Inaugural Film Festival Celebrating 70th Anniversary of Philippines-Japan Friendship Launched, PH Embassy Hosts Special Screening of “Kono Basho”
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano (2nd from left) with (from left to right) Director Jaime Pacena II, Ms. Masumi Soga of Spanic Films LLC and Ms. Gabby Padilla during the special screening of “Kono Basho” (This Place) at the opening day of the inaugural Philippines-Japan Film Festival on 28 February 2026 at K’s Cinema in Shinjuku, Tokyo.
In celebration of the 70th anniversary of Philippines-Japan friendship this year, the inaugural Philippines-Japan Film Festival opened on 28 February 2026 at K’s Cinema in Shinjuku, Tokyo.
The Philippine Embassy in Japan partnered with the Philippine Film Festival Executive Committee, led by Ms. Masumi Soga of Spanic Films LLC, for the Festival and hosted a special screening of the Filipino–Japanese collaboration, Kono Basho (“This Place”), also on 28 February 2026.
Directed by Jaime Pacena II in his first full-length feature, Kono Basho tells the poignant story of two half-sisters raised in different cultural environments, one in the Philippines and the other in Japan. Following their Japanese father’s passing, they gradually bridge emotional and cultural distances to forge a strong and unbreakable bond.
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano opens the inaugural Philippines-Japan Film Festival on 28 February 2026.
“The Philippines-Japan Film Festival highlights the strong collaboration between our Filipino and Japanese film industries to bring the best of both countries’ cinematic arts to the Japanese and international stage. Today’s film, “Kono Basho”, is also in more ways than one a symbol of the deep and enduring friendship between the Philippines and Japan. The two protagonists’ lives mirror in a meaningful way the evolution of ties between the Philippines and Japan, from post-war reconciliation to one of the most dynamic and strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region,” underscored Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano in her remarks during the special screening and following the event.
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano (center) with Consul General Shirlene C. Manaquil of the Philippine Consulate General in Nagoya, and film director Jaime Pacena II.
The full-house special screening was attended by Consul General Shirlene C. Mananquil of the Philippine Consulate General in Nagoya, members of the diplomatic corps, ASEAN-Japan Centre, Japanese government officials, local civic organizations, and leaders of the Filipino Community in Japan. Filipino taro chip snacks and fresh Philippine coconut juice were also handed out to the guests as tokens.
(Above photos) Scenes during the special screening of “Kono Basho” (This Place) at the opening day of the inaugural Philippines-Japan Film Festival on 28 February 2026 at K’s Cinema in Shinjuku, Tokyo. In the photos are Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano and Embassy officials with members of the diplomatic corps, ASEAN-Japan Centre, Japanese government officials, local civic organizations, and leaders of the Filipino Community in Japan.
The special screening included a talk session by Director Pacena and “Kono Basho” lead actress, Ms. Gabby Padilla, who shared their experience in making the film, which was set against the backdrop following the devastating earthquake in the Tohoku region 2011.
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano (center) with Filipino movie and television star, Vice Ganda, and director Jun Robles Lana, Jr. whose film “Call Me Mother” is also in the festival line-up.
The opening day of the Philippines-Japan Film Festival also featured the movie “Call Me Mother” starring Filipino movie and television celebrity, Vice Ganda, and directed by Jun Robles Lana, Jr. who attended the movie’s screenings on 28 February and 01 March.
The Tokyo screenings of the Film Festival will run until 06 March 2026. Aside from “Kono Basho” and “Call Me Mother”, other films in the lineup are “Iti Mapupukaw” (The Missing), “And the Breadwinner Is…”, “About Us But Not About Us”, “The Depth of Blue” short films, and “Plan 75”.
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano (center) leads the full-house special screening of the Filipino-Japanese collaboration, “Kono Basho”.
The Philippine Embassy is scheduled to host another special screening of “Kono Basho” on 07 March 2026 in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture during the film’s run at Forum Sendai from 06 to 12 March 2026.
Under the 70th Anniversary theme “Weaving the Future Together: Peace, Prosperity, Possibilities”, the Embassy is scheduled to hold a series of activities for the milestone celebration, spanning economic, political and people-to-people ties between the Philippines and Japan.
