FJMGP & Phil. Embassy VIPs @ GPF Japan Kick-Off Banguet

September3,2008 , Hilton Tokyo , Shinjuku , Tokyo
Reported by Precy M. Akahori

Click here to see FJMGP featured article at the official global GPF website

A “Kick-Off Banquet for the Global Peace Festival-Japan 2008,” was held last September3,2008 from 6pm to 10 pm at Hilton Tokyo in Shinjuku with Dr. Hyun Jin Moon as the keynote speaker for the attending Ambassadors and Diplomats. The Philippine Delegates to the said event include officials from the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo namely the Labor Attaché Mr. Danilo Cruz. the Welfare Officer Ms. Luz Talento and the Armed Forces and Defense Attaché Col. Danilo Estropia. Also present in the event is Mrs. Angelita Obara- FJMGP President and current co Chairperson of the GPF Japan Filipino Community National Steering Committee and FJMGP General Secretary Mrs. Priscila Akahori.

The delegation from the Philippine Embassy was surprised how big and powerful the GPF event is ; more so knowing that it all started in the Philippines . They have acknowledged their willingness to support the coming GPF Japan on Nov. 15, 2008 with the Labor Attaché Mr Cruz saying- “I am very happy to support the November GPF event in Tokyo” to one of the chairman.
The Defense Attaché Col. Estropia recognizes the works of Universal Peace Federation comparing them to Jaycees and Rotary Club but in bigger scope. He talked to one of the GPF Executive Committee Member Mr. Koji Matsuda about the present situation in Mindanao where war is on going .He even described how they fight behind the banana fields when he was assigned in that area. He is a man of action and most probably the one who can really actualize the mission of GPF.

After the event , while walking at the lobby, the attention of the Philippine Delegation was called by Mr. Shigenari Kato, the Secretary General of Universal Peace Federation. He was very glad that delegates from the Philippine Embassy attended that night (it was a first time ever he said).He is grateful that thru FJMGP we can inform and involve the Filipino community in Japan in preparation for the GPF Japan 2008 in November.

The very gentleman Col. Estropio gave us a ride from the venue to the station using the Embassy car and invited us to visit his office next time we visit the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo .

My dearest FJMGP members : ”I hope to represent your burning hearts and spirits. Thanks everyone for your efforts, our challenge had just begun. Let’s show to our second motherland that we have the power, love and spirits to do substantial for this nation. Let’s mobilize with happy and grateful hearts.Stay fit in mind and body.” Angie Obara(FJMGP president)

Reminder:

Global Peace Festival Japan 2008
Kick Off Event for the Filipino Community

Date : September 13, 2008
Time: 1:45- 4:00
Place : Shinjuku Bunka Center
For more information please contact fjmgp@yahoo.com

Performing Artists from the Filipino Community are coming to grace the event. Everyone is invited please bring all your Filipino Contacts!
If you want to help in the preparation please arrive at 1pm.

The FJMGP Booth @ Philippine Embassy

Joint Celebration : Migrant Worker`s Day / 110th Philippine Independence Day
June 15, 2008 @ Oji Asukayama Park

Special Thanks to all those who contributed to the success of this main event.

Reported by :

Lorie Shiokawa FJMGP- V.P. for External Affairs

Everyone must have been excited to know the outcome of the much awaited Migrant Workers’ Day and 110th Philippine Independence Day at Oji Asukayama Park、Tokyo last Sunday, June 15th, 2008. For those who were not able to make it and those in the provinces who could not travel to be with us, here’s a short report of the said event. There were hundreds of people who flocked in the Oji Asukayama Park last Sunday partly because of the good weather and mostly because of the Filipinos’ desire to feel at home in the midst of Filipino fiesta atmosphere and be able to eat Pinoy foods and watched Pinoy entertainment for free. The members of Peace and Order Committee headed by Robert Alcamfor were the earliest birds to arrive to monitor the coming and going of the cars to unload the booth exhibitors’ items.

Smile with His Excellency DOMINGO L. SIAZON, Jr.
Philippine Ambassador to Japan

The booth exhibitors started arriving as early as 7 AM to put up more booth decorations and set up the food and commercial items in display. The FJMGP booth staff arrived early as well. Headed by the Executive Officers Angie Obara, Lala Hasegawa, Lorie Shiokawa, Precy Akahori, Fe Obuchi, Liza Nakazaki, Wilma Kondo, Brian Dirige, Jun Granada and food staff Lalaine Nakano, Theresa Renes, Barbara Yokoyama, Flor Nishino, Marina Maeda, Nerissa Kawashima and with the help of Edward Mayo, the FJMGP booth was prepared and got ready for the selling of the brownies, macaroons, maja blanca , biko, mango cream and gulaman drinks. The survey forms, FJMGP flyers , membership forms and bookmarks were placed on the table as well.

The FJMGP Family

The people started arriving at 9AM to attend the Ecumenical Mass. While the mass was ongoing, the members of different booths were busy preparing and cooking for different pinoy foods to be sold like barbecue, lugaw, kare-kare, adobo, puto, lechon manok, and more. Members in purple FJMGP T-shirts can be easily noticed moving among the crowds of people. By 10 AM, the booths started selling their items and the FJMGP booth was able to compete with the other food booths especially the Y50 per cup gulaman was a favorite and people kept coming back for more. Although we didn’t win the Best Booth Award , our booth was decorated beautifully and the staff were all neat and nice in their uniform purple t-shirts with bandana and apron. At the end of the day, the FJMGP booth made a gross sales of Y75,000 and a net profit of around Y45,000. The Survey Staff composed of Lorie Shiokawa, Wilma Kondo, Jean Rose Kamimoto, Cherry Ann Nakamura, Lollie Yamada, Eutemia Ebato, and Francesca Motohashi all took turns in approaching and interviewing people in return of a bookmark which could give them a 50% discount for the gulaman drinks. They got 45 respondents, one Japanese donated monetarily, and some are people who are good connections to other Filipino Organizations, possible sponsors and people who are interested in promoting global peace as well. The Medical Committee coordinated by Lala Hasegawa and Jocelyn Kitazawa with FICAP Secretary General Cora Kasuga and medical staff Isabel Hamada, Atsumi Baguio, Yumiko Castillo, Irma Sato, and Lotlot Matsumoto were busy for the registration and giving first aid and blood pressure check-up. Dr Hiroshi Shiraishi, the opthalmologist of Isshin Hospital,assisted by Morita Saito, and Dr. Tadashi Miyazaki, an oriental medicine specialist , rendered free eye-check up and free acupuncture respectively to the patients who were lining up to avail their services. Fe Obuchi, who was the official photographer that day, guided some of the blessed children in selling FJMGP bookmarks at Y10 per piece as fundraising. The children who came along with their parents had enjoyed the games organized by the UFPA (United Filipinos for Peace and Advancement) headed by Dante Negre and FJBCA (Filipino-Japanese Blessed Couples association)Leader Reuben Cruz and the Abraenian group headed by Lila Estola. They also had fun playing in the playground in the upper side of the Oji Park.

Medical Servcie with AMMS Team

Peace & Order Committee with Tong-Il MoDo Team

FJMGP kids at Fund Raising....tired :-)

People came and go but those in purple T-shirts stayed for the whole event and somehow made an impact to other Filipino organizations. There were around 100 FJMGP members including their families and children who came and enjoyed the festivity. Among the Mie-ken group who arrived early were West Japan FJBCA Leader Jessie Mariano, Ben Perono, William Enriquez, Charlie Gallo, Wilfred Alzaga, Alex Hermoso and Ramon Dedase. From Nagoya City was Jun Flores . The other members who were spotted were Jen-jen Yamaguchi, Jimmy Garbanzos, the Juliano brothers and many more to mention. It was like a reunion once again for those who haven’t seen each other for a long time. Rev.Wataru Funami, the National Messiah to the Philippines was also there and visited the FJMGP booth.

FJMGP @ PAG Party

Philippine Assistance Group’s Induction of Officers for 2008
May 24,2008 , Philippine Embassy, Tokyo

FJMGP members with Labor Attache Danilo Cruz

FJMGP attended the PAG Philippine Assistance Group’s Induction of Officers for 2008 at the Multi-purpose Hall of the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo last May 24, 2008.The doors opened at 3 PM and at the registration desk were FICAP, AFSJ and FJMGP staffs welcoming the arrival of the participants.
The program started at 4PM with the singing of the National Anthem lead by Ms. Glenda Tabata of Teatro Kanto Organization. The invocation was uttered by the representative of El Shaddai in behalf of Ms. Amy Iwase. The Opening Remarks was given by Jeff Kabante in behalf of Ms. Vangie Yamatomo of the United Filipino Group of Yokohama. Without further ado, the new set of officers of PAG were inducted by His Excellency Domingo Siazon, Jr. the Philippine Ambassador to Japan. The PAG new Executive Committee who took their oath were Mr. Leo dela Rosa, President of Filipino-American Association of Atsugi (FilAm Atsugi), Mr. Roel San Juan, President of Filipino Maritime Network (FMN), Ms. Lara Porciuncula, President of Association of Filipino Students in Japan (AFSJ), Mr. Noel Saludo, President of Philippine Men’s League (PML), Ms. Amelita Iwase, President of El Shaddai-Japan, and Ms. Cora Kasuga, Secretary General of Filipina Circle for Advancement and Progress (FICAP).
Ambassador Siazon then gave an inspirational message and thanked the PAG in its 11th year for its valuable support and help to the Filipino community who encounters problem about living in Japan. He mentioned that in the future the Filipino community in Japan will rise in number because even the unskilled workers will be welcomed by the Japanese government as long as these Filipinos know the Japanese language by heart. He encouraged all the Filipinos in Japan to learn the Japanese language not only in speaking but as well as in reading and writing in order to fully understand and help their children with proper parent-child communication. He also emphasized that help through fund should be given to the shin-nikkeijin (children born to Japanese and Filipino parents) who are unfortunately not recognized by the Japanese parents and are living in the Philippines without any financial support and proper education. Ambassador Siazon had to leave the gathering right after his message to attend another function outside Tokyo thus he did not hear the Response Message delivered by Ms. Caryn Santillan of the AFSJ. Caryn who has been active in PAG had stated that the three main goals of PAG are to support people in need financially, to give education such as immigration information drive and to give medical support to the Filipino community in Japan. Ms Caryn Santillan was called again to present further the Primer of PAG. She shared the history of PAG which was formed in 1997 with 16 founding members. She stressed that PAG is raising a PAG Assistance Fund which is used mainly for the repatriation of distressed nationals and medical assistance to the Filipino community. PAG has presently a fund of Y3.7 M. She discussed on how PAG choose its beneficiaries and how any Filipino organization can join and be involved in PAG’s activities.
After the formalities, an intermission song number was rendered by the handsome Jazz Ramirez to the delight of the females in the audience.

The Certificates of Appreciation to the outgoing PAG officers were then presented by Labor Attache Danilo Cruz with the help of Vice Consul Anna Lilia de Vera of the Cultural and Filipino Community Affairs office.
The charming Emcee of the program Ms. Jena V had given a special mention to the newly approved PAG membership of Teatro Kanto Organization and SOFILMA. She then thanked the presence of the representatives of other organizations in the affair like the Association of Filipino Wives in Japan(AFWJ) , United Filipino Group of Yokohama, El Shaddai, Fil-Am Atsugi, AFSJ, FMN, FICAP, SOFILMA, FJMGP and Tong Il Modo (TIMD). She also thanked the regular sponsors of PAG which are Metrobank, PNB, Landbank of the Phils., Philippine Airlines, WINS Japan, ISB, Frontier Call and numerous individuals who have contributed their resources , time and efforts to helping Filipinos in Japan.
Once again the dashing Jazz Ramirez sang a Tagalog intermission number. Then Mari “Mayang” Nihei of Teatro Kanto had given in to the clamor of the audience for a beautiful sexy dance number and was joined in the dance floor by the energetic President of United Filipinos for Peace and Advancement, Mr. Dante Negre.
The Closing Remarks was then given by the young Third Secretary and Vice Consul Anna Lilia de Vera.
The Labor Attache Danilo Cruz had many times invited everyone to attend the Migrant Workers’ day on June 15th at Oji Asukayama park.

Lastly, everyone had enjoyed the delicious Filipino food catered by Perry Rio of Knights of Rizal. And most of the participants had joined in the different dance steps that the dance instructors had started in the dance floor. After the picture takings and never-ending chatting with each other, some of the energetic and fully awake participants had moved to the nearby Wall Street Disco House to continue dancing the night away.
It was a gathering that gave everyone a chance to know more about PAG, know the other existing Filipino organizations and its representatives and know the steps on how we can help more the Filipino community in Japan.

Reported by : Lorlie Shiokawa