Admin, Author at Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai, Incorporated

Nov

2016

From the Desk of the President

By Admin

As the saying goes, when it rains, it pours profusely.

2016 had been quite a fruitful and memorable year. We started the year with a momentous event, that of meeting with Their Majesties, the Emperor and Empress of Japan. All 2^nd generation or Nisei coming from different cities in the Philippines were grouped at the lobby of Sofitel, Metro Manila, where they were privileged to converse with Their Majesties who appreciated their presence and acknowledged them to have been the bridge of the two countries, Japan and the Philippines. We have maintained the cordial relationship of the two countries as the nikkeijins continue to contribute to the progress and development of our country.

Then in May 2016, the Embassy of Japan visited various cities in the Philippines and conducted interviews of the 2^nd generation or Nisei as to their affiliation with their Japanese forefathers. Davao City was the first place visited by no less than the Counsellor and First Consul of the Embassy of Japan, Hon. Consul Susumu Tsuda.

We also successfully observed the General Assembly of the Philippine Nikkei Jin Davao City Chapter on May 14, 2016, with the active participation of members mostly from the far-flung areas.

The officers of the Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai, Davao City Chapter together with some members in Baguio City attended the 57^th Convention of Nikkei and Japanese abroad in Tokyo, Japan where our Rengokai President Ines P. Mallari was given the opportunity to share the educational program of our institutions in Davao City.

Later in the year, on November 11, 2016, the General Assembly of Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai Rengokai was held in Manila, and the participants were privileged to be invited by HE Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa at his residence. There were Philippine government officials who were invited to the Welcome Party hosted by Amb. Ishikawa, and exchange of pleasantries took place between the Nikkeijins and the said officials.

Finally on December 1, 2016, the PNJK Officials and different heads of the PNJK Family were invited to attend the Emperor’s Birthday or the National Day of Japan at SMX Convention Center which was hosted by HE Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa. The special guest of honor was no less than the President of the Republic of the Philippines, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. All nikkeijins who were around had the privilege to have a photo opportunity with President Duterte, who was so gracious in accommodating the request of the PNJK Davao City Chapter to have a photo opportunity with him.

In year 2016 there were four (4) approved shuuseki petitions. The lucky members of our association who now are equipped with their family registration are: Francisco Asajiro Okamoto, Nicanor Fujikawa, Victorio Itou and Felicitas Toyoda.

While we are ecstatic with the rare occasions earlier mentioned, we are saddened by the death of one of our generous and steadfast supporter as far as our education program is concerned, in the person of Mr. Tatsuo Uchida, the foster father of our official Mrs. Ines P. Mallari and adopted brother of Ret. Judge Antonina B. Escovilla. He was the biggest contributor to the progress and development of PNJK Family and may he rest in peace with his wife Ayako Uchida.

Ret. Judge Antonina B. Escovilla
PNJK Inc., President

Nov

2016

JPIC UPDATES

By Admin

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 57^th 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.

Nov

2016

Celebrate Birthday of His Majesty

By Admin

The PNJK officials and heads attended the National Day of Japan hosted by His Excellency Japanese Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa, with no less than the Republic of the Philippines Pres. Rodrigo R. Duterte as the guest of honor at SMX on December 01, 2016.

We were extremely thankful since we were the only group that was given the opportunity to have a special photo with the President. The PNJK family’s excitement could not be contained especially when one of our colleagues, the PNJK Davao President, Judge Antonina Escovilla was especially mentioned during Pres. Duterte’s speech and was even called by the President himself to join the dignitaries in their official photo. Congrats Madam Judge and banzai to all Nikkeijins!

Nov

2016

Rengokai GA, Election and Welcome Party hosted by Ambassador Ishikawa

By Admin

On November 11, 2016, Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa hosted a reception at his residence in Forbes Park, Makati, to welcome the participants of the General Assembly of the Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai Rengokai headed by their President, Mrs. Ines Mallari. The reception was attended by Atty. Erickson H. Balmes and Atty. Raymund I. Mecate, Undersecretaries of the Department of Justice of the Philippines. Mr. Frank R. Cimafranca, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, the Manila Japanese Association officers and some representatives of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines.

During the reception, there was a lively exchange of views among the members of the Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai Rengokai, representatives of the Philippine government office and Japanese association. On November 12, 2016 the Philippine Nikkei Jin Rengokai held a very successful general assembly at a hotel in Metro Manila. (Source: Embassy of Japan in the Philippines)

After the foregoing reception, the participants converged at the Bayview Hotel in Roxas Boulevard, Manila the following day, November 12, 2016. All chapter Presidents of the various group of descendants registered prior to the main event. The Rengokai Secretary in the person of Ret. Judge Antonina B. Escovilla led the invocation followed by the singing of the National Anthems – Philippines and Japan.

Rengokai President Ines Mallari introduced all participants including observers to the audience and delivered her welcome message. The good and amiable Counsellor and Chief Consul of the Embassy of Japan in Manila Hon. Susumu Tsuda gave his inspiring message followed by another message from our generous supporter The Nippon Foundation representative, Ms. Ikuko Okubo. Atty. Hiroyuki Kawai, PNLSC Chairman and Japanese lawyers, Atty. Mochizuki and Atty. Ohiwa likewise gave their messages in relation to the Shuseki project.

Thereafter President Mallari gave her report as to the various activities engaged by the Rengokai for the past twelve months inclusive of the attendance to the 57th Convention of the Nikkei and Japanese Abroad held in October 25 to 27, 2016 in Tokyo, Japan.

Adopting the provisions of the Bylaws of Rengokai, election followed after hearing the report of the Corporate Treasurer resulting in the approval of all disbursements as well as future expenses the association would incur.

Elected for the term 2016-2018 are the following, to wit:

Mrs. Ines P. Mallari
President
Atty. Emmanuel O. Pacsi
Chairman of the Board
Atty. Allyson Locano
Vice-President for Luzon
Mrs. Estrella Siega
Vice-President for Visayas
Mr. Edwin Padilla
Vice-President for Mindanao
Ret. Judge Antonina B. Escovilla
Rengokai Secretary
Mrs. Araceli Tan
Rengokai Treasurer
Mr. Stephen Buni
Rengokai Auditor
Mrs. Cecilia Zaldivar
Iloilo Chapter President
Mrs. Melissa Roales
Cotabato Chapter President
Mr. Nelson Mabayo
Iligan Chapter President
Mr. Lemuel Yoshimura (Acuesta)
General Santos Chapter President
Mrs. Diocely Macasero
Butuan Chapter President
Mrs. Natalia Feliciano
Zamboanga Chapter President
Mrs. Maria Editha Teraoka Cabanisas
Abong Chapter
Mrs. Hatsuko Vidal
Bacolod Chapter

Nov

2016

57th Convention of Kaigai Nikkei Jin Tai Kai

By Admin

Baguio “Abong Nikkei Jin Kai Delegation with MOFA Consul Katsutoshi Someda, PNLSC N. Inomata, I. Mallari, A. Escovilla, C. Apigo, A. Iwamoto, E. Obuchi.”

The 57^th Convention of Nikkeijin and Japanese Abroad was another milestone for all of us, the Nikkeijins in the Philippines. Present during the said convention representing the Philippines were JPIC President Yoshihiro Tokumitsu with JPIC Coordinator Eve Obuchi, Rengokai President Ines P. Mallari, Rengokai Secretary and PNJK Davao City Chapter President Ret. Judge Antonina B. Escovilla, PNJK Davao Chapter Secretary Mrs. Carmen C. Apigo, PNJK Davao Chapter Treasurer Anita P. Iwamoto and six delegates from the Baguio Chapter.

Registration was allotted for the first day and the welcome party was hosted by the Imperial Family, giving the delegates the opportunity in meeting Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko. Our Rengokai President with her group had the chance in shaking the hands of both the Prince and the Princess . A brief conversation between them and our President Mallari took place, where the latter conveyed the presence of Their Majesties in the Philippines in January of 2016.

R: MOFA Minister Fumio Kishida

The 2^nd day of the convention Parliamentary Vice-Minister Kiyoshi Odawara of the Overseas Nikkei Communities for the Japanese Government gave the Keynote Speech followed by the presentation of reports from each delegate representing various countries like Panama, Peru, UK, Brazil, USA and Philippines among others.
Our Rengokai President shared with the rest of the delegation the educational programs in the Philippines and showed slides of various activities conducted in the previous and the current years.

The Nikkeijins in the Philippines became the bridge in the bilateral relationship between the two countries Japan and Philippines. This will further enhance by the recognition and acknowledgement of the programs embarked by the Philippine Nikkei Jin Rengokai more so in the field of education where Japanese culture and Language are given much attention.
In the evening of the same day, all the participants were transported to the IIkura House of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a sumptuous dinner with the officers of MOFA headed by Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida who was also scheduled to have another dinner engagement with no less than His Excellency the President of the Philippines Rodrigo R. Duterte.