Exchange Student Program The Soka University is presently engaged in academic exchange agreement
with 96 universities in the world. In the Philippines, U.P . had entered
into this agreement with the Soka University in 1988, and De La Sale in
1996. Every year, two exchange students from each university are dispatched.
Aside from that, because this is the only English speaking country in
Asia, many Soka University students came here to study at their own expense.
Furthermore, short term language training program is launched in Kalayan
College where Dr. Abueva, a friend of President Ikeda, serves as principal.
File 029: January 2009
Taiga Shinzeki (Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro City)
Hello! My name is Taiga Shinzeki, a fourth year student majoring in English
Literature at Soka University.
I arrived in the Philippines last June 2008 to study at Capitol University
in Cagayan de Oro City (CDO). Five months have passed since then and I
have three more months left to stay here in CDO.
Now, please allow me to share my experience in the Philippines.
The Purpose of My Study in Abroad
Understanding and speaking English was the first and biggest problem I
faced when I arrived in the Philippines, since I had not studied English
very well when I was in Japan. I felt frustrated because I couldn’t find
a way to fully express my thoughts and feelings. I even had a hard time
constructing basic everyday conversation.
A Japanese friend however, was kind enough to introduce private tutors
to me to improve my English. Even though they are still students and are
two years younger than me, they were very respectable in that their motivation
to study were so strong that I was infected by their enthusiasm.
But then again, it was so stressful for me initially to keep communicating
in English with them for two or three hours on end. So much so that I even
came to the point of wanting to escape from my tutorials by feigning illness.
Besides this, I became rather negative and passive often. However, I remembered
one of Ikeda-Sensei’s words - which is one of the several inscriptions
found in the campus grounds of Soka University: "For what purpose
should one cultivate wisdom? May you ask yourself this question".
This prompted me to reflect on the purpose why I came here; which was to
acquire the ability and confidence to talk to foreign people and to introduce
to them the great philosophy of peace that Soka Gakkai International (SGI)
advocates.
Thus, I made this my resolve and mission and determined to myself to study
hard and made a commitment to Ikeda-Sensei to carry through my mission,
no matter what. As a result, I studied hard in my tutorials and was able
to improve my English skill. Gradually, I came to understand what people
say in English. That is why I would like to express my deepest gratitude
to my tutors for patiently teaching me English and encouraging me wholeheartedly
all this time.
My Life in the Philippines
with my friends (Soka Students)
& SGI member
with my friends in Capitol University
As I gradually learned how to speak English, my life in the Philippines
became more enjoyable as I came to appreciate the very friendly and great
hospitality the Filipinos are known for. This is all the more true here
in Cagayan de Oro City (CDO) which is well known as "the City of Golden
Friendship". One of my best memories with them is the Youth Culture
Festival which was held last November 23 with the theme, "Victory
of Youth through Iron Unity". I heard that the last Youth Culture
Festival here was held nine years ago so I considered myself very fortunate
to be able to participate in this big event.
I joined in the modern dance and gymnastics group. Both of these performances
were a first experience in my life. Especially, gymnastics was very hard
and tiring because aside from the physical exertion we make, we practiced
from 6 pm to 9 pm every day. I even got some small bruises and grazes because
of some risky routines during practice. For example, there was a routine
called helicopter in which an inner circle is formed by some of the gymnasts
while other gymnastics members grab their arms and fly around the peripheral
or outer circle. If the gymnasts forming the inner circle broke their arm's
hold with each other, the flyer on the outer circle would be thrown away.
As such, it was a very dangerous maneuver. So what we did was we always
prayed for everyone's safety and the success of the festival through chanting
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. If people share the same target and make efforts to
achieve it (In Buddhism, this principle is called itai doshin or "many
in body, one in mind"), then there is absolutely no way that the shared
target won't be fulfilled. And true enough, our routines eventually became
better each passing day through our solid prayers and unity.
Then one day to my surprise, I was assigned to be the commander of the
4-base tower. The gymnastic instructor later told me, "It depends
on you whether this performance will succeed". These words gave me
tremendous pressure because this was one of the most difficult and the
last routine of the gymnastic performance. Besides, as the commander, the
members should form the tower based from my instructions. Initially, I
didn’t have the confidence to fill in the role because I don't know how
to speak the Visayan dialect – the language spoken by CDO members. I negatively
thought to myself, "What if an accident happened? How can I cope with
such a pressing matter just in case?" However, contrary to my concern,
all the members of the 4-base tower unequivocally accepted and trusted
me as their commander. Some of them even cheered me by saying, "You
can do it!" and, "Thank you for giving us good command!"
I was really encouraged by them and I chanted even harder for the success
of our performance. I practiced gymnastics with renewed seriousness; more
so I concentrated on the 4-base tower routine.
Then the day of our presentation came at last. I actually couldn't sleep
well the night before the big event because I was high and all excited.
The performance of the gymnastics group was the last number of the whole
program so we had much time before we perform. This made us so tensed that
we all chanted to make all of our minds become one. Although there were
a few minor mistakes, our performance was really successful as a whole.
The audience was awed in watching our performance that they got so excited
in spite of themselves. The 4-base tower – the last routine, was a rousing
success as well. This made me so overjoyed that I almost cried inside the
tower when it was completed. I was so happy that I even hugged the members
nearest to me. This wonderful memory is the most precious treasure of my
life in the Philippines.
My Determination
with YMD gymnasts during
Youth Culture Festival
Before I came to the Philippines, I honestly agonized of whether I should
really push through in studying abroad or not because I didn't have a clear
purpose at that time. However, I am learning a lot of things than I could
hope for here and I can even declare that I do not have the slightest bit
of regret in being here. I have studied here for the past 5 months and
I still have a long way to go in order for me to communicate well in English.
Nevertheless, I will do my very best to further improve my English skill
and become a capable person who can contribute to world peace as Ikeda-Sensei’s
disciple.
I want to express my sincere appreciation to three of my Japanese friends: Taisuke Watanabe, Jun Sato, and Keiko Morimi. For without their help, I would have failed to find my way here in CDO. I also would love to send my gratitude to all SGI members who have supported me throughout my stay.
Thank you very much!! Daghang salamat ("Thank you very much"
in the Visayan dialect)!!
