Philippines-Japan Film Festival Goes To Sendai, PH Ambassador Thanks Filcom and Miyagi Prefectural Gov’t For Support During “Kono Basho” Special Screening
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano (center) with (from left to right) Mr. Pascal Pama Bernardino, President of Kapatiran (Organization of Filipino Students in Tohoku University); Director Jaime Pacena II; Ms. Masumi Soga of Spanic Films LLC; Mr. Masashi Takahashi, Director of the International Affairs Division; Mr. Eiki Watanabe, Director of the General Affairs Division of the Miyagi Prefectural Government; and Ms. Charity Dangate Sato, President of Damayan, during the special screening of “Kono Basho” (This Place) as part of the Sendai screenings of the Philippines-Japan Film Festival on 07 March 2026 at Forum Sendai in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture.
TOKYO, 10 March 2026 – As part of the celebration of the 70th anniversary of Philippines-Japan friendship this year, the inaugural Philippines-Japan Film Festival opened its Sendai leg with screenings of the film “Kono Basho” (This Place) at Forum Sendai in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture.
The Philippine Embassy in Japan hosted a special screening of “Kono Basho” on 07 March 2026 for members of the Filipino community and Japanese audiences. The event was graced by Miyagi Prefectural Government officials led by Mr. Masashi Takahashi, Director of the International Affairs Division, and Mr. Eiki Watanabe, Director of the General Affairs Division.
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano (first row, center) leads the Philippine Embassy special screening of “Kono Basho” in Sendai. Also in the photo are Philippine Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Christian L. De Jesus (5th from right), Director Jaime Pacena II (3rd from right),Ms. Masumi Soga of Spanic Films LLC (4th from right), and attendees from the Filipino Community in Miyagi Prefecture and Miyagi Prefectural Government.
Directed by Jaime Pacena II in his first full-length feature, Kono Basho is set in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in the Tohoku region in 2011. The story follows two sisters from different upbringings and cultural backgrounds who gradually develop a deep and unbreakable bond after their father’s passing.
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano delivers her remarks during the special screening of “Kono Basho” (This Place) as part of the Sendai screenings of the Philippines-Japan Film Festival on 07 March 2026 at the Forum Sendai cinemas in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture.
“The theme of the 70th anniversary of the normalization of Philippines-Japan diplomatic relations ‘Weaving the Future Together: Peace, Prosperity, Possibilities’ resonates strongly throughout the film, as the two sisters’ shared experiences following the initial meeting. Today’s screening is especially significant as we commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of the catastrophic earthquake in the region, whose aftermath was a testament to the humanity and strong people-to-people ties between the Philippines and Japan, and the presence of the Filipino community in Miyagi Prefecture and the prefectural government officials underscores the enduring ties between our two countries,” highlighted Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano in her remarks during the special screening.
Updates on the Philippine Embassy’s services and activities in celebration of the 70th Anniversary are presented during the meet-and-greet session with the Filipino community in Miyagi Prefecture.
The special screening was preceded by a meet-and-greet session with the Filipino Community in Miyagi Prefecture where Ambassador Garcia-Albano presented certificates of appreciation to Filipino community leaders who have assisted in various Embassy-led activities in the prefecture, namely: Ms. Charity Dangate Sato, President of Damayan; Mr. Pascal Pama Bernardino, President of Kapatiran (Organization of Filipino Students in Tohoku University); and their respective organizations.
Updates on the Embassy’s services and activities in celebration of the 70th Anniversary were also presented during the session. The Social Security System (SSS) – Japan Office likewise distributed tokens to members of the Filipino Community who attended the event.
Tokens from Social Security System (SSS) – Japan Office are distributed to the Filipino Community attendees of the meet-and-greet session and film screening.
The inaugural Philippines-Japan Philippine Film Festival was organized by the Philippine Film Festival Executive Committee, led by Ms. Masumi Soga of Spanic Films LLC. The Sendai screenings of “Kono Basho” will run until 12 March 2026 at Forum Sendai.
Popcorn sets are handed to the attendees of the Sendai special screening of “Kono Basho” for a full cinema experience.
Scenes during the special screening of “Kono Basho” (This Place) of the Philippines-Japan Film Festival.
Aside from the film screening and Filipino community meet-and-greet, Ambassador Garcia-Albano led the Embassy delegation in meetings with the Miyagi Prefectural Government, and site visits to the Ruins of the Great East Japan Earthquake (former Arahama Elementary School), and the JR Arahama Fruit Park on 06-07 March 2026.
The Embassy also conducted a consular mission in Sendai on 07-08 March 2026 and extended a range of services including passport, notarial and civil registration services, labor and welfare assistance, and a Philippine tourism information campaign.
