As part of this collaboration, guests dining and availing of the Valentine’s offerings at Yamazato and Yawaragi will enjoy a curated flight of the Tamnavulin Wine Series, featuring Sherry Cask, French Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sauvignon Blanc. 

Additionally, couples who book in advance for the Kisetsu Buffet will receive complimentary coupe glasses engraved with their names, courtesy of Tamnavulin—a perfect keepsake for a romantic celebration.

Indulge in a Romantic Stay: 

Make your Valentine’s celebration unforgettable with an exclusive Koibumi 2025 Room Package, offering world-class accommodations, fine dining, and an enchanting live concert experience of watching Ronan Keating Live in Manila on the 13^th of February.

Selling Period: February 1 – 13, 2025
Stay Period: February 1 – 14, 2025

Room Options & Rates (per night, nett)

• Deluxe Room: ₱24,000
• Hinoki-yu Room: ₱26,000
• Palace Suite Room: ₱30,000

Exclusive Inclusions:

• Welcome amenity upon arrival
• Daily breakfast for two adults and two children (below five years old) at Yawaragi Restaurant
• Two tickets to Ronan Keating’s concert on February 13 at Newport Performing Arts Theater (Silver Section)
• 10% discount on in-room dining and at Sora Rooftop
•  Complimentary Wi-Fi and broadband internet access
• Access to the fitness center and outdoor swimming pool

Valentine’s Kaiseki

Indulge in a multi-course Kaiseki menu crafted by our master chefs, available exclusively for dinner from February 10 to 15, 2025. Male guests dining in pairs will receive a complimentary box of chocolates, in keeping with Japanese Valentine’s traditions.

• Price: ₱7,500++ per person
• Dinner Service: 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM
• Includes: A Tamnavulin Wine Series Flight

Valentine’s Sushi Omakase

Experience an exquisite Sushi Omakase, showcasing the finest seasonal ingredients, available for both lunch and dinner from February 10 to 14, 2025.

• Price: ₱15,000++ per person
• Lunch Service: 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM
• Dinner Service: 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM
• Includes: A Tamnavulin Wine Series Flight

Valentine’s Kisetsu Buffet

Celebrate with loved ones at Yawaragi’s Valentine’s-themed Kisetsu Buffet, featuring Japanese favorites and international cuisine, available for dinner on February 14 and 15, 2025.

• Price: ₱3,500++ per person
• Dinner Service: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
• Includes: A Tamnavulin Wine Series Flight
• Advance Booking Perk: Couples will receive personalized coupe glasses engraved with their names, sponsored by Tamnavulin

Valentine’s Pastry Boutique

The perfect sweet gesture for your loved ones this season, Valentine’s-inspired signature pastries, available from February 5 to 15, 2025, with prices starting at ₱350++.

Reservations and Inquiries

For room or dining reservations and more information:
📞 Phone: +63 2 5318 2888
📧 Email: fb@hotelokuramanila.com
🔗 Website: hotelokuramanila.com/offers/koibumi

Note: Prices are subject to applicable taxes and service charges. Events and offerings are subject to change without prior notice.

To mark the occasion, a virtual opening ceremony was held on the same day. Economic Minister NIHEI Daisuke of the Embassy of Japan graced the ceremony, along with Undersecretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac and Undersecretary Patricia Yvonne M. Caunan of the Department of Migrant Workers. A recorded video message from Secretary Susan V. Ople of the Department of Migrant Workers was also presented. Also in attendance were Mr. SUZUKI Ben of the Japan Foundation, Manila, and Mr. Philip B. Sanvictores of the Nihongo Center Foundation Inc.

The 256 candidates will undergo a 6-month training on Japanese language, culture and society, prior to their deployment to Japan. The training will be implemented online by the Nihongo Center Foundation Inc. and The Japan Foundation, Manila. Daily living and internet allowances, and a tablet computer device are provided to the candidates, for the duration of the training.

Another six (6) months of onsite Japanese language training will be conducted for the candidates after their arrival in Japan, prior to their definite work term in hospitals and caregiving facilities. Once their initial work term is completed and upon passing the Japanese national examination, candidates may apply for further employment in Japan as nurses and certified careworkers. 

In the ceremony, Minister NIHEI thanked the candidates for choosing Japan as their future work destination and for taking on the challenge of learning the Japanese language. He added that the program aims to help Filipinos succeed on their new career in the healthcare sector of Japan, further promoting the good bilateral relations between our countries.

For Interested applicants, visit the official Department of Migrant Workers website for announcements regarding the program. https://www.dmw.gov.ph/  

I won’t pretend to be an expert in Japanese culture or business dynamics. But I could fairly claim a good familiarity with their unique “keiei rinri” or business ethics.

The COVID-19 pandemic, a virus that originated in Wuhan, China has created a global health crisis that affected everyone’s life and the broad spectrum of businesses. And for the Japanese, a crisis is something that they will never refuse to deal with. Needless to say, crisis is an opportunity for them to seize. This is the reason why the Japanese have this proverb, “Ishi no ue ni mo sannen.” (Patience and perseverance lead to success.)

Japanese is known for being resilient, and this is something we Filipinos can learn from. For them, the pandemic is a crisis that needs to be dealt with utmost patience, prudence and courage.

The recent decision of Nissan Philippines to shut down its assembly operations in the country this March has caught many people by surprise — myself not included for reasons I’d discuss later.

Despite this unfortunate development, Nissan Philippines Inc. President and Managing Director Atsushi Najima assured valued customers and the Filipino people that Nissan Philippines is here to stay and shall continue to serve its customers. “Nissan remains committed to its investments in the Philippines. The company will continue to contribute to the growth of the Philippine automotive industry through its innovative products and excellent services, as well as its dealer expansion nationwide,” said Mr. Najima.

THEPHILBIZNEWS has always been in the loop when it comes to Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) updates on business developments concerning Japanese firms. In recent years, it has aired concerns over changes in the ownership of the companies in the Philippines and tax incentives to encourage more investors to come or stay in the Philippines. But apparently, the Department of Finance continues to be deaf to calls for incentives. The Board of Investments of the Philippines (BOI) has said that incentives afforded to foreign investors should at least be at par with other ASEAN-member countries.

This is the same sentiment across foreign chambers of commerce in the Philippines, that the incentives for foreign investors would be something attractive to keep their business in the country given the fact our ASEAN neighbors have been very aggressive in enticing investors to do business in their respective countries.

I remember what the president of a Korean company in the Philippines told me back in the third quarter of 2016 when they invited me to the groundbreaking of their other branch. In a worried tone, he said: “The Philippines should not just focus on China investors. This is bad for the country and will spook other foreign investors.”

The truth is, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and now Cambodia have been very aggressive in their bells and whistles strategy by offering attractive incentives to foreign investors. My Japanese friend who studied in the UK describes these trade policies as “very hard to refuse.”

Compared with other Asian counterparts and Westerners, the Japanese have group solidarity, even in terms of decision-making. Thus, it is important to understand this peculiar cultural mindset of the Japanese. The team concept is not just strong but also very important to them.

I can safely presume that the decision of Nissan Philippines to close the assembly operation in the Philippines went through the “nemawashi.” This involves the Japanese’s management values consensus. I am sure even companies that are part of JETRO have the same process. And as what a Japanese proverb says, “A single arrow is easily broken but not ten in a bundle.”

I hope that before other foreign firms follow to the exit, this administration will take time to seriously listen to the sentiments and valuable input not just of the Japanese investors but also to other investors.

As for Nissan Philippines, they will continue to be here in the country to do business and my hope is they will reinstate their assembly plant when better times return at the end of this pandemic. Perhaps, the government can even start reaching out to the top executives of Nissan and see how they can help in its bid to ramp up its sustainable mobility initiatives.

As they gear up to launch the Nissan Leaf in the Philippines, I hope that the government will look beyond the marketing activity of Nissan Philippines Inc., by encouraging them to start manufacturing their EV in the Philippines and give them the necessary and attractive incentives and start the ball rolling again. When this happens, this would certainly catch the attention of other foreign investors and suddenly put the Philippines on their radar for future offshore investment plans.

Sadly, the myopic view of some of Duterte’s economic managers unwittingly shooed away many foreign investors and would be investors. Which for me is not only idiotic but also counter-intuitive.

Case in point, the feeling genius but bookish Department of Finance Undersecretary Kendrick Karl Chua, who was invited to be one of the speakers in the British Chamber of Commerce Philippines 2019 Philippine Business Outlook Briefing held at Dusit Thani Manila together with UK Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce, DTI Assistant Secretary Angelo Taningco, Department of Finance Undersecretary Karl Chua, and renowned economist Dr. Bernie Villegas.

In his speech attended by business leaders, diplomats, representatives from the government and private sector and the media, Chua blasted the Japanese companies and their executives when he said that when he visited Japan perhaps to eat sashimi and sushi, he found out that the tax reform program that his master wanted to implement was not welcomed very much not just by the Japanese companies doing business in the Philippines but also other foreign companies.

Obviously, Chua trained his gun on the ever-calm Japanese executives who attended the Business Outlook Briefing either because he doesn’t have an iota of knowledge about dealing with Japanese, or because his DNA has resentment against the Japanese.

Either way, the most uncouth thing to do or to shoo away investors is to insult them. Telling that these Japanese companies and their executives who didn’t understand the confused tax reform programs he wanted to implement was either lying or didn’t understand it, was uncalled for. It is his duty as the proponent to explain further if others don’t understand it. But shaming them in a gathering of business does not make him better than them!

Nonetheless, Nissan Philippines still took a daring gambit in their plan to bring in the EV to the Philippines. I wish them well in their effort and determination to contribute to environmental preservation through sustainable mobility. For our government, I hope to see astuteness in them and see an opportunity in the future of mobility and support Nissan in their effort to import the vehicles and then in the process convince them to set up their manufacturing of EV in the Philippines.

On final note, it is an admirable tactic for Nissan to be at the forefront in bringing the EV to the Philippines as they look towards the future. As the Japanese proverb goes, “Koketsu ni irazunba koji wo ezu“. (You cannot get a cub without going into the tiger’s cave.)