English Intensive Program
at Kalayaan College
with Dr. Abueva
Kalayaan College was founded in the year 2000 by Dr. Jose V. Abueva, former
President of the University of the Philippines, for the purpose of offering
the same standard of education as University of the Philippines, although
more easily accessible.
Carrying its college motto "The truth will set you free," Kalayaan College has provided an excellent education for the students.
Dr. Abueva is a longtime friend of SGI President Daisaku Ikeda, the founder
of Soka University, since when they first met in Japan in 1990. Kalayaan
College has accepted students from Soka University every year since 2003.
Short Essays by the participants
Nobuhide Taguchi
Nobuhide Taguchi
Hello. My name is Nobuhide Taguchi. I am in my fourth year in Soka University and I belong to the Department of Business Administration. I participated in the English training course in Kalayaan College for three weeks. Kalayaan College is a private academic institution founded and directed by a former U.P. president, Dr. Abueva, who is a longtime friend of Dr. Ikeda. Thanks to their firm friendship, we were able to have an opportunity to study at Kalayaan College.
Although our stay in the Philippines was very short, we were able to have a lot of valuable experiences that we can never have in Japan. In our classes we learned not only English but also Philippine history, culture, and their sense of values. Both the professors and the staffs were very wonderful and kind, and treated us like their family; they helped us not only in our classes but also outside the classroom in solving our worries and problems. We also made friends with many students at Kalayaan College. They were very sincere and friendly to us.? We often ate out for lunch and dinner; they also took us to historical places and in doing our shopping, and invited us to their houses. The friendship with them greatly enhanced the quality of our life in the Philippines. I am very proud of the friendship that I was able to forge with them.
However, I felt angry and sad when I learned about the atrocities committed
by the Japanese military during World War Ⅱ. I also found the present economic
conditions between Japan and the Philippines as both unequal and contradictory.
I think that what we can actually do is to respect the culture and people
in the Philippines and to tell others how wonderful and warm Filipinos
really are. Along with this, such arrogant ideas that developed countries
can exploit the developing countries economically and politically must
be discarded. I hope through our constant efforts we will be able to achieve
a "win-win situation" in which both countries would enjoy mutual
prosperity.
Dr. Abueva said, "Peace buds in the hearts of each person. It lies
in respecting different cultures and in extending one’s heart to humanity."
Moreover, Dr. Ikeda stated in his long poem, "The young people who
will shoulder the next generation should widely make friends throughout
the world. The path in peace building cannot be opened without firmly solidifying
the bonds of friendship." Through my stay in the Philippines I keenly
felt how true their words are. It has deepened my resolve in developing
and extending friendship with people around the world for the sake of world
peace.
Yuko Johnai
Yuko Johnnai
Hello! My name is Yuko Johnai. I am a sophomore at Soka University and
I am a student of the Economics Department under Professor Masami Kita.
I came to the Philippines together with seven other schoolmates to take
English Course at Kalayan College for three weeks. This is my very first
experience to study abroad. Finding myself in a new environment, I often
feel discouraged for the reason that I could not speak English very well
and this would me make very depressed. However, I would struggle to achieve
my human revolution day by day, by recalling Professor Kita’s advice: “The
purpose of this visit is to strengthen your faith and develop your character.”
There are several experiences in the Philippines that had left great impressions in me. First, my idea or concept of “peace” has changed after seeing street children selling stuffs for the first time on the streets. Until I saw them with my own eyes, my idea of peace of the world was rather vague and simple. However, this experience made me realize that we must not turn our eyes away from the sufferings that are happening in the world, not only in Japan. I also found it really important to make the most of my time and to reflect on what I have felt and thought when I am alone by myself.
The bonds of friendship with the students of Kalayaan College was also
one of my unforgettable experience. They were so kind and magnanimous in
heart that we could talk quite freely about anything with them. Through
my friendship with them, I learned that the way to achieve world peace
actually exists in our daily life, like making friends and being nice to
others. No matter how huge the work for its realization may appear, the
surest path to realizing world peace is to win other’s trust and make many
friends in our respective places. I wish to develop a lasting friendship
with them throughout my life and I believe that this is a very significant
step in realizing peace.
Since arriving in the Philippines, I have keenly realized how happy indeed I am. I also realized how fortunate I am to be able to study at Soka University under Ikeda sensei and making him my mentor in life. Since sensei is in Japan, I am not physically close to him, but my stay in the Philippines deepened my bond with him and the Gohonzon.
I am very thankful to the Gohonzon, my parents and many people for their protection and support, most especially to my friends who came here together with me. Although our stay was very short, it broaden my horizons, motivated me to study harder, and strengthen my faith. Now I am determined to do my very best to develop myself into a capable person who can work for the people like Ikeda sensei.
