New Japanese envoy studied in Manila as a boy

MANILA, Philippines—The new Japanese ambassador to the Philippines spent his childhood in Manila shortly after World War II, but he doesn’t have any bad memories about how Filipinos treated him following the liberation of the country from the Japanese.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Ambassador Toshinao Urabe studied for two years at JASMS in Sta. Ana and, despite the proximity of the end of the second world war, Urabe ‘‘had no bad memories of the Philippines and the way Filipinos treated him during those times.”

Lacierda was speaking during a briefing in Malacañang, where Uribe presented his credentials to President Aquino as the new Japanese ambassador to the Philippines.

“So he was recalling his fond memories of his stay here while as a young child,” Lacierda added.

Ironically, JASMS is a school named after Filipino martyr Jose Abad Santos, who was executed by the Japanese for his refusal to cooperate with them during the war.

Lacierda said the Japanese ambassador thanked the President for the relief aid sent to Japan in the aftermath of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster that struck Japan last March.

The Philippines sent instant noodles and bottled water to the stricken areas in Japan.

Lacierda said the ambassador also reiterated Japan’s invitation for President Aquino to have an official working visit. He said the President told the ambassador that hopefully the Philippines and Japan can agree on a mutually convenient date for the Mr. Aquino to visit Japan.