The Nihongo Center Foundation granted scholarships for the top three finalists of the recently concluded 2015 J-Pop Anime Song and Dance Contest Grand Finals, held on July 25, 2015 at the SM Cinema Centerstage, SM Mall of Asia. There were 10 finalists in the Song Category and 5 in the Dance Category. Special performances by the Hikari Band, Doraemon & Friends, and the No Plan Band which is composed on Embassy of Japan staff who performed to wildly cheering fans like a professional rock and pop band.

The NCF scholarships consisted of:

• First Prize – full tuition scholarship for Elementary 1 Nihongo Course (64 hours); awarded to Maychell Hernandez ;
• Second Prize – full tuition scholarship for Marugoto Course (24 hours) ; awarded to Kenichi Go Uang ; and
• Third Prize – 80% tuition scholarship for Marugoto Course (24 hours) ; awarded to Lou Angeline Buenaventura Ulanday .

The scholarship certificates were presented by NCF President PHILIP B. SANVICTORES in the presence of AMBASSADOR KAZUHIDE ISHIKAWA, as well as the Board of Judges led by Mr. Tetsuo Kitagawa (Director – Japan Information & Cultural Center) and Mr. Shuji Takatori (Director – Japan Foundation Manila) to the following:

The J-Pop Contest is an annual event organized by the Embassy of Japan in celebration of the Philippines-Japan Friendship Month (held every July). Besides NCF, the other sponsors were the Japan Foundation Manila, Japan National Tourism Organization, All Nippon Airways, Animation International, Ajinomoto PH, Bandai Namco PH, Bobson, Canon Information Technologies, Canon Marketing, Center for Pop Music, Hero TV, Hikkaido Ramen Santouka, Japan Chamber of Commerce & Industry of the PH, Lotte Confectionary, Panasonic, SM Cinema, SM Mall of Asia, Sony, Toei Animation, Yakult and Yoshinoya. http://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/pressandspeech/press/pressreleases/2015/33.html

The annual membership meetings of the Philippine Institute of Japanese Language & Culture Foundation (PIJLC) and the Nihongo Center Foundation (NCF) were held on July 29, 2015 at the Board Room of the Philippines-Japan Friendship Foundation. The Chairman of PIJLC and NCF, Ambassador Benjamin F. Sanvictores presided over the meeting. The President, Mr. Philip B. Sanvictores submitted and discussed the 2014 Joint Report for PIJLC and NCF to the members, which was unanimously approved.

The following Trustees were reelected for the ensuing year 2015:

1. AMBASSADOR BENJAMIN F. SANVICTORES
2. GOVERNOR JOSE C. LAUREL V
3. FRANCIS C. LAUREL
4. MRS. MERCEDITAS LAUREL-MARQUEZ
5. PHILIP B. SANVICTORES

Thereafter, the following were reelected to positions opposite their respective names:

1. Chairman: AMBASSADOR BENJAMIN F. SANVICTORES
2. President: MR. PHILIP B. SANVICTORES
3. Treasurer: MRS. MA. ELENA LAUREL-LOINAZ
4. Secretary: MRS. GLENDA T. FERMA
5. Academic Advisor: PROF. KENJIRO OGATA

Ms. Carmencita Biscarra was appointed Manager of the Faculty Development Program which is the centerpiece of the new strategic direction for PIJLC and NCF.

Besides the abovementioned Trustees and Officers, others in attendance were Ms. Betty P. Mojica (retired Vice-President for Academic Affairs), Prof. Kenjiro Ogata (Academic Advisor), Mrs. Ysa Laurel-Dimayuga, Mr. Homer Aniceto and Engr. Reggie Ofrin.

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Closing Ceremony

Preparatory Japanese Language Training for 7th Batch JPEPA
Nurse and Care Worker Candidates
Wednesday –May 27, President Jose P. Laurel Hall
The Philippines-Japan Friendship Center-Manila

9:00～9:05          National Anthems of the Republic of the Philippines and Japan
9:05～9:10          Opening Remarks (Mr. Shuji Takatori – Director, The Japan Foundation, Manila)
9:10～9:30          Messages from the Honorable Guests (Mr. Philip B. Sanvictores – President, Nihongo Center Foundation, Inc.; Ms. Liberty T. Casco – Deputy Administrator, Employment and Welfare, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration; Mr. Hiroyuki Enoki – First Secretary, Labor Attaché, Embassy of Japan)
9:30～9:35          Awarding of Certificates By Mr. Shuji Takatori

To Class Representatives :
Ms. Cyrill B.Guerra (Haru) / Ms. Ada Hannah L. Delizo (Natsu) / Ms. Melanie Q. Manzo (Aki)
Ms. Grazela P. David (Fuyu) / Ms. Roxelle Louie E. Martin (Arashi)

9:35～9:40          Message from a Representative of the Candidates (Ms. Mariska Matel S.Florendo (Arashi))
9:40～9:50          Song – Nurse and Care Worker Candidates
“手紙 〜拝啓 十五の君へ〜 十五の君へ〜 ” (Letter ~Greetings to a 15 Year Old~) Dance – “Yosakoi”
9:50～9:55          Closing Remarks (Dr. Deogracias Edwin P. Mojica – Academic Advisor, PIJLC-Nihongo Center Foundation)

Emcee Mr. Alfred L. Delos Reyes – Faculty, Nihongo Center Foundation

Click here for the Speech of NCF President Sanvictores