The 21^st Conference of the ASEAN Council of Japan Alumni (ASCOJA) held on 2-4 October 2015 at the Dusit Thani Manila was a stirring success, according to Mr. Philip B. Sanvictores, President of the Philippine Federation of Japan Alumni (PHILFEJA) – host and organizer of the Conference. He cited several significant achievements:

• The ASCOJA Vision-Mission was unanimously ratified by the ASCOJA Council;
• The updated Objectives were likewise unanimously approved by the ASCOJA Council (both the Vision-Mission Statement and updated Objectives will form part of the amended Articles of Organization and By-Laws of ASCOJA);
• Certain other amendments to the By-Laws were approved in principle by the ASCOJA Council subject to final reading and approval by the Board of Governors in its next meeting in Tokyo in end-March 2016;
• A total of 318 delegates were registered, of which 171 (54%) were foreigners, i.e., from the nine other ASEAN countries and Japan. The rest were delegates from PHILFEJA member associations and guests;
• Prominent dignitaries attended the Conference, namely:
  • E. Yasuo Fukuda, former Prime Minister of Japan
  • Toshiko Abe, Senior Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan
  • Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa, Ambassador of Japan to the Philippines
  • Tetsuro Amano, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Japan in the Philippines
  • E. Cesar E.A. Virata, former Prime Minister of the Philippines
  • Ambassador Delia D. Albert, former Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines
  • Assistant Secretary Minda Calaguian-Cruz, Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs
  • Director Hans Mohaimin L. Siriban, Northeast Asia Division, Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs
  • Governor Jose C. Laurel V, Chairman – The Philippines-Japan Friendship Foundation
  • Ambassador Benjamin F. Sanvictores, Executive Trustee – The Philippines-Japan Friendship Foundation
  • Wilfrido V. Villacorta – former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the ASEAN Secretariat and Professor Emeritus – De La Salle University

• ASCOJA Board of Governors
  • Philip B. Sanvictores, President – Philippine Federation of Japan Alumni (PHILFEJA); host organization;
  • Ooi Chee Keong, President – Japan Graduates Association of Malaysia (JAGAM);
  • Ismadji Hadisoemarto, Vice-President – Association of Indonesian Alumni from Japan (PERSADA);
  • Tan Kay Guan, President – Japanese University Graduates Association of Singapore (JUGAS);
  • Samran Chooduangngern, President – Old Japan Students’ Association Thailand (OJSAT);
  • Chin Wei Kah, President – Brunei Association of Japan Alumni (BAJA);
  • Si Si Shein, President – Myanmar Association of Japan Alumni (MAJA);
  • Vuthy Monyrath, President – Japan Alumni of Cambodia (JAC);
  • Dr. Ngo Minh Thuy, President – Japan Alumni of Vietnam (JAV); and
  • Bouasone Vongthavone, President – Japan Alumni of Laos (JAOL).

• ASJA International
  • Ambassador Takashi Tajima, Director for Japan
  • Samran Chooduangngern, Chairman – ASJA International
  • Jiro Sato, Secretary- General
  • Chikako Hagihara, Secretariat Manager

• Japan Stakeholders
  • Yoshihisa Ishikawa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) – Tokyo
  • Hideki Yonekawa, Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO)
  • Yuichi Kondo, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU)
  • Takayasu Omura, Japan Association for the Promotion of Internationalization

• The Conference Theme – “ASCOJA in an Integrated ASEAN” – was thoroughly discussed in Keynote Speeches by Ambassador Albert and Villacorta; these were further discussed in three breakout sessions each presenting three papers from various ASCOJA Chapters focusing on:
  • Education, Research and Development
    • Education and Industry Collaboration by Adeline Pang Li Ching (BAJA)
    • Responding to Challenges in Internationalizing the National University by Fernando C. Sanchez (PHILFEJA)
    • Discourse on Issues and Approaches on How Children Acquire New Language Effectively by Ooi Chee Keong (JAGAM)
    • Moderated by Maricar Prudente, Professor of Science Education, De La Salle University
  • Economic Integration and Business
    • ASEAN Economic Integration through Sub-Regional Cooperation by Eko Cahyono (PERSADA)
    • Improving Business Policies and Infrastructure by Phouphet Kyophilavong (JAOL)
    • Development of Dynamic Capability for Venture Gestation by Goi Hoe Chin (JUGAS)
    • Moderated by Rosalina Tan, Professor of Economics, Ateneo de Manila University
  • Cultural Diversity and Social Integration
    • World Heritage (Pyu Ancient City of Sri Kestra) by Prof Si Si Shein (MAJA)
    • Rice and Tea: Cultural Exchange in ASEAN Countries and Japan by Navarat Laekhakula (OJSAT)
    • Independence and Integration as Parallel Movements in the History of Vietnam by Ngo Tu Lap (JAV)
    • Moderated by Rico Jose, Professor of History, University of the Philippines
  • Consolidation and Wrap-up Plenary Session moderated by Tereso Tullao, Jr., Director – Angelo King Institute for Economic and Business Studies, De La Salle University

• The social functions and cultural events were very well attended:
  • Welcome Dinner on October 2, 2015
  • Ayala Walking Tour in the afternoon of October 3 for delegates’ spouses
  • Dinner Reception hosted by Ambassador Ishikawa on October 3
  • Golf game at South Forbes Golf Club on October 4
  • Tour of Old Manila on October 4 with luncheon at the Bayleaf Hotel
  • Farewell Dinner on October 4

The 21^st ASCOJA Conference was featured in three dailies – the Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin and Business World. Copies of the press releases can be viewed in this link. Moreover, the conference was covered by Cignal TV® and featured in its newly launched Bloomberg TV™ (click here to view broadcast footage).

A 110-page souvenir program was produced for the conference. In addition, a Compendium covering all the presentations in printed, video and digital formats is under production, scheduled for release within the year. The 21^st ASCOJA Conference was blessed to have a wide array of generous supporters, enumerated in this link to partners, sponsors and advertisers.

A final and all-important accomplishment of the 21^st Conference was the determination by the ASCOJA Council of the schedule of annual conferences from 2016 to 2025, as follows:

Links to ASCOJA 2015 Sponsors and Advertisers