The Philippines Featured in Inaugural “Passport to the World” at The New Sanno
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano delivered remarks as the guest of honor of the inaugural “Passport To The World” series featuring the Philippines on 06 September 2025 at The New Sanno.
TOKYO, 16 September 2025 – The Philippine Embassy in Japan and The New Sanno, a U.S. Navy-operated joint service hotel in Tokyo, successfully launched the inaugural “Passport to the World” event series featuring the Philippines on 6 September 2025. The celebration formed part of the Embassy’s advance commemoration of Philippine National Tourism Week this September and highlighted the country’s rich culture, heritage, and global connections.
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano, guest of honor at the event, underscored the Embassy’s efforts to reach wider audiences in Japan.
“The Philippine Embassy is exploring new platforms to further promote Philippine culture and heritage to the Japanese and international communities here in Japan. Tonight’s activity is an excellent opportunity to showcase the best of the Philippines – from performing arts and traditional games, to tourist sites and cuisine,” said Ambassador Garcia-Albano in her remarks.
Philippine Ambassador Mylene J. Garcia-Albano had the chance to interact with the Filipino and international communities during the event.
The event also gave Ambassador Garcia-Albano a chance to interact with the Filipino and international communities, and to share the Embassy’s programs and services.
The Embassy exhibit highlighted the Philippines’ weaving tradition through a display of local weaves from various regions in the Philippines. A “Philippines at the World Expo Osaka 2025” photo wall was also installed to provide guests a glimpse of the Philippine pavilion at the ongoing World Expo 2025 in Osaka Kansai.
Attendees of the “Passport To The World” series featuring the Philippines visited the Philippine Embassy exhibit which spotlighted local weaves, the Philippine pavilion at the World Expo Osaka 2025, Philippine tourism materials and agricultural products. The Embassy also encouraged Filipino Community members to avail of its on site registration as part of the Embassy’s public diplomacy services.
The Philippines’ well-loved agricultural products, sourced by the Embassy’s Office of the Agricultural Attaché, such as bananas, mangoes and pineapples were also on display at the exhibit to the guests’ delight, and dried mangoes were handed out as tokens to those who dropped by the Embassy exhibit. Filipino attendees were also encouraged to register with the Embassy in line with its public diplomacy services.
Hundreds of local and international guests, as well as members of the Filipino Community, sampled Filipino cuisine such as lechon belly, sinuglaw, and halo-halo, and cocktails made from Philippine-made liqueur lambanog or local vodka, and Don Papa rum prepared by The New Sanno. Kids and adults alike also enjoyed playing Filipino perya or fair games, and prizes such as Filipino snacks, and “Love The Philippines” merchandise courtesy of the Philippine Department of Tourism-Tokyo Office, were awarded to the lucky attendees. Lively dance performances and song numbers further lent a more festive atmosphere to the event.
Scenes during the “Passport To The World” series featuring the Philippines. Mr. Jeff Sussman, Rooms Director, represented The New Sanno management during the event (upper row, center).
The Passport To The World event is poised to be a bi-annual activity of The New Sanno, and the Embassy hopes to partner with the hotel in future series to further advance the Philippines’ cultural diplomacy initiatives.
