Philippine Contingent to the 2018 SSEAYP Makes a Courtesy Visit to the Embassy of Japan

On Thursday, October 4, 2018, members of Batch Hinirang, the Philippine Contingent to the 2018 Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP) paid a courtesy visit to the Embassy of Japan. The 29-man team, accompanied by representatives of the National Youth Commission (NYC), were welcomed by Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC) Director Ms. Junko Sato, who took the opportunity to highlight the significant role of SSEAYP in Japan-ASEAN relations. She also encouraged the young delegates to contribute in furthering the ties of cooperation among the countries in this region.

Mr. Le Marc Preposi and Ms. Janine Arevalo, Batch Hinirang’s Youth Leader and Assistant Youth Leader respectively, also made a brief presentation on their activities aboard the ship, as well as provided an overview of the group’s three-year post-program community development plans.

The event concluded with some Closing Remarks from National Youth Commission (NYC) Chairperson Usec. Ronald Gian Carlo Cardema. In his speech, Usec. Cardema cheered on the delegates and expressed gratitude to the Japanese Government for spearheading SSEAYP and various other youth exchange programs in the region.

SSEAYP is an international youth exchange program launched in 1974 by the Government of Japan, in cooperation with the Governments of ASEAN Member States. It aims to foster goodwill and cooperation among Japanese and Southeast Asian youths through educational and cultural exchanges while on-board a ship that will be sailing through this region for around two months. This year, SSEAYP will be held on the Japanese Luxury Liner, MS Nippon Maru and will run from October 23 to December 13, making a stopover in the Philippines on November 17 to 19.

Learn more about SSEAYP here:
http://www8.cao.go.jp/youth/kouryu/en/sseayp/2017/sseayp.html.