When Women Lead: Philippine Ambassador, Minato City Mayor Talk Empowerment and Inclusion in First Meeting
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano (3rd from right) met with Minato City Mayor Ai Seike (4th from right) on 19 August 2024 at Minato City Hall. Ambassador Garcia-Albano was joined by (L-R) Philippine Agriculture Attache Aleli Maghirang, First Secretary and Consul Alvin Malasig, Minister Christian De Jesus, Special Trade Representative Dita Angara-Mathay, and First Secretary and Consul Darell Artates.
20 August 2024 – Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano met with Mayor Ai Seike of Minato City on 19 August 2024 at the Minato City Hall in Tokyo. Minato City hosts the chancery of the Philippine Embassy and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center-Tokyo.
Mayor Seike made history as the first female mayor of Minato City after winning the elections in early June 2024. She assumed office and started her four-year term on 28 June 2024.
Ambassador Garcia-Albano, who is the Philippines’ first female Ambassador to Japan, congratulated the Mayor on the latter’s electoral victory. The Ambassador also expressed optimism for continued and strengthened cooperation between Minato City and the Philippine Embassy, particularly in initiatives promoting women empowerment, gender equality, and inclusion.
“We look forward to deepening our partnership with Minato City under Mayor Seike’s leadership, especially in areas that advance our shared commitment to women empowerment and fostering an inclusive society,” the Ambassador said in a post-meeting statement.
Ambassador Garcia-Albano extended an invitation to Mayor Seike and her team to visit the Philippines, including its popular diving spots, which could be of interest to the Mayor.
Minato City, or Minato-ku, is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo. Known for its blend of modernity and tradition, Minato is home to some of Tokyo’s most iconic landmarks and neighborhoods, such as the Tokyo Tower, Mori Art Museum, Akasaka, and Roppongi Hills. It also hosts over 80 foreign embassies, making it a hub of Japan’s international relations. As of June 2024, Minato City has 267,250 residents, with foreigners making up 9% of the population. There are an estimated 1,200 Filipinos living in Minato City.
The Embassy and Minato City enjoy an active partnership, especially in enhancing intercultural exchange and understanding. Through the Office of the Mayor and the City Assembly, the people of Minato City extended assistance to the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy (international name Ketsana, 2009), Typhoon Lando (international name Koppu, 2015), and Typhoon Vinta (international name Tembin, 2018).
On 19 August 2024, the Embassy delegation, led by Ambassador Mylene J. Garcia-Albano, shared with Minato City Mayor Ai Seike Philippine grown fruits that have become an important part of the Japanese diet, such as bananas, pineapples, and papayas.
