Philippine-Japanese Friendship Day: Proposed Resolution

Philippine-Japanese Friendship Day: Proposed Resolution

by Jennalyn Tabada, SUPERPOWER

    Friendship (n.): a friendly feeling or attitude with kindness or help given to someone; a state of mutual trust and support between allied nations (Merriam-Webster Dictionary).

    Like how most friendships start, the Philippines and Japan met at the time when they needed each other to build relations around the world, way back to the 1600s as Japanese merchants and traders had settled in Luzon. In the first half of this century, between 1604 and 1616, intense official trade took place between the two countries, through the Red seal ships systems in which thirty official “Red seal ship” passports were issued between Japan and the Philippines. The Red seal ships were Japanese armed merchant sailing ships bound for Southeast Asian ports with a red-sealed letter issued by the Tokugawa shogunate. This affinity expanded tremendously especially during the American period when Japan was the largest trading partner to the Philippines by 1929.

    However, this friendship was severed when the Japanese forces invaded the Philippine Commonwealth during the World War II. It was in this period of time that much of the Japanese culture became abhorrent when the Filipinos experiences a very cruel occupation by the Japanese which included strict curfew, forced labor, executions, forced educational programs (learning Nihonggo). These gave rise to a lingering anti-Japanese sentiment. After the Philippines was granted independence by the United States in 1946, it was a signatory to the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty with Japan. And in July 23, 1956, the ratification of the Peace Treaty and Reparations Agreement was concluded and re-established diplomatic relations between both countries. Fifty years later, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared July 23 as Philippines-Japan Friendship Day to mark the 50^th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations.

    As soon as the Japanese left, these restrictions went away and it would be years later that their culture would start to influence the Filipino culture. Today, the most notable influence on Filipino culture has been in technology—such as karaoke, videoke, cameras, and anime.

    Strategic partnership between both countries has been strong recently. A bilateral agreement has been established called Philippines-Japan Defense Cooperation Agreement which concerns territorial security with regards to China. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe promised 10 patrol vessels to the Philippine Coast Guard through a loan agreement. Another pact is the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement, signed in Finland on September 9, 2006. JPEPA is a bilateral trade agreement that led to the immediate removal of tariffs on certain fruits, vehicles, steel products, electronic appliances, and garments.

    Indeed, Philippines and Japan had their fair share of trying to preserve the rich history of their friendship. But it is without a doubt that both countries enjoy close and vibrant relations.  The Japanese are the 3^rd top international visitors in the Philippines with over 500,000 visitors each year, according to the Department of Tourism. As for Filipinos, Japan is their second choice of destination after Hong Kong. It is with great pride that both countries have remained to be close friends despite the diplomatic blunders during the World War II. But that also paved the benchmark of a long lasting friendship between Japan and the Philippines. A proposed resolution hereby follows to improve the celebration of the Philippines-Japan Friendship Day:

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, in recalling Proclamation No. 854, s. 2005,  declaring July 23, 2006 as Philippine-Japanese Friendship Day to mark the 50^th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Japan;

WHEREAS, in reaffirming the abovementioned proclamation, the University of San Carlos Political Students major in International Relations and Foreign Service, shall partner with Japanese restaurants in Cebu to celebrate Philippine-Japanese Friendship Day every 23^rd of July;

WHEREAS, in line with this celebration, info graphic posters showing a brief history of the friendship between Japan and the Philippines and announcing the aforementioned celebration shall be posted at the Japanese restaurants in Cebu and around the premises of the University of San Carlos;

WHEREAS, the students in Special Topics in International Relations commends this festivity as a way of fostering strong and friendly relations with the Japanese community;

NOW THEREFORE, the Carolinian Circle of Young Diplomats, as moved by Member Jennalyn Tabada, and seconded by Member ________

RESOLVE, to request the students of IRFS 141: Special Topics in International Relations to map out and identify the different Japanese restaurants in Cebu City;

RESOLVED FURTHER, to authorize the Ministry of Documentation of CCYD to furnish copies to this resolution Atty. Archill Niña Faller-Capistrano, CCYD Adviser and IRFS 141 Instructor, for her information and guidance.

Respectfully submitted by:

Jennalyn M. Tabada

AB POSC IRFS 4, SUPERPOWER

References:

(2010). Hisona, Harold. The Cultural Influences of India, China, Arabia and Japan. Philippine Almanac.

(2001). Yoko Nagazumi. Red Seal ships. Japan Historical Society.

(2001). Boxer, C.R. The Christian Century in Japan.

(2005). Official Gazette.  Proclamation No. 854, s. 2005. Retrieved Aug 22 2015 http://www.gov.ph/2005/06/07/proclamation-no-854-s-2005/

(2012). Department of Tourism. Tourism Statistics. Retrieved Aug 22 2015 http://www.visitmyphilippines.com/index.php?title=VisitorStatistics&func=all&pid=39&tbl=1

(2013). Eurasiareview. Japan-Philippine Relations: New Dynamics in Strategic Partnership – Analyis Eurasia Review. Retrieved Aug 22 2015 http://www.eurasiareview.com/05032013-japan-philippine-relations-new-dynamics-in-strategic-partnership-analysis/

(2013). Asia Pacific Universe. Philippines History, Culture, Civilization and Technology, Filipino. Retrieved Aug 22 2015 http://asiapacificunivese.com/pkm/tech.htm