PH Embassy Joins Filiipino Community In Japan In Celebrating Feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz and World Day of Migrants and Refugees
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano (7th from right) joins the members of Filipino Community, led by the Gathering of Filipino Community Groups and Communities (GFGC), in celebrating the Feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz of Manila and his Companions on 26 September 2026 at Nishi-Chiba Catholic Church.
TOKYO, 30 September 2026 – The Philippine Embassy in Japan, led by Ambassador Mylene J. Garcia-Albano, joined Filipino communities from across the Kanto region in celebrating the Feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz of Manila and his Companions on 26 September 2026 at the Nishi-Chiba Catholic Church.
The day-long event brought together parishioners from Akabane, Goi, Ichikawa, Kichijoji, Kiyose, Koiwa, Meguro, Narita, Narashino, Nishi-Chiba, and Shiomi. Organized by the Gathering of Filipino Groups and Communities (GFGC) and the Catholic Tokyo International Center (CTIC), the celebration was also held in observance of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees commemorated annually on the last Sunday of September.
Parishioners lead the procession of the image of San Lorenzo Ruiz around the church grounds, while reciting prayers for peace, family welfare, and migrant workers worldwide.
The festivities began with a solemn procession around the church grounds, where participants escorted the image of San Lorenzo Ruiz while praying for global peace, family welfare, and the well-being of migrant workers worldwide.
A Eucharistic celebration followed, concelebrated by Filipino priests Reverend Father Edwin Corros and Reverend Father Frederic Roa Lauricio; Monsignor Giuseppe Franconi of the Apostolic Nunciature to Japan; Reverend Father Kenji Takagi, parish priest of Nishi-Chiba Parish; Reverend Father Emilio Martinez; and Reverend Father Terencio Try Yanto of Kichijoji Parish. Reverend Father Edmund Vergara was also present.
Members of the Filipino Communities in Akabane, Goi, Ichikawa, Kichijoji, Kiyose, Koiwa, Meguro, Narita, Narashino, Nishi-Chiba, and Shiomi showcase delightful cultural presentations during the feastday of San Lorenzo Ruiz and his companions at Nishi-Chiba Catholic Church.
Following the Mass, a festive salu-salo showcased a variety of traditional Filipino delicacies. Attendees proudly donned their Filipiniana attire, delighting the community with vibrant musical and cultural performances.
Ambassador Garcia-Albano emphasized that the martyrdom of San Lorenzo Ruiz in Nagasaki serves as a historical and spiritual anchor for the connection between the Philippines and Japan.
In her remarks, Ambassador Garcia-Albano emphasized that the martyrdom of San Lorenzo Ruiz in Nagasaki serves as a profound historical and spiritual anchor connecting the Philippines and Japan.
“Ang nagsimula bilang trahedya ng pag-uusig dahil sa relihiyon ay naging tulay ng pagkakaibigan at pagkakaunawaan – isang napakagandang halimbawa ng ugnayan ng mga mamamayang Pilipino at Hapon bilang isang mahalagang haligi ng pagtutulungan ng ating mga bansa, lalo na at ipinagdiriwang natin ngayong taon ang ika-pitumpung (70) anibersaryo ng diplomatikong ugnayan sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at Japan,” Ambassador Garcia-Albano stated.
(“What began as a tragedy of religious persecution became a bridge of friendship and understanding—a beautiful example of how the ties between the Filipino and Japanese peoples remain a vital pillar of cooperation between our nations, especially as we celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Japan this year.”)
The Ambassador also encouraged the Filipino diaspora living apart from their families to draw strength from the resilience of San Lorenzo Ruiz, urging them to uphold the core Filipino values of malasakit (compassion), pakikipagkapwa-tao (shared humanity), and bayanihan (community spirit).
The Embassy’s Consular Section conducts overseas voter registration during the celebration, bringing the service closer to the members of various Filipino communities gathered at Nishi-Chiba.
In line with its commitment to bringing frontline services closer to the Filipino community in Japan, the Embassy also conducted an overseas voter registration drive during the event. The initiative successfully registered more than sixty (60) eligible Filipino overseas voters ahead of the 2028 Philippine National Elections.
