JICC Director Kiyoshi Takeuchi and Research/Adviser Yusuke Takagi, AFS Programs
Manager Ms. Tisha Lee Eduave, with the JENESYS-AFS participants, and their parents |
Four Filipino high school students arrived last February 6, 2012 from their 6-month exchange student program under the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths Programme or the JENESYS Programme.
The four students, namely Joshua Elijah Lopez Babasa (Nazareth Christian School of Antipolo) , Victoria Fay Velez Chang (De La Salle University Manila), Geen Camille Bendanillo Garsuta (Puerto Princesa City National Science High School), and Rachel Ann Trinidad Sengco (Philippine Science High School – Central Luzon Campus), attended high school classes in Ichinomiya Commercial High School, Ichioka Senior High School, Kobayashi Senior High School, and Obihiro Ootani Senior High School respectively, for a six-month period.
During their stay in Japan, the students lived with Japanese host families, socialized with the local communities, and made friends with Japanese students in their schools. They also visited historical and cultural sites in Japan. These first-hand experiences deepened the students' understanding on Japanese culture, society, education, and politics.
A re-entry seminar was organized by the AFS Intercultural Program, wherein the participants eagerly shared their experiences of being an exchange student in Japan. Director Kiyoshi Takeuchi of the Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC) was present to deliver a welcome message and engaged the students in a discussion about their living and studying in Japan.
The JENESYS Programme was launched based on the Government of Japan's announcement during the Second East Asia Summit (EAS) about the plan to invite 6,000 young people mainly from East Asia Summit (EAS) member countries to Japan every year for five years from 2007. Under the programme, the Government of Japan has invited more than 1,000 Filipino youths to Japan to hone their skills and expertise through the sharing of experiences, and to promote appreciation of each other's culture for better Philippines – Japan relations in the future.
The JENESYS Programme continues on this year as 400 Filipino youths will be sent to Japan in April and May 2012 as the Philippine Tohoku Goodwill Ambassadors for the 2011-2012 JENESYS Programme -- Short Term Visit to Japan for Disaster Management and Recovery Programme and Environment Issues in Japan . The delegates will learn from Japan's experience in dealing with natural disasters, and personally witness Japan's various ongoing recovery efforts from the earthquake and tsunami last March 3, 2011.
Read on to learn more about Japan and the JENESYS Programme through the participants' stories and experiences.
Vicky Chang with fellow JENESYS-AFS exchange students
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“ I realized that whether Filipino, Japanese, Australian or Finnish, friends are friends. I am very happy to say that I have gained a lot of friends in this exchange ”.
- Vicky Chang
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“I've seen the similarities and differences of my country with Japan. I find myself very lucky to have been part of this experience… I truly feel that I am a friend of Japan.”
- Vicky Chang
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Lunchtime at school with classmates |
In front of the Japanese Parliament |
“I'm in love with Japan and their culture, because going to Japan made me appreciate and understand the Philippines more”
- Vicky Chang |
“Japan is such an awesome country and I feel blessed to have been presented the chance to study and be immersed in its culture and among its people…Being able to make friends with my fellow exchange students was like being exposed to the world. We may have had a couple of differences, but underneath it all we really are all one in our common humanity.”
- Joshua Babasa |
With a school classmate |
In front of the Kinkakuji, or the Temple of the Golden Pavilion |
“Living in a developed country like Japan was really an awesome experience and more so, it was an eye opener and an inspiration to strive more for the Philippines so that one day it can be the same as Japan.”
- Joshua Babasa
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“I also learned the value of building bridges between our cultures as a key to building a more peaceful world. Nothing is impossible for our generation. We have the tools to make right the things that are still wrong and broken in our world. “
- Joshua Babasa |
Enjoying a delicious meal at a teppanyaki restaurant |
Taking time out from studies to take a commemorative photo |
“Upon arriving home, I saw things in ways I had never thought of. I realized that my horizons have expanded and my perception of things is not just the same as before. . I know those six months in Japan would be one of the biggest stepping stones for me to build a better tomorrow for me and for as many people as possible.
- Rachel Sengco
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“…The most important people that helped me adapt to Japanese culture were my Host Family. They helped me a lot to enjoy my entire stay in their place. They let me experience to live in a Japanese life, to love Japanese foods, and of course to love Japan and make it my second home”.
-Geen Camille Garsuta |
The last dinner with the host family |
A photo on the last day in school |
“My friends also helped me a lot to adjust in their school life in Japan. Not only the students but also the teachers and the principal…They wanted me to feel that I'm also a student of their school and also to make me feel that we are a family.”
- Geen Camille Garsuta
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“Meeting other people, learning another culture, and living in another country really widened my perspective in life - it made me more independent, more confident, and more open-minded in all things.”
- Geen Camille Garsuta |
At the Kumamoto Castle, with fellow JENESYS-
AFS exchange students
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