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 011: June 2007
Kyoko Kobayashi (Alumna of Soka University)
My name is Kyoko Kobayashi.
I am a graduate from the Economics Department of Soka University in 2004.
I am presently working at a Japanese travel agency in Manila and it has
been a year since I started working there. This is my second time to live
in the Philippines.
The first time was from the year 2002 – 2003 as an exchange student to
the University of the Philippines.
School Days in Soka University
at her office
with her friends
After I graduated from Kansai Soka High School, I entered the Economics
Department of Soka University as a member of the 30th batch. Because of
the fact that Soka education has opened my eyes into thinking about what
is happening in the real world, I decided to study abroad in the future
by the time I entered the Soka University.
The reason why I chose economics as a major is because of the fact that
it offers good English course as an elective. I was tempted to join one
of the club activities at first but decided to concentrate on my studies
instead because my TOEFL score was way too low to obtain eligibility as
an exchange student. I barely got into the international course of Economics
Department, which gave us tons and tons of assignments! When I studied
alone after school, I felt lonely sometimes. At such time, what kept me
going was Ikeda Sensei’s speech, in which he urged us to squarely face
loneliness and be patient in pursuing our chosen goals in life.
And true enough, I got to be an exchange student of the University of the Philippines when I was in my junior year. I remembered feeling so relieved at that time because I was finally able to see the fruit of my efforts come to bear.
And for that, I am ever thankful to the great and noble teachers of the international course who always thought about the growth of their students and always instilled hope in all of us. I felt pressured sometimes but without the enthusiasm they put into each of their classes, I might have given up on my classes at UP halfway. In retrospect, I realized now that that was a real big help for me at that crucial period.
Unforgettable Memories
with her classmates
during exchange student time
When I studied at UP, I met really nice people. It was at this time that I felt the warm hospitality and light heartedness of Filipinos. Most importantly, I felt the global hospitality of Soka alumni and of the SGI which was created by Ikeda Sensei’s determined action.
I also realized that wherever Soka students may go in the world, Sensei’s benevolent affection and warm consideration is ever-present.
In the Philippines, I met people with so many different points of view and sense of value. That for me was very interesting and it totally opened up my mind and made me think about things on a larger context. If I chose to stay in Japan without studying in the Philippines as an exchange student, I would probably just have passed off my time like most of the Japanese do. And since I encountered so many people living their different ways of living, I started not to care so much about what is “normal” in Japan, but started to think more carefully about what is important to me. This was largely due to the people on the street that I saw; the cheerful children in Paaralang Pantao – the school in Payatas; Filipino families who were very warm and welcome us regardless of whether they were poor or not.
However, the problem is that the more I think broadly about things, the more options appeared. That is the very time when we should chant to obtain wisdom. And I chanted so that I may be led to the place where my calling is.
My Determination
with her office mates
at the General Meeting of Soyukai
(Alumni of Soka University)
After I graduated from Soka University, I worked for Mitsukoshi U.S.A as a contract worker in Disney World Orlando for 13 months.
After the program in Disney World, I thought to myself what business field I wanted to be in. One of my options was something related to travel. I got a job in Japan at first, but it just didn’t feel right to me. At that time, I happened to ran into a recruitment ad of the company I am presently working for. It was a tough decision to make for me. But after my first stay in the Philippines, I always thought that I wanted to be connected with the Philippines in some way in my life. And also, I couldn’t help but feel the closeness of my fate with the Philippines.
I think most Japanese have a negative idea of the Philippines. When I came and saw many beautiful places and met many great people, I felt the big reality gap. There may be some negative side about the country. On the other hand, it also has its share of the lighter side. I believe that these are some of the things uninitiated people need to know about the country: Metro Manila is an urban area where there are many attractive places to go to for the young. Palawan and Boracay have great beaches. The rice terraces of Baguio are just so beautiful. Tagaytay commands a breathtaking view and boasts of many nice restaurants.
Sadly however, the Philippines is still not one of the attractive tourist destinations for the average Japanese, especially for the ladies. But people who do know about the fun side of the Philippines in the travel sector are trying to capture the female tourist market. I believe that such movement is growing and gaining ground. On my part, I intend to let more Japanese know about the positive side of the Philippines. Other than that, I would also like to be involved and assist in the development of the Philippines as a whole.
