Philippine Embassy Conducts First of Sentro Rizal Cultural Education Series For 2026
The Philippine Embassy in Japan, represented by Deputy Chief of Mission Christian L. De Jesus (standing, 7th from right), with students and officials from Soka High School during the school’s visit to the Embassy on 18 February 2026.
TOKYO, 27 February 2026 – The Philippine Embassy in Japan launched its 2026 cultural education program under Sentro Rizal-Tokyo through a series of activities with various schools based in Tokyo.
Students from Okudo Junior High School, Koryo Junior High School, Matsue Daini Junior High School-Edogawa and Soka High School visited the Embassy between 30 January to 18 February 2026.
The Embassy also conducted its inaugural Philippine presentation at Takamatsu Junior High School on 12 February 2026 with three (3) of its junior high school classes.
Students from Okudo Junior High School were given a tour of the Sentro Rizal-Tokyo during their visit to the Philippine Embassy on 30 January 2026.
The Philippine Embassy in Japan highlighted the 70th anniversary of the normalization of Philippines-Japan relations in 2026 during the school presentations. In the photo are students from Koryo Junior High School during their Embassy visit on 03 February 2026.
“The Embassy is pleased to welcome students from various educational institutions in Tokyo. These visits provide us a platform to promote the best of the Philippines to local audiences, especially the youth, through Sentro Rizal-Tokyo. As we celebrate this year the 70th anniversary of the normalization of Philippines-Japan diplomatic relations, these initiatives not only deepen cultural understanding between our two countries but are a testament to the strong people-to-people ties between the Philippines and Japan,” underscored Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano following the cultural education series.
Philippine Embassy in Japan Deputy Chief of Mission Christian L. De Jesus delivered the remarks on behalf of Ambassador Mylene J. Garcia-Albano during the visit of Soka High School on 18 February 2026.
As part of their Embassy visit, Soka High School students also shared the highlights of their familiarization tour to the Philippines in January 2026, including their visits to the University of the Philippines-Diliman Campus, and the Philippine Normal University. Philippine Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Christian L. De Jesus, who represented the Ambassador during the Soka High School visit, emphasized the importance of the youth exchanges in building bridges between cultures and countries, and in further deepening Philippines-Japan friendship.
The Philippine Embassy in Japan’s presentation at Sentro Rizal-Tokyo during the visit of the students from Matsue Daini Junior High School-Edogawa on 06 February 2026.
During the activities, the Embassy featured Philippine culture, traditions, cuisine, must-visit destinations, a Filipino language crash course, as well as the significance of the 70th Anniversary milestone celebration during the school presentations.
Another highlight of the schools visits to the chancery is a tour of Sentro Rizal-Tokyo, where the display of Philippine cultural items and tourism materials attracted the attention of the students. Established on 08 December 2017, the center, which is located within the Embassy, serves as a hub and a platform to promote Philippine culture, history, heritage and the arts to both the Filipino community and local audiences in Japan.
The Philippine Embassy in Japan visited Takamatsu Junior High School on 12 February 2026 to deliver presentations on the Philippines to three junior high school classes.
The question-and-answer sessions following the presentations also provided the Embassy with the opportunity to spotlight the various cultural initiatives for the 70th anniversary, including the Philippines-Japan Film Festival with screenings in Tokyo and Sendai in February and March 2026, the Filipino Speech Language Contest in August 2026, and the Philippine Festival on 28-29 November 2026.
