Atty. JULITO D. VITRIOLO

Executive Director, Commission on Higher Education (CHED)

 

Director JOSEL F. IGNACIO

Department of Foreign Affairs - ASPAC

 

Ladies and gentlemen:

 

It is a great pleasure for me to say a few words in front of you all today in this Send-off Ceremony.

 

As you know, in May this year, we already sent off the 2 nd Batch of candidate nurses and caregivers to Japan under the employment track. And now today, we are pleased to be sending off 10 candidate caregivers under the school track through the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

 

I now see your faces and I can feel your mixed emotions: hope and also some anxiety, but please relax. Japan is a nice country and we are ready to receive you all with the best of our hospitality.

 

To our candidate caregivers, upon your arrival in Japan, you will undergo 6 months of Japanese language training. I understand that a representative from AOTS will be making a presentation about this later in more detail. I don't mean to frighten you but this training will be very intensive and fast-paced so that you can acquire adequate Japanese language skills in as short a period as six months at the level with which you can work in Japanese caregiving facilities. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of this Japanese language training because whether or not you will be able to finish your caregiver school curriculum successfully depend on your Japanese language ability, as you are all aware. There is no need for you to panic, but please also make every effort to learn practical Japanese language by utilizing this 6 months training opportunity. Yes, it will be hard and at times frustrating, but I assure you also that you will be rewarded adequately after getting enrolled in your caregiver school or working in caregiving facilities. In addition to this, please try mingling with the Japanese people. In this way, you will also be able to practice and polish your language skills. I also hope you will have yourselves fully immersed in the Japanese language environment, as well as in Japanese culture when you are in Japan .

 

I believe this program, as an integral part of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement, will add to the strengthening of the strategic partnership between Japan and the Philippines. We are neighbor countries separated only by sea. And as you know, for a very long time in the history, there has been a continuous exchange of human resources and this has formed the basis of the good relationship between our two countries. Your visit to Japan will also contribute to increasing and maximizing such exchange.

 

Again, to you all, I know this is a very important opportunity for all of you, not just for yourselves but for your families as well. I sincerely hope that all of you will successfully accomplish your study in Japan and be able to work as caregivers, as well as extend professional assistance to those Japanese people in need of help.

 

In closing, I wish you all a safe trip to Japan. I am confident that after graduation, you will all bear the fruits of your hard work. If there is any problem, please do not hesitate to raise issue or questions and ask for help. We are all behind you to help you in Japan.

 

Thank you very much.