The Honorary Consulate of the Republic of the Philippines
The Honorary Consulate of the Republic of the Philippines in Morioka was the only office of its kind in all of Tohoku, and it closed in June of this year. We asked consul Masahiro Murayama and assistant Rose Aguida Oyzon Apelo about the consulate’s five and a half years of international exchange since January 2006.
* The Phillipine Independence Day party everyone looked forward to every year
Along with coordinating Japan-Philippines international exchange and networking among Filipino residents, the consulate focused on providing passport renewals and certifications, translations, and authorizations regarding marriage and birth for Filipinos living in the six-prefecture Tohoku region. There are around 900 Philippines citizens living within Iwate Prefecture. There are many women who have married into farming or fishing families, have had children, and are living as residents in many different regions. They need documents like certifications of marriage, birth, and home visits. Before they would have had to travel all the way to the embassy in Tokyo for these procedures, but once the Tohoku office was created, they could fill out their paperwork in Morioka. This was particularly convenient for those living in Tohoku - and much cheaper.
With the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, there were many cases of Filipinas losing their passports along with their household belongings, and the consulate was packed with inquiries and consultations in the days following the disaster. “I performed consular duties along with translations. But I was busiest after the quake, with many people telling me their passports were washed away but that they wanted to go home to the Philippines to let their families know they were safe. We have a record of the addresses and pictures of contacted Filipina residents on computer file from the past five and a half years, so we were able to confirm their identities. Therefore we were able to issue a one-time-only travel document to be used in place of a passport. I’m so happy we could be of help,” says Apelo as she reflects on her last work duties.
Every year in June, the consulate would celebrate the Philippine Independence Day with a party held in Morioka.
This encouraged international exchange using Philippine songs, dances, and cooking, and strengthened ties between Filipinas residing in the prefecture. “There are not many chances for Filipina residents to gather because they have their own families and jobs to worry about. But here they could speak to each other in their native language, and their husbands also had a chance to meet each other. I’d love for these types of parties to continue in order to create these opportunities,” says Murayama, hoping for more grassroots exchange between Japan and the Philippines.
(Left) Rose Agueda Oyzon Apelo
After graduating from the University of the Philippines, she interned at the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines and then came to Japan as the assistant of the honorary consul. “I had been to the Kansai region when I did a foreign exchange program. I spent my late 20s in Morioka. The food is great, and I love the people.”
(Right) Masahiro Murayama
The Representative Director of the Ginga International Corporation. He accepted the position of honorary consul from his good friend, former Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs Blas Ople. Murayama had run the consulate with his personal fortune on account of the position being unpaid. He was forced to close the consulate due the effects of disaster on his primary business and the wishes of the Philippine Embassy. “It’s regrettable because there is demand for a consulate.”
http://iwate-ia.or.jp/cms/media/kikanshi/2011/2011autumn-kikanshi-E.pdf
（Iwate International Association September 30, 2011）
The Honorary Consulate of the Republic of the Philippines in Morioka was the only office of its kind in all of Tohoku, and it closed in June of this year. We asked consul Masahiro Murayama and assistant Rose Aguida Oyzon Apelo about the consulate’s five and a half years of international exchange since January 2006.
* The Phillipine Independence Day party everyone looked forward to every year
Along with coordinating Japan-Philippines international exchange and networking among Filipino residents, the consulate focused on providing passport renewals and certifications, translations, and authorizations regarding marriage and birth for Filipinos living in the six-prefecture Tohoku region. There are around 900 Philippines citizens living within Iwate Prefecture. There are many women who have married into farming or fishing families, have had children, and are living as residents in many different regions. They need documents like certifications of marriage, birth, and home visits. Before they would have had to travel all the way to the embassy in Tokyo for these procedures, but once the Tohoku office was created, they could fill out their paperwork in Morioka. This was particularly convenient for those living in Tohoku - and much cheaper.
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| Help yourselves to some Philippine snacks |
Every year in June, the consulate would celebrate the Philippine Independence Day with a party held in Morioka.
This encouraged international exchange using Philippine songs, dances, and cooking, and strengthened ties between Filipinas residing in the prefecture. “There are not many chances for Filipina residents to gather because they have their own families and jobs to worry about. But here they could speak to each other in their native language, and their husbands also had a chance to meet each other. I’d love for these types of parties to continue in order to create these opportunities,” says Murayama, hoping for more grassroots exchange between Japan and the Philippines.
(Left) Rose Agueda Oyzon Apelo
After graduating from the University of the Philippines, she interned at the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines and then came to Japan as the assistant of the honorary consul. “I had been to the Kansai region when I did a foreign exchange program. I spent my late 20s in Morioka. The food is great, and I love the people.”
(Right) Masahiro Murayama
The Representative Director of the Ginga International Corporation. He accepted the position of honorary consul from his good friend, former Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs Blas Ople. Murayama had run the consulate with his personal fortune on account of the position being unpaid. He was forced to close the consulate due the effects of disaster on his primary business and the wishes of the Philippine Embassy. “It’s regrettable because there is demand for a consulate.”
http://iwate-ia.or.jp/cms/media/kikanshi/2011/2011autumn-kikanshi-E.pdf
（Iwate International Association September 30, 2011）
