BBM, Emperor reminisce good old days at Oxford

TOKYO – President Marcos and Emperor Naruhito reminisced about their good times at Oxford University in the United Kingdom during their meeting at the Imperial Palace here last Thursday, according to Marcos’ cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez.

In an interview with the Philippine media delegation last Friday, Romualdez said the highlight of Marcos’ trip to Japan is his visit to Naruhito, as not every head of state who comes to Japan has the opportunity and the privilege to meet the Emperor.

“I understand from the President’s account, it was a very, very warm and very, very cordial meeting,” Romualdez said.

“In fact, the President and the Emperor have mutual friends, and as you know, they both went to Oxford University, so they had exchanges about times at the university, and one of their mutual friends was the late Manuel or Toto Fernandez, son of the late Chief Justice EK Fernandez. Toto, their mutual friend, passed away, and of course, my brother Philip, who also went to Oxford,” he added about Marcos’ and Naruhito’s exchanges of nostalgic memories of their university days.

Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos met the royal couple last Thursday, when the President conveyed the affection and admiration of the Filipino people, including the estimated 300,000 Filipinos who consider Japan their second home.

“This afternoon, the First Lady and I also had the distinct honor of having an audience with Their Majesties, the Emperor and Empress of Japan. We had a memorable conversation, and I deeply appreciate the Imperial audience accorded to me and the First Lady,” Marcos said in a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida last Thursday night.

“I have extended an invitation to Their Majesties to visit the Philippines at the most convenient time,” he added.

The Chief Executive’s parents, the late former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and former first lady Imelda Marcos, were warmly welcomed by the Imperial Couple as they landed in Japan for their first official visit in 1966.

Marcos is in Japan for an official working visit, where at least seven key agreements were signed in the areas of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, infrastructure, agriculture and digital cooperation.

The President also extended his invitation to Kishida to visit the Philippines.

“I wish once again to thank Prime Minister Kishida for his kind invitation to visit one of the Philippines’ closest neighbors and closest friends. We hope to welcome Prime Minister Kishida to the Philippines for a return visit in the very near future,” Marcos said.

The Chief Executive is expected to meet the Filipino community here before returning to Manila today.

More than 300,000 Filipinos live and work in Japan, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.