Japanese government scholars’ presentation  

Together with the kind support of Consul General Hideki Yamaji and Consul Toshio Yadomi of the Consulate-General of Japan in Cebu, PHILAJAMES-Cebu (the Philippine Association of Japanese Government Scholars to Japan, Cebu Chapter) is cordially inviting you all next Monday, July 11 from 4:30 p.m. for a Scholars’ Presentation entitled “After Mext, What Next?”

Please refer to the following link for that July 11 event’s pre-registration and participation: https://bit.ly/PHILAJAMESCebu.

MEXT is an acronym for the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology.

According to Jenny de Jesus-Okada of the Japan Information and Cultural Center, “Japanese Government scholarships have been offered to Filipinos beginning 1954 and since then, there have been more than 3,000 Filipino scholars.” Annually, an average of 100 Filipinos go to study in Japan.

Formerly known as Monbusho scholars or Japanese Ministry of Education scholars, recent scholars are now referred to as scholars of Monbukagakusho or Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology or MEXT.

At present, there are six Japanese Government scholarships available for those interested to study in Japan plus the special Young Leaders’ Program.

These six scholarships are for Teacher Training, Japanese Studies, Undergraduate Students, Research (and Degree) Students, Specialized Training, and College of Technology. For further details about all these Japanese Government scholarships, please go to this link: https://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/files/100113132.jpg

Applications for this year have closed but best to earlier check the details about the various scholarships and requirements so when scholarship application opens early next year, then you may have time to reflect on and decide whether to or not apply and also have ample time to prepare all the requirements needed.

The July 11 Scholars’ Presentation will be the second time PHILAJAMES-Cebu will be hosting the event aimed to honor and celebrate our scholars in their present work and specialization. The event also intends to introduce and link all scholars of PHILAJAMES-Cebu to those interested in their field of study/specialization or work locally and globally as well as those interested about Japan in general and the Japanese government scholarships in particular.

We would like to sincerely thank the following scholars and colleagues for agreeing to speak and share about their experiences as Japanese government scholars and their journey after their scholarship, beyond Japan:

1.) Jeremias C. Zapata, Jr. qualified for the Monbusho Undergraduate Program (1980-1985). He attended in 1980-1981 the Japanese Language School of the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies in Fuchu, Tokyo. He completed BS Economics (1981-1985) at Nagoya University in Aichi.

At present, he is the director of Taiyo Yuden Philippines, Inc., the highest ranking Filipino executive of this company;

2.) Antoniette Mondigo Cañete, on the Research/Degree Program, completed her Ph.D. in Information Sciences at the Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, 2016-2020.

She is at present a professor at the Department of Computer Engineering, University of San Carlos. Her specialization is about Reconfigurable Systems using Field Programmable Gate Arrays;

3.) Eric Floreto, also on the Research/Degree Program, completed his Ph.D. in Fisheries Science (Marine Nutrition) at Kagoshima University in 1996.

Now based in Canada, he serves as consultant for Shrimp & Fish Nutrition. He is also a teacher of the Toronto Catholic District School Board and is a YouTuber featuring Eric's Nihongo Lessons; and,

4.) Rodivick Olorfernes Docor, also on the Research/Degree Program from 1991-1996 finished her Ph.D. in Dentistry, Okayama University. She is now Dean at the College of Dentistry, Southwestern University PHINMA and a practicing dentist at the Docor Dental Clinic in the Adventist Hospital Cebu.

From Japan, our Filipino MEXT scholars took various paths: some stayed in Japan, others moved to other foreign countries. More returned to the Philippines, now in the academe, government, civil society, business, or industry.