Foreign Affairs Secretary Lazaro Joins Philippine Embassy Commemoration of National Day and 70th Anniversary of the Normalization of PH-JP Relations
The Philippine Embassy in Japan, led by Ambassador Mylene J. Garcia-Albano (2nd from right) hosts a commemoration of the 128th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence and the 70th Anniversary of the Normalization of Philippines–Japan Diplomatic Relations on 09 June 2026 in Tokyo, with the Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro (center) as the Guest of Honor. Other guests of honor include Japanese Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Yoshimasa HAYASHI (rightmost) and Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ayano KUNIMITSU (2nd from left). Also in the photo is a special guest, Hon. Hiroshi MORIYAMA, Chairman of the Japan-Philippines Parliamentary Friendship League (JPPFL) (leftmost).
TOKYO, 16 June 2026 – The Philippine Embassy in Japan, led by Ambassador Mylene J. Garcia-Albano, commemorated the 128th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence and the 70th Anniversary of the Normalization of Philippines–Japan Diplomatic Relations on 09 June 2026 in Tokyo. The Embassy welcomed the Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, as the Guest of Honor of the event.
Ambassador Garcia-Albano delivers her welcome remarks at the commemoration of the 128th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence and the 70th Anniversary of the Normalization of Philippines–Japan Diplomatic Relations on 9 June 2026.
“This special occasion invites us to reflect on the Philippines’ gains as a republic since declaring independence on 12 June 1898, and share insights in weaving its future. We pay tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and aspirations of the Filipino people, and highlight the enduring friendship between the Philippines and Japan, which has grown over seven decades into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership founded on mutual trust, shared values, and close people-to-people ties – a platinum era of Philippines-Japan relations highlighted by the recent State Visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in May 2026,” underscored Ambassador Garcia-Albano in her welcome remarks.
Ambassador Garcia-Albano also expressed appreciation to Japan and the ASEAN Member States for their continued support for the Philippines’ Chairship of ASEAN and the Embassy’s Chairship of the ASEAN Committee in Tokyo (ACT) this year.
Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro delivers a special message at the commemoration of the 128th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence and the 70th Anniversary of the Normalization of Philippines–Japan Diplomatic Relations on 09 June 2026 in Tokyo.
In her remarks, Secretary Lazaro recalled the role of President Elpidio Quirino in laying the foundations for the normalization of diplomatic ties between the Philippines and Japan in 1956, which have since flourished into the equal, deeply substantive partnership it is today. She also emphasized the essence of Philippine foreign policy, in which the country chooses its own path, defines its own values, and selects its partners on the global stage while navigating the highly fluid geopolitical landscape to build a nation that is resilient, secure, and prosperous.
Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kunimitsu delivers a message during the commemoration of the 128th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence and the 70th Anniversary of the Normalization of Philippines–Japan Diplomatic Relations.
As one of the guests of honor from the Japanese government, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ayano KUNIMITSU reaffirmed the longstanding cooperation and friendship between the Philippines and Japan, particularly in the realization of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).
Japanese Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Hayashi (rightmost) delivers the toast remarks during the 128th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence and the 70th Anniversary of the Normalization of Philippines–Japan Diplomatic Relations. He is joined by Philippine Secretary Lazaro (center), Ambassador Garcia-Albano (2nd from right), Japanese State Minister of Foreign Affairs Kunimitsu (2nd from left), and Honorable Hiroshi MORIYAMA, Chairman of the Japan-Philippines Parliamentary Friendship League (JPPFL) (leftmost).
In closing the formal program of the commemorative event, Japanese Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Yoshimasa HAYASHI delivered the toast remarks and looked forward to strengthened cooperation between the Philippines and Japan, especially in the field of information and communications technology (ICT), artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure.
Chairman Hiroshi MORIYAMA of the Japan-Philippines Parliamentary Friendship League (JPPFL), Honorable Hirofumi NAKASONE of the Japan-ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Exchange Group, JPPFL members and other Japanese parliamentarians, as well as Consul General Shirlene C. Mananquil of the Philippine Consulate General in Nagoya and Consul General Donna M. Rodriguez of the Philippine Consulate General in Osaka, also graced the event.
Group photo with Secretary Lazaro (center), Ambassador Garcia-Albano (4th from right) ,Japanese State Minister of Foreign Affairs Kunimitsu (4th from left), Japanese Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Hayashi, (3rd from right), Honorable Moriyama , Chairman of the Japan-Philippines Parliamentary Friendship League (JPPFL), (3rd from left), Honorable Hirofumi NAKASONE of the Japan-ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Exchange Group (2nd from right), Honorable Taku OTSUKA of JPPFL (2nd from left), Consul General Shirlene C. Mananquil of the Philippine Consulate General in Nagoya (leftmost) and Consul General Donna M. Rodriguez of the Philippine Consulate General in Osaka (rightmost) during the commemoration of the 128th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence and the 70th Anniversary of the Normalization of Philippines–Japan Diplomatic Relations.
As part of the 70th anniversary commemoration, with the theme “Weaving the Future Together: Peace, Prosperity, Possibilities”, a selection of Filipino and Japanese dishes were featured including chicken sisig, caldereta, adobo, mango sago, banana turon, tofu steak in mizore sauce, chicken teriyaki and Japanese caramel custard pudding. They were enjoyed by guests including members of the diplomatic corps, Embassy partners, and business community and civil society representatives. Philippine fruits were also displayed during the buffet, and Philippine bananas and pineapples were gifted to the attendees as souvenirs.
As part of the Philippine Embassy in Japan’s agricultural promotions campaign, Philippine fruits courtesy of the Department of Agriculture-Tokyo Office are displayed and served during the event.
Philippine “pork adobo” with boiled jasmine rice
Smoked tuna (lower left) スモークツナ, Tofu steak with mizore sauce (savory and refreshing Japanese sauce or simmering broth made with grated daikon or white radish) (upper left) 豆腐ステーキみぞれソース（大根おろしを使った、風味豊かでさっぱりとした和風ソース, Chicken sisig tart (upper right)
チキン・シシグ・タルト
As part of the 70th Anniversary commemoration, Filipino and Japanese dishes are featured during the special occasion.
A moment of silence was observed during the program in memory of the victims of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Mindanao on 08 June 2026.
Secretary Lazaro undertook an official visit to Japan to participate as a keynote speaker at the Nikkei Forum on the Future of Asia on 10-11 June 2026.
