Nov
30
2016

Rengokai GA, Election and Welcome Party hosted by Ambassador Ishikawa

By Admin

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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.

13During 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.

14Rengokai 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
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Nov
30
2016

57th Convention of Kaigai Nikkei Jin Tai Kai

By Admin

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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 57th 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.

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R: MOFA Minister Fumio Kishida

             The 2nd 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.
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Nov
30
2016

MOFA INTERVIEW

By Admin

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The meeting  in 2015 in Japan of the group composed of Mrs. Ines P. Mallari, Rengokai President, Mr. Carlos Teraoka , the former FNJK President, Mr. Benedicto Onari, the former President of the Cebu Nippi, Mr. Lemuel Yoshimura, a 2nd generation descendant but has not yet been recognized, Mrs. Estellita Roales of the Cotabato Nikkei and Ret. Judge Antonina B. Escovilla of the PNJK, Inc. Davao City with the high ranking official of the Nippon Foundation, Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, its chairman yielded positive result. Chairman Sasakawa facilitated the meeting of the group with the Prime Minister of Japan Hon.Shinzo Abe including different officials of the House of the Representative.

After meeting the officials named above, on May 23, 24, and 25, 2016, the unrecognized descendants were fortunate to have met in person here in Davao City, the Hon. Consul Susumu Tsuda, Counsellor and First Consul of the Embassy of Japan, based in Manila, Mr. Tadashi Miyazaki of the Nippon Foundation, Ikuko Okubo the Project Coordinator of International Affairs of Nippon Foundation and Mr. Norihiro Inomata, Director General of PNLSC of Japan.

The first to be interviewed that was held at the Board Room of PNJK, Inc. were Pacita Maramoto Torres, Roque Go Maramoto and Estodi Go Maramoto

Their father’s name is Maramoto Mashimura who worked as a carpenter. Most of the time he was engaged to work in the construction of houses as well as in the making of furniture. His Japanese friends were Shiroma Joho, Habuchi, Tsukagawa, Kimura, Tatsukama, Kusajima who worked either as farmer or fisher. They likewise married Filipino women in Manobo tribal marriage. Maramoto Mashimura married their mother Go Tomibay and had five children, two however died during their childhood. In 1940 while doing carpentry work in a house he fell causing injuries that made him bedridden. He passed away and was buried in the mountains of Colaman, Jose Abad Santos. With the outbreak of the war, all Japanese were nowhere to  be found.

The next descendant who was interviewed was Inocencia Arakaki Aglang, 71 years old, and a resident of St. Cruz, Davao del Sur. Her Japanese name is Arakaki Yoneko. She does not have full recollection about her father. What she got from her mother were bits of data that are not helpful to her case as a child of a Japanese national. She does not know the date of birth of her father. Her father is an Okinawan named Hiroshi Arakaki and allegedly was killed by the guerilla. The father was an abaca farmer. Some of her father’s Japanese friends were Watanabe, Uechi, Kamashiki and Onaga.

LKJ aswded

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Melanio Austero Takumi was called to narrate what he knew about his father whom he learned to be a carpenter as an occupation and had worked in an abaca plantation. It was in the year 1939 that his parents married by way of tribal rite. The house where most of their important documents were kept was burned thus he has no concrete evidence to support his claim of being the son of a Japanese.  He believed that he is a son of a Japanese.

All records related to his personal circumstances have been changed to conform to his contention of being the son of Takumi san.

The turn of Lemuel Yoshimura came. He is a retired District Supervisor of the Department of Education in Koronadal, South Cotabato. Despite his retirement he is still clamoring for recognition as this is the only legacy he could leave to the next generation and is desirous of dying as a Japanese national. His father’s name is Yoshimura Masaharu. He managed a restaurant called “Fuji Shoukadou” in Estancia, Iloilo. The marriage of his parents took place in 1938 at Antique and three children were born out of that relationship. After the war their father left for Japan, leaving behind his family. Considered fatherless after the war, they were forced to change their family name from Yoshimura to their mother’s maiden name because of the antagonistic behavior shown by Filipinos. The mother was a teacher and from her pay she was able to support her children with the help of Lemuel who sold nuts and cigarettes at the same time engaged in shoe shine task. At nine years of age, their mother passed away. The three children were adopted by different families. A brother who was single died in 1965. His other brother got married but died in 2009.  Meanwhile, Lemuel followed the profession of his mother. He became a teacher and was promoted as principal and retired as District Supervisor.

Oligario Aguan Nagata came to know of his father as Nagata only. His father came to the Philippines with a brother. They worked in an abaca plantation in Calinan, Davao City. Nagata met the mother of Oligario and their marriage took place in a bagobo tribal rite. After the war the father left for Japan and Oligario would like to go with him but the mother refused to let him go.

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Nov
30
2016

By Admin

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Mano or Pagmamano is a gesture used in Filipino culture performed as a sign of respect to elders and as a way of accepting a blessing from the elder. Similar to hand-kissing, the person giving the greeting bows towards the offered hand of the elder and presses his or her forehead on the elder’s hand. Usually performed with the right hand, the person showing respect may ask “Mano po” to the elder in order to ask permission to initiate the gesture. Typically someone may mano to his or her older relatives upon entry into their home or upon seeing them.

The word “mano” is Spanish for “hand” while the word “po” is often used in Filipino culture and language at the end of each sentence as a sign of respect when addressing someone older. Put together, “mano po” literally translates to “your hand please” as the greeting initiates the gesture of touching the back of the hand of an elder lightly on one’s forehead. An identical tradition is followed in neighbouring Indonesia and Malaysia called “salim” and “salam” respectively, suggesting that the Mano po tradition dates to precolonial times.

In today’s Philippine setting, the “mano” is still used by Filipinos as a sign of respect to their elders. It is usually done when the elder is seen for the first time in the day or upon entering a house or gathering. There is no age limit for the usage of the mano, but it is usually practiced on those older by two generations or more. Adults may occasionally bless people older than them though the mano practice is mainly done by the youth.

By offering your hand to “mano”, you are allowing yourself to be subservient to the elder to accept their blessing and wisdom. It is considered impolite if one does not exercise the custom of “pagmamano” when entering the home of an elder or after seeing them at a gathering.

The respect for elders stems from the high value of family in Filipino culture.

The “mano po” gesture is usually followed by a response of “God bless you” or “May the Lord have mercy on you” by the elder; the sign of the cross may be made over the recipient. The latter response of “May the Lord have mercy on you” is used when the pagmamano is performed with both hands to ask an elder’s pardon and forgiveness. With both hands, the younger person takes the elder’s hands and lifts them to the forehead to formally ask forgiveness for an offence. This may be done whilst kneeling and weeping. This is the highest form of the pagmamano.

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Bowing is considered extremely important in Japan, Basic bows are performed with the back straight and the hands at the sides (boys and men) or clasped in the lap (girls and women), and with the eyes down. Bows originate at the waist. Generally, the longer and deeper the bow, the stronger the emotion and the respect expressed. Bows can be generally divided into three main types: informal, formal, and very formal. Informal bows are made at about a fifteen degree angle or just tilt over one’s head to the front, and more formal bows at about thirty degrees. Very formal bows are deeper.

The etiquette surrounding bowing, including the length and depth of bow, and the appropriate response, is exceedingly complex. For example, if the other person maintains his or her bow for longer than expected (generally about two or three seconds), it is polite to bow again, upon which one may receive another bow in return. This often leads to a long exchange of progressively lighter bows.

Generally speaking, an inferior bows longer, more deeply and more frequently than a superior. A superior addressing an inferior will generally only nod the head slightly, while some superiors may not bow at all and an inferior will bend forward slightly from the waist. Bows of apology tend to be deeper and last longer than other types of bow. They tend to occur with frequency during the apology, generally at about 45 degrees with the head lowered and lasting for at least the count of three, sometimes longer.

Bows of thanks follow the same pattern. In extreme cases a kneeling bow is performed; this bow is sometimes so deep that the forehead touches the floor. When dealing with non-Japanese people, many Japanese will shake hands. Since many non-Japanese are familiar with the custom of bowing, this often leads to a combined bow and handshake which can be quite complicated to execute. Bows may be combined with handshakes or performed before or after shaking hands.

 

 

 

 


Nov
30
2016

“36th PNJK General Assembly”

By Admin

Nikkei – jin meeting with Their Majesties:
A great reason for jubilation, vigor and renewed strength.
   by: Evelyn Obuchi

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On May15, 2016 at 9:00 in the morning, more than a hundred of Nikkei- jins from Chapters of Tagum, Davao, Toril, Calinan, Digos   and Kidapawan gathered at PNJK-IS gym to attend the 36th Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai, Inc. General Assembly.

This year’s theme isNikkei – jin Meeting  with Their Majesties: A great reason for jubilation, vigor and renewed strength. A theme inspired by the meeting of selected 2nd generation Japanese descended Filipinos from all over the Philippines with their Royal Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan in January 28, 2016 in Manila.

The 2nd generation Nikkei-jins were so over joyed and totally overwhelmed with the encounter that with teary eyes they said “Our father came back home”.  With newly acquired vigor and renewed strength the Nikkei-jins are expected to be more united in their continued journey towards identity recognition for a progressive and brighter future.

The assembly commenced at 9:30 am with the Masters of Ceremonies Mr. Felipe Hiquial and Ms. Noellyne Fernandez opening the program proper followed by a prayer led by Ms. Adelaida Panagution. The 1st Vice President Rodrigo Suemitsu acknowledged the participants and welcomed by Ms. Elizabeth Tagud in behalf of the Chairman of the Board of Directors Ms. Ines Mallari who was not able to attend the affair because she has to go to Japan together with the President Ret. Judge Antonina Escovilla.

Ms. Evelyn Obuchi read the letter of President Escovilla welcoming and thanking the members and supporters of PNJK. PNJK President Escovilla likewise apologized for not being around because together with the Chairman she has to attend the necrological service in Japan of one of the ardent  sponsors and supporters of PNJK  – the late Mr. Tatsuo Uchida fondly  called by people close to him as “otoosan”.
The President’s consolidated report zeroed in on the different activities and accomplishments of the association starting May 10, 2015 wherein the “Araw ng Nikkei jin” was successfully celebrated.  July 2015 was a very important month because the Rengokai President Ines Mallari together with the PNJK President Ret. Judge Escovilla and Nisei from Cebu, Baguio and Manila left for Japan to meet with no less than the Prime Minister of Japan Hon. Shinzo Abe , Japanese Senators and Representatives of Diet.  On August 15, 2015 Ireisai was held in Calinan in coordination with the Consulate Office of Japan in Davao. October was a very busy month beginning with the celebration of Phil-RP Japan Festival on October 5-8. Chosen Cat. C Nikkei –jin members took part in the Home-coming tour in Japan. Third week of the same month PNJK President, Ret. Judge Escovilla, the Rengokai President Ms. Ines Mallari, Ms. Elizabeth Tagud and Ms. Carmen Apigo attended the Kai Gai Nikkei Jin Tai Kai on October 26-28 in Tokyo, Japan.

Business Proper followed afterwards with Ms. Carmen Apigo reading the last year’s minutes of the meeting and the President’s Report in behalf of Ret. Judge Antonina Escovilla.

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