After our meeting and election of officers last November 11, 2012 in Cebu city, I would have wanted all the elected officers of the Federation to have a courtesy meeting with Ambassador Toshinao Urabe at the Embassy of Japan in Manila. However, since the good Ambassador was scheduled to visit Davao last November 27, 2012, and in order that the Federation will be spared from the huge expenses that may entail, I was given a chance to have a fruitful meeting with him together with our corporate secretary Judge Antonina Escovilla at the Marco Polo Hotel here in Davao City. In attendance also during the said meeting were the two (2) consuls, Kazuhiko Anzai and Koichi Ibara. Ambassador Urabe gave valuable insights on how we should steer our organization, as reflected on the minutes that we just read. On December 2012, Ms. Araceli Tan, our elected treasurer communicated with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Cebu in order to verify the status of the Federation, as a juridical person. We were informed that no report was ever submitted to the SEC from the time that the Federation was registered until the present, be it general information sheet or GIS… Read More »

More than two hundred Nikkei Jins gathered last May 19, 2013 at the PNJK-IS Gym to attend the Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai, Inc.’s 33rd General Assembly. Participants came as early as 7:00am, having travelled from places as far as Manila and Tagum. With the theme “Achievement of PNJK in the Thirty-Three Years of Its Existence, A Showcase of our Contribution to the Progress of the Society, Now and Onward”, the goal of the General Assembly was to update the Nikkei Jins regarding the progress of the association, as well as its future plans. Members were also expected to elect qualified individuals into the Board of Directors that day. The program, steered by the Masters of Ceremonies Mrs. Nelma Adachi and Mr. Felipe Hiquial Jr., began at exactly 9:00am. Mrs. Adelaida Panaguiton led the assembly in prayer. Several messages were delivered by speakers considered to be keys to the success of the organization; namely, Rev. Bernardo Fernandez Sr., Consul Koichi Ibara, Mr. Masataka Ajiro, Mr. Hideo Ito—whose speech was read by Mrs. Evelyn Obuchi in his behalf and Mrs. Ines Mallari. Words of congratulations flowed from each message, followed by a challenge to sustain the progress that PNJK has made over… Read More »

Year 2013 was indeed very competitive year for PNJK and JPIC because we were able to dispatch 119 descendants to Japan surpassing the 97 number of dispatched in 2012.  Hopefully 2014 would also prove to be competitive. For the 1st quarter, we were already able to dispatched 37 descendants.  Japanese government still gives no visa fee for descendant being dispatched to Fukushima, Sendai and Iwate as a matter of fact, the government is inviting more descendants to go to the above mentioned places in Japan.  Economic situation in Sendai and Fukushima is getting better and fast rising up. Construction works are seen everywhere which means more job opportunities both Japanese and foreigners.  The 2017 Olympic will be held in Japan, and even as early as this year, Japan is very busy preparing for the up-coming Olympics. More workers and trainees will be required. The President of PNJK Judge Antonina Escovilla and Federation president Ines Mallari together with yours truly visited the descendants under JPIC member companies on October 18 to November 2, 2013. Meetings and consultations were held at each corresponding companies. President Escovilla encouraged the descendants to work harder and remain loyal to their companies and to PNJK. On April… Read More »