CEBU, Philippines - The Japan Festival 2012 held August 11 to 12 at Ayala Activity Center in celebration of the Philippines-Japan Friendship Month was very successful. Series of Japanese culture events were presented such as Wakodaiko drum club performances, Awaodori dance, Karate demonstrations, Japanese & Filipino singing competition and COSPLAY.
Booths were set-up displaying Ikebana floral arrangement, Japanese dolls, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) supplemented Japanese culture exhibits. At the Terraces garden a number of Japanese restaurants displayed an array of Japanese food and sold to festival goers.
During the opening ceremony Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines, Toshinao Urabe and Mme. Etsuko Urabe were present. Cebu Governor Gwendolyn F. Garcia, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, Ambassador FranciscoBenedicto, Consular Corps of Cebu PresidentArmi Lopez Garcia were also in attendance.
Ambassador Urabe thanked Governor Garcia and Mayor Rama for making time to grace the opening ceremony. "The support of the local community, enabled us to organize this largest ever Japan Festival in Cebu," Ambassador Urabe said. He added, "The display of various aspects of Japanese culture was only made possible by the good will, time, and effort of a large number of Japanese and Filipino volunteers."
He also said, "I am happy because the festival was initiated by the Japanese community. They wanted to express their appreciation to the overwhelming Cebuano support to the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake disaster last March."
Governor Garcia then took the stage and thanked Ambassador Urabe for bringing the festival to Cebu. She acknowledged the Japanese companies that have set up operations in Cebu.
The Governor said, "I'd like to make special mention to the cement company, Taiheiyo, that worked hand-in-hand with the province of Cebu in constructing thousands of classrooms in the province."
An estimated 20,000 people came to witness the different activities during the festival. It was indeed a great success for the first Japan Festival here in Cebu.