Filipino Speech Contest in Tokyo Marks 70 Yrs of Ties with Japan

By Yuka Moriyama Tokyo, Aug. 22 (Jiji Press)–A Filipino-language speech contest for Japanese students has been held in Tokyo by the Philippine Embassy as part of its efforts to commemorate this year’s 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Japan. Held Thursday at the Azabu Civic Center in Minato Ward, the event called “Buklod-Wika,” meaning bonded by languages in Filipino, coincided with the Philippines’ National Language Month, known as Buwan ng Wika, celebrated every August. The contest drew 11 students from across Japan. Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano highlighted in her opening remarks that the students showcasing the results of their Filipino-language studies represented the strong people-to-people ties between the Philippines and Japan. Emphasizing that the friendship and dedication of the peoples of both nations, particularly youths, have helped sustain and strengthen bilateral relations over the past 70 years, she said such connections would help pass on the close ties to future generations. In the junior high and high school division, four contestants recited “Ang Wika Ko,” a poem by government-recognized national artist Virgilio S. Almario, also known as Rio Alma, which calls for preserving one’s native language amid the influence of foreign languages. Also, seven university and graduate students delivered original speeches on topics related to the 70th anniversary of Philippine-Japan diplomatic relations on July 23, as well as Filipino culture and language. First place in the university and graduate student division was awarded to Anna Tsukuda, 22, a fourth-year student at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, or TUFS, for her speech on the importance of learning Filipino despite the widespread use of English in the Philippines. In her speech, she said that studying Filipino enables learners to gain a deeper understanding of the identity and culture of the Filipino people. Tsukuda began studying Filipino in university with the broader goal of supporting foreign residents in Japan. In her first year, she traveled to the Philippines for the first time to participate in an infrastructure volunteer program that helped in the construction of concrete roads. She later returned to the Philippines for a year-long study abroad program. “I hope to serve as a bridge between Japan and the Philippines by deepening my understanding of not only the language but also the culture,” Tsukuda told Jiji Press after the contest. She expressed her enthusiasm to apply such knowledge and skills in her future career after graduation. Another highlight of the event was the unveiling of the Japanese-Filipino Dictionary published by Tokyo publisher Tsuge Shobo Shinsha in June. The volume is a comprehensive edition developed from the Japanese-Tagalog Dictionary, whose first edition was published in 2005. The project took four and a half years to complete. According to editor-in-chief Michiko Yamashita, one of Japan’s leading experts on the Filipino language and former TUFS associate professor, there were few academic resources in the past that directly linked Japanese and Filipino, often requiring students to look up Filipino words in English first before finding corresponding Japanese words. “We are very happy and delighted that the dictionary came out in the year of the 70th anniversary,” Yamashita said, expressing hopes that the new publication will make learning Filipino easier. In addition, the event featured performances by Japan-based Filipino musicians, as well as the TUFS Philippine Cultural Dance Troupe, which showcased a variety of Filipino traditional dances that captivated the audience. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]