Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano (center) with Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado (on the Ambassador’s right); Mr. Eiji Sakaguchi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CBRE K.K. (on Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado’s right), other officials of CBRE K.K., and the company’s invited guests during the brunch gathering hosted by the Ambassador in honor of BirdLife International on 30 March 2026 at the Ambassador’s Official Residence (Kudan).

In honor of BirdLife International and its advocacies on environmental conservation, Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano hosted a brunch gathering on 30 March 2026 for corporate executives led by Mr. Eiji Sakaguchi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the firm, CBRE K.K., together with the company’s invited guests composed of corporate executives based in Japan.

Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano welcomes the guests of the brunch gathering on 30 March 2026 at the Kudan.

“I warmly welcome all of you to this special heritage building which has been bestowed the National Historical Landmark status by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. The official residence of the Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines, fondly called ‘The Kudan’ has been a witness to the enduring friendship between the Philippines and Japan, most especially in the deepening of our people-to-people exchanges. This year, as part of our celebration of the 70 years of Philippines-Japan friendship, I sincerely hope that today’s brunch gathering will reflect the strong and vibrant ties that unite our two countries and our peoples,” highlighted Ambassador Garcia-Albano in her welcome remarks.

Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado, Honorary President of BirdLife International and Guest of Honor, extends her greetings to the guests of the brunch gathering on 30 March 2026 at the Kudan.

Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado, Honorary President of BirdLife International, served as the event’s Guest of Honor. During her greetings to the guests, she underscored the importance of global environmental conservation by bringing together public and private entities, and highlighted BirdLife International’s significant contributions to these efforts through data gathering and research.

Mr. Eiji Sakaguchi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CBRE K.K. (standing) expressed his appreciation to Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano on 30 March 2026 at the Kudan.

CBRE Chairman Sakaguchi, for his part, expressed his appreciation to Ambassador Garcia-Albano for hosting the brunch gathering and conveyed his interest in exploring future opportunities for collaboration to further promote Philippines-Japan friendship.

Guests were treated to a musical performance by Japan-based Filipino performers, namely: pianist and accredited individual artist of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Philippines (NCCA) Ms. Kate Henry, and recording artist Beverly, during the brunch gathering.

As part of the multi-sensory experience, the guests were treated to a musical performance by Japan-based Filipino performers, namely: pianist and accredited individual artist of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Philippines (NCCA), Ms. Kate Henry, and recording artist Beverly, who serenaded the audience with beloved Filipino and Japanese songs.

Guests of the brunch gathering viewed the special exhibition featuring the Embassy’s resident artists: Ms. Avela Semaña, a gifted painter and member of the Political Section, and Ms. Jackie Lou Ong, an awardee of the Japan Through Diplomats’ Eyes photo exhibition, which was also showcased during the brunch gathering.

To cap off the Philippine Embassy’s celebration of National Women’s Month in March 2026, the special exhibition featuring the Embassy’s resident artists Ms. Avela Semaña, a gifted painter and member of the Political Section, and Ms. Jackie Lou Ong, an awardee of the Japan Through Diplomats’ Eyes photo exhibition, was also showcased during the brunch gathering.

Davao-based chefs Melissa Revilla (standing, right) and David Thien-Chow-Kang (standing, left) presented the brunch menu featuring a fusion of the best of Filipino and Japanese flavors, as a culinary tribute to the 70th Anniversary of the Normalization of Philippines-Japan Diplomatic Relations in 2026.

The special brunch menu was prepared by Davao-based chefs Melissa Revilla and David Thien-Chow-Kang, featuring a fusion of Filipino and Japanese flavors as a culinary tribute to the 70th Anniversary of the Normalization of Philippines-Japan Diplomatic Relations.

Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano (center) with Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado (on the Ambassador’s left); Mr. Eiji Sakaguchi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CBRE K.K. (on Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado’s right), other officials of CBRE K.K., and the company’s invited guests pose by the sakura trees in the gardens of the Kudan during the brunch gathering hosted by the Ambassador in honor of BirdLife International on 30 March 2026.

The gathering was also highlighted by a tour of the Kudan gardens where the sakura (cherry blossoms) were in full bloom during the event.

Fruit baskets with Philippine bananas, avocados and pineapples, and commemorative pins for the 70th Anniversary and Philippines-Japan relations were presented by Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano to the guests as tokens of appreciation.

Fruit baskets containing Philippine bananas, avocados and pineapples, along with commemorative pins marking the 70th Anniversary and Philippines-Japan Diplomatic Relations, were presented to the guests as tokens of appreciation.

Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano (center) with Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado (on the Ambassador’s left); Mr. Eiji Sakaguchi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CBRE K.K. (on Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado’s right), other officials of CBRE K.K., and the company’s invited guests pose by the sakura trees in the gardens of the Kudan during the brunch gathering hosted by the Ambassador in honor of BirdLife International on 30 March 2026.

BirdLife International is one of the world’s oldest and largest international nature conservation organization working to protect birds and their habitats. Its Tokyo Office was established in 2002. BirdLife International – Tokyo’s gala dinners, which started in 2009, are held twice a year in Tokyo and Osaka, and are attended by hundreds of companies and donors. The gala dinners aim to support BirdLife International’s conservation activities, including the BirdLife International Japan Fund for Science.

The brunch gathering formed part of the auction packages featured during the BirdLife International – Tokyo Gala Dinner on 24 October 2025, where CBRE Chairman Sakaguchi was among the winning bidders.

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