EMPEROR Naruhito of Japan was blessed to celebrate his 60th birthday last Feb. 23. For Japan and the Philippines, it is another occasion to celebrate the long-standing friendship between both countries, and particularly so for our Queen City. Every year for the Japanese Emperor’s birthday, the Consular Office of Japan here hosts a reception to connect with local government officials, corporate partners, media and other friends in Cebu. This year’s gathering at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu filled the function room nearly to capacity, upon the invitation of Counsellor Hiroshi Watanabe of the Consular Office of Japan in Cebu, with the Consul General of the Embassy of Japan, Atsushi Kuwabara, flying in from Manila to join the event.
Consul Kuwabara and Andrei “Red” Duterte, Provincial Board member representing Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia, each led cordial toasts to the partnerships between Japan and Cebu. Consul Kuwabara shared that financials are being worked out for a fourth bridge for Mactan, and that over 600,000 Filipinos visited Japan last year alone. Hon. Duterte shared his admiration for the Japanese people and their culture when he took a short course there.
For both speeches, His Majesty’s birthday, and all the wonderful reasons to celebrate our friendship—Kanpai!