Philippine Ambassador Visits Sendai To Promote Philippines-Japan Linkages in Miyagi Prefecture
Ambassador Mylene J. Garcia-Albano (left) calls on Governor Yoshihiro Murai (right) at the Miyagi Prefectural Government on 06 March 2026.
TOKYO, 11 March 2026 – Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano advocated closer linkages and fruitful local partnerships between the Philippines and Japan during her official visit to Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture on 06-07 March 2026.
Ambassador Garcia-Albano was warmly welcomed by Miyagi Governor Yoshihiro MURAI, with the Philippine flag hoisted at the Miyagi Prefectural Government Building in honor of the Ambassador’s visit. During her courtesy call on Governor Murai, the Ambassador expressed solidarity with the region as it commemorates the 15th anniversary of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.
“I wish to express fellowship and oneness with Governor Murai and the people of Miyagi Prefecture in commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, recalling the solidarity demonstrated by the Philippines through its humanitarian assistance and disaster response support at that time, and I reaffirm the Philippines’ steadfast commitment to stand with Japan in times of natural disasters and other contingencies,” Ambassador Garcia-Albano said during the courtesy call.
Governor Murai expressed his gratitude to the Filipino people for their support during the prefecture’s reconstruction efforts. He also recalled the visit of the late President Benigno S. Aquino III to the region during the latter’s official visit to Japan in September 2011.
Looking toward the future, Ambassador Garcia-Albano and Governor Murai exchanged views on deepening partnerships between the Philippines and Japan at the local level, as both countries celebrate the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations in 2026. In particular, the Ambassador proposed institutional linkages through sister city agreements and training opportunities for Filipino farmers in Japan.
Following the courtesy call, Ambassador Garcia-Albano visited the former Sendai Arahama Elementary School, now preserved as a memorial site as the Ruins of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Located close to the coastline that is no longer inhabited, the site hosts exhibits recounting the history of Arahama and memories of the disaster. Visible marks on the building show how the tsunami reached the building’s second floor.
Ambassador Garcia-Albano (3rd from right) and Mr. Masashi TAKAHASHI (3rd from left) visit the Ruins of the Great East Japan Earthquake (formerly the Sendai Arahama Elementary School).
During the onslaught of the tsunami, 320 students, teachers, and residents evacuated to the school’s rooftop and survived.
In further exploring avenues for mutually beneficial cooperation between the Philippines and Miyagi Prefecture, Ambassador Garcia-Albano inspected JR Arahama Fruit Park, one of the largest tourist orchards in Japan where visitors can pick seasonal fruits throughout the year. The Ambassador met with Mr. Tetsushiro MATSUZAKI, President of Sendai Terminal Building Co. that operates JR Arahama Fruit Park, and received a comprehensive briefing and tour of the park’s facilities.
Ambassador Garcia-Albano (left) and Sendai Building Co. President and CEO Tetshushiro Matsuzaki (right) pick fresh strawberries at the JR Arahama Food Park.
Opened in March 2021, JR Arahama Fruit Park was designed to revitalize the prefecture through agricultural redevelopment and tourism. Spanning 15 hectares, the park cultivates eight (8) types of fruits with 160 varieties, including Japan’s trademark strawberries, which visitors can try through fruit picking and shopping.
Ambassador Garcia-Albano was accompanied by officials of the Philippine Embassy in Japan, who had parallel discussions with officials of the Miyagi Prefectural Government to exchange views and best practices in supporting the Filipino community in the region. Acting Consul General Robert D. Quintin conveyed the Philippine Embassy’s interest in collaborating with the prefecture to strengthen harmony and mutual understanding between Filipinos and the host community.
Acting Consul General Robert D. Quintin (4th from right) and Philippine Embassy officials exchange views with the Miyagi Prefectural Government’s International Affairs Division represented by Mr. Koji TANNO, Senior Assistant Director (center) and Ms. Hiromi Hatasaki (2nd from left) of the Miyagi International Association.
Representing the International Affairs Division of Miyagi Prefectural Government, Senior Assistant Director Koji TANNO and Ms. Hiromi HATASAKI of the Miyagi International Association shared that at least four (4) Filipino community organizations are based in the prefecture. They also shared their experiences in collaborating with the Filipino community on disaster risk reduction and humanitarian assistance. They briefed the Embassy delegation on the prefecture’s support systems for foreign residents, including a multilingual support center for foreign residents that is available in Tagalog.
The support center provides assistance and facilitates referrals on employment, medical treatment, family relationships, domestic violence, human trafficking, and other issues. There are currently at least 1,800 Filipinos residing in the Miyagi Prefecture.
Filipinos in Miyagi may access the services provided by the prefectural government by calling the support center’s number 022-275-9990.
The brochure of Miyagi Prefecture’s multilingual support center for foreign nationals.
The Ambassador’s two-day visit to Sendai coincided with the Embassy’s major activities in the region, particularly the Sendai iteration of the inaugural Philippines-Japan Film Festival on 06-12 March 2026, and the Consular Outreach Mission (COM) on 07-08 March 2026.
