Honorable HANS LEO J. CACDAC
Undersecretary, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
Honorable MILAGROS DAWA HERNANDEZ
Deputy Director General, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
Honorable CARLOS CAO, JR.
Administrator, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA)
Ambassador BENJAMIN SANVICTORES
Chairman and President, Nihongo Center Foundation
Mr. SHUJI TAKATORI
Director, Japan Foundation, Manila
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and gentlemen:
An American writer William Arthur Ward said, “Having a sense of gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” So let me express my heartfelt gratitude to all the people and organizations who have helped implement this preparatory language training course. In particular, to Undersecretary Cacdac for treating me as one of your own. I'm very happy to be called a Filipino by heart. But unfortunately I cannot speak Tagalog as fluently as you.
So for the trainees, I will tell you a little story.
One evening, a mouse was trying to prepare his dinner. When he was about to go out of his hole in the wall, he heard the sound, “meow, meow”, the sound of the cat. So he gave up going out and prepared his dinner with whatever he had. The next evening, when he tried to go out again, he heard the cat meowing and so he gave up again. His supply was running short but on the third evening, when he was trying to go out again, he heard “bow-wow” instead. The mouse was relieved. So when he got out, to his shock, he found the cat waiting for him. And so that evening the cat family had a wonderful dinner. The mother cat told her kittens after dinner, “Now you see how important it is to learn another language.
So by learning a language, you not only acquire a tool of communication, you learn about the culture and behavior of the people. Language is key to your success. I know it is hard. I know by experience. There will be times when you will despair. But your job is about dealing with people and there is no way of getting around that. You have the expertise but without the Japanese language, it is like having a wrapped present and not offering it. A Japanese baseball star, who plays in the Major league now, was asked how can he hit so many homeruns. He answered, “I don't think I was really born with a special talent; the only thing I was capable of is that I had the will to continue my effort.”
Please continue the good effort you started here. You may feel like you are groping in the darkness but if you persevere, you will suddenly find yourself doing the impossible. I know that by my experience.
And as the other speakers also mentioned, also be proud. You are representing the Philippines. You are an ambassador in your own right when you go to Japan. The image of Japan that you create is formulated by the Japanese you meet. So it's the other way around too. The Japanese who meet you will formulate the image of the Philippines through you. So you are an ambassador in your own right. Also, you are pioneers. You are opening up a new trail for other Filipinos to follow new opportunities. It is an evolving process in which our governments intend to learn from your experience and improve so that this scheme under JPEPA will be even more effective.
To conclude, let me wish you all the best. The goddess of Fortune smiles upon the brave. Good luck to you all. Maraming salamat po (Thank you very much).
Embassy of Japan in the Philippines