PH Ambassador Joins Spring Charity Concert Promoting Philippines-Japan Friendship and Community Support
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano (fourth from right) joins artist performers Atty. Hiroyuki Kawai (second from right), Prof. Greg Zuniega (third from right) and Atty. Sim Zuniega (behind the Ambassador), together with Mr. Norihiro Inomata, Representative Director of the Philippine Nikkei-jin Legal Support Center (first from left), Deputy Chief of Mission Christian L. De Jesus (second from left), and Filipino community leaders and artists, for a group photo following the Spring Charity Concert 2026, “Music on the Breeze between Japan and the Philippines,” in Tokyo on 7 April 2026.
TOKYO, 13 April 2026 – Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano attended the “Music on the Breeze between Japan and the Philippines,” the Spring Charity Concert 2026 organized by the Philippine Nikkei-jin Legal Support Center on 7 April 2026 at the Sakura Kyodo Building B1 Hall in Tokyo.
The charity concert brought together Japanese and Filipino performers and supporters in an evening of music celebrating friendship and solidarity between the Philippines and Japan. The event also raised awareness of and support for the legal assistance and community services provided by the Philippine Nikkei-jin Legal Support Center to Filipino descendants and their families in Japan.
The program featured performances by Japanese vocalist Atty. Hiroyuki Kawai, Filipino pianist Prof. Greg Zuniega, and vocalist-violinist Atty. Sim Zuniega, who delivered a repertoire of international, Japanese, and Filipino musical pieces. Highlights included beloved classics such as Sakura Sakura, My Way, and Autumn Leaves, alongside Filipino compositions including Larawan by Buencamino, Nais Ko by Cayabyab, and Ikaw by Ocampo. The concert concluded with a spring-themed medley that underscored the spirit of renewal and friendship between the two nations.
In her interaction with organizers and guests, Ambassador Garcia-Albano conveyed the Philippine Embassy’s appreciation for initiatives that strengthen people-to-people ties and provide meaningful support to Filipinos and Japanese. She underscored that cultural events such as the Spring Charity Concert reflect the enduring partnership between the Philippines and Japan, particularly in this milestone year marking the 70th Anniversary of the Normalization of Diplomatic Relations between the two countries.
The Embassy commended the Philippine Nikkei-jin Legal Support Center and its partners for their continued service to the community and for fostering compassion, cooperation, and cultural exchange between the peoples of the Philippines and Japan.
Established in 2003, the Philippine Nikkei-jin Legal Support Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing legal and social support to Philippine Nikkei-jin and assisting them in restoring their identities. Through its work, the Center continues to strengthen Nikkei-jin communities and promote deeper understanding and friendship between the Philippines and Japan.
