Philippine Embassy Chargé d’affaires a.i. Christian L. De Jesus (6th from left) with some of the Filipino graduates during the latest graduation ceremony of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies of Japan (GRIPS) held on 11 September 2026.

TOKYO, 16 September 2026 – The Philippine Embassy in Japan, led by Chargé d’affaires, a.i. (CDA) Christian L. De Jesus, attended the graduation ceremony of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies of Japan (GRIPS) held on 11 September 2026 at the Institute’s Soukairou Hall.

Among the latest batch of graduates were eighteen (18) Filipino scholars, most of whom are officials and personnel from various Philippine government agencies and institutions. They are Mr. Miguel Florido Abitang, Ms. Antonella Rosana, Ms. Roschele Ablan and Ms. Francess Liene Gallardo from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS); Mr. Joshua Intes from the Bureau of the Treasury (BoT); , Mr. Dustin Adriel Villacastin Sulat from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA); Mr. Mark Aca and Ms. Maila Maniscan from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG); Ms. Czarieena Pauline Antonio from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP); Ms. Ramona Maria Miral and Ms. Katha Ma-i Montes Estopace from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS); Ms. Deonah Abigail Miole from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA); Ms. Jobelle Clarisse Montais and Ms. Genshen Espedido from the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev); Mr. Socrates Simbe II from the Department of Energy (DOE); Mr. Glen Tampis from the Bureau of Customs-Port of Batangas (BOC); Ms. Charlene Mariquit from the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries; and Mr. Iñaqui Angelo Mangahas from the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

On behalf of Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano, CDA De Jesus commended the Filipino graduates for their achievements in their respective programs, and expressed confidence that the knowledge, skills, and perspectives they gained at GRIPS would enable them to contribute further to the Philippines’ socioeconomic transformation through their various professional and personal endeavors upon their return to the Philippines.

Filipino graduates, namely, Mr. Socrates Simbe II from the Department of Energy (DOE) (3rd from left) and Mr. Mr. Mark Aca from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) (2nd from right) are among the recipients of the Dean’s Award during the recent GRIPS graduation ceremony. Also in the photo is the Vice President and Dean of Grips Nobuhiro HOSOE.

During the ceremony, Mr. Simbe from DOE and Mr. Aca from PCG received the Dean’s Award, while Ms. Maniscan from PCG received the best thesis award for the Maritime Safety and Security Policy (MSP) Program.

Since its establishment in 1997, GRIPS has produced more than 6,000 graduates from the public and private sectors representing 126 countries. Filipino scholars have annually participated in GRIPS’ various academic programs, including those designed for Philippine government executives.

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