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GMA, Japanese
envoy celebrate
era underJapan's
new emper0r
By MaricelV. Cruz
SPEAKER Gloria MacaPagal AnoYo
and Ambassador of Japan to the Phil-
ippines His Excellency Koji Haneda
&lebrated on Tuesdav the ascersion of
Empercr Naruhito t6 the Chrysanthe-
mum Throne, marking it a ne* age of
Philippine-Japanese fr iendship..
Together with Speaker ArroYo were
former First Gentleman- Jose Miguel
Anoyo and H.E. Haneda's wife, Iheka
Haneda.
The event was also atteirded by For-
eign Affain S€cretary Teodoro Loc-
sin, Senator Aquilino Pimentel, former
Prime Minister Cesar Vrata, and other
Filipino and Japanese dignitaries.
ln his speech, Locsir said that Lhe
Philippines is one with Japan in looking
forward to the Reiwa Era under the new
emperor as tirne ofpeace and prosperity.
'We share the Japanese people's hope
ihat the Reiwa Era heralds a time ofhar-
mony for Japan and our region 4s we
ride the wave of unbridled oppornnity
from gain and loss," Locsin said.
o
eAs,{r
He lxpects that this new era will frr-
ther strenghen bilateral relations as Ja-
pan is coqisidered a true ally ofthe Phil-
ppmes.
'On the bilateral front, we are con-
fident thal the Reiwa Era will impart a
stronger imp€tus io our strategic part-
nenhip. Japan has an importarrt place
in ourpantheon of real friends. lt is, in
the words of His Excellency President
Ro&igo Duterte, 'a friend closer than a
brotho,"' he said.
Meanwhile, Hanecla said that the ro-
bust diplomatic ties of the Philippines
and Japan is at its golden age.
"Across the 30 years ofthe Heisei Era
of His Majesty Emperor Emeritus Aki-
hito, the relations beween Japan and the
Philippines were immensely strsngth-
ened. We aIe now herg enjoYing the
golden age of our srategic parmeship,"
- hetald.
The Ambassador added that he is con'
fident that the ha nonious friendship of
the Philippines and Japan will continue '
as Japan enters its Reiwa Era.
/The two countries erc'abeady collabo.
rating on new labor initiatives on labor
and deepening people !o people rela-
tions, and have other cooperation proj-
ects in the pipeline.
"Iu the new era of labor, we will en-
gage in our best efons to further pro-
mote stronger ties with the people ofthe
Philippines. We are already witnessing
positive developments both at grassrools
and high level. Opening ol the Consul-
ate General of Japan in Davao this year
is expected to enhance people to people
exchange between Mindanao and Ja-
pan," Ilaneda said.
-AB"