Honorable Undersecretary HANS CACDAC
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
Honorable Deputy Director General MILAGROS HERNANDEZ
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
Honorable Administrator CARLOS CAO, JR.
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:
Ohayo Gozaimasu! (Good morning!)
First of all, let me congratulate all of you on finishing your two months of intensive language training. Actually, I saw you all at the opening ceremony of this preparatory language course the other day, and I am extremely happy today to see you all again in good spirits and with a certain degree of confidence on your smiling faces. During these days, you have spent your days here at TESDA studying Japanese on a full-time basis. I understand that today is the last day of your training here in Manila and I would like to commend all of you for the hard work and effort that you have put into learning Japanese, particularly at this very hot time of the year in Manila. “Taihen Yoku Gambarimashita” (You did it very, very well!)
This is the first time that such preparatory language training has been implemented prior to the candidates' entry into Japan. The objective of this preparatory training is to provide assistance to you by exposing you early in the process to the Japanese language so that you can cope much better with your lives in Japan and be successful eventually when you take the Japanese nursing licensure examinations.
As you know, after your arrival in Japan, you will be undergoing another six months of intensive Japanese language training. The first two batches of candidate nurses had no language training other than those six months after entering Japan. You are the first batch to receive this additional training before you set foot in Japan. I hope this training has provided you greater advantages that you can employ in various aspects of life once you arrive in Japan.
As we are all aware, being fully equipped with the Japanese language is of paramount importance for successful implementation of the Movement of Natural Persons (MNP) scheme under JPEPA. It is essential not only for pursuing a successful career as qualified nurses in Japan but also for leading a well-integrated life in the Japanese society. I hope you take with you to Japan all that you have learned in the past two months and are brave enough to actively apply these knowledge on every possible occasion you face in Japan.
As your departure for Japan draws closer, I know you all have mixed feelings of hope, excitement as well as anxiety. Your life in Japan may be tough at times. But keep your dream in mind always. We have full confidence in your ability to adapt yourselves to a new environment, transforming difficulties you may encounter to something which toughens your mind and increases your strength: strength of your mind and of your character. Let it serve as a motivation, if not an inspiration, to continue forward until you succeed and accomplish your goals.
At this point, allow me to commend the Philippine government for the continued support for and cooperation in the implementation of this training. This preparatory language training is beyond the standing commitments of both our governments under the JPEPA. Not only have our countries been long-time friends but we have also long been partners in seeking and developing ways to improve the standing of both our peoples. This joint endeavor is a testament to that. I am confident that this will further strengthen the friendly ties between the peoples of Japan and the Philippines as well as foster strategic partnership between our two countries.
Allow me also to commend the Japan Foundation and all the Japanese and Filipino instructors who have contributed so much of their knowledge and skills to making this undertaking come into fruition.
In closing, I wish all the candidates a safe trip to Japan. Take what you have learned here and further expand your knowledge of the Japanese language when you go to Japan. And in the future, may you find yourselves considering Japanese as one of your own languages as well. “Egao wo wasurezuni, Ganbatte Kudasai!” Do not forget your smile and carry on!
Thank you very much for your attention.
Embassy of Japan in the Philippines