Filipino Community in Japan Celebrates PH Festival 2018
TOKYO 25 September 2018 – The Filipino Community in Japan—led by the Philippine Festival Organizing Committee (PFOC), and supported by the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo and Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs—successfully organized the Philippine Festival 2018 in the Japanese capital.
Held at Hibiya Park in Tokyo, the Philippine Festival featured at least 80,000 visitors, 60 commercial booths, 21 food booths and four booths for Philippine products and tourism promotion.
The Festival’s opening ceremony was graced by the presence of former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, House of Councillors member and Japan-ASEAN Parliamentary Exchange Group Chairman Hirofumi Nakasone, Parliamentary Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Mitsunari Okamoto, and members of the Diplomatic Corps and Philippine Society of Japan.
In his message, Ambassador to Japan Jose C. Laurel V welcomed all the guests, and thanked them for their support to the Philippine Festival and their efforts in encouraging cultural and more people-to-people exchanges among the Filipinos and the Japanese.
“I am impressed by the wonderful energy of the members of the Filipino Community in Japan. From sumo wrestling to music and the arts, Filipinos from all walks of life have been making Japanese society more cheerful and colorful,” Foreign Affairs Vice Minister Okamoto said on behalf of the Japanese government.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony of Philippine Festival 2018 was led by Ambassador Laurel, Hon. Nakasone, and PFOC Chairperson Jenavilla Bibal Shigemizu.
The opening ceremony was immediately followed by performances from talented Filipinos in Japan, Masbate City’s Lapay Bantigue Festival Dancers, and guest artists Overseas Worker Welfare Administration Deputy Administrator Arnell Ignacio and singer/actress Arci Muñoz.
The Anti-Red Tape Act Caravan with representatives from Social Security System, Pag-IBIG Fund, National Bureau of Investigation, Land Transportation Office, and Philippine Overseas Labor Office rendered services to some 600 Filipinos in Japan.
The Department of Agriculture showcased fresh Philippine fruits such as bananas, durian and pineapples, while the Department of Tourism displayed panels of top Philippine tourist destinations for guests of the Festival. END
Ambassador to Tokyo Jose C. Laurel V welcomes the guests and thanks them for their support to the Philippine Festival. (Philippine Festival Publicity Committee photo)
Parliamentary Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Mitsunari Okamoto speaks on behalf of the Japanese government. (Philippine Festival Publicity Committee photo)
Ambassador to Japan Jose C. Laurel V, House of Councillors member and Japan-ASEAN Parliamentary Exchange Group Chairman Hirofumi Nakasone and Philippine Festival Organizing Committee Chairperson Jenavilla Bibal Shigemizu lead the ribbon cutting ceremony of Philippine Festival 2018. (Philippine Festival Publicity Committee photo)
For more information, visit This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it./ www.tokyope.dfa.gov.ph / www.tokyo.philembassy.net / https://www.facebook.com/PHLinJapan/.