14 young Filipinos in Japan for goodwill exchange program

Fourteen young Filipinos are now in Japan to represent the Philippines in the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS) program. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Fourteen young Filipinos are now in Japan to represent the Philippines in the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS).

The JENESYS program is implemented by the Japan Government, through the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE) and the Japan Information and Cultural Center of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines.

In the Philippines, the National Youth Commission (NYC) under the Office of the President, implements the JENESYS program, which aims to promote a global understanding of Japan’s economics, society, politics and foreign affairs.

The delegates are university students and young professionals with proven track record in academic excellence, community service, professional engagement, and leadership skills.

In a press release issued after the May 14 pre-departure orientation, Sarah Grutas of the NYC’s International Programs Unit – Social Marketing Division said the 14 young leaders were chosen out of 210 applicants from all over the Philippines.

Toshiyuki Taguchi, researcher and adviser of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines – Japan Information and Culture Center, said JENESYS promotes cultural sharing and internationalization among participants and communities and helps improve relations and build friendships among participating countries.

“JENESYS is an investment. It is an investment in the future of the relationships among our nations. You, as the youth of today, are seen to be championing that future; a future that is filled with hope and characterized by solidarity and greater stability,” said Taguchi.

The seven university students are: Christian Rey Notario (Ateneo De Manila University), Raven Alla (Ateneo De Manila University), Tricia Mae Villarosa (University of Santo Tomas), Andrea Jasmine Yu (University of the Philippines Diliman), Nelson Kersey Natata (University of the Philippines Diliman), Salem Barrat (Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology) and Angelo Jethro Del Rosario (University of the Philippines Visayas).

The seven young professionals are: Cris Evert Lato-Ruffolo (journalist ), Marian Lujan (financial analyst), Jenn Krystel Zaraspe (lawyer), Alphonse Estacio (key account manager), Ador Hurtado (tourism officer), Ma. Theresa Banta (process engineer) and Inero Ancho (assistant professor).

Under the program, JICE sponsored the delegates’ international transportation, travel tax, meals, accommodation and other local hospitalities for the duration of the activity.

This is the ninth and final batch under JENESYS 2016. They will be exploring Japan under the theme “economic partnerships, trade and investment.”

The group has called themselves Batch “Sulon9,” a combination of the Filipino word “sulong” (to move forward) and the number nine.

“Our batch name encapsulates the kind of progress that we want to live and work on after this journey in Japan. We learn from Japan’s examples in the fields of economic partnerships, trade and investment during our stay in the country and then utilize our learnings in the projects that we are involve in, in the works that we do and even in our daily undertakings,” said Estacio. — BAP, GMA News