Calling all students of Nihongo Center and the Philippine Institute of Japanese Language and Culture Foundation: registration for the 8th KAKE International Japanese Speech contest is now on-going. Participants must prepare to deliver a four to five minute speech on the theme: “環境保護について〜私ができること〜 or “What I Can Do to Protect the Environment.”

The contest is open to students currently enrolled at Nihongo Center or PIJLC who are Filipino citizens and have not resided in Japan for more than 12 months in total.

The first prize winner will receive an all-expenses-paid educational trip to Japan, among other special prizes. They will also have the opportunity to represent the Philippines in the Grand Final Contest in Okayama, Japan. The winner of this grand contest will receive a 2-year scholarship at any of the three universities under the KAKE Educational Institution.

The second and third prize winners will receive a full one semester tuition waiver, and a waiver of the entrance fees at any of the three universities under the KAKE Educational Institution, plus other special prizes.

Those interested to participate may send their speech entry with their profile (CV) to ncfmanila@gmail.com or nihongocenter@gmail.com by July 28, 2018. The competition will be held on September 22, 2018 from 2:00 – 5:00 PM.

In an opening ceremony held last June 28th, the Nihongo Center Foundation officially welcomed the second batch of trainees for a specialized pre-departure language training program, dubbed the Hotel Nihongo Course.

Headed by NCF Academic Adviser, Kenjiro Ogata-sensei, the program entails 600 hours of classroom instruction to learn the Japanese language. Upon completion of the language training, the candidates are poised to work in one of hotels owned, managed, and operated by Ken Corporation in Japan.

Selected from a pool of over 100 applicants, the ten candidates who passed the rigorous application process are: Ryan Chester Tan, from Our Lady of Fatima University; Mikka Robles, from Polytechnic University; Jerick Marasigan, from Technological University; Gizelle Aguinaldo, from Jose Rizal University; Michael John D. Yokoi, from De La Salle University; Mark Joven Laderas, Yomiko Arbino, Maria Fenella Regala, Jolan Formigones, and Bryan Kevin Ricohermoso, from Lyceum of the Philippines University.

Also gracing the ceremony were esteemed guests Mr. Toshihiko Ogata, Senior Managing Director of Ken Real Estate Lease Ltd; Mr. Shuichiro Fujita, Director, Global Business Development of With Us Corporation; Mr. Gerard B. Sanvictores, Chairman and President of QRD International Placement, Inc.; and Mr. Philip B. Sanvictores, President of Nihongo Center Foundation, Inc.

In his speech, Mr. Ogata enjoined the trainees to first enjoy their learning and also set very high goals moving forward.

“In our Ken Corporation Group, if you are capable, if you prove that you can contribute to the corporation – You have a chance. You can be executives, you can be directors, you can even be general managers. So please understand that you have a lot of chances in our organization,” said Mr. Ogata.

He shared that, in their hotels in Saipan and Guam, the capability and quality of work of Filipino workers have indeed been recognized. “In this Guam operation, we can see there are so many (Filipino) managers, senior managers, controllers, or even assistant General Managers,” he said.

To the parents and guardians of the trainees, Mr. Philip B. Sanvictores said: “Thank you […] for all the work and sacrifice you’ve given to bring your loved ones to where they are now. They are in good hands at Nihongo Center. They’re in very capable hands, in the hands of QRD. And they are going to a very good company – Ken Corporation.”

In addition, Mr. Sanvictores encouraged the trainees to grasp the opportunity that is now within their reach.

“Keep in mind the words of Mr. Ogata. You are looking at a career. Keep in mind that what is at stake here is your future,” Mr. Sanvictores said. “There’s so much opportunity for you, please do not waste it.  Everything is given to you, it’s all in your hands.”

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Opening Ceremony Photos