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13 August 2014

AEON 1% Club Foundation

Japan – Philippines Teenage Ambassadors Program (in the Philippines)

ACTIVITY REPORT

AEON 1% Club Foundation has implemented the Japan – Philippines

Teenage Ambassadors Program (dispatch to the Philippines) and would

like to report as follow.

Ⅰ. Period：28 July – 4 August, 2014

Ⅱ. Venue: The Republic of the Philippines (Manila)

Ⅲ. Participants：

- 20 Japanese students (10 males, 10 females) of Miyagi Prefecture Sendai Nika High school

- 20 Philippine students (10 males, 10 females) of University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS)

- Mr. Yokoo, Director of AEON 1% Club Foundation

Ⅳ． Program contents：（see photos below for references）

① Courtesy visits

To Ministry of Education 29 July（Tue.）

To Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) 29 July (Tue.)

To Embassy of Japan in the Philippines 29 July (Tue.)

② Exchange activities

Exchange views with students of Japanese language at La Salle University 30 July (Wed.)

Lecture experiences at UPIS High school 1 August (Fri.)

Home stay 1 August (Fri.) – 3 August (Sun.)

Farewell Party 3 August (Sun.)

③ History study and culture experience

Inspection on historic and cultural heritage 30 July（Wed.）

Manila city inspection 30 July（Wed.）

Hospicio de San Jose Church visit 31 July (Thu.)

Traditional dance experience 31 July (Thu.)

Ⅴ. New focuses：

① Increasing the chances for exchange views and communication

This year program has carried out the visit to La Salle University and have the students exchange views

with Philippine students who are learning Japanese language to facilitate the mutual understandings of

each other country.

② Deepening the understanding of cultures through first-hand experience

Rather than just watching and hearing, the students have visited and experienced the activities

themselves (visit to welfare facilities, learning traditional dance)

↑ A Speech by Minister of Education, Mr. Armin Altamirano Luistro

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Ⅵ． Student feedback:

I heard that the rich-poor gap in the Philippines is large, but I could not imagine how large it was while

still being in Japan. Through the visit to the Philippines, and having seen the reality with my eyes, I was

taken aback. It was really shocking to find out that at the other side of a prosperous city, are now living

homeless children. I also encountered begging children, which left me with a mixed feeling. The visit to

the Philippines helped me realize that what we are taking for granted in Japan is indeed our happiness.

Not only have we learned about the Philippines, we also have had a chance to look back and realize

good things of our country from a different point of view.

(A Japanese student from Sendai Nika high school )

I felt that there were many similarities between the Philippines and Japan. For example, geographically

both are island countries, with many volcanos and suffering from natural disasters like typhoons,

which normally damage the countries severely. Therefore, the people of the both countries also share

similar points of view towards nature. However, there is a big difference. In the Philippines, there are

still many homeless children living in slum areas together with flies, which exit even inside Manila city.

This is normally considered unacceptable in Japan. It was my first time to be in the Philippines, and I

saw the other side of the world, the rich-poor gap problem, which I think was the most valuable lesson

I learned from the grogram.

(A Japanese student from Sendai Nika high school)

I think Japan and the Philippines are very similar, which proves that we are all Asian people. I think the

slight difference between Japan and the Philippines is that they have a stronger unity. Also, I really

hope that the program will be continued in the future to strengthen the ties between the two countries.

(A Philippine student from UPIS)

Ⅶ. Coordinating teachers’ feedback:

I think the program has been very successful with rich contents. It was good to go to places where we

would never have chance to, like the Japanese Embassy and Government Offices. We have had a good

time in the Philippines.

（A Japanese teacher from Sendai Nika high school）

I am proud that UPIS was chosen to join the program, which was very interesting. I hope that when

the Philippine students visit Japan this September, they also have a great time like the Japanese

students have enjoyed in the Philippines. Also, I'd like this program to be expanded to more countries

in the future.

(The Principle from UPIS)

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Ⅷ. Photos：

① Courtesy visit：to Ministry of Education、JETRO in Manila, Embassy of Japan in the Philippines

Courtesy visit to the Ministry of Education (29 July)

↑Students of both countries met for the first time ↑Greeting speech by Mr. Armin Altamirano Luistro, Minister for

Education

↑A Japanese student presenting a gift to the Minister for

Education (from the left: Mr. Yokoo – Director of AEON 1% Club; Japanese student; Mr. Armin Luisto – Education Minister; Mr. Earl P.

Saavedra – Commissioner of National Youth Commission (NYC)

↑A Japanese student raising a question to the Minister

Visit to JETRO in Manila (29 July)

↑Mr. Ishikawa of JETRO explaining to the Japanese students

the economic status of the Philippines

↑A Japanese student raising questions after the lecture

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Welcome Reception at the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines (29 July)

↑A welcome speech from H.E. Mr. Urabe, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines

↑Japanese students presenting souvenirs to Mr. Yokoo (left), H.E. Mr. Urabe (middle), Mr. Saavedra (right)

↑Japanese students performing “Sparrow dance” (which is

said to be performed at the inauguration ceremony of Aoba Castle)

↑Philippine students performing “Pandanggo sa ilaw dance”

(which means Pandanggo light)

↑Commemorative photo at the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines

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② Exchange activities：Visit to La Salle University, Lecture experience, Home stay, Farewell party

Visit to La Salle University (30 July)

↑ Students of La Salle University and Japanese students

exchanging views

↑A Japanese student introducing Origami (traditional art of folding paper of Japan) to a Philippine student

↑Japanese high school students listening to a description of the auditorium on a campus tour

↑Commemorative photo at La Salle University entrance

Lecture experience at UPIS (1 August)

↑ Japanese students attending a Physic lecture with their

Philippine partners

↑ Japanese students having an English lecture with their

Philippine partners

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Home stay (1 – 3 August)

↑Having dinner with the host families ↑Enjoying the soccer game set at the host family house

↑Relaxing in the room ↑Helping the host family in preparing the dinner

Farewell Party（3rd August）

↑Commemorative photo with the host families, teachers and other guests

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↑Japanese students performing “Sparrow dance”

↑Japanese students singing “The flowers bloom”, the song

to encourage the revitalization of Tohoku area Japan

↑Japanese students performing Karate and Kendo

↑Surprised happy birth celebration to two students

↑Philippine students performing Cariñosa dance (a

traditional folk dance)

↑Students of both countries at the farewell moment

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③ Historical and cultural experience: National Museum, Manila city inspection, Hospicio de San Jose

church visit, Traditional dance experience

National Museum inspection (29 July)

↑Students of both countries listening to the explanation of the

Spanish ship San Diego, which was used during the late 16th century

↑Both students inspecting the wooden coffin found in Banton,

Romblon of the Philippines

Manila city inspection (30 July)

↑Commemorative photo at the Fort Santiago ruins ↑Japanese female students praying in the World Heritage San

Agustine Church

Hospicio de San Jose church visit (31 July)

↑Listening to the explanation of the history of the Church ↑Making friends with disabled children (photo 1)

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↑Making friends with disabled children (photo 2) ↑Singing a song, as a present, to the disabled children

Traditional culture experience (31 July)

↑Japanese students learning traditional Philippine dance ↑Japanese students trying bamboo dance

↑ Japanese students dancing in the Philippine traditional costume

↑Commemorative photo with all students wearing traditional costume