By Alithea De Jesus
Photos from: Embassy of Japan in the Philippines 在フィリピン日本国大使館
True to his commitment to further enhance Japan and Philippines relations in all possible aspects, His Excellency Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines KOSHIKAWA Kazuhiko, hosted a send-off ceremony at his residence last August 4, for the 21st Batch of the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship by Japanese Grant Aid (JDS) Fellows from the Philippines.
This is part of Japan’s program to deepen its relationship with the Philippines in various programs such as in business and investment, culture, education, and people to people. The twenty JDS Fellows are set to leave for Japan to pursue master’s degree courses in leading Japanese universities.
Last week, Ambassador KOSHIKAWA hosted another send-off ceremony at his residence for 65 Filipino under the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme. This is also one of Japan’s Embassy’s initiatives to enhance people-to-people program for the Filipino people.
The JDS is a scholarship project launched in 2002 by the Government of the Philippines with funding from the Government of Japan through its Official Development Assistance. It is intended to support the socio-economic development of the Philippines by helping boost the capacities of young Filipino professionals from the government.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador KOSHIKAWA, stated that he looks forward to hearing the JDS Fellows’ valuable research initiatives upon their successful completion of the program and seeing the fruits of their hard work as they serve their home country in the years to come. He also expressed his gratitude to the implementing partners of the JDS, and gave his well wishes to the JDS Fellows.
Also present at the send-off ceremony were Congressman Tsuyoshi Anthony G. Horibata of Camarines Sur (1st District), Undersecretary Joseph J. Capuno of the National Economic and Development Authority, Director Princess U. Tomas-Tayao of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Chief Representative SAKAMOTO Takema of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Philippines, and officers from the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE) JDS Project Office in the Phillippines.