The goodwill ship M/S “Fuji Maru” will be arriving at the Pier 13 of the Manila South Harbor on November 12, 2009 (Thursday) for a 4-day port-of-call visit, as part of the 36 th Ship for Southeast Asia Youth Program (SSEAYP).
The Philippines is the first port-of-call of the ship in its two-month friendship cruise in Southeast Asia. The M/S “Fuji Maru,” a brand new cruise ship with 350 youth ambassadors including 26 from the Philippines, program officials, and ship staff onboard, set sail from Yokohama, Japan on November 6, 2009 (Friday). After its visit from November 12 to 15 to the Philippines, it will steam towards ports in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Brunei Darussalam before returning to Japan to culminate the 36 th SSEAYP.
In each port of call in Southeast Asia, the youth ambassadors will participate in country programs which include homestay and various exchange programs with local people. While cruising, solidarity group activities, club activities, introduction of each country by songs, dances and videos, as well as lifeboat drills, keep the participants busy.
The Philippine Country Program for 2009 is as follows:
12 November 2009
(Thursday) |
-Arrival of M/S “Fuji Maru”
- Press Conference onboard M/S “Fuji Maru” (12:30 PM to 1:30 PM)
- Welcome Ceremony at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) (3:00 PM to 5:00 PM) |
13 November 2009
(Friday) |
-Institutional Visits (Government, Educational, Cultural, Socio-Civic institutions)
-interaction with local youths |
14 November 2009
(Saturday)
|
-Homestay
-Wreath Laying Ceremony
-City Tour |
15 November 2009
(Sunday)
|
- Open Ship at Pier 13, Manila South Harbor (1:15 PM to 2:15 PM)
-Closing Ceremony
-Departure for Malaysia |
The SSEAYP was launched as the joint program among Japan and ASEAN countries in January 1974. It is sponsored and carried out annually by the Government of Japan with the active participation of the Southeast Asian countries of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The country program in the Philippines is arranged and organized by the Philippine National Youth Commission (NYC).
This program seeks to promote friendship and mutual understanding among youths of Japan and Southeast Asian countries, to broaden their perspectives on the world, as well as to strengthen their motivations and abilities in international cooperation by participating in discussions, introductions of each country and various exchange activities both onboard the ship and in the countries which they visit.
Media coverage is welcome during the Press Conference onboard M/S “Fuji Maru,” Welcome Ceremony at the PICC and Open Ship. For those interested, please contact Ms. Sarah Grutas or Ms. Mignonette Reposar of the SSEAYP Media Committee of the National Youth Commission at telefax numbers 781-1406 or 749-9399 or email sgrutas@gmail.com .
