by: Gladys Hope Bullecer
College of Business and Accountancy
Learning to appreciate the Japanese culture has made me love more the culture of my own country.
May 11, 2010, I set off to Manila together with Faith Bernadette Descallar, a fellow Ubian as participants in the JAPAN-EAST ASIA NETWORK OF EXCHANGE FOR STUDENTS AND YOUTHS (JENESYS) Programme. Upon arrival, we proceeded to Malacañang to have a rehearsal for our cultural presentation. We were billeted at Saint Benilde CSB Hotel with other fellow youth ambassadors; had a brief orientation and were given passports and travel documents, including hand-outs and kits. The Philippine delegation was grouped into four, Hokaido, Ishikawa, Ibaraki and Saga. I belonged to the Ishikawa group.
The next day we took a five hour trip to Japan and stayed in the night at Grand Prince Hotel, New Takanawa where another orientation was conducted. We took a plane to Komatsu, Ishikawa and were met by the president and staff of the Komatsu International Association (KIA). After taking our lunch, we had a courtesy call to the mayor at his office in Komatsu City, an occasion that was published in their local newspapers.
We had our educational tour at Ogoya Mine Museum and marveled the innovations of the Japanese government in restoring the beauty of nature which was once destroyed. Later that night, we were introduced to our host family where I and two other delegates stayed.
Home stay is one of the major highlights of the programme. Fostered by an accommodating Japanese family, I learned a bit of the Japanese way of living and had a wonderful time with my host. It was really a second home away from home.
The participants had an exchange school program at Komatsu Technical High School and Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST). In the Japanese educational system, students are encouraged to specialize a particular skill and to master it. Taking advantage of the complete machineries at school, students are trained more on application rather than theory.
Our stay in Ishikawa was a great cultural experience. It gave us the chance to participate in the OTABI Festival, one of the biggest festivals in the prefecture (province). The most popular performance during the festival is Hikiyami. Splendidly decorated portable shrines from eight different towns blocked the city and children’s Kabuki was played on the Hikiyama ( festival cart/ float). Kabuki is a highly-stylized classical Japanese dance-drama and sometimes translated as the “art of singing and dancing”. We had our chance to wear Kimono and Yukata and experienced Kyodo, the Japanese art of archery.
The Ishikawa Zoo is another piece of ecological destination where one can observe and play with the animals in the surrounding greeneries. The visit had broadened our sense of responsibility in preserving mother nature.
May 18, 2010, the Ishikawa group flew back to Tokyo and had a tour at Tokyo Tower, Imperial Palace (we were so lucky to see in person the royal couple), and Meiji University. It was in Meiji that the JENESYS Programme was wrapped up with a workshop presentation and later a farewell dinner and party.
In our return trip to the Philippines, the delegation paid a courtesy call to the Japanese Ambassador at the embassy. The youth ambassadors expressed gratitude to the government of Japan, the JENESYS Programme and Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE).
As youth ambassador, my experience under JENESYS Programme is superb and educationally enriching. With pleasant memories of that trip still lingers, I cannot let time to pass without expressing my gratitude to the National Youth Commission (NYC) and to my Alma Mater, the University of Bohol for her unwavering support in the development of the students to become responsible leaders and citizens of our country.
