Isang Magan dang Umaga sa lahat ng nandito ngayon. Nan dito tayo upang ipagdasal ang mga nasawing buhay, magbigay pasalamat sa mga nagbigay ng tulong at ipagdiwang ang muling pagbangon ng Hapon. (A Good Morning to all who are gathered together here today. We are here to pray for the perished souls, express gratitude to the warm help extended, and celebrate the rebirth of Japan.)
Thank you very much for coming. Your presence here means a lot to us.
A year ago, on that fateful day, the earthquake was the biggest in 1,000 years. The height of the tsunami reached 40 meters, never recorded in history. Then there was the nuclear accident.
Mankind has never experienced these three disasters together. 15,000 died and 3,000 or more are still missing, 380,000 evacuees, 51,000 acres of inundated farmland, 28,000 fishing boats lost, damage to infrastructure and buildings reached 212 billion dollars.
However, within 6 months, 50,000 provisional housing was supplied, 90% of the farmland is planned to revive in 3 years. 100% of electricity in Tokyo was back within a week. Highways regained function in two weeks. The bullet train was back in operation in 7 weeks. The nuclear reactors were brought to a state of “cold shutdown” last December. Radioactive contamination control for food and accumulated radiation dose per year for people, is in place.
Of course, after such a disaster, the road ahead is uphill and long. But I am optimistic.
First, because we have turned the table around when required. One hundred and fifty years ago, a backward nation in the northeast corner of Asia, managed to catch up with the colonial powers in several decades. We came back from devastation after WWII. Oil shocks in the 70s made us one of the most energy efficient economies. In order to produce one dollar of GDP, the U.S. and E.U. exhaust twice more and China 11 times more Co2.
Second, there is a strong will in Japan to recover. I am proud of our people. My people have shown dignity and caring in time of distress. A mood of national solidarity and sense of urgency is prevailing in our society.
Thirdly, because we know that we are not alone.
Countless individuals, companies and organizations from various parts of the Philippines offered their support through our Embassy, the Philippine Red Cross chapters and other channels. The Mayor of Cebu took the trouble to come here. Representing what Cebu people have done for us, 16,000 paper folded cranes was brought here.
The Philippine Government sent a Medical Team to Japan to provide medical assistance. President Aquino visited Ishinomaki City and offered one million dollars saying, “Napakabuti po ng bansang Hapon sa atin sa tuwing susubukin tayo ng mga kalamidad. Sa mga panahong sila naman ang dinadagsa ng mga pagsubok, nararapat lamang po na suklian ng Pilipinas ang mabuting pakikitungo ng mga Hapon sa atin”. “(Japan has helped the Philippines so much, it is our turn to help Japan in difficult times.)”
Just last week, I was visiting Fukushima Shirakawa. I wanted to pay tribute to the Filipino nurses caregivers. They stayed on despite the nuclear disaster because they couldn't leave the helpless elderly Japanese.
Huwag kayong mag-alala, ligtas kayo sa pagbisita ninyo sa Hapon. (Don't you worry, you'll be safe while in Japan).
Our goal is not simply reconstruct the Japan that existed before March 11, 2011. Smooth post disaster reconstruction, disaster risk reduction, energy saving environment - friendly “green economy”, aging society as an economy, such objectives will be pursued creating new opportunities. We will build a new Japan.
Ang umaayaw ay hindi nagwawagi, ang nagwawagi ay hindi umaayaw. (A quitter never wins, a winner never quits.)
We thank you and continue to count on your friendship in this historic challenge.
Hindi namin makakalimutan ang kabutihang loob/ na ibinigay ninyo sa oras ng aming/ pangangailangan. (Japan will never forget the Filipino people's act of Bayanihan.)
Maraming Salamat Po!
Embassy of Japan in the Philippines