36 Pinoy students on cultural tour in Japan

THE second batch of participants of the newly launched Jenesys 2.0 Program left the Philippines last May 25, 2013 for a seven-day cultural exchange to Japan.

The 36 Filipino university students will be part of the 360 youths from all the 10 Asean member states (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam), participating in the program.

The second batch of the program is expected to stay in Japan until June 2, 2013.

A pre-departure orientation was held last May 24, 2013, headed by the National Youth Commission executive director Shierwin Taay.

Minister Setsuo Omori of the Embassy of Japan delivered an inspirational message to encourage fellowship among the new delegates.

Directors Randy Arquiza and Julius Flores of the Department of Foreign Affairs were also present to give an overview of the Asean Economic Community Network (AEC), as well as the AseanJapan Relations. The Jenesys 2.0 Program is designed to create camaraderie among the Southeast Asian youths and Japanese counterparts through intensive interaction, workshops, and structured exchanges of view.

The delegates are also expected to gain practical knowledge on Japan’s experiences for promoting local regions to address development gaps and attain global excellence by utilizing local resources, creativities, and branding strategies, and realizing effective agglomeration of economies among region/prefectures.

Participants will take a trip around Tokyo to experience the actual condition of the capital of Japan, and to experience the advanced and safe technology through the Shinkansen. They are scheduled to pay courtesy calls to the local governmental offices to learn about the Japanese governing system. The participants are expected to prepare the establishment of the AEC Youth Network by interaction with the Japanese university students through school visits and dialogues. They will also experience a homestay with local families.

One of the many programs under the Jenesys 2.0 is promoting consciousness toward Asean Economic Community (AEC) among the young generation within the Southeast Asian regions to result in the making of the AEC Youth Network. The Jenesys 2.0 aims to forge a stronger relationship between the Asean member countries and Japan, and to let the young generation of Japan have a deeper understanding of Asean countries and AEC.

The program aims to add another 30,000 youths to the 30,000 young people who previously travelled to Japan under the previous Jenesys program. PR