MANILA, Philippines — On Dec. 12, Ambassador Koji Haneda hosted a National Day Reception at Makati Shangri-La Hotel to celebrate the 85th birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. The reception gathered members from the government, the diplomatic and consular corps, the private sector and the embassy’s partners in the cultural, scientific, and educational sectors.
John Forbes, Grace Glory Go, Mila Drilon, Franklin Drilon, Marivic Rufino, Maloy Luchangco and ICCP Group chairman Guilly Luchangco.
In his speech, Ambassador Haneda said that the Philippines has always been a home away from home for him as a diplomat who started his career in Manila in the early 1980s. He stressed Japan’s strong support for President Duterte’s Build Build Build program, including the first-ever subway in the Philippines and commuter railway projects in and around Metro Manila. He mentioned that the launch of the Consulate General of Japan in Davao in January 2019 is a good example of fortifying the bonds between the two countries in the years ahead.
Amb. Enrique Manalo, French Amb. Nicolas Galey, Japan Amb. Koji Haneda, Grace Glory Go, Babe Romualdez and Susing Pineda.
At the reception, 29 booths were set up by Japanese companies and prefectures to promote their products and services.