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 035: August 2009
Kumiko Kato (Kalayaan College)
Kumiko Kato (right)
Hello! My name is Kumiko Kato.
I just graduated as an Economics major from Soka University this spring.
Just before my graduation, I had an opportunity to join the Kalayaan English Study Trip for three weeks with eight other fellow Economics major students where I made a lot of precious experiences.
My School Life in the Philippines
with my friends in Kalayaan College
In Kalayaan College, we studied English for four hours a day and we spent
a great deal of time with Kalayaan students during our lunch time, after
school and during weekends. The English classes in Kalayaan College were
very unique in that one of our professors asked us to go to the library
from the faculty of Economics building by ourselves in order for us to
learn “how to get where we want to go” inside the very expansive campus
of the University of Philippines (wherein you sometimes need to take a
jeepney ride or commute in order to go from one class to the next). The
other professor on the other hand, invited us to her home. Through the
mutual cooking of Philippine and Japanese food for each other, we were
able to learn – first hand – each other’s culture as well as cooking terms
and phrases in English. For me, the most memorable class I took was our
visit to a seminary. There, through our discussion about youth culture,
our respective religions and beliefs among other things, I found out that
we could still forge good friendship with each other even though we live
in different countries and have different thoughts.
Moreover, in the short span of time that our group stayed, we were able to make many great friends in Kalayaan College. Kalayaan students were so hospitable, friendly, and have a happy disposition because during weekends, they went out of their way in bringing us around Manila City for sightseeing. Subsequently, I was able to learn other facts about the history between the Philippines and Japan. One day, they also held a welcome party for Japanese students where we all got excited and had so much fun in playing sports and various other games. After school some of us even joined the dance club and made performances together.
My unforgettable memories
with SGI Philippine's Guidance chief,
Mr. Takimoto & SGI members
The SGI meeting held at the SGI Philippine’s Philippine Culture Center (PCC) was one of the unforgettable memories for me as well. When I visited PCC for the first time, I was so impressed by the pictures on the wall: there were photos of Dr. Ikeda and photos of Soka University – which made me feel as if Dr. Ikeda was there with us and was encouraging us, as Soka University students to succeed.
Moreover, I was really moved by the Soka meeting held in which beautiful
songs were rendered by the Mabuhay and Sampaguita Chorus Groups of the
women’s division, a powerful testimony in the practice of faith by a woman’s
division member, and the General Director himself conducting Gakkai songs.
After the meeting, local SGI Philippine members encouraged me in such a
way that made me feel fortunate to belong to the Soka Family and I couldn’t
help but feel that such warmth also pervades in all the other SGI member
countries in the world.
My Determination
wearing Japanese Kimono
Thanks to Kalayaan College, SGI Philippines, Soka University and Dr. Ikeda
because through them, we had such productive and memorable days during
our stay in the Philippines.
Again, allow me to thank them here again for everything. With the Soka
University founding principles of “Be a fortress for the peace of humankind”,
I will pray that the good relationship between the Philippines and Japan,
as well as that of between Kalayaan College and Soka University would prosper
eternally.
