Two Filipina scholars in Tokyo The Ajinomoto Postgraduate Scholarship

LIVING in one of the world’s best cities and immersing one’s self in an environment of diverse culture, while earning a Master’s degree in one of the world’s best universities is perhaps the dream of many students and young professionals.

But for two Filipino scholars, this is their reality—living in Tokyo and experiencing the world, while earning a Master’s degree at the University of Tokyo—a once in a lifetime opportunity from the Ajinomoto Postgraduate Scholarship Grant.

Giselle Grace Lim, the first recipient of the scholarship in 2010, has been studying Applied Biological Chemistry since April 2011. As an international student, she has seen the difference between Japanese and Philippine universities, in terms of conducting research studies. She underscores the premium that the University of Tokyo puts on research, which she experienced firsthand when her Japanese professor encouraged her to conduct a research that has no immediate application, but can contribute to adding new knowledge in the scientific field—an idea that is new to Giselle.

“Since I was trained to do research on limited funding, my mindset was to develop a research that could be readily utilized and profited from. This is in contrast with my professor’s mindset since he is most concerned about contributing new knowledge,” she shares.

Although Giselle, a 29-year-old alumna of the University of Santo Tomas, admits that it is a challenge to keep up with her fellow students who are very hardworking, she relates that she enjoys being with her Japanese friends, whom she often teaches simple Filipino terms.

“Notwithstanding all [the challenges that I face as an international student], I still find joy being a Filipino in a Japanese world,” she says.

Karen Tan, Ajinomoto Postgraduate Scholarship Grant holder for 2011, enjoys doing research work at the University of Tokyo because of the extensive array of instruments available to the students.

“Fortunately, all the instruments and reagents needed for performing the experiments I have only wished to perform when I was in UP are here within one area,” the former instructor and research assistant at the University of the Philippines-manila tells. She also shares that her Japanese professors and classmates always give her a hand in helping her fully understand the lessons, which are all delivered in Nihongo.

Karen took up Pharmacy as her undergraduate course and is currently studying Natural Products Chemistry.

While Giselle and Karen have already started pursuing their Master’s degree, 2012 Ajinomoto Postgraduate Scholarship Grant recipient Melvin Charles Dy is looking forward to begin his course in Applied Computer Studies in April. He expects that his studies at the University of Tokyo will be more challenging and more rewarding than his experience in the Philippines.

After graduation, Giselle and Karen are considering to join the academe to impart their new learning to young minds, while Melvin wants to become part of a professional