H.E. Ambassador Toshinao Urabe as he delivers his message of understanding and unity during the opening ceremony of the 38th SSEAYP
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“MS Fuji Maru,” the ship for friendship between Japan and ASEAN countries, docked at the Pier 13 of the Manila South Harbor |
“MS Fuji Maru,” the ship for friendship between Japan and ASEAN countries, has dropped anchor at the Pier 13 of the Manila South Harbor on November 10, 2011 for a four-day port-of-call visit. Two years from its last visit, the “MS Fuji Maru” has arrived in the Philippines once again.
His Excellency Ambassador Toshinao Urabe, the Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines, delivered his message of understanding and strengthened unity to the young ambassadors, their families, the dignitaries, media, and guests. He encouraged the youth leaders to make the best of the SSEAYP experience to build a better future for the Asian communities. In his speech, he declared “that the heart-to-heart understanding developed among the participants has served, and will serve, as a catalyst for friendship” in the region.
The Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP) was launched in 1974, and implemented in active cooperation with the Southeast Asian countries of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The ship's arrival in Manila, with the 350 young leaders from the participating countries on board, marks the first leg of the five port-of-call visit of the “MS Fuji Maru” for the 38 th Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP) .
The “MS Fuji Maru” set sail from Yokohama, Japan on November 4, 2011. The 547 feet, eight-decked cruise ship, complete with amenities and recreational facilities such as a pool, gymnasium and movie theatre will be called home by 350 multicultural young leaders for 53 days as it sails around the ASEAN region to visit the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Twenty eight from among the 350 young leaders onboard are proudly representing the Philippines.
In each port of call, the youth leaders will take part in country programs such as studying the various aspects of the countries they will visit, pay courtesy calls to dignitaries, and go to various institutions for the purpose of exchange programs with local people, community service and home stay, providing them with a very unique cultural exchange experience.
For its Philippine country-visit, the youth leaders will be visiting various institutions (government, educational, cultural and socio-civic) to share their views and discuss pressing issues and concerns on education, environment, culture, international relations, among others, and will also experience Filipino hospitality as they stay and immerse with a Filipino family for one day. The country program in the Philippines is arranged and organized by the Philippine National Youth Commission (NYC).
The Philippine Country Program for 2011:
