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.

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:

1. 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.