PH Embassy Promotes Philippine Culture and Heritage, PH-JP Friendship in First-ever City-wide School Presentation in Chikusei
Above photos: The Philippine Embassy in Japan conducts an online presentation on the Philippines for all junior high schools in Chikusei City, Ibaraki Prefecture on 17 April 2026.
TOKYO, 28 April 2026 – As part of the Philippine Embassy in Japan’s cultural and economic diplomacy campaign, and in celebration of the 70th Anniversary of Philippines-Japan Friendship this year, the Embassy, upon the invitation of the City Government of Chikusei in Ibaraki Prefecture, conducted an online presentation on Philippine culture and heritage, and Philippines-Japan relations for all junior high schools in the city on 17 April 2026.
The activity, a first of its kind in the city, was participated in by more than 1,300 junior high school students in Chikusei City.
“One of the pillars of Philippines-Japan relations is people-to-people ties, and the Embassy presentation provided an excellent platform for us to further promote the Philippines to the Japanese youth. I am truly grateful to the City Government of Chikusei, led by Honorable Mayor Emiko Shidara, for its warm welcome and its openness in exploring more avenues for partnership between our two countries. Indeed, we share the same vision of a more vibrant and robust Philippines-Japan collaboration through initiatives spanning culture, economic activities, and community-related endeavors,” underscored Philippine Ambassador Mylene J. Garcia-Albano in a statement on the Embassy presentation.
Chikusei City Mayor Emiko SHIDARA (standing) delivers her remarks during the Philippine Embassy’s online presentation for junior high school students in the city.
Chikusei Mayor Emiko SHIDARA extended her appreciation to Ambassador Garcia-Albano and the Embassy for conducting the presentation as part of the ongoing cooperation between the Embassy and Chikusei City.
The Embassy’s presentation included facts on the Philippines such as its cuisine, history and agricultural products available in Japan, notably Philippine bananas which enjoy a 75 percent market share in the host country, as well as the longstanding and vibrant relationship between the Philippines and Japan highlighted by the 70th Anniversary of Philippines-Japan Friendship in 2026. The Philippines’ gender and development agenda and its celebration of National Food Month were also featured during the online lecture.
The Chikusei City junior high school students, representing Shimodate Junior High School, Shimodate Minami Junior High School, Sekijo Junior High School, Kyowa Junior High School and Akeno compulsory education school, actively participated in the trivia game, which encouraged their bayanihan or community spirit.
As a testament to the Chikusei City Government’s support for the activity, all of its offices were represented during the Embassy’s school presentation, and observed the conduct of the online lecture.
First Secretary and Consul Alvin C. Malasig delivers remarks on behalf of the Embassy before all of the Chikusei City Government offices during the Embassy’s school presentation.
During his remarks on behalf of the Embassy, First Secretary and Consul Alvin C. Malasig expressed the importance of people-to-people connections in strengthening Philippines-Japan friendship, and looked forward to more similar exchanges in the future.
The Embassy Team was composed of First Secretary and Consul Malasig, First Secretary and Consul Fatima G. Quintin, Economic Officer and Attaché Mark Michael Vincent L. Marbella, Cultural Officer and Attaché Ma. Alyssa Jo A. Bacongco, and translator/interpreter Chihiro Watanabe.
Group photo of the Philippine Embassy team with Chikusei City Mayor Emiko Shidara, and officials of the City Government of Chikusei and Board of Education. During the visit, the Embassy presented Philippine bananas and dried mangoes, and 70th Anniversary commemorative pins to Mayor Shidara and city government officials to express its appreciation for the initiative.
The Embassy presented Philippine bananas and dried mangoes, as well as 70th Anniversary commemorative pins, to Mayor Shidara and city government officials to express its appreciation for the initiative.
On 04 February 2026, Ambassador Garcia-Albano received Chikusei City Mayor Shidara at the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo where they discussed potential areas of cooperation, particularly in agriculture, agri-technology, city planning, local governance, and people-to-people exchanges. Both officials are trailblazers in their respective fields, as the first female Ambassador of the Philippines to Japan and the first female Mayor of Chikusei City, respectively.
Aside from the school presentation, the Embassy conducted a series of activities in Chikusei City and Ibaraki Prefecture to further strengthen its partnership with the city and prefectural government, and the Filipino Community in the area. These included a meeting with the Ibaraki Prefectural Government on 17 April; a two‑day consular and overseas voting registration mission for Filipinos in the prefecture on 18–19 April; participation in the opening of the Annual Festival of Naige Shrine in Chikusei City and visit to a tomato production facility that reflects the city’s vibrant agricultural landscape followed by Kumustahan ng Pasuguan: Meet and Greet with the Filipino Community on 19 April, which featured performances by local Filipino groups and Philippine‑based artists.
