On November 3, 2013, the Government of Japan announced the conferment of the "Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays" to Reverend Bernardo Navarro Fernandez, Sr. (Kase Berunardo), in recognition of his contributions to the promotion of welfare amongst the members of the Nikkeijin (Japanese descendants) community in the Davao region for more than half a century.
Rev. Fernandez played a key role in the establishment of the Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai, Inc. (PNJK, Inc.) in 1980. His efforts were noteworthy similarly in the operation of educational institutions such as the "Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai International School" and "Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku (MKD)", a testament to his continuing enthusiasm in the field of educational development of young Japanese descendants. He has dedicated his life in encouraging people of Japanese origin after the war. He achieved a great deal in helping them recover their social status, regain their Japanese nationality and recover their land titles among others through setting up the Legal Aide Department in PNJK, Inc.
At present, he serves as a church pastor and chairman of PNJK, Inc.
On 13 November 2013, the order will be handed over to Rev. Fernandez by H.E. Fumio Kishida, Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan. Subsequently, H.M. the Emperor will grant an audience to him together with other recipients at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
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