PH Ambassador Highlights Role of Filipino Scholars in Tsukuba in Strengthening People-to-People Ties Between Philippines and Japan During Induction Ceremony
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano (center) with the newly elected officers of the Association of Filipino Scholars in Tsukuba (FAST) for the period 2026-2027, led by its president, Ms. Chieko Elemento (3rd from right) during its induction ceremony held on 30 April 2026 at the Philippine Embassy’s Multi-Purpose Hall.
TOKYO, 07 May 2026 – As part of its commitment to supporting Filipino students in Japan, the Philippine Embassy in Japan hosted the induction ceremony of the Association of Filipino Scholars in Tsukuba (FAST) on 30 April 2026.
“Congratulations to the newly-elected officers of FAST for the period 2026-2027 as you take on your respective roles and responsibilities in the organization. I hope that through the projects and activities of FAST, you will be able to continue to support your fellow scholars and kababayan not only within the University of Tsukuba and the research institutes in the Tsukuba Science City, but also across the Filipino Community networks,” underscored Ambassador Garcia-Albano who officiated the induction rites.
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano (leftmost) leads the induction ceremony of the newly-elected officers of the Association of Filipino Scholars in Tsukuba (FAST) for the period 2026-2027 on 30 April 2026 at the Philippine Embassy’s Multi-Purpose Hall.
Ambassador Garcia-Albano further expressed her appreciation to FAST for its continued collaboration in promoting and strengthening people-to-people ties between the Philippines and Japan through the organization’s active participation in various educational and community-related endeavors. These efforts are especially meaningful in view of the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries this year.
During her remarks, the Ambassador also highlighted the Embassy’s ongoing initiatives to support Filipino students while on scholarship in Japan and upon their return to the Philippines, including the proposed establishment of a database of Filipino students and scholars in Japan. Envisioned as a repository of expertise in various fields, the platform aims to help connect returning Filipino scholars with meaningful opportunities in the Philippines where they can apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired in Japan and contribute to the country’s socioeconomic development.
Following the induction ceremony, FAST expressed its commitment to partnering with the Embassy in its various initiatives, and supporting the Embassy’s programs and activities for the 70th Anniversary and for the Filipino Community in the host country.
FAST is a Filipino student organization based in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, composed of undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, teachers, trainees and researchers at the University of Tsukuba and research institutes in the Tsukuba Science City. The newly elected officers of the organization are led by its current president, Ms. Chieko Elemento, of the University of Tsukuba, who is also a scholar under Japan’s Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship, formerly the Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship or JDS.
