of Japan last January. And again, we were honored – former students – to be given 30 minutes of an audience in Intramuros with Their Majesties. We can talk all night about our experience; we can talk all day and for many months and I will continue to talk about it to my children and grandchildren, because it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be able to welcome Their Majesties and be able to mingle with them, to experience them mingling with former foreign students (in Japan). I found that experience to be not only extraordinary but very gratifying to know that Their Majesties are truly interested in Filipinos who studied in Japan.

All of us felt honored that they would ask pointed questions – not only where we studied, what we took up. They engage (us) in very specific discussions and conversations with each and every one of us; and there were more than 50 of us. I believe they spoke with each and every one of us.

Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko meet the representatives of the Philippine Federation of Japan Alumni (PHILFEJA), Thursday, January 28, 2016, at the ancient San Diego Garden, located along the walls of Intramuros in Manila.(Photo by Benhur Arcayan/Malacañang Photo Bureau)

(Photo by Benhur Arcayan/Malacañang Photo Bureau)

I remember the Imperial Household aide say, “Mou jikan de gozaimasu” (laughter); but then they continued. Then His Excellency Ambassador Ishikawa also whispered into their ears, “Hontou ni, jikan de gozaimasu” (laughter) … oh they continued, so the 30 minutes became 45 minutes. I mean I was really flabbergasted.

And as I was escorting them out to their vehicle, they thanked me for introducing the (Filipino) ryugakusei. It was supposed to be the other way around. We should thank them for the signal honor. But they have honored not only the former Filipino students (in Japan); they honored our country, the Philippines with their visit. And being part of that, even for (just) those precious 45 minutes was really a once in a lifetime experience that we will all cherish.”

(Photo by Benhur Arcayan/Malacañang Photo Bureau)

Towards the end of his speech, President Sanvictores summed up what it means to be a ryugakusei and assured the audience that the relationship between The Philippines and Japan will continue to strengthen and deepen:

“To me, that is at the heart of Philippines-Japan relations. And we, through the Embassy and our friends in Japan in the Philippines – we really have a strong partnership. And we can look forward with hope that our relationship will only be stronger.

And this is what being a ryugakusei is all about. That from generation to generation, we can be assured that friendship between our countries and our peoples will continue to strengthen and deepen.

Minister Ueno, thank you very much for this evening. We are all so blessed and honored to be invited.

Thank you.”

PHILFEJA members attend 22nd ASCOJA conference in Malaysia; 3 product innovations win awards

November 8, 2016by Philip Sanvictores in ASCOJA, PHILFEJA tagged ASCOJA, ASCOJA Invention Award, Kuala Lumpur, Malasiya, philfeja

The PHILFEJA delegation to the 22nd ASCOJA conference held in Malaysia (Photo: G. Ferma)

With nearly 400 total registered delegates, the Philippine Federation of Japan Alumni (PHILFEJA), comprised one of the largest delegation with 44 participants who joined 22^ndConference of the ASEAN Council of Japan Alumni (ASCOJA) held on September 30 to October 2, 2016 at E-City Hotel@One City in Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia with the theme “ASEAN-Japan: Bridging Cultural Ties in Trade, Tourism and Technology.”

The conference, which also featured the Asian Japan Alumni (ASJA) International Symposium, was organized by the Japan Graduates Association of Malaysia (JAGAM) a year after it was held in Manila with the successful hosting by PHILFEJA under the leadership of Mr. Philip Sanvictores. The conference’s other major highlight was the holding of Japan Graduates’ Invention Exhibition with the theme “Japan Graduates Impact Lives”. The three PHILFEJA members’ product exhibitions won major awards.

The presentation of product invention-innovation awards to PHILFEJA delegates.

Strengthening trade, tourism, technology and heart-to-heart relationship

In his opening speech, Dr. Ooi Chee Keong, JAGAM president and ASCOJA chairman, explained that “the conference will provide the opportunity to discuss how Japan and ASEAN can work together in trade, tourism and technology for mutual benefit as it provides platform not only to share knowledge but also to foster better relationship and understanding among member countries.” His speech was followed by the keynote message of Y.B.Dato Seri Ong Ka Chuan, Malaysia’s second minister of international trade and industry. He described how “Japan remained as ASEAN’s third largest trading partner and the second largest source of foreign direct investment inflows.” He expects that these rankings will be strengthened substantially with the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community and with the establishment of closer economic ties through various agreements such as the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement as well as the bilateral agreements signed between individual SAEAN member states with Japan.

The congratulatory message of Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was also read during the opening ceremonies. He said that “for the coming years from the next fiscal year, Japan will receive a total of 1,000 university students from ASEAN countries at leading-edge laboratories of post-graduate courses of universities.” This, he said, “will reinvigorate exchanges of talented brains, expected to shape our future, and will push up innovation in Asia.” In the same vein, Japan’s former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda assured ASCOJA of Japan’s continued support through the “sincere activities conducted by Asian Japan Alumni (ASJA), the Japanese counterpart of ASCOJA.” In a message read on his behalf, he said that the “heart-to-heart relationship have been central to the basic philosophy of ASCOJA since its foundation and will remain so going forward.”

Conference Highlights

The three-day 22^nd ASCOJA conference was also highlighted by an ASCOJA council meeting, a welcome reception, city tour and golf tournament. It was concluded by a dinner hosted by Japan ambassador to Malaysia-Dr. Miyagawa Makio, an invention awards presentation and ASCOJA members’ cultural performance, In the ASJA international symposium, Dr. Philip Ian P. Padilla, PHILAJAMES vice president, represented PHILFEJA by presenting a paper entitled “State of Science and Technology Education in the Philippines”.

The PHILFEJA delegates in a group photo and the well-applauded cultural performance presentation directed by Lavi Penaverde and Dr. Gay Paller during the ASCOJA conference ’s farewell dinner (Photo: G. Ferma)

Major Exhibition Awards Garnered

In the invention exhibition, PHILFEJA showcased three product innovations. These were the following: “Bioorganic Fertilizers: Working with Microbes for Agricultural production Sufficiency” by Dr. Mannix S. Pedro and “Increasing Crop Productivity with Vesicular Asbuscular Mycorrhizal Root Inoculant (VAMRI)” by Dr. Marilyn Brown. Dr. Pedro and Dr. Brown are both Japan-trained researchers at the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH), University of the Philippines Los Baños. On the other hand, Mr. Dan Leonard L. Rayo, president, PHILCULTAROS and Jose Clemente H. Zulueta, IT professional and expert of Samba Corporation and Portal 4 Youth Foundation, Inc. presented “SAMBACiTIES – an online directory dedicated in promoting tourism and businesses in the ASEAN Region and Japan. ” This innovation aspires in making businesses of ASCOJA members readily accessible to a broader community to provide value to its membership.

The viewing of PHILFEJA and other ASEAN chapters’ booth during the ASCOJA’s Japan Graduates Invention Exhibition .

PHILFEJA members’ innovation exhibition garnered medals and certificates as follows:

International Federation of Inventors’ Association (IFIA) certificate of award; Invention award gold medal; ASCOJA invention award medal	“Increasing Crop Productivity with Vesicular Asbuscular Mycorrhizal Root Inoculant (VAMRI)”, by Dr. Mannix Pedro
Invention award silver medal; ASCOJA invention award medal	“Bioorganic Fertilizers: Working with Microbes for Agricultural production Sufficiency”, by Dr. Marilyn Brown
Invention award silver medal; ASCOJA invention award medal	“SAMBACiTIES – an online directory dedicated in promoting tourism and businesses in the ASEAN Region and Japan”, by Jose Clemente H. Zulueta & Dan Leonard L. Rayo

Onward to 23^rd ASCOJA Conference in Brunei!

As the conference approaches to its conclusion, conference delegates felt the celebration of success, warm friendship and hospitality, understanding and harmony. Finally, they realized ASEAN’s unity in spite of diversity and the social and economic relevance of Japan alumni in more years to come as they witnessed the memento presentation and handover ceremony with Brunei Association of Japan Alumni (BAJA), host of ASCOJA 23rd conference.

Conducting the ASCOJA conference in tandem with the ASJA symposium and Japan alumni exhibition of technology and innovation was a bold act and challenging task to do for these demonstrate the significant impact and contribution of Japan alumni in the ASEAN communities. “It was indeed a very enjoyable experience. My family had a grand time here”, says Dr. Ma. Luisa Enriquez, professor at DLSU and past president of PHILAJAMES.

The PHILFEJA delegation in the 22nd ASCOJA conference, Malaysia. Kampai!!

PHILFEJA Elects New President, Amends By-laws in Annual Members’ Assembly

September 29, 2016by Philip Sanvictores in PHILFEJA

The Philippine Federation of Japan Alumni (PHILFEJA) elected University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Dean and Professor of Economics, Dr. Jose V. Camacho as its new president during its annual members’ assembly held last July 30, 2016 at the Amb. Jose S. Laurel III Hall in Dominion Building, Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City. Also central in the assembly was the submission of the amended articles of incorporation and by-laws of the organization, which all members approved unanimously.

Speaking to the General Assembly, Dr. Camacho encouraged members to support the major activities of PHILFEJA in the coming fiscal year. These include the 22nd ASEAN Council of Japan Alumni (ASCOJA) Conference scheduled on September 30-October 2, 2016 in Kuala Lumpur; the 40th Anniversary of PHILFEJA; and the Asia-Japan Alumni (ASJA)-PHILFEJA Symposium tentatively scheduled in February 2017.

Outgoing PHILFEJA President, Philip B. Sanvictores, presided over the meeting and presented his report for the fiscal years 2014-2016. As for the Board of Trustees, the following incumbent members were elected to serve for the fiscal year 2016-2017 until their successors are qualified and duly elected:

#	Name of Trustee	Association
1	JOSE V. CAMACHO, JR.	PHILAJAMES
2	POWELL DEL ROSARIO	JAAP
3	DAN LEONARD RAYO	PHILCULTAROS
4	DOMINGO GO	APPAJU
5	PHILIP B. SANVICTORES	SAPILNIP

The auditing firm of Diaz, Murillo, Dalupan & Company was designated as PHILFEJA independent external auditors for the same fiscal year.

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References:

PHILFEJA Annual Members’ Assembly July 2016 – Minutes of the Meeting
PHILFEJA Annual Members’ Assembly July 2016 – Photo Album
PHILFEJA Annual Members’ Assembly July 2016 – List of Attendees

Symposium on Monozukuri – Jakarta, Indonesia (Dec 18-20, 2015)

December 18, 2015by Philip Sanvictores in Featured, PHILCULTAROS, PHILFEJA

By: Gian M. Vibal – PHILCULTAROS

Day 1

After arriving at Soekarno–Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, we were picked up by the hosts from Indonesia together with Malaysian delegate, Law Yean Kok. Despite the long trip from Manila to Kuala Lumpur, to Jakarta, we were pleased by how organized the airport pickup was. Not to mention, the scrumptious boxed meal of Indonesian desserts that we received while waiting for our ride to our hotel.

(Source: instagram seenbygian)

Inside the cab, we had the chance to chat with the driver and Mr. Law Yean Kok about the similarities between Bahasa and Tagalog which kept us busy while braving the traffic. Soon enough, we reached an uphill leading us to the drop-off point of our accommodation—Hotel Sultan.

“Grand.”

That was the first word that came to our minds upon entering the lobby. We were provided keys to our own separate rooms as we registered for the event. The hosts welcomed us warmly with genuine smiles and handshakes.

Warm welcome– check.

Lavish accommodation– check.

Spacious room for one–

Check.

After appreciating our individual rooms and freshening up for the welcoming dinner, the participants and hosts came to the dining hall batch by batch.

At 7 PM, The “Persada” formally opened the event. There were round tables and a decent array of Indonesian cuisine to choose from. Delegates from different South-East Asian countries took this chance to network and talk about our involvements, our respective alumni societies—milestones and plans, even our common interests, ending up with casual pictorials. Sato Jiro Sensei thanked all participants for attending the event. After his speech, the hosts requested each participant to introduce himself in front of everyone and state the alumni society he/she represents. Moreover, we were pleased to have cultural exchanges with other participants which helped us better understand some differences and similarities among South-East Asian countries.

It was a fun dinner coupled with collaborative talks among delegates and this prepared us well for another information-packed day to come.

Day 2

Getting up from a cozy room, we had buffet for breakfast and immediately prepared for the symposium proper. All of us were picked up by a bus to Darma Persada University where the symposium will take place. The ride was convenient.

Upon arriving at 8:45 in the morning, we were welcomed by the student hosts in charge of the registration. There were seat designations and each participant was provided an ID and a kit that includes the compiled presentations of the speakers.

The symposium was divided into three sessions—The Philosophy of Monozukuri, Monozukuri from Industrial Practitioner Point of View and The Future of Monozukuri.

For the first session, Mr. Heru Santoso talked about Monozukuri in Indonesia; while Mr. Daiki Kasugahara discussed it from JETRO’s point of view; Dr. Dadang Solihin talked about Darma Persada’s Monozukuri education while Dr. Ruttikorn Varakulsiripunth tackled Monozukuri education in Thai Nichi Institute.

For the second session, Mr. Takao Yajima, Mr. Eichi Abe, Mr. Hartaman Ariesanto, Mr. Makoto Takahashi, Mr. Petrus Tedja Hapsoro and F.X. Sri Martono talked about the existence of Monozukuri in their respective companies (Flex Japan Group, EPSON, Indonesia Mold & Dies Industry Association, ASTRA)

Lastly, for the third session, Mr. Tatsuhiko Hayashi shared how Industry 4.0 affects the future of the Auto Industry and Mr. Takuya Shimura ended the symposium with his talk on “HRD and Monozukuri”.

Every after portion, we were given coffee breaks and lunch breaks furthering our chances to network and talk with other people. The speakers explained the concept of monozukuri in different ways coming from their own perspectives and experiences. It was a privilege to attend the event with such an interesting topic. We learned a lot about the Japanese concept of about how to create things not focusing on the item but on the person’s skills and on his/her innovative method of making it. Moreover, there is also this concept of hitozukuri which focuses on the person and how he/she undergoes a process that manifests the ingredients of personal maturation needed to improve one’s craftsmanship. Through the talks, we have somehow seen how these principles are reflected in the speakers’ work environments and realized how the application of these concepts perpetuates innovation in manufacturing. The symposium ended at around 5 PM.

PHILCULTAROS (Philippine Cultural and Technical Association of Returned Overseas Scholars), a member association of PHILFEJA represented the Philippines in the ASJA-Persada Symposium on Monozukuri held from 18-20 December 2015 in Jakarta, Indonesia . This article is the full report of Mr. Rayo to PHILFEJA on his participation in the Symposium and is published in this website with his permission.

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