順天中学校・高等学校

Three students who are scheduled to go to the Philippines from December 18 to 23 visited the Philippine Embassy in Roppongi.   Ms.Olivia Akatsu introduced the students to the Minister Angelica C. Escalona at the Philippine Embassy with with  Ms.Kanami Namiki.

The students have never visited an embassy, so three students were very nervous. But Minister and Ms.Namiki were very friendly, so students were able to relax finally.  Three students have attended  several workshops prior to this meeting, so they have learned about the Philippine culture, lifestyle and history, so they asked a lot of questions about the country.   Minister and the staff also provided helpful advice and messages.

After the meeting, the group took pictures in front of the statue of José Rizal.  The three students in the center are going to the Philippines as the Junten SGH delegates.  From left,. Minister Escalona and the very right is Ms.Olivia Akatsu.  Minister took the students to different departments in the Embassy. 

The students went to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office  and the staff warmly welcome the Junten students.   They informed the staff that they are going to the Philippines from December 18 to 23, then the staff replied, “Why don’t you stay during the Christmas in the Philippines? That is the best time!”  Christmas is the most precious time of the year for the people in the Philippines.

Junten SGH students will work to support the Philippiono Communities in Japan.  The Embassy staff readily agreed to help providing information for that.   It seems that the students are excited about going to the Philippines, but at the same time they looked a little nervous about the new challenge.  Through several SGH workshops, they have already established their own images about the country, but now they have new roles.  Their new role is to report what they experienced, saw and learned in the Philippines with the rest of the class.

Junten hopes that three students are ready to take the new challenge.  Teachers supporting the students are interested in finding out how the messages and advice from the Embassy staff have reached to these students.  We will know it when they visit the Philippines in December.

Student Feedbacks 

I was nervous about visiting the Embassy because my images of an embassy is that there are more male staff and they are very serious.  It was totally different.  Most of the staff, including the Minister Angelica C. Escalona, are women.  They have beautiful smiles and they are friendly.  

There are other new findings too.  I have heard that they have higher infant mortality rate than Japan, so I thought there are less children than Japan. But the reality was opposite, I found out that there are more children and less older people.   I also thought that children are sad there, as I have seen images of children are working to make living by collecting garbage.  I often thought, “ what can I do to help?”  So I asked the Minister what I can do? and she answered, “please play with the children and share their and your cultures with them.”  I realize children are the same everywhere.  I was very happy to learn about the food and traditions in the Philippines and Christmas customs. 

I previously researched about José Rizal and I learned more about him during the visit.  Rizal was a real hero for the Philippines.  I took pictures in front of his statue.  I would like to learn and research more about him when I visit there.

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At the Philippine Embassy, everyone was very friend and was very easy to talk to. The country is filled with smiles and people are very lively.  I thought that women work hard and valuable in the Philippines. 

There are a lot of things that are different from Japan.  I would like to see a lot of things with different perceptions when I visit the country.

There are two things I will keep in mind while visiting the Philippines.  Firstly, I should not have biases and I should be open-minded to what I see and hear.  Secondly, I will meet a lot of children so I would like to try to communicate with them as much as I can and make friends with them.  I will be proactive and talk with local people to know what they are really thinking.  I will work with other two students to find out what we can do in the Philippines and what they truly want from us.