A visit to Philippine Embassy in Tokyo

Two days ago, I invited my friend Liza to accompany me to Philippine Embassy in Ropponggi, Tokyo to get some personal documents I needed and submitted the lists of activities and updated registered members of our voluntary group, the Philippine NAKAMA Organization.

Liza never hesitated to come with me because she wants to explore Ropponggi and at the same time... she really must come with me as one of the Philippine NAKAMA representative because she is our present President. Well, actually I did not push her to come... what I like about her is that she did it because she knows her role!

So, inspite of the hot and humid morning... we went to Tokyo... although we often lost our ways inside Tokyo Stations, finally we reached the Philippine Embassy in Ropponggi... and yes, that was our first time to visit our very own Embassy in Ropponggi. We used to visit the old one in Shibuya but that was so many years ago (whooo, it sounds I am really an old timer living here in Japan (^_^;)... and the new Embassy for us is much much presentable than before.

We went first at the Consul Section to get some of the personal documents I needed. Upon entering the Consul... wow! nasa Pilipinas nga ako! From the athmosphere, the system, the service and even the smell... trully, it seems that I am in the Philippines. I felt ...NATSUKASHII... but I just don't want to elaborate for more... just try figure it out...

Here's the entrance to the Consular Section

After my business with the Consul... it's lunch break already so Liza and I decided to have a lunch first before going to our next target... the Cultural Section.

There are so many kababayan outside the Embassy distributing brochures about their businesses... from Pinoy goods to restaurant, door-to-door to translations stuffs, travel agencies and...even religion ???

Since we are hungry, a promo of a Philippine restaurant nearby got my attention. It's about two blocks away from the Embassy...

Here's the Philippine restaurant we discovered... Nanay's Lugaw Restaurant at Imperial Roppongi No.2 Bldg., Minato-Ku, Tokyo.

...and what we like about this place is the promo of TABEHODAI LUNCH BUFFET for only 1000 yen! It's lutong bahay... talagang masarap, so I think 1000 yen is just a reasonable price.

Aside from that, the kababayans who manage the place like Cecile and nanay Rose--the cook are very friendly.

By the way Cecile... Cecile Roquero to be exact is also a translator and she's managing an interpretation firm. She'd been to this field for about 9 years. So for all our kababayan, even if you are here in Shizuoka... if you'll be needing some translation for your documents like Birth Certificate, Marriage Contract, affidavits and so on... you can ask Cecile's reliable service even only by sending your documents thru fax and she will mail back your translated documents. About the translation fee and other details... kindly contact her to her office- 03-5549-1592 or to her cellphone- 090-1980-0884. So... how's that Cecile, nag-promo na rin ako!

Then, after our lunch and chikahan at Nanay's Lugaw restaurant, we went back to the Embassy ... and this time at the Cultural Section to submit the list of Philippine NAKAMA's updated activities and registered members. Fe, the staff at the Cultural Section introduced us to Ms. Lilibeth V. Pono, the second Secretary and Consul of Cultural and Filipino Community Affairs. I call her ma'am... not only as a sign of respect but actually... she reminds me of my dear professor in college. Ma'am Pono is very smart... yah, like my dear professor. Well... we talked about the organizations and our activities. She gave us some advices. We also personally invited her to be a guest speaker on our 5th year anniversary celebration of Philippine NAKAMA wherein we will be holding a Charity Lunch Show for the benefit of our Japanese-Filipino Children Scholarship Program. Liza and I overwhelmed of joy when Ma'am Pono told us that she's interested to come. So... we need to send her our invitation letter ASAP! Kindly wait Ma'am!

Ma'am Pono introduced us to some Embassy officials like Mr. Felipe Carino III, the Third Secretary and Vice Consul of Consular Affairs and Assistance to Nationals. Bong, as what he told us to call him... mentioned to us that the Embassy also offer consul services for our kababayan outside Tokyo. It can be arrange thru an organization request like ours for example. We also invited Bong to be one of our guest speaker in our anniversary event on September 10.

Ma'am Pono also introduced us to the Tourism Section wherein we met Ms. Grace Horii, a Public Relation Officers. We asked her if she can provide us some Philippine maps, posters and brochures about Philippine Cultures that we can use in teaching and exhibiting Philippines... yap! she showed us plenty of stuff! Liza and I were like kids wandering around the rooms on what to pick and what to bring home. We end up having a lot of omiage or should I say lot of NIMOTSU!

To all our wonderful kababayan that we met inside the Philippine Embassy... thank you so much to all your warm receptions... especially to Ma'am Pono who toured us around the Embassy--- hoping to see you again on September together with some of your co-officials.

By the way... we also want to see Minister Claro Cristobal to personally give our thanks for joining our Induction event last year but unfortunately, he was not around. He is in the Philippines.

After our quest at the Philippine Embassy... since we are in Ropponggi... we drop by to Ropponggi Hills. Beside the building is the ASAHI TV Station . We roamed around for a while but then we end up at Starbucks because we are too tired already not to mention that we were loaded with NIMOTSU!

We reached back Shizuoka City at around 7:00 pm... tired but very content with our mission!

PS: I'm still working for the other photos.