Pacquiao to grace Philippine Festival in Japan
By Aquiles Z. Zonio
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 11 Aug 2015
TOKYO, Japan ? Filipino communities in Japan are looking forward to a more exciting and flamboyant celebration of Philippine Festival on Sept. 19 & 20 in Yoyogi Park, Tokyo, with world eight-division boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao as guest.
The Philippine Festival highlights the best of Philippine culture, promotes camaraderie between Filipinos and Japanese; and brings closer together members of the Filipino community from various parts of Japan.
The two-day cultural event gives visitors an opportunity to take a closer look and appreciate Philippine music, dance, entertainment, games, fashion, food, products and services.
Japan-based, as well as, visiting Filipino artists and celebrities are expected to showcase their talents during the cultural presentation segment, which features traditional dances and fashion show of customary and contemporary Philippine clothing.
Pacquiao, accompanied by his wife Sarangani vice governor Jinkee, visited Japan last week to meet with representatives of the Filipino community and to help the country in its bid to host 2019 FIBA World Cup.
The right to host the FIBA event, however, was awarded to China.
Pacquiao, vice chair of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs (OWA), said he wants to travel around the world to hear the clamor and sentiment of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
The Sarangani lawmaker claimed that during their meeting he was touched by the revelation made by Mary Jane Veloso, a Pinay migrant worker sentenced to death by the Indonesian government.
?I talked to Mary jane Veloso and I could feel that she?s innocent. She was just a victim,? Pacquiao said.
Right upon his return, Pacquiao sent a letter to AGAP party-list Rep. Nicanor M. Briones, chair of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, proposing for the formulation and adoption of a protocol in providing immediate and efficient legal assistance to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) apprehended abroad.
The proposal dated July 20 has remained unacted up to this writing.
Citing ?in aid of legislation,? Pacquiao requested Briones to immediately set a committee hearing inviting concerned officials from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Department of Labor and Employment and Department of Foreign Affairs, particularly the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers? Affairs.
In the same letter, Pacquiao asked the Committee to direct invited labor and foreign affairs officials to present an inventory of all pending cases as of June 30,2015 involving Filipino migrant workers, especially those detained, whether still undergoing trial or already serving prison terms.
Pacquiao further requested the Committee to require concerned government officials to submit demographic data on all Filipino Overseas Workers as of June 30,2015.
Pacquiao said he was challenged to take the cudgel for hapless OFWs as they are now considered the backbone of the country?s economy.
According to the data from the Bangkok Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) OFWs around the world sent $26.92 billion (P1.20 trillion) back to the Philippines last year, up 6.2 percent from $25.35 billion (P1.13 trillion) in 2013.
2013 BSP data showed that OFWs from the United States posted the highest amount of remittance (P463.20 billion), while OFWs in Japan contributed P43.84 billion to the country?s coffers.
During the meeting held at the Community Hall of Philippine Embassy in Tokyo, members of the Filipino community did not ask for anything from Pacman except his presence during the Philippine Festival.
?Cong. Manny, it is the dream of not only of every Filipino but of people all over the world to see our famous (boxing) icon, the man who made us (Filipinos) number one in the field of boxing,? Eleanor Fukuda, chair of Philippine Assistance Group (PAG), said in her speech.
PAG is the umbrella group of various Filipino organizations in Japan. Currently, there are about 222,576 Filipinos in Japan, 193,280 of them are permanent migrants.
?Cong. Manny, we know you are helping Filipinos and the Philippines a lot. We, Filipinos, here in Japan hope that you could also extend your help to us by gracing with your presence alone our event especially our Philippine Festival this coming Sept. 19 & 20,2015,? Fukuda further said.
She claimed Pacquiao is very popular in Japan and ?even our husbands are your avid fans.?
The Filipinos present roared in delight when in his speech Pacquaio pledged to come back in September to grace the festival.
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PHOTO: Members of Filipino community roared in delight when boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao accepted their invitation to grace the Philippine Festival in Tokyo, Japan, on Sept. 19-20 (Front row: Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel Lopez & his wife, Cong. Manny Pacquiao and wife Sarangani vice gov. Jinkee, Eleanor Fukuda, Philippine Assistance Group (PAG) chairperson) Photo by Aquiles Z. Zonio
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