Sep

2015

“Message delivered by Mrs. Panaguiton during the welcome party of Otoosan”

By Admin

At first it was just a wish and a prayer that Uchida “Otoosan” will come once again to Davao after a long time of absence because of his illness and delicate condition. But suddenly, here you are in Davao in front of us, you made as so happy and once again we feel your loving presence, like a father to us who cared so much for the Davaoweños, especially Davao, your birthplace and for the Philippine Nikkei Jins, who are recipient of your benevolence.

You touched so many lives ………….

You cared for the orphans by your continued support and building them a house for the poor children, with the support of your loving wife the late Mrs. Ayako Uchida.

You are one of the benefactors who contributed most for the welfare of the Nikkei Jins here in Davao.

You helped establish our Nihongo School.
2. Sponsored many students especially the Nihongo Scholars in Japan whom you constantly give moral and financial support.
3. Initiated the yearly Recorder Ensemble and encouraged the Tokyo Kichijoji Lions Club to help support this project.
4. Helped the Nikkei Jins in promoting the educational, Nihongo Language Training Center and Baseball Cup to the Japanese people.
5. With your help, the Nippon Foundation grant the PNJK a Polyclinic to serve the health care of our members, students, faculties, parents and nearby communities.4 • DENTOU NO HIBIKI
6. You helped in the establishment of CASEDO in which you enhanced our mind, to appreciate and care for the beauty of nature and to care for our environment and encourage us to plant thousands of trees for more than a decade now.
7. Whenever our students, members, officers of PNJK will go to Japan, you are always there, open for whatever assistance you can extend.
8. Since the creation of the PNJK Association, it has been 34 years now and PNJK successfully multiplied to more than 8,000 members and to different division or entities like the following:
1. Pre- School;
2. Grade School;
3. College- The MKD whose five (5) stories building was built through the kindness and benevolence of both you and your late wife Mrs. Ayako Uchida;
4. Polyclinic
5. Calinan International School;
6. Museum and others.
9. You have extended the PNJK-IS with a loan in the acquisition of the land and building of our school and you bravely lent us not thinking if we could really pay you back.

Thank you so much for the trust and confidence that you have given us that motivated us to try our best not to betray your trust. We thank God that after all these years we are able to comply and were able to complete our loan payment.

Most significant of your contribution is being once a member and officer of Yuko Kyo Kai in the beginning, also of the Phil. Japan Engineering and Educational Association, Musashino and Tokyo Kichijoji Lions Club in Japan, the Japan Volunteer of Japan, PNLSC and so forth. Through these different entities of Japan that helped the Nikkei Jins to locate our real identities. Family Registration of the Nikkei Jins with the help of the Japanese Government was seen and many of the Nikkei Jins are now in Japan, successfully having their residence- visa, some are permanent residents and some acquired the Japanese Citizenship.

The image of the Philippine Nikkei Jins since 1980 up to now has greatly changed.

Nikkei Jins now have the comfort of a modest home, could send their children to School, no longer suffering a hard life. Those whose Family registrations were located upon submission of complete requirements, were able to land a job with residence visa in Japan.

Foremost of all is we were able to meet our living relatives and all the mystery of our life after the World War II are now revealed to us.

Finally, once again our heartfelt gratitude that despite your condition you still come to us here in Davao.

Please if anyone of us here in Davao have offended you or have done something wrong, we ask your forgiveness. We are very sorry.

God the Father in Heaven sees you. Our Creator loves you. You are a person with a big heart. All your goodness we cannot express but God knows. May God bless you with His abundant graces. May He grant you good health of mind, body and spirit.

Message to Tatsuo Uchida San during the Welcome Party last August 12, 2014

Sep

2015

“Can Descendants Present A Rightful Claim”

By Admin

BY: KASE BERNARDO/ BERNARDO N. FERNANDEZ, SR.

In my readings on the Dissertation for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy of Murdoch University, Western Australia, 1984 by HAYASE SHINZO, I discovered many historical information’s regarding The Economic Development done by the Japanese in Davao area, City and Province. Among them are the properties owned these Japanese Developers led by OHTA KYOSABURO and FURUKAWA, YOSHIZO. On pages 384-85 of this Dissertation we found.

APPENDIX 9
The following information with heading:
“A LIST OF PLANTATION COMPANIES IN THE DAVAO GULF REGION JAPANESE-SHOWN ON THE MAP IN THE CIRCLES.”

There were nine (9) Trading Centers of Ohta Development Co.
2. Fifteen (15) purchased plantations with total area of 8,195 hectares.
3. Fifty (50) leased plantations with a total area of 42, 926 hectares. These trading centers and plantations were established acquired between “1907-1918”, respectively.

One of these plantations is, THE PANGIT PLANTATION INC.,
Hijo Tagum, Davao, whose owner and major stockholder is our father, KASE MANJIRO. This was incorporated on 18th of December 1916, page 358.

This was granted to him by the Datu of Tagum, the uncle of our mother, ESPERANZA PANAMONGAN NAVARRO known in the community as “OGOI”. Thru her this plantation was granted to our father. To facilitate the ownership and cultivation of this property, “THE PANGIT PLANTATION CO., INC. was established with assistance of the OHTA DEVELOPMENT CO., Apart from the corporation our father and OHTA KYOSABURO had an INTERNAL AGREEMENT regarding the development of the plantation. I saw this AGREEMENT but I cannot read it because it was written in Nihongo. It was kept by our Japanese brothers-in-law YAMASHITA, KAKUZO who took over the management of the plantation after the death of our father. This Internal Agreement was lost during the war.

There are other plantations like that of our father and these Japanese owners have descendants like us who may not know this historical information.

There are also parcels of land developed by the Japanese thru “Pakiao” system. However, be it purchased or leased or Pakiao system, the properties were owned and developed by these Japanese developers; fruits of their toil and struggle.

I’m making this presentation addressed if it is worthy to be considered to the Japanese government through its appropriate Agency. Then, if this has its worth to consider, we request our PNJK legal counsel to assist us.

The ISSUE in this case is:

Our Japanese Ancestry came to Davao for economic development and progress, 1907-1941 which they succeeded.

The Japanese government declared war against the United States of America occupying the Philippines for three years and nine months December 1941 to August 1945. These Japanese developers had nothing to do with the WAR. It just happened that they are Japanese citizens. Japan lost the war. The Philippine government confiscated the properties owned and developed by the Japanese civilians.

These Japanese civilians have children by their Filipino wives and we are among them. We were destined to be the HEIRS of these properties.

Now, CAN WEM THE DESCENDANTS NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO CLAIM OUR INHERITANCE OWNED AND DEVELOPED by our Japanese Fathers?

I honestly believe that the rightful and legitimate Descendants of these Japanese Developers who own the cultivation of the Plantation either purchased, leased or PAKIAO system have the moral and legal right to CLAIM for COMPENSATION of the LOST INHERITANCE destined for them to receive from their Japanese Fathers/ Ancestors. They are VICTIMS of the WAR between the Japan and United States of America.

May I reiterate that they had NOTHING TO DO with the WAR. Their only FAULT if there is, is that they are Japanese citizens. Japan lost the WAR.

I’m requesting other Descendants whose fathers have property for them to inherit were it not for the WAR to come to our PNJK OFFICE so that we can verify your claim. I’m using the Plantation of our Father as an EXAMPLE.

MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS US ALL.

Sep

2015

“Philippine Japan And Asian Nations Sharing Culture Values Towards Asean 2015”

By Admin

EDITORIAL

By: Rev. Bernardo Fernandez, Sr.

Chairman

“PHILIPPINE JAPAN AND ASIAN NATIONS SHARING CULTURE VALUES TOWARDS ASEAN 2015”

The 2013, 11^th year of celebration of Philippine-Japan Festival has for its theme, “Philippine-Japan and Asian Nations sharing culture values towards asean 2015.” We are venturing on this theme after Ten years of reciprocal sharing our cultural values since 2001 with century background of Philippine-Japan Relation through blood line.

Historical record tells us that the first group of Japanese came to Davao in 1903 to work as Laborers on the Abaca Plantation in Tigatto Davao.

Other Japanese came to work in the construction of Kennon Road. A Japanese entrepreneur by the name of Kyosaburo Ohta also came to the Philippines to venture on economic venture through agricultural development.

Then series of arrival of Japanese came to join in the economic ventures, so by 1941 there were more or less 20,000 Japanese in Davao.

Inter Marriage developed between Japanese and Filipino women (mostly natives) thus, a new generation known as “MESTIZO HAPON” were born known as of today, “The Nikkei Community” of Davao which organized the PNJK Family; the PNJK INC. as the umbrella organization with PNJK-IS, MKD, PNJK-MC and the Polyclinic and Diagnostic center, with JPVA and JPIC as our counterpart benefactors from Japan.

PNJK-IS and MKD are our educational institutions from pre-school to college level. We are now on Second Century of relationship with Japan.

Losing the properties acquired by our ancestry in the first century of relationship destined for us descendant to inherit because of World War II, we the descendant develop our educational institution as our contribution for the development of society. In this second century of relation;

“The Living Landmark of the Economic Development contributed by our ancestry to Davao is the establishment of Davao city in 1937.” Every member of Nikkei community must be able to tell this information to the public. We must love Davao City.

Thus after, Ten Years of reciprocal sharing of cultural values between Philippine and Japan, we believe that the sharing of cultural values be extended towards other Nation starting with Asian Nations, Toward ASEAN and to GlobaL society.

To begin, we start with our immediate neighbor, Indonesia and Malaysia reliving our past historical relation, The Sri-Visaya and Madjapahit Culture and Empires.

Then we move forward to Asean and our Educational Institutions will play an important role in implementing this venture.

Sep

2015

“COOPERATION AND FULL SUPPORT FROM MEMBERS GEARED TOWARDS THE FULL SOLIDIFICATION OF THE NIKKEI COMMUNITY”

By Admin

Our 34^th Annual General Assembly is guided by the theme; “Cooperation and full support from members geared towards the full solidification of the Nikkei community.”

We have come up to this theme after 34^th year of our struggle to be back into the mainstream of society struggling in the midstream of different kinds of persecution
. We lost everything; our fathers have developed for our heritage which we, the second generation had partly enjoyed. Yes our life before World War II was a blissful one. We had practically everything to enjoy in life but then everything was lost as a result of World War II. The third and following generation did not experience that blissful life of abundance.

But then life continues to exist. As of the present our list of membership is 7,773. Most of these members are residing in Japan on one year or three years resident visa. Others had acquired permanent resident visa and still others has acquired Japanese Citizenship.

We here in Davao are more or less one thousand. There are still others on the waiting list for legal recognition because the papers of their fathers (Koseki) cannot be located. Others are granted Shuuseki under the assistance of PNLSC.

We, who are here are working together in strengthening our association, the PNJK Inc. as umbrella organization which has established our Educational Institution, PNJK-IS, and MKD, our Business Service, the Coop and the Medical Service, the Polyclinic and Diagnostic Center.

All these service organization are doing their respective duties and responsibilities to strengthen our service to the community. We have our News Letter, Dentou no Hebiki (Trumpet of Heritage) which publishes our program.

Our PNJK INC. President Ret. Judge Antonina B. Escovilla had made a tour last year in Japan visiting our members there giving them direct informance of our service here.

So starting this year 2014, it is our hope and prayer that all our members especially those residing in Japan to give their full support to give strength to our organization in serving the community, the continuity of Service of our Ancestry had contributed for the progress of Davao.

God Bless the Nikkei, Community!

By: Rev. Bernardo N. Fernandez, Sr.

Chairman

Sep

2015

“EDITORIAL”

By Admin

The Kaigai Nikkeijin Kyo Kai is holding its 55th Annual Convention in Tokyo Japan on 22-24 October 2014 with a theme “Nikkei Society Developing New Japanese Culture in the World.” Expected attendance are delegates/representatives from South America, North America, Hawaii, the Philippines and other countries in Asia and also from Europe. Our association, the Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai (PNJK) is represented by Mrs. Ines Mallari, President of the Federation of Nikkei Jin Kai, Philippines, Mrs. Carmen C. Apigo, PNJK IS Calinan Branch School Principal, also attending is Mrs. Melissa Roales- President, Cotabato Nikkei Jin Chapter and Alvin Suemitsu who is based in Tokyo, Japan and Retired Judge Hon. Antonina B. Escovilla, Presidentof PNJK Davao chapter.
“The object of the convention is to furnish opportunities to the Japanese Descendants all over the world to provide information about their countries and to discuss among themselves ways of further strengthening ties of brotherhood and solidarity while keeping in mind the significance of cultural and personal exchanges as the main theme”

After the opening ceremonies, the Delegates/Representatives are divided into three groups to discuss among themselves the reports and make/present recommendation to the plenary session the following:

Japanese Cultural Heritage and Development
2. Nikkei Society and business partnership and
3. Nikkei youth playing new roles.

It is our hope that more delegates representing the Nikkei youth from Davao residing in Japan will attend in the convention. Descendants coming from different countries with varied cultural background especially the third generation will find deeper understanding in the cultural relationship with Japan and among themselves. Each of the country where there are Japanese Descendants are trying our very best to develop cultural values that balance with the
Japanese culture. We in the Philippines are also doing our part through our Educational Institutions. Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai International School (PNJK-IS) and Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku (MKD) state in its mission: “As a Filipino and Japanese school, it aims to provide quality education including Japanese Language and culture, and personality development by adopting positive Filipino and Japanese values, and become responsible leaders and assets
of the community.”

MKD in similar statement of its Mission express the same. We also participate in the Philippine-Japan annual festivaltrying to learn Japanese culture as well as share Filipino cultural values to the Japanese. We also include the asian values and cultural to share in the global sphere. We hope that the Nikkei Community from the different countries as mentioned above will communicate with each other sharing the cultural values of our mother country, Japan and the rest of the world.