“Unveiling of the Memorial Monument”
Early part of 2013, Bishop Masataka Ajiro, President of Japan PhilippineVolunteer Association, conferred with the Honorable City Mayor, Rodrigo R. Duterte at the Marco Polo Hotel, with the purpose of requesting from the latter a space at the Mintal Public Cemetery as the burial/resting place of Japanese retirees or those who wish to be buried in Davao City. Present were the former Cabinet Member of Japan Mr. Yamahana Ikuo, Ms. Masumi Yagi, Mrs. Ines P. Mallari, Mr. Juseven Austero, yours truly, and some JPVA members. Bishop Ajiro informed the Honorable Mayor regarding the number of Japanese residents in Davao City, some of whom are retirees who chose Davao City as the place to spend the remaining years of their lives. In fact, there are more who desire to come to Davao City, knowing that under the leadership of the Mayor, the Japanese retirees are assured of their safety.
His love for the Japanese had prodded the Honourable Mayor and without any hesitation to accede to the request of Bishop Ajiro. The Mayor’s aide, Mr. Bong Co, called Barangay Captain Ramon Bargamento, Barangay Captain of Mintal, conveying the subject of the meeting. Barangay Captain Bargamento assured the Honorable Mayor of the availability of space at the cemetery. The meeting that night ended full of hope from those who heard the good news.
A few months thereafter, on October 7, 2013, the general public composed mostly of Japanese residents and selected staff from the Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku and PNJK International School witnessed the unveiling ceremony of the memorial monument. No less than the City Mayor, Rodrigo Roa Duterte together with Bishop Masataka Ajiro, the Honorable Consul Koichi Ibara unveiled the monument. Consul Koichi Ibara of the Consulate Office of Japan in Davao delivered his message, followed by the remarks from Bishop Ajiro. Hon. City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte gave his inspirational speech.
The construction was made possible out of his personal money. He warned those present during the ceremony, saying that the memorial monument will be secured twenty-four hours a day to deter unscrupulous treasure hunters from destroying the monument on the belief that gold or any valuable is kept in the recently unveiled monument. No treasures exist contrary to the claim of others. Neither is there truth to the so-called Yamashita treasure as this is just a product of those whose aim is to fool moneyed people wishing to amass more wealth or to erect a museum for relics of value.
The memorial monument stands as confirmation of the continuing friendly relations between the two countries, Japan and the Philippines.