President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Japan, recognizing them as a vital bridge in strengthening diplomatic ties between Manila and Tokyo.
Addressing the Filipino community in Tokyo during his four-day state visit, Marcos lauded the roughly 350,000-strong expatriate group as the “face of the Philippines” and commended their resilience across various sectors, including manufacturing, healthcare, education, and hospitality.
The President emphasized that his meeting with the Filipino community was his top priority before engaging in official high-level talks with Japanese officials.
“Bago pa man kami makikipagpulong sa mga pinuno ng Japan, minarapatที่เรา naming unahin ang pakikipagkita sa inyo sapagkat kayo ang dahilan kung bakit mahalaga ang relasyon ng Pilipinas at Japan,” Marcos said. (Even before we meet with the leaders of Japan, we deemed it proper to prioritize meeting you because you are the reason why the relationship between the Philippines and Japan is important.)
“Kayo ang nagbibigay-buhay sa ugnayang ito sa gitna nga ng Pilipinas at ng Japan. Napakahalaga para sa amin na ipabatid sa inyo na ang inyong pamahalaan ay walang tigil at walang sawang nagsisikap upang mapangalagaan ang inyong mga karapatan, kapakanan at kaligtasan habang kayo ay naghahanapbuhay sa ibayong-dagat.” (You give life to this relationship between the Philippines and Japan. It is very important for us to let you know that your government is working tirelessly and relentlessly to protect your rights, welfare, and safety while you work overseas.)
The Chief Executive’s state visit coincide with the milestone 70th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral relations between the two countries. The trip aims to advance mutual cooperation in trade, labor defense, and regional security.
Marcos also touched upon pressing global challenges, specifically the spike in fuel prices driven by conflicts in the Middle East. He highlighted domestic interventions like the declaration of a state of national energy emergency and the implementation of the Unified Package for Livelihood, Industry, Food and Transport (UPLIFT) program. He noted that the global energy crisis underscores the mutual dependency of nations.
“Pinatunayan din ng krisis na hindi maibubukod ang Pilipinas sa epekto ng pagkakaantala ng suplay ng langis at walang bansang kayang lutasin ang krisis ng enerhiya ngayon nang nag-iisa,” he added. (The crisis also proved that the Philippines cannot be isolated from the impact of oil supply disruptions, and no country can solve the current energy crisis alone.)
“Bagama’t pareho nating pinagdadaanan ang hamon na dala ng kakulangan ng suplay ng enerhiya, hindi napatid ang pagtutulungan ng ating dalawang bansa upang maibsan ang hirap na naramdaman ng taumbayan.” (Although we are both going through the challenges brought by the energy supply shortage, the cooperation between our two countries has not stopped to alleviate the hardships felt by the people.)
The President concluded by encouraging the younger generation of Filipinos in Japan to balance integration with cultural pride, reminding them that adapting to a host nation does not mean losing their identity.
“It is my fervent hope that you succeed in all your endeavors in your chosen careers, whether it would be business, the arts, professional arena, the service sector or in sports. I urge you to make a good account of yourselves, and be proud of your heritage as Filipinos,” Marcos stated.
“We all agree that living in Japan requires a delicate balance. Japan is a nation of profound tradition, structure, and etiquette. For us to thrive here, we need to be masters of the art of integration. We must respect the local laws, embrace the culture, and learn the language. However, integration does not mean assimilation. It does not mean forgetting your roots and abandoning who you truly are. Our greatest asset is our unique identity. Let your Filipino heritage emanates from you in your daily interactions while still being mindful of social norms, and watch it enrich your social environment and spheres of influence.”