Mandaue marks Phl-Japan friendship

CEBU, Philippines- The Philippine-Japan Friendship Month was celebrated in Mandaue City in a two-day event last Friday and Saturday at the Aboitiz Field in Barangay Subangdaku.

The celebration will continue until this weekend at the J Centre Mall in Barangay Bakilid.

Kengo Tanaka, spokesman of the Cebu-Mandaue-Based Committee has thanked Mayor Jonas Cortes for the success of the big event due to its big turnout.

"We did not expect the big turn which means that Filipinos are interested to know the Japanese culture," Tanaka said.

According to Tanaka they expected to gather 5,000 crowd but the number doubled. Many of those who attended were local and Japanese students who are on study tour.

Several booths were set up in the venue which displayed and sold Japanese items including food items others offering services while the rest were offering real estate projects.

Cultural presentations highlighted the nightly event performed by "Panagtagbo" dancers of the city and Japanese cultural group.

"Today we celebrate in Cebu the Philippines-Japan Friendship month. This is very significant and historical because for the first time it is held in Mandaue and secondly, the biggest so far," said Mayor Jonas Cortes in his opening remarks.

"We expect exchange of cultural presentations by both countries and more cooperation," added the mayor.

During the event, Aisaku, a Japanese OPM artist also rendered some of his Pinoy songs in his album.