A 23-member PHILFEJA (Philippine Federation of Japan alumni) delegation headed by Mr. Francis C Laurel, President of the Philippines-Japan Society and Mr. Domingo C. Go, President of PHILFEJA attended the 27th ASCOJA (ASEAN Council of Japan Alumni) Conference which was held in Jakarta, Indonesia from July 7-9, 2023.
The 27th ASCOJA Conference whose Theme is “ASEAN-Japan Cooperation Towards SDGs for Better Quality of Life.” was held on the 8th of July but the day before, on the 7th of July was the ASJA-ASCOJA-PERSADA International Symposium with the Theme: “How the Covid Pandemic Affected and Provide Opportunities for ASEAN-Japan Social, Culture and Economic Development.” Both were held at the Universitas Darma Persada in Jakarta.
PHILFEJA speaker for the ASJA Symposium was Dr. Donald Patrick Lim, Chief Operating Officer of DITO CME and the Chief Innovation Officer of the Udenna Corporation. He is also the President the Philippine Marketing Association. Speaker for the ASCOJA Conference was Ms. Griselda (Gay) Santos, Regional Director, Southeast Asia of Water.org, an international non-profit organization that helps people living in poverty get access to safe water and improved sanitation through affordable financing.
The delegates enjoyed the Welcome Reception held at Kempinski Grand Indonesia graced by the presence of the Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia, Kenji Kanasugi and the State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr. Shunsuke Takei. On the 9th of July, after the Morning Mangrove and City Tour which ended with a sumptuous lunch, the delegates were also entertained by a memorable Farewell Dinner at the Sultan Hotel & Residence Jakarta with a popular Indonesian Band. Hon. Tatsuo Fukuda, Member of the House of Representative was the special guest who showed his good sportsmanship by joining the mass dancing and was dubbed the “Dancing King” of the night. Mr. Tatsuo Fukuda currently serves as Chief Deputy Secretary General of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in Japan. He is the son of former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and grandson of former Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda.
The 28th ASCOJA Conference will be held in Bangkok, Thailand in 2025.
