PHILFEJA President Calls on ASJA Tokyo (Oct 30, 2014)

Asja TokyoPHILFEJA President Philip B. Sanvictores called on ASJA International on 29 October 2014 at its main office in Shinjuku, Tokyo.   Secretary-General Jiro Sato, Mr. Takumi Iwamoto, Ms. Chikako Hagihara met Mr. Sanvictores and his wife, Patricia Maribel.  They discussed various matters related to the 2015 ASCOJA Conference as well as the next ASJA Board meeting to be held in Tokyo on March 27, 2015.  They however dwelt heavily on the ASJA proposal to develop and maintain a new ASCOJA online communication platform, which is being proposed for inclusion in the FY2015 budget of ASJA.

While supportive of the idea, Mr. Sanvictores said he needs to officially refer the matter to the ASCOJA Board of Governors.  In this regard, he said it may be necessary to call a special meeting on this matter.  ASJA too, would need to be part of the said meeting, he said.


PHILJEC Hosts 40th ASEAN-JAPAN Business Meeting (Oct 25, 2014)

The Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committee (PHILJEC) hosted the 40th ASEAN-Japan Business Meeting (AJBM) on October 22 to 24, 2014.  It was held at the Peninsula Manila, in Makati City. The AJBM “is a multilateral private-led forum between Japan and the ASEAN” which started in 1974 under the initiative of the Keizai Doyukai.  The annual meeting promotes economic exchange among private sector business towards the stability and development of ASEAN and Japan.

The theme of the 40th Meeting was “OPPORTUNITIES ARISING FROM ASEAN INTEGRATION”.

The meeting kicked off with a Welcome dinner on October 22, 2014 hosted by PHILJEC at the Rigodon Ballroom of the Peninsula Hotel.  Over 100 guests attended the dinner reception.

The meeting proper was held on October 23, starting at 9:00 a.m.  Opening remarks were delivered by PHILJEC Chairman Mr. Egmidio Cesar de Silva Jose and Keizai Doyukai Chairman, Mr.  Yasuchika Hasegawa.  Thereafter, messages from President Benigno S. Aquino III and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe were read.

PEZA Director General Atty. Lilia de Lima delivered the Keynote Address, highlighting intra-ASEAN investment opportunities in the Philippines.

The First Plenary Session dealt with an Overview of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).  It was moderated by Mr. Toshiyuki Shiga, Chairman of AJBM Japan.  Guest speakers for this session were Mr. Juan Miranda – Managing Director, Asian Development Bank and Mr. Hiroyuki Ishige – Chairman, JETRO.

After lunch, the Second Plenary Session was held with three speakers providing perspectives on Key Sectors that Guide Close Business Cooperation between Japan and ASEAN.  Moderated by Ambassador Theng Teng, Exec. Chairman of Save our Planet Investment Pte., Ltd. of Singapore, the speakers were: Dr. Thomas Aquino, former Senior Undersecretary of Trade and Industry of the Philippines, Dr. Yoshinori Fujiawa – Professor at Hitotsubashi University, and Ambassador Cesar B. Bautista, Chairman, International Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.

This was followed by parallel roundtable discussions on:

(1) Service Industries, moderated by Mr. Hironobu Kitagawa of JETRO Japan, the speakers for this topic were: Mr. Mr. Kenichi Kitao, President, Kumon Asia & Oceania Pte. Ltd., Mr. Fumiaki Tanaka, President, Chiyoda Philippines, and Ms. Josephine J. Francisco, President, NYK-FIL Ship Management, Inc.;

(2) Manufacturing,  moderated by Mr. Shazali Sulaiman, Partner, KPMG (Brunei), the speakers were Dr. Bunluasak Pussarungsri Ph.D., Vice-Chairman, Service  and Investment Committee, Thai Chamber of  Commerce and  Mr. Kerry Mok, Managing Director, Accenture Pte., Ltd.;

(3) Infrastructure Development and Connectivity, moderated by Mr. Roberto Jose L. Castillo, co-Chairman of PHILJEC and President-CEO of EEI Corporation, the speakers were  Mr. Tan Eng Soon, Chairman, Tan Chong International, Ltd. of Singapore, Mr. Takeo Kitamura, President and COO, Zero Co., Ltd. of Japan, and Mr. Cecil  Leong, CEO, Mayer Brown Consulting (Singapore) Pte.,  Ltd.

A summary of the roundtable discussions was then moderated by Atty. Aniceto G. Saludo, PHILJEC co-Chairman and Managing Partner of the law firm of Saludo, Fernandez, Aquino & Daleon.  Roundtable rapporteurs were: Mr. Toshikazu Saito, Chairman, Renaissance, Inc. on Service Industries; Mr. Shazali Sulaiman, Partner, KPMG on Manufacturing; and Mr. Roberto Jose L. Castillo, PHILJEC Co-Chairman and CEO, EEI Corporation on Infrastructure Development and Connectivity.

Mr. Toshiyuki Shiga, Chairman, AJBM Japan and Mr. Egmidio Cesar de Silva Jose, Chairman, PHILJEC each delivered their closing remarks, after which Mr. Cecil Leong, CEO, Mayer Brown Consulting (Singapore) Pte., Ltd. extended his invitation to the 41st AJBM which will be held in Singapore.

At the Closing Dinner jointly hosted by PHILJEC and JETRO, Messrs. Jose and Ishige expressed their mutual gratitude and appreciation to all the participants as Mr. Yasuchika Hasegawa, Chairman, Keizai Doyukai offered a toast for the continued success of AJBM.

The following day, JETRO held the 2nd International Symposium on the Service Industry.  Also held at the Peninsula Manila, it was opened by Mr. Hiroyuki Ishige, Chairman of JETRO.  Keynote speakers were: Mr. Junichi Yamashita, Sr. Executive Officer of Family Mart Co., Ltd., Mr. Ysmael Baysa, CFO of Jollibee Foods Corporation, and Ms. Chantra Purnariksha, Group President of Saha Pathana Inter-Holding (Saha Group), Thailand.  The symposium was moderated by Mr. Yoshinori Fujisawa, Associate Professor – Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy, Hitotsubashi University.


PHILFEJA holds Benjie Laurel Memorial during its General Members Assembly (Oct 11, 2014)

The Philippine Federation of Japan Alumni (PHILFEJA) held a Memorial Service for its late President Benjamin “Benjie” C. Laurel during the PHILFEJA General Members Assembly held on October 11, 2014 at the Dusit Thani Manila.

The meeting started with the recognition of officers and representatives of the various PHILFEJA Chapter Associations, Dir. Tatsuo Kitagawa of the Japan Information and Cultural Center (JICC), Amb. and Mrs. Benjamin F. Sanvictores representing the Philippines-Japan Society and OMNI Ventures (the group of wartime Filipino students to Japan known as the Nampo Tokubetsu Ryugakusei 南方特別留学生), Messrs. Jimmy Ng and Freddie Chia of the Japan University Graduates Association of Singapore (JUGAS) who came from Singapore to attend the Memorial, and members of the Laurel family, notably Ms. Auring Montano and Mr. Jingjong Laurel, son of Benjie Laurel and his wife Cristalle.

The first order of business was the induction of Mr. Philip Sanvictores as President of PHILFEJA, succeeding the late Benjie Laurel and who will serve the latter’s unexpired term until the end of fiscal year 2015 (i.e., March 31, 2016).

Mr. Philip Sanvictores then shared the eulogy he read during the necrological rites for Mr. Laurel during his wake as a tribute to his “senpai” and predecessor.  This was followed by speeches in memory of the departed PHILFEJA President by: Amb. Pete Firmalino, former Consul General of the Philippine Consulate in Kobe; Dr. Lydia Tansinsin of PHILAJAMES, Ms. Tina Francisco, past President of PHILCULTAROS, Mr. Rene Guatlo of SAPILNIP, Prof. Kenjiro Ogata of the PIJLC-NCF, and Mr. Jimmy Ng of JUGAS.  Finally, the eulogy given by Amb. Benjamin F. Sanvictores during the necrological service was read, where he reminisced about his long association with Benjie-san in the various PJS organizations since the mid-70s.

PHILFEJA President Philip Sanvictores then presented a Plaque of Recognition in honor of Mr. Benjie Laurel to Ms. Auring Montano and Mr. and Mrs. Jingjong Laurel, for his lifetime advocacy and leadership in strengthening relations between Filipinos, Japanese and peoples of ASEAN.

In closing, Gov. Jose C. Laurel, elder brother of the late Benjie delivered a response on behalf of the Laurel Family, expressing gratitude for the honor and recognition given to his late brother.

Merienda Cena was served upon adjournment of the meeting.


PHILFEJA Plaque of Recognition (Oct 11, 2014)

 PHILFEJA Logo

PHILIPPINE FEDERATION OF JAPAN ALUMNI
Manila, Philippines

RECOGNITION

By unanimous decision of the Board of Directors of the Philippine Federation of Japan Alumni (PHILFEJA), this Recognition is posthumously presented with deep and grateful appreciation to the Family of our dearly beloved President

Benjamin “Benjie” C. Laurel
August 17, 1953 – August 10, 2014

for his lifetime advocacy of and outstanding contributions in the promotion, enhancement and strengthening of interpersonal and institutional relations between the peoples of the Philippines and Japan, and of all the countries comprising ASEAN, through his steadfast and dedicated leadership in, among others, the following organizations:

PHILIPPINE FEDERATION OF JAPAN ALUMNI (PHILFEJA)
1996 to 1999; 2012-2014

SAMAHAN NG MGA PILIPINONG NAG-ARAL AT NANIRAHAN SA NIPPON (SAPILNIP)
1993-2014

ASEAN COUNCIL OF JAPAN ALUMNI
1996 to 1999; 2012-2014

ASIA JAPAN ALUMNI INTERNATIONAL
2013-2014

PHILIPPINES-JAPAN FRIENDSHIP FOUNDATION
1992-2014

PHILIPPINES-JAPAN SOCIETY
1986-2014

PHILIPPINES-JAPAN ECONOMIC COOPERATION COMMITTEE
2011-2014

Done this 11th day of October 2014 in the City of Makati, Metro Manila

PHILIP B. SANVICTORES, President, PHILFEJA/ SAPILNIP

GILDA L. UY, President, PHILAJAMES

DOMINGO GO, President, APPAJU

DAN LEONARD RAYO, President, PHILCULTAROS

ENRICO HILARIO, President, PHILJAFA

CECILIA TOLENTINO, Secretary-General


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