PJS hosts its 43rd Philippines-Japan Friendship Golf Tournament

January 26, 2024by secretariat in PJS tagged 43rd Golf Tournament, golf, Golf tournament, Wack Wack

Last January 17, 2024, the Philippines-Japan Society, Inc. (PJS) held its 43^rd Golf Tournament at the Wack Wack Golf & Country Club, Mandaluyong City.

With 111 players participating, it broke the record of the highest number of players to attend in the history of the organization’s golf tournament. The Ceremonial Tee Shot officially kicked off the competition followed by the shotgun starts of every flight at their respective assigned holes. The players were divided into 28 groups with four members each, switching turns in a Scramble Best Ball honesty game.

Team 6 composed of JJ Atencio, Paolo Cagalingan, Masatoshi Saito, and Keishi Saito bagged the victory with a gross score of 65, a handicap of 19, and a net score of 46. Filemon Del Carmen, Alfredo Del Carmen, Michael Del Carmen, and Yasunori Takamatsu of Flight 11 took 1st runner up with 67 gross score, 20 handicap, and 47 net score. For 2nd runner up, Harutaka Ishikawa, Yasuhiro Fukuki, Edwin Umali, and Shinichi Kusunoki’s team garnered a gross score of 69, handicap of 22, and net score of 47.

Fun holes were also awarded to the following:

Nearest to the Pin: Hole #8 – Takao Shinohara, 4 ft

Nearest to the Pin: Hole #14 – Ichirou Iwabuchi, 1 ft

Longest Drive: Hole #13 – Joel Aguada, 300 yards

Most Accurate Drive: Hole #13 – Toshiaki Fujioka, 1 ft

Golf Committee Chairman Ramon Maria Abaquin announced his retirement from the committee at the awards ceremony and introduced the new members: Atty. Carrie Bee Hao, Mr. Archie Sanvictores, Mr. Tomohiro Koseki, and Mr. Kunihiko Nimura.

Resources:
Photos

FUKUDA SHIGEO CALLS ON PJS

October 3, 2023by secretariat in PJS

Mr. FUKUDA Shigeo – son of former Prime Minister FUKUDA Yasuo – paid a courtesy call on Mr. Francis C. Laurel, President of the Philippines Japan Society (PJS) last July 13, 2023. Mr. Fukuda was accompanied by Mr. TAKANO Seji, President of the Japanese Association Manila, Inc. (JAMI), and President of Sumitomo Corporation of the Philippines (SCP). Also, on hand to receive the guests were Mr. Ricky Osmond, Chairman of The Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committee (PHILJEC), Mr. Gerry B. Sanvictores (PJS Vice-President), and Mr. Philip B. Sanvictores, President of the Nihongo Center Foundation.

Messrs. Fukuda and Takano were received at the Ambassador Jose S. Laurel III Room where the memorabilia of the late Ambassador and Founder of the Philippines-Japan Society and its affiliate organizations are housed. Photos of Prime Ministers FUKUDA Takeo and FUKUDA Yasuo – Mr. Fukuda Shigeo’s grandfather and father, respectively – are among framed pictures prominently displayed in the Laurel Room.

During the call, Mr. Laurel presented Mr. Fukuda with a copy of the book – Jose S. Laurel III, Filipino Samurai. Interestingly, Mr. Fukuda brought with him a copy of the same book which was earlier given to his father – PM Fukuda Yasuo – with a request for a dedication from Mr. Laurel. Of course, Mr. Laurel obliged and wrote dedications on both books for the personal collection of father and son.

Mr. Fukuda was previously stationed in SCP and lived in the Philippines for several years and is quite familiar with the country. Currently, he oversees the industrial estates development business of Sumitomo Corporation.

Ambassador Jose C. Laurel V awarded 42nd PJS Medal of Merit

August 11, 2023by secretariat in PJS tagged 42nd Awards Night, Amb. Joey Laurel, Awards Night

On July 19, 2023, The Philippines-Japan Society, Inc. (PJS) awarded Ambassador Jose C. Laurel V the 42nd Medal of Merit for his outstanding achievements and contributions in promoting and strengthening Philippines-Japan relations at the 42nd Philippines-Japan Friendship Celebration Awards Night held at New World Hotel in Makati City.

PJS Corporate Secretary, Atty. Jose Vicente Jimenez, read the Citation which was followed by the bestowment of the Medal of Merit and the plaque of the Citation to Ambassador Laurel V by PJS President Francis C. Laurel and PJS Vice-President Gerard B. Sanvictores.

A culminating highlight of his service to the country was with his appointment as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Philippines to Japan in June 2017, a post he held with distinction until June 2022. Among his major accomplishments as Philippine Ambassador to Japan were: management of high-level official visits between the Philippines and Japan, the State Visit to Japan of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in 2019 and the Official Visit of Foreign Minister Taro Kono, also in 2019, including three working visits of President Duterte to Japan; and the supervision of large-scale projects involving Japanese corporations such as the Metro Manila Subway project.

Aside from his term as Ambassador of the Philippines to Japan, Ambassador Laurel V also served as Governor of the Province of Batangas from 1980 to 1988.

PJS President Laurel gave the opening remarks, followed by the greetings of The Philippine Society of Japan President, Ambassador Makoto Katsura and H.E. Kazuhiko Koshikawa, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Philippines which was read by Minister Kenichi Matsuda, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission of Japan to the Philippines.

The Children of Ambassador Laurel V and Mr. Victor “Cocoy” Laurel delighted the guests with their own musical pieces.

Attachments:
Citation of the Medal of Merit
Opening Remarks by Mr. Francis C. Laurel
Greetings by Amb. Kazuhiko Koshikawa (read by Minister Kenichi Matsuda)
Program
Photo Gallery

PJS hosts its 42nd Golf Tournament with the Unveiling of its New Perpetual Trophy

March 8, 2023by secretariat in PJS tagged golf, Golf tournament, PJS

On February 13, 2023, the Philippines-Japan Society (PJS) held its 42nd Golf Tournament at the Alabang Country Club, Muntinlupa. With 84 players participating, it broke the record of the highest number of players achieved in 2019 which had a total of 80 players.

The Ceremonial Tee Shot was done by former Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines, H.E. Toshinao Urabe. Afterwhich, the tournament formally started with a shot-gun start at 6:40 a.m. As in previous years, the tournament was a four-man team Scramble (Best Ball) honesty game. After a fun and interesting game, Team 11 emerged victorious. Its members Emmanuel Barcelon, Fernandel Evangelista, Shinji Kudo, and Noel Ramirez garnered a score of 70. Minus the handicap of 20.9, they got a total score of 49.1.

With a gross score of 68, a handicap of 16.6, and a net score of 51.4, Team 12 with its members Keiichi Matsunaga, Atsushi Okubo, Takahiro Machiba, and Edwin Umali takes the 1st runner up place. And coming in as the 2nd runners up are Martin Guantes, Hiroshi Nakagawa, Kazuma Nakagomi, and Jonald Vergara with a gross score of 70, a handicap of 18.2, and a net score of 51.8.

Also receiving recognition are the winners of the fun holes, namely:

Nearest to the Pin: Hole #6- Tetsuro Fujii, 7ft

Nearest to the Pin: Hole #12- John Laurel, 12 ft

Longest Drive: Hole #9- Kian Yang, 361 yards

Longest Drive: Hole #18- Ramon David, 290 yards

At the awards ceremony, Golf Committee Chairman Joseph Uy, Jr. announced his retirement and succession of the chairmanship to Mr. Ramon Abaquin, co-chairman of the committee. Afterwhich, the new championship trophy was presented to the winning team. This new perpetual trophy was made in the 18th century for King George V and was donated to the society by the heirs of the late Joseph K.H. Uy.

For detailed results and photos of the event, please refer to our Resources.

Atty. Eusebio V. Tan Receives Imperial Award at Conferment Ceremony

June 14, 2022by secretariat in Featured, PHILJEC, PJS tagged Eusebio Tan, Imperial Award, Order of the Rising Sun, Philippines Japan Society, PHILJEC, PJS

Atty. Eusebio V. Tan, member of the Philippines-Japan Society (PJS) Board of Trustees and adviser of PHILJEC, received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon award during a ceremony held on Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at the Japanese Ambassador’s Residence.

Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan conferred the award, which recognizes Atty. Tan’s contribution to strengthening the relations between Japan and the Philippines in the economic sector. Ambassador Koshikawa, in his congratulatory message, lauded the many efforts of Atty. Tan in promoting the Philippines as a viable investment location for a diversified manufacturing base which greatly encouraged and made possible the entry of several Japanese investors. Ambassador Koshikawa added that Atty. Tan assisted in the expansion of some Japanese financial institutions into the Philippines so that Japanese business sectors could be financially supported. In 2012 and 2013, Atty. Tan also served as co-chair of the Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committee (PHILJEC) and led several bilateral dialogues. To close his message, Ambassador Koshikawa expressed his hope that Atty. Tan will remain steadfast in helping further deepen bilateral relations between Japan and the Philippines.

The Order of the Rising Sun was established by Emperor Meiji in 1875 and is awarded to individuals who have made distinguished achievements in international relations, promotion of Japanese culture, advancements in their field, development in welfare or preservation of the environment.

Gallery: