Magandang umaga sa inyong lahat. Ikinagagalak kong makasama kayong lahat sa mahalagang okasyon na ito.
I would like to echo the previous speakers in congratulating all of you. You have been the successful ones among so many applicants. You are not only opening up new possibilities for yourself. You have the added honor and responsibility as pioneers in opening up new frontiers for fellow professionals of the Philippines.
Another reason for congratulations is that you are going to benefit from the additional Japanese language training. The first two batches did not get this training. But the initial result from the previous batch is that they are encouraging results. The longer pre-arrival training increases your chances of attaining the necessary language proficiency.
In Japan, we say “ 千里の道も一歩から .” The traduction is “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” It means even if the journey ahead is very long and daunting; it is important to take your first step and keep on going step by step. Everyday counts. In Korea, for the same thing they say, “ Shijaki panida .” The literal translation would be starting is like finishing half the project. There's a little bit of difference of nuance there.
Language is not only a method of communication. It also reflects a way of life and of thinking of respective communities. That is why you have to learn the Japanese language. In order to pursue your work, you have to communicate with doctors, administrators, and patients. At the same time, by learning the language, you will have a better understanding of the behavior of the people you work with.
I know that the Kanji is going to be very difficult for you. It's going to be very hard to write and even recognize it. But if you work in an organization or institution and if there are some directives, you can't do everything by conversation or verbal communication; you have to have a note. And if there's a note and you can't read it, it's going to be problem. That's the sort of obstacle that you will have. The previous example showed that the Kanji is the most difficult one in your test. It's not going to be easy but every Japanese can write the Kanji so I think you can do it. When you learn a language so different from your native language, you often wonder why people would express themselves in such silly ways. That is my experience as a diplomat. I go to many countries and the language is different. But don't try to understand Japanese by thinking Filipino. Babies understand people and learn the language by accepting the way people talk. That's what I do and that's what I recommend to you. The best way to survive is to do as the locals do. As I said, it's not going to be easy.
In order to achieve your ultimate goals, you have to go step by step. If you don't do your best, you will come to regret it in the future. That is my experience. I always think that I should have done more in the past and then I may have had better results. But it's very important to do your best in the present. As Walter Elliot said, “Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.” That is the attitude you need to have.
The Japanese Government is also learning from this whole process. As Madame Catalig said, we find that this is a mutually beneficial program. It will be beneficial for the Filipinos and also for our aging society in Japan. We have been investing a lot on this: the twenty-nine teachers here. You are about a hundred. You see the ratio of teachers that are trying to help you. The Philippine Government is also helping. We're investing a lot on this project. As for the Japanese language like Madame Hernandez was saying, we have been working on this for many, many years. Ambassador Sanvictores is an example. He has been leading the Nihongo Center Foundation for many years. Edwin, one of your teachers, has been on a scholarship to Japan and he is helping us in trying to promote Japanese language education. So perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other, as I mentioned. With each short race after the other, we hope to make this program a success for Japan and the Philippines.
As the Filipino proverb goes, “ Walang mahirap na gawa, ‘pag dinaan sa tiyaga ” (No undertaking is difficult if pursued with perseverance). I wish you all the very best. Good luck and Mabuhay.
Embassy of Japan in the Philippines