Exchange Student Program Soka University is presently engaged in academic exchange agreement with
96 universities throughout the world. In the Philippines, U.P . had entered
into such an agreement with Soka University in 1988, and De La Salle in
1996. Every year, two exchange students from each university are being
dispatched for the said program.
Aside from that, because this is the only English speaking country in Asia,
many Soka University students come here to study at their own expense.
Furthermore, short term language training program is also launched in Kalayaan
College where Dr. Abueva, a close friend of SGI President Ikeda, serves
as its principal.
File 041: July 2010
Masako Saito (De La Salle University)
Hi!
I am Masako Saito majoring in Economics at Soka University as a member
of Class 36. In Soka University, I took the international program, also
called IP wherein students study the Economics course in English.
As an extracurricular activity, I joined the Double Dutch Club. I came
here in the Philippines on May 12, 2009 as an exchange student at De La
Salle University.
How I Found My Way to the Philippines
with my classmates
I decided to apply for this exchange program after I came back from the
U.S. Before I entered the Soka University in 2006, my father decided to
go to the United States in relation with his research. I thought this was
a great chance for my own experience, so I went to the U.S. with my father
just 3 days after the entrance ceremony of Soka University. During my one
year of stay there, I learned English in a language school with other students
from Korea, Taiwan and China.
At first, I found out that studying English was very important in communicating
with people outside Japan. However, I gradually realized that studying
a subject in English with native speakers was more important than studying
English per se. This is because if you have no idea or knowledge about
the subject, you cannot even use English in the first place.
Therefore, I applied for this exchange program after I studied Economics
for 4 semesters in Soka University.
My Life in the Philippines
with exchange students from Japan,
Canada and Korea
with my friends
with exchange students from
various country
My stay in the Philippines was not easy for me even though I have been
to several countries before such as Vietnam, China, Singapore, and Korea.
Nevertheless, I have discovered plenty of great moments in my stay here.
As soon as the first semester started, I made several friends in classes because I tried to smile a lot and be active as much as I can. I thought then that I made a pretty good start in my stay in the Philippines. After 2 weeks, however, I contracted a highly infectious disease. So much so that instead of attending classes, I was confined in a hospital for weeks on end. In such kind of a predicament, I could neither meet people nor eat the kind of food I like. Subsequently, my frustration reached its peak, and I cried in the isolation ward of the hospital. During my hospital confinement, I only watched TV and slept all day. However, the local SGI Philippines members constantly encouraged me by sending messages and chanting. On my part, I also chanted facing the wall everyday in my room. By doing so, I gradually tried to motivate myself and uplift my spirit. Be that as it may, this turn of events was really shocking both for me and my family. But then again, by struggling against this difficult situation I was able to extremely develop myself just as this Buddhism have always taught: that every difficulty can serve as an opportunity to develop oneself.
After 3 weeks, I was able to finally go back to school and resume my studies. Catching up with all the lessons during my long absence was indeed very challenging. Sometimes I could not understand what the professors were discussing about because of my poor English and lack of knowledge. So what I did was I tried visiting professors in the faculty room every time I had questions or clarifications. One of my professors was kind enough to help me and patiently taught me one by one. Through all this experience, I learned that if I take a determined action, people around me will be willing to support me and that being earnest is the most important behavior in influencing people.
In September 2009, the big typhoon, Ondoy, hit the Philippines. Many streets were surrounded by waist-high flood water. More than 260 people died and I saw many houses and properties damaged by flooding. In the aftermath, when I went to the SGI Philippines Culture Center, I saw that the local SGI members donated canned goods, instant noodles, and drinking water for those who were affected by the said typhoon. I was moved to see that SGI members volunteered to help the needy.
When the school resumed after its suspension because of Ondoy, I struggled with two classes because of my lack of mathematical knowledge. This is because in Japan, I didn’t learn much about mathematical methods for economics so I didn’t have any idea on how to apply mathematics for economics. However, the students taking up economics in De La Salle University have learned it thoroughly from basic to applied level, so I could have a great opportunity to gain applied mathematical method for economics from them.
With my lovely classmates, I was able to cope up with my tough subjects. Every other day, we studied after our classes, and my friends sometimes taught me far better than the professors did in class. As such, I deeply appreciate their hospitality and kindness.
My Determination
with my friend
My experiences in the Philippines extremely enriched me as a person through
encouragements especially from SGI members. Whenever I attend SGI meetings,
I could very much enjoy it together with its members and at the same time,
I can also derive courage when I listen to the experiences in faith from
those who are practicing this Nichiren Buddhism. I still vividly remember
the first time for me to attend a meeting in the Philippines. In my observation,
the ways they handled the meeting in which the members can freely discuss
topics was completely different from the ones in Japan. Be that as it may,
there was a common point: it was the way the meetings were being held in
which members could fully develop their positive potential and humanity.
In the future, I will continue on to practice this Buddhism with wisdom and humanity, and I will contribute more to society through my positive action.
Finally, I will end this essay with my favorite speech by Dr. Ikeda:
"A great human revolution in just a single person will help achieve a change in the destiny of a nation and, further, will cause a change in the destiny of all humankind."
