UP students, faculty join in prayers

MANILA, Philippines—Students, faculty and staff of the University of the Philippines Monday prayed and paused for a moment to remember the victims of the 9-magnitude quake that hit Japan exactly a month ago Monday.

Silence filled Quezon Hall on the UP Diliman campus at exactly 1:46 p.m., the exact time in Manila when the earthquake struck northeast Japan on March 11.

UP president Alfredo Pascual expressed sympathy for Japan and the quake victims, saying he was optimistic that the nation will recover.

“I am convinced that Japan will rise again,” Pascual said at the memorial ceremony for the quake victims.

Although he said he could not send much material help, he pledged stronger ties between UP and other Japanese organizations.

Of UP’s 260 active memorandums of agreement with foreign organizations, 68 are with Japanese groups, Pascual said.

Representing the Japanese community was Kiyoshi Takeuchi of the Japanese Embassy, who welcomed Pascual’s remarks.

“At present, Japan is facing unprecedented challenges,” Takeuchi said. He added that he was “greatly encouraged” by the overwhelming Filipino support.

Students, faculty and some Japanese present at the ceremony offered origami cranes and flowers for the victims.

On behalf of Prime Minister Naoto Kan, Takeuchi also delivered a message in which the Japanese nation thanked people all over the world for their support. Hans Joshua Dantes