Annual Memorial Service
15th August, 2013 @ Mintal Cemetery
By: Koichi Ibara
Director and Consul of Japan in Davao
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good Morning!!!
As I can see many representatives and members from Japanese community, please allow me to speak in Japanese as well as in English.
First of all, I would like to thank all of you for having joined us in our Annual Memorial Service this morning. I cannot help but to feel humbled and solemn today as I look back together with you on the past and envisage the future.
It was more than a century ago when the relationship between Japan and Davao began. The earliest record of the arrival of Japanese settlers in Davao was in 1903. Davao, with its flourishing Abaka industry, eventually became the destination of many Japanese nationals as the land of hope for a brighter future.
Due to the dedication of these early Japanese settlers who worked hard together, they prospered and became successful. They also helped Davao achieve economic growth through their robust economic expansion at that time.
But the entry of Japan into the war in 1941 changed the entire situation. The people of the whole nation including those in Davao became witnesses to the most tragic episode in the history of Japan-Philippine relationship.
The relations of goodwill which had been created by the Japanese and local communities in Davao totally collapsed. The Philippines, however, became one of the first countries in Asia which warmly welcomed and received Japan’s renewed friendly policies after the war.
On this occasion, I would like to express, on behalf of the people of Japan, my deep gratitude to the people of the Philippines for the generosity, noble spirit of reconciliation and hospitality.
Under the most amicable bilateral relations between Japan and the Philippines, we are here this morning to remember and honor our ancestors who have gone before us prior to the war.
I just would like to bring to your knowledge that around 80 Japanese people from the Okinawa Davao Friendship Society and the Association of Bereaved Families in Okinawa visited this cemetery on 28th July and, with the kind cooperation extended by PNJK, they held the memorial service and offered their prayers.
It was both humbling and inspiring to see a group of so many people coming here all the way from Okinawa and keeping up the tradition of remembering and honoring their departed ancestors.
As I stand here today, I feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to co-organize this year’s Memorial Service to honor and express our respect to those forefathers who built the bridge of friendship and goodwill between Japan and Davao during the prewar period.
I hope we will continue to work together as friends and partners in overcoming the challenges ahead and in renewing our noble sense of mission of offering our prayers to the soul of our ancestors.
I have no doubt whatsoever that we will all be able to continue walking ahead together, like our forefathers before us, on the road towards further prosperity and success.
I would like to conclude this speech by expressing again my heartfelt appreciation to all the people who have attended this significant Memorial Service this morning.
Thank you very much.