The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Philippines Office, hosted a commemorative event at the Ambassador’s residence to mark the 60th anniversary of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV). The celebration highlighted the enduring friendship between Japan and the Philippines, grounded in shared development goals and deepening people-to-people ties through volunteerism.
Since its launch in 1965, the JOCV program has deployed over 57,000 Japanese volunteers to 99 countries, including more than 1,700 volunteers to the Philippines. These volunteers have worked alongside Filipino communities, contributing to grassroots development and mutual understanding — a testament to Japan’s longstanding commitment to international cooperation.
Key figures in attendance included Ambassador Endo Kazuya, JICA Philippines Chief Representative Baba Takashi, and Ms. Obuchi Yuko, Chairperson of the JICA Parliamentary League, along with other Japanese lawmakers, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, President of the Philippines-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Association, and senior Philippine government officials.
In her remarks, Ms. Obuchi praised the volunteers as “grassroots diplomats” who embody the spirit of cooperation by working hand-in-hand with local communities. She emphasized the policy significance of volunteerism in promoting international harmony and resilience in a complex global environment.
Senator Zubiri echoed these sentiments, calling the JOCV program a symbol of Japan’s unwavering support and a pillar of strong bilateral friendship. He lauded the volunteers’ contributions to nation-building and cross-cultural solidarity.
Representing the volunteers, Mr. Yamamoto Shion shared his transformative experience working in the Philippines and led a united call: “Mabuhay Pilipinas, Mabuhay Japan, Samasama sa Kinabukasan (Long Live the Philippines, Long Live Japan, Together Towards the Future).”
The event reaffirmed the policy relevance of the JOCV as a model of diplomacy through voluntarism, underscoring how mutual respect, shared values, and cooperation at the grassroots level continue to strengthen the Japan-Philippines partnership.
