By: Carlos Abainza, UC Language and Literature Society
The Language and Literature Society had the honor of attending the Japanese Cultural Exchange Program hosted by the Filipino-Japanese Foundation of Northern Luzon, Inc. (Abong) last ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฏ, ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฑ. Complete with food, attire, and a look into tradition, the four-hour event aimed at bridging cultural differences through shared appreciation and understanding.
LLS members visited the Japanese Friendship Garden at Gov. Pack Road where they served as witnesses to a special Shintoism Memorial Ceremony performed by the Osaka Gokoku Shrine. Even amid the sudden, midday downpour, the ceremonial rites were carried out with solemnity and calm.
The program was graced by the Embassy of Japan-Manila, represented by ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ฑ๐ฎ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ, ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐บ๐ถ๐๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ณ๐๐บ๐ถ, and ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น ๐๐ผ๐๐๐บ๐ถ ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ธ๐ถ; Members of the House of Representatives of Japan, ๐ ๐ฟ. ๐ง๐ผ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐๐๐บ๐ฎ (President of Japan-Philippines International Friendship Association) and ๐ ๐ฟ. ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐๐ต๐ถ ๐จ๐บ๐ฒ๐บ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ (Member of Japan-Philippines International Friendship Association); Representatives of the City Government of Baguio; the Filipino-Japanese Foundation of Northern Luzon, Inc. (Abong), represented by ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ ๐ฟ. ๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐น ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐; Pines City Lions Club President, ๐ ๐ฟ. ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐; the Japanese Association in Northern Luzon, represented by ๐ ๐. ๐ฅ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ ๐ข๐ธ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ฒ, and; the Filipino-Japanese Friendship Association President, ๐ ๐. ๐๐ต๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ ๐ฃ๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐.
Along with the other guests, the LLS members carefully paid their respects by bowing and offering white flowers as tribute to the shrine.
Later that day, the LLS was welcomed to join a curated experience where visitors were taken on a simple tour through Japanese culture. Students competed in a heart-racing, timed game of chopsticks, a taste of fresh Yakisoba, as well as the intricacies of the Japanese tea ceremony.
We extend our warmest and deepest gratitude to the Filipino-Japanese Foundation of Northern Luzon, Inc. (Abong) for this joyous opportunity! Here’s to more happy moments!
ใใใใจใใใใใพใใ!
