GOVPH

Philippine Embassy Thanks Baguio Scholarship Foundation For Investing in Education of Young Filipinos

Philippine Embassy in Japan Chargé d’Affaires (CDA) Robespierre Bolivar expressed the Philippine Government’s sincere appreciation to the Baguio Scholarship Foundation of Japan for providing scholarship opportunities to thousands of young Filipinos during the Foundation’s 40th anniversary on 08 September 2022.

In his keynote remarks, CDA Bolivar noted that the Foundation has helped uplift the lives of many families and built goodwill and friendship between the Philippines and Japan through more than 4,000 scholarships it has funded over the last four decades. He also emphasized that “by providing our young people access to quality education, the Baguio Scholarship Foundation gives them a valuable opportunity to build a good life for themselves. You are also giving them the ability to make a meaningful contribution to our country’s progress. You are, in fact, investing in the future of the Philippines.”

The Baguio Scholarship Foundation, also known as the Baguio Fund, provides scholarships to children in Baguio City, where the first group of Japanese communities settled upon arrival in the Philippines.

The Foundation is based in Japan and is funded wholly by various Japanese Rotary Club chapters and donations from patrons. It implements projects in coordination with the Filipino-Japanese Foundation of Northern Luzon, the Filipino-Japanese Friendship Association, the Rotary Club of Baguio, and the Baguio Summer Capital Rotary Club

Philippine Culture and Cuisine Debut at Fuji TV World Buzz Cooking

09 September 2022 – Philippine Embassy in Japan Charge d’ Affaires (CDA) Robespierre L. Bolivar welcomed FUJI TV World Buzz Cooking YouTube Channel host and announcer, Ms. Nagisa Watanabe at the Embassy for a Philippine cultural and culinary experience.

CDA Bolivar first gave Ms. Watanabe a glimpse of the life of Dr. Jose Rizal whose bust is displayed in the Embassy lobby and at Hibiya Park. Ms. Watanabe was delighted to know that the bust at Hibiya Park was installed to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the Philippine national hero’s visit to Japan in 1888.

CDA Bolivar also took Ms. Watanabe to the Embassy’s “Sentro Rizal” library where they talked about the books “Kulinarya” and “Patterns for the Filipino Dress”, coffee table books on Philippine cuisine and attire. He informed Ms. Watanabe that the books are included in the package the Embassy is donating to local libraries in Tokyo as part of its ongoing book donation drive which aims to create a better awareness of the Philippines and its people and culture in Japan.

Ms. Watanabe had the opportunity to wear a traditional “baro’t saya” which she highly praised as a “very suitable garment for the summer” because of its airy sleeves. Ms. Watanabe also performed one of the iconic Philippine dances from Quezon Province called “Lanceros de Tayabas”, together with the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies Cultural Dance Troupe.

Completing the cultural immersion, CDA Bolivar invited Ms. Watanabe to a culinary experience of well-loved Filipino dishes “kare-kare”, “sariwang lumpia” and “ube flan” prepared by Japan-based Filipino Chef Mareve Inomata.

Ms. Watanabe also had the opportunity to prepare and cook the featured dishes under the supervision of Chef Inomata.

Every Friday for the entire month of September, FUJI TV’s World Buzz Cooking YouTube Channel will take its viewers and followers on an ultimate online cultural journey to the Philippines.

Episode 1 : https://youtu.be/kAw9izp_KOg
Episode 2 : https://youtu.be/hyg_CUgjNY8
Episode 3 : https://youtu.be/IOkI23jqgME
Episode 4 : https://youtu.be/3S_8jb8KgjA

PH HIGHLIGHTS THE VALUE OF TOURISM IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AT THE TOURISM EXPO JAPAN 2022

The Embassy, through its Tourism Section, participated in the Tourism Expo Japan 2022 held from 22 to 25 September 2022 at the Tokyo Big Sight. The expo was organized by the Japan Travel and Tourism Association (JTTA), Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA), and the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).

The Expo, hosted for the first time in two years, was attended by about 244,000 people from 78 countries/regions, as well as 1,018 companies and organizations.

It comes as Japan gradually eases its border restrictions, and works to revive Japanese demand for international travel.

The Philippine booth in the Expo highlighted destinations in the Philippines that demonstrate best practices in tourism sustainability, as well as the country’s health and safety protocols to promote the Philippines as a safe destination to visit.

The booth featured the following elements: traditional hilot massage, cultural décor, foodie corner, and photo walls and interactive activities.

Filipino talents and artists also performed and presentations were provided, such as educational seminars, celebrity talk shows, and lectures were presented to educate visitors and travel consumers about Philippine tourism.