Filipino Community Called To Uphold Values in Feast Day of the Philippines’ Patron Saint
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano with Fr. Edwin Corros of the Catholic Tokyo International Center during the Feast Day of San Lorenzo Ruiz on 27 September 2025.
TOKYO, 30 October 2025 – The Philippine Embassy, led by Ambassador Mylene J. Garcia-Albano, joined the Filipino Community in celebrating the Feast Day of the Philippines’ patron saint, San Lorenzo Ruiz, on 27 September 2025 at the Kiyose Catholic Church.
“San Lorenzo Ruiz was just like us, a Filipino in a foreign land. Even in difficult circumstances, he never wavered in his faith and remained true to his values until his martyrdom. As Filipinos in Japan, let us follow our patron saint’s example by upholding our Filipino values, especially pagmamalasakit or showing compassion to others, pakikipagkapwa-tao or our innate ability to respect other people, and bayanihan or the spirit of community,” said Ambassador Garcia-Albano in her welcome remarks.
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano during her welcome remarks at the Feast Day of San Lorenzo Ruiz on 27 September 2025 at Kiyose Catholic Church.
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano (standing, third from right) with Fr. Zachary Smith, SVD (sitting, fourth from right) and Fr. Fredirick Lauricio, SVD (sitting, third from right), both from the Kichijoji Parish.
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano (center) with Filipino Community members during the Feast Day of San Lorenzo Ruiz on 27 September 2025 at Kiyose Catholic Church.
The feast day was highlighted by a procession joined by more than 200 members of the Filipino community in Japan in honor of San Lorenzo Ruiz. Filipinos from the following parishes participated in the celebration: Akabane, Chofu, Goi, Hachioji, Tachikawa, Ichikawa, Kasai, Kichijoji, Kiyose, Koiwa,Meguro, Mobara, Narashino, Nishichiba, Shiomi, St. Ignatius, and Togane.
Filipino Community members and other parishioners join the procession during the Feast Day of San Lorenzo Ruiz on 27 September 2025 at Kiyose Catholic Church.
After the Mass, the parishioners of the Kiyose Catholic Church and other members of the Catholic community, including the Ambassador, gathered in a traditional salu-salo featuring Filipino dishes and performances.
The annual event was organized by the Catholic Tokyo International Center, led by Fr. Edwin Corros, together with the English Pastoral Ministry, and the Gathering of Filipino Groups and Communities.
