Honorable Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Albert F. Del Rosario,
Nuncio Giuseppe Pinto
Excellencies, Colleagues of the Diplomatic Corps,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Magandang gabi sa inyong lahat. Maligayang pagdating sa aking tahanan. (Good evening to everyone. Welcome to my residence.)
Thank you very much for coming this evening. We are here to celebrate the 78 th Birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, but I wish to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your cooperation and support in promoting our relationship.
Thanks to you, I have settled in very well in Manila after only seven months. I feel very much at home.
After the great disaster of March 11, Japan is also settling down rapidly, thanks to the support from all over the world, in particular the Philippines. The Japanese people really appreciate the spontaneous outpour of help and goodwill from the global community .
Let me tell you , just like we created the most energy-efficient economy in the world after the oil crisis in the 70s, we will turn this hardship into a blessing.
Tonight I have prepared for you delicious beef, potato stews and fruits from Yamagata, in North East Japan. Masarap ito. Enjoying the food should give you extra pleasure because you are supporting the disaster-affected area of Japan at the same time.
To conclude, please join me in a toast to the continued good health of His Majesty the E mperor of Japan and to the close friendship between Japan and the Philippines.
Kanpai! (Mabuhay !)
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Embassy of Japan in the Philippines