written by Ms. Keli Biscarra
With the aim of creating a network of young Asian leaders, Toshiba International Foundation, together with the joint sponsor Toshiba Thai Foundation and executor BeGood Café, organized the Toshiba Youth Club Asia (TYCA) Program, an all-expense paid one-week Exchange Camp to be held at the National Olympic Memorial Youth Center in Yoyogi, Tokyo. In this program, 16 students from Japan and 6 ASEAN countries will gather from March 23 to 30, 2015, to think about critical issues such as world energy, disaster prevention, and advanced technology. The program also includes visits to museums and various Tokyo landmarks, cultural activities, several workshops including one with students from Keio University Shonan Fujisawa High School.
The Philippine representatives, who were selected on the basis of a qualifying essay and interview, are Sydney P. Mateo of Marikina Science High School and Mark Ulysis Romulo of City of Mandaluyong Science High School. They will be accompanied by their adviser, Carmencita Biscarra, a Japanese-language instructor of Nihongo Center Foundation and Japan Foundation Manila. Other participants who will join the program are from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, and Japan.
Click Here to view Ms. Keli Biscarra’s report
- L-R: Mr. Makoto Katsura, President of Toshiba Internatiional Foundation; Mr. Naoku Ishibashi, CEO of Governance Design Laboratory, Inc. and Assistant Professor, Faculty of Global Media Studiesof Komazawa University; Mrs. Glenda Ferma, Philippine Representative, Mr. Mark Romulo of Mandaluyong Science High School; Ms. Sydney Mateo of Marikina Science High School and; Ms. Keli Biscarra, Supervisor for the Philippine Delegates; and Mr. Kiyoshi Shikita, Chairperson of BeGood Cafe
The Board of Governors of the ASEAN Council of Japan Alumni (ASCOJA) and officers of ASJA International meets at the AIM Conference Center in Makati City on 24 January 2015 for consultations on ongoing preparations for the 21st ASCOJA Conference to be held in Manila from October 2 to 4, 2015 and the recent proposal for the development of an ASCOJA online communication platform which has been forwarded by ASJA.
Twelve delegates from 8 ASCOJA chapter associations and ASJA Japan are attending, specifically:
Brunei Association of Japan Alumni (BAJA)
Dr. Fadil Galawat
Ms. Noraini HJ Shawal
PERSADA Indonesia
Dr. Dempsy Robby Kambey
Japan Alumni Organization of Laos (JAOL)
Mrs. Bouasone Vongthavone
Japan Graduates Association of Malaysia
Dr. Ooi Chee Keong
Dr. Goh Nge Seung
Myanmar Association of Japan Alumni
Dr. Myo Khin
Old Japan Students Association of the Kingdom of Thailand (OJSAT)
Dr. Samran Choodunagngern
Dr. Surawut Chuangchote
Japan Alumni of Vietnam (JAV)
Dr. Phan Trung Nghia
Asia Japan Alumni (ASJA) International
Sec. Gen. Jiro Sato
Ms. Chikako Hagihara
The Philippine Federation of Japan Alumni (PHILFEJA), the host organization, will deploy a 10-man delegation led by its President, Mr. Philip B. Sanvictores. Other members of the PHILFEJA group are the members of the PHILFEJA Board: Prof. Gilda Uy, Mr. Domingo Go, Mr. Dan Rayo, Mrs. Eva Lawas; Mrs. Marilen Laurel-Loinaz and Mrs. Glenda T. Ferma, Project Manager and Deputy Project Manager respectively of the 2015 ASCOJA Working Team; PHILFEJA resource persons – Dr. Sylvano Dong-E Mahiwo, Dr. Amy Fajardo; and Ms. Cecile Tolentino (Sec. Gen.)
The Japan University Graduates Association of Singapore (JUGAS) and the Japan Alumni of Cambodia (JAC) are unable to attend due to unavoidable circumstances. They however have been furnished meeting materials for information and reference distributed to all ASCOJA chapters prior to the meetings.
The Secretariat for this meeting is headed by Prof. Bernadette “Jen” Hieida.
The General Agenda of this special meeting follows:
January 23, 2015 (Friday)
18:00 : Assembly at AIMCC Lobby
19:00 : Welcome Dinner : Casa Armas, Greenbelt 2, Ayala Center
January 24, 2015 (Saturday) – Metro Pacific Room (3rd Floor, AIMCC)
9:00 : Call to Order / Recognition of Attendees
9:15 : ASCOJA Vision-Mission
- Basic framework
- Discussion on Vision-Mission Statements
- Schedule
10:30 :Coffee break
10:45 :Continuation of Discussions re Vision-Mission
11:00 :21st ASCOJA Conference Manila
- Theme / Date / Venue
- Program Format
- Keynote Speakers
- Breakout Session Facilitators
- General Schedule
12:00 :Lunch (Ramcar Room. AIMCC)
13:30 :ASJA Proposal to Develop an ASCOJA Online Communication Platform
- ASCOJA Online Communications Platform
- FY 2015 ASJA Budget Proposal
15:30 :Coffee break
15:45 :Continue Discussions / Other Matters
17:30 :Adjournment
18:30 :Attend the PHILFEJA Shin Nen Kai 新年会
PHILFEJA 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.
ASJA International (www.asja.gr.jp/E/) recently published Volume 27 of the ASJA News Letter which can be viewed at http://www.asja.gr.jp/pdf/nl_vol27.pdf. It is a 10-page newsletter written mainly in Nihongo. The main sections of the March-June 2014 publication are:
- アスジャ・ASCOJA関係者による安倍総理表敬訪問【平成２６年３月２７日（木）】
ASCOJA Governors Pay Courtesy Call on Prime Minister Abe (March 27, 2014)
- 平成２５年度国際理解講座（タイ・カンボジア）【平成２６年２月８日（土）】
2013 International Understanding Lecture: Thailand and Cambodia (February 8, 2014)
- 第１４回アスジャ研修合宿【平成２６年２月２８日（金）～３月２日（日）】
14th ASJA Research Camp (February 28 – March 2, 2014)
- 第２８回アスジャ理事会ASCOJA幹部会及平成２５年度アスジャ修了式【平成２６年３月２８日（金）】
28th ASJA Board of Directors /ASCOJA Board of Governors Meeting and 25th ASJA Commencement Exercises Held March 28, 2014
- 平成２６年度アスジャ国費留学生オリエンテーション【平成２６年４月２５日（金）～４月２６日（土）】
2014 ASJA Orientation for Government Scholars (April 25 – 26, 2014)
- 平成２６年度アスジャ国費留学生歓迎会【平成２６年５月９日（金）】
2014 Welcome Party for ASJA Government Scholars (May 9, 2014)
- アスジャ事務局便り
News from the ASJA Office
It is a downloadable (pdf) file, as are all the back issues of the newsletter dating back to its first issue in July 2004.
