13 December 2013 - The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu attended the Emperor of Japan’s birthday celebration at the Japanese Consul General’s official residence in Honolulu on December 10.  At the beginning of his speech, Consul General Toyoei Shigeeda expressed his deep condolences to the people of the Philippines for the victims of typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda).

He said that Japan was among the first nations to respond to the disasters that hit Bohol and Tacloban. Japan has extended an emergency grant aid of US$3.5 million through the International Organization for Migration, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, United Nations Children’s Fund and United Nations Development Programme. Japan is ready to extend a US$287 million post-disaster standby loan to the Philippines.

Consul General Shigeeda expressed his deep gratitude also to the Government and people of the Philippines for their aid and assistance in the aftermath of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Consul Roberto T. Bernardo who represented the Philippine Consulate General, thanked Consul General Shigeeda after his speech and also thanked him and his officers and staff for donating personally to the typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) victims. END