2016 is a very fruitful year for Japan Philippine Industry Council by opening the year with an invitation from Philippine Nikkei Jin Rengokai (Federation) to attend the 2016 NATIONAL CONVENTION of the FILIPINO-JAPANESE DESCENDANTS on January 28, 2016 with the Theme: “War-displaced Japanese Descendants: Reunion of the Voices and the Journey Onward” and a very rare royal visit to the Philippines by their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan.
February 27, 2016 was the JPIC Rinji Soukai and Bunka Kai in Lipa City, Batangas. The said meeting was attended by 12 members.
On March 2, 2016, JPIC President Yoshihiro Tokumitsu with Sensei Taniguchi of KLS Language School in Kagoshima paid a courtesy visit to President Ines Mallari of MKD to discuss the possibility of extending scholarship and accepting MKD students at KLS to study Nihongo.
In April – yearly schedule of the JPIC Liaison Officer to visit the different JPIC member companies with the objectives:
- Meet with the JPIC companies’ Presidents / Nikkei Jin Person In-Charge and descendants
- discuss about the descendants condition, situation, problems and concerns in the said company.
- Get-Together lunch/dinner
On May 17, 2016 one of the members of JPIC Mr. Masaaki Hanzawa President of Triumph Co., Ltd. with Mr. Russell Rowe Montajes and JPIC Liaison Officer had a courtesy visit to Consul Susumu Tsuda – Counsellor/Chief Consul of the Japanese Embassy. The meeting was cordial.
July was indeed a very busy month for JPIC as there were several activities and meetings lined-up:
July 8 JPIC Directors’ Meeting in Yotsuya City, Tokyo. One of the agenda was to revise some regulations in the JPIC Constitution and changes in the membership fee and annual dues of the members to be able to continue supporting different Nikkei jin Kais and other programs of JPIC.
July 22 JPIC President Tokumitsu and the JPIC Liaison Officer had a courtesy visit to the Counsellor/ Chief Consul of Japanese Embassy Susumu Tsuda. The visit was successful as several matters concerning the Philippine Nikkei Jins were discussed.
July 26 JPIC President Tokumitsu met with the JPIC Scholars and their parents for a short meeting and get-together. The JPIC Scholars prepared a hand-made “Thank You Card” and personally handed the same to President Tokumitsu.
On October 7, 2016 was the JPIC Soukai in Manila City and Information Exchange Meeting with PNJK Board of Directors on October 8, 2016 in Davao City.
October 10, 2016 was the Human Relationship Seminar sponsored by JPIC President Tokumitsu with PNJK as co-sponsor. The guest speaker is a lecturer from Japan Creative Education Institute Mr. Kazuaki Ishibashi. The purpose of the seminar is to develop stronger relationship with each other and to stress the importance of continuous learning no matter what our station in society.
JPIC also attended the 57th Kai Gai Nikkei Jin Tai Kai in Tokyo on October 24-26, 2016 together with PNJK President Antonina Escovilla, Rengokai President Ines Mallari PNJK Board of Director Apigo and Director Iwamoto.
PNJK President Escovilla and Rengokai President Mallari with JPIC Liaison Officer were invited to Kagoshima to visit Enu Chicken the company of JPIC President Tokumitsu on October 27-29, 2016. It was an opportunity for the descendants at Enu Chicken to listen to the messages and advices of the PNJK President and Rengokai President. Indeed a rare bonding opportunity for the descendants and officers.
JPIC ended 2016 with a prestigious dinner invitation received from the Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Ambassador Ishikawa through the courtesy of Philippine Nikkei Jin Rengokai President Ines Mallari.
