New Year Greeting from SGI Philippines (January 2008)
(Mt. Fuji in Japan)
Happy New Year!
And Happy birthday to Ikeda sensei!
I would like to thank all of you for your support to our homepage last year.
Ikeda sensei declared in his New Year's Message; "The foundations
for worldwide Kosen-rufu have been solidly completed." Therefore,
it's time for us, Ikeda sensei's disciples, to exert our efforts for Philippine
Kosen-rufu.
Sensei further said, "It is important that we strive for Kosen-rufu
with the strong and determined spirit to make even greater efforts with
every passing years of our Buddhist practice. When we advance with faith
based on the spirit of always moving forward from this moment on, capable
people will appear and grow, and Kosen-rufu will develop exponentially."
The Year of Capable People and Development has begun. This year again,
let's do our best more than what we have accomplished past year with our
motto; "Unity and Unity", "Harmonious Unity of Itai-Doshin".
Thank you very much!
Roger Cabauatan
General Director
SGI Philippine Website Breaks the 100,000 Visitors Mark!! (June 2008)
(General Director Roger Cabauatan)
In behalf of the members of the Soka Gakkai International of the Philippines,
I would like to take this opportunity to express our sincerest appreciation
to everyone who has visited our Website for the past years. We are determined
to develop further our website to facilitate information on the activities
of SGI Philippines, the SGI and specially SGI President Daisaku Ikeda who
has also been our inspiration to establish this website.
Thank you very much.
General Director
Roger Cabauatan
Philippine's Beguet State University Honors SGI President Daisaku Ikeda (July 2008)
Dr. Colting (4th from left) and
Mr. Del-Amen (3rd from left) traveled to Japan
for the conferral ceremony at Soka University (C) Seikyo Shimbun
On July 10, 2008, Benguet State University (BSU) in La Trinidad, Benguet
Province, the Philippines, conferred the degree of Doctor of Humanities,
honoris causa, upon Daisaku Ikeda, Soka University founder and SGI president.,
in recognition of his unflagging efforts to develop pathways to peace on
a global scale.
BSU President Rogelio D. Colting and BSU Alumni Association President Jesson
Y. Del-Amen traveled from the Philippines to confer the award in a ceremony
that took place at the Soka University Central Tower in Hachioji, Tokyo.
Dr. Colting entrusted the degree certificate for Mr. Ikeda to Soka University
President Hideo Yamamoto.
In a citation, Dr. Colting lauded Mr. Ikeda's keen insights into the problems
confronting humankind today and his ability to envision solutions to them.
He also noted Mr. Ikeda's idea regarding the mission of the university
in the 21st century to foster an ethic of global citizenship among youth,
transcending national and regional interests.
In a message, Mr. Ikeda expressed his resolve to continue his efforts for
the sake of peace and people's empowerment through education in concert
with BSU President Colting and the university faculty.
BSU was founded in 1916 and has a focus in the fields of agriculture, education
and medicine. The university's educational goals emphasize service to society
and it has collaborated with environmental experts and researchers to boost
farming in the local community. BSU has also been a forerunner in environmental
protection and natural resource development.
[Adapted from an article in the July 11, 2008 issue of the Seikyo Shimbun,
Soka Gakkai, Japan]
Ifugao State College of Agriculture and Forestry Honors SGI President Daisaku
Ikeda (September 2008)
Left to right: Mr. Basilio, Professor Mahiwo and President Ngohayon, all of ISCAF; SU President Yamamoto, SU Board Chair Yasunori Tashiro and Soka Women's College President Katsuhiko Fukushima (C) Seikyo Shimbun
On September 18, 2008, Ifugao State College of Agriculture and Forestry (ISCAF) in Ifugao Province, the Philippines, conferred a doctorate of education upon Daisaku Ikeda, Soka University (SU) founder. Mr. Ikeda was recognized for his achievements in education, literature, art, science and philosophy and for his landmark contributions to cultural exchanges, environmental preservation, youth development and peace.
The presentation of the honorary degree took place at the SU Central Tower
in Hachioji, Tokyo. ISCAF President Serafin L. Ngohayon entrusted the certificate
for Mr. Ikeda to SU President Hideo Yamamoto, who accepted it in proxy.
Also attending were University of the Philippines Professor Sylvano D.
Mahiwo, an ISCAF consultant, and ISCAF lecturer Elpidio B. Basilio Jr.
Dr. Ngohayon remarked that ISCAF is pleased to award its first honorary
doctorate to Mr. Ikeda, who has devoted much of his life to empowering
people and advocating for world peace, and whose integrity and contribution
to humanity are a source of great inspiration. Dr. Ngohayon expressed his
refreshed resolve to work for the development of youth education, the safeguarding
of culture and the promotion of peace.
In a message, Mr. Ikeda extended his sincere appreciation for the conferral
and commended ISCAF for its pioneering efforts in agricultural education,
the value of which are particularly significant at this time when world
food production and food security is at such a critical juncture. Underscoring
the importance of educational and cultural exchanges in a pluralistic global
society, Mr. Ikeda referred to the Philippine's traditional spirit of bayanihan,
derived from the Tagalog word "bayan" meaning town, nation or
community and symbolizing communal unity and cooperation, as the fundamental
spirit essential to fostering global citizenship.
ISCAF began as Nayon Settlement Farm School in 1920, mainly offering instruction
in vegetable gardening and poultry farming. In 1982, it was integrated
with several schools in the area and upgraded to a college. Today it offers
courses for undergraduate and graduate degrees, including an expanded tertiary
program which addresses the needs of government employees whorequire additional
college-level education.
[Adapted from an article in the September 19, 2008 issue of the Seikyo Shimbun,
Soka Gakkai, Japan]
Universidad de Manila Honors Honorary Doctorate upon SGI President Daisaku
Ikeda (October 11 2008)
Universidad de Manila (UDM) Regents Chair Lim (2nd from right) presents
the honorary degree to Mr. Ikeda (left),
as UDM President Palattao (2nd from right) and
UDM Vice President Ocampo (right) look on (C) Seikyo Shimbun
On October 11, 2008, Universidad de Manila (UDM), Philippines, conferred
a doctorate of humanities, honoris causa, upon Daisaku Ikeda, Soka University
founder, in recognition of his promotion of humanistic education and his
tireless commitment to peace.
UDM Board of Regents Chair Alfredo S. Lim, also the mayor of Manila, presented
the certificate to Mr. Ikeda at the Soka University central auditorium
in Hachioji, Tokyo, following a combined student festival for the university
and Soka Women's College.
Guests included Universidad de Manila President, Justice Rodolfo G. Palattao,
UDM Vice President for Academic Affairs Ambeth Ocampo, Knights of Rizal
Supreme Commander Sir Virgilio Esguerra, and past Supreme Commander Sir
Rogelio M. Quiambao, all of the Philippines; and CEOs of leading Japanese
corporations who had earlier been recognized by Soka University.
Founded in 1995 as an initiative of Mayor Lim, UDM's primary goal is to provide quality tertiary education to economically disadvantaged but academically deserving graduates from Manila's public secondary schools. UDM currently enrolls 14,000 students in programs such as political science, criminology, social welfare, mass communication, education and nursing.
In his conferral speech, Dr. Lim shared that his dream of providing free higher education has been realized in Universidad de Manila, which, despite its critics, is now producing top performing students, whose examination scores surpass the national average. Indicating that UDM reflects his administration's commitment to education as a means for peace and progress, Dr. Lim stated that Mr. Ikeda is being honored for having the same commitment to education and for representing UDM's vision of "becoming a first-class university of globally competitive professionals and educational leaders." He commended Mr. Ikeda for founding 15 educational institutions worldwide, beginning with Soka Schools and Soka University in Japan, and succeeding in creating "a flourishing educational system that has the happiness of children as its core objective." He stated his agreement with Mr. Ikeda's view that concern for the growth and happiness of others is the essential spirit of education.
Expressing his gratitude and sense of responsibility upon receiving the honorary degree, Mr. Ikeda named his mentor, first Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda (1900-58), and British historian Arnold J. Toynbee (1889-1975) as the two individuals with whom he would like to share the distinction. Mr. Ikeda said Dr. Toynbee, who had visited Manila in 1956 and witnessed the still unhealed wounds from the atrocities committed by the Japanese military regime, had been inspired by the dauntless spirit of the Filipino people who had thrown themselves into reconstructing their nation. Observing their passion for education, Dr. Toynbee was fully convinced of a hopeful future for the Philippine nation.
Referring to the people-powered revolution of the Philippines in 1986 when ordinary citizens stood up in solidarity against an authoritarian government and accomplished a bloodless revolution, Mr. Ikeda identified Dr. Lim as the Police Major General who refused the dictator's orders to use force to disperse crowds and stood firmly on the side of the people. This people's movement, he said, ushered in a tide of global democratization and triggered the toppling of authoritarian states that followed in Eastern Europe.
Commenting that Manila was able to rise up and respond to the challenges stemming from the ravages of war and conflict and emerge victorious, Mr. Ikeda stated that the ability to win over adversities is the very source of development, advance, and creativity, whether for an individual, a society or a civilization. He quoted Jose Rizal (1861-1896, Philippine's national hero, who asserted amidst persecution, "The school of suffering tempers the spirit." In closing, Mr. Ikeda asked the students gathered to remember to always cherish their parents, leaving them with the words of Rizal, "Only those of intellect and courage can lead lives of value and fulfillment."
[Adapted from an article in the October 12, 2008 issue of the Seikyo Shimbun,
Soka Gakkai, Japan]
